At that moment, I felt a surge of tension.
Was I going to be kicked out of the bar too?
In the end, the boss apologized to Vivienne and her friends and comped their bill.
Then, he pulled me into the backroom.
“Seraphina, what you did today was truly disappointing.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I said, feeling wronged. “They knew me, and they’ve always had it out for me.”
“I don’t care about your personal issues, but if you cause trouble here, it damages the bar’s reputation. Now everyone knows we have a rude server!”
The boss, who was usually so even-tempered, looked furious now.
I could almost see his beard bristling with anger.
A heavy weight pressed down on my chest, making me hunch forward slightly. My breathing grew labored.
It was me who had been targeted. Me who had been splashed with a drink.
I had followed all the rules, done nothing wrong, yet I was the one being blamed.
But deep down, I understood. From the boss’s perspective, this was the only logical choice.
For him, customers were everything.
Even if they were deliberately causing trouble, as long as it escalated, he’d rather sacrifice his own staff.
Otherwise, the bar’s reputation would be ruined.
Still, it didn’t make the injustice any easier to bear.
What the boss said next left me feeling utterly hopeless.
“Seraphina, maybe it’s because you haven’t worked here in a while. You’re out of practice. After today, you don’t need to come back.”
I stared at him, wide-eyed. “You’re firing me?”
“I’ll pay you for two extra days. You’ll be fine; you’ll find work anywhere.”
Clearly, he saw me as a liability.
And he wasn’t wrong. Vivienne was a big deal, someone he couldn’t afford to cross. If she spread rumors, the bar might not survive.
So, he chose to cut me loose-someone with no connections.
Furious, I yanked off my uniform and threw it at him.
Then I stormed out of the bar.
As I left, I saw Vivienne and her friends watching me with smug satisfaction.
I thought about what had happened earlier.
Now that I was no longer an employee, I could do whatever I wanted.
I grabbed a can of beer, opened it, and poured it over Vivienne’s head.
Her expression shifted from glee to panic, and she let out a piercing scream.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Screw you, bitch!” I spat, then turned and walked away before they could react.
As I passed Jack, he muttered, “Well done, Seraphina.”
I didn’t look back.
Leaving that heartless bar behind.
No one there was worth remembering-except Jack.
The night air was cold, biting into my skin as I stepped outside.
I took a deep breath, hugged my arms, and walked briskly forward.
I felt like an orphan abandoned by the world.
No one could help me. I wandered aimlessly, lost.
I regretted everything-getting involved with these people, while relying on part-time jobs to survive.
They could destroy my livelihood with just a few words.
It wasn’t fair.
But what could I do? I had no power to fight back.
I didn’t even know how I’d survive the next three years until graduation.
A stinging sensation filled my eyes, and I instinctively rubbed them.
Just then, a bright light pierced through the darkness.
The glare was so intense that I squinted and stepped aside.
A sleek black motorcycle was heading straight toward me.
I thought it would pass by, but it stopped right beside me.
The force of the stop sent a gust of wind that tousled my hair.
I turned and saw Kael.
He sat on the bike, looking at me with concern. “Seraphina, are you okay? I just heard you were fired from the Eagle Club. I’ve been looking for you.”
His concern seemed genuine.
Did he really not know?
I sneered. “Stop pretending. I was fired because of you!”
Kael’s face twisted in pain. “No, Seraphina, there must be some misunderstanding.”
“Ever since I met you, I’ve had nothing but bad luck! Jesus, what on earth is going on with my life.” I snapped.
Kael remained calm, which only made me more suspicious. His composure felt like part of some scheme.
I couldn’t calm down.
Seeing my anger, Kael furrowed his brow, dismounted, and grabbed my shoulders.
I struggled, but he only tightened his grip.
“Calm down, Seraphina. I swear I didn’t know.”
He pulled me into a firm embrace.
“It was my father. As soon as I found out, I talked to him. I’ll protect you from now on, Seraphina. Please, come back to the Eagle Club.”
His tone was pleading, almost desperate.
“But Kael, I don’t want to be your pawn. I’m exhausted. It’s not just you-it’s Vivienne, it’s all the women who want you. I can’t keep losing my job over this. I’m broke; I need to work.”
I knew I couldn’t fight them.
It was a hopeless feeling.
“I understand, Seraphina. Just give me one more chance. I’ll keep you safe.”
I pushed him away, wanting nothing more than to walk away in peace.
The past few days had drained me.
I hated this feeling, but for some reason, Kael’s presence only amplified my pain.