de, the rain fell in a steady rhythm, washing the city in gray. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic, and the s
a single window that let in the dull light of the rainy Evening. Her mother lay in the bed, motionless, her face
out and took her mother's cold hand in hers, her thumb brushing gently over the fr
l work clothes, a worn-out suit and scuffed shoes, but his face was etched with
ady despite the weight of his words. "She's been th
tears. "But what if she doesn't?" she asked, her
"We can't think like that," he said firmly. "We have t
es. It was a sound Rachael had grown used to over the past few years. Her mom had been sick for a long time. It started as headaches, then dizziness,
fts, and even considered selling their house. But it still wasn't enough. They wer
," her father said after a w
as right. She kissed her mother's hand and stood up. "Call
was exhausted-emotionally, physically, mentally. All she wanted was to shut her brain off fo
ortune, has returned to the city," the anchor announced. "He was spotted earlier today at the Blackwood
up, her inte
ding, surrounded by bodyguards. Rachael's eyes widened. She recognized
iliar," she muttered. "De
cally a celebrity in the business world. His family owned the very company she worked for, yet she hadn't rec
he soft breeze the rain had left behind gently caressing her skin, the exhaustion of
ael out of a restless sleep. She groaned as she sat up, her neck stiff from sleeping on the
long with a screenshot. "You won't belie
hool graduation. Ethan was in the center, smiling that same boyish smile
how to feel. Her friends had bombarded her with messages. "He's
ttered. "They're reading too much into it." But deep down, a part of her couldn't help but wonder, But there wa
asn't making it easy. The older woman hovered
these reports before handin
eping her voice calm despite the
k like it. This is sl
t least try to pret
but said nothing. She had learned long a
woman in a bright red dress stormed in, her heels clicking loudly against the floor. She wa
uted, pointing an ac
nfused. "I'm sorr
ittle whore!" s
woman said, her voice drip
on them. Rachael felt her face heat up a
, but Peter and I are dat
Dating? Oh, honey, you're just a distracti
tepped forward and slapped her hard acros
t you have any bit of
, pulling out a wad of cash and throwing it at Ra
esk. They were of her and Peter in bed, laughin
corted her away, but the damage was done. Phones had recorded the ent
h the endless comments on the video. It was trending, and people
, They don't even k
and kept ignoring his calls ,even
ow pathetic she is when it comes to luck. All her life. hot tears st
he assumed it was peter and pick
"You're a pathetic excuse of a man, and
you played me, You did not, I'
l was
ho
s a bit harsh for someone you haven't
ael
..
..
tha
, laughing soft
ll her now, Ethan was the last person sh