By admin Addicted Ex 2
Chapter 2 Job Hunting
Alyssia had earned her undergraduate degree in journalism from the School of Media Arts at Ravendale University. Back then, she’d even secured a guaranteed spot in the graduate program.
When she happily shared the news with Leonard, all she got was a cold glare. “A straight admission? Makes it easier for you to keep flirting around,” he sneered.
“Go on, tell me.” Leonard suddenly leaned in close to Alyssia, his eyes filled with heavy mockery. “What did you offer Charlie Dixon this time to make him help you get that spot?
“After all, the two things you’re best at are seducing men and using favors to your advantage.”
Because of what he said, Alyssia gave up the hard-won graduate spot and even tossed away the job offer. From then on, she resigned herself to being a mere ornament at Rosewood Manor, spending her days waiting for Leonard to come home.
What she feared most was being accused of using favors to her advantage because that was exactly why she had been taken in by the Rivera family in the first place.
Alyssia’s parents had died because of the Rivera family. Out of guilt, and to repay that debt, the Rivera family not only adopted her but also arranged for her to be Leonard’s fiancée.
When Alyssia was young and naive, she used to fantasize about the future. But as she grew older, reality disappointed her again and again until she had no choice but to see the truth clearly. She knew Leonard had never wanted to marry her.
Just like Milena had said, “Ms. Clairmont, you used your parents’ little act of kindness to the Rivera family to force Leon’s parents into raising you like their own daughter. Fine.
“But now they’ve paid you back with love and care, and you still want their son too? You think you love Leon, but the only one you love is yourself. Do you even realize how miserable you’ve made him?”
Alyssia didn’t know if she really only loved herself, like Milena claimed. All she knew was that she had lost herself for Leonard, humbled herself completely for him.
Alyssia thought, ‘If this kind of love only brings pain to both me and Leonard, maybe it’s better to let it go sooner.’
By the time she snapped out of it, Alyssia had already sent out several job applications.
Breaking up with Leonard meant she had to rely on herself from now on. Beatrice Rivera, Leonard’s mother, used to give her a monthly allowance, and his grandparents, Mario and Ruby Rivera, would give her money from time to time as well.
But none of that could be accepted anymore. Alyssia wouldn’t touch the money in the bank account Leonard gave her unless it was absolutely necessary. If she ever did, she would make sure to pay it back as soon as possible.
Alyssia would never let anyone use that as an excuse to belittle her again. She thought coldly, ‘Right. If I go to work, Leonard would mock me for trying to attract attention. If I stay at home, he’d ridicule me for mooching off his family.
‘From now on, I’ll earn my own living, wear what I buy, pay for my cousin’s treatment, and fall in love on my own terms. Nobody gets to tell me what to do.’
After pulling herself together, Alyssia went to the hospital. Rosalie had been in critical condition last night. Though still weak after being stabilized, she greeted Alyssia with a bright smile, “Alyssia.”
Rosalie was the daughter of Alyssia’s aunt, Madison Clarke. After Madison passed away from illness, her husband Eric Clarke remarried quickly and had a son with his new wife. Rosalie became the unwanted one.
Last year, when Alyssia returned from a gathering at the Rivera Estate, she saw the frail Rosalie squatting in front of Rosewood Manor’s gates with a dirty bag in her hands, her face red from the cold.
Rosalie had a crumpled piece of paper clutched in her hand with the address of Rosewood Manor written on it. She huddled up, too scared to look at Alyssia. “Are you Alyssia? My mom said, if anything ever happens, I should come find you.”
The note was left by Madison before she passed. It was Rosalie’s last hope. Alyssia quickly found out the reason Rosalie had been abandoned.
Rosalie was born with liver dysfunction and later diagnosed with leukemia. She made it to Rosewood Manor on her own and was rushed into the ER that same night.
Since then, one complication followed another, and Rosalie hardly ever left the hospital. Alyssia’s money poured out day after day.
Leonard, at the time, stayed just as cold and mocking as ever. “You Clairmonts have always known how to maximize your benefits.”
*****
Taking a deep breath, Alyssia sat down in front of Rosalie.
“Alyssia.” Rosalie froze. “Are you sick? Are you feeling unwell?”
Alyssia was caught off guard. Last night, she’d gone to the airport to stop the lead surgeon. Because of a traffic jam there, she couldn’t wait any longer and got out of the cab early, running the rest of the way to the terminal.
But in a moment of carelessness, she was nearly hit by a car. Luckily, the driver swerved just in time, and she was only grazed.
Even so, Alyssia was thrown to the ground. She ended up with multiple bruises and soft tissue injuries. After just one night, the soreness became unbearable. It hurt for her to stand and sit.
Leonard, the one who had held her down and humiliated her in bed earlier, hadn’t seen any of it. But Rosalie noticed it right away, just from the way Alyssia sat a little awkwardly.
When Alyssia didn’t say anything, Rosalie clearly got scared and started crying softly, “Alyssia, you must be in pain. Let me check up on you. W-when I get better, I’ll go make money and pay you back. I won’t make Leonard mad anymore.”
Even Rosalie, who had spent every day in the hospital and barely seen Leonard a few times, could tell he didn’t treat Alyssia kindly.
Alyssia thought, ‘How pathetic. I was still clinging to hope, thinking that if I just gave a little more, I could win his heart.’
“I’m fine. I just slept funny and messed up my neck.” Alyssia gave Rosalie a gentle smile and tapped her nose. “Where’d you even learn to talk about money like that? If you stay healthy, that already saves me money, you hear?”
Then Alyssia’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She quickly pulled it out, thinking it might be news about a job.
But when she saw the company name in the subject line of the email, she froze. She thought, ‘Vanguard Media.’
Alyssia had applied to every media company she could find in a rush to get a job. She didn’t expect the first interview invitation to come from Vanguard Media. The interview was scheduled for one o’clock this afternoon.
Once Rosalie had been calmed down, Alyssia rushed off to make it to the interview on time.
Vanguard Media was one of the top-ranked news media groups in the country. Any journalism student would be honored to intern at Vanguard Media after graduation.
Alyssia was excellent in her major and her graduation project won the rare top award for that year. Because of that, she received an offer from Vanguard Media right after graduation.
Unfortunately, in her pursuit of becoming the “perfect woman” in Leonard’s eyes, Alyssia had cut off her own future.
Then Leonard taught her a cruel lesson with his cruelty—without money and a career, a woman would be left with no dignity or status.
Alyssia realized that love was the most unreliable, empty promise, not to mention that there was no love between them in the first place.
The interviewer said, “Ms. Clairmont, according to your resume, your strength lies in social news, but we’re currently hiring for entertainment reporters. I’m not sure if you—”
Alyssia quickly answered, “Entertainment reporting is fine. I can handle it.”
“When would you be able to start?”
“Right now.”
Alyssia needed money, a decent job, and the strength to never look back. But just as she was about to start, she saw that gentle, handsome man standing outside the HR department.