Chapter 1: 50,000 Dollars

Allison Claire's POV

A message from Dr. Eleanor Fitzgerald popped up on my phone.

I was studying ballet at New York University but had been missing classes for a month or two due to my part-time job. At this very moment, I didn't even need to check the message to know its content.

[Allison Claire, I'm sorry to bother you, but NYU's Tisch School of the Arts has attendance rules. Other professors have noticed your absence. If this continues, the school will have to give you a warning... You have a special talent for ballet, and we would hate to see you leave.]

I checked my inbox—it was flooded with emails from other professors asking why I hadn't been to class.

"This is awful." My voice was still a bit strained from crying the night before.

I didn't want to ruin my attendance record or disappoint my professors, but I was at a loss for a better solution to my current troubles. I responded to each email, expressing my apologies for missing classes but avoiding any commitment to return soon.

"Allison, are you okay?" My little sister Olivia hurried over, clutching her teddy bear in one hand and leading my younger brother Daniel with the other. She gazed at me with worry. "I heard your voice. Are you feeling unwell or something?"

"No, Olivia, I'm sorry for making you worried." I embraced Olivia and Daniel, planting kisses on their foreheads. "Did you two sleep well last night?"

"Yes, and Daniel did, too, right?" Olivia replied, waving Daniel's hand in the air.

Daniel remained silent. He glanced at me briefly before looking down. Ever since our parents' accident, he had grown quieter.

I kissed them again, pretending that everything was fine. I didn't want them to fret over me. They were just kids, and they shouldn't bear my burdens.

At that moment, the doorbell rang, and I heard my neighbor's voice. "Allison, I'm here to pick up the kids."

My neighbor, Susan, was at the door. She had kindly offered to look after the kids while I was at work, trying to ensure they wouldn't be alone.

"Thank you so much for helping me. I'll come get them soon," I said gratefully.

Susan hugged Olivia and Daniel, then turned to me with a worried look. "Oh, Allison, I hope you're taking care of yourself. You look tired."

I nodded, though I knew getting rest wasn't an option.

After my father's business failed, he lost all hope and ended his own life. And unfortunately, my mother got into a car accident when she received the news and had been in a coma ever since.

The financial distress from the business failure and my mother's medical expenses had left us drowning in debt, with no help from our relatives. They acted like vultures eyeing a carcass.

To survive, I had to take on multiple jobs, running on empty like a machine. There was no downtime in my life, because it would only prolong my pain.

But I couldn't burden Susan with that. She was one of the few who genuinely sympathized with me and offered support after my parents' tragedies.

After bidding farewell to Susan, I set off for work.

Yesterday, I got a call from Olivia and Daniel's school before I returned home. They used to go to a private school before our family's financial crisis, a fact I had almost forgotten amidst my hospital visits and work shifts.

The school informed me that I had to pay their fees for the upcoming term, or Olivia and Daniel couldn't continue their education there.

The pressure was suffocating; life was pressing down on me like an avalanche, and I felt helpless.

But seeing Olivia and Daniel sleeping peacefully gave me the strength to move forward—today, I had to secure another well-paying job quickly.

As I headed out, my phone buzzed with a message.

[I know you're busy, and I shouldn't bother you, but this little guy wants to bring you good luck.]

A photo of an adorable puppy accompanied the message.

It was from my boyfriend, Alex James, a computer science student at NYU's Tandon School of Engineering. We had known each other since childhood, both coming from similar backgrounds. Our relationship blossomed in college, and many had given their blessings before my family's financial downfall.

Despite the hardships of my family's bankruptcy, Alex stayed with me. His love for me ran deep, and he feared I wouldn't recover from the shock.

Although we loved each other deeply, I hesitated to share my burdens with Alex and his family, choosing not to complain about anything.

[Yeah, he is cute, but I think a kiss from my boyfriend would bring me more luck,] I replied.

Alex's immediate response made it seem like he had been eagerly waiting for my reply. [Hey, babe, I'm happy you're feeling better today. I was worried you might not reply due to everything going on. Please don't strain yourself with work. I'll be with you whenever you need me.]

Alex's cheerful demeanor shone through his words. I could almost envision his warm smile and bright eyes twinkling like the puppy's in the photo.

Grateful for his concern, I sent him a heart emoji and a blowing kiss.

After replying, I reached the bakery where I worked part-time. Today, I was operating the cash register. One perk of this job was that the owner allowed me to take home any unsold bread.

During my break, my phone rang.

"Hello, is this Ms. Claire?" a polite voice inquired from the other end. He then introduced himself as the leader of a professional dance group. Having seen my previous dance performances, he was impressed, which was why he reached out to offer me a role.

He inquired if I could lead the dance performance at a banquet hosted by the wealthy Ravenclaw family.

I hesitated. The idea of facing familiar faces from before my family's financial struggles made me anxious—in what way would they view me? Sympathy? Ridicule? Disdain?

Perhaps they would gossip about my family's downfall privately and then approach me with patronizing condolences, saying, "Oh, I'm really sorry to hear that."

The thought of this unsettled me.

"This is a great opportunity. Shouldn't you know the pay before deciding?" Sensing my uncertainty, he continued persuading me. Then, he offered an impressive sum. "50,000 dollars, how about that?"

I was taken aback. I knew I could never say no to such an offer—it could cover Olivia and Daniel's tuition fees!

Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I realized this was a clear choice. I reassured myself that maybe my identity wouldn't matter to most. Disguised in costume, perhaps I could go unrecognized on the stage.

With resolve, I informed the leader that I would accept the job, committing to attend their training sessions for the following month.

Even if my acquaintances recognized me, I thought, it no longer mattered—it couldn't worsen my situation any further, anyway.