Chapter 2 Chapter 2

MERRI sighed deeply as she walked toward the bus station, feeling both mentally and physically drained. Her boss, Evan, had tortured her that day with his endless demands and scoldings. All she wanted now was to go home and sleep.

Suddenly, her phone rang. She frowned as she checked the caller ID. It was an unknown number, but she decided to answer it; sometimes, her boss called her from random numbers, and rejecting it could mean losing her job.

“Hello…” Her voice came out softly.

“Hello, is this Merri Khate Manalo?”

She frowned, biting her lower lip. “Yes, it’s me. Who is this, please?”

“This is Nurse Eda. I’m calling to inform you that your parents got into a car accident, and unfortunately, they both did not make it. Could you please come here to collect their bodies?”

She covered her mouth, a strangled sound escaping as tears flooded her eyes. People around her stared, but she didn’t care. Her parents, her home, and her comfort had just been taken from her. She had planned to visit them soon, but now that was impossible. She had no home to return to.

Before she realized it, Merri had taken a taxi to the hospital. As she approached the cold bodies covered by white blankets, her legs shook. When she opened the blanket and saw their faces, her world shattered. She cried and screamed as she hugged them, overwhelmed by regret and longing.

Merri arranged for her parents' bodies to be collected and used half of her savings to pay the hospital bills. With a heavy heart, she organized their burial. Weeks passed, and the reality of what had happened sank in, bringing her sorrow and the burdens her parents had left behind—a mountain of debt she was unaware of until the loan sharks began calling.

She was left with no choice but to drain her savings; every cent she had worked hard for vanished overnight, but it still wasn’t enough. She could only afford to pay half of the debt.

Choosing to think positively, Merri decided to return home to rest. However, when she arrived, her hopes were shattered as she found her belongings thrown out by the landlady, who was waiting outside her door.

“What’s going on? Why were my things outside my door?” she asked nervously.

“You are overdue,” the landlady replied, tossing her bags at her feet.

“Don’t you think I don’t know that your parents died. Left you with nothing but a mountain of debt? I don’t need a freeloader who will bring me trouble. You’d better collect your things and get out of here!”

“That’s unfair! I never received a notice,” Merri tried to argue, but the landlady dragged her out and slammed the gate shut.

She fell to her knees, starting to collect her belongings from the ground when rain suddenly began to pour, soaking her thin clothes. Each item she picked up felt heavier than it should, amplifying her sense of helplessness.

As Merri walked aimlessly down the street, a black car suddenly appeared, and men in dark coats stepped out. She gasped upon seeing the leader of the loan sharks—the man she didn't want to meet. She stepped back as he smiled at her. His smile was calm, but his eyes told a different story; he was a predator she needed to avoid.

“Ms. Merri, I’m sorry for your loss. However, I must collect the debt your parents owe me,” he said.

Her stomach twisted. “I already paid half of it, didn’t I?” she whispered, holding her belongings tightly.

The man's laughter echoed through the street. “You did, but only half. There’s still another half remaining. I know you can’t pay it unless you have some hidden treasure, so I’ve come to propose a deal to settle your parents' remaining debt.”

A chill ran down her spine. “What deal?”

“I want you to marry me,” he replied casually, as if her life were his to claim.

She could hardly breathe. Her chest tightened with a torrent of emotions. Her parents' faces flashed through her mind, recalling their warm love for her. They would never have allowed her to sell her soul and body to this dirty old man! Before he could move closer or say anything more, she shoved her bag into his face and ran as fast as she could.

When she finally stopped, only one person came to her mind: her boyfriend, Dan. Without hesitation, she walks toward his apartment, hoping he will understand her situation.

“He will probably help me, hold me, and protect me,” she whispered as she knocked on his door. However, there was no answer. Her heart pounded as she tried the doorknob and discovered it was unlocked.

As she entered, the dim lights revealed clothes carelessly thrown on the floor. Frowning, she sensed something was wrong.

Then, she heard laughter and soft moans of a woman. With heavy steps, she followed the sounds closer to Dan’s bedroom. The door was slightly open, and with trembling hands, she pushed it open, only to witness the betrayal of the two people she held dear.

Her voice came out broken. “H—How could you do this to me?!”

The two of them froze. Nora's eyes widened as she pushed Dan off her, while Dan quickly scrambled off the bed.

“M-Merri, it’s not what you think. Please let me explain—”

Her hand flew towards his face. Her vision was blurry because of tears. Her body felt numb yet the pain in her chest was unbearable.

“You jerk! Don’t try to gaslight me! I’m not stupid as you think l am.”

“Merri—”

“Don’t say my name, you filthy jerk!”

Then turn around and march out from that place, Dan chased after her until hallway but she ran and did not let him catch her.

Her legs carried her out in the storm, into the emptiness of the world, too cruel for to survived. She just lost everything, first her parents, then her savings and home. Worse, the loan shark leader wants her to be his bride, and the man she hopes to protect her and the best friend she thinks she could rely on betrayed her.

She screams as the tears flow in her eyes. She’s too tired to keep living, she just wants to despair. She stepped across the street ignoring the horn of the truck coming in her way. She closed her eyes, waiting for it to hit her.

But, before it could hit her, strong arms pulled her back, and they rolled onto the ground. He hugged her tightly to protect her from getting hurt from the rough road. When Merri looked up, her eyes widened, lips trembling.

“Boss?”