Chapter 1 Cinderella's Misery

Ella's POV

"Please, just give me some time. I'll pay back all the debt in three months," I beg, with my knees on the ground, my head down and bruises all over my face. From the corner of my eye, I see one of the three men approaching me, I don't dare to look up. All three of them had tattoos all over their bodies and you don't mess with those kind of people.

"You better pay us every single penny your boyfriend borrowed," he said as he grabbed my hair and squeezed my face with full force, " or you can also choose to pay us back with your body," he smirked at me and the two behind him laughed at his statement. At that moment I felt like they were vultures, ready to tear my body apart as they desired.

I felt disgusted but I was no position to fight, my ribs felt like they broke from all the beating I endured. One woman against three men, it would have been a clean fight.

"I-l promise you'll get your money back," I struggled to speak.

I could hear all three of them laughing, their voices increasing. It's getting harder to breath and I gasp for some air.

"ELLA! WAKE UP, YOU USELESS WHORE," I hear someone shouting.

I slowly open my eyes, still adjusting to the bright light coming from the window.

"You think you're living in a hotel. Get up now, start cleaning the counter and open the shop. You also have some deliveries to make," Aunt Maggie handed me keys in one hand and cleaner soap in other.

I have been living with her since my boyfriend ran away with his ex-girlfriend. That damn bastard, he's the only reason I'm living like this even after having a law degree.

My boyfriend, Mark Raymond, was my classmate in law school. He was quite famous for being handsome but had no brains. Mark used to hit on me every time he got a chance, I played hard to get at first as I thought he was just a playboy who was going to break my heart eventually and I had my own big dreams to achieve.

Mark kept trying and after 2 years I said yes to being his girlfriend. I truly loved him, but I didn't know he had other plans.

He wanted to open a law firm together and I was happy that was finally thinking about bringing things to the next level, the day I thought he was going to propose me was the day he left me in debt and my account bankrupt. He not only took a loan from bank but also burrowed money from the loan sharks.

I had no money, my license got cancelled and no place to live. I was basically homeless for two weeks but then I found out about my mother's cousin, Aunt Maggie, from the orphanage.

Let me tell you, Aunt Maggie wasn't very happy to see me. I had nothing to offer her except myself so I begged her to let me live in her house and in return I offered her to look after café she owned. That's how I became a delivery girl, even after having a degree in law. Aunt Maggie didn't pay me much so I had to work hard, making deliveries during the day and working as a cleaner in a bar at night. Sometimes I felt like I wasn't a human anymore, but just a working robot.

"Nikki, your breakfast's ready," I say in a low voice. Nikki is Aunt Maggie's daughter. Ever since I came here, Nikki disapproved of me. I wish I could just smack her face one day for making me do all her chores and college work. She doesn't treat me like a human, I am just a mere slave to her.

Nikki takes her sleep mask off and the first thing she does instead of giving me a proper reply is she picks up the mirror form the side table and checks her face.

"Did you make my lemon tea as I told you," she replies still staring at herself in the mirror.

"Yes I made it exactly like you wanted."

"And what about my assignment?"

"All done. I pulled an all nighter just to complete it."

"If I don't get an A+ this time , you're going to have to take the responsibility. Do you understand."

I could have done a lot of things in that moment but I decided to just smile and nod. Nikki gives me a disgusted look before gesturing me to leave.

I open up the café and start to clean and set the tables while thinking about all the debt I have to pay because of my dear boyfriend, Mark. I curse him under my breath, even his name leaves a distaste on my tongue.

Mark was great in bed though, it would be a lie if I said otherwise. He made me feel all sorts of things, gave me all he pleasure I wanted when he thirsted inside me, I begged him for more. Sometimes I miss the sex we had but I won't ever forgive that piece of shit. One day I'll find him and I'm going to make him pay for everything.

While I'm organizing the stock, I hear someone enter from the front door.

"Are you open?" a woman asks in a low voice, I turn towards him to reply and my face glows up with joy and I forget all my worries after seeing Nora, my best friend. We've been friends for years now, she's the only one I have left now.

Nora is the only family I have. We met in the Sunrise Orphan home, her parents abandoned her while my parents died in a car accident when I was eight.

I remember glimpses of my childhood memories, but the only thing I have left of my parents is a locket and a picture of mom, dad and me standing in front of a Ferris Wheel. I know my parents loved me, I meant the world to them but my world collapsed after their accident.

Nora was the reason I survived, she's my soul sister. Even after she got adopted by a family, she never broke contact with me.

"I've asked you a million times, Ella. Leave your crazy Aunt Maggie and come live with us," Nora says as he hands me a cookie.

"I can't Nora, you know that," I give her a sad smile. I don't want to bother Nora or her new family, I don't want to worry her.

I have no idea how I'm going to pay my debt back, I've only two months left and I have barely saved any money. The only thing that can save me now is a miracle.