Chapter 43
The constant beep of my alarm clock jolted me out of a deep slumber. Grunting, I sleepily fumbled for the alarm on top of the bedside table with my eyes still closed and turned it off. The peace in my room returned, and I let my head fall back onto the pillow so I could continue sleeping. But the bright rays of the sun permeating my window completely made my sleepiness disappear in an instant.
What time is it? I grumbled. Slightly, I opened my eyes to check the time on the clock, then realized it was already ten in the morning. Shock hit me like a sharp bolt of lightning, and I abruptly got up from the bed.
“I'm late for work!” I gasped, throwing the blanket aside as I jumped off the bed to put my slippers on.
An unfamiliar small bedroom, cramped with unopened boxes, greeted my sight, and reality finally sank in.
I don’t have a job. They fired me.
The thought made my high spirits sink to the floor. Aside from losing my job, the source of my bread and butter, I lost my precious house too. The debtors took it because I was unable to pay the remaining debt my father once owed them. Not that I didn’t have the money to pay them, but I had spent my savings on Mom’s burial.
The same day I got fired from my job, I was also kicked out of my house. Two great misfortunes happening in a single day almost made me lose my mind. But I pulled myself together, knowing I had no other choice but to go on with life.
Swallowing my pride, I contacted Grey to ask for his help, but he was out of reach. I left him a message saying I wanted to talk to him if he was available, but until now he hadn’t replied. Either he hadn’t read my message or he was trying to avoid me.
I slumped back on my small bed and buried my face in my palms. The day was just getting started, and yet I felt my world was about to end. I never signed up for this mess, but I still found myself trapped in it.
Jobless and homeless. Those were two words I never imagined myself associated with. I loved my job as a restaurant server and showed nothing but dedication and hard work to it for the past five years. But people with pure evilness in their hearts exist. They do nothing but destroy anyone they consider a threat. I met one in Elizabeth, and look where I ended up. As for my home, I worked hard for years and saved money to buy it. But in the blink of an eye, it was gone too. I couldn't blame my father for it. He'd been dead for years, and I'm sure he never wanted me to end up like this because of his mistakes.
A sigh escaped my lips. I let my hands drop to my side and got to my feet. There was no use crying over spilled milk, I thought to myself as I turned toward the bathroom and tripped over one of the unopened boxes that crowded the floor.
I cursed under my breath, inwardly thanking the walls for being there, or else I would have been diving onto the floor like a fish. I straightened my spine and continued walking, careful this time to avoid injury from falling. The last thing I wanted now was to break a leg and end up hospitalized.
I reached the bathroom in one piece. Opening the faucet, I washed my face. When I finished, I dried it with a fresh towel from the rack.
Is it just my imagination that I gained weight? I asked myself while my eyes surveyed my reflection in the wide mirror in my bathroom. I've been stress-eating lately, so there’s nothing surprising if I gained weight. It could just be my reflection in the mirror, too. Some mirrors can make someone look slimmer, while others can make them look bigger.
Shrugging my shoulders while telling myself it didn't matter, I returned to my bedroom. On my way, I once again faced the ordeal of passing through the boxes that littered the floor. The boxes contained my belongings and some of Mom's personal stuff. When I got kicked out of my house, I salvaged a few things like clothes, books, personal items, a few flatware and silverware, and other important stuff. Those things were what was inside those boxes.
My room was so small that the number of boxes cramped the space inside.
I left my furniture and appliances in the house since they were included in the items the debtors took as collateral. Unless I paid the loan amount, I wouldn’t be able to return to my house.
I shifted my attention back to the obstacle course in front of me.
After a moment of struggle, I successfully navigated the obstacles without tripping on anything. Carefully, I dragged the boxes one by one underneath the bed until there was no space left, allowing me enough room to walk by whenever I needed to use the bathroom.
When I finally finished arranging the boxes, I straightened and wiped the beads of sweat from my temples. Finally, I had enough space now.
My stomach growled, reminding me it was time for breakfast. There was no kitchen in my room where I could cook, so I ate what was available: an onion bread and sliced fruits.
My breakfast would never be complete unless there was coffee on my table. I heated water in the electric kettle and made myself an instant coffee. While sipping my coffee, my phone rang. I lowered the cup of coffee on the table and grabbed my phone.
A frown scrunched my eyebrows as I looked at the screen and found myself staring at an unregistered number.
Is it Grey? My heart jumped inside my chest, and I pressed the answer button. “Hello?”
“May I speak with Ms. Lily De Silva?” said a familiar voice on the other line.
My heart sank, realizing that the voice wasn’t Grey’s. “Yes, speaking. May I know who’s on the other line, please?”
“Ms. De Silva, this is the Bradford family lawyer. Can we meet today so you can sign the divorce papers? Mr. Greyson wants them signed immediately.”
The news broke my heart. I pushed the tears at bay and pulled myself together. “Where can we meet?” I asked calmly.
The man provided the address of a coffee shop.
“I’ll be there,” I told him.
When the call finally ended, I dropped the phone onto the bed.
“I hate you, Grey,” I whispered, clenching my fists into tight balls while tears fell from my eyes.
The man I loved just broke my heart again.