Chapter 7 Cut Ties

Laura clutched the heavy paper package, knowing it was her ticket to a world of trouble.

She wiped away her tears.

Ignoring the three members of the Smith family, she silently went to her room and packed a few things.

The Smiths stood there, dumbfounded, unsure of what to do.

A short while later, Laura returned to the living room with a small suitcase, her face expressionless. "From tonight, once I walk out this door, I have nothing to do with the Smith family anymore. If we meet again, let's pretend we don't know each other."

With that, she took one last look at the home she had lived in for the past twenty years, then walked out of the living room without looking back, slamming the door behind her.

"Laura!" Olivia suddenly shouted, but she knew Laura couldn't hear her anymore. "What are we going to do, John? What are we going to do?"

"William, you bastard! Why don't you just die? I'd rather you die than see you ruin a good girl like this! Olivia, we really let Laura down! We swore to take good care of her when we adopted her." John said, looking as if he had aged ten years in an instant, tears rolling down his face.

Seeing her husband cry, Olivia also broke down in tears.

"I... I know I was wrong. I was truly wrong! I shouldn't have sacrificed such a good girl to save our useless son! It's all my fault! I'll go after Laura and tell her we changed our minds, we've decided to let William face the consequences himself! I'll go find her now!"

She wiped her tears and stood up, staggering towards the door.

Seeing his parents' sudden change of heart, William panicked and grabbed his mother, shouting frantically, "Mom! Are you crazy? I am your blood-related son! You can't just watch your own son die because you felt sorry for that outsider?! Remember we were the ones that did her a favor and took her in from wherever she was before. After raising Laura for twenty years, she owes me! That's right! She owes me!"

Olivia slapped William hard. She couldn't believe her own son would say something so heartless.

She collapsed to the floor, pounding her chest and crying hysterically.

"Oh God, what did I do in my past life to deserve a son like this! Laura, I'm so sorry. Our whole family is so sorry."

But Laura was already gone, unable to hear their apology.

After leaving the Smith house, Laura suddenly realized she had forgotten to ask William the name of the person he owed money to. Who could be so intimidating that William was scared out of his wits?

But it didn't matter. Since the person had left a package for her, it must contain detailed instructions.

The most important thing now was to find a place to stay and take things one step at a time.

She found a nearby hotel and checked in.

Fortunately, she had always kept her debit card and some cash with her. Even though she left the Smith house, she could still manage to stay afloat for now.

However, she knew she couldn't continue her current job.

Given how things had developed, she decided to wait ten days before leaving this place filled with filth and nightmares, and avoid the Smith family forever.

After settling in the hotel, Laura opened the package. As expected, it contained detailed instructions, emphasizing that William must not mention anything about his identity and listing several other requirements, like not turning on the lights.

With a cold smile, Laura slowly set the package on fire, watching it burn into ashes before her eyes.

A black rendezvous with no escape, and no end!

William, you really are ruthless! I gave up my first love, ready to repay the Smiths for raising me, and you sold me for two million dollars! To a complete stranger!

That night, white lilies seemed to guide me through the darkness. Finally breaking free from the selfish and shameless Smith family, I felt an odd sense of relief.

Thinking about it, if I had to spend my life with that family, I'd rather be with a complete stranger, even if it sounds crazy.

To pay off the family's two-million-dollar gambling debt, Laura agreed to a strange deal—a ten-day contract. And just like that, her girlhood ended abruptly.

In that luxurious room, there was a seemingly gentle but actually cold bed, and a mysterious man wearing an eagle mask. All of it marked the end of Laura's innocence.

Not wanting to think about what happened three days ago, Laura closed her eyes with a bitter smile, her heart aching as if cut by a knife. As she smiled, tears streamed down her face, one after another.

She cried quietly for a while, until no more tears would come out. Then she wiped her face and started looking for her clothes.

She remembered placing her clothes by the bed last night. But now, they were gone—outerwear, underwear, shoes, everything.

How could there be a thief in a place like this? Even if there was, they wouldn't want her ordinary clothes. No one would pick them up even if they were left on the street.

Luckily, there was a new set of women's pajamas nearby. Laura put them on and saw a note on the nightstand, presumably for her.

She picked up the note, which had only one sentence and a phone number: "Call this number when you wake up."

Laura hesitated, then realized the masked man from last night must want the person on the other end to tell her what to do next.

She looked at the note, her mind in turmoil, but finally mustered the courage to dial the number.

"Hello? This is..."

"Ms. Laura Harvey, you're awake?" Before she could say more, a young woman's voice came through the phone. "Please wait, I'll be right up!"

"Wait! You..." Laura barely got a word out before the line went dead.

The woman already hung up on her. Laura sighed and put the phone down.

Due to her profession, Laura was particularly sensitive to voices. In just a few words, she recognized the woman was the server who had brought her to Room 888 last night.

A moment later, there was a knock on the door.

Ignoring her aching body, Laura got out of bed and stumbled to the door. Through the peephole, she confirmed it was the server and opened the door, her cheeks flushed. "Hello, ma'am."

"My name is Anna Roberts, you can call me Anna." Dressed in a perfectly fitted uniform, Anna pushed a service cart into the room, closing the door behind her with a smile. "Ms. Laura, here is your breakfast and today's clothes. The gentleman asked me to tell you that after breakfast, you are free to do as you please. Just be back in this room by nine tonight."

Anna seemed highly professional, which earned Laura's respect right away. Even though Anna likely knew the nature of Laura's relationship with the masked man, she maintained her professional smile, showing no disdain or judgment, as if Laura were just another hotel guest.

"Who is this gentleman?" Laura asked awkwardly, her instincts kicking in. "The man from last night? Who is he?"

"Do you think you can get that answer from me?" Anna smiled slightly, her eyes twinkling.

Of course not.

Laura realized her question was inappropriate and smiled apologetically, her cheeks reddened.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked! Um, what's with these clothes?"

Anna didn't answer directly, just smiled gently.

And in that smile, Laura began to understand her situation and the challenges she would have to face.