AERA woke up in a jolt when she felt her back lying on a mattress. An unfamiliar room greeted her when she opened her eyes. The last thing she remembers before she falls asleep was riding Drace’s car.

Her eyes roamed. Panic rushed through her system when she saw her reflection in the mirror. She was now wearing an oversized shirt. Aera took a peek underneath, only to scare the hell out of her. She was not wearing any underwear!

“What the hell? Did something happened?”

No, her mind protested. It couldn’t be!

She was about to leave the bed when the door opened, and Drace came in. He looked different now that he was wearing a fitted shirt and a pair of jogging pants. His biceps were flexing every time his arms would move.

Aera immediately shook her head with that thought. She should not have any fantasy over this man. She hated him, right?

“Where are we? What am I doing here? What did you do to me?” she asked continuously without breathing.

Her eyes widened in shock when Drace strode towards the bed. He pushed her down and pinned her body with his. Her hands were captive above her head. Aera could feel her cheeks burning. Now that they were that close, her heart started to hammer against her chest. She almost runs out of breath when Drace lowered his head on hers.

“Why, Aera?” he drawled. “Were you dreaming that something happened between us?” His stare went down to her lips.

Of course not! She wanted to tell him that, but she couldn’t speak. Aera could only bite her lip.

“I was about to take you home, but you fell asleep, and I don’t know your address so, I decided to bring you here.”

Drace distanced himself from her and sat at the edge of the bed.

“S-so, why am I dressed like this?” It took Aera a couple of seconds before she could get up.

“You threw up when I laid you down on the bed.”

“Did you change my—”

“No. My maid did. Your clothes were in the laundry room, just ask the maid for it.”

“Oh, okay.” She let out a sigh of relief. If ever Drace undressed her last night, she would run away and dug her own grave.

“I don’t undress a woman without her consent.”

So, there was some decency left with Drace despite being rude. Okay, she will give him a brownie point for that.

A moment of silence ensued between them, and it was awkward. Thankfully, the door opened, a maid brought them a tray of breakfast. Drace stood up and took the tray from the maid that he lay down beside her.

“Anyway, good morning, Aera...” he greeted her with a smile.

Her jaw dropped. “E-eh?”

She didn’t expect the warm greeting and that smile.

“Eat your breakfast. I don’t want a malnourished wife.”

Aera’s eyes narrowed. She was not sure if she heard him laugh.

“Slim, not malnourished. Put that in your head!”

“Whatever. I’m leaving you here. I have to go to work. Feel at home, Aera.”

She snorted.

Drace turned around and walked to the direction of the door. Aera just watched him leave the room. And to her amazement, her heart started beating erratically. She patted her chest.

What the hell was the meaning of that?

“He’s making you crazy, Aera!” she told herself.

She ate her breakfast as fast as she could. She must leave that house immediately, or she will end up in a psychiatric hospital later.

AFTER eating breakfast, Aera went to her friends’ apartment to get her luggage, and then she went home.

She heaved a deep sigh when she stepped inside the house. Suddenly, everything felt different now. There were no maids to welcome her every time she comes home. No drivers. No cars. The luxury was gone in just a blink of an eye. Luckily, they still have some assets left. The mansion still belongs to them, but her mother told her that it might be sold sooner. With their current state, they couldn’t afford to maintain the house.

Aera left her luggage in the living room and headed to the garden, where she found her father sitting in his wheelchair while her sister feeds him.

“Dad…” she kissed him on the temple and hunkered in front of him.

He reached her cheek and lightly brushed it with his thumb.

“You said you would come home by morning,” Arie said.

It was already afternoon.

“Ah… I tried to look for a house. Mom told me that we might sell this house.” Aera bit her tongue. Of course, it was a lie.

She couldn’t tell her sister the truth that she was at Drace’s house that morning. Aera doesn’t want to give Arie the idea that she and Drace were in good terms now.

“So, how was it?” her sister asked.

She turned to Arie, an I-don’t-believe-you-look was written all over her face. Aera scratched her brow.

“I’m still looking for an affordable house. Our budget is too tight, and we still need to buy Dad’s medicine for the next couple of months.”

Drace’s father offered to cover her dad’s medicine expenses too, but she declined. It was too much. She still has a little pride left.

“I think I must look for a job and stop schooling at this rate.”

She stood up and patted Arie’s head.

“No, you should continue with your studies. Leave it to me, Arie. I am your big sister,” she said.

Aera has been saving for the past years. Her family can use that to start over while they were waiting for the mansion to be sold.

“Anyway, you should see Mom. She would be happy to see you home.”

“Right. Where is she?”

“Kitchen.”

Aera went straight to the kitchen and found her mom doing the dishes.

“Mom…” she called.

“Aera!” Her mother’s eyes seemed to spark when she saw her.

She gave her mom a tight hug.

“Let me finish this first, okay?” her mom said.

Aera freed her mom, but she didn’t leave her side. She leaned against the sink and watched her finish her work.

“Mom, we should have retained Alicia to help you with the chores.”

“I can manage. See, it’s done!”

Aera pulled the towelette hanging near her and gave it to her mom.

They both walked out of the kitchen afterwards.

“You look troubled, Aera…” her mother said.

She sighed and smiled faintly. Who wouldn’t look trouble after all that happened? She was just hanging in there for her family.

“Don’t you think life is so unfair, Mom? We haven’t done anything wrong. We’ve been living without harming someone. Why did this happen to us? Is this a curse or what?” She bit her lip and tried to suppress her tears.

“I don’t know, too, sweetie.” Her mother caressed the side of her head. “All I know is that everything happens for a reason. The Lord will not give us a challenge we cannot surpass. Have faith in Him. Pray that this hardship will come to its end…”

“I do hope so…” she said.