Chapter 4: Chapter 4

<Azaria>

"Can't wait to receive our bonus. That's why I'm working hard, so I can be chosen for the trip to Singapore. All expenses paid."

It turns out they're not talking about me.

I've been to Singapore before, that's where I often hang out when I have nothing better to do with my life. In the United States of America, I party. There are a lot of addicts there.

And I go shopping in London.

"I feel like that girl earlier is sir's girlfriend."

I stopped in my tracks upon hearing another gossip. There are so many gossipmongers in this company. Maybe they're being paid to spread rumors.

I sat down on a sofa near them. They were in the coffee lounge, just the two of them talking.

"I know sir has a fiancee in the States. That girl earlier is not his girlfriend because his partner is in another country."

Such gossips.

"Maybe the woman who entered his office earlier is his girlfriend? I saw her, she looked sophisticated but seemed older. Maybe sir has a thing for older women."

Oh, so the jerk has a girlfriend.

"Maybe it's a sugar mommy situation," they both laughed.

"Ignorant, rude woman. How dare you interrupt?"

I rolled my eyes at her remark.

"Excuse me, butting in is strictly prohibited here," the secretary of the jerk told me.

I raised an eyebrow at her.

"He has a meeting, and it's strictly forbidden to disturb him during a meeting."

My eyebrow raised even higher at her statement.

"Who is he meeting with?" I asked, curious.

"It's the investor he has been pursuing for a long time," she replied.

Pursuing?

A mischievous idea popped into my head.

"I'll give him a trouble, so he'll be the one to talk to grandpa and convince him not to proceed with his disgusting plan for the two of us."

"Hubby!" I blurted out.

My mouth dropped open when I saw them holding hands.

I smirked.

"So, you're into older men. Is she your sugar mommy?" I asked him, as I moved closer to them.

"Who is she?" the sugar mom asked.

"Azaria," Nikolai called out my name.

"The audacity to deceive me!"

I was about to slap him when he held onto my elbow.

"Who are you?" the older woman asked me.

"I am his wife," I confidently answered, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Mrs. Cortez, I'm sorry, but can we reschedule this meeting?" Nick pleaded with her.

The woman seemed irritated.

"Who's that woman?! You're so unprofessional! Your dad recommended you to me! I heard so many good things about you, but this?! I didn't expect this!"

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Cortez. I apologize for the action of my wife. She's pregnant, and she mistook you for my mistress," Nick calmly apologized.

I, on the other hand, was taken aback by what Nikolai said.

"I'm disappointed!" the older woman angrily stated.

"I'm out! I won't invest in your product!" the woman declared, walking out.

I looked at Nick, who was pleading with his eyes.

It seemed like I ruined his deal.

"I'll take you home," he calmly said to me.

I didn't respond and left him.

It's been two days.

The days passed by quickly.

I'm married now. We couldn't do anything to resist the old man's desire for me to marry his adoptive son.

"Manang, can you put her things in my room?"

I raised an eyebrow at Nick's request to the household helper.

"What did you say? Hell no! We're not sleeping next to each other!"

"We're husband and wife," he reasoned.

"I don't want to be next to you!"

I tried to take my luggage from his household helper, but she refused to give them to me.

"The other rooms are locked, and I misplaced the keys."

I knew the reasons behind that. He just wants to score with me.

"I don't want to! I don't want to sleep next to you!" I protested.

"Stop being a brat, Azaria," he said calmly.

"I already told you, I don't want to be next to you!" I shouted.

His household helpers took my belongings, and I couldn't do anything about it.

I don't even know how many days I've been mourning since I got married. Hailey doesn't know yet that I'm married.

"Ma'am, they said you should eat. Sir told me to tell you," Marie informed me.

I ignored her and walked away.

"Ma'am? You should eat, or sir might get angry," she nervously insisted.

"Tell him to eat alone!" I retorted.

He always wants us to eat together. He's so manipulative. I still haven't been able to leave the house because I want to mourn over my marriage to him.

I'm only twenty-five, and I'm already married. I haven't even enjoyed my life yet.

"He wants you to wake up for breakfast," Marie politely said.

I didn't acknowledge her.

"Is she awake?"

He's here.

"She doesn't want to eat, sir. She said you should eat alone," Marie reported to her boss.

She really reported what I said.

"Azaria, let's eat," Nikolai threatened me.

I faced him.

"I told you, I don't want to eat! Just leave!"

He still has work to do. Because of me, he's been late several times.

"Don't make me mad, I have no patience for you."

What do I care?

"If you didn't eat, I'll fucking lock you here!" His voice grew louder.

"Why are you shouting, huh?! Your attitude is ugly!" I said, tears welling up.

He approached me and sat beside me.

"Let's eat. I'll be late," he pleaded.

"I don't want to!" And I pushed him away.

"Let go of me! You asshole!"

He suddenly lifted me and I started hitting his shoulders.

"Stop moving! You might fall!" he warned, annoyed.

"I don't want to eat! I don't want that food! What kind of meal is that?" I complained as he placed a plate of bacon, rice, egg, and milk in front of me.

"What do you want to eat then?"

"Just the milk, give it to me," I took a glass of milk beside me.

"Did you prepare this?"

He nodded in response, and I started drinking the milk. He was already dressed.

"I'll feed you,"

I let him spoon-feed me.

I saw Marie passing by, hiding her smile.

A strange household helper.

Nikolai has left a while ago, and I fell asleep.

I just woke up and I'm contemplating in our room.

I must have slept for a long time because it's already getting dark.

I need to go out but I don't have any money, not even a single cent. I don't even have a car.

I started crying. I have nothing left. All that's left are the clothes I'm wearing and some receipts from other countries.

I didn't pay attention to her because she's not worth my time.

I'm just a piece of paper in life, why do I have so many roles? All I have left are receipts and paper bags.

I couldn't help but cry. I almost ended up in jail.

There's nothing left for me. My cellphone is no longer the latest model.

I have become a miserable beggar.

I can't accept that everything can be taken away from me in an instant. And I still have a debt to Hailey.

I feel depressed because I have no money. Money is my happiness because it allows me to buy what I want and do what I want, which makes me happy.

Anyone who tells me that money cannot buy happiness will get a slap from me. Money is not the root of evil, and money brings color to people's lives. Evil lies within people, not money.

"Ma'am, are you awake?" Marie knocked on the door.

"I'm getting ready to go," she added.

"Sir asked me to check on you," she added, but I turned my back on her.

I don't want to talk.

"Can you leave? You just suddenly show up here!" I shouted at her while crying.

"Oh, there she is. I asked for permission before coming in. And sir wants to know if you're awake," she explained.

I wiped away my tears.

"You need to leave," I sobbed as I tried to chase her away.

"But ma'am-"

She couldn't finish her sentence as I angrily shouted at her.

"Damn it! Leave me alone! Get out of here!" I yelled, throwing the pillows in her direction.

"I-I'm sorry," she apologized and quickly left.

Being broke is depressing. I cried even harder.

I grabbed the paper bags I had and hugged them tightly. All that's left are receipts. I wanted to go to another country to relax and escape my sadness.

Where will I get the money?

I'm worried about money.

I need to swallow my pride. I'll tell Nikolai to hire me in his company, and once I've saved enough, I'll leave him. I can still get shares, and he said he would give me his share.

I'll take back everything he took from me.

I looked at my makeup collection. There are new releases and perfumes that made me cry even more because I couldn't afford them. I'm tired of my makeup collection as well. I've grown tired of it.

Next, I looked at my closet.

My clothes are already a week old and need to be replaced. They're worn out. I've become a miserable beggar.