Chapter 3

Because I was broke, I asked the cashier if the convenience store was hiring.

"Sorry, we're fully staffed right now. You can leave your number, and we'll contact you if a position opens up."

I thanked her and was about to leave when someone suddenly called my name.

"Liam?"

I turned towards the voice.

Scarlett looked at me with surprise, seemingly amazed to see me there.

I understood her surprise.

She was an editor from another novel platform. She'd seen my talent and approached me many times, wanting me to switch platforms, even offering me benefits no other author received.

This store was near her company, making it easy to run into her. When I went home, I used to pass by this way.

To put Chloe at ease, I'd even taken a detour to avoid this area before.

Now, it seemed she only cared about the value my novels brought her.

Scarlett had overheard my conversation with the cashier. She asked, "Why are you applying for a job here? Aren't you writing novels anymore?"

"No, I'm divorcing Chloe. Those novels were published under her name, so the ownership isn't mine. Now I'm broke, so I have to find a job to get by."

Scarlett was initially shocked, then looked at me with expectation. "So, you're not with that platform anymore? If you don't mind, why don't you come to us? The previous conditions still stand."

Unlike before, I didn't coldly refuse. I was incredibly grateful to have run into Scarlett here.

I nodded. "If you'll have me, I'd be honored."

Scarlett excitedly sent messages to someone. "Absolutely! I'll talk to our boss. I'll send you an account shortly; you can start posting your work then."

Before leaving, Scarlett added me on SnapChat and, without a word, transferred $10,000 to me.

Afraid I would refuse, she explained, "You're broke right now, right? This is from our boss. Use it for now; I'll be your editor, and you can pay it back when your work takes off."

I didn't refuse. I thanked her and accepted the money.

I rented a small apartment and returned to my old routine, adopting a new pen name. I started typing away day and night at my computer.

Lost in my novel, I felt like I'd entered another world, completely free from fatigue.

This time, I wasn't writing for anyone else; I was writing for myself.

This sense of liberation gave me even more motivation.

Just as I was getting into my stride, a knock came from the door.

Thinking it was my food delivery, I opened the door.

"Liam, I finally found you. I've missed you so much these past few days."

She spoke stiffly, clearly hoping I wouldn't notice her words weren't sincere.

I was about to close the door, but she quickly slipped inside.

"Chloe, if you don't want me to call the cops, get out now."

She surveyed my rented apartment, her disdain evident.

"You really think you can live a good life without me? Are you regretting leaving me now that you're stuck in this dump?"

A dump?

When Chloe and I first got together, we lived in a place just like this.

We only moved to a bigger house thanks to the earnings from my novels.

Now that I was back at square one, she suddenly found it despicable.

Seeing I didn't reply, she sat down on the couch uninvited.

Her eyes landed on my computer screen, and she suddenly remembered something.

"I knew you were just too shy to ask. Hurry up and give me what you've written. Fans are already hounding me because of the several days of missed updates."

After I'd revised the ending, I'd saved two versions of the continuation on separate flash drives. I'd wanted to give Chloe a chance, but after opening the door and seeing them tangled together, I'd regretted it.

Now, she was demanding the rest of my novel as if it were her absolute right.

"Honey, it's been so long. Your anger must have subsided. As long as you give me the rest, we can go back to how things were. Wouldn't that be great, being so loving and affectionate?"

"What affection did we have? You never appreciated any of my efforts for you. In the end, you made enough money, what more could you possibly be dissatisfied with?"

"Your novel sells well, and the company earns a lot, so you naturally won't be treated unfairly. I only earned a small portion."

"That was a test for you. If you give it to me now, I'll definitely split a lot of money with you..."

I recognized her familiar empty promises and cut her off.

"Just leave. I'm not giving it to you."

Chloe was enraged by my words.

She grabbed the glass off the table and flung the water full in my face.

"Do you have any idea who Blake is, Liam? Why do you think he'd joke about your sister?"

All pretense of caution was gone from her expression.

"He's connected. Underground. Taking your sister wouldn't even be a challenge for him."

Then, her eyes blazing, she hurled the empty glass to the floor.

Bang!

The crash echoed in the room, and with it, my resolve shattered.

Mia was still at school. Even with security, if anything happened to her, I would never forgive myself.

Finally, I relented. "Fine, Take it. But if you lay a finger on my sister, I swear you will pay."

"Now you're being reasonable."

A cold smile touched my lips. I hoped she was prepared for the storm that ending would unleash.