Lily Cruz walked home slowly after yet another failed job interview. It felt like the twentieth time she had been rejected, and almost every attempt ended in disappointment.
Lily was a very pretty young woman, twenty-four years old. She had large, beautiful eyes that sparkled with warmth, framed by long dark lashes that made them even more captivating. Her lips were soft and naturally pink, often curved into a gentle, charming smile. Long, silky hair flowed smoothly down her shoulders like dark satin. Her delicate facial features,smooth glowing skin, a small straight nose, and a graceful jawline,gave her an effortlessly breathtaking beauty.
most of these beautiful features often went unnoticed. In fact, her beauty had sometimes become a problem rather than an advantage. Many of the men who interviewed her were less interested in her qualifications and more interested in something else. More than once, she had been subtly asked to exchange intimacy for a job opportunity. Lily always refused, even when she desperately needed the job.
Tears filled her eyes as she walked along the quiet street. She had never felt this frustrated in her entire life. Right now, she needed money more than ever. Her mother's health had been getting worse over the years, and the doctors had finally said she needed surgery,an operation that cost more money than Lily could even imagine.
She had recently quit her job as a dispatch rider because the pay was far from enough to cover the medical bills. Now she was left searching for something better, but every door seemed to close in her face.
Lily had always held to one dream
She had always been incredibly talented at creating fashion designs. In her small sketchbook were dozens of unique clothing ideas she had drawn over the years. Deep in her heart, she dreamed that one day her designs would be recognized and sold by one of the biggest fashion houses in the city. And if that day ever came, she secretly hoped she would also be the one to model them.
Still lost in her thoughts, Lily stepped onto the road without paying attention to the traffic around her. Unfortunately, a car was speeding toward her.
The vehicle was already dangerously close by the time she noticed it.
Her heart skipped a beat. Frozen with fear, Lily shut her eyes tightly as panic rushed through her body. For a moment, she couldn't move. In her mind, she silently muttered a desperate prayer, believing that this might be the end .
Travis was driving toward Golden Smith's Fashion House, his mind occupied with the urgent matters waiting for him at the office.
Suddenly, a young woman carelessly stepped into the road right in front of his car.
Travis' eyes widened in shock.
"Damn it!"
Reacting instantly, he slammed his foot on the brakes. The tires screeched loudly against the road as the car came to a sudden halt,just inches away from Lily.
For a few seconds, everything was silent.
"You idiot!! Are you trying to take your miserable life or something?" Travis yelled angrily as he jumped out of his car.
"I'm not dead…" Lily muttered softly, slowly opening her eyes.
When she looked up, her breath caught in her throat. The man standing before her was the most magnificent figure she had ever seen. Tall, strong, and impossibly handsome, his features were so striking that he looked like a demigod from the movies.
"I'm talking to you! Stop staring at me like a dummy," Travis snapped, pulling her back to reality.
"I… I'm so sorry, sir," she stuttered, still shaken.
"Sorry? You think I don't know what you were trying to do?" he accused, his voice sharp. "Trying to get hit so you can trap someone and force them to pay for your mistakes? Is that your plan, you desperate lowlife?"
"No, please sir, you got it all wrong. I was just having a bad day. I'm really sorry for being careless," Lily pleaded.
"I know people like you," Travis continued coldly. "You did it on purpose. A desperate wretch looking for easy money."
"I will not tolerate you insulting me," Lily replied, her voice trembling . "I admitted my mistake and I apologized."
"So what will you do about it, huh? You lowlife. You're nothing but a desperate wretch."
Lily could no longer hold back the tears. They welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She was already struggling with so much,her mother's illness, failed job interviews, and endless rejection,and now this.
"Fine!" she cried. "Go ahead and call me whatever you want. I accept it. I'm desperate. I'm a lowlife. I'm a wretch. Say it all!"
Travis went silent.
For a brief moment, something inside him shifted. He wasn't used to seeing women cry, and he certainly didn't care about most people's feelings,but this was different. The pain in her eyes unsettled him.
Had he been too harsh?
Lily turned away and ran, not waiting for another word.
Travis exhaled slowly, watching her disappear into the distance. A strange feeling lingered in his chest,one he couldn't explain.
He shook it off, returned to his car, and drove away.