Chapter 295: Chapter 295 Pain
A choked cry escaped her lips. She bit her lower lip to stifle the sound, terrified that Alexa might hear. Why? Why is she so cruel?
At eighteen, Freya should have been finishing school, laughing with friends, chasing the small dreams she once had. But life had never been that gentle. Her mother’s sudden illness had torn everything away. Medicines, endless tests, bills that piled higher each month, they had cost more than their tiny family could manage. One by one, the things Freya loved were stripped away, until even her education had to be sacrificed. She had dropped out quietly, without telling her friends goodbye, stepping into the world of work with nothing but desperation to keep her upright.
And now here she was burned, insulted, humiliated and reduced to a servant in the house of people who would never see her as anything but replaceable.
Her tears fell faster. She pressed the hem of her sleeve against her eyes, wiping them quickly, but the sting in her arm only worsened. She staggered to her feet and turned on the faucet, letting the cool water flow. Carefully, she placed her arm beneath it, gasping at the relief as the cold stream met the heat of the wound. The pain didn’t vanish, it pulsed stubbornly but the water dulled the fire enough for her to breathe again.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror above the sink. Her green eyes were swollen and red, her long wavy hair clinging to her damp cheeks, her lips trembling. She looked nothing like the bright girl she had once been. Instead, she looked like someone hollowed out, someone trying desperately to survive.
"I can’t... cry anymore," she whispered to herself, her voice breaking. "I have to stay strong—for mama."
With shaking hands, she splashed cold water on her face, washing away the evidence of her tears. She dabbed her eyes with a towel and smoothed her hair back, forcing a faint, practiced smile onto her lips. The sting in her arm was still unbearable, but she covered it with her sleeve.
So Freya straightened, whispered a small prayer for strength, and opened the bathroom door, ready to step back into the cage of her reality.
***
"Drop me at Scarlett’s apartment uncle," Bella told the driver uncle, her tone firm enough to sound natural, though her heart fluttered nervously in her chest.
The driver nodded, pulling up outside Scarlett’s building. Bella stepped out gracefully. She waited until the car had driven far enough down the road, then exhaled in relief. Pulling out her phone quickly, she booked a cab.
Her reflection in the glass of the apartment doors looked back at her — soft brown hair, flushed cheeks, eyes shining with nervous energy. I really need to buy my own place, she thought with a sigh, nibbling at her lip. What if Leo—or anyone else—asks for my address proof? I can’t keep lying forever.
The thought lingered as she slid into the cab’s back seat. She imagined a small, cozy apartment tucked somewhere quiet, a place she could decorate with her plushies and books, a safe space no one knew about. She wanted independence, somewhere she belonged, without fear of anyone tracking her every move. I’ll save up. I’ll buy one secretly. That way, no one can control me.
The cab slowed near the mall, and Bella stepped out again, she slipped inside, weaving quickly through the racks. She picked out fresh clothes, something different to shift her appearance again. Changing in same old restroom, she caught her reflection once more and almost laughed at herself. What a troublesome day. Disguises, clothes, secret rides... this is really exhausting.
Still, her heart raced with a stubborn thrill. There was a spark of excitement in the secrecy, the sense that she was testing fate, walking on the edge of discovery.
Once outside again, she booked another cab, this one headed straight toward Leo’s company.
As the car pulled into traffic, Bella sat back and pressed her palms against her knees. She drew in a deep breath, then another, trying to calm the wild beating in her chest. Stay calm. Stay focused. Just act normal.
Her gaze shifted to the window, where the towering glass buildings of the city gleamed in the morning light. With each passing block, her nerves grew sharper. She clenched her bag tighter, her fingers twitching against the fabric.
When the cab finally slowed near the imposing gates of Leo’s company, Bella’s breath caught. She looked up at the tall building, sleek and intimidating, the company’s logo shining proudly at the top.
Her heart thudded harder. This is it.
For a moment, she almost wanted to turn back. But then she exhaled shakily and whispered under her breath, "You can do this, Bella."
She pushed the door open, her legs trembling slightly as her shoes touched the pavement.
And with that, she walked toward the entrance—straight into the lion’s den.
The guard at the gate barely gave her a second glance before waving her through. Bella exhaled quietly, surprised at how easy it was. Too easy, she thought, her nerves twitching. Still, she lifted her chin, adjusted her bag strap, and walked through the gleaming glass doors.
The company’s interior stunned her for a moment. The tall ceilings stretched overhead, the marble floors shone so brightly they reflected her shoes, and the entire lobby pulsed with quiet authority. She felt like she had stepped into another world — one that whispered power with every polished surface.
She made her way to the reception desk where a woman sat typing rapidly, her long nails clicking against the keyboard. Her bold red lips gleamed under the soft lighting, and when she finally glanced up, her smile was warm and professional.
"Oh, sir!" she said brightly, her tone almost eager.
Bella blinked, startled, but quickly returned the smile, feeling a rush of relief at the kindness. She’s nice, Bella thought.
"You’re Isaac, right?" the receptionist asked, tilting her head slightly.
Bella nodded quickly, trying not to fidget, returning the smile, grateful for the receptionist’s kind demeanor. She seemed efficient, not the sort to make anyone feel out of place.