[Kira's Place]
After her calls went unanswered for the tenth time, Kira slammed her phone onto the couch, frustration blazing through her like wildfire.
"This old hag!" she snapped, running her fingers through her tangled hair. "Who does she think she is? Ignoring my calls when I'm desperate for money?"
Mariam — the aunt she once worked under — had gone silent for days, refusing to pick up her calls.
Kira chewed her lower lip anxiously, pacing the small, dimly lit room. Her savings were gone. The rent was due. Her stomach had been growling since morning.
Back when she worked at the Bennett Mansion, things were easier. The pay was decent, the meals regular, and she didn't have to think beyond following orders. But after being fired, surviving had turned into a daily nightmare.
"Think, Kira, think…" she muttered, scanning the cluttered room for anything of value. Her eyes landed on a small velvet box tucked under a pile of clothes.
