Chapter 41 Job Hunting Setbacks
"What the heck do you mean?" George shot back, clearly not expecting Emma to come at him like that. He was surprised, but his tone stayed icy.
Emma leaned against the wall, looking all messed up, her pale face giving off this weird, sickly beauty vibe.
She gently placed her hand on her abdomen, the pain from the tumor hitting her like a wave, making her frown hard. She decided right then and there not to let George in on her illness, especially since he was all about Anna.
"Nothing, Mr. Russell, just forget it." Emma didn't want to get into it with him. She knew no matter what she said, George wouldn't get it. It was like he was under some spell, deaf to her words.
So why did she bother explaining anything to him?
George blocked her path. Emma tried to push past him, but he was like a brick wall, not budging an inch.
Emma's effort was weak, like a fly trying to move a mountain, which only made George think he was right. His eyes narrowed, filled with disgust and disdain.
"Emma, you're so stubborn. Trying to pull the same sad act to get my sympathy? Let me tell you something!" George's eyes were sharp, his voice loud enough to cut through her, "Anna is my true love! If you ever hurt her again, I'll make you pay a hundred times over!"
Emma's heart felt like it was being shredded, pain and despair mixing together. She lifted her head, her eyes shiny with tears, but she refused to let them fall. She knew she couldn't take this anymore.
George sneered, turned, and walked away, leaving Emma to deal with her pain alone.
As he left, the tumor in Emma's body started throbbing again, like a cruel reminder of life's harshness.
She gritted her teeth, fighting the urge to take painkillers, thinking, 'I'll use this pain to remind myself not to fall for hopeless love again.'
She stood up, walked to the mirror, and saw her pale face staring back. Her fingers lightly traced her cheek, silently vowing, 'I must be strong, never to get tangled up with anyone again.'
Life could start over, jobs could be found again, and she wouldn't be defeated.
But Emma had sent out tons of resumes and still hadn't landed a decent job.
Every time she thought about the bills piling up and her empty pockets, it felt like a heavy weight on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
In her current state, how could she even think about competing with Anna?
Seeing the bright lights of the entertainment spots nearby, Emma suddenly remembered something—the bottle of wine she had broken at the club and the debt she owed.
Even though no one had come to collect, it was still hanging over her.
"What a pain," she muttered, pulling out her phone to call the club.
"Hello, how can I help you?" The voice on the other end was clear and polite.
"I wanted to ask about a bottle of wine I broke there before and the debt I owe. What's the situation?" Emma's voice was a bit shaky.
"Are you Emma? Your debt has already been paid off," the voice on the other end softened, "Please don't worry about it anymore."
"Who paid it off?" Emma's heart skipped a beat, feeling uneasy.
"I don't know," the voice replied.
Her first thought was Mia, worried that Mia might've borrowed from a loan shark to help her out, but the person on the phone said it was a guy. George's image popped into Emma's head.
Was it him?
If it was, why would he do it? As a husband?
But that hope was quickly crushed.
"Ethan?" Emma's heart skipped a beat, thinking of the always-smiling Ethan. She didn't know him well, but he paid off her debt, and she felt a wave of gratitude.
After hanging up, Emma was torn. She wanted to thank Ethan in person but didn't want to bother him. After some back-and-forth in her head, she decided to meet him, thinking, 'I gotta thank him face-to-face.'
She shot Ethan a message, and he replied right away, something George never did.
When the time came, Emma walked into the café, feeling all kinds of nervous.
She scanned the place and finally spotted Ethan in the corner. He was in a simple white shirt, nose deep in a book, with sunlight making him look all warm and inviting.
"Ethan, thank you," Emma said softly, mustering up her courage.
Ethan looked up and smiled gently, "It's no big deal, don't sweat it."
"To me, it's a huge deal." Emma sat down, her tone sincere, "Don't worry, I'll pay you back as soon as I can!"
"Emma, if you really wanna thank me, how about treating me to a meal first? I came here on an empty stomach," Ethan cut her off, his eyes warm and kind, "I'm happy to help you, Emma."
In Ethan's eyes, Emma saw that subtle spark between a guy and a girl.
She awkwardly looked away and nodded, "Got it."
Ethan had done so much for her; treating him to a meal was the least she could do. But she was broke, so she had to go for the cheapest option.
Ethan noticed her hesitation.
"How about some tacos? Sound good?" Ethan asked with a warm smile, "You wouldn't believe it, but I used to love ordering tacos when I was a student."
Emma had no clue. She never thought a rich kid like Ethan would be down to eat tacos by the roadside with her.
They hit up a nearby stand, and Emma ordered a taco, trying to keep it cool. Watching Ethan dig in with a big smile, a warm feeling spread through her.
"These are awesome!" Ethan said, not caring about the price at all.
"As long as you like them," Emma felt relieved, a smile sneaking onto her face.
After dinner, with the night breeze blowing gently, Emma and Ethan decided to take a stroll.
The streets were alive, neon lights flashing, casting shadows of them together. Emma's mood lightened, and hanging out with Ethan made her forget her past mess.
"Emma, there's something I wanna tell you." Ethan suddenly stopped, looking at her seriously, "Back in college, I used to dream about walking side by side with you. I never thought it would actually happen, even though we're almost thirty now. You and George are divorced, right? I heard he's marrying Anna soon."
She thought she was over George, but hearing he was about to marry Anna, that gut-wrenching pain reminded her she still cared.
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