Chapter 4 Never Alone Again
1215 Words
Life abroad was anything but easy. After classes, Orelia took on part-time jobs.
Without access to the university's international student dorms, she rented a room far out in the suburbs, taking packed subway rides every day to get to school.
On weekends, she worked as a server at a fast-food restaurant. The owner, a kind woman, paid her a modest but fair wage.
Zoe hadn't sent her any of the money she'd promised. Ever since Orelia had landed in Novaland, Zoe's phone number no longer worked.
When she checked her bank card, she found just enough for tuition each semester. If she spent a single dollar over her budget, she risked losing credits for missed payments.
The first time she didn't receive her living expenses, she called Kyle.
When he answered, his familiar, deep voice echoed through the line.
Just hearing it made her throat go dry. "It's... it's me."
"What do you want?" His tone held an obvious edge of irritation.
Stunned, Orelia hesitated before stammering, "I... I just wanted to reach Grandma. I've tried calling her, but the system says her number is out of service."
Kyle's brows knitted. "Why do you need to call her?" His voice was icy. He was disappointed that she hadn't learned how to be independent.
"Already out here for just a few days, and you're trying to worm your way back by making her feel sorry for you?"
"No..." Orelia quickly denied, "It's not that..."
Kyle had heard enough. He intended to use his indifference to force her to grow up.
"Don't bother calling her anymore. I had her number changed so you wouldn't be able to interrupt her."
"What?" Orelia's mouth fell open, her eyes filling with tears.
She knew he resented her, but hadn't leaving been enough? He'd even severed her only connection with her family!
Zoe was the only person in the world who'd shown her kindness.
"Anything else?" His tone grew heavier as he became more impatient. "The reason we sent you abroad was to help you break bad habits. You're not a child anymore. Learn to be independent and stop acting like a parasite! Any other concerns, take them up with my assistant. I have a meeting to get to."
Kyle finished abruptly and hung up before she could say anything else.
Defeated, Orelia reluctantly dialed his assistant's number.
At least, this way, Kyle wouldn't see her begging for money.
But who was she fooling? He knew, but he just didn't care.
"Yes, Ms. Cruz? Do you have an urgent request? Mr. Ludwig is in a meeting. I need to go prepare the agenda," the assistant said curtly.
"Wait," Orelia forced herself to say.
"I haven't received my living expenses yet. Kyle told me to contact you to handle it..."
There was a pause on the other end.
"Oh, right, I'll check and have someone wire it. We usually handle transfers on schedule, so it shouldn't have been missed."
"Thank you, I appreciate it," she said quietly. "If you could follow up on it..."
With a slight edge to her tone, the assistant responded, "I'll look into it. Just wait. I have some reports to prepare, so I'll handle it later."
The assistant had just joined the company.
Though she knew Orelia was Kyle's wife, she didn't want to pay any attention to a woman who had been driven away by her own husband.
She still had loads of work to attend to, so this call was utterly annoying.
Before Orelia could reply, the line went dead.
Orelia sat there, dumbfounded.
She felt the bitter truth sink in. The moment she left, she'd been forgotten.
Her face went pale. The humiliating scene of her asking for money was truly ridiculous.
She raised her hand and gently touched her flat belly. As her eyes closed, tears streamed down her cheeks.
*****
Eight months later, in a rundown part of town.
Orelia lay on a worn-out mattress, asleep. Her belly had grown round and full, with her due date only days away.
The doctor had recommended an early hospital stay because the baby wasn't positioned correctly.
But she'd only nodded with a smile, knowing she couldn't afford it.
Eight months ago, after that call with Kyle, every word he'd spoken had cut deep, leaving scars.
And even after she had chased down the assistant for support, the promised funds never arrived.
She used up her savings, lost her apartment, and moved into a slum.
She stopped contacting him, unable to bear being called a parasite.
Once she settled in the slum, she picked up several part-time jobs to make ends meet, juggling work and studies.
Though her earnings were small, they were enough to keep her fed.
Just as she was in a deep sleep, a loud, frantic shouting broke out nearby.
"Fire!"
"Run!"
"Hurry up!"
Orelia's eyes flew open. She rushed to the door and pulled it open, only to see smoke billowing in thick, dark clouds and flames dancing high.
Instantly, her face became pasty.
"Orelia!" Her neighbor, also an international student, spotted her.
"What are you doing? Get out, now! The place is on fire!"
"Oh, okay!" she answered in a panic.
She was about to go back for her savings when the neighbor stopped her, pulling her back.
"Where do you think you're going? Do you want to die in there?"
"No, you don't understand!" she cried, her voice breaking.
Her hard-earned savings were in there—every penny saved for her child's birth, hospital stay, diapers, and formula.
She couldn't leave without it!
"I have to go back!"
She tried to move forward, but a flaming beam came crashing down, blocking her way.
"Ah!"
She stumbled back with a cry as the searing heat licked at her.
She wasn't hurt, but the path was blocked.
"Orelia, we have to go!" her neighbor urged.
"No!"
She shook her head desperately. Shaking her neighbor's hand off, she tried to go back in once again.
"Ouch!"
A flame approached her with the help of the wind. Orelia turned around when it reached her waist, making her frown in pain.
"Orelia!" Her neighbor instantly grabbed her. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I..." She nodded, but the heavy smoke made her cough uncontrollably.
"Hurry up and leave!" The neighbor refused to let her go again. "Just get away from this place!"
"But..."
"Think of your baby! That smoke is deadly. If you go in, you'll both die!"
The neighbor forcefully tugged her away. "Just go!"
Reluctantly, Orelia allowed herself to be led out. Her waist was burned slightly, and her savings were still inside.
Her heart twisted painfully as she looked back at the crumbling building, her savings lost to the flames.
What would she do now?
Then, out of nowhere, a stabbing pain shot through her belly. She clutched her stomach, gasping.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?"
People nearby gathered, concerned.
"She's in labor!"
"Quick! Call an ambulance!"
Orelia was rushed to the hospital, and after hours of grueling labor, she brought her child into the world.
A nurse placed the baby in her arms, and Orelia's eyes filled with tears, yet she flashed a bright smile.
This was her baby... her only family.
For the first time, she wasn't alone. Not anymore.
- Writer
