Chapter 3

Once the high-society crowd realized I was working as a waitress at The Onyx, they started coming in groups, specifically demanding my service.

As long as they paid, I’d do whatever they wanted. Even if they asked me to chug shots of the strongest grain alcohol, I did it without blinking.

I worked myself to the bone. Soon, rumors spread that the once-proud Sera Vance was now a shameless sellout who would do anything for a buck.

But because of that, more people came just to see the fallen princess make a fool of herself.

They saw me as a joke. I saw them as dollar signs.

In less than a month, I made three hundred thousand dollars—enough to cover Grandma’s first major surgery.

After I paid the bill, she was taken straight into the operating room.

I stayed right outside the ICU, watching over her.

But when my shift approached, I had to leave because I had taken on another part-time job.

As I walked down to the lobby, I ran into Ethan, who was accompanying Olivia.

Over the last three years, Olivia had built a reputation as an elegant, dignified lady. Everyone said she and Ethan were a match made in heaven.

But only I knew how cold Ethan could be, and how venomous Olivia truly was. Because they saved all their cruelty just for me.

Olivia looked at me, her voice dripping with fake concern. "Sera, are you feeling okay? Why are you at the hospital?"

How hilarious. As if we were actually sisters.

But Ethan’s cold gaze swept over me. He was my boss, so I had to play nice.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you two were here. I'll make sure to stay out of your way from now on."

With that, I hurried past them.

But the moment I stepped outside, Ethan’s luxury sedan pulled up right in front of me.

"Get in."

To avoid annoying him, I squeezed myself as close to the door as possible, leaving a massive gap between us.

Ethan frowned at me.

"Why are you shrinking away like that? Am I going to eat you?"

He reached out and yanked my arm. The movement tore the sleeve of my cheap puffer jacket, and the synthetic feathers started spilling out.

I stared at the tear, thinking about how I could patch it up.

After paying for Grandma’s surgery, I was completely broke. This jacket was the only warm thing I owned.

Before I could say anything, Ethan grabbed the jacket, pulled it off me, and threw it straight into a nearby trash can.

"It’s already ripped. Why are you still holding onto it? I can buy—"

I didn't care that the car was moving. I scrambled for the door handle, desperate to get my jacket back.

But the child lock was on. I couldn't open it.

Ethan slammed on the brakes, pulling the car over.

"It’s just a piece of trash! You can buy another one! Are you crazy? You almost jumped out of a moving car!"

I looked at Ethan, and the rage from two lifetimes finally boiled over.

"To you, it’s just trash! But to me, that was the only thing keeping me warm this winter! Jumping out might kill me, but without that jacket, I’ll freeze to death anyway!"

Ethan froze, completely stunned.

He had probably never realized that a cheap, torn jacket could mean survival to someone.

I had saved up for months doing manual labor just to buy that jacket. On the day I bought it, I was so happy I couldn't sleep.

And now, Ethan had ruined it.

"Mr. Sterling, boss, I know I messed up in the past. I’ve changed. Please, just leave me alone."

Furious, Ethan unlocked the door and kicked me out.

I ran to the trash can, fished my jacket out, stuffed the feathers back in, and hurried to my second job.