Chapter 3
It was already November 2nd, and I still hadn't gotten last month's pay.
It should've been in my account yesterday. Mrs. Sterling never delayed it.
As if he could read my mind, Alex looked up from his phone, his voice cold.
"I'm holding your paycheck. You're going to pay for what you did last night," Alex said coldly.
I swear, I never told Chloe to turn off the lights.
Alex gave a cold, mocking laugh. "Who else but you knows my Achilles' heel?"
"Chloe's my girlfriend. She might even become the future Mrs. Sterling. You're not even qualified to be jealous of her."
Since I was six, Alex and I shared meals, shared a home, and studied together.
Back then, my skin was dark and classmates bullied and mocked me, but Alex always had my back.
He never let the servants mess with me, and whatever he got, I got too.
I always thought of him as my friend, my big brother, and the one who saved me.
As for those feelings that quietly grew inside me, I never said a word, never let them show.
Mrs. Sterling always said we were worlds apart, and I shouldn't even dream about it.
As we got older, Alex started to realize just how different our worlds were.
He was always surrounded by gorgeous, wealthy girls who chased after him, and he basked in all the attention.
And me? I was always tagging along behind him, feeling like I was just in the way.
I used to sleep on a mattress right next to his bed.
But whenever I upset him, he'd make me sleep on the bare floor and turn the AC down to freezing.
Once he realized I'd never fight back, he found new ways to make me suffer.
After I started college, all the torment and humiliation made it impossible for me to live a normal life.
Seeing me just standing there, silent, Alex added coldly, "Your feelings for me are nothing but disgusting."
Even though I'd already given up hope, his words stabbed me right in the heart.
Fourteen years by his side, and all that's left is just disgust?
Maybe, to Alex, I was just a clingy nuisance he couldn't get rid of, stuck to him no matter what.
I fought back my tears and said, "Alex, I know I messed up. But can I at least get my paycheck?"
He shot back, "No way."
"I already spent the whole thirty thousand dollars to buy Chloe a dress as an apology, and had it rushed. Go pick it up and take it to her dorm."
For someone like Alex, thirty thousand dollars was just pocket change. He could spend it without even thinking.
Back when I lived with the Sterlings, I had food and a roof over my head, but I never got any pocket money.
It wasn't until Alex started college that Mrs. Sterling began paying me, just to make sure I'd take better care of him.
For me, money was something I had to swallow my pride and work my ass off for.
On my way to the parcel pickup spot, everyone shot me looks full of contempt and ridicule.
"Emily Lane? That girl seriously has zero morals."
"That's exactly why she gets to hang around Alex and enjoy all the perks."
"I honestly don't get where she finds the guts to challenge Chloe."
"Didn't you see the video? She's just that shameless, end of story."
Some people got so worked up that they even flung their porridge and bread at me.
I scrambled away, desperate to disappear.
To my surprise, when I got to the package station, there was not just the dress, but also my admission letter.
After dropping off the dress, I rushed back to Alex's place, barely able to wait to tear open the package.
Even though I'd already gotten the admission letter in my email, holding it in my hands was a whole different kind of thrill.
My name, Emily, was printed right there, clear as day.
Alex suddenly appeared in the doorway, snatching the admission letter from my hands with a smirk. "Reading everything in Alteonese now? What, planning to run off abroad or something?"
When did he get back? Wasn't he out street racing with his friends?
Mrs. Sterling and I had agreed I'd be his assistant for four years. If Alex found out I was planning to leave, he'd never let me go.
My heart was in my throat. I honestly had no idea what to do.