Chapter 03

Minutes have passed and all that's left in the room was Lauren. She’s still sitting and crying on the floor. She's used to that kind of scenario, but she doesn't know why the hell she is crying right now. Maybe because her father won't believe her anymore or is it because she realizes that from the very beginning, she doesn't have someone to rely on.

Her stepmother and sister were always scheming behind her back and she always falls for it. She’s too weak to retaliate, and she’s too kind to plot and scheme back on them. Because above everything that they have done to her, Lauren is still believing that someday… they will change.

Lauren sighs. It’s too late… too late for her to realize that it won’t happen.

She stood up and composed herself. Why would you cry on something that is not worthy of your tears? She scolds herself for being weak at that moment. 

Lauren wiped her tears, then she looked around at that messy room. From today onwards, she’s going to live for herself. It’s time to prioritize herself first. Lauren promises herself, she will leave this place soon. They clearly don’t want her in their life, so it’s best to leave on her own will. And if that time comes, she will be happy and free, but for now, she needs to be strong. Strong enough to endure all of their mistreatment.

She opens the window and stares outside.

It was a gray morning and the wind was rather chilly.

Lauren decided to close the window as the weather doesn't look good. Thunder roared across the sky that made her flinch. Soon enough, the raindrops were heard. The rain starts pouring hard outside the house.  It looks like the rain won't stop any time soon.

She turns back to see her room again and begins cleaning her messy room. Her things were scattered on the floor. She sighed and shook her head as she recalled again what happened a while ago.

She started picking up her clothes and organizing them in her cabinet. It’s not that much because most of her things were only given by Hazel. Mostly it was Hazel’s old clothes, and sometimes because she doesn't like the design anymore. She accepts it so that she can save money. Aside from spending money on her transportation and food, she doesn’t have any reason to spend her money on something.

The room she was staying in was small thus she finished cleaning it in no time. Her things aren't that much either. Aside from the bed, side table and two cabinets, there was no other furniture there. Actually, her bedroom was one of the maid’s quarters. The only difference was, she was alone in that room while the other maids were together in the same room. It was spacious enough for all of them to fit in that room.

Who would dare to stay with her? For sure they will be implicated in Hazel's hatred for Lauren, and in that case they might lose their job. 

After she tidies up her bed, she lazily lays there. 

She touched the necklace she was wearing. In that necklace, there's a small gold ladybug pendant attached to it. At the back, there's an LK1015 character carved on it. The pendant wasn’t that big, but the characters' engrave was readable. Back then, she didn’t ask what’s the meaning behind those characters, but now, she's wondering about it. It was the only memory of her late mother. She always thinks that if only her mother had not died, they might still be happy now.

She was just wondering why her father accepts and takes her in their house even though he doesn't need to. She’s already content after knowing his existence. She and her mother live without him, and they can continue living without him. 

Maybe it’s because she only wants what is best for Lauren. They sent her to a boarding school and she can only get home every summer or holiday, so it’s the only time she can bond with her mother.

Later on, they informed her that her mother died. She was only fourteen years old by that time. They say that she died because of illness. It got worse because it’s already too late when it was diagnosed. Maybe it was her mother’s way to give her a better life. 

But after that, she doesn’t have anyone to be by her side. She endured all the hardship by herself.

What’s even sadder was that she doesn't recall that much memory with her mother anymore. Luckily, she had a picture of her mother, thus she can still remember her face.

Lauren knows too well that her mother is her father's mistress and she was just a mistake. Her mother tolerates everything for her. Every time Stella's friends were in their house, and coincidentally her mother was there to visit her. Stella makes a way to embarrass her mother in front of them. Clearly telling them that they didn’t belong to their family. 

Instead of being considered as a family, she was only considered as a helper in that house. Even when her mother died, her father was always busy in their company. They made her run errands for them, and when they do not like what she did, they will beat her up. 

She cannot tell nor complain to her father because if she does that, they will only threaten her more.

They also transferred her to a public school by the time she was in high school. At first, she thought that everything she did was needed to repay their hospitality and acceptance. For her to be grateful that even her mother died, they didn't send her off. But later on, when she understands what kind of life she has. Doing everything for their benefits but receiving nothing… she comes to the realization, for them she's just a bug that leeches on them… so they need to make sure to use her for their benefits.

Lauren was lost in her thoughts when the door suddenly opened.

A woman in her late forties in a maid's outfit went straight into her room. Her left hand was placed on her waist, while her right hand was holding a rag. 

She approached Lauren and shouted at her in a hostile manner. “Hey, get up already and start cleaning the house!  If you are thinking you are a princess here, let me remind you… you are not!”

‘Oh right she forgot, she's one of them. Not a princess, but a servant.’

Lauren got up from her bed. The woman angrily glanced at her again. “Hurry up!  Get out of your room and start working!” The woman walked towards the door and loudly closed it after she stepped outside.

Lauren just shrugged her shoulders. She's used to it. Even the other maids have an indifferent attitude towards her.

After taking a quick bath and groom herself, she immediately left the room. 

She went straight to the Laundry area. Lauren was hungry at that time, but she knew there was no food for her since she woke up late that day. She could only eat later at lunch.

.

.

.

It was almost noon. The rain that was pouring hard that morning seems like it didn’t happen at all. This time, the sun was high and the weather was really hot. 

Lauren walks towards the kitchen to have a glass of water. She's already tired. After finishing the laundry, she also cleans the other rooms. She even maps the floor and wipes the stairs in their living room.

Her only wish was that she was at work at that time. In that way, she’s not in their house to do the things she is not supposed to do. It’s fine for her to help with house chores, but in her case… she’s the one doing all the work. But at least she still has some freedom and was able to have real work. The one where she can receive a salary.

“You are supposed to clean the house. Why are you here?" Hazel angrily asks. But Lauren chose to ignore her.

Is it bad to rest and drink water for a while? Because if she didn't do it, she might suddenly faint from the fatigue and hot weather.

And she knows her too well that no matter what she did, she would never win against Hazel. If there’s a chance she chooses to fight her, Hazel can do everything to turn the table and make it favorable for her.

“Hazel? Why did you take so long?" Lauren stopped for a moment after hearing that voice.

“Theo" Lauren murmured, his name.

The man who promised to protect her no matter what… but she know that promise will not going to happen. She secretly likes him, but she also knows that she doesn't have a chance. 

He is already Hazel's fiancé that means he is her soon to be brother-in-law.

“Oh, Lauren! You're here!" Theo enthusiastically calls her name. It's been a while ever since he saw her. Though she looks like she lost weight in that amount of time.

Lauren shifted her gaze. She doesn't want to cause a scene, especially since Hazel is here. There are times wherein she doesn’t know what is going on in her mind. When it comes to the man, Hazel was so quick to get jealous and it was on the other level. As much as possible, she doesn’t want to have a connection with Theo other than being an in-law. 

In addition, she doesn't want to see him, especially if he is alone. Hazel has eyes and ears everywhere. They were just around the corner and even if it was just a coincidence that she met Theo… it can cause serious trouble.

“Are you okay? You look pale." Theo worriedly asked.

Theo approached Lauren to check her.

How can she not look pale? She hasn’t had anything to eat yet. She’s also tired from doing house chores. It’s better if their house was small, but… it isn’t. The other maids don't help her. Actually, they were happy because they had less work to do. But the truth is, other maids were no longer doing their assigned work especially when the owner of the house was not present.

Hazel turned her gaze to Theo when she saw that he approached her sister.

They were 3 years older than Lauren. Looking at her sister, you can say how beautiful she is. From her natural raven straight hair with some curl at the end of it to the captivating amber eyes. She even has a great body posture.

People always compare their looks and praise Lauren, even Theo is fond of her sister. That's why she's always jealous of her.

She approached Theo and grabbed his arm. She smiled and said, “Don't worry Theo, my sister is fine. She was just tired from work. Actually I was wondering why she’s here when I told her to rest. Right, Lauren?"

Hazel looks at Lauren meaningfully.

Lauren nodded repeatedly in agreement with what her sister said. “Y-yes. Ahm… Excuse me, I need to go back to my room. I still need to do something.”

Lauren quickly put down the glass of water, then left.

He didn't know that the man was going to come here, maybe he drove Hazel on the way home.

The reason why she didn’t leave their house was for her to take a rest. These past few days her work was always at night and there were a lot more customers than usual. But instead of resting, she’s doing another set of work. Anyway, it’s for the best so that they wouldn’t blame her later that she’s living in their house for free but doing nothing.