Life is not always what it appears to be.
Just like an ant—sometimes it searches tirelessly for food, sometimes it finds it in the most unexpected places, but no one ever notices the effort it takes.
I am like that ant. I don't know if I truly belong in this world of luxury. Not long ago, I was just an orphan girl—working, struggling, searching for every little thing on my own. And now… now I am the owner of an entire mall. Yes, I am. But even now, deep inside, I don't know if I deserve this company, this empire.
People say my life changed because the mall's owner adopted me. Some call me lucky, some whisper that fate favored me. But how do I explain to anyone that when fate does arrive, it changes everything—and yet, no one sees the battle it took to reach that moment?
Yes, I stand as the owner of this towering building. But no one sees the years of effort behind it. They look at me and think, "She was born with a silver spoon."
Now, here I am—standing before my own mall. My secretary and bodyguards are just behind me. The glass doors are about to open, and with them, a new day begins. A day in the life of a businesswoman who seems to have everything… everything.
"Mam! Mam!"
"Yes?"
"Mam, let's go in."
I glanced at my secretary—my only friend—who had stood by me through every high and low. Even back in the orphanage, we had made a promise to stay best friends forever. And here she was, still by my side.
When I had been adopted into a family, just days later, my best friend had been adopted too. I went to meet her, but she wasn't there. For a moment, I thought I had lost the most important person in my life.
But then, During the interview for the secretary position, I read her name — Sabrina Vale.
same Sabrina who once play with me. when I cried, she also cry with me, who would make fun of me when I got lost in books, but also always appreciate me, yet somehow always protected me. And now, she's here again, standing right beside me — my best friend and as my Secretary.
I nodded, towards her and together, we stepped inside. It's eight in the morning. The mall opens at nine. The entire space feels calm, wrapped in silence — only the soft click of my sandals echoes against the marble floor.
Rows of employees stand with their heads slightly bowed. I never wanted them to do that — but out of respect, they still do.
For a moment, I pause. The faint scent of polished floors, the soft hum of lights warming up, the air filled with quiet anticipation — this is my world now.
And yet, deep down, I still feel like that orphan girl, standing in front of something far too big for her… except this time, it's mine.
Lost in my thoughts, a voice — sharp, angry — pulled me back to reality.
"Sera!"
My name, thrown like a stone, echoed across the vast emptiness of the mall. I froze. Who said that? Slowly, I turned.
There she was. My father's older brother's wife. Her face was carved with rage, her eyes burning with something I couldn't name.
Why is she here? The question flashed through my mind, but my lips stayed sealed.
She walked toward me, her heels striking the marble with quick, furious steps. Before I could even react, her hand came up and connected with my cheek.
SLAP.
The sound tore through the silence, shattering the calm I had described just moments ago. That peaceful, quiet mall — the one where only the echo of my sandals existed — now reverberated with a single sound: the echo of her slap.