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Chapter – Two Weeks Later
Two weeks had passed since everything exploded. The scandal surrounding me and my family had started to die down. People had begun focusing on newer drama.
I'd been staying at Cora's house—Cora, the old woman from the train station. And in all the time I'd been there, she never once asked about my past, or why I was bawling my eyes out on a train in the middle of the night.
I roll my eyes, shuddering mentally. I must have looked so pitiful then. I shake my head, trying to forget the embarrassing memory.
I get up and head downstairs, even though Cora told me I should stay upstairs and rest for as long as I needed. She didn't let me pay rent or help out around the house—not that I knew how to, anyway.
But I wanted to learn. I wanted to contribute. For the past two weeks, I hadn't done anything but stay upstairs in bed. Every meal was prepared and brought to me. She wouldn't even let me carry my dishes back down.
I mean, I'm all for being pampered, but not by a sweet old lady who's already doing more than enough.
I walk into the kitchen and find Cora making lunch. I pause and really look at her.
Her hair is completely white, her face lined with wrinkles—though not so many that they overwhelm her features, which is impressive for someone in her seventies. She stands straight, no hunch. She looks about five feet tall, with calm, cool green eyes, currently fixed on whatever she's cooking.
Her face is scrunched in concentration.
I smile. For the first time in a while.
Watching someone behave normally—and showing me genuine kindness—it's strange. But the kind of strange I could get used to.
A warm feeling blooms in my chest. Foreign, but... nice.
Kindness feels alien to me. I'm used to cold stares and fake smiles—even from family.
My mother... well, my ex-mother, treated every conversation like a business transaction. She only spoke to me to remind me I was eating too much and that I should lose weight if I wanted to marry a rich man.
So she could brag to her friends, of course. Not out of concern for me.
God forbid she actually cared about my well-being.
I realize I've been staring too long and cough. Cora turns around immediately and glares at me.
"Why are you out of bed?" she asks, narrowing her eyes.
I sigh, ready for this again. "Listen, ma'am, I—"
"Cora."
"What?" I blink, confused.
She shrugs and turns back to the pot. "Call me Cora."
I nod slowly, finally understanding. "Umm... Cora, I would like to help out in some way. I don't like sitting around your house doing nothing while you do so much for me."
When she doesn't respond, I keep going.
"I might've been a spoiled rich girl, but I know not to be lazy in someone else's home. I'm really grateful for everything you've done, and I can't thank you enough. Which is why I'd like to help."
I pause, then add carefully, "And maybe... pay rent."
She immediately spins around, visibly angry.
"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm doing this because I want to?"
"I'm doing this of my own free will, and I need you to respect that. You're a young girl in need of help, and I decided to help you. I don't want your money."
I sigh. "I know, ma'am, but I don't want to be a burden. And I definitely don't want to be a charity case."
Yeah, yeah—I know what you're thinking. Why not just walk out of the house, find a job, and pay for my own place? I'm an adult, right?
But here's the thing: I've been protected my whole life. Overprotected. So when my parents suddenly tossed me into the ocean without teaching me how to swim, well... yeah. It's a problem.
I don't know how to live on my own. I haven't touched a house appliance in my life. If I don't know how to do that, how the hell am I supposed to go job hunting?
Until two weeks ago, I didn't even know you needed tickets to ride a train. I knew somehow you had to pay, but the details? Completely foreign.
So yeah. Right now, I'm physically incapable of taking care of myself. I need help.
I turn to her with a pleading look. "Please..."
She sighs. "Fine. I'll help you find a job—but only so you can get on your feet. And I still don't want your money."
I sigh, settling for the compromise. It was that or nothing.
I'll find a way to pay her back eventually.
For now, I'm just happy to finally start doing something.
She turns off the stove and leads us to the living room, where we sit on the couch.
"So," she says, "any qualifications to speak of?"
I nod. "My dad made me go to business school."
I pause before continuing, trusting her.
"He made me go because I told him I wanted to study art. He said if I 'shamed' the family like that, he'd cut me off."
I laugh bitterly. "Well, if I'd known it would end like this, I would've just followed my dream. At least then I'd be prepared. And it would've been my choice."
I feel a hand wiping away a tear I hadn't realized had fallen. I turn away and rub my eyes.
Cora squeezes my hand. She doesn't say anything. She knows the wound is still too fresh.
"Well..." she says, "now that I know you studied business, I might be able to link you up with the grandson of a friend of mine. He's the CEO of a failing perfume company."
She glances at me. "He got caught up in a scandal with a young lady. She framed him, spread horrible lies—even though he was innocent. At first it was just the customers demanding refunds, but now that the woman's gone viral, the company's under serious fire."
"That's... awful," I murmur, genuinely feeling bad for the guy.
"He needs all the help he can get. Hiring you should be a no-brainer."
I nod, grateful. "Thank you so much, Cora. You're really too good to me."
She smiles warmly. "Anytime, love. Now, come on—let's have lunch, shall we?"
I nod and follow her.
After lunch, she steps away to make the call.
When she comes back, her face is glowing. "Good news!" she beams. "You have an interview tomorrow."
I smile. "Thank you so much, Cora."
She gives me a knowing look and squeezes my shoulder. I don't say anything else, but silently vow to repay her one day.
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The Next Day
I leave the house with my head down, praying no one recognizes me. I hadn't packed disguises when I ran. I didn't think I'd need to.
It wasn't the kind of place that advertised job openings. The faded sign above the door read Vallée Noire in peeling gold leaf, like even the name had given up.
The air outside smelled like old lavender and city fumes. The atmosphere felt tired and broken—just like me.
I tightened my grip on the envelope in my hand. Cora had given it to me that morning, tied with a red ribbon and no explanation. Just a name: Mr. A. Renaud.
A bell chimed softly as I stepped inside. No music. No fragrance. Just silence and stale air.
I was halfway to the counter when he appeared.
Dark suit. Loosened tie. Shadows under his eyes like he hadn't slept in days. And that face—sharp, exhausted, and cold with fury.
He froze when he saw me.
And in that stillness, I felt every ounce of his contempt.
"You've got to be kidding me," we said in unison
Hey guys thanks for reading as always ❤️
Oh I wonder what's going to happen next how will he react to seeing her again . Find out in the next chapter
Thanks again for reading and see you in the next one