He promised to attend the interview

The piercing sound of Grace’s alarm clock jolted her awake. With half-closed eyes, she reached out and turned it off.

Five more minutes. She whispered to herself and immediately dozed off again.

“Sis, wake up! It’s 6:30—you’re going to be late for work!”

Grace stirred as her younger brother Elvis’s voice pierced through her dream.

“And your phone’s been ringing nonstop! It’s your boss calling!” Elvis added.

At the mention of her boss, Grace bolted upright, all traces of sleep disappearing instantly.

“What?” she gasped, grabbing her phone from Elvis’s outstretched hand. Her heart sank when she saw the screen—five missed calls from her boss. A quick glance at the clock confirmed her fears: it was 6:35 AM.

“Oh no!” she exclaimed, jumping out of bed. “I’m late!”

Twenty frantic minutes later, Grace emerged from her room fully dressed and ready for work. In the dining area, her mother and Elvis sat at the table eating breakfast.

“Sis, join us before the food gets cold,” Elvis offered cheerfully.

“Which rubbish breakfast are you talking about?” their mother snapped, narrowing her eyes at Grace. “Did she bring any money for this food?”

Grace paused, gripping her bag tightly.

“If you had any sense,” her mother continued bitterly, “you’d go and beg Victor to forgive you. He’s the one who supported this house, not your useless accounting job.”

“Mom, I’ll eat at work,” Grace said softly, trying to keep her composure. She turned to Elvis. “We’ll talk later, okay?”

“Sis,” Elvis called, his voice hesitant. “Friday is the deadline for my exam fees. If I don’t pay, I won’t sit for my finals.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Grace assured him, forcing a smile. “Don’t worry, okay?”

“Where will you get the money?” her mother cut in, scorn dripping from her tone. “Your salary barely keeps us alive. Victor would’ve paid those fees if you hadn’t ruined everything.”

Grace ignored her and turned back to Elvis. “We’ll figure it out later, I promise.” She rushed toward the door, leaving her mother muttering behind her.

Once Grace was gone, Elvis turned to his mother, frustration evident on his face.

“Mom, I don’t like the way you talk to Grace. She’s been trying her best to take care of us ever since Dad died.”

His mother slammed her hand on the table. “How dare you tell me how to speak to her? That good-for-nothing girl cheated on the only man who was helping us!”

“She didn’t—” Elvis began but was cut short as his mother’s hand struck his jaw.

“Don’t you dare talk back to me!” she shouted.

Elvis, holding his jaw, stood up angrily, grabbed his school bag, and left the house without another word.

“Look at the useless children I gave birth to,” their mother muttered to herself. “One’s a fool who ruined everything, and the other’s just as disrespectful.”

Meanwhile, Grace arrived at her office building five minutes late. Stepping out of the taxi, she instinctively removed her wedding ring and slipped it into her bag.

“My mom was so busy nagging me this morning, she didn’t even notice I was wearing it,” Grace murmured to herself, her expression troubled.

She was about to walk in when someone called out from behind.

“Mrs. Divine!”

She turned and spotted Gerald, one of Nelson Divine’s men, standing by a sleek black car.

“Good morning, Gerald,” Grace greeted.

“Good morning, Mrs. Divine,” he replied.

“Please, stop calling me that. Just ‘Grace’ is fine,” she said firmly.

Gerald looked uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but if the boss hears me call you by your name, he’ll cut off my head.”

“Fine,” Grace said with a sigh. “Just call me ‘Grace’ when he’s not around. Got it?”

“Understood… Grace.”

“Better. So, what are you doing here? Where’s your boss?”

“Mr. Divine had a meeting at one of his offices,” Gerald explained. “But he sent me to pick you up this morning. I arrived at your house, but you’d already left in a taxi. I followed to make sure you got here safely.”

Grace blinked in surprise. “Thank you, Gerald, but you didn’t have to do that.” She glanced at her watch. “Anyway, I’m already late, so I should get inside.”

“Of course, ma’am,” Gerald said, stepping back.

As Grace approached the building, Gerald called out again. “Mrs. Divine!”

She turned back, a bit impatient. “What now, Gerald?”

“Please don’t tell the boss I didn’t drive you here. He’ll have my head,” Gerald said, practically pleading.

Grace shook her head with a small smile. “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything. You have my word.”

“Thank you!” Gerald called as she walked through the company doors.

The moment Grace entered the office, Cindy’s voice rang out.

“You’re late, Grace.”

Grace shot her a glare. “And how is that your business?”

The room went quiet as all eyes turned toward Grace and Cindy. Standing beside Cindy was Victor—Grace’s ex. Seeing him made her blood boil.

“Isn’t that guy one of Alpha Nelson’s men?” Mr. Mason, their editor, asked curiously.

“Who? Him?” Grace asked, confused.

“The man you were talking to outside,” Mr. Mason clarified.

Cindy snorted. “Alpha Nelson Divine’s subordinate? Hardly. That man was probably just one of her many lovers.”

Victor smirked. “Exactly. I might not know Alpha Nelson personally, but I know his men. They’re the ones who handle his errands.”

Grace clenched her fists, biting back a retort.

“Well,” Mr. Mason said, his tone sharp, “someone like you, Cindy, should know better than to make assumptions.”

Cindy and Victor fell silent, embarrassment written all over their faces.

“What did Alpha Nelson’s subordinate tell you?” Mr. Mason pressed.

Grace turned to him, lifting her chin. “He said Alpha Nelson Divine will attend tomorrow’s interview.”

The room went still.

“What?” Victor blurted out.

Cindy’s jaw dropped. Mr. Mason’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief.

“Alpha Nelson Divine is coming here?” Mr. Mason repeated, his voice laced with excitement.

“Yes,” Grace replied confidently. “He’ll be here at 9 AM sharp.”

With that, she walked to her desk, leaving Victor and Cindy stunned into silence.