Chapter 8 Please, Help Me

• Rachel's POV:
• Three years ago, after discovering Barclay's staggering loan shark debt, I frantically sought ways to raise funds. I even humbled myself to ask the contest organizer if I could swap the chance to study abroad in Emberwyn for cash.
• I still recall the organizer's response. "Ms. Lyrae, I'm sorry, but our boss has made it clear that this opportunity is intended for individuals who are genuinely passionate about design, not for those who wish to use it for financial gain."
• I was taken aback and spent the night at home crying and cursing that so-called boss.
• How dare he dismiss me so flippantly? Didn't I have aspirations? But no matter how grand my dreams were, they couldn't stand against harsh reality.
• Soon after, Barclay vanished, leaving me to face the creditors.
• They gave me a stark choice: either I could go with them, or they would chop off my brother, Nathan's, hand.
• I had no choice. I left with them in silence, while Nathan's desperate cries echoed behind me.
• They sold me to the Twilight Lounge, a place of luxury and vice frequented by the wealthy.
• They drugged my drink.
• Even though I had resigned myself to my fate, when a middle-aged man with a round face and a beer belly entered the room, I thought of Jack and the Emberwyn opportunity I had missed.
• Finding a burst of unexpected strength, I pushed past the man and staggered outside, with my pursuers close behind.
• I wasn't sure how long I ran, but I saw a tall, indistinct figure in the distance. I collapsed, clutching his well-tailored suit sleeve. "Please, help me … "
• That was the last thing I remembered before everything went black.
• When I awoke, I found myself in an unfamiliar room, next to a stranger.
• The clothes scattered by the bed were clear evidence of the events of the previous night.
• I felt a pang of sorrow but tried to comfort myself by noting that he was good-looking, a significant improvement over the man from the night before.
• Worried that the creditors might harass Nathan again, I quickly dressed and prepared to leave. I must have disturbed the man in bed, as he frowned while still half-asleep.
• I gently covered his head with the blanket and spoke softly, "It's okay. Just go back to sleep."
• Once the room was silent, I made my escape.
• The creditors had tracked me down again, but fortunately, Nathan was out searching for me.
• I hid in a secluded spot and called Nathan, advising him to stay away from home and seek refuge with a friend.
• Then I went to find Jane.
• I spent the next two months in hiding. One day, I discovered I was pregnant …
• Memories of the past overwhelmed me like a tidal wave, dragging me into a deeper, restless sleep.
• When I awoke at 4 AM, I grabbed a glass of water and sat in the living room, watching old movies and TV shows about first love from the past two years, trying to recapture that innocent sweetness.
• On the third day of isolating myself in my room, I finally came up with a rough idea for my project. Just as I was about to begin sketching, I received a call from an unknown number.
• I set my pen down and answered the call with forced politeness, "Hello, who's this?"
• "Mrs. Murray, I'm Ted, Mr. Murray's assistant. Mr. Murray is leaving for a business trip tomorrow. Could you please come back now and help locate his blue-and-white striped shirt?"
• Already annoyed by the interruption, this minor request felt like Dean was intentionally trying to irritate me. I snapped back, "Is he out of his mind? We're divorced now. Why should I care about his shirt? Ask the housekeeper."
• Without waiting for a reply, I ended the call.
• A few minutes later, my phone rang again, this time showing Dean's name in bold letters.
• I hesitated briefly but eventually answered.
• "Rachel, come back within thirty minutes."
• "But I—"
• Before I could finish, Dean hung up abruptly.
• I stared at my phone, my anger boiling over as I fought the urge to confront him directly.
• Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I eventually stood up and left the room.
• Downstairs, Jane looked at me with curiosity and asked, "Where are you off to at this time?"
• "I'm going to deal with that jerk!" I replied.
• "What?"