Chapter 23: Driven to the Brink by Rent, She Loses Control on the Street

Wednesday morning, Lina was stopped by her landlord outside the studio.

“Ms. Hayes.”

The landlord was a heavyset middle-aged woman with an unfriendly expression.

“You’re already two weeks behind on rent.”

Lina’s face went pale.

“I… I’ll have it for you in a few days.”

“A few days?”

The landlord sneered.

“That’s what you said last week.”

She pulled a sheet of paper from her pocket.

“This is the final notice.”

“If you don’t pay within three days—”

“I’m locking the place.”

She slapped the notice onto the studio door and walked away.

Lina leaned against the door, her whole body going weak.

Three days.

Where was she supposed to find forty-five hundred dollars?

She searched every bank account and payment app she had.

Everything combined came to less than two thousand dollars.

She even went to a pawnshop and pawned a Chanel suit.

She got eight hundred dollars for it.

Still nowhere near enough.

She sat by the roadside, watching people come and go.

Then suddenly, she saw a familiar figure.

It was Eileen.

Eileen stepped out of a luxury car wearing a perfectly tailored suit.

Several men in suits walked beside her.

They were laughing and talking as they walked.

Eileen looked confident and composed, as if she were glowing from within.

Lina stared at her, her eyes turning red.

Why?

Why did Eileen get to live such a good life?

Why did Lina have to fall this far?

She suddenly stood up and rushed over.

“Eileen!”

Eileen heard the voice and turned around.

When she saw Lina, the smile on her face faded.

“Is something wrong?”

Her tone was flat.

“Is something wrong?”

Lina’s voice trembled, filled with tears.

“You destroyed my life, and you’re asking me if something is wrong?”

Eileen looked at her without saying anything.

“Aren’t you satisfied?”

Lina pointed directly at her.

“You blacklisted me!”

“You destroyed everything I had!”

“Aren’t you satisfied?”

“Lina.”

Eileen’s voice remained calm.

“You brought yourself here.”

“I never blacklisted you.”

“I only told everyone what kind of person you really are.”

“You stole my proposal, took my clients, and spread lies about me.”

“Which one of those things did I force you to do?”

Lina opened her mouth.

No words came out.

“I genuinely wanted to help you back then.”

Eileen looked at her.

“But you never appreciated it.”

“What’s happening to you now is the result of your own choices.”

She turned and walked away.

“Stop!”

Lina screamed behind her.

“Eileen!”

“You old hag!”

“I hope you die horribly!”

Eileen did not look back.

She got into the car.

The door closed.

The vehicle slowly pulled away.

Lina stood there, watching the taillights disappear around the corner.

Then she crouched on the ground and sobbed uncontrollably.

Inside the car, Eileen stared ahead with an expressionless face.

Her phone rang.

It was an unknown number.

She answered.

“Eileen…”

It was Lina’s tearful voice.

“Please…”

“Please let me go.”

“I know I was wrong.”

“I really know I was wrong.”

Eileen closed her eyes.

She remained silent for a long time.

“It’s too late,” she said.

Then she hung up.