Chapter 2

I quickly stuffed the remaining rice into my mouth. I had to rush to my next part-time gig.

I had recently landed a tutoring job teaching English literature to an elementary school kid. The hourly pay was several times what I made washing dishes at the diner. I absolutely could not be late.

Chloe frowned, her eyes filled with deep concern.

"Elena, can your body even take this anymore?"

"Why don't you take a day off? I’m terrified you’re going to collapse..."

I didn't stop my hands. I kept shoving the rice into my mouth. I ate so fast that I started choking, my face turning bright red as I coughed violently.

I pounded my chest hard. Once I managed to swallow the food, I spoke quietly.

"I can’t rest. If I rest, what will my mother do?"

Hearing this, Chloe's temper flared, her voice rising in frustration.

"Your mother is incredibly irresponsible! How can she expect a college freshman to carry the financial burden of the entire household?"

"Does she even care if you live or die?!"

I could only offer a helpless, bitter smile. "I owe her this."

For all these years, I had lived in constant guilt.

If I hadn't been born, my mother wouldn't have become a broken alcoholic.

So, I had no right to complain about being tired.

After taking three different public buses and walking under the scorching sun until I was on the verge of heatstroke, I finally reached my destination.

It was a massive luxury mansion perched halfway up a hill. I had to hike up a steep private road for thirty minutes just to reach the front gate.

An older gentleman dressed as a butler walked out, offering a warm smile.

"Are you the new tutor for the young master?"

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and nodded.

The butler led me inside. The sheer opulence of the mansion blew my mind.

Even the golden retriever in the yard had its own air-conditioned, two-story dog house.

The butler brought me into a grand study and handed me a glass of ice water.

"Please rest here for a moment. I will go fetch the young master."

I pulled out the lesson plans I had prepared. Before I could even lay them out on the mahogany desk, a little boy came running into the study.

He saw me and beamed, showing off two cute little dimples.

"Hello, Ms. Tutor!"

I was taken aback by how polite and sweet this rich kid was. The anxiety in my chest instantly melted away.

I gently patted his head and said softly, "Hi there. You can call me Ms. Elena."

The little boy literally jumped in excitement.

"Ms. Elena! My last name is Vance too!"

"My name is Leo Vance!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the smile froze on my face.

Leo Vance.

I had heard this name on the news. He was the boy for whom my father had spent a hundred million dollars to build a skyscraper.

The little boy standing in front of me was my father’s new son.

Which meant... this was my father’s house.

Panic hit me like a tidal wave. I stood frozen in place, my mind spinning.

My hands began to shake uncontrollably. Years of built-up resentment, grief, and anger rushed to my chest.

I wanted to run through the mansion, find my father, and scream in his face. Why did you treat me like this? Why did you abandon mom and me?

But my logic quickly kicked in. An emotional outburst would only make them despise me more.

And worse, I would lose this high-paying tutoring job.

I needed this money to survive.

After a few tense seconds, I decided to act normal. I forced a smile and proceeded with the lesson.

The two hours flew by. Fortunately, Leo was incredibly obedient and smart. We got along famously, talking like old friends.

He didn't have a single drop of arrogant, rich-kid attitude.

I packed up my materials, assigned Leo his homework, and prepared to leave.

Suddenly, Leo grabbed the edge of my cardigan. He looked up at me with a secretive expression.

"Ms. Elena, I’ve never really had any friends. You’re my very first real friend!"

"Can I tell you a secret?"

I paused. I was surprised that a billionaire's son had no friends, and even more surprised that he wanted to confide in me.

Still, I knelt down to his level and asked gently, "Of course. What is it?"

Leo leaned in and whispered in my ear.

"I actually have a big sister. My dad has been looking for her for so many years."

"But he can’t find her. I decided that when I grow up, I’m going to find my sister myself!"

My mind went completely blank.

"What... what did you say?"