Charmaine's POV
I wiped down the counter for what felt like the hundredth time that morning, the smell of disinfectant and freshly brewed coffee filling my senses. It wasn't my dream job, serving coffee to entitled rich kids and trying to make small talk with them. But it paid the bills, and it allowed me to provide for Lily and myself. That's all that mattered.
I poured steaming hot coffee into a cup, adding a dash of cream and sugar before handing it to a waiting customer. She took it from me without even a thank you, her eyes fixed on her phone as she walked away. I sighed inwardly, used to this kind of behavior from the regulars. I had learned to develop a thick skin, to not take their rudeness personally.
My mind began to wander as I cleaned tables and served customers. I couldn't
