Chapter 3
“Did you hit him?” Alma poured me a cup of hot water.
“Well, he wanted to keep me as his mistress,” I huddled on the couch, enduring wave after wave of
stomach cramps, slowly sipping the water.
After a while, he suddenly turned around and ran to the toilet to vomit.
Alma patted my back and said, “You drank alcohol even though you had a bad stomach.”
I took a few breaths, wiped away the water stains left on my lips after rinsing, and felt a burning
sensation in my esophagus.
“Have I been worth liking for so many years?”
I looked up and stared at myself in the mirror, with wet eyelashes. My black hair was damp and
sticking to my forehead, and my complexion was somewhat pale.
Alma’s complaints came from a distant place, barely audible, “If it weren’t for you heartlessly
breaking up, where would he be today…”
I remembered Terrance’s fiancée again.
Compared to me, she had an extra brilliance and radiance. I vaguely remembered that many years
ago, I was also like this.
But later on, I fell so badly that when I crawled out of the ditch, everything changed.
After Alma finished her work at Harmony Mansion, the two of us walked hand in hand on the way
back to our rented house.
の
able
I suddenly received a phone call from Terrance’s friend.
“Elliana, if you were in need, I could arrange a job for you.”
I didn’t speak and waited to hear what he would say next.
“They got married next month. Shirley is a nice person and comes from a well–off family. You…”
“I won’t bother him anymore, don’t worry.”
He remained silent for a moment, futilely explaining, “We just wanted Terrance to have a better
life.”
“Um.”
All of the friends back then, without exception, stood by Terrance.
The phone hung up, and Alma’s eyes turned red. “They don’t understand anything,” she said.
Chapter 3
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“It doesn’t matter.”
Since I had to stay here for a while, I found a job not far from home.
During the interview, the HR asked suspiciously, “Do you have depression?”
“In the past, things were not good, but now they are fine with a doctor’s certificate.”
Several companies in the past rejected me during the background check process for this reason.
The company was relatively small, and that same evening, I received the notice of my employment.
I thought that the class gathering would be the last intersection between me and Terrance.
I didn’t expect that three days later, Terrance parachuted into our company and became my boss.
And my workstation was moved to the entrance of Terrance’s office.
“I refused.”
“Sure,” Terrance replied without even looking up, his voice cold and emotionless. “Submit the
resignation report to the Human Resources Department.”
I laughed angrily, “Just because I disagreed with changing positions, you want to fire me?”
His pen paused, and finally, he condescended to look up and speak to me.
“I just provided you with options, did you think I had any ulterior motives?”
I choked, recalling last night when Alma argued with someone for a little rent, forcing a smile and saying, “Mr. Wilkerson, I am naturally not afraid.”
Terrance nodded slightly and said, “Thank you, please close the door when you leave. Also, make
sure the chair is facing away from me, I don’t want to see your face.”
***
We had almost no intersection in the remaining days.
A week later, the company had a team–building activity.
As a newcomer, I was forced to drink too much alcohol.
“Elliana, if you don’t drink, your salary will be deducted.‘
“Don’t worry, if you get drunk, we will take you back. We are all women, what is there to be afraid
of.”
The manager smiled and urged me to drink. Amidst the cheers of the crowd, I downed the last glass of the night and collapsed unconscious on the table.
Chapter 3
