Chapter 8
288 Voucher
I didn’t take Sebastian back to my rental apartment.
Instead, I found a random seat at a nearby café and ordered myself a coffee, sipping it in silence.
“You shouldn’t be drinking coffee with your stomach issues,” Sebastian said, taking the cup from my hand without asking and ordering me hot milk instead.
“Do you know why I ended up with stomach problems in the first place?”
I asked, slowly turning the handle of the milk cup between my fingers.
Sebastian looked confused and shook his head.
“When I first found out you were in debt, I started skimping on meals, so I could cook better food for you,” I said.
“I wanted you to know that even if we were struggling, it wasn’t the end of the world–because you still had me.
“That’s when I developed stomach issues. I ignored it and let it drag on… So…”
I pushed the milk back toward him, pulled my coffee close, and finished it in one long sip. My eyes burned with un- shed tears.
“You’re the last person who has the right to tell me what I should or shouldn’t drink. Do you understand?”
Sebastian looked stunned, probably because he’d never seen me lose my temper before.
#
After a pause, he forced a smile. “You’re right. I was wrong. But it’s not too late to start over.”
He dropped to one knee, pulled out an elegant jewelry box from his bag, and a pigeon’s egg.
“Let me propose to you again,” he said, extending the ring toward me.
O it to reveal a diamond the size o
“Let’s have the wedding we never did–a grand ceremony that’ll be the talk of Jacksonville. I want to give you th best of everything.”
His eyes were full of sincerity, but all I felt was irony.
How could he believe, after everything, that I’d come back?
I picked up the ring gently and looked inside. Our names were engraved on the band.
“I’ll take it,” I said.
Sebastian’s face lit
up
with joy, and he jumped to his feet, eyes gleaming.
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Chapter 8
“You’re saying yes?”
“This ring will count as civil compensation,” I said. “But the divorce case is still happening. And I’m pursuing crimi- nal charges, too. You should start preparing your defense for the court date.”
I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked out of the café without looking back.
I’d just gathered all the evidence and hired a lawyer when a viral scandal exploded online.
They claimed the CEO of Souza Group had a cheating wife–me. Said I’d been hooking up with some senior named Jared since college and never stopped even after marriage.
They accused me of being insatiable, that I took the job of a censorship officer just to satisfy my twisted desires.
The internet was flooded with nasty comments and speculation.
“Who in their right mind would work in that field?”
“Her head’s probably full of dirty stuff–no wonder she cheated.”
Paparazzi even staked out in front of my office building to ambush me.
“Is it true you became a censorship officer because of some physical needs?”
“Have you been having an affair for years?”
“What is it about Jared that attracted you? Skills in bed, or…”
My head was on the verge of exploding.
“That’s enough!”
I yelled, snatching a microphone from one of them.
Their eyes locked on me like a pack of starving wolves eyeing prey.
They didn’t care about the truth. All they wanted was a juicy headline.
My scattered thoughts began to settle. I took a breath and gave them a cold smile.
“I’ve already filed charges against Jared. The lawsuit is public–go look it up yourselves. If you keep spreading lies, be ready to face defamation suits.”
Some of the reporters lowered their mics. The rest looked at each other, unsure of what to do.
“I have nothing to hide. I work with integrity.
“The recent incident at the Wyndham Hotel, where a staff member secretly recorded guests in their rooms? It was un- covered thanks to our content–monitoring work.
“If society insists on viewing our industry through a twisted lens, then don’t be surprised when your privacy disap- pears one day.”
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After saying my piece, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest. I gave the reporters a nod and wall
The next day, articles defending our profession were everywhere online.
Colleagues from across the field began speaking out to protect their dignity.
And as for me, I was finally ready to confront everyone who had ever hurt me. One by one.
