Valerie dialed his number again, and again, but it wasn't going through. She wasn't going to blame Justin because it's not his fault. If Patricia didn't tell him, maybe she would have summoned courage to tell him any other time.

“I have to find a way to explain everything to Justin”

She got up from the bed, and headed downstairs. She was on her way out when she stormed into her stepmother, Claudia, and her father.

It has been barely a week since they got the money, and they are already squandering it. She even wondered how her father recovered so fast.

“Where are you going, Valerie?” Claudia gave her a deadly glare. She gulped hard, and turned her face away. “I don't want to go on with this anymore. My life is already ruined, all because of this baby. I want to further my education”.

Tears circulated in her eyes, and her father gasped. “Valerie, how could you say something like that? If you don't give birth to this child, then we'll be doomed. I've taken care of you ever since your mother, and here you are willing to throw all of that away. If you ever think of getting rid of this child, then our family will be in deep trouble” Her Father freaked out.

“Why should I be the only one to do this? Justin just broke up with me” She continued sobbing, but her stepmother wasn't moved.

“And so what if that rascal does? He doesn't deserve you. As far as you give birth to this child, your father and I promise to give you whatever it is that you want. I don't want you to get yourself stressed up, so you're not allowed to leave this house, and as for anything you need, we'll provide it for you right in your room” Claudia pretentiously patted her back.

Valerie bowed her head in sadness, and headed upstairs. Her life was getting messier by the day. Now, she's trapped in her room. It was more like a prison than a house. She was still crying her eyes out when the door creaked open. It was her stepsister, Patricia. Patricia was carrying a tray of food, which she dropped on the table beside her bed.

“Your lunch, sister.” Patricia laughed sarcastically at her. Valerie turned to her with teary eyes.

“I'm not… I'm not hungry” Valerie managed to say. Patricia snorted at her.

“You better eat your food because the child ought to be very healthy. If anything happens to the child, then we'll all be going to jail” Patricia laughed, before walking out of the room. She locked the door as soon as she left.

That was the last time Valerie left her room. She stayed in her room like a prison, and was given everything she wanted.

Months later, Valerie was in labor. She was rushed to the hospital. The cry of a baby was heard all over the ward.

Even though Valerie didn't want the child, the baby was still hers. She needed to look at the child's face.

Valerie struggled up from the hospital bed, and grabbed the nurse's gown. “Nurse, can I please see my baby?” She requested.

“What baby are you talking about? This baby is not your child, you've already been paid in full. You're not allowed to touch the baby” The nurse slapped her hand off.

“Nurse, let me just look at the baby. I just want to see my baby” Valerie cried, but the other nurse overpowered her as they held her down to the bed.

“Take the child out of the ward, now” The doctor instructed the first nurse, as she left with the child.

“I just want to look at my baby, please” Valerie kept struggling before a syringe was injected into her arm. The baby's cry was the last thing she heard before passing out.

After the baby was taken from her, and she woke up, she was yet to set her eyes on her stepmother, Father, and stepsister. Did they abandon her at the hospital?

Two days later, at the Watson's residence, the voices of Claudia and her daughter were heard yelling at Valerie, who just got back from the hospital. Her luggage was packed, and kept at the doorstep. Her Father wasn't in the house at that time.

“Why are my bags packed? Am I finally going to Oxford?” Valerie asked the moment she stepped into the house, and Patricia laughed mockingly.

“You actually think that Mom and I would give you some money so that you can further your education?” Patricia mocked her.

Valerie stared at them with confusion all over her face. Are they really not going to give her some money? “You promised me, mother. You told me you were going to give me some money so that we can further my education with it”.

“You have no place here again, Valerie. No one is going to save you, your father travelled out to get his treatment completed. Take your bags, and leave this house. Don't bother coming back because you have no place here anymore”.

“Mother! How could you do this to me?” Valerie sobbed as she went on her knees, but Claudia wasn't touched by her genuine tears.

“You wretch! Do you think your tears are going to help you? Get out of this house, Valerie. You're not wanted anymore. Don't bother going to Justin because he already left the town. I will take good care of him because I'll be going to Stanford University soon where I'll meet him” Patricia made fun of her, and Valerie glared at her maliciously. She couldn't take it anymore, so Valerie slapped Patricia hard on the face.

“You wench! How dare you hit my daughter? Get out! Leave, you piece of trash” Claudia pushed her out of the door, and threw her bags at her.

Valerie sniffed hard as she picked her bags, and walked out of Watson's gate in agony.

Inside the house, Patricia watched Valerie drag her luggage out of the Watson's residence. Her lips curled to a smile. I've finally gotten rid of that pest, and now no one can ever stop me from being the only favorite daughter of my father.

…

Six years later, Valerie walked into her apartment at Northridge, where she had been living after her stepmother threw her out of the house. It was a small, but comfortable apartment. In her hand was a dismissal letter.

She just lost her job. This was the third job she got this year, and she just lost it again. Why are men always lusting for my body?

Her employers were always after her body, and each time she refused to succumb to their wishes, she got dismissed.

Unlocking her door, she walked into the disarrayed room, and sat heavily on the couch.

“Is my life always going to be this unfortunate?”

She picked up the calendar, and stared at it. This was exactly six years since her family threw her out of the house she knew as home. She thought of her Father, and wished she could see him for the last time. She knew he wouldn't let her stepmother throw her out, leaving her with nothing.

“Maybe I should just drink out my sorrows. Life is even worse than it used to be” She smiled dryly.

Valerie grabbed the bottle of whiskey on the small table in front of her. She corked it up, and gulped it down.

She was already getting so drunk when the door flung open. Andrew walked in with Susan laughing and chatting. The moment they saw how pathetic Valerie looked, they quickly paused the laughter and the chat they were having.

Andrew and Susan happened to be Valerie's best-friends and roommates ever since she moved to Northridge. They became the siblings she never had.

“Hey, Val. What the f*** is this?” Andrew took off his backpack, and sat right beside her. Valerie laughed dryly as tears rolled down her face.

“You promised… you promised that you'd stop drinking and making fun of yourself like this. What happened?” Susan held her hand, sitting by her right side.

“Today marks six years since I was thrown out of the house and my child taken away. It didn't end there, I lost my job today as well because I refused to spend the night with my boss at five-star hotels” Valerie sobbed helplessly.

“That dickhead! Don't tell me you're crying because of him? He doesn't deserve you, and besides we've told you that it is prohibited for you to always remember today or grief about it?” Andrew raised his brow, and Valerie gulped down the last content of the glass she was holding.

“I would rather not be reminded, but my predicament seems to have gotten worse” Valerie cried out.

“Stop it, Val. This isn't the end of the world” Susan grabbed the bottle from her, and headed to the kitchen with it.

“Andy, tell her to give that back” Valerie scratched her head.

“No way! We can't let you keep wasting” Andrew shook his head in disagreement.

“What kind of friends are you guys? You're not even letting me celebrate my misfortunes. I can't believe you!” Valerie staggered up, but Susan grabbed her hand.

“I have good news for you, Valerie. The President/ CEO of the Davison's empire just came back from the States yesterday, and…” Susan was still speaking when Valerie cut her short.

“What does that have to do with me? Whoever the god-damned president or CEO is, that's none of my business” Valerie yelled in anger.

“Come on, you won't even let me finish. Anyway, I was saying there's a job vacancy at the CEO of the Davison's empire's mansion. Trust me, the pay is damn super” Susan winked at her, and she turned her gaze to Susan before shaking her head.

“What is the use of trying? He's definitely going to dismiss me. Do you know how many jobs I've lost in a space of a year?” Valerie cupped her forehead with her palms.

“There's no harm in trying, Valerie. It won't kill you to try it out” Andrew snapped at her.

“Fine! I'll give it a try” Valerie shrugged before walking into the bedroom. Here I come, President Davison.

The next day, Valerie woke up feeling very better. She decided to face the new page of her life, and not to keep remembering anything that would make her feel sad.

“How do I look, Susan?” Valerie walked out of the room in her corporate attire, and Susan smiled at her.

“You look much better, Val” Andy grabbed his backpack. He was already set to leave for work.

“I'm sure you'll get this job. Good luck, Mon Cherie” Susan air kissed her, and she smiled heartily.

“I hope so”

Thirty minutes later, Valerie was already standing in front of the Davison's mansion gate. She exhaled deeply, and mumbled some inaudible prayer.

She knocked on the gate, and the security through the gate opened. Likewise, she peeped through the gate into the magnificent mansion, and couldn't help but marvel in awe. Furthermore, she had never seen such a mansion talk more of getting into it. “This is a dream come true”

“Who are you?” The muscular build security man glared at her. She swallowed hard, holding her purse even tighter.

“I'm here for the job… the job interview” She stuttered, and he nodded before letting her into the house.

“Turn left once you get into the door” He ordered, and she forced a smile at him. The mean security man didn't even glance at her twice. “How cold!”

Her eyes caught with the convoy of sparking cars at the garage. There were assorted cars in the garage, and she wondered why only one person would have so many cars.

The moment she drew closer to the door, the automatic door opened, and she walked into the mansion. “Is this a paradise on Earth?”

Her family were comfortable, but their duplex was nothing close to the mansion she was in.

“Good day, ma'am” She greeted the elderly lady who took off her glasses, and glared at her.

“You're late” She mumbled, and her heart skipped a beat.

“Sorry” Valerie uttered simply.

“The CEO will be here in no time. You can sit over there, and wait for him to come downstairs” She turned her gaze straight to the desktop in front of her. “Is this a home or an office?”

Valerie settled down on the couch on the other end. She was still saying her prayers, hoping that she would get the job… she really needed it.

The elderly lady made a call with the landline, and she spoke in Chinese. She could speak many languages.

Valerie was still staring around when a little girl rushed downstairs, and almost rolled over the stairs.

“Oh child! You shouldn't run on the stairs, you could get hurt, baby” She helped her up, and the girl glared at her in disgust, slapping off her hands like they were gross.

“I'm not your child. Don't you dare call me baby” She sneered at her.

“Oh, sorry” Valerie forced a smile. Deep down, she was shocked and furious as well. “That little brat…”

“Audrey, your teacher is here” A deep, but attractive voice came from the sitting room, and Valerie turned swiftly. Her jaw dropped in awe as soon as she set her eyes on him. It was the President, Ethan Davison, she had seen him a few times on the television, but he looked more handsome in real life.

“I thought today was going to be a free day? Why do I need a home-teacher?” Audrey, the little girl, pouted her mouth.

Valerie stared at the smart girl with a smile. Why does she feel so familiar with the little girl when she hasn't met her before? She couldn't even believe that the girl could be so outspoken.

“Audrey, stop! You have to behave, young lady” Her Father cautioned her, and she exhaled deeply, and bowed her head.

Valerie turned to the elderly woman, whose name tag showed her name was “Vero”.

“Ma'am… Vero! Isn't the little girl so adorable? She speaks fluently too?” Valerie smiled, and the old lady scoffed.

“You're not here to see whether she's outspoken or not” She shrugged, and Valerie nodded her head. Why was the old woman being so hostile?

“You're new here, right, lady?” Audrey walked to Valerie, and she nodded her head. “Um…yeah”

“I heard you'll be working as my nanny. I hope you can make rice cakes. They are my favorite, and I don't want a nanny who can't make those” Audrey fluttered her long lashes.

“Really? Do you like rice cakes? That's my favorite, too. You'd have nothing to worry about because I can make very delicious ones” Chatty Valerie smiled, and Audrey raised her brows attractively.

“Woah! By the way, your dress is somewhat old-fashioned. That's off” Audrey added with a smirk. Valerie stared at her with her jaw dropped. She couldn't believe her ears, did the little girl just say that to her? Valerie couldn't help but chuckle, Audrey's height could barely reach her waist.

Her chuckle attracted President Ethan's attention, and he turned his gaze to her. Valerie forced a smile at him, but he eyed her before turning his gaze away. He was probably surprised that she could make his little girl chuckle… that's a first.

“Who is she?” Ethan asked with his eyes fixed on the laptop in front of him.

“Oh… that's Valerie. She's here to get interviewed because she applied for a job as Miss Audrey's nanny. Lest I forget, she's really nice” Dan, Ethan's assistant replied.

“Audrey, upstairs now” Ethan ordered, and Audrey sniffed before heading to the stairs.

“I'm definitely not your daughter. I can't believe you…” She mumbled under her breath.

“What did you say, Audrey?” President Ethan raised his brow, and turned to Audrey, who paused before turning her gaze to him.

“I said I'm not your daughter. Maybe I'm the cleaner's daughter or probably the cook…” The little girl breathed hard, and Valerie almost laughed out loud, but she had to get a hold of herself.

“This little girl is such a drama queen”.

“What? You're my daughter, and I want the best for you, little one. Go ahead now, and behave yourself. I don't want the teacher complaining that you haven't been paying attention to her” Ethan snapped, and she shrugged.

“Yes daddy” She ran upstairs.

“Haven't you had enough of the drama? Do you think you're here to moop around? You came here for an interview, and here you are making yourself so comfortable” A saucy young lady walked to her. Valerie gulped hard as she walked away with the lady. She had thought it was the President who was going to interview her, but she was mistaken. He wouldn't waste his precious time on a mere nanny.

A few minutes later, Valerie was already in the kitchen with the saucy lady whose name she learned was Anastasia.

Valerie was told to prepare a cup of milkshake, and then a dessert, which she did. Even though it didn't really match up perfectly to their tastes, it was manageable.

“Have you ever worked as a nanny before?” Old Lady Vero took off her glasses as she asked her.

“ERM… Actually, I haven't certainly worked as a nanny, but I love kids a lot. So, I get along with them each time I come in contact with any of them” Valerie simply replied.

“That is not enough. I thought you were sent by an agency. I can't believe you are just an ordinary…” Anastasia was saying, but Lady Vero cut her off.

“Anastasia, stop it! Okay, we will be placing you on a month's trial. If you fail to fit in, then I'm afraid we'll have to fire you” Old Lady Vero said, and Valerie forced a smile at her.

“Thank you, ma'am.” Valerie bowed slightly.

“I'll give you the full details of your work, you, and come back to the mansion tomorrow. By the way, meet Anastasia, she's the cook” Lady Vero walked out of the kitchen, and Valerie scoffed. “Anastasia is the cook? Why was she behaving like she's the President's wife ?” Valerie thought.

“Uhm… Barbara, what Lady Vero meant was that I'm the chef of this noble home” Anastasia gulped nervously.

“Correction! I'm Valerie, not Barbara, and a chef… you mean a cook? Of course, I understand” Valerie scoffed at her before walking out of the kitchen.

Valerie signed the necessary documents, and she was also told when and how to deliver her duties. It was shift work, so she didn't need to be present all the time. For the first time, she felt very comfortable with her work.

Then she remembered her encounter with the little girl, Audrey Davison. Her lips curled to a smile. She was six years old.

Suddenly, she thought of her baby, who she had birthed when she was very young. Her child would be the same age as Audrey.

“How dumb of me! Why should I think of a child who I didn't even get to see?”

Even if she meets her child, she won't even recognize the child. She told herself to forget about the child.

The doctor's words to her that fateful day kept ringing in her ears, and she blinked her eyes rapidly to stop herself from crying. It has been six years already, and she shouldn't think of it.