Noela's POV
I could see him looking at me coldly. His eyes were so sharp, like someone who hated me and didn't expect me to be here. I think Darren was acting like that because of the woman beside him. The reddish-haired woman took my boyfriend's hand in hers."Who is she, darling?" The woman casually asked Darren who I was.My eyes alternately looked at the two of them, in my mind continuing to question who the woman was. However, without me needing to ask, Darren said her name clearly. "She's the woman I told you about, Emma."I saw a smile develop on Emma's lips, especially when she had found out about me. Without any shame, they were making out right in front of my eyes.What a disgusting sight! I never thought that Darren would cheat on me. In the midst of this silence, Darren suddenly let out a voice with a firm tone. "Let's end this relationship right now."That sentence surprised me. Darren decided to end our relationship in front of another woman's affair. It instantly made my body tremble, there was a stabbing pain, and it weakened my legs to be able to stand straight.In the beginning, I had just gotten home from work. My body felt tired, and I thought I could rest when I got to this apartment. However, the first sight when the door opened was Darren's intimacy with that woman. They went so far as to kiss deeply.I tried so hard all this time. I feel like there's nothing wrong with our relationship. It's just an attitude that shouldn't be given to me. I thought that all this time, he loved me regardless of my background."I don't think you have any more business here. You can leave now because I don't want to live with you anymore." Darren's words made me cringe. He kicked me out just like that without reviewing our one-year relationship.During this time, we lived together in Darren's apartment. I didn't pay for anything while I was here. However, I made up for it with many things, like preparing meals, and serving Darren with great effort."But, Darren. Why?" There's something I need to confirm again, but he's changed because of the woman beside him right now."We're not on the same level, Noella. You're just an ordinary girl and have nothing. Don't you realize how long you've been living with me? I think you're just a stupid woman." Darren was sometimes cold and rude to me. This time, he really couldn't ease those hurtful words.I always believed our one-year relationship could make him love me more deeply. Despite his attitude, I always thought it was just because of his job. However, now I know another reason why he broke up with me and was more rude than ever."Shouldn't you apologize to me? You're the one who cheated on me and brought this bitch here." The emotion I couldn't hold back finally exploded. I wanted to keep this relationship going. However, Darren didn't care about me and just looked at the woman beside him."How dare you insult Emma. You should look in the mirror. Don't talk so much anymore, Noella. You don't need to go any further. I've got your stuff ready." Darren started to move and tossed my things one by one into the suitcase.Without caring what I said, Darren, with Emma's help, started throwing my things out of the apartment. He pushed me out until I fell."Look, who's outside now? You'll never measure up to Darren. Just look at yourself in the mirror. You're from the lower class and shouldn't be a burden in Darren's life." Emma seemed satisfied that she had managed to cuss me out and chase me away from Darren's side. Girding her loins, she flashed a wicked smile at me.I tried to get up, but my legs felt so weak. The one year I had spent with Darren was now wholly pointless. Darren didn't seem to care when Emma insulted me like that. What I had gone through all this time did not produce anything for Darren. My efforts to be able to keep him by my side now paid off with such deep pain."Darren, please. Don't be like this. If there's something wrong, we can talk first." I still forced myself to get back in there. However, Emma now seemed to be in control of the apartment."Hey, you still don't know yourself wanting to come here. Do you have no shame in your veins? You're being kicked out of here. Get lost!" Emma snapped at me, and Darren smiled wryly at that. Irritated by the woman's words, my body quickly pulled her hair. I felt like I had the strength to punish the woman who had cheated on Darren.Darren saw that we were having a power struggle and immediately pushed my body and saved Emma, who was about to get hit by my fist. "Are you crazy?! What are you doing, Noella? Why are you being so wild? Just leave, and don't ever interfere with my life again!"I was about to speak again, but Darren closed the door so hard that it startled me. There was nothing I could do now. I didn't know what to do with my life.I still sat on the floor, hoping Darren would open the door again. But, of course, that wasn't going to happen. I was just about to pick up my clothes, scattered from being thrown by them. I heard my cell phone ring when I saw no name on the screen. My forehead wrinkled. "Who's calling?"I tried to calm down, so I answered the call. "Good evening, Miss Noella. I'm the nurse at the hospital looking after your uncle." It was the nurse at the hospital who called me. I guess it wasn't a good thing I would hear next."Uncle Martin? What happened to him?" I asked, feeling so worried. Uncle Martin had been my only family."Your uncle went into shock and needs surgery. It will cost at least twenty thousand dollars to perform the surgery." The news made me feel like a fool.My body was frozen, my mind so empty that no other path came to mind. I had no place to sleep, even though I was working, but my savings wouldn't be enough. Especially now that Uncle Martin needed a large sum of money.I turned my gaze to the door of Darren's apartment. That's right, Darren comes from a wealthy family. The damn man might just be able to help me get Uncle Martin his surgery.I got up from where I was, my legs starting to stand straight again. However, my body was still trembling slightly, so anxiety came over me. I try to move my hand to knock on the apartment door a few times."Darren, please open the door. Please, Darren. I have something important to tell you." I tried to knock hard and call Darren to come out to see me.I called his name several times, and I even knocked loudly on the door. But he didn't seem to hear my calls. It could have been the woman in there forbidding Darren to come out to see me. However, I didn't want to give up on Uncle Martin.After I knocked on the apartment door many times, Darren finally opened the door. "Darren, help me. Help me pay for my uncle's surgery. He needs treatment right now." My voice was so nervous I held Darren's hand as I begged him.Hearing my request, Darren just threw my hand away until I almost fell. His eyes showed anger that could no longer be contained. He raised his voice and emphasized his words. "What you say won't make me willing to help you. Isn't he your uncle? Why should I bother helping him? You can find another way, and don't bother me again, Noella!"My tears couldn't touch his heart. Sobbing, I was still trying to get help from Darren. I lowered my body position, begging with a pleading face for Darren to save Uncle Martin.Uncle Martin was like my own parent. Ever since my parents passed away, Uncle Martin was the one who took care of me and looked after me. I don't want to lose him."Darren, please. Help me. Uncle needs the money for his surgery today. I don't have that much money for the hospital fees." My head was down, but I caught a glimpse of Emma's feet standing behind Darren, which made me lift my face to look at her.There was a faint smile printed on Darren's lips. He seemed to be mocking me for what I was going through right now. "I don't care what your uncle is going through. You'd better get over there and don't bother me here. You could have begged and gotten that money from another generous hand.""Darren, this poor, ugly woman doesn't know herself. This ex-lover of yours has no other advantages. I think she uses her body to get rich men to accept her and give her their money. Luckily, you got away from her early, so you won't lose your money." Emma messed things up. She made Darren hate and insult me even more."I thought you were knocking on my door to beg for love from me. However, you are a gold digger, Noella. It seems like all this time you've been with me just to use me, doesn't it? just leave here, and don't show your face in front of me again." Emma's words completely consumed Darren. He changed so quickly.So complete is the suffering I've gotten today. My lover's betrayal, then he kicked me out of his apartment, and now I have to try to get money for Uncle Martin's surgery. There's nothing else I can do but lament today. My life seemed full of bad luck, and I didn't expect it to come together like this.Noella's POVI walked towards the hospital with my body shaking. My mind couldn't rest because I hadn't gotten the money for Uncle Martin's surgery yet. I tried to contact my friends and some office colleagues. However, all failed. None of them wanted to give me a loan."Hello, can you lend me some money? I'll return it soon. I need the money for it." My words were interrupted by the rejection from the other side of the phone."No-no, I can't lend you money. I know how much you make being an ordinary employee. Don't call me to borrow money. Go find someone else." This was the last call I made to borrow money. Again, my loan was denied because my job was that of an ordinary office worker with a modest salary.I was getting more and more confused about how to save Uncle Martin. This was all because my job position was always considered the lowest by my friends and colleagues.I was still strolling, and even though my body felt weak, I still had to see how Uncle Martin was doing in the h
Mr. Enrick looked at me. His lips seemed moving, like he wanted to say something to me. Sure enough, just as I was waiting for an answer. Mr. Enrick asked, "Do you want to be my slave?"I didn't think long. I nodded my head slowly in response. However, Mr. Enrick was not predictable. A second later, he said again, "There are already many servants here. I don't need you as an extra."Mr. Enrick seemed to approach me with a scary look on his face. I could feel his anger at my words. I felt the atmosphere become tense, and suddenly, he said again. "Realize your place."My body trembled at his words. A second later, I tried to raise my voice. "I can do anything for you, sir. I can also be a spy and find the person spreading rumors about you. Or, I could also clear your name by pretending to be your lover."I could feel the pressure from the look in his eyes. A long time ago, I had seen Mr. Enrick come into contact with a woman. Then he cleaned the part of his body that had just come into
Noella's POVMy body feels tired. Two days have passed. Although my heart still hurts from Darren's treatment, it's all covered by what happened to Uncle Martin. I'm still accompanying Uncle Martin, who hasn't regained consciousness, hoping that he will open his eyes soon so that my anxiety will end, but until now, there has been no sign of opening his eyes.My anxiety has lessened since the doctor successfully performed surgery on Uncle Martin. Still, I couldn't be satisfied if Uncle hadn't awakened. The doctor had said that uncle would wake up within one to two days. When the second day was almost over, I was impatient."Uncle, can't you open your eyes now? I'm so worried about you. Please wake up." I could only pray and keep watching the progress of my uncle's condition from the screen that kept beeping, indicating that his heartbeat was still there.As I was about to speak again, I felt my uncle's hand move at my touch. Slowly, I saw his eyes move, and I could see them open. Uncle
Noella's POVI froze for a while. The presence of two people I didn't expect was before my eyes. I didn't expect Darren to be one of Mr. Enrick's family. I could also see that Emma was there to keep him company, and that couple was the reason I was here.With my hand still wrapped around Mr. Enrick's arm, I stepped with him to get closer to his extended family. Mr. Enrick pulled out a chair for me, and I sat amongst them all, feeling very uncomfortable. Darren and Emma's presence made things awkward for me, especially what they had done before.Despite the discomfort, I tried to do it professionally. I didn't want Mr. Enrick to be disappointed with me just because this was all an act.Slowly, everyone there started talking to each other. Even now, they were heard talking and starting a conversation to ask about my status to Mr. Enrick. "Tell me, who is she, and where is she from?"I swallowed slowly at that question, and then Mr. Enrick, without hesitation, answered, "Noella is my fia
Noella's POVWhat kind of tension I felt with this family? It was like shackling myself and not letting Mr. Enrick breathe freely while in this place. This is the first time I've seen a wealthy family impose their lives on another family as if they only value dignity and status as a conglomerate."Gosh, it's like I can hardly breathe here. Are they going to continue arguing about the life Mr. Enrick took again?" I was so anxious in my heart, thinking about what else they would say after this.The atmosphere was so tense a few minutes ago. I, who had been silent since their exchange of words, now began to feel claustrophobic and wanted a breath of fresh air. I also said to Mr. Enrick, "Sorry, I'll excuse myself to go to the toilet."I looked at Mr. Enrick as if he understood my current state. Then, my gaze wandered towards the family, and Darren's mother gave me a sharp look. So were Darren and Emma, who couldn't accept my presence among them in the first place."Alright, come back whe
Noella's POvI confirmed to Darren that he didn't know who I was. It makes me so upset that Darren doesn't even consider me. It was evident after he ignored me in favour of another woman-Emma-who was now beside him. Emma was lucky enough to be introduced to Darren's extended family.Unfortunately, here, Darren can't judge a woman by his heart. He and his family are all about wealth and power for survival. Surely, Darren wouldn't choose me and take advantage of me being so gullible with the word love."You don't know who I am, Darren. What do you think I am all this time together? You have such a short mind about me and your uncle. So what if I have a relationship with him? He's much better than you." My last words did not end our encounter. Darren is still in front of me right now. He gets more and more angry every time she hears me speak in response. Maybe he was surprised that I had always kept quiet and not fought him.Darren's temper flared again. He was about to speak, but seeing
Noella's POVMr. Enrick's appearance between me and Darren was surprising. Maybe I've been here too long. If it weren't for Darren, Mr Enrick certainly wouldn't have followed me here. It's just that there's a sudden feeling of dread rising within me.Mr Enrick looked ordinary at the moment, but his aura was dominating. In fact, Darren had been silent ever since Mr. Enrick had asked his question. While I was afraid that any of my attitudes or movements would be wrong. That would definitely allow Mr. Enrick to make a lot of unexpected decisions, like asking for back the money I had used for Uncle Martin, perhaps.I hope what's in my mind doesn't actually happen. I must be feeling very sorry for ignoring Darren a moment ago. I should have left here long ago and not cared about anything Darren had to say.Until I finally heard Mr. Enrick ask Darren again, "Aren't you going to answer my question?"I could see the distress on Darren's face. The atmosphere dominated by Mr. Enrick did make Dar
Noella's PovAfter the previous series of events, my body began to feel tired. Even though I felt weak and powerless, I had to go to work to keep earning money. I thought so much last night I almost couldn't sleep because of this. What a complicated life full of obstacles.I went to work as usual, heading to the office where Mr. Enrick was my boss. Although I wasn't directly in the secretarial department, my job was in a division directly under the CEO's secretary. I just hoped that my work would be just as fine as it had been in the past when Mr. Enrick and I had not been in direct contact.As soon as I arrived at the office, my eyes darted around. I was on guard not to meet Mr. Enrick first today. Until I was surprised by one of my coworkers who greeted me. Her name was Mina, she had short shoulder-length hair, and she was quite an attractive woman. That's why I made friends with Mina. "Noella, are you sick? You look tired and have bags under your eyes."Mina always pays attention t