Chapter 3 RELEASED

Chapter 3: Released

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AFTER THREE YEARS.

The women's prison's gate opened. After a short time, a woman slowly walked out.

With the white dress on, the woman appeared ridiculously thin. The outfit was the same as when she was arrested three years ago. She strolled toward the platform, which was more than 100 meters away. She was carrying a black plastic bag containing $6.05 and an ID card.

She was walking on the gravel road during the hot summer months. The temperature today was at least 91.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The woman walked in the sun without breaking a sweat.

Her pale skin was covered in bruises. Even on the face, near the hairline, there was a three-centimeter-long scar that was very noticeable.

When the bus arrived, the woman boarded, carefully removed a coin from the black plastic bag, and placed it in the bus's coin box.

The driver glanced at her before turning away.

The woman did not appear to notice the driver's eyes. She made her way to the back of the bus. She took a seat, trying not to draw attention to herself.

She looked out the window as the car accelerated away.

A lot had changed in three years.

She scowled.

Yes, not only had the world outside the prison radically changed in three years but so had she.

She was startled when the bus drove into a busy area. Where should she go after she was released from prison?

She became acutely aware of the fact that she had nowhere to go.

She carefully opened the plastic bag and counted the 5 dollars and 5 cents left in it three times.

What would she do?

The recruitment information caught her eye not far from the roadside.

"I'd like to get off the bus, sir." Please unlock the car door!"

Her arrogance vanished after three years in prison. She lacked confidence whenever she spoke to others.

The driver grumbled and flung open the door. She thanked the driver and got out of the car. She proceeded to the large picture of recruitment data. After a while, her gaze was drawn to the words 'cleaner' and 'meal and lodging free.'

She was in jail without family, no files, or education. She was afraid that the company would reject her even if she wanted to work as a cleaner. But, with only $5 and 5 cents in her hand, she gritted her teeth and walked into this nightclub called 'Royal Club.' She shivered as soon as she walked in. The AC made her tremble with cold.

"Name," the woman impatiently asked.

"Astrid Levine," she called out slowly.

The lovely lady is holding a pen to jot down the details shuddered. Her gel pen almost slipped off the table. "Why is your voice so terrible?" she grumbled to Astrid.

Astrid had grown accustomed to being tepid after three years in prison. Even though others had pointed out that her voice was unpleasant to the ears, she still spoke slowly and calmly. "The smoke harms it."

The stunning woman was taken aback; her inquisitive gaze fell on Astrid's face, "Fire?"

"Fire, yeah." Astrid lowered her eyelids slightly after speaking. It was simply a deliberate arson fire.

When the gorgeous woman noticed Astrid's lack of enthusiasm and blandness, she frowned and said, "Tsk, Royal Club is not your average entertainment club. The guests here are not ordinary." She looked up and down at Astrid. She didn't try to hide her displeasure. She looked down on Astrid, who was wearing a sack, and the white dress she was wearing had turned yellow.

The Royal Club was not where ordinary people could have a good time. A regular waitress must have a good appearance and a hot body figure. How dare Astrid apply for a job here?

"No, you can't work here even as a waitress," the stunning woman said, standing up and waving her hand.

“I’m applying for a cleaner.”

The rough voice successfully stopped the woman in this small office. The woman paused, turned around, raised her eyebrows, and inquisitively scanned Astrid repeatedly. She grew suspicious. "I've never seen a 20-year-old girl willing to work as a cleaner."

The youngest cleaner in the house was in her forties. The girl's face had been ruined. She was so thin for her age, but she was only 20. There were a lot of 20-year-old women here. They were all prostitutes and barmaids, however. Of course, some of them worked as waitresses as well.

In her twenties, the woman had never heard of a cleaner. She expected this humble girl to be eager to complain, telling her that the world was difficult and life was difficult.

If Astrid told the woman such nonsense, she would be fired immediately.

"If I can be a prostitute, I am willing to spread my legs and say welcome," Astrid's rough voice said unhurriedly. " I was well acquainted with myself before my arrival. I didn’t have the capital to be a prostitute, so I wanted to work as a cleaner. I just want to do what I can," she said, despite being an ex-convict.

She didn't have to be dignified after entering the prison. Astrid's face lit up with a mocking smile.

The stunning lady was taken aback. She took another look at Astrid. She returned to her desk and took a pen to complete the form.

"Astrid Levine... What a lovely name. I'm sure your parents adore you because of it," the woman said as she filled out the form.

Astrid's eyes were as lifeless as a pool of stagnant water.

Did they adore her?

Well, perhaps. Assume she hadn't murdered Talia; if she hadn't brought the Levine family to ruin. Maybe they loved her so much.

"I don't have any family," Astrid stated calmly.

The pretty woman frowned at Astrid and then stopped asking.

Standing up from her chair and walking towards the door in high-heeled shoes, the woman turned around to warn Astrid. "Do you know why I made an exception to hire you, Astrid?"

Astrid was about to speak, but the woman interrupted her.

"There are many older people than you, but they still don't know what a job is. They are arrogant and desperately fighting fate. They only have lofty goals but meager abilities. They don't have a good sense of themselves. You are willing to confront yourself and learn what you are capable of. If a person understands what she is capable of, I believe she also understands what she is not capable of. The Royal Club is not your typical nightclub."

"I understand. And my voice is terrible. I'm not going to speak casually," Astrid replied.

The woman smiled and nodded. She wouldn't usually teach some newcomers because those who dared to work in RC needed to be psychologically prepared.

Unexpectedly, she agreed to make an exception for a cleaning lady today.

They should learn the rules once they arrive at RC.

Learn what should and should not be said and what should and should not be done.

“Ma’am…” Astrid was hesitant to say, “I don’t have a place to live.”

“Call me, Ms. Glory, from now on,” the woman said as she took out her mobile phone and made a call, “Berne, come here. I recently hired a cleaner here. You bring her to the staff dorm." She then hung up the phone and turned to face Astrid.

"Come to work tomorrow," the woman said.

Astrid nodded. "Certainly, Ms. Glory."

Astrid felt relieved as she held the induction report in her hand. She didn't have to sleep on the street tonight.