Bella closed her eyes, the weight of relentless misfortune pressing down on her chest like a stone. Life had become a merciless game, throwing unforeseen curveballs without a moment’s grace, forcing her to stumble through darkness with no clear path forward. She wanted to blame someone—anyone—but in truth, only herself emerged as the silent culprit. She had no one else left to fault.

Sharp turns in her destiny had come overnight, wrenching her from fragile hope into a void of despair. The fear of losing herself gnawed at her relentlessly, a violation of the one thing she fiercely guarded—the core of her being. She had convinced herself she was resilient enough to face any obstacle, but now, doubt crept in, whispering that her strength might never have been enough.

The sudden vibration in her pocket startled her. Her phone's screen lit up with an unfamiliar number. Bella exhaled a tired sigh. Calls from strangers demanding money weren’t new—debt collectors tracing her through shadows, demanding repayment for loans her father had never managed to return. How they dug up her number was a mystery she dared not explore.

She hesitated only a moment before answering, holding the phone close to her ear. Before she could speak, a gruff voice snarled through the line, laced with impatience and menace.

"When are you going to pay back what’s owed? It’s been over two years. Don’t come at me with your usual excuses this time."

Bella’s throat tightened. “I’m sorry, sir. This is Bella Bianchi. My father passed away recently,” she said, the words tasting bitter on her tongue. She had never truly known her father—not the man behind the debts that now suffocated her.

The man’s tone hardened. “So that bastard decided to die before settling up? Typical.” His voice slurred slightly, unmistakably drunk. “Listen, I don’t care. You owe me six grand. Pay up soon, or I’ll start adding penalties.” With that, the call crackled and ended abruptly.

The number six thousand echoed in her mind as she jotted it down in her worn notepad—a growing list of names and amounts owed, a ledger of dread.

“Excuse me. Can I get a milkshake? The usual, please.”

The familiar voice made Bella turn. Ria stood there, her bright eyes sparkling with a teasing grin.

“Of course, ma’am. Anything else?” Bella quipped, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

“If only it came free,” Ria winked, lightening the gloomy air. Her presence was a rare balm to Bella’s weary spirit—a reminder that friendship still existed amid hardship.

Ria’s smile faltered, shifting to a more serious tone. “How much now?”

“Six thousand,” Bella replied, lowering her gaze as she busied herself with mixing ingredients behind the counter. The cafeteria hummed softly, only a handful of patrons scattered about this quiet afternoon.

“Bella, how are you supposed to manage all this? You’re stretched thin—juggling two jobs, school, and now these calls from drunk debt collectors every other day. It’s too much.”

Before Ria could continue, Bella cut her off, voice steady but firm. “I know. But I have no choice.”

Ria’s face softened. “I’ve already offered you a room at my place—there’s space, and I want to help cover your tuition. But you refused.”

Bella shook her head, stubbornness flaring. “I hate being dependent on anyone. I’ve managed so far.”

Ria sighed, undeterred. “Alright. But I’ve been talking to my cousin Giovanni. He works for some billionaire who owns a massive mansion. The maids there are paid well—better than any job you have now. If he needs someone, you’d get the position.”

Bella’s brow furrowed in suspicion. “You didn’t pull strings to get me an interview, did you?”

Ria’s smile faltered. “No pressure, Bella. I just thought it might be the way out you need. One job that pays more than two combined, so you can clear your debts faster and quit whenever you want.”

Bella mulled it over, the idea both tempting and unsettling. She had to repay what her father left behind, no matter how daunting the path.

“Alright,” she said finally, handing Ria the milkshake. “Tell me—who’s this billionaire? A CEO?”

Ria’s eyes glittered mischievously as she leaned across the counter. “Trust me, you don’t want to know much about him.”

Bella frowned, curiosity prickling. “Why? Am I not allowed to know?”

“Only if he wants you to,” Ria said with a sly wink. “Let’s just say, he’s not your typical boss.”

Bella glanced back down at the orders waiting to be made, the weight of uncertainty heavy in her chest. Still, for the first time in weeks, a flicker of hope ignited amid the shadows.