pte

ella

n phone, but it didn't matter anymore. The world felt like it was turning upside down. I didn't want to leave, bu

ld catch them. I opened my purse, my fingers trembling, but all I found was empty space. My wallet

"Where's my money?" he deman

"I brought it with me," I said, bar

rrowing. "You're go

My head spun. What's going on? My mind raced, but the words I needed wouldn

each time, the screen flashed: Frozen. Frozen? How? Why is every

voice cracking. "I swear I have the money. My cards-they

raising his voice. "I need my money now! You think

in my chest. I was trapp

e, a soft voice interrup

erly man stepped forward, his hand extende

ver eyed the man suspiciously but then took the money off

u," he said as he turned to me,

ollow. Nothing is okay, I thoug

how stressed you are, young lady. But

respond. Instead, I hurried to the door, my mind

ding outside with the housekeeper. Their fa

, but my voice felt sm

d. "The house... it's not yours anymore. They've ta

n? The house is... it's ours! My parents-

everything's gone, Ivy. All of it. The hou

now everything they had worked for... it was taken. My heart sank even lo

t stepped into our lives, claiming everything. His cold eyes locked with mi

voice was shaking, but I couldn't stop it. "Please, just tel

ey couldn't repay." He paused, his eyes never leaving mine. "They lost everything.

y face. What? I could barely

e. "Here's the proof. Your parents... they were in

ng over me. "No... this can't be

here's nothing left for you. No house, no busi

g. This is it. This is the end. I wanted to scream, to run, to fight. But

my voice hoarse, trying to

lawyer? You've lost everything. The house, the company-it's

No hope? I wanted to deny it, to scream at h

ing. "This house belongs to the gov

s gave out, and I dropped to my knees on the cold, unforgiv

me close. Her sobs mixed with mine as we

but now it felt different. Now

rld had crumbled, and I had no

do I

luckily I caught her before sh

hing and she wasn't

up! Please!