Chapter 5

Victoria POV

A neighborhood with cheap rent in an old, run-down area.

I stood in front of an apartment building with peeling exterior walls. The hallway reeked of damp mildew, large patches of paint flaking off.

"Deposit plus first month's rent, twelve hundred total. Cash only, no transfers."

The landlady was a stocky middle-aged woman, cigarette dangling from her lips, sizing me up and down. Though I wore the most ordinary old T-shirt and jeans, the quality of the fabric seemed to arouse her suspicion.

She narrowed her eyes, her tone warning. "You don't look like you're from around here. Don't cause me any trouble, understand?"

I had my eye on a single room on the top floor. The room was tiny, less than a hundred square feet, but it had an independent window.

"I don't have enough cash right now." I was honest, removing a simple pearl earring from my earlobe. This wasn't from Ethan. I had bought this inexpensive accessory with money from my own part-time jobs.

"Hold this as collateral. Give me one day."

The landlady glanced at it disdainfully. "What's this worth? Flea market junk?"

I didn't back down, looking directly into her eyes. "I'm getting a job right away. This time tomorrow, I'll have the money."

The landlady seemed taken aback by my gaze.

"Fine, one day!" She grumbled impatiently and tossed me a rusty key. "If I don't see the money this time tomorrow, get out immediately!"

Standing in the narrow, dim hallway, I gripped that cold key tightly.

As long as I had a place to stay, I could survive.

I opened the job search app on my phone. Ethan had definitely spread the word in his circles. I didn't need to bother with legitimate major companies for now.

My finger scrolled across the screen, finally stopping on an inconspicuous job posting:

A top-tier private auction house with mysterious backing, hiring part-time authenticators, no background required, only professional ability.

I pulled up a photo from my phone's cloud storage. It was my advanced authentication certification. I had secretly earned it in my previous life to assist Ethan.

Once, these eyes were used to verify authenticity for him, to avoid risks. Now, they would be my foundation for survival.

Auction house back warehouse.

I wore white cotton gloves, carefully holding a porcelain vase, examining it closely under the light for a moment.

"The imitation work is very sophisticated," I set down the vase, my tone calm and certain, "but the details are wrong. It's a fake."

The shop owner was a thin middle-aged man. He had been leaning back in his chair, but now leaned forward slightly, surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Good eye." He opened a drawer and pushed a kraft paper envelope across the desk. "This is today's payment."

I accepted the envelope, feeling its thickness with my fingertips. Not much, a few hundred dollars, but this money was clean and solid.

This was money that belonged entirely to me, Victoria.

On my way home from work, I passed a convenience store and used the money I'd just earned to buy two discounted, near-expiry breads.

Just as I walked out of the store, a bright red Ferrari screeched to a stop in front of me.

The window rolled down, revealing a face with elaborate makeup written all over with mockery. She was from Ethan's circle, had often joined in ridiculing me before.

"Well, if it isn't our Mr. Hayes's 'all-purpose assistant'?" She raised her voice deliberately, drawing the attention of passersby. "How have you fallen to eating this kind of near-expiry bread? Did Ethan kick you out?"

She raised her phone, pointing it at me.

"Come on, smile for the camera! I'll post it in the group chat so everyone can crowdfund to buy you a decent dinner, so you don't starve to death on the street and embarrass Ethan."

I stepped forward, calmly facing her camera.

"Get a clear shot." I took a bite of the bread in my hand, speaking deliberately. "Perfect timing for your friends to see just how peaceful and free my life is without Ethan."

The woman froze, clearly not expecting this reaction.

"Also," I raised my hand and pointed to the traffic surveillance camera above her car, "this is a no-parking zone. The fine and penalty points should arrive at your address very soon. Drive safe. No need to see you off."

"You-!" She was speechless with anger.

Behind her, the blocked traffic started honking impatiently. The woman glared at me viciously, rolled up her window, and floored the accelerator to leave.

I walked down the street with my bread, eating it carefully, bite by bite.

Their mockery and humiliation meant far less to me than this food I had earned myself.