02.

Reily’s POV

I walked into my apartment, my heart heavy. I couldn't stop thinking about the past year. I realized that many signs pointed to the truth: that arsehole never truly loved me.

If only I hadn’t been too oblivious.

The truth was right in front of me, yet I failed to see it; I was blinded by the love I had for him.

The start of our relationship was so beautiful that I never thought it would end so soon. He has not only broken my heart but crushed the plans I had for us.

I felt heartbroken because I loved him so much. I never imagined he could be such a good actor and fool me around.

I thought about all the times he made me feel special, all the sweet words he whispered in my ear. It was all a lie.

I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I couldn't believe I wasted a whole year of my life on him.

As I lay in bed, I couldn't stop crying. I felt like my heart was shattered into a million pieces.

Just as I was starting to fall asleep, my phone rang. I groggily picked it up, hoping it wasn't him calling to apologize.

"Hello?" I said, my voice hoarse from crying.

"Reily, it's Doctor Smith from the hospital," a voice said on the other end.

My heart skipped a beat. "What's wrong?" I asked, feeling a sense of dread and fear as countless thoughts ran through my head.

"Reily, I have some good news and some bad news," Doctor Smith said. "The good news is that your mom's illness can be cured now. But the bad news is that it's going to cost a lot."

I felt a surge of hope. "How much?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"It's going to be around $10,000," Doctor Smith said.

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Where was I going to get that kind of money? I have never held that much money.

How do I start looking for so much?

Especially now that I have lost my job, after tonight I made up my mind to cut all ties with Noel, which included working in his cafe.

"I'll try my best to pay the bill," I said, trying to sound confident.

"Okay, Reily. We'll need the payment within a week," Doctor Smith said.

I hung up the phone, feeling worried. Although I had been working part-time jobs in the past years, most of my salary went to pay for my college tuition and my mom's hospital bills.

I felt my set of tears beginning to form as my heart squeezed in fear of losing my mum.

I love her so much, and she is the only one I have, but how do I get such a huge amount within a week?

Where was I going to get the money for the surgery?

I felt the tears streaming down. Why did everything have to happen at once?

I lay in bed, feeling helpless. I didn't know what to do.

I broke into a new set of sobs feeling overwhelmed.

I knew I had to find a way to pay off my mother’s hospital bills; I had to.

With the thought, I fell into a deep slumber.

The next day, I decided to return the watch I had bought for Noel to add up to the money for Mum’s treatment.

I walked into the mall, watch in hand, and approached the counter.

My heart pined as I recalled how excited I was to get the watch.

Arsehole!

As I waited for the salesgirl to process my return, I noticed a man standing at the next counter. He was browsing through the display case, examining each item with a critical eye.

The salesgirl showed him a few different options, but he rejected each one. I couldn't help but notice how handsome he was—chiseled features, piercing eyes, and a strong jawline.

But what caught my attention was his picky attitude. He seemed to be dissatisfied with every option the salesgirl presented him.

“How do you deal with that?” I couldn’t help but ask.

She chuckle, “It gets annoying, but then it is what we are hired to do.”

I rolled my eyes to myself. “Rich people, always so demanding and never satisfied.”

“Tell me about it,” she snickered.

Finally, the salesgirl finished processing my return, and I left the store with a refund in hand.

It was barely enough to handle the bills, but it mattered. I needed to apply for jobs; I needed any chance I get to work off the pending money for Mum’s treatment.

As I got home, my eyes caught slightly at the jacket Noel had given me the night we first met, my eyes stinging at the memory.

No!

He didn’t deserve my tears.

I picked it up and tossed it in the trash, my lips quivering. I begin to pack all the things Noel had gifted me, sealing them in the box.

I was done with him for good.

After that, I decided to do job hunting; I needed something that paid a high salary, but every job was below budget, and the ones above budget, I didn’t meet the requirements.

Just as I was scrolling through job listings, my email notification popped up. It was from one of my professors, informing me that the Russel’s Company was hiring an assistant.

My heart skipped a beat as I read the email. Russel Company was the most successful company in the jewelry industry, and working there would be a dream come true.

But then the chances of me getting hired are close to zero.

I had always wanted to be a famous designer, and working with the Russels would give me great opportunities.

I quickly sent in my application, my fingers crossed that I would get the job.

I hope I do.

My thoughts are cut short when the doctor’s call comes through again.

My heart dropped.

“Reily, I don’t think you have up to a week to pay for your mum’s treatment… Her health is deteriorating,” he said, his tone serious.

A wave of panic washed over me.

I was doing my best for god's sake.

“Is there anything you can do to help me get Mum’s treatment, I promise I will pay off—” I plead desperately, my voice cracking.

He cut me off, “I’m sorry, Reily, but the only way is to make payment to the hospital before the surgery can be processed.” With that, he cut off the call.

I broke into sobs feeling hopeless.

I tried reaching out for help from friends and relatives, but nothing was working out.

My aunt said she was struggling to make ends meet herself.

I felt like I was at my wit's end. Where was I going to get the money?

To make matters worse, I failed in several job interviews. They all said the same thing: they didn't want to give a recent graduate a chance.

I felt like I was never going to catch a break.

But then, after a few days of rejection, I received an email from Russel Company. They wanted me to come in for an interview.

I was ecstatic.

On the morning of the interview, I prepared carefully. I wanted to make a good impression and secure that job; it was the only chance I had, and I didn’t want to miss it; I couldn’t afford to miss it.

I got to the company as early as 7 am sharp, adjusting my shirt and clutching hard on my resume.

You’ve got this, Reily!

As I walked into the meeting room, I saw a familiar face.

I knew I had seen this face somewhere.

Right!

It was the handsome yet picky man from the mall.

But this time, he wasn't browsing through jewelry. He was sitting behind a large desk, looking powerful and dominating.

"Miss Flynn, welcome," he said, standing up to greet me. "I'm Aiden Russel, the CEO of Russel Enterprises."

I gulped a lump, having no idea the mad I judged back at the mall was going to be my boss, hopefully.

I slipped my hands into his, feeling the shock surge within me, crawling down my spine.

“Pleasure meeting you, Sir.”