Chapter 10

<p>As I walked out of Fiona's office, my steps felt light, almost like I was floating.</p><p>I made it. I really landed a job all by myself. A job at Peak Group.</p><p>I was so happy that I wanted to scream right then and there.</p><p>I stepped into the elevator and looked at myself in the mirror.</p><p>My face was radiant again, more dazzling than it had ever been, even five years ago.</p><p>The elevator reached the first floor. I stepped out of the Peak Group building, and the warm sunlight bathed me in its glow.</p><p>I pulled out my phone, eager to share the good news with Joan first.</p><p>But the moment I looked up, my smile froze on my face.</p><p>Across the street, next to a black Mercedes, stood a figure I could recognize anywhere.</p><p>It was Mark.</p><p>He was standing there, face sullen, locking his eyes on me, and in his gaze was nothing but raw, undisguised anger and disappointment.</p><p>What was he doing here?</p><p>Did Hardy send him?</p><p>Was he here to drag me home?</p><p>My heart dropped.</p><p>I'd just broken free from my cage, and they'd already sent someone to hunt me down.</p><p>Mark was just standing there, right across the street.</p><p>Between us, a stream of cars flowed by, but his gaze, sharp and cold as a blade forged in ice, pierced straight through me.</p><p>The soaring confidence I'd just felt was instantly frozen by that look.</p><p>What was he doing here?</p><p>Did Hardy send him?</p><p>Or did he not trust me and follow me himself?</p><p>Countless thoughts raced through my mind.</p><p>My knuckles turned white as I gripped my phone.</p><p>I couldn't freak out now.</p><p>I had just told myself that I was the one calling the shots in my life.</p><p>I took a deep breath, locked eyes with Mark, and walked across the crosswalk.</p><p>I kept my pace steady, heading toward him.</p><p>Mark didn't move and just stared at me.</p><p>The closer I got, the more clearly I could see his anger and disappointment.</p><p>Then I stood right in front of him.</p><p>"Mark," I spoke first, my voice calm.</p><p>He didn't say a word. He just looked me up and down.</p><p>He stared at the suit I was wearing, which clearly didn't belong in my closet. And then he looked at the determination on my face, something he'd never seen before.</p><p>"You really came for the interview," Mark said, his voice hoarse and strained, like he couldn't believe it.</p><p>"Yeah." I didn't deny it.</p><p>"Why?" Mark stepped closer, his tall frame looming over me. "Yolanda, what exactly are you up to?</p><p>"Do you even realize how much Hardy has gone through for you?</p><p>"He called me yesterday, saying you were throwing a fit and insisted on getting a job.</p><p>"He asked me to check on you today, worried you might do something reckless.</p><p>"I didn't believe it. I thought you were just acting out for a while.</p><p>"But you really came!"</p><p>Mark's voice kept rising, so loud that people started staring at us.</p><p>I ignored the curious looks from the people around us and just stared at him, the brother who'd always cherished me since we were kids.</p><p>"Mark, do you really think me looking for a job means I'm doing something reckless?" I said.</p><p>"Isn't it?" Mark shot back, his voice full of pain and frustration. "You have such a good life, but you have to go out and put yourself out there?</p><p>"Are you short on cash? Or is Hardy treating you badly?</p><p>"Yolanda, stop being so stubborn. You'll embarrass Hardy and make the whole family look bad."</p><p>Same word again. Embarrassing.</p><p>He said the same thing as Hardy.</p><p>My heart turned cold. "So to you guys, my life is just about your reputation, right?"</p><p>Mark was stunned by my question, momentarily speechless.</p><p>He frowned, clearly thinking I was being unreasonable. "This isn't about reputation. I'm doing this for your own good.</p><p>"You have no clue how messy things are out there.</p><p>"You haven't worked a single day since you graduated from college. What can you do?</p><p>"You'll get scammed, and people will walk all over you.</p><p>"Hardy and I are protecting you."</p><p>Protecting. What a good word.</p><p>I laughed. "So protecting me means turning me into someone who can't even live on her own?</p><p>"Protecting me means you laugh at me behind my back, calling me an incompetent trophy wife?</p><p>"Protecting me means you join forces to cut off my wings, and then tell me the cage is the safest place for me?"</p><p>My voice wasn't loud, but every word landed like a stone, hitting Mark right where it hurt.</p><p>Mark's face turned ghostly pale in an instant.</p><p>He obviously hadn't expected me to hear what they said that day. "You... You heard that?"</p><p>"Yeah," I said, looking at him with eyes that showed not a hint of emotion. "I heard it all."</p><p>He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, not a single word came out.</p><p>Honestly, how could he possibly explain that?</p><p>He said it himself, "She needs to know what real life is like."</p>