Chapter 2
1280 Words
Chapter 2
Lily's POV
Two years. That’s how long my mom has been in and out of hospitals, battling one sickness after another. We’ve moved from one hospital to the next, hoping for a cure, but her health only seems to worsen. I’m exhausted, physically, mentally, emotionally. The medical bills drained us completely. We sold her shop. We sold everything of value in our home. We even lost our apartment, which forced me to sleep in the hospital corridors.
I should have been in university by now. That was the plan after high school. But there’s no money, no future. Education isn’t even on my list of concerns. My only focus is survival. How do I keep going? How do I make sure my mother does? The weight of it all crushes me, suffocates me. I’m just 19, but life has forced me to carry burdens far heavier than I can bear.
I’ve tried everything, side hustles, odd jobs but nothing works out. Somehow, I always end up losing them. I even went to my mom’s so-called friends for help, but all they did was suggest I sell my body for money since I’m "old enough." Our neighbors are no better. It feels like the whole world is against me.
Sometimes, I wonder... What if Young Master had helped me? But it’s a foolish thought. A dream. A fantasy. I haven't seen him in two years. He never showed up like he promised. Yet, his face lingers in my mind , the sharp jawline, the piercing eyes, the broad shoulders. But there’s no point thinking about him. He’s long gone. Right now, my reality is survival.
It's painful that my mother has no one to rely on . The world is cruel . I can't even blame those who take their own lives. At that moment, I understood why. The struggle is unbearable .
But no suicide is not the answer. Maybe , maybe not. Time will tell.
A loud voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
“Lily.”
“Yes, ma?”
“Tomorrow is your last night here. If you can’t pay, you’ll have to leave.”
Another blow. Another problem. What am I supposed to do now?
I turned to my mother, lying weakly on the hospital bed. "Mom, what should I do?" My voice was barely above a whisper.
She struggled to speak. “I... am... so... sorry...” A tear slid down her cheek.
My heart clenched. Seeing her cry shattered me into pieces. My mother never cried in front of me. She always stayed strong. But now... now she is breaking. I dropped to my knees beside her, gripping her hand as my own tears spilled.
“It’s not your fault, Mom. Please don’t cry.”
That night, after she ate, I left to look for a job. Any job. But every restaurant I walked into turned me away.
“We’re not hiring.”
“You’re too young.”
“We don’t need extra hands.”
Rejection after rejection. My stomach twisted with frustration.
Then, as I was leaving yet another restaurant, a voice called out.
“Hey, you there.”
I turned around to see a man watching me.
“Good afternoon, sir.” I lowered my gaze in respect.
“I have a job for you.”
Immediately, my guard went up. “If it’s prostitution, I’m not interested.” I had heard it too many times before.
The man chuckled. “No, nothing like that. Kingsley Empire is hiring maids. You should apply.”
Kingsley Empire. I had heard of them before, but I had no idea where they were located.
He handed me a piece of paper. “The address is there. Many people applied, so dress well and just be yourself.”
For the first time in a while, hope flickered inside me. “Thank you so much, sir.”
When I told my mom, she held my hands and prayed. “I pray this is the breakthrough we need, my daughter. May God bless you as you go.”
“Amen,” I whispered, fighting back tears. “This time, I hope I earn enough to cure your hepatitis B for good.”
It took me two hours to reach Kingsley Empire. When I arrived, I was stunned.
The place was massive.
And packed.
Hundreds of people were there, all hoping to get the job.
“Wow... we’re so many.”
“Of course,” a voice chimed in. “Just pray you get selected.”
I turned to see a girl wearing a long gown. She had a round face and an air of confidence.
“Hi, I’m Emma. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Lily. Pleasure’s mine.”
Emma smirked. “Let’s save the pleasantries for when we actually get the job.”
I laughed.
After filling out forms and answering interview questions, an hour later, I was done. The results would be announced the next day.
I learned more about Kingsley Empire while waiting. It wasn’t just a company, it was a dynasty. A wealthy, powerful family. They had different departments of workers, some in the kitchen, some serving, some handling guests, and others assigned to the royal family itself.
I was assigned to serve the Young Master.
Well, at least I wouldn’t be alone. There were other maids serving him too. And I was just a junior staff member, so it couldn’t be that hard... right?
The next morning, I started work. I was given my uniform, accommodation, and a quick tour of the empire. It was even bigger than I imagined.
“Whoa... this place is like a palace.”
“Of course it is.”
I jumped at Emma’s sudden voice. “Emma! You scared me.”
She grinned. “Oops. I won’t stop, though.”
“It’s not funny.”
“It kind of is.” She laughed. “Come on, let’s go get our name tags.”
As we walked, Emma leaned in. “Are you aware the Young Master isn’t around?”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. He’s away on a business trip.”
“Hmmm...”
“But listen,” she lowered her voice. “Never cross him.”
I frowned. “Why?”
“Because he’s a lion. Fierce. Ruthless. If you make a mistake, you’re done for.”
A shiver ran down my spine.
“Also, he doesn’t like women.”
I blinked. “What? But he was born by a woman... and he’ll marry one someday.”
Emma smirked. “He already has a fiancée.”
My stomach twisted. “Really?”
“Yeah. It’s an arranged marriage. A ‘family friend’ thing.”
I nodded, pretending not to care.
When we got to the registration hall, my heart stopped.
Standing at the front, giving a welcoming speech...
Was Victoria.
I felt my blood go cold.
Victoria. The girl who called me and my mother beggars. The girl who stood by as her family threw us out and left my mother to suffer. The girl whose mother slapped my sick mom.
Victoria... my father’s daughter.
She was here.
And she would be staying at Kingsley Empire.
My hands clenched into fists. Around me, people cheered for her, praising her beauty, her elegance. If only they knew.
If only they knew the monster hiding beneath that perfect smile.
Fate was cruel. I never expected to meet her again, not in this lifetime.
Would she recognize me? Would she make my life even harder?
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
I came here to work. To survive.
But now, I wasn’t so sure anymore.
- Writer
