CHAPTER 2

As Emily trudged through the front door, exhausted and drained, she was met with a hostile reception. Her stepmother, Monica, glared at her,

Emily, already exhausted, seemed pretty uninterested, eagerly wanting to get back to her room and rest, till her stepmother half-yelled… “Where the hell do you think you’re going...!!”

Confused Emily responds somewhat bewildered ‘Uhmm....my room? 

Emily walks in regardless of the deathly glares from Monica, her stepmother

Elated to finally be alone, Emily stepped into the bathroom for a refreshing shower. The warm water cascaded down her weary body, momentarily soothing her frazzled nerves. Afterward, she trudged back to her bed, collapsing onto the mattress with a deep sigh. She lay flat on her stomach, yearning for the escape of sleep, but her restless mind refused to quiet. 

Thoughts swirled in her head like a vortex, taunting her with worries and fears, making sleep seem like an unattainable luxury. Despite her exhaustion, Emily's mind remained wide awake, a prisoner of her own tumultuous thoughts.

A few minutes of restless tossing and turning passed before Mr. Vincent burst into Emily's room, his brow furrowed in anger. "EMILY…!!" he thundered, making her jump.

Startled, Emily turned to face the door, her eyes locking onto her father's stern expression. 

She hesitated for a moment before asking, "Yes, Dad?" The word felt bitter on her lips, given his recent betrayal, but she knew she had to maintain a facade of respect if she wanted to keep a roof over her head.

Mr. Vincent's expression twisted in disgust. "So, you're sleeping peacefully, like an innocent little girl, right, Emily?" His sarcasm cut deep, and Emily felt her anger simmering just below the surface.

"What's going on, Dad? What am I accused of now?" Emily asked, exasperation etched on her face.

Mr. Vincent's expression turned cold. "What haven't you done, Emily? You're giving me every reason to doubt you're my own flesh and blood."

Emily's disgust was palpable. "What are you talking about, Dad?"

"You know exactly what I mean," Mr. Vincent spat. "You've been trying to seduce your sister's boyfriend, Josh. You're willing to stoop that low?"

Emily's voice trembled. "That's not true, Dad. Josh was mine first. Sylvia stole him from me. I'm not trying to get him back, so just leave me alone."

A tear escaped her eye as she pleaded, her shoulders slumped in defeat. But Mr. Vincent's expression remained unforgiving.

Sylvia sauntered into the room, a smug grin spreading across her face. "Come on, Emily, admit it. You've been trying to steal my boyfriend."

Mr. Vincent's expression turned ugly. "How dare you, Emily! Sylvia would never lie to me. You're being disgusting and insolent."

Emily's eyes flashed with anger. "You believe her over me, your own daughter? You're blind to her manipulation, Father."

But before she could say more, Mr. Vincent's hand cracked across her face, sending her tumbling onto the bed. Sylvia giggled.

"She's a danger to me, Father," Sylvia whined, her eyes wide with fake fear. "If she can seduce my boyfriend, who knows what else she'll do?"

Emily's tears of anger and hurt overflowed. "You're crazy, Sylvia! You've ruined my life, and now you want to take my home too?"

Sylvia played the victim, and Mr. Vincent wavered, torn between his biological daughter and his stepdaughter. Emily's anger boiled over.

"Fine, I'll leave. I won't bother you anymore, Father. You've made it clear where your loyalties lie." She said with sarcastic bitterness.

As Emily packed her bags, tears streaming down her face, she knew she had to escape this toxic family once and for all.

With a heavy heart, Emily walked away from the only home she'd ever known, her back slightly curved in defeat.

As she wandered into the cold night, tears streamed down her face, despite her promise to herself not to cry. 

She stumbled upon a nearby park, where she collapsed onto a bench, replaying the day's events in her mind. A growing sense of hatred and helplessness consumed her.

Staring blankly at her phone, Emily wondered what to do next. With nowhere to go, and it was about to rain. She dialed her best friend Kayla's number.

"Hello?" Kayla's voice answered.

"Kayla...it's me, Emily," she said, her voice trembling.

"Emily, are you alright?" Kayla asked, concern etched in her tone.

"Can I stay over at your place? Please?" Emily begged.

"Of course, Emily. You know you didn't have to ask. Where are you? I'll come get you."

Half an hour later, Kayla arrived, and Emily was grateful to be enveloped in her friend's warm embrace. As they reached Kayla's cozy apartment, Emily was ushered into bed.

"Just sleep, Em. We'll talk in the morning," Kayla soothed.

Emily nodded, her voice barely audible. "Uhmm… Alright."

Emily woke up in Kayla's apartment, feeling emotional. She recounted the previous day's events to Kayla, who offered comfort and reassurance.

"You can stay here as long as you need, Em," Kayla said. "We'll figure something out together."

Kayla suggested Emily work at Nexus, a high-end bar/club where she worked. "They're hiring waitresses, and you'd be perfect!"

Emily agreed, and they went to Nexus that afternoon. With Kayla's introduction, the manager handed Emily an application. She was hired within hours.

The next day, Emily and Kayla started their shifts together. Emily felt a sense of purpose she hadn't felt in months. She was determined to rebuild her life and make sure her mother got the surgery no matter what it took.

Emily expertly balanced a tray of drinks as she made her way to the VIP section of Nexus. She had been working at the club for a few weeks now and was getting the hang of it. As she approached the luxurious couches, she noticed a group of men, all dressed in custom-made suits, sipping on expensive whiskey.

One man in particular caught her eye - Lucas Cole, the multi-billionaire entrepreneur. But Emily had no idea who he was. To her, he was just another wealthy patron.

As she took their orders and served them drinks, Lucas's friends began to taunt her, making flirtatious comments and asking her to join them for a drink. Emily politely declined, trying to maintain her professionalism.

Lucas, however, didn't even acknowledge her presence. He gazed past her, his expression unreadable. Emily felt a shiver run down her spine, but couldn't quite explain why.

As she poured him another drink, their hands touched briefly, and Emily felt a jolt of electricity. But Lucas didn't react, his eyes never leaving the screen of his phone.

Emily left the VIP section, feeling a mix of confusion and curiosity. Who was that enigmatic man, and why did she feel like he saw right through her? 

Little did she know, Lucas Cole had already taken notice of her, but his interest was shrouded in mystery, hidden behind his indifferent facade.