"WHERE'S MY DAUGHTER?!" a voice thundered.
Cami jumped. "It's my mom!"
"Hide!" Flora pushed her into the kitchen corner, barely able to fit her behind the fridge.
"What's going on?" Jordan whispered.
The door flew open. Lexi stormed in—with a gun.
Jordan and Flora froze.
"WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?!" she yelled, before choking on her own breath and collapsing to the ground.
CHAPTER 9 & 10
★ CUDDLES ★
Lexi was on her feet before Flora could even take a step forward.
Her madness had evolved—it wasn't just rage anymore; it was precision, like a ticking bomb with a plan.
"Lexi, are you alright?" Flora asked, voice calm but cautious.
"Where is she?! Where is that f**king daughter of mine?!" Lexi snarled, waving a gun in her hand like a warning flare. "I know she's here. Get her out—now—or you'll taste my wrath!"
"Please... it hasn't come to that," Flora said gently, her voice steady despite the fear crawling up her spine. "Put the gun down."
Lexi scoffed, eyes wild. "You think I came here to waste my time? Do you even know who I am? If you did, you'd be on your knees—begging—for letting my daughter set foot in this wretched place!"
Before another word could leave her lips, Camelia stepped forward, her bag clutched tight, guilt written all over her face.
"Good morning, Mom," she whispered.
Lexi's eyes blazed hotter. "What did I tell you about coming here? I warned you!"
"I had nowhere else to go," Cami said quietly. "This... this was the only place left."
"You should've chosen a pit—anything would be better than this dump."
"Mom, please—" Cami tried, but Lexi wasn't done.
"Come with me!" Lexi snapped, grabbing her daughter by her ponytail.
"Aah!" Cami shrieked as she stumbled, crashing to the ground.
"You're supposed to be in school today! What's wrong with you? Why do I even regret having you?" she screamed, yanking her back up.
"I'm sorry!" Cami sobbed as Lexi dragged her out the door.
"Be careful with her, please," Flora pleaded, eyes brimming.
"Touch me, and you'll get a slap so hard it'll sterilize you!" Lexi hissed, disappearing with her daughter.
Jordan sat frozen, still staring at the door long after they were gone.
"What... just happened?" he whispered.
Flora said nothing, simply closed the door and let out a long, pained sigh.
<
Cami locked her door with trembling hands. The tears came before she even reached the bed. She kicked off her shoes and curled into a ball. "I don't want to live anymore. Life is so damn unfair," she cried into her knees.
"Camelia! Take a shower and get ready for school!" Lexi barked from outside.
Cami's lips quivered as she reached for her diary. She opened it, picked up her butterfly pen, and poured her heart into the pages.
"No mom. No dad. No friends. Sickness. Anxiety. Everything's too much.
Who's going to fix me? Who's going to save me?
I just want to run far away.
I want to be free.
I want to be... happy."
Her tears splattered across the ink as she clutched the book like it was her last friend.
"Cami!" Lexi shouted again.
"I'm in the bathroom!" she lied, dragging herself off the bed.
MELODY'S TASTY CAFE
Momo slung the apron over Jordan's neck, standing on tiptoes to reach.
"Aww, look at you! Hot chef material," she teased.
Jordan smiled faintly but his mind was elsewhere.
"Can I... see the boss now?" he asked.
"She's in her office." Momo pointed him to the door.
Jordan stepped inside to find Melody perched seductively on a desk, mid-phone call. She ended it the moment she saw him and offered a slow, enticing smile.
"Jordan, finally," she said, walking toward him. "I heard you took this job to pay for school and support your mom."
He nodded, nervous.
She handed him an envelope.
"$300,000. Yours."
His breath hitched. "For me?"
"Use it for school. For your mom. For whatever you need."
Jordan stared into the envelope. Real money. Enough to change everything.
"Thank you... thank you so much. I—" his voice broke, tears welling.
Melody stepped in and hugged him tightly.
He returned it, warmth filling the space between them.
"You'll still work here, won't you?" she asked, pulling back.
"Absolutely. Thank you," he said, beaming.
As he turned to leave, she stopped him again.
"Wait... one more thing."She stepped close, adjusting his apron.
"You don't need to be nervous. You're part of the team now. And, well... you know what to do," she said, eyes gleaming.
Jordan stammered. "Y-yeah... I can cook just fine."
"Good." She smiled sweetly. "You're free to go."
He exited quickly, heart pounding. Something felt... off.