Chapter 3

The next day, after ensuring Lester, who'd just been stabilized, was settled, I arrived at the SKY Hill Estate as promised.

It wasn't because I was pathetic; it was because Judy had filed a complaint against me on the sober driving platform.

If I didn't show, the platform would forfeit my entire security deposit and permanently ban my account.

I couldn't lose this job.

Judy opened the door, dressed in a silk robe, her neck covered in tell-tale hickeys.

"You actually came? Right on time."

She stepped aside, her eyes full of mockery.

"The cleaning supplies are in the bathroom. Make sure you scrub it spotless; Anderson's a germaphobe."

I didn't speak, walking directly to the bathroom.

The villa's decor held faint echoes of my memories, yet it was undeniably alien.

It was Anderson's style: cold, luxurious, devoid of any warmth.

The bathroom was large, but the toilet wasn't actually dirty.

Judy was clearly enjoying the humiliation.

She leaned against the doorway, holding a glass of red wine, watching me put on gloves and pick up the brush.

"I heard you dumped Anderson back then because he was broke, and immediately hooked up with some trust fund kid?"

Judy swirled her wine glass, a smirk playing on her lips.

"What happened to him? Did he dump you? Or maybe he just used you for kicks?"

I scrubbed the toilet, mechanically repeating the motion.

"None of your business."

"What do you mean, none of my business?" Judy walked in, her heels clicking crisply on the tile. "Anderson is mine now. Of course, I need to know all about his past."

She suddenly leaned closer, lowering her voice.

"Marta, you really have the nerve to show your face? If I were you, I'd have crawled into a hole."

"I'm just here to work." I straightened up, looking at her coldly.

"Work?" Judy suddenly laughed, shaking with mirth. "Do you actually think Anderson asked you here to scrub toilets?"

She suddenly splashed the red wine from her glass onto the floor.

"Oops, my hand slipped." Judy blinked innocently. "Clean this up too."

I took a deep breath and picked up the rag.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door.

Anderson appeared in the doorway, wearing a dark gray loungewear set.

Seeing the red wine stain on the floor, he frowned slightly.

"What happened?"

"Anderson~" Judy instantly changed her expression, tearfully throwing herself into his arms. "I wanted to offer Ms. Marta a drink, but she didn't appreciate it and splashed the wine..."

Her talent for twisting the truth was truly masterful.

I looked at Anderson, offering no explanation.

What was the point in explaining? In his mind, I was already a materialistic, lying woman. A gold-digger.

As expected, Anderson didn't even glance at me, gently stroking Judy's hair.

"Are you hurt?"

"No, just startled." Judy rubbed against him. "Marta seems to really hate me."

Anderson turned, his gaze like a blade scraping across my face.

"Marta, apologize."

"I didn't spill it." I straightened my back, looking directly into his eyes.

"I told you to apologize." Anderson's voice deepened, carrying an undeniable pressure.

"I didn't do it, why should I apologize?"

"Hmph." Anderson sneered, letting go of Judy and stepping closer to me.

"Seven years ago, you could abandon me for money. What's a spilled drink for spite now?"

He backed me against the sink, placing his hands on either side of me, trapping me in the small space between him and the counter.

The familiar scent of cedar mixed with tobacco assailed me, making me momentarily dazed.

"Marta, don't make me get physical."

There was no warmth in his eyes, only endless disgust.

My heart twisted with a sharp pain.

"I'm sorry."

The three words were practically squeezed through my teeth.

"Couldn't hear you." Judy instigated from behind. "Where's the sincerity?"

Anderson stared at me, a cruel curve playing on his lips.

"Kneel and wipe it clean. Then we'll call it even."

I snapped my head up, looking at him in disbelief.

"What did you say?"

"What, you don't understand English?" Anderson pointed at the red wine stain on the floor. "Kneel down, and clean it up."

The man who once swore to protect me for life was now ordering me to kneel.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I fiercely held them back.

For Lester, for that five thousand dollar complaint fine...

I slowly bent my knees, my kneecaps slamming against the hard tile.

The cold sensation spread from my knees throughout my body.

I picked up the rag and meticulously wiped away the red wine.

Above me, I heard Judy's triumphant laughter and Anderson's cold gaze.

In that moment, my dignity was utterly crushed.

After cleaning the floor, I was about to leave, but Judy blocked my path.

"What's the rush? You're not done yet."

She pointed to a pile of gift boxes in the living room corner.

"There's a party here tonight. Your job is to unwrap these gifts and sort them."

I glanced at the time; it was already four in the afternoon.

Lester was still in the hospital, and I'd promised to be with her tonight.

"I'm sorry, I only agreed to clean. This isn't part of my job."

"I'll pay extra." Anderson said from the sofa, flipping through a magazine, not looking up. "Twenty thousand."

Twenty thousand dollars. That was two months of Lester's medication.

The refusal died on my lips.

"Fine."

I walked to the corner and began unwrapping the beautifully packaged gift boxes.