“Why rush? I think I want something else,” Livia chuckled. “As you know, I’m opening a restaurant. It’s sure to be a hit with my name having won the competition.”
“Yeah, so?” Bryan asked excitedly.
“Elena is the best chef I know. Can’t we take advantage of that by hiring her at minimum wage?”
“Great idea. She won’t be able to do anything about it because every kitchen knows she’s injured.”
They laughed as they left me in the room.
An hour later, when I pretended to wake up, the doctor approached me and said I would never be able to get pregnant again. My uterus had a severe infection.
I already knew this would happen. But it still felt suffocating. Empty. I’d always dreamed of becoming a mother. And now I’ll never be able to have children for the rest of my life.
But a day later, I pulled myself out of my despair. Facing Bryan, who was pretending to regret hitting me.
“Elena, I’m sorry. Earlier, I… didn’t mean to. I’ll never do it again!” Bryan cried with fake tears.
I nodded, pretending to accept it with a blank expression. And Bryan continued his act.
“I just sent your resignation letter to all the cooking schools and associations because of your injury.” He held back a small, triumphant smile. “They all agreed you can’t join anymore.”
My eyes widened. I was truly shocked that Bryan had gone this far.
“Poor you, Elena.” Bryan put on another fake sad face. “But don’t worry, Livia is opening a new restaurant. You can work there. Isn’t that enough to cover your living expenses from now on?”
I nodded stiffly. Trying to look straight at the man I’d loved for five years.
“Alright,” I said softly. “You’re right, I need a job to cover my living expenses.”
Bryan’s smile immediately widened perfectly. “Finally, you understand and aren’t being stubborn.”
Livia arrived, her high heels clacking arrogantly against the floor.
“The restaurant’s opening is the day after tomorrow. You’d better get ready,” the woman said with her chin held high.
The day after tomorrow. My birthday. Livia knew that for sure. And she even wanted to steal it from me.
“Sure,” I nodded weakly. “I’ll do my best for your restaurant.”
The next day, Livia burdened me with such a heavy task. Not cooking, but acting like a waitress. I was told to make coffee for my former subordinates at the association. They were invited. And of course, they hated me.