Chapter 1 Broken Ashes

• “Riri–” Steven called on seeing Rita walk into his apartment.
• From the look on her face, he could tell that something wasn't right. She looked dull and sullen.
• “ Is anything wrong baby? You looked upset. What happened?” He asked, concern etched on his face.
• Rita's eyes welled up. She took a deep breath and tried to control her emotions, but her voice trailed off. "Let's break up. I'm going to marry someone else."
• Her words were mixed with a distinct sob, and her voice grew faint and vague. She looked down, barely able to look Steven in the eye.
• Once those lips of hers made that utterance, a thick round of silence descended in the room. Steven couldn't believe his ears. He scoffed, taking a good look at her, wanting to be sure it was his Riri who was standing in front of him.
• His eyes grew sharp and angry, green eyes that seemed to pierce Rita's soul. Anger burned in his eyes and spread. "You better be bluffing, Lily! What are you talking about, marrying someone else? So what do we do?"
• Rita felt his anger, and she knew that was how anyone would react under the circumstances. However, she is powerless to change the situation and can only suffer in silence.
• "Baby, I know you're angry, but please hear me out. I have no right to reject-- my father insists that I marry a stranger, and..."
• "You don't want to marry him, do you? Then let's run away!" Steven suddenly interrupted her, taking her hands eagerly. His eyes were firm and hopeful as he locked eyes with her, searching for a final solution. His voice was filled with determination. "We can get out of here, run away to anywhere, and start a new life."
• "No! I can’t!"
• Rita avoided his gaze, clearly disapproving of the plan. If she ran off with him, what would happen to her sister Hannah?
• If she ran away with Steven, their stepmother would make Hannah's life a living hell and even force Hannah to marry the stranger in her place.
• Absolutely not. She couldn’t be that cruel to Hannah.
• "Steven, I'm sorry, I can’t go," Rita whispered, looking away from him.
• "Nonsense!" Steven hissed, squeezing her hand. "I know that three years of our relationship means nothing to you. Do you love me or not? Because if you did, you wouldn’t be here talking about some stupid breakup!" he shouted.
• "I do love you, Steven, but—"
• “Don't fucking say anything. Get the fuck out of my house now, you cheater!” He snapped at her in anger, letting go of her or pushing her instead.
• He released her with so much force that Rita stumbled backward, managing to
• keep her stance.
• “But–” Rita's voice trailed off. Steven was pissed and he wouldn't listen to her.
• It was not as if she would change her mind later on, so it was best she left.
• She took one good look at him, her heart shattering at the sight of his dejected face.
• “I'm…sorry.” she sniffed once more then slowly walked out of the apartment.
• Steven watched in disbelief as Rita walked out on him. She fucking left him.
• He let out a growl, grabbing one of the lamps in his sitting room which he smashed on the wall. He hissed, punching the wall as well.
• Rita fucking left him.
• “Fuck!” He gritted his teeth hard, then ruffled his brown hair with his bloody hands in frustration.
• “You can't get married, Riri. You're mine alone — whether you like it or not!”
• After leaving Steven's apartment, Rita’s tears caused by heartbreak had already calmed down, though she kept sniffling from time to time. She halted in front of the biggest strip club in the state — The Angel's Lounge, where she needed to earn enough money to cover Hannah's college tuition.
• Shortly, Rita made her way into it, and then using a hallway workers used, she emerged at the backdoor of an overly loud stage.
• “Rita? What the fuck's your problem? You're late!” The voice of a middle-aged man caught her attention.
• “Good evening, Zay.” No smile crossed her face.
• “Fuck your greetings! Go get dressed. The show’s about to begin.”
• “Yes sir.” She mumbled, making her way out of Zay's presence.
• She arrived in the dressing room, where she swiftly began to wear her stripper outfit. Once she stepped out in her slutty stripper's outfit, her appearance was fucking hot and she could feel gawping eyes on her.
• Her hot appearance had awarded her the nickname ‘Angel’ in the stripper club.
• She arrived at the back of the large curtains and let out a shaky breath.
• Once the large curtains gave way, she was greeted by the roars of men she considered shameless. She ignored all their cheers and focused on what she was doing.
• As she continued dancing to the music, she noticed the loud men at the front row who kept cheering, whistling and making kissing sounds.
• She tried to ignore them at first, but their comments escalated, becoming more vulgar and disrespectful to her, they even began to make those lewd gesture and continued with their crude words.
• One of them even tried to grab her, but it was noticed by the bouncer who stepped in and asked the men to behave.
• The moment she was done, she went straight to the dressing room, anger written all over her face as she changed into her normal outfit.
• “Here's your pay for the night, Angel,” Zay appeared soon after, leaning at the entrance of the door, throwing some dollar notes at Rita who caught them.
• However, instead of sneaking straight out the back door of the club as she usually did, Rita turned and walked toward the club’s bar, sitting down in front of the table. Her fingers tapped gently on the table, her eyes deep and preoccupied.
• "Give me one," she whispered to the bartender, her tone calm but slightly weary.
• The bartender watched helplessly as Rita downed several shots of tequila, shaking his head at the girl who was already drunk and on the verge of unconsciousness.
• As she raised her hand for another drink, a warm, strong hand suddenly stopped her movement.
• Rita’s wrist was gently pressed by the hand. She looked up and, through her blurred vision, saw a tall man with his face shrouded in shadow.
• "It’s enough!"