Chapter 3

With that, I tossed my phone right into the bucket full of dead fish. The world was quiet again.

Unfortunately, the peace didn't last long. A week later, the fish market came alive.

A few luxury cars rolled up to the muddy entrance, and a crowd of stylishly dressed people walked in.

Abbie led the way. She wore a designer mini dress and sky-high heels, stepping gingerly around the puddles.

"Ew, it smells so bad in here," Abbie said, pinching her nose. Meanwhile, she was livestreaming with her phone in the other hand.

"Everyone, take a look. This is the ex-almost Mrs. Reed," she said, shoving the camera right in my face.

I was wearing a waterproof apron, my hands stained with blood as I gutted a massive grouper.

My hair was a mess, and I had fish scales stuck to my face.

A few of her spoiled friends started jeering at me.

"Hey, isn't that Helena?"

"What happened to you? I heard you got 70 thousand dollars from Lewis, and this is what you ended up with?"

"Did you kill your grandma and keep all the cash? Talk about bad luck."

I kept my head down and focused on my work, ignoring their taunts.

The knife ripped through the fish's belly with a harsh, squelching sound.

Abbie walked over, pretending to lose her balance, and her coffee went flying, soaking the entire basket of fish I'd just finished cleaning.

That was the boss's batch, worth about a thousand dollars.

"Oops, sorry about that," Abbie said. But she was clearly enjoying my misfortune, her eyes practically sparkling with glee.

The boss rushed over, looking like he was about to explode when he saw the mess.

"Are you kidding me? This batch is ruined! Who's paying for this mess?" he shouted, jabbing a finger at me.

I gripped the fish knife tightly.

Abbie snapped open her designer wallet, pulled out a few crisp hundred-dollar bills, and tossed them onto the dirty floor like they were trash.

"Mister, don't get all worked up. I'll pay for it," Abbie said.

Then she turned to me with a vicious smirk. "But Helena, you messed up my shoes. Shouldn't you do something about it?"

Abbie stuck out her foot, making sure everyone could see the tiny speck of mud on her designer shoe.

"Go on, lick it clean. Do that, and I'll pay for your fish too," she said.

The crowd around us cracked up. Everyone was just waiting for me to embarrass myself.

Back then, I would've done anything for Lewis, no matter how humiliating.

I set the knife down. Slowly, I straightened up.

Everyone thought I was about to kneel down and actually lick her shoe. However, I looked at Abbie's flawless face and suddenly laughed.

"Abbie, do you really think I'd stoop that low?" I said, my voice calm but full of contempt.

Before Abbie could react, I grabbed the bucket at my feet, the one full of fish guts, blood, and all the nastiest water I'd collected all morning.

This was the finest filth I'd been saving up since dawn.

I gave it a full swing, putting my whole arm into it.

With a loud splash, Abbie was soaked from head to toe, dripping in fishy sludge. The fishy stench exploded in the air, filling the market in an instant.

Abbie's scream ripped through the fish market, loud enough to pierce the roof. "Helena! I'm going to kill you!"

Abbie's face was smeared with fish guts, looking like some sea monster that had just crawled out of the sewer.

Everyone was dumbstruck, just staring in disbelief.

I hurled the empty bucket onto the ground, the crash echoing through the whole market.

"Now we're square," I said, my voice icy.

I ripped off my apron and slammed it down on the cutting board.

With everyone still wide-eyed and stunned, I turned and walked out without a single glance back.

After soaking Abbie in fish guts, I knew I couldn't stay in Avard anymore. Even this little town wasn't safe for me now.

But I needed money, and I needed it fast. I had to get out of here, as far away as possible.

The temp agency called me with a last-minute gig. A private yacht was heading out to sea for a party and needed a cleaner. One thousand dollars for one night.

I didn't even hesitate. I threw on a mask and a hat and headed out.

But when I got on board, I realized just how small the world really was. The person who chartered this luxury yacht was Lewis.

He was hosting the party to celebrate Abbie's belated birthday and to comfort her after the humiliation she suffered at the fish market.

I wanted to bail, but the yacht was already out on the water.

So, I kept my head down, cleaning in the shadows, just hoping nobody would notice me.

Just my luck, the thing I feared most showed up.

Jared Bradford, the sleazebag who'd been trying to get handsy with me, was drunk as hell and cornered me on the deck.

"Hey, Helena, the beauty herself," he slurred. His fat, piggy hand groped at my waist.

He said, "Stop pretending you're so pure. Mr. Reed doesn't want you anymore, but I don't mind a used shoe..."

I desperately fought him off, then slapped him hard across the face.

The scene blew up. The music stopped, and everyone gathered around to see what was going on.

Lewis walked out, his arm around Abbie, who was looking all refreshed in a new outfit after her shower.

His expression turned cold the moment he saw me.