Just as relief washed over me and I was about to turn and leave, a sharp, mocking voice sliced through the air behind me.

“Hold it! Did you mess with my delivery?!”

I turned around, startled. Our delivery packages all came with sealed stickers; how could I possibly have touched anything?

She snatched the bag, scrunched her nose and leaned in to sniff it.

“What’s that smell?”

She waved a hand in front of her face, grimacing as if the bag reeked of something foul.

“This packaging is a disaster; it all smells like one big mess!”

An older woman standing nearby chimed in.

“Yeah, Sister Corinne, these takeouts nowadays are so questionable when it comes to hygiene. Who knows if these delivery workers are carrying something…”

I sneered inwardly. I had packed that meal with my own hands, every container sealed and placed carefully inside an insulated bag, how could the smells have possibly mixed?

“Auntie, our packaging follows proper standards. If you check the seals—”

“Check what?”

She cut me off rudely and then began tearing open the bag.

“I’ve got a sensitive stomach. If I get sick from this, are you going to take responsibility?”

One by one, she pulled the containers out and placed them on a stone bench nearby.

Under the sunlight, the braised pork shimmered with a glossy sheen, while the greens looked fresh and crisp.

“Oh? This portion doesn’t look right.” She picked up the rice container and weighed it in her hand.

“Why does it feel lighter? Did you help yourself to some along the way?”

I took a deep breath, forcing down the fire rising in my chest.

"Auntie, we have surveillance on every order. The portions are standard. And riders like us—"

"Rules?" she cut me off with a sneer. "Can you eat rules?"

"I bet none of you in this job are clean! You all look messy, hanging around the entrance like strays, absolute disgrace!"

"Auntie, if you have concerns about the food, you can file a complaint through the app or reach out to the restaurant directly."

I kept my voice steady, even though my fingers clenched tightly at my sides.

"If you believe the portion is wrong, I can take a photo and report it."

"Report it? I want a refund!"

"I’m reporting you! You’ve got a terrible attitude! You stole food! I’ll make sure you lose your job!"

Her spit flew as she raged, the wrinkles on her face twitching with excitement.

By now, a small crowd had formed around us.

I could feel their eyes, hear the murmurs.

"…young people these days…"

"…can’t even deliver food properly…"

I slowly relaxed my fists and adjusted the bodycam clipped to my chest. It was meant to record the process, but now it is serving a greater purpose.

"Auntie, everything you just said has been recorded."

"As for the refund and complaint, I’ll file it according to company policy. If you have further concerns..."

She clearly hadn’t expected my composure. Her eyes widened, then burned with fresh anger.

"You’re recording me? What’s that supposed to mean? Are you threatening me now?"

"It’s not a threat. It’s protocol." I met her gaze and said it word by word.

My stare rattled her, but she still refused to back down.

"I’d love to see what you can do! Get out of here! You’re an eyesore!"

She waved me off like I was something beneath her.

Meanwhile, my phone kept vibrating with late delivery alerts. The next order was already at risk.

I didn’t have time to argue. I turned and walked away.

Behind me, her shrill voice rang out one last time.

“What kind of person is that? I must’ve hit the nail on the head!”

Behind me, her shrill voice rang out again, persistent as ever. I swallowed down the urge to snap back and quietly left with the security guard.

In the rearview mirror of my electric scooter, I caught one last glimpse of that old woman spitting as she complained to the neighbors, a smug look painted plainly across her face.

That night, when I returned to the cramped rental room, Milo was already home.

Seeing my pale expression, he rushed over and began massaging my shoulders, eager to please.

“What happened? Who dared to upset our Vespera?”

I turned my head, meeting his cheerful eyes and recounted everything that had happened at noon with a bitter heart.

But in the end, Milo only laughed it off with casual disdain.

“Vespera, didn’t I already say? Delivering takeout isn’t a great idea. Everyone’s doing it these days and let’s be honest, the quality of delivery workers is pretty low and they are always flying down the streets like maniacs...”

“Why argue with an old woman? Just quit in a few days. That job’s exhausting and embarrassing anyway...”

“Enough. Don’t say another word.”

I cut him off coldly and he froze in place.

“I earn my living through honest labor, delivering food. There’s nothing shameful about that.”

“Nowadays, the meals are sealed and the platform has proper rules. Is this job really as disgraceful as you make it sound?”

Because I was angry, my tone came out a little too sharp. Milo stood there, dumbfounded.

He clearly hadn’t expected such a fierce reaction from me. For a moment, he just froze, then hurriedly waved his hands.

“No, no, that’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean? I was being humiliated right to my face and instead of standing up for me, you’re telling me to switch jobs?”

“Vespera, why let someone like that get to you?” His voice started to carry a hint of irritation.

“She’s old, probably just hard to get along with. You should be more understanding toward the elderly.”

“And don’t take your work stress out on me; I didn’t do anything to you!”

Listening to him speak with such self-righteousness, I suddenly found it laughable.

I had met Milo two months ago on the street.

He’d approached me while I was eating and since I happened to be beginning my research on the food delivery market, I told him I was working as a delivery driver.

Back then, he wasn’t like this at all.

“I think being a delivery worker is great. It has flexible hours and decent pay, but it's just a bit tough.”

Now, all of it felt ridiculous. I gave up arguing and walked straight into the bathroom.

After dinner, Milo came into the study to find me.

His voice was gentler this time, admitting he had been wrong and shouldn’t have said those things.

He said he wanted to take me home to meet his mother, an official introduction.

Though I was still upset, I figured since he had already told her about me, I might as well go along with it.

But the moment I stepped into his neighborhood, I froze on the spot.

I stared at the familiar streets and the familiar building, unable to take another step.

Turning to him in confusion, I asked, “Which floor is your place?”

“401. I told you before, didn’t I?”

Milo looked back at me and when he saw my expression shift, it seemed to hit him all at once.

“The delivery you mentioned that day, was it my house?”

His face darkened instantly, but only for a second. He quickly smoothed it over, pretending like nothing happened and reached out to take my hand.

“It’s fine. My mom’s easy to talk to. You’ll see once you meet her.”

With unease weighing on me, I followed behind Milo, my mind scrambling for a plan.

But just then, the door swung open.

“Milo! You’re finally back!”

Along with that exaggerated greeting, a familiar voice rang out again.

Right, I'd heard it before, back when Milo had called his mom. No wonder it sounded so familiar.

The next second, she stepped out of the room, her eyes lighting up eagerly, but the moment she saw me, she froze.

“Where’s your girlfriend? Tell her to come in—”

That face, blooming like an old peony a second ago, instantly collapsed into something cold and stony.

“It’s you!”

Without another word, she spun on her heel and marched back inside.

Milo’s face turned stiff with embarrassment as he tugged me in by force.

She stood at the doorway, eyeing me like an X-ray, her mouth almost hanging open.

Milo forced a smile and said, “Mom, this is Vespera Harper.”

“Vespera, this is my mom.”

My throat tightened, I could barely get the words out.

“Hello, Auntie.”

She let out a sharp laugh, shrill and unpleasant.

“Oh, so it’s you,” she said, dragging out every word with dripping contempt.

Then she turned to Milo, her voice rising without warning.

“Milo, what kind of girlfriend is this? A food delivery girl?”

“Are we starving at home now? You had to go out and find someone like…”

She paused and said, “…someone this shameless and disgraceful?”

The air turned to ice.

I felt the blood rush to my head and my face burned hot.

Milo’s expression shifted, awkward, helpless. “Mom! What are you saying!”

His mom sneered. “I’m telling you, Vespera, our Evans Family will never accept a daughter-in-law like you! Break up with my son immediately. Do you hear me?”

Seeing things spiraling out of control, Milo quickly pulled me into the bedroom, saying I should wait there while he talked to her.

Even with the door shut, I could still hear her voice, sharp, vicious.

Words like “lowly” and “filthy” pierced through the walls. But slowly, it began to quiet.

I didn’t know how much time had passed before Milo came in again, wearing a strained smile and calling me out for dinner.

Before we left the room, he leaned in and whispered, “My mom has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Don’t take it to heart, okay? Just be sensible tonight, don’t lose your temper.”

At the dinner table, the tension still hung thick in the air.

Milo did his best to lighten the mood while I kept my head down, not saying a word and I definitely avoided her gaze, which felt like it could tear me apart.

Just when I thought I had finally made it through the worst, something utterly unexpected happened.

Milo’s mother walked out of the kitchen with a bowl of steaming hot soup and as she passed by me, the scalding liquid poured down without mercy, drenching my hand and thigh.

A large patch of skin turned red in an instant.

“Ah! Ah!” I cried out in pain, instinctively shoving her away.

“Oh heavens!”

She shrieked theatrically as she toppled to the ground, but I caught the flicker of smugness in her eyes.

“What are you doing?! Trying to take revenge on me?!”

Milo’s mom slapped her thigh and wailed from the floor, “Milo! Look at the girlfriend you’ve chosen; she’s practically a demon!”

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. Rage boiled up in me like a volcano about to erupt.

I snapped my head up and glared at her.

“What did you just say…”

Slap. Before I could finish, a sharp, stinging slap landed on my face. The skin instantly burned hot.