Someone kicked me hard in the stomach. A sharp gasp escaped my lips as pain shot through my body.
“You always act like you’re better than the rest of us, so proud, so cold. And now you’re trying to ruin everything just because you’re jealous?”
Clenching my teeth against the pain, I reached out and knocked over a flower vase nearby.
The crash of shattering glass stunned everyone. I took the chance, shoved them aside, and stood up.
“What is wrong with all of you? I never said Louise couldn’t treat you to a shopping spree. I only refused to let her use my ID. If you’re all so eager to go, use your own cards! Why does it have to be mine?”
A colleague shot me a cold, condescending look.
“So what if she uses yours? Must you be so stingy?”
Another casually handed her ID to Louise.
“Louise, don’t bother with Alexandra. She obviously doesn’t appreciate anything. Use mine, I’m new too.”
“Yeah, take mine as well. Just get me a handbag later, and we’re good.”
As the others showered her with flattery, a flicker of disdain flashed in Louise’s eyes, but her smile stayed perfectly sweet.
Just before the end of the workday, a sharp pain twisted in my stomach. I rushed to the restroom, and when I returned, I grabbed my bag, ready to head out.
But the moment my hand touched the strap, I paused. Something felt off.
I clearly remembered leaving my bag unzipped in a hurry. But now, it was neatly zipped shut.
My heart skipped. I opened it in a flash, and everything was still there. My ID lay tucked in the inner pocket, untouched.
Only then did I quietly exhale, relief washing over me.
Frederick walked past and let out a low chuckle as he caught sight of me rifling through my bag.
“Alexandra, are you paranoid or something?”
I rolled my eyes at him, too lazy to respond, and slung my bag over my shoulder before turning to leave.
That night, when I got home, a wave of unease washed over me, as if something terrible was quietly approaching.
Just as I was about to fall asleep, my phone suddenly rang.
When I picked up, a woman’s voice came through, it was someone from the bank. She calmly said I had taken out a three-million-dollar loan six months ago, and it was now one month overdue.
I opened my message history, and the memory hit me like a jolt. A year ago, my cousin had an accident and begged to borrow three million dollars. Back then, I had fallen out with my parents over Frederick, and they froze all my accounts. So I took out a loan to help her. But work had been overwhelming, and I completely forgot to repay it.
Just as I was about to transfer the money, the bank employee continued, her voice turning sharper.
“Miss Valois, if the repayment isn’t made on time, you’ll be placed on the bank’s blacklist. Your loans across the five major banks will be frozen and terminated.”
Hearing that, my hand froze mid-air as a thought struck me.
“Sorry, I don’t have the money to repay right now. Please go ahead and freeze all my bank accounts.”
With that, I blocked the bank employee’s number without hesitation.
Only then did I finally exhale. Now, even if Louise managed to get hold of my ID, she wouldn’t be able to take out any loans, right?
The next day, I received a call from the housekeeper.
“Miss Valois, today is Madam’s birthday. Aren’t you coming home to see her? Madam has missed you dearly all this past year.”
I glanced at the calendar on the wall, and a wave of bitterness surged through me. It was Mom’s birthday. Over a year had passed since I last went home after falling out with my parents.
Thinking about how I’d made them suffer for so long because of that scumbag Frederick, I felt the urge to slap myself.
“Uncle Philip, I understand. I’ll come home tomorrow.”
After hanging up, I decided to visit our family’s department store first to pick out a birthday gift for Mom.
