The second day came faster than Isabella was ready for.
Sunlight peeked through the cracked orphanage window, landing on the single bag packed beside her bed. It was all she had. All she was allowed to take. No goodbyes, no last-minute miracles—just the silence of leaving.
She walked out of the gates one last time with her head held high.
At work, she forced a smile as she told Lucas everything. They were restocking boxes when she broke the news.
"I have to leave the orphanage today," she said quietly.
Lucas looked up, stunned. "What? Why didn't you tell me yesterday?"
She shrugged. "I found out last night. Everything just… happened too fast."
Lucas frowned. "Then after work, you're coming home with me. No discussion."
Isabella blinked. "What about your mom?"
"She'll be fine with it," he said quickly. "Once she meets you, I swear she'll love you. Trust me."
Before she could respond, Daisy appeared at the door of the stockroom, her heels clicking like gunshots.
"Isabella! Isabella!" she called, her tone sharp.
Isabella darted out of the room. "Yes, ma'am?"
Daisy folded her arms. "Go and check on our customers. Make sure they have everything they need. We're not running a charity."
"Yes, ma'am," Isabella said quickly and walked off.
The floor of the store buzzed with voices, heels, and soft background music. Isabella took a deep breath and moved table to table, asking softly:
"Excuse me, do you need anything?"
"Can I help you with that?"
"Would you like something else?"
Her voice was gentle, almost distant, like her mind was elsewhere—which it was. Every smile she gave was carefully sewn over the fear she felt inside.
At one of the tables, a woman waved her off. At another, a young man asked for water. She fetched it quickly, almost robotically.
From across the store, Lucas watched her—shoulders drawn, voice quiet, eyes dimmer than usual.
He clenched his jaw and muttered under his breath, "She doesn't deserve this."
Isabella continued moving, unaware that her life was about to take yet another unexpected turn.
She moved from table to table, her voice low and respectful.
"Excuse me, do you need anything?"
Most customers barely glanced at her, lost in their conversations and drinks. But then, a man seated alone near the swimming pool raised a hand.
She walked over quickly, her voice still calm. "Sir, do you need anything?"
The man smiled and shook his head. "Not really," he said. "But could you take a picture of me, please?" He handed her his phone casually.
Isabella nodded and accepted it with both hands. "Sure, sir. I can do that."
She took a step back and lifted the phone, framing him carefully. A spark lit her eyes.
"Sir, don't worry. The pictures will be okay… I'm a photographer, I'm good at this" she added with a soft smile, forgetting her sadness for a moment.
She crouched a little, adjusted the angle, then asked, "Can I get a full-body shot? Just stay relaxed."
The man chuckled and nodded, fixing his posture.
Isabella stepped sideways to get the right distance—but her worn out sneakers caught the edge of a chair. She stumbled slightly and bumped into a table.
The drink on the table tipped.
It spilled right onto a woman's expensive champagne-colored gown.
Gasps echoed around them.
Isabella's eyes widened in horror. "Oh my God, ma, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me—it was an accident"
The woman stood abruptly, rage blazing in her eyes. Her perfectly manicured hand swung before anyone could react.
Slap on Isabella's face.
The sound cracked across the garden.
"You must be very stupid!" the woman shouted.
"Are you a fool?
"Are you blind?! Do you know how much I got this dress?!"
Isabella clutched her cheek, eyes watering, frozen in place.
Her male companion tried to step in. "Babe, Babe, relax. It wasn't intentional—"
Slap. Again.
The second slap knocked Isabella off balance. She caught herself against the chair, lips trembling.
Suddenly, a voice thundered across the café.
"Enough."
Demian had just walked in, his hand in his pocket, sunglasses halfway off when the scene unfolded in front of him.
His heart stopped as he saw Isabella .
He was at her side in seconds.
He turned to the woman and pulled out his wallet.
"Take this," he said, handing her a stack of cash. "Fix your dress. If it means that much to you."
The woman's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"
Her companion looked angry and stood. "Enough of this drama, I will be on my way, he left angrily"
"Babe—babe wait!" the woman cried as she hurried after him, nearly tripping over her own heels.
Demian turned back to Isabella. His voice was low. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
Isabella shook her head, struggling to hold back tears. "No… I'm fine. Thanks."
Just then, Daisy stormed in, heels sharp and angry. Lucas followed behind her, already sensing what was coming.
"I saw everything that happened," Daisy snapped. "And at this moment, you are fired. You are so incompetent!"
"Ma—please." Isabella's voice cracked as she knelt down. "It was a mistake. Please. If you fire me, I have nowhere to go. Please…"
Lucas stepped in quickly. "Ma, she's really sorry. Please don't—"
Daisy spun on him. "It's either you keep quiet, or I fire the both of you."
With a sharp turn, she walked away, her perfume trailing behind her like smoke after a bomb.
The silence that followed felt deafening.
Isabella broke. The tears she'd been fighting spilled freely now. She sat down slowly, her body trembling, her hope crumbling.
Demian crouched beside her, his voice gentler than it had ever been.
He placed a hand on her back and whispered, "It's fine… let's go."