Beloved Woman Beyond The Billionaire

"Confidence? Good. Prove you're worthy of being mine. Mine don't run when struck. Mine don't whimper when scalded. Prove it."

A pot of warm coffee cascaded down from the top of my head, dripping over my temples and soaking into the collar of my clothes as I knelt before my prospective master.

It was sticky, and the smell reeked all the way to the back of my throat.

My stomach churned.

The thick liquid...

"Yes, sir," I whispered. "I can assure you with absolute certainty that I deserve this. Even if my body and soul are at stake for my words, I will keep them as a promise."

I didn't scream.

I just stared at the marble floor, eyes glazed over.

Resigned.

I was just so damn tired of living in a world that wouldn't give me a single chance to breathe.

"Congratulations. You're now part of our team. Sign the contract below."

I turned my head when I heard a man's voice from the doorway.

"You can go," the man in front of me commanded, lighting a cigarette.

I took a breath, stood up with my head bowed, turned, and walked out.

Hours later, after the paperwork was finished, I received an ATM card. The password was my birthday.

I walked out, head held straight.

"Still a chance to get out of hell, even if I'm stepping into a new one," I muttered to myself, then turned and started walking alone, a long way toward the bus stop with the last of my money.

Almost everyone looked at me with disgust; some covered their noses, others even told me to go get changed, and a few looked at me with pity.

But I stayed silent.

I was already at the breaking point of living in this world.

The bus stopped in front of the Mall.

I got off without caring that people were staring and whispering about me.

I kept walking until I found Johan's car, my stepfather's, stopped right in front of the main entrance of the Mall.

My mother got out.

The one she was hugging was Eliana, my "perfect" stepsister.

I looked down, taking in my own appearance.

Dirty, disheveled, pathetic.

Mother forced me to take care of Eliana's house, she threatened me, but she chose to have fun with her stepdaughter instead.

I also saw Nolan. He kissed Eliana's forehead. It was a good thing I never actually slept with him. If I'd known he'd turn around and love Eliana instead, I never would have agreed to be his girlfriend.

I started walking straight.

"Daddy, I want ice cream," halfway there, I turned to the side.

A little girl was being carried in her father's arms.

Her chest pressed against his. His hand was tucked under her thigh.

His other hand protected her back.

"Let's go buy some. What flavor do you want?"

"Chocolate, Daddy... and matcha too... buy two."

I want chocolate too, I want matcha too, Dad.

But my father died a long time ago. It's been over a decade since I felt any kind of love from him.

"That's Wisa."

"Don't get too close."

"She's so pathetic. I heard her boyfriend married her sister."

"Just let her be, it's karma."

"I heard Wisa's mom stole Eliana's dad from her mom, until Eliana's mom died."

I kept walking toward the nearest ATM, and inserted the card.

$2,000,000.00 USD

Two million dollars. The money was real.

My eyes went wide, and I instinctively covered my mouth.

"Welcome to the Sergio world, Ms. Hawisa. You don't love your pretty face, do you? I'm sorry for your future, girl."

I heard the voice of the old man who gave me the card.

But, when I turned around,

Amon Nicholas Sergio was standing there, staring at me from beside his car.

His hands were in his pockets. His gaze was cold, his face handsome but flat.

He was waiting for me?

"Ms. Wisa... Ms. Wisa... Hey!"

My vision blurred.

I was completely exhausted, physically and mentally.

"Ms. Wisa, you start work today." That voice, the man who was going to be my boss. "Weren't you tough enough to pass the entrance exam earlier?"

Before I could answer, my vision went black. My body collapsed onto the cold mall floor. The last thing I felt was Amon's bodyguard grabbing me, and the sound of Eliana's voice screaming loudly to the crowd:

"Look! She's actually lost it! Maybe she's already working as a prostitute at some nightclub, passing out in the street like trash!"

I couldn't defend myself. As I was lifted into Amon's car, I could only hope that when I woke up, I wouldn't be the weak Wisa anymore.

Freezing water slammed into my face. I gasped, choking as the liquid rushed down my throat. For a split second, I thought I'd dreamed of the 2 Million Dollars.

But, as I woke up. Eliana's grandmother was already standing over me with a bucket, her face filled with deep hatred.

As if I were her husband's illegitimate child.

Damn...

So it was a dream.

"How dare you laze around in a luxury hospital, huh!" she shrieked. "My son is wasting money on a parasite like you! You're just like your mother!" she cursed at me.

How funny.

My mother didn't even react, even after being insulted like that. She stood by the door, silent.

As always, she never defended me. Never.

She just watched as I wiped my tears with my trembling hands.

"Get up! Go home!" Grandmother yanked my hair. "The dirty dishes are piling up, they're everywhere!"

"Gosh, what is going on?!" A nurse burst in. "Take your hands off our patient!"

Eliana's grandmother didn't care. "If you side with her, I won't pay the hospital bills!" she threatened.

I turned to the side, looking at the nightstand. My eyes widened, and I smiled. A smile full of pride.

Proud that I could finally be free.

Free...

And it wasn't a dream.

The ATM card was real.

"W-what? You dare to mock me now?!" Grandmother shrieked. "Why are you smiling like a stupid?"

"Hawisa..." my mother's voice was soft, but filled with mockery. "Don't be rebellious!" she said.

Is she my biological mother or not?

"Since Eliana married Nolan, why has your attitude changed?"

I never changed.

It's just that Mother never looked at me.

"Teach your daughter some manners, you worthless woman!" Grandma spat.

Then came Eliana.

Walking into the room.

The perfect and graceful figure. The Director's favorite secretary. The woman who had everything I wanted.

Affection.

Wealth.

The love of the man I once liked.

Beauty, intelligence, happiness.

Even my mother... my mother was with her.

"I already told you I'm leaving," I said, my voice quiet, thin. This life is so exhausting.

"I..." I lifted my head. Enough of this exhaustion, Wisa. "I won't take your money anymore. Not a single cent!" I screamed.

Slap!

Satisfying...

So satisfying, even though I had just been slapped by my stepfather, Johan, who had just entered.

Johan's hand landed hard on my cheek. Silence filled the room. My mother didn't move an inch. For the first time, I realized she loved his money more than me.

Why did I only realize this now?

Wisa... You fool!

"I paid for your school, your clothes, your food!" Johan roared. "You're just a burden left behind by your dead father! You need to pay me back!"

"I will pay you all back," I cut him off quickly. My voice rang out louder... louder.

Come on, Wisa, you can do it.

"How arrogant!" Grandma yanked my hair again. I shoved her away. Hard.

She almost fell if Eliana hadn't caught her.

I walked to the nightstand, picked up the black ATM card, and threw it. The card hit Johan's chest before falling to the floor.

"2 Million," I screamed. "Every dish I washed, every floor I mopped, every insult-we are even. Paid off. Done, paaaid off!" I shouted until the veins in my neck bulged.

My hands were clenched, tense.

I was gasping for air.

"What do you mean, Wisa? Don't talk nonsense-"

"Oh, you're awake, are you?"

A deep, cold voice cut through the chaos.

The room went silent.

"Make way!"

The crowd at the door parted. A man in a sharp black suit stepped inside, his eyes as sharp as knife blades.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.

Eliana bowed instantly. Amon Nicholas Sergio. The CEO. The tyrant.

He stopped right in front of me, his gaze sweeping over my soaked clothes and the red welt on my cheek.

I lifted my head.

My chest was heaving.

I stared at him, blinking slowly.

He...

My master.

He stared at the ATM card lying on the floor.

"Oh," he whispered, his voice only for me. "Why is my employee being treated like a dog? Was the money you gave her still not enough?" he asked the old man beside him.

He didn't wait for an answer. His eyes remained locked on me, possessive and terrifying.

"Andi has given her the first down payment, Sir." The old man bowed. "I'm sorry if it wasn't enough for Ms. Wisa."

"Oh no... I'm satisfied." I managed, my voice trembling. Two million dollars. Proof that I was no longer a servant.

"Who are you? How dare you interfere with our family!" My stepfather, Johan, lunged at the old man– Amon's Assistant.

"Daddy, don't!" Eliana screamed, turning ghostly white.

A bodyguard moved, and Johan hit the floor in a heartbeat.

"So he's your father?" the old man asked Eliana, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Forgive us... we'll leave!" Eliana bowed-the first time I'd ever seen my arrogant stepsister beg. "Sorry for disturbing you, Mr. Amon!"

"Dad, Grandma, let's go!" Eliana yanked Johan up. They scrambled away, not even glancing at me or my mother.

"Who is he?" Johan whispered from the doorway, pointing to Amon standing in front of me.

"The Landlord of this city. Amon Nicholas Sergio."

"Say 'thank you'," the old man ordered me.

"Yes, Sir! T–thank you!" I bowed to the tall man stepping into the light.

"Stop looking at me like that," he snapped, his voice devoid of emotion.

"I'm sorry!" My face burned.

"Change into this," a man my age shoved clothes and a designer bag into my arms. "Follow Mr. Amon everywhere."

"I hate waiting," Mr. Amon said, walking away.

"By the way," the man called out, "I'm your assistant."

"W–what?!"

****

The next day, at the beach resort.

I stared at the white sand, wearing clothes worth more than my old salary. Then, I saw him at the end of the beach-Mr. Amon. Wet clothes, dazed, holding a dagger. He walked into the mangroves.

"Mr. Amon!"

"He's in danger," a guard hissed, sweating. "Stop him before he hurts himself!"

I ran into the mud, barefoot. "Mr. Amon!"

He stood on a branch, staring at the sky with burning hate, preparing to leap.

"Mr. Amon... no!" I screamed.

He looked down, stepped wrong, and the blade sliced his arm. He fell, lunging at me with terrifying speed. Hands around my throat, slamming me into the mud. Blood dripped onto my face.

"Stop! What did I do wrong?" I gasped, but his powerful hand hit my face again and again.

"Save them! Pull Mr. Amon away!"

Darkness took me.

"Haa... haa!" I woke up choking.

"You're awake!" The assistant stood by the window.

"I'm... not dead?"

"Thank you," he bowed deeply. "Thank you for stopping him."

"Why did he want to do that?"

The assistant's face turned blank. "Miss Hawisa, the management has decided. You're fired. With full honors."

"Fired? After I saved his life?"

The Door Opened.

Mr. Amon walked in. Still pale, but his expression had returned to ice. A thick bandage on his wrist was hidden under his long sleeve. His eyes met mine. Cold. Empty. Devoid of any guilt.

I realized then: he wasn't firing me because he hated me. He was firing me because I had seen his darkest, most vulnerable secret-the weakness that no one else in the world was ever supposed to know.

"Pack your things, Miss Hawisa," he said, his voice completely flat. No emotion, no gratitude. "You did your job. Now get out of my life."