PROLOGUE / CHAPTER :- 1
At first, Reniella's goal in moving from Carlsbad to San Francisco and studying at the campus where the woman wanted to take revenge.
Reniella intends to take revenge on Nicholas Grayson , her biological father, for his actions in leaving her mother when she was pregnant. She was not willing to see the man living with wealth and having a harmonious family, while her mother suffered and endured people's ridicule for being pregnant out of wedlock.
"Nicholas Grayson , I swear I will destroy you as badly as possible!" That is Reniella's determination.
But what then happened was not according to Reniella's plans. The more she got to know Nicholas Grayson, the more attracted she became to the man. Like her mother, she fell under the charm of Nicholas Grayson.
Revenge turns into love.…
Reniella POV
The cross-provincial bus took me and other passengers from Carlsbad to San Francisco. There is nothing special about this tiring journey. Along the way, my eyes were filled with views of expanses of oil palm plantations on the left and right sides of the road.
It's not just the view outside that is boring, but inside the bus too. Just imagine I had to be trapped for 10h 15m next to the same person-a young mother with a very noisy baby.
As someone who doesn't really like babies, I was really, really tormented. The sound of a baby's crying that only stopped when she was sleeping really made me almost crazy. Several times I clicked loudly on purpose to make the mother aware that I, and perhaps other passengers too, were disturbed by the sound of her baby crying.
Please do anything to make your baby stop crying!
" Sorry "
The woman next to me spoke to me after 10 hours of travel. Coincidentally the baby was sleeping.
I, who don't really like interacting with strangers, tried to smile friendly.
" It's okay. "
"My baby is bothering you, isn't it? Sorry, Usually she's not fussy. But since she hasn't seen her dad for a few days, she's been fussy and has had a fever too."
I started to become interested in chatting with the woman because she mentioned 'Dad'. I don't know why I'm always interested and curious to hear stories about children and their fathers.
"Where is her dad?" I asked.
"That's normal, It's a man's disease."
My forehead furrowed. The position of my legs slowly pointing towards her shows interest in the conversation.
"What do you mean ?"
"Women. Men, when they have money, keep getting carried away with young women, and immediately forget about their wives and children." She said. Her face is sad. She looked at her daughter's sleeping face with pity.
I took a deep breath. I saw the innocent face of that innocent baby. I feel like I saw myself 20 years ago. Maybe my mother also felt the same way as this woman.
"So where are you going ?" I asked sympathetically.
If I looked at her thin, unkempt body and her clothing style which was older than her age, I guessed that this woman's economy was the same as mine. Difficult!
"I want to follow her dad to San Francisco."
"Why did you follow him, ? Didn't he leave you and your baby for another woman?" I asked in surprise.
She smiled bitterly. "You'll understand when you become a mother . You can survive as long as your child can be close to her father."
I can only nod my head. Because I'm not a mother yet, I don't dare say much. But if I were in her position who was betrayed by her husband, then I wouldn't want to follow him and beg for his love.
"How old are you if you can tell?" She asked.
"I'm Twenty year old "
"I'm Twenty-five years old married young at the age of 20." She said.
"Is this your first child?" I asked while holding the baby's feet.
She shook his head. "This is the third child. She is only 8 months old. Her older brother and sister still live in Carlsbad with their grandmother."
Again I could only nod.
"Don't marry at young age, okay? Or You'll regret it like me. Just enjoy your youth first. You have to be independent so you don't be underestimated by men."
Who also wants to get married young? God forbid.
"Yes," said my mouth.
"That man, if he doesn't get what he wants, his mouth is sweet like honey. He treats us like queens. But if he gets what he wants, that's it. If we even breathe close enough, he'll get kicked."
I pulled the corners of my lips and took a deep breath to clear the tightness in my chest. Hearing the woman's complaints made me think of my poor mother. They are 2 of the millions of women in this world who are victims of male assholery.
I swear I won't fall into the same hole.
Finally we arrived in San Francisco. The bus that took us stopped at the bus terminal. Our arrival was greeted by cloudy skies and light drizzle left over from the previous heavy rain.
"Reniella , I will go first. I hope you are successful in your studies." said the woman named Mary.
"Yes, thanks. Your family is also healthy, OK?" After chatting yesterday, we became quite familiar. A progress for me who is very anti-social.
I got off the bus carrying a brown backpack on my shoulder. I jumped off the bus and jogged to the terrace of a nearby shop to take shelter from the rain. It was already 2 pm. No wonder my stomach started growling.
I decided to look for a food stall first before contacting the person who would pick me up. I have to be smart about saving with my dwindling savings.
I sat at an empty corner table. Hunger makes this warm Miso Walnut, Mushroom & Broccoli Brown Rice . Occasionally I watch shows on the TV that is attached to the wall of the shop.
Artist gossip show. I don't know what's interesting about talking about other people's lives. After finishing eating, I turned on my cellphone, which I had deliberately turned off during the trip so that the battery didn't run out.
● I've arrived in San Francisco. Please pick me up in front of the bus terminal.
After sending the message, I rested my hand on my chin and began to observe my surroundings. Nothing is interesting. There were only a few bus passengers and the driver who were having lunch. Until finally my attention was drawn to the cafe terrace through the glass window. There was an adult man and a girl around 4 years old. I assume they are father and daughter.
They were eating at a table on the terrace . Perhaps because of the dirty and shabby appearance, they were not allowed to eat inside. It seems cruel, but that's how this world works. Even though we are both humans and both eat rice, the quality of the rice certainly varies depending on the class. There are people who are praised to the heavens, there are also those who are insulted like trash.
Without realizing it, I smiled faintly when I saw the father feeding his daughter. When the child complained about the spiciness, the father swiftly handed his daughter a glass of iced tea. Very sweet.
How does it feel to be loved by your father?
I never envy people who have abundant wealth, countless achievements, beauty and good looks like Greek gods, or a perfect partner. I just envy daughters who are close to their fathers. I? Never mind close. Don't you know me?
"The personal lives of the families of Jasmine Grayson and Nicholas Grayson are always widely discussed. Netizens have also given the nickname family goals to this family. How could it not be?"
Unlucky! That name again.
The smile on my face suddenly faded when I heard the narration on TV. The name mentioned by the gossip host made my blood boil and my stomach feel sick.
" His family, who had just returned from vacation from Switzerland, was in the news. The journalists were waiting at the airport and immediately interviewed them when they left the airport door to the car. As usual, Jasmine enthusiastically answered journalists' questions, while her husband and two children aged 12 and 10 were seen lowering their heads wearing sunglasses and a hat to avoid the camera spotlight. "
Family goals? They don't deserve that nickname. If netizens knew what that person did to me and my mother, they would definitely turn to blaspheme him.
We will see. I will show the world your true form... Mr. Nicholas Grayson. Soon, your happy family will be destroyed in my hands. You have to pay for my mother's tears and suffering all this time and I guarantee you will cry on your knees in front of my mother's grave to apologize.
I... your own daughter... will destroy you, Father.
My cell phone rings. I immediately answered the call while getting up from the chair and carrying my backpack.
"Where are you?" I asked as I walked out of the shop.
"On the other side!"
I looked across the great road that stretched out before me. A man in a mechanic's work uniform was sitting on an automatic motorbike waving at me. I waved at him then turned off our telephone connection.
The man's name was Andrew. I don't know his full name. But since childhood I called him Brother Andrew. He and his family were my neighbors in Carlsbad-the only neighbors who cared about me and my mother.
Andrew migrated to San Francisco , 2 years ago, working as a mechanic at an official repair shop for one of the well-known automotive companies in California. I consider this 25 year old man like my own brother.
"Why are you still so short, Ella sis?" The first sentence that Andrew said when I was standing in front of him.
I groaned in annoyance. Height 155 cm is not that short.
"Just met, And starting body shame , bro," I replied, pretending to be annoyed. He laughed as he lifted my backpack.
" How do you carry this heavy luggage? you are so much small for this heavy thing , Ella" Не laugh and put my bag on the footrest of his automatic motorbike
It doesn't matter! Human height growth stops at the age of 18, whereas I am already 20.
I ignored his teasing. I put on a helmet and climbed into the motorbike seat.
"Let's go driver." I said, patting his shoulder.
"Heh! You think I'm a taxi driver?"
I just laughed with satisfaction because I had succeeded in replying to his teasing.
The rain had stopped leaving the asphalt road wet. At several points you can see puddles of milk chocolate colored water. Andrew rides his motorbike casually. I inhaled deeply the aroma of the damp capital air.
Finally, I can breathe the same air as him. In a moment, I will steal your air and make it difficult for you to just breathe. I can not wait.
Relax there, I will make that man feel humiliated in life like we have felt all this time.
"When do you start college?" Andrew asked when we stopped at a red light.
I brought my face closer to him. "Next week, Bro."
He nodded.
The red light turns yellow then green. Andrew drove his motorbike again across the main road. After a while, we started to enter the intersection.
As time went on, the roads we passed became smaller and narrower. Until finally we passed through a narrow alley that could only be passed by pedestrians and motorbikes in one direction. Andrew's motorbike stopped in front of a one-story building that had lots of doors - maybe around 10 doors. The building was painted a poor, faded green. The front fence also looks worn and rusty.
"Here, bro?" I asked as I got off the motorbike and took off my helmet.
I looked around me. Despite being in a narrow alley, the neighborhood is quite dense with houses and residents.
"The boarding houses here are cheap. On the big roads, the prices are much more expensive. My boarding house isn't too far from here either. So I can often check on your condition."
I just nodded and followed him. We stopped at the door to room number 5. He took the key out of his trouser pocket and opened it. These rooms do not have a terrace. The doors and walls became damp and moldy at the bottom because they were often exposed to rainwater.
The room measures 3x3 meters with a shared bathroom located at the end near room number 10. There is also a small kitchen there. Low ceilings make the air in the room feel stuffy. Luckily there was a fan attached to the wall. In the room there is a mattress placed on the ceramic floor, a stacked wardrobe made of plastic, and also a study table and chairs facing the nako window.
"How is it?" asked Andrew.
I nodded my head. "Not bad, bro." I answered.
"Thank goodness. Oh yes, you can work starting tomorrow, okay? Tonight I'll take you to the hotel where you work so you can get to know the hotel manager first. You don't need to be afraid. The hotel manager is a close friend of my."
Apart from finding me a boarding house, I also asked Andrew to help me find a part-time job. As a human who lives alone in this world, I have no one to depend on other than myself.
"Yes, Thank you, Brother" I said.
Andrew put his arm around me and patted my shoulder. "Cheer up, Ella . I'm sure that one day you will definitely be a successful person. My message is, don't be lulled by the luxury of the people of San Francisco. We have to be smart about how we position ourselves." he said.
I nodded slowly. Suddenly my mood became cloudy. Guilt enveloped me. How would Andrew react if he knew my real goal of studying here? He must be disappointed.
"I have to go first. My break time is almost over. If you need anything, just call me." he said, ruffling my hair.
"Yes, Bro."
I lay on my bed after Andrew left. Finally I can straighten my waist after hours of sleeping in a sitting position. While lying down, I took my cellphone and opened the IG social media application. I pressed the search field, then I typed Jasmine Grayson's name. The name Jasmine Grayson with a blue tick behind it immediately appeared at the top.
