Chapter 3
"Beth? Beth, can you hear me? I'm so sorry—I didn't see you!"
Elizabeth drifted back to consciousness, the voice filtering through fog. She forced her eyes open, blinking until the blurry face above her took shape.
Becky Harris—her distant cousin who had lived in the Habsburg mansion while attending university. Despite his coldness toward Elizabeth, Cornelius had never objected to housing her relatives.
After Becky graduated and found a job elsewhere, they still kept in touch—though only occasionally.
"Becky?" Elizabeth's voice cracked, her throat raw.
"Thank God you're awake!" Relief flooded Becky's face. "I was coming from work—it was so dark—I'll take you to the hospital right away!"
"No hospital." The refusal came automatically. Even now, her first instinct was to avoid medical attention. "I just need some rest."
Becky hesitated, knowing her temper, offering, "Then come to my place. Mom and I can look after you."
With nowhere else to go, Elizabeth nodded.
Becky's apartment was in an older building—modest but clean.
Her mother, Karena Harris, rushed forward when they arrived, and after learning the situation, she guided Elizabeth to the guest bedroom with theatrical concern.
"Lie down, Mrs. Habsburg—oh, I mean Beth. Don't worry about a thing!"
The hastily corrected "Mrs. Habsburg" sent a fresh wave of pain through Elizabeth's chest.
"Thank you, Aunt Karena," she managed. "Sorry to impose."
"Nonsense!" Karena beamed. "After everything you did for Becky all those years? This is nothing!"
After resting and sipping some water, Elizabeth tried to gather her scattered belongings from her purse.
Karena hurried to help, but her smile vanished when the divorce papers slipped out.
She picked it up and took a quick glance at the contents. Her eyes widened at the crossed-out financial provisions.
"You're walking away with nothing? You just signed this?" Disbelief hardened into judgment. "Do you have any idea how much money the Habsburgs have? What were you thinking?"
Elizabeth watched the woman's transformation—warmth evaporating like morning dew, replaced by naked disappointment.
"My decisions are my own, Aunt Karena."
Karena tossed the papers onto the bed. "Fine! Be noble! But our little place can't accommodate someone of your stature."
Her tone dripped with sarcasm. "Once you're feeling better, you'll need to find somewhere else. We can barely make ends meet—we can't handle charity cases!"
She stormed out, slamming the door.
Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed, a bitter smile playing on her lips. The full spectrum of human nature had paraded before her today—kindness turning to contempt the moment there was nothing to gain.
This only strengthened her resolve. She needed work immediately and an escape from dependence on others' conditional charity.
That night, despite her aching body, Elizabeth scrolled through job listings. With her obscure degree and no work experience, the prospects were bleak.
Her phone rang—unknown number.
"Mrs. Habsburg. Blake Thomas, Mr. Habsburg's special assistant."
Elizabeth's heart sank. "Yes?"
"Mr. Habsburg has an unexpected business trip. Tomorrow's divorce proceedings will be postponed until his return."
Blake's voice was perfectly neutral.
Elizabeth's knuckles whitened around her phone. Of course. Cornelius controlled everything—even the timing of their divorce would happen on his schedule.
"Fine," she replied curtly and hung up.
Taking a deep breath, she returned to her search. A message suddenly appeared from a university classmate:
[Beth, how's the job hunt? My friend's company is hiring an administrative assistant. Not high-level, but promising. The owner has connections. Interested?]
A lifeline! Elizabeth immediately replied: [Absolutely! Thanks! Send me the details!]
When the response came through with the company name, her blood turned to ice.
The company belonged to Aaron Wright, a name etched into her nightmares.
Five years ago at a charity gala, Aaron had pursued her relentlessly, eventually attempting to drug her drink.
Though his plan had failed, Cornelius had been furious, using his influence to destroy the Wright family business completely.
She'd heard they'd left the city in financial ruin.
How were they back? And successful enough to be hiring?
Fate's cruel joke continued. She'd barely escaped one cage only to potentially walk straight into another predator's lair.
