I grabbed the doorknob, refusing to let go. My heart raced as I struggled against it, desperate to open it back up. But his strength overpowered mine. Seconds later, I heard the sharp click of the lock sliding into place.

Horror washed through me.

"Why? Why do people keep doing this to me?!" I screamed, pounding on the door. "Am I the only one who doesn't deserve a chance? Am I the one with no responsibilities to take care of?"

The silence that followed nearly broke me.

Finally, his muffled voice seeped through the door. "I'm sorry, Gilda. I knew you'd be stubborn, that's why I had no choice. The management doesn't want anyone standing in Vera's way. She's the star now. Maybe if you had half her fame, you wouldn't be here."

His footsteps faded, leaving me in the suffocating quiet of my new prison.

I slid down against the cold door, my body folding into itself. Curling my legs until my knees touched my jaw, I hugged myself tightly. Again, Vera. Always Vera. It was as if her shadow was destined to strangle every flicker of light in my life.

The air smelled faintly of lavender, so floral and fresh and so out of place. I frowned. Why would a storage room carry such a scent when it should reek of dust, mildew and forgotten things?

Curiosity pushed me to my feet. I fumbled for my old smartphone, its cracked screen glowing faintly as I turned on the flashlight. The beam cut through the dimness, brushing over crates, bags and shadows until I froze.

Two wide, doe-like eyes stared back at me from behind a sack of potatoes.

It was a child.

Startled, I blinked. The girl looked so small and fragile, tucked away like a ghost. The moment she realized I wasn't a threat, she bolted forward. Before I could steady myself, she flung herself into my arms, knocking me backward onto the floor.

Her tiny arms wrapped tightly around me.

Instinctively, I held her, my palm moving in slow circles across her trembling back. "It's okay," I whispered without even thinking. "You're safe now."

And just like that, the crushing weight in my chest seemed to ease. My anger, my shame, my despair....... everything was drowned out by the simple act of holding her. For the first time in hours, maybe even days, I felt something other than pain.

*****

I pressed the alarm bell in my father's living room again. The security at the gate had already let me in, but the real problem lay ahead, waiting for either my stepmother or my sister to open the main door. For over an hour now, I had been pressing that bell, yet none of them showed up.

I glanced at my phone to check the time. It was barely 9 pm. Meaning I had returned around eight.

I would have been home much earlier, but I had given the little girl all the money I had on me to buy herself some sweets after dropping her out of the storage room through that tiny window.

It had been an excruciating task, one that left me with bruises and an ugly cut on my arm. But because the girl was safe, I didn't mind the pain.

"Who is that fool disturbing someone's sleep at this time? How dare you...!" a voice thundered from inside.

Finally, the door creaked open and fury greeted me, Vera's face twisted with rage. But the moment she saw it was me, all that anger drained, leaving her pale and startled, as though she had seen a ghost.

Vera never slept this early. Besides, the party at the club near the hotel wasn't supposed to end until 2 a.m. at the earliest. So why was she here, already in her pajamas, eyes heavy with sleep? In my judgment, she must have been in bed for a long time now.

Perhaps she returned home when she got bored, realizing she had no one left to torment after locking me up in the storage room. Or maybe she was simply too baffled at how I managed to free myself, since she had taken every measure to keep me trapped just so I wouldn't stand a chance at the role she was dying to snatch tomorrow.

"You?" she gasped, her tone a mix of surprise and confusion, staring at me like I was some kind of apparition.

I said nothing. I had no strength to waste on her. Silently, I walked past her through the gap in the door. I was too exhausted for arguments.

All I wanted was to rest my head on my bed. At least that much was still mine until tomorrow, when I would once again be forced to shoulder all the house chores because they refused to hire maids. To them, I was enough.

"The daughter of a whore is finally back," my stepmother's voice rang out from the living room just as I reached for the stairs.

I stopped for a second, my jaw tightening. This was my father's house, the only reason I still endured their cruelty. That and the simple fact that I had no money to find a place of my own.

A bitter hiss escaped me inwardly. If only I hadn't been foolish enough to spend all my savings on that so-called love of mine, who turned out to be nothing but a user, I wouldn't still be stuck here.

"Here. I've been waiting for you to hand this over," my stepmother said, stretching a brown envelope toward me.

The television flickered in the background with the documentary she was watching. She had been awake the entire time I stood outside, pressing the alarm bell endlessly, yet she hadn't thought it fit to open the door.

Swallowing my rising frustration, I stepped toward her and reached for the envelope and opened it. Halfway through, I froze. My eyes narrowed, and I looked straight at her, my expression hardening with sudden fire.

There's no way I'm marrying that old man. Come what may!" I spat, stamping my foot against the tiled floor before spinning on my heel to leave.

"I've become a maid in my own father's house. I've done everything you demanded since my parents died in that car crash. I obeyed every command, I swallowed every insult, all in the hope that maybe you'd forgive me for my mother's so-called sins. But none of it has ever been enough! Why do you want to throw me away to that old man? Why-"

"I am not asking for your opinions, Gilda!" my stepmother snapped, cutting me off sharply. "You will marry him, and that is final! You will quit acting, you will become his housewife, or you will leave this house with your bad luck!"

"You'll get married to him!" she repeated firmly. "Better that than becoming a whore who sleeps with married men to climb the social ladder. Compared to your mother, who wasted her youth with limited opportunities, this is your one chance."

"This is a shot for you to live a good life, Gils!" Vera chimed in. "Don't miss it because of your useless pride. Unless, of course, you'd prefer to end up a wretch for the rest of your days."

I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt, my anger boiling hotter with every word they spewed.

"Perhaps you should marry him instead, Vera!" I hissed, my voice laced with venom. "At least that way you won't have to live your so-called wretched life. From what I see, you're already used and passed around by the men you've spread your legs for just so they'll throw you scraps for movie roles. Before your eggs dry up and expire, maybe you should marry this man yourself. Let him impregnate you quickly so you don't end up barren, just like your precious mother was once upon a time!"

The room stood still.

"What did you just say?" they both shrieked at once, shock twisting their faces.

But I wasn't done. My rage had long since drowned out any trace of fear. Without hesitation, I snatched the marriage registration form from her hand and tore it to shreds, the pieces fluttering to the floor like dead leaves.

"Never," I spat. "In no phase of my life will I abandon my dream to rot as the housewife of an eighty-five-year-old pervert."

I turned toward the door, fire burning in my chest.

"You can have the house for all I care!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the living room. "I'm gone and I am never coming back!"

With that, I slammed the door so hard behind me it rattled the frame.

For a moment, silence pressed in on me, heavy and raw. My hands trembled. I had only flipped their poison back on them, for the first time in my life. A part of me felt guilty, but exhaustion and frustration drowned it out. What did they truly take me for?

Yes, walking out meant I had no home anymore. But then again... when has this place ever been home?

*****

I walked out of the bar wasted. I'd withdrawn some money only to spend it all on drinking. I wanted nothing more than to numb my pains. The wounds on my body still stung since I hadn't gotten back to my room earlier to treat them. But my broken heart was worse.

If only, I thought.

Earlier tonight, after I'd saved the little girl, she had returned with two men who unlocked the storage room and pulled me out.

Japheth Williams and Seth Williams, the two famous brothers of Williams Film Productions, had stood before me as I struggled to get up. The little girl I had saved happened to be their family.

Everyone in the city knew Japheth Williams was disabled, but I couldn't tell which of the brothers had stood before me. They kept their identities hidden so carefully that only their names were known.

"I saved Angel because she was an adorable girl I couldn't ignore," I remembered telling them when they asked what reward I wanted.

Money, cars, collaborations, flight tickets - they mentioned all of it. But I had turned every single offer down, because I was not a greedy person.

Now, thinking about it, I wondered if I had made a mistake. Would I have chosen differently if the events of this night had happened before I met the brothers?

A car almost ran into me as I staggered across the road, dizzy and lost in thought.

"Fuck you! If you want to die, go kill yourself somewhere else! How dare you stand in the road?" the driver cursed loudly before speeding away.

I was still staring at his car as it disappeared when another one drove up to me.

The window slid down and that was all I remembered before I lost consciousness.

When I woke up and looked around, it was morning. I was lying on a large bed with white sheets. The room was large and luxurious, nothing like the tiny servant quarters. I began staying back at my home after my father's death.

I sprang up immediately, realizing this wasn't my home nor anywhere I was familiar with.

Then, a little girl ran into the room. Angel. The same girl I had saved last night. My confusion only deepened. Why was I here with her again?

A man in a wheelchair wheeled himself in. I had seen him yesterday, though I couldn't recall exactly when.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," I blurted quickly as he explained how he had found me and brought me here. I hurried to put on my shoes, ready to leave.

But then Angel tugged at my hand. She held up her tablet. On it, words appeared:

"Stay with me."

I froze. I had never heard her speak before and now I understood why. She couldn't.

I was still struggling to make sense of it all when the man's voice rang across the room, firm and startling, shattering my thoughts and halting my escape.

"My daughter has never liked anyone before" he began before he paused as if waiting for the words to sink in.

"How much will I have to pay for you to become her nanny?"

GILDA'S POV

I was shocked to hear the words that had poured out of his mouth. My hands were shaking, my body won't stop reacting to the message.

I felt I did not hear correctly, but I could not lie about that; I heard it so well. It was clear, I did not need an interpreter for it. There was no need for one.

I held the bed and just stared, too shocked to speak. Next, I felt the little girl's hands on my skin; it seemed like she was urging me to accept the offer, but it was too dangerous for me.

I did not spare her a glance because I was scared I might give in.

" I know you heard me, you heard what I asked of you," his voice came on again.

It was now clear that I was not dreaming or thinking things on my own.

" I can not do it," I finally made up my mind.

What are people going to say? They are going to talk about how I have seduced him and thrown my body at a helpless man in a wheelchair.

I closed my eyes and imagined what the headlines would be. I shook my head. That's impossible. It's not going to be me in the news for such reasons.

I stood up, trying to find my way out of the place. I felt that same hand that had touched me, the little hand.

My heart sank into my stomach. I could not do this; it is going to cause much harm to my little career I'm trying to build, the one they wish to take from me so badly.

" She wants you to stay, she likes you," Japheth Williams said calmly.

It was my dream to finally meet the Williams family; perhaps, they could grant me some favours, but right now, everything was falling apart.

" Thank you for bringing me here, for being so kind to me, you kept me safe, but I can not remain here, I can not stay here, I'm so sorry, Sir," I finally said out loud.

I saw the disappointment on his face, then the sad look on his daughter's face. I could not look at her twice; she was going to make me change my mind, and I did not want that.

I left their house, even though it was hard for me to find my way out. It was big and so beautiful, I almost regretted leaving.

I ran away. There was nothing on me. But there was a little purse on me. I was glad it was not taken away.

I stood by the roadside, hoping I would get a cab that would take me back home. My legs were hurting me, and I was doing all I could to fight back the tears that had filled my eyes.

I was trying so hard to be strong and not give up so easily, or appear weak, even though I felt weak.

Just the moment I thought things would be better, it gets worse and makes me feel stuck.

I raised my head and saw a car coming along. I waved at it with my weak left hand. I was hungry as well.

" Get in," he said coldly.

It felt a bit off; something was not right about that voice.

But I had no other choice but to get in. I have been standing by the roadside for a long time, and I could no longer stand there, so I had to get in.

I sat in his car and kept my eyes on him the whole time. Maybe Vera and her mother sent him to kill me or take me to the old man forcefully.

I was helpless, and even though he wanted to do such, he would have succeeded.

" We are here," he said, bringing me out of my thoughts, into reality.

I stared hard at the house in front of me. I was back in this hell, in this hole. I was back in this temporary home.

I paid him and stepped into the place. Memories of Vera and her mother's screams filled my ears. For every step I take towards the house, it makes it even louder.

I raised my hands and tried to knock when I held them in the air. I kept thinking if it was a wise decision.

It wasn't a wise decision, but it was the only one I had, the only one I was left with.

There was nowhere else to stay, not even money for a bed space.

I heard footsteps coming close to the door. I was too scared to move. The door opened, and there she was.

Vera gasped as she saw me standing there. There was so much shock on her face at first, then it turned into a wide smile. It was suspicious.

" Come in," she said sweetly.

I know Vera too well; she was far from being a kind person to me. She was never going to treat me that way.

I stepped into the house and saw why she was acting like that. I knew it was never because of kindness.

" The stray dog has found its way home. I am glad you came back to your senses, and you must have realized that you can not be anything at all," my step-mother said to me.

I looked at the old man who was sitting at the other end of the long chair. His grey hair was all over the place. His face was wrinkled and ugly; it made me want to vomit.

He smiled at me, happy that he was finally going to have me.

" You make me want to throw up," I said.

He immediately frowned.

" I do not like to be disrespected," he faced Vera and her mother.

" I am sorry about that. I'll take care of it," she said.

I watched as she stood up, held me by the hand and pushed me inside the room. She pinned me to the wall, not minding that my fingers were against the wall and were bruising badly.