Chapter 3 Episode 3

~CELINE~

"What do you mean by fired, sir?" I asked, my voice trembling as I squeezed the envelope in my hands. Surely, I'd heard him wrong.

Why was this happening?

"Yes, Miss Brown, you heard me correctly. You're fired," he said, his tone cold and dismissive. "Gather your things and leave the premises."

The words struck me like a physical blow, and my hands began to shake. My grip tightened on the envelope, its edges biting into my palm. This couldn't be real.

This had to be Hunter's doing.

But why? Earlier in the hallway, he hadn't seemed angry. If anything, he was indifferent-polite even-when he asked about Caesar. Why would he do this? Was it some twisted feeling of control or punishment?

None of this made sense. None of it was fair.

"Miss Brown, you might want to take your leave," the manager said sharply, breaking through my spinning thoughts.

His voice was cold, unbothered, as though throwing out someone's livelihood was normal for him.

Anger bubbled inside me, a mix of humiliation and frustration. I wanted to scream at him, to ask for an explanation, to curse Hunter Reid for his heartlessness.

But I couldn't.

The words caught in my throat, and my feet moved before I could summon a response.

I stood, legs stiff as I walked to the door. My grip on the handle tightened until my knuckles turned white. My chest felt like it was giving in, my breath rough as I bit down hard on my lower lip to keep the tears from spilling.

Not here. Not in front of him.

I twisted the knob and stepped into the quiet hallway.

The air felt stuffy, and suffocating, and the fluorescent lights above buzzed faintly, casting a harsh glow over everything. Each step I took felt heavier than the last as I walked willy-nilly, the world around me blurring.

I needed to get out. I needed to breathe.

Somehow, I ended up in the restroom. The stark white tiles and buzzing lights made the space feel cold and sterile. I struggled to the sink, gripping the edge as I stared at my reflection.

My face was turned red, my eyes glistening with unshed tears. My chest heaved, and my breathing came in shallow, ragged gasps.

Not now. Not here.

I froze as faint voices drifted in from the hallway, growing louder. Someone was about to come in.

Panic flooded through me, and I hurried into a stall, locking the door behind me. I sank onto the closed toilet seat, burying my face in my hands.

All the emotions I'd been holding back hit me like a tidal wave. My chest ached as I tried to keep the panic at bay. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks, unstoppable and relentless.

What was I going to do?

This job had been everything-my lifeline. The only thing keeping Caesar and me afloat.

I looked down at the crumpled envelope in my hand. My "final paycheck." A bitter laugh escaped me, muffled by my trembling lips. It wasn't even enough to cover half of what I needed this month.

This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not like this.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe. Caesar would be waking up soon. He couldn't see me like this. He needed me to be strong, even if I felt like I was falling apart.

A sharp voice pierced the quiet.

"Did you see her? Acting like she owns him," someone said, their tone cutting.

I froze, the tears forgotten as I strained to listen.

"She's so annoying. I can't believe Hunter Reid has taken an interest in her," another voice chimed in, dripping with disbelief and spite.

"It's obvious she forced herself on him," someone else scoffed. "You all know how Charlotte gets. With her many scandals, I still don't understand why Aurelia keeps using her face."

"For her pretty face, of course," a fourth voice added, laced with venom. "Isn't that all she's known for?"

Their laughter echoed off the tiled walls, sharp and cruel.

Each chuckle felt like a dagger, slicing through the weak composure I'd been trying so hard to maintain.

I bit my lip to keep my breathing quiet. My nails dug into my palms as anger and humiliation churned inside me.

Why was I sitting here, hiding, listening to them?

My mind drifted back to Hunter Reid-his cold unconcern in the hallway. He was probably out there enjoying his perfect life, surrounded by admirers. Meanwhile, I was here, in a restroom stall, drowning in the mess he'd created.

The laughter faded as their voices grew distant, leaving me alone in suffocating silence.

I exhaled shakily, leaning back against the cold metal door. Frustration and helplessness pressed down on me like a heavyweight.

Eventually, I made my way to the laundry room, the sound of Caesar's laughter cutting through my haze. It was a lifeline, pulling me out of my suffering.

Pausing outside the door, I wiped at my face, taking a deep, steadying breath.

"Mummy!" Caesar's voice lit up the room as I walked in. His little face broke into a bright smile, and for a moment, the world didn't feel so heavy.

Blake, who was sitting on the floor with him, looked up and frowned as she stood.

"Hey, what took you so long? I was starting to get worried," she said, her tone gentle but concerned. "What happened?"

I didn't answer. I couldn't. I brushed past her, heading to my locker. My hands shook as I unlocked it, grabbing my belongings and shoving them into my bag.

Blake watched me, her concern growing.

"Celine," she said softly, stepping closer. "Why are you packing your stuff? What happened?"

I finally met her gaze, my tears spilling over despite my best efforts.

"He fired me," I choked out.

Her eyes widened in shock. "Oh... Celine, I'm so sorry."

She pulled me into a hug, and I let myself cry on her shoulder.

Through my tears, my gaze drifted to Caesar. He was watching us, his innocent face filled with curiosity. That look broke me all over again.

It wasn't long before I pulled myself together. My bag was packed, and I was ready to leave.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Blake asked, anger simmering in her voice. "I can't believe Hunter Reid could be so petty... that heartless bastard! And to think I was crushing on him-" She stopped, wincing.

"Sorry."

"It's okay," I said, forcing a weak smile. "I shouldn't have brought Caesar to work in the first place."

"But still!" she shot back. "Do you know how hard it is to find a job these days? Especially with... well, your situation."

Her words stung because I knew she was right. Finding another job wouldn't be easy.

I sighed, slinging my bag over my shoulder. I knelt in front of Caesar, brushing my fingers through his soft hair.

He smiled at me, and I couldn't help but return it, though mine was tinged with sadness.

"Come on, little champ," I said softly. "Let's go."

"Are we going home?" he asked, his speech slightly unclear but still understandable.

"Yes, sweetheart," I whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"We're going home."