Chapter 2 – The Night Everything Was Taken Away
The rain came down harder and harder. I walked aimlessly beneath the dark sky. Rainwater soaked my already wrinkled dress, mixing with the tears that had been streaming down my face nonstop.
Behind me stood the magnificent house I had considered my own for the past two years.
But tonight, I realized... That house had never belonged to me. I had briefly hoped someone would open the door.
Adrian.
Or at least call my name. But as my footsteps carried me farther away, all I could hear was the sound of rain. No one chased after me. No one wanted me to come back.
My chest felt tight. For two years, I had been willing to sacrifice my dignity to hold this marriage together. Getting up before everyone else.
Going to bed last. Serving Adrian's entire family without ever complaining.
I did everything because I believed that one day, they would accept me. It turned out I was wrong. I had only wasted my time.
The phone inside my bag suddenly vibrated. The name on the screen made me hurriedly wipe away my tears.
Mom.
I took a deep breath before answering the call.
"Hello, Mom."
My mother's voice sounded weak.
"Maya... where are you, honey?"
"I'm still out."
"I... passed out earlier."
I stopped in my tracks. "What?"
"I'm okay. The neighbors took me to a clinic. Don't worry."
My heart began pounding faster. "I'm coming right now."
Without another thought, I quickly hailed a taxi.
The entire ride, I kept clutching my phone.
My thoughts were a mess. I had just lost my marriage. Now my mother had fallen ill.
What else was God going to take from me? When I arrived at the clinic, the doctor had just stepped out of the examination room.
"Are you family?"
"Yes, Doctor. I'm her daughter."
The doctor removed his glasses. "Your mother needs to be transferred to a hospital immediately."
I swallowed hard.
"Why, Doctor?"
"Her condition is quite serious. We found an abnormality that requires immediate surgery."
My world collapsed all over again.
"Surgery?"
"Yes."
I grabbed the wall to keep from falling. "What if we delay it?"
The doctor was silent for a few moments. "The risks are high."
Those words struck my head like a bolt of lightning. I entered the treatment room.
My mother was asleep, her face pale. Her hand felt cold when I held it. I'm sorry, Mom...
I couldn't even give you a decent life.
I kissed the back of her hand, holding back my tears.
"I promise I'll find the money. Somehow." My phone rang again.
Adrian's name appeared on the screen. I stared at it for several seconds before finally answering.
"Maya..."
The man's voice sounded heavy. "I'm sorry."
That was all.
No explanation. No attempt to find me. No question about whether I was okay. I smiled bitterly.
"Adrian."
"Yeah."
"Starting tonight... don't ever contact me again." I hung up before he could answer. Then I blocked his number. My tears fell once more. Not because I still loved him.
But because I had finally accepted the truth... The man I had always considered home had chosen to remain silent while I was being destroyed.
The next morning, I started looking for work. I went from company to company, carrying a folder filled with my diploma and employment certificates.
But the result was always the same. "I'm sorry, the position has been filled."
"We'll be in touch."
"Thank you for coming in."
Those words sounded polite. But I knew what they meant. They were rejecting me. By late afternoon, my feet had begun to ache.
My wallet held only a few bills. I stopped in front of a towering skyscraper.
Large gold lettering was displayed on the front wall.
AURELIA GROUP.
I had read about this company before. The largest company in the city.
They said only the best graduates could work here. I smiled bitterly.
"Like they'd ever accept someone like me." I was about to turn around.
But then...
Screech! The ear-piercing sound of brakes made everyone turn. A black sedan sped uncontrollably toward the sidewalk.
In front of it... A little boy stood frozen, clutching a balloon.
"Mom...!"
A woman's scream echoed through the air. People panicked. Some shouted. Others backed away. No one moved to help. Before I had time to think, my legs began running on their own. I pushed through the crowd.
"Hey! Move!"
The car was getting closer. I grabbed the little boy and pulled him into a tight embrace. With all the strength I had, I shoved him toward the sidewalk.
Crash!
My body was sent flying and slammed into the asphalt. Pain shot from my head through my entire body.
My ears began ringing. My vision slowly blurred. Through the haze of my fading consciousness, I saw the black sedan's door open.
A tall man in a black suit ran toward me.
His cold face was now filled with panic. He knelt beside me and clasped my hand.
For some reason... When our eyes met, his expression changed. As if he had just seen someone he had been searching for all this time.
"Impossible..."
The man's voice trembled. "Why... is it you?"
I wanted to ask what he meant. But my lips were already too weak to move. My eyelids felt heavier and heavier.
The last thing I saw was the unfamiliar man's face as he continued staring at me, his eyes filled with shock.
Then...
Everything went dark.