Chapter 8 Layla Comforts Her Mother
Tess froze in place.
“Do you need anything, Mr. Ash?”
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Riven Ash was a middle–aged man with a shady past and a gold chain as thick as a garden hose hanging from his neck. He had a rounded belly and a fierce and intimidating face.
He looked Tess up and down and let out a crooked smile, like he’d found himself a new prey.
Under his gaze, Tess’s hands instinctively twisted together in unease.
He chuckled. “Relax. I’m not asking you to sell your soul. Just record a short thank–you video. Not too much to ask, right?
“We’re not asking for much–just a quick thank–you video. That’s fair, isn’t it?”
In Riven’s mind, the deal was simple. Some rich guy had donated supplies–not for money but for publicity.
So, why not give him the thing he probably wanted–gratitude? On camera. If they buttered him up, who knew? Maybe he’d keep sending more goods their way.
“Why me?” Tess asked quietly.
There were plenty of older women who could speak more eloquently than her.
She was the quiet one, the one who never talked back.
Why single her out?
“I don’t want it anymore! No thanks are necessary, right?” Tess slowly placed the items back where she took them. She did need thern, that much was true–but if this was the price of gratitude, then she’d rather go without.
Stunned, Riven failed catch up to her.
Tess had already turned and walked away when Riven jolted out of his daze and called after her.
“Hey! The CEO of Lock Group said he’s giving you a personal monthly stipend of 100 dollars!
“He’s doing a good deed. It’s only right for you to record a little thank–you video, right?”
Teas’s steps halted.
200
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A mocking grin tugged at the corners of Riven’s mouth. As expected, Tess couldn’t walk away from 100 dollars, could she? If only she knew it was a lot more than that.
“You said Mr. Lock? From Lock Group? Which Mr. Lock exactly?”
Tess turned back to face him, her expression tight like she was bracing for something.
Riven gave a small cough and stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Come on, who else would it be? You don’t know Finn Lock? The richest man in all of Aetheris?”
Tess’s voice began to tremble in fear. “What? But if he’s that rich, why would he suddenly donate supplies? And why would he specifically give me a monthly stipend? I don’t even know him.”
No… No, no, no… He couldn’t have found out about this. Tess felt dizzy, like the ground might give way beneath her.
Riven scoffed. “He passed by this morning while you were sweeping the sidewalk and probably pitied you–single mom, pushing a cart in the cold. You think a scarred–face woman like you caught his eye for any other reason?”
Tess felt her chest loosen, and her heart slowly dropped back into place.
So, he just pities me for being a single mother. Nothing more.
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Chapter 8 Layla Comforts Her Mother
I thought…
с
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“I understand now,” she said flatly. “But I don’t want any of it. You can record the video yourself and keep the stuff.”
She rejected him coldly.
Riven narrowed his murky eyes when he realized she wouldn’t give in, no matter how he pushed. His lecherous gaze lingered on her.
A feisty one, aren’t you?
He moved closer, practically breathing in her scent. “Come on now. Play nice. I can get you your own room. It’ll be nice and private. With me looking out for you, you’d-”
Tess cut in, stepping back, “Mr. Ash, I need to go take care of my child.”
Tess took a step back, dodging him.
Riven froze for a second. Then, in the blink of an eye, his fury flared.
He lunged forward and yanked her by the hair. “Bitch! I was being nice!”
At that moment, Layla’s cries rang out from the dorm hallway.
Tess struggled to break free.
But Riven was far too strong. He yanked hard, forcing her head to tilt backward. The pain made it feel like her scalp might rip clean off.
“You think I don’t know about your past?” He snarled near her ear. “You’ve been in prison, haven’t you?”
been under
The words were barely more than a whisper–but to Tess, they exploded like thunder.
Her entire body stiffened.
“W–What did you say?”
“You heard me. You’ve got
a record. I had someone dig into it. And you want to act all high and mighty? Give me a break. All I asked for was a thank–you video. What’s a former inmate acting so stuck up for? Bah! Such a jinx!”
“My baby’s crying. Let me go, or I’ll call the police-”
He snorted. “What? You’ll call the cops? Are you threatening me now?
“Do you want me to have you and your kid kicked out of here? If you don’t, record that video now!”
He grabbed her long hair, dragged her toward a nearby utility room, and slammed the door shut behind them.
Bam!
Inside the room was a bed.
Tess was shoved down onto the chair beside the bed, facing the camera. Her eyes were dry, hollow.
Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Riven stood nearby with his arms crossed, growing more impatient by the second.
He didn’t even need to speak anymore. The threat hung thick in the air, letting Tess know that if she wanted to get out of here, she would have to obey.
“Can’t talk? Fine. Read this!” He tossed a sheet of paper at her. It was a script.
“I can’t read,” Tess said, staring back at him with a hollow gaze.
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Chapter 8 Layla Comforts Her Mother
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He laughed cruelly. “Yeah, right. You expect me to buy that? Illiterate people don’t exist anymore. Stop playing dumb. Do you want to get yourself killed? Think about your kid.”
He leered as he spoke.
Tess slowly closed her eyes, then reached for the paper with a trembling hand. Her eyes glazed over the printed thank–you speech. She opened her mouth; her voice came out wooden and strained, like a broken puppet trying to speak.
“Mr. Lock… Thank you for your kindness… For the winter coat and warm blanket. In this freezing weather, your gifts have given me and my child a place of comfort. Your generosity… is something we’ll never forget.”
She stumbled through the lines in a cracked voice.
The paper slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor.
Her face was ghostly white.
Riven, satisfied, turned off the camera. Then, he started toward her again.
His eyes dropped to her collar, where her skin peeked through the neckline of her shirt. He swallowed hard.
Tess, why don’t you show me some gratitude now, huh?”
Bam!
Someone kicked the door open.
“Oh dear! Mr. Ash, I’m so sorry!” Bessie’s voice rang out. “The baby is crying so hard, calling for her mom.
“I tried everything, but she wouldn’t stop crying. I had no choice but to bring her here. I hope we’re not interrupting anything.”
Bessie stormed in with several older women trailing behind her.
The scene they walked into froze them in place. Tess was sitting on the bed with her collar disheveled and one shoulder bare, exposing a huge area of her skin.
In her trembling hand, she clutched a bloody screwdriver. No one knew where she’d gotten it.
Her eyes were bloodshot, her entire body shaking.
Across from her, Riven clutched a bleeding wound on his neck, his belt half undone. He was red–faced and cursing.
“You filthy tramp!” he roared. “You’re already knocked up and even dragging a kid around. Who are you trying to fool with that act?”
Then, noticing Bessie and the others, he was clearly thrown off.
“She came onto me, alright?”
But Bessie and the others had seen enough. They didn’t need an explanation.
Though fear held them back from speaking their minds, they acted quickly.
One of them snatched the screwdriver from Tess’s hand and tossed it aside. Another gently placed the crying baby into Tess’s arms, then pulled her protectively behind them.
“Tess, you’ve still got your afternoon shift on the streets,” Bessie said loudly, acting as if nothing had happened. “Don’t just stand here. Feed the baby. Can’t you hear how hard she’s crying?”
“Now, now, Mr. Ash. Don’t be upset, another woman chimed in. “Tess has a scar on her face and a child to care for. Why would she dare flirt with anyone?”
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Chapter 8 Layla Comforts Her Mother
“Besides, he oversees several streets. You really think he has time for all this?”
“Hey, even if she’s eager to get a raise, she can’t rush it, right? Mr. Ash, don’t forget that we’ve been sweeping these streets for years.”
“Exactly. We’ve been loyal workers for so long. If you give Tess a raise, we’d appreciate a little something too. Don’t forget the old–timers here.”
The women surrounded Riven, their chatter buzzing like flies.
Riven’s expression darkened with frustration, but with all eyes on him, he was too embarrassed to keep pushing.
With a grunt of anger, he turned and stormed out of the room.
Inside, the tension finally broke. Tess clutched Layla tightly, her body still trembling uncontrollably even though the storm had passed.
The older women peeked out the door, making sure Riven was gone before turning their eyes back to her. They were filled with concern and sympathy.
“Tess, are you okay?” Bessie asked softly, inching closer. “He didn’t take advantage of you, did he?” She cautiously approached, gently wrapping her arms around the mother and daughter. She patted Tess’s shoulder.
Tess leaned into her, like someone drowning who had finally found something to hold on to.
She finally snapped out of it and returned to reality.
Tess bit down hard on her lower lip, shaking her head as tears streamed silently down her cheeks. They soaked into Layla’s blanket until it was damp.
Bessie’s nose turned red. She wiped the tears from her eyes as she stood there, unsure how to comfort Tess.
“Oh, poor Tess. Why did that awful jerk have to set his sights on you?” she whispered.
“Yeah, Tess,” another woman murmured. “You’re just too pretty for your own good. If it weren’t for that scar and the baby, I would’ve introduced you to my nephew myself.”
“Maybe it’s time you found a different job?” said another gently. You’re still young. Why stick it out here with us old cleaning ladies?”
Their voices came in waves, soft and scattered, surrounding her like wind whispering through the cracks in an old house. Tes: held Layla close. Her legs were unsteady, and her body swayed like she might collapse at any moment.
Finn…
You’ve been gone for so long. Why now? Why come back and disturb the little peace Layla and I have managed to hold onto?
“Waahhh!”
Tess pressed her cheek gently against Layla’s soft little face. Looking at Layla’s quiet, trusting expression, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. A muffled sob escaped her lips.
“Ahh
Ahh…”
Layla, still too young to speak, stretched out her hands and brushed Tess’s face as if trying to comfort her.
And just like that, something fragile and warm flickered in Tess’s cold heart–a hint of comfort.
But as the saying went–when it rained, it poured.
