Chapter 1

Lila’s POV

The city of New Arcadia was split into two, one made for those who had everything, and the other for those who had nothing. Above, the rich lived in the Citadel sector, surrounded by clean air, high-tech medicine, and shining towers that touched the clouds.

Below, in the lower zones like Sector 9, people struggled just to survive.

The sky was always gray here, filled with smoke and flickering lights from broken streetlamps. Flying cars zoomed past overhead, but none of them ever stopped down here. The streets smelled of oil, rust, and something rotten.

If you were poor, like me, you worked hard and hoped you earned enough to keep the people you loved alive.

But for how long?

I arrived at the hospital just as the sun set, and the receptionist nurse, Gladia, welcomed me with a warm smile.

“Hey Lila, you look tired.” Her brows furrowed in worry, but I forced a chuckle to brush her off.

“I’m fine. I’m here to make s deposit for my sister’s treatment.” I started, handing her the wages for the jobs I took on this week.

Gladia nodded, but her eyes dropped as she calculated the amount. She didn’t have to say it for me to know. It wasn’t enough, it’s never enough.

“Lila…”

“Can I see my sister?” I cut her off, not wanting to hear anything more.

Gladia sighed and buzzed the security gate open. I followed her through the sterile halls to Isolation Ward C—where hope went to die.

Mara lay behind a thick quarantine barrier, and I watched her lie still on the bed, her skin pale and dreary. The plague had turned her bright red hair grey, literally sucking the life out of her.

Gladia watched me from behind, her expression solemn, and she looked hesitant as she spoke; “Your sister doesn’t have much time Lila. We need to take her to the Citadel sector for better treatment. Although there’s no cure, it would be better to keep her alive till one is found.”

I knew that much already, but the cost of treatment on the Citadel sector was a fortune. Gladia's words rang in my head as I left the hospital, and I tried my best to hold back the tears that stung my eyes.

I reached home, but my steps screeched to a halt as I noticed the trail of clothes that were carelessly thrown on the floor. My heart skipped a beat as I saw a thong and bra, coupled with a pretty pair of heels along with the clothes that belonged to my boyfriend.

The sinful trail led to the bedroom, and I forced my legs to move despite how heavy they felt.

“Ahh harder!!”

“You like it when I fuck you hard baby?”

“Yes please….fuck me hard..”

Those were the sounds that vibrated through the wooden door. The sound of my boyfriend’s voice and an unknown woman.

No.

No, it can’t be.

My breathing was erratic as my shaky hands reached for the door knob, but I paused as I heard him speak again…

“Lila is such a drag…she never lets me fuck her…..”

“Hmm, then why do you still keep her around, baby..”

He laughed like he was telling a joke. “I used her name to take out a loan so I could land my job on the other side, stupid bitch thinks I’m going to help her sister, but she doesn’t know that I’m going to leave the minute I get promoted.”

What?

At that moment, I saw red, and I kicked the door open, my chest heaving as I glared at them both. They looked startled by my presence, and Clark held his mistress close, eyeing me with disdain.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Lila?!”

There was not a hint of remorse in his tone, and the tears I tried to hold back spilled down my cheeks like an endless waterfall.

“Clark…” I sobbed, “How could you….” I gave everything to this man, hoping he would at least keep his promise, but it looked like I was a fool all along.

Clark rolled his eyes, “Oh, stop with the drama, Lila, it’s not like you didn’t use me too, the only reason you’re with me is because you saw me as the gateway ticket out of your pathetic life.”

My eyes widened, his words piercing deep and shattering me further.

“I gave everything to you!!” I yelled, feeling my legs grow weak.

He looked at the woman beside him and kissed her cheeks, his hand moving to shamelessly fondle her breasts in front of me. “You didn’t give me what I wanted the most.” He said, and I was quick to understand what he meant.

Sex.

“So just because I didn’t let you have your way with me…..that’s why you chose to betray me?” My voice came out in a whisper, “Did my love mean nothing to you?”

Clark was not a perfect man, and I overlooked most of his flaws throughout our relationship. I loved him. And that was why I blindly trusted him. That was why I let him take out a loan in my name when he begged me.

But it was all a lie.

Clark’s expression twisted into a cruel smirk. “If you think I loved you… Then it only just proves how naive and pathetic you are,” he scoffed.

I staggered back, the weight of his betrayal heavy on my chest.

“I don’t owe you anything Lila.” he sneered as he rose from the bed, glaring at me in disgust. “Yeah I used your name to get a loan, but I never forced you. You  said Yes, so that’s on you.”

My mouth fell open in disbelief. “But you promised,” I said, voice trembling. “We had an agreement.”

He laughed, mocking me. “You really thought I would risk my shot at working on the other side for you? Or because you, of your half-dead sister rotting away from the plague—”

My hands moved before I could stop them, and I slapped him hard across the face. “You’re disgusting.”

Clark held his cheek, his eyes blazing with anger. “Get out!”

“What?”

“I want you out. Now!”