Two weeks later in Novera...
Regardless of who suffered, the world kept turning and turning, whether anyone wanted it to or not. And finally, Lawrence opened his eyes again. He had been drifting in and out of consciousness these past weeks, but he wasn’t in the right state of mind to speak or understand anything fully.
Now, two — almost three — weeks since the incident, he finally rembered who he was, why he was here, and what kind of reality he had woken up to.
Seated upright on the hospital bed, he stared blankly at the television. The news showed developnts about a case that had shocked the nation — mainly because the people involved belonged to high society, but also because the woman at the center of it all was the mother of a once-popular star who had fallen from grace due to a massive scandal.
The case? The Youngs.
Particularly, Jasmine Young — now facing criminal charges ranging from embezzlent to tax evasion to the attempted murder of her husband. Mike had also been arrested as her accomplice. And lissa — once a public figure — was connected to them. Naturally, the scandal had spread like wildfire.
"..." A deep sigh escaped him, though he felt absolutely nothing.
Maybe it was the dication. Maybe it was the fact that he hit his head so hard he nearly died. But all he felt was numbness. Numb seeing clips of Jasmine being escorted in and out of the station. Numb hearing every word the reporters said. Numb watching the woman he once believed was his only ally face the world’s judgnt.
Numb realizing that the person he once fought for, defended, and loved had betrayed him.
Just then, the door opened. Lawrence turned slowly, only to see lissa pause in the doorway. Before the incident, lissa always took care of her appearance. But the woman standing before him now was soone he barely recognized.
This was the third ti he had seen her wear that sa shirt since he woke up. Her once shiny, bouncy hair was now tied tightly in a low bun, stray strands sticking out. The bags under her eyes were dark — too dark — and her skin had grown pale.
She had always been petite, but now she looked as frail as the patients around them. Dragging her naless sling bag off her shoulder, she moved quietly to the bedside table. She reached for his untouched food, her eyes shining with a layer of tears.
Gulping, she picked up the plate and ate the cold food quickly. It was bland, but she shoved it down in large mouthfuls, barely catching her breath. When she finished, she downed the entire glass of water.
Lawrence watched his daughter silently.
He had already learned the truth about lissa and Lola — from lissa herself. That lissa was Loren and Lawrence’s daughter, and that Loren deceived Jasmine as part of her revenge. Technically, he didn’t have to feel guilty for Lola. It was Jasmine and Mike who were fooled.
And yet... guilt still filled his heart.
Why? Because even if he hadn’t intended for things to unfold this way, he was the one who pushed Loren to do the unthinkable.
He was the one who took advantage of her love.
He was the one who psychologically tornted her until she finally snapped.
And because Loren wanted their child to be accepted — because she needed a reason to make sense of his hatred — she switched the children with the help of the man Lawrence had accused her of cheating with.
"I found a job," lissa said suddenly, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She turned her lifeless eyes to him. "It’s... it’s a small one at a convenience store nearby. It’s just a ten-minute walk from here. So... I can save up and rent a place."
It had only been almost a month, but lissa had learned too much, too quickly.
Life wasn’t easy. Not even close.
After losing their house and the properties under Loren’s na being liquidated, she had to work just to have a roof over her head.
They were practically holess.
Even when lissa sought out the Alberts — who were still living comfortably — she was turned away. Why? Because in their eyes, lissa was the daughter of a mistress, and they had cut off the Youngs long ago once Lawrence brought Jasmine ho.
lissa never knew that. It explained why Lola never sought the Alberts’ help. lissa thought they simply hated Lola — but as it turned out, the Alberts were willing to help Lola; Lola simply chose not to go to them.
And now, thanks to the scandal, the entire nation knew lissa. So who would hire her?
Manager Kang had contacted her about a "project," but when she arrived, she discovered it required several X-deals. Worse, when she confronted him, the manager who once bent over backward to please her mocked her — saying she was already a dead celebrity, and X-deals were the only things she qualified for now.
She even begged Derek. She went to Chairman Lancaster.
Derek refused to look at her and called security on her.
The chairman helped only by paying Lawrence’s hospital bill, but nothing more. When she told him the truth, he didn’t soften. Instead, he told her it would be the last help he’d ever give Loren’s daughter.
One cruelty after another. Each one was worse than the last.
And with every blow, lissa’s eyes opened wider to just how easy her past life had been.
Back when the Youngs were respected, when she was Derek’s fiancée, everyone wanted her favor. But now that she had lost everything, those sa people were the first to laugh... and take advantage of her.
So after weeks of suffering, lissa had to swallow her pride and take this job as a part-ti cashier. If she didn’t, how would she eat? Where would she sleep once Lawrence recovered?
lissa sniffed hard and wiped her eyes, forcing herself back together. She gave him a short, brittle smile and silently turned to leave.
Lawrence watched her pitifully. Then, just as she reached the door, he forced his weak voice out.
"—lissa." He panted, watching her look back. "I’m... sorry."
She bit her bottom lip, stopping herself from breaking down. She was tired of crying. She had cried and cried, but nothing changed. Not her situation, not the agony in her chest, not the hatred she carried for Lola.
Her lips twitched as she forced a smile. With a sweet voice, she said,
"If you truly are... then why don’t you kill yourself?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)