18
The shelter funds were replenished the very next day, but Cole Miller vanished from my world once more. The comments had also vanished, likely
Chapter 2
18
14.52
The shelter funds were replenished the very next day, but Cole Miller vanished from my world once more. The comments had also vanished, likely
because the plot had veered too far off course, and the author had simply abandoned the story.
My complexion had become so dreadful lately that even the dogs shied away from me, and my boss actively avoided my gaze.
Finally, a clear, sunny day dawned. I washed all the blankets and took them to the rooftop to dry.
“Sue! Someone’s here for you!” Chloe yelled from downstairs.
I hurried down, only to find Lily White waiting for me, her designer handbag clutched in her hand.
“Ms. Hayes, shall we talk?” She led me to a high–end coffee shop and reserved a private room.
“Sue,” she began, her voice tight. “Do you understand what ‘shameless‘ means?”
I was baffled. Who was she to talk?
“I don’t care what tricks you used to convince Cole to break off our engagement, but today, you’re going to sever all ties with him. Permanently.”
“In this world, resources and reputation flow upwards. People like you, from the common folk, can work your entire lives and still be nothing more
than livestock we keep for our convenience.”
“Livestock and their owners can never be together. Instead of letting him pine for you, why don’t you go explain things to him clearly, hm?”
This was the heroine of a ‘redemption‘ novel? I could only laugh.
“Alright,” I agreed, without hesitation. “If you truly believe that my leaving him will guarantee you a perfect marriage, then let’s make a bet.”
“A bet on how long someone as undeserving as you can hold onto all that wealth and status?”
As I stepped out, I saw Cole standing by the stairwell, his eyes filled with a deep disappointment. “You agreed to her terms?”
་ ༢ – ྃ
I thought for a moment, then nodded. “But…”
Before I could finish, he yanked me into the fire escape stairwell and kissed me with a desperate, frantic intensity. His grip was iron–strong, pressi- ng the back of my head, stealing every gasp of air. I was weak and trembling when he finally pulled away.
“You’re here to say goodbye again, aren’t you?” His voice was a raw, broken rasp. “Why is it always so easy for you to just cast me aside? Do you have any idea what these past few years have been like for me?”
Cole tore open his shirt, revealing arms crisscrossed with scars. “Big sister, that marker you gave me ran out of ink a long time ago.”
