Chapter 2

I stopped in my tracks and turned to face her.

Emily crossed her arms, looking smug as she ordered,

"Tomorrow, you're going to the West Family and call off the engagement."

"Lucas was completely disappointed in you yesterday. He doesn't want you anymore!"

Lucas finally bothered to look at me, just for a second.

He said coldly, "Sophie, I used to think you and Emily just had some normal sister squabbles. I never expected you'd sink so low—throwing hot water, playing tricks. Someone as nasty as you doesn't deserve to be my fiancée."

I blinked, totally lost.

Even though I couldn't remember much anymore, hearing that made my heart ache for no reason.

Tears spilled down my cheeks before I even realized it.

'I guess, before I started forgetting everything, I must've really liked Lucas,' I thought.

But now, I can hardly remember the things related to Lucas in the past.

Whenever I tried to recall, all I saw was his cold, distant back.

I wiped my tears away clumsily and nodded.

"Okay, I got it," I said quietly.

Then I turned and scribbled in my notebook: [3. Tomorrow, break off the engagement with Lucas.]

After closing my journal, I was about to ask the driver for a ride to the nearest bus stop.

But my mom cut me off.

"Hold it! Emily's going shopping this afternoon. If you want to go out, figure it out yourself," she snapped.

"It's boiling out there. If you take the car, what's Emily supposed to use?"

I almost wanted to say something back.

I wanted to ask my mom why she could treat her own daughter like this.

But when I turned around, I saw them all together, laughing and chatting like one big happy family.

Emily was nestled between my parents, and Lucas stood right there with them, like he was part of the family.

Suddenly, I couldn't say a single word.

I just took out my umbrella and stepped into the scorching sun without a word.

Behind me, I could faintly hear my mom muttering.

"Let this be a lesson for her."

And then Lucas's voice, low and cold.

"She deserves it."

There was no public transport in the villa district, and the nearest bus stop was a thirty-minute walk away.

Even with my umbrella, the heat was radiating up from the pavement. By the time I finally made it to the bus stop, my clothes were plastered to my back, my head was spinning, and I was so dizzy I could barely stand.

After an hour on the crowded bus, I rushed to change into my work uniform and started shaking up bubble tea at the shop.

It was scorching outside, and with summer vacation in full swing, the place was packed.

I was so busy I barely had time to breathe, and my hands were so numb from making drinks I could hardly feel them anymore.

By the time it hit three or four in the afternoon, things finally slowed down a bit.

I pressed my hand to my stomach, which was aching from hunger, and was just about to huddle in the corner and eat a couple bites of bread.

Suddenly. Emily's voice came from right above me.

She waved a black card, her smile practically blinding.

"Slacking off already Sophie?" Emily sneered.

"Give me five hundred milk teas! And make them the hardest ones you've got!"

One of my coworkers, unable to stand it anymore, stepped in to help.

"Ma'am, she hasn't even had a break yet. If you order over there, someone else can help you," she said.

Emily spun around and glared at her.

"Who asked you? I want her to do it!" Emily snapped.

"If she can't finish, I'll complain to your boss and make sure your pay gets cut!"

I didn't want to drag my coworkers into this.

So I put down the bread I hadn't even touched, forced myself to stand up, and my vision went black for a second.

Five hundred drinks? Even if I worked until midnight, there was no way I could finish them all.

I looked up and saw Lucas standing right behind Emily.

He had his hands in his pockets, watching with a cold, indifferent look as Emily deliberately made things difficult for me.

I had no choice but to turn to him for help.

"Lucas, can you please talk to Emily? Five hundred drinks is just impossible" I asked.

But before I could even finish,

Lucas cut me off.

"Sophie, drop the pity act. The Grant Family doesn't need the money you make from this job. You're out here sweating in the sun, just so you can look miserable and then claim Emily's bullying you," he said coldly.

"What, can't keep up the act anymore?"

I had no idea where Lucas got that idea from.

I was just trying to save up a few thousand dollars for college tuition.

I was about to explain, but Emily urged impatiently, cutting me off.

Emily snapped, her voice sharp and impatient.

"Are you going to make them or not?"

"Don't think I won't call your boss right now and get you in trouble!"

I gritted my teeth and forced myself to keep going, working nonstop from three in the afternoon all the way until nine at night.

I didn't even get a single sip of water, and my stomach was cramping and churning from the pain and hunger.

Some of my coworkers tried to secretly help me out, but Emily snapped at them.

"If anyone dares help her, I'll report you too!" she threatened, her voice sharp.

I just kept at it, hour after hour, until nine o'clock.

Not even a drop of water passed my lips.

Lucas looked at my pale face with nothing but contempt,

thinking I was just faking it again.

When he told his assistant to take away all five hundred milk teas, he couldn't help but mock me.

"Wow Sophie, I really did underestimate you," he sneered.

"Not only do you play dumb, but you're a real drama queen. You'd go this far just to get my pity, huh?"

I was so exhausted I couldn't even get a word out, so I just ignored him.

At 10:30 PM, I dragged my aching legs onto the last bus of the night.

I was way past hungry—so empty I was seeing stars.

But thanks to those five hundred drinks Emily forced on me, my boss gave me an extra fifty dollars for all the trouble.

Could be worse.

That'd cover a week's worth of cafeteria meals when I get to college.

As soon as I walked in the door, before I could even take off my shoes,

Smack!

A slap landed hard across my face, knocking me straight to the floor.