Chapter 01

WE’RE not perfect. We were all flawed. At some point in our life, we had probably made a decision that we ended up regretting in our whole life. And for Zara, if there was one thing that she regretted in her life, then that’s how she just simply let a man ruin her life.

She sucked in a breath of air and let it out slowly. Her thin lips curled into a smile. She just stepped out of the jail where she had spent her four years. She loathed every hour and minute she had spent inside the prison. But now she was finally free.

Waiting outside the building was her Aunt Livvie along with her 9-year old daughter, Zoe. Her aunt’s face brightened as soon as she saw her.

“Oh, dear,” Aunt Livvie beamed, pulling her into a tight hug. “I’m so glad to see that you’re finally free.”

She pulled away and took a quick glance on Zoe who was just staring blankly at her. “Indeed, I am,” she replied, turning her gaze back at her aunt.

Aunt Livvie held her arm, a warm smile on her face. “Let’s go.”

She just nodded her head and didn’t utter a response. Her aunt called a cab. Zara took one last glance at the correctional facility before getting inside the taxi. She sat beside her aunt, resting her head on her shoulder. She’s finally free and could start anew yet, she still couldn’t truly rejoice. She couldn’t find the happiness in her heart. How could she when hatred was all that’s left to her.

She just lost her four years of life. Gone. Wasted. Her life was almost perfect but then everything came crashing down. She was naive. Blinded by love, she took the blame for the sin she didn’t commit. And yet, the man she held dearly the most and loved more than herself just vanished into thin air.

“You okay?” she heard her aunt ask.

“All good,” she responded, trying to make her voice sound cheerful. “Is there… still no news about him?”

“Nothing,” her Aunt Livvie replied, her voice cold as ice. “My goodness, Zara! Why are you still looking for that bastard? Wherever that man is, let him rot. Who knows, maybe he’s already dead. I thank God if he is.”

Zara chuckled, shaking her head. She doubted that guy was already dead. That guy’s smart and manipulative.

“I have to find him.”

“What for, Zara? Haven’t you had enough? Just forget that bastard. He’s not worth our time.”

Her jaw clenched. There’s no way she’d just forget that man easily. She had to find him. She wouldn’t let it slide what he did to her.

The ride back to her aunt’s house was filled with silence. Once they arrived, Aunt Livvie helped her with her things. Her eyes roamed around the room. Nothing much had changed. It was still the same as she used to remember.

“Your room is still there,” Aunt Livvie said, pointing at the room next to Zoe’s. “I didn’t throw away any of your belongings. Well, except those—” Her aunt broke off and made a little grimace. “Anyway, I kept your room clean and it is still much the same.”

She nodded.

“Welcome home.”

She turned to look at Zoe who finally had spoken. She knelt in front of her and flashed her a smile. “Thank you, Zoe. It’s really good to be back.”

“You better not do something foolish again!” her aunt scolded. She was looking daggers at her. “I’d rather kill you than to see you again back at that place.”

She stood up. She laughed and arched a brow at her aunt. “That’s not going to happen again”— she paused, crossing her hands—“Ever again.”

Aunt Livvie opened her mouth, but not a single thing came out. Instead, she breathed a heavy sigh of resignation before turning her back at her.

She pursed her lips. She gave Zoe a pat on her shoulder before going inside her room.

Just like what her aunt said, things that she got from her ex were no longer in her room. Before, she would put in display the gifts she had received from that man. Even the flowers, she would lovingly put them on a vase.

She chuckled to herself. She was crazily in love back then. It’s just too bad that she fell in love with the wrong person.

Zara gritted her teeth, remembering that dreadful night again. And the feeling she didn’t like—guilt—crept into her. Why was she the only one who needed to suffer? Matt—wherever that bastard was—she prayed that he’s suffering right now. Twice or even tenfold of what she had gone through. And once she saw that bastard again, she would definitely make him pay. After all, he owed her big time.

ZARA DRAGGED her feet towards the vacant bench she saw and took a seat. She carded her fingers through her messy hair and let out a long agonized sigh. Who said looking for a new job would just be that easy for someone who just got out of prison?

A week had already passed and yet she still couldn’t find a job. She was confident that she did well with her interview but after knowing her history, employers would turn her down.

“So much for this so-called new life,” she grumbled beneath her breath.

She took a cigarette and lit it, placing it between her lips. She drew heavily on her cigarette and puffed out a cloud of smoke. She couldn’t do this at her aunt’s house as she was sure her aunt Livvie would be horrified seeing her smoking. She wasn’t actually a smoker before but her life inside the prison made her learn to smoke. It was like her coping mechanism.

Her attention got caught by some children playing in the park. The corner of her lips quirked up. Zara couldn’t help but be envious of the kids. She wished she could go back to before when she was still a kid, whereas she had nothing to worry about. She’d just spend her all day playing and running around.

Hadn’t that accident happened, what would her life be right now? She had already spent a lot of time thinking about the “what ifs” in her life. Yes, he hated Matt but she also hated herself. She blamed her own foolishness—giving her all to that person who just betrayed her in the end. But there’s no point crying over spilled milk now. She had learned her lesson and it won’t happen again.

“Oh well,” she sighed. She rose to her feet, tugging her skirt down. “I guess I’ll call it a day.”

She threw the cigarette on the ground and stomped on it. She would just have to try her luck tomorrow. Sweat stung her eyes and she wiped her face with her sleeve. It was scorching hot and sunny.

Zara decided to go home already. She took a cab on her way home but it seemed like today wasn’t her day. There was a road accident and she was stuck in traffic for almost two hours. It was already past three in the afternoon when she got home.

“I’m home—”she paused; a small frown creased her forehead—“Oh, I didn’t know that we had a guest.”

The old woman smiled at her before turning her gaze back at her aunt. “Is she the niece you were talking about?”

“Ah, yes she is.”

Zara just smiled and went to their kitchen. She opened the fridge and took the pitcher and poured herself a glass of water.

“How’s the job hunting?” her Aunt Livvie asked. “Did it go well?”

She scrunched up her face, putting the glass down. “Nope, no luck. Where’s Zoe, by the way?”

Her aunt frowned. “She’s outside, playing. Have you not seen her?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I probably didn’t notice.”

“I’ll take my leave now,” the woman interjected. “Do tell me if you have found someone, okay?”

“Okay, okay, no worries.”

The old woman turned to look at her and gave her a smile. Zara just nodded her head and watched as their guest left their house.

“Who’s she?” she asked her aunt Livvie.

“Diane. She asked me if I know someone who’s willing to work as a maid. Actually it was her cousin who was looking for one. Her cousin had to go back to their province and is now looking for someone to replace her.”

“I see.”

She plopped down on their ragged couch. She took out her phone from her bag to check if there was any email from the companies she had sent her application. She rubbed her face in frustration upon seeing that there was still no response from any of them.

She didn’t know what to do anymore. She just wanted to put herself back on track. But why did it seem so hard?

“Should I do it?” she asked out of the blue.

Aunt Livvie looked at her confusingly. “Do what?”

ZARA GAZED in awe at the high-rise condominium building in front of her. She checked again the piece of paper that Diane gave her where the address had been written to see if she was in the right place. And yes, she was.

She decided to take the job as a maid while she’s still waiting for a response from the companies she applied to. It was actually a spur of the moment decision. Even her Aunt Livvie was also surprised and was against her idea at first. But she insisted, and in the end her aunt had no choice but to give in. She took a deep breath and entered the building. Her eyes roamed around the room. She couldn’t help but be amazed at the elegant interior inside the building.

“Who are you going to?” the receptionist asked her in a polite but serious tone.

Zara showed the man the piece of paper she was holding. “I’m the new maid for that unit. The previous one, Elise, told me that she had already informed the owner of the unit that I’ll be arriving today.”

The receptionist checked the paper she gave. “Ah, yes. Mr. de Silva called earlier and told that his new maid will be coming today. You can take that elevator, 30th floor.”

“Thanks.”

The elevator door opened and she stepped inside along with two other people. She pressed the 30th button and then the door closed. Zara glanced at her watch. It was exactly 8 in the morning. Was the owner of the unit waiting for her right now? Oh, she just hoped that she didn’t make him wait for too long.

The ding of the elevator drew her attention, realizing that she’s already on the 30th floor. She got off the elevator. There was only one unit on that floor.

“A penthouse, huh?”

There was a doorbell so she rang it. She bit her lip as she waited in front of the door. After a few moments, Zara heard the door open.

“Hello, I’m Za—” She stopped mid sentence; completely stunned at the sight in front of her.

A man just came out with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. Hair still wet and beads of water clung to the muscle of his chest.

“Ah, so you’re the one Elise recommended,” he spoke, his voice deep and rich.