ANOTHER'S TREASURE

CHAPTER 4

I walked out of the office drained of all hope. I couldn't stand the thought of Jamie being out of school and worse...being around those guys

I went back to work, shoulders slumped, and found Lauren again. I told her what they said, and watched the color drain from her face.

“Wait… what? You’re sure?”

“A lot or all of us might lose our jobs when the new ownership takes over.”

Her lips parted, but no words came.

Then she exhaled and said, “Okay. This is going to sound crazy. And I know it’s hard, but… maybe you could go back to your parents?”

I felt my heart stop for a bit, I didn't say anything.

My parents?.

----

I got home early from work. sat on the edge of that dusty old couch with my phone in my hand. My thumb hovered over the call button.

But the voices came again.

“You cursed them. Mocked them. Walked away like they meant nothing. Now you want their help? What do you think would happen?”

“They'd welcome you with open arms? Is that it? You're so freaking delusional Cynthia”

I remembered the night I screamed at my mother to leave my house. She had begged me, begged—to think twice about Marcus. Told me he didn't love me . I told her she was jealous. That she had no right to speak about love when she let Dad cheat for years without leaving.

I remembered convincing Marcus to get me pregnant. I was barely 18, so sure so sure a baby would make my father give up on marrying me off to Cai Vaughan. I thought a child would be my shield, my excuse, my declaration of freedom. But it only tied me deeper to the wrong man.

I remembered the day I spat cruel words at my sister. She had come to me in tears, pregnant, asking why I was burning every bridge in our family. I told her she was a weakling. That marrying Kyle was settling. I mocked her for choosing to marry a man my father picked for her.

And then Cai… poor Cai. He never did anything but exist. I mocked him, his kindness, his quiet presence. I called him spineless. I made fun of the way he looked at me like I mattered. I resented the softness in his voice, the patience in his eyes.

They all begged me to stop. But I was so sure I knew better. So convinced that I was building a new life, one that would make them all eat their words.

And now…

My hand trembled. The phone slipped from my fingers and landed on the floor with a soft clink.

And then I broke.

Screams tore out of me, everything cracked under the weight of the choices I made. This was my karma.

Everything I ran from...was waiting for me.

---

I blinked awake, heart jumping into my throat. Someone was about to break down the door in an attempt to knock. The knock came again, harder than before.

“Who could be at the door this early?” I muttered, dragging myself up.

The pounding continued, sharp and impatient, echoing through the house. I reached the door and peeked through the slit between the curtains.

It was the landlord.

I opened the door slowly, dreading what he was about to say.

He didn’t waste time. “Four months,” he snapped. “Rent hasn’t been paid in four months.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but he went on. “And I heard Marcus has been moving things out of here. You two think you can pack up and vanish with my money?”

“What?” I whispered, my brain scrambling to catch up. “No…I didn’t know, Marcus left. He took everything. I didn’t even know about the rent.”

His expression didn’t change. “You expect me to believe that?”

“It’s the truth. He took everything and disappeared.”

“Well, I’m sorry for your situation, but this isn’t a charity. You’ve got one month. One month, then I want you out of this house and I want my money.”

My throat tightened. “Please…”

But he was already walking away.

I turned to find Jamie standing in the hallway, his face pale. He heard everything.

I tried to smile like it didn’t cut me to the bone.

We didn’t speak until breakfast.

I stood by the kitchen counter, swirling the spoon around a cup of tea I didn’t want to drink. Jamie reached into his pocket and slid something towards me.

“I have got 100 bucks.”

I looked up at him, startled. “What?”

“I told you, I've been saving. mr Paulo makes sure to slip me a dollar or two when I help out,” he said, his eyes avoiding mine. “You can have it. For the rent or whatever.”

It was so cute that he thought the Rent was 100 dollars.

“Jamie…”

“I don’t care about the money, Mom. I just don’t want to see you like this.”

I almost screamed from the pain, my child was becoming someone he shouldn’t have to be. Stronger, older, and more mature than any 10-year-old should be.

I didn’t want to take it. But I had no choice. I nodded and took the money. But I didn’t use it.

Later that day, my phone beeped.

I saw the name of my company flash on the screen.

‘Ms. Collins,

We regret to inform you that due to the restructuring and change of ownership, your employment has been terminated. You have 2 days to pick up any properties you have at the office.

Thank you for your years of service.

Signed by the management of crown and anchor estates.’

'...thanks for your years of service...'

That one hurt more than the whole email. 9 whole year's and I got rewarded with an email terminating my job.

Just like that.

I called Lauren.

She picked up, cheerful at first, until she heard my voice. “Cyn? What’s wrong?”

“Did you get an email?”

“No… why?”

“I just lost my job.”

She gasped. “Oh my God, Cyn. I'm so sorry, what...wh.. what are we going to do now"

“I’m coming to the office to pick up my things,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“I’ll be waiting.”

When I arrived, the office was half-empty. Boxes stacked on desks. People hugging, whispering, crying. Others moved like ghosts, numb and silent.

Lauren was already helping me packup some of my things.

“I don’t believe this,” she said, shaking her head. “You worked harder than anyone here.”

I didn’t have the energy to reply. I simply gathered the last of my belongings, kept my eyes down, and tried not to let the tears fall.

As I was about to leave, voices rose behind me.

A tall man walked in,The new owner, I assumed. followed by my former boss; Mr. Hughes.

“Can I have your attention?” Mr. Hughes said.

I didn’t look at his face at first. I wasn’t interested in whatever was about to happen.

But then I heard the voice.

“Thank you all for your hard work, and I understand the transition hasn’t been easy—”

That voice…

Familiar. Smooth. Low, with that softness I hadn’t heard in years.

I turned, slowly, and saw him, my breath caught in my throat.

It was him.

Cai. The man I was supposed to marry before my naivity led me to Marcus.

God-like. Clean-cut beard, dark brown eyes, cheekbones sharpened with age, and that effortless grace. He looked like time had done nothing but make him more Breathtaking.

He caught my gaze mid-sentence—and his words faltered. Just for a second.

Mr. Hughes noticed me too. “Ah, Cynthia. You haven’t left yet.”

“I just came to collect my things,” I said quietly, eyes flicking away from Cai’s.

He didn’t speak. Just stared.

Eyes clouded with softness.

I hated that look.

Mr. Hughes leaned toward him. “She was one of our best, but she hadn’t been at work for a while. The agency decided she wasn’t a good fit anymore.”

Cai turned his eyes on him. “I see.”

He didn’t say anything after that. He just kept looking at me.

And then I saw it.

The one thing I didn’t want to see.

Pity.

That subtle gleam of sorrow, like he already knew my story and mourned it with me.

Not you too.

Not Cai.