First step towards financial independence

"Why are you eating so fast?" Andrea asked curiously as he cut into his steak and egg, while still noticing that Gianna was eating faster than usual.

Gianna stopped chewing for a moment, glancing at him with an expression that clearly showed she wasn't going to give any explanation. And she didn't.

Instead, she gently sipped a cup of warm water she has prepared for herself only and responded, "Eat quickly. Don't be late for school."

"Who cares." Andrea rolled his eyes and focused on his meal.

After breakfast—which ended ten minutes earlier than the day before due to everyone minding their own business—Gianna quickly went to wash the dishes.

As usual, Sophia had already left the house at exactly 6 AM. She claimed she was going on a two-day cruise with her new boyfriend. Whatever.

After the kids had gone to school, Gianna didn't leave the house immediately. Instead, she looked around the kitchen and finally found what she was looking for. She grabbed the sturdy tote bag hung at the side and began packing some essentials for cleaning a house.

Yes, her mission today was to clean Grandma's house—not only because she had lied to Lucas about being the cleaner, but because she needed to do this. This was her first step toward financial independence, and she was ready for it. Hopefully, things would go according to plan.

She grabbed a pair of rubber gloves, a few microfiber cloths, a small spray bottle filled with homemade cleaner, a scrubbing sponge, and some trash bags.

Reaching for her phone, she checked the time. 7:10 AM already. She needed to hurry—she also had to open Sophia's store. After this morning's conversation, she had come to understand exactly what kind of woman Sophia was, and she didn't want her wrath, not right now when she was still living with her.

Tying her hair into a loose bun, she slung the bag over her shoulder, took a deep breath, and walked out with determination, locking the door behind her.

She got on her bicycle and pedaled down the street. It was almost 7:30, and there weren't many people outside.

The morning air was crisp, carrying a hint of salt from the ocean breeze. The sun had just begun its ascent, painting the sky in soft shades of pink and gold. A gentle wind rustled the leaves of the trees that lined the quiet street, sending a fresh, earthy scent into the air. The heat of summer was already present, but it was still mild, making the early morning feel peaceful and calm. Birds chirped lazily, some hopping along the pavement in search of crumbs, while a few stray cats stretched under the warm glow of the rising sun.

A smile appeared on her lips as strands of loose hair fluttered across her face. It was mesmerizing.

But her smile disappeared too soon as she stopped in front of the house and took a deep breath. She never expected that one day, she would be the one cleaning this house herself—and not only that, but getting paid for it. What a twist of fate.

She knocked on the door for a few seconds, and when no one answered, she let herself in.

It had been a while since she was here early in the morning—probably around six months ago. Filming had kept her too busy to visit. She only came when she felt she deserved a holiday.

Placing her bag onto the table, she decided to start with the living room first. Closing her eyes for a few seconds, she reopened them, those amber eyes burning with determination. Rolling up her sleeves, she pulled out her microfiber cloth and the spray bottle of homemade cleaner.

She started with the coffee table. Honestly, the original cleaner had done a good job—after all, the house was cleaned once a week, so there wasn't much dust accumulation. Wiping the table, she polished the wood until it gleamed. Moving to the bookshelves, she carefully rearranged a few books while dusting. They were all hers—many of them gifts from Grandma. The old woman didn't know how to read, but she had made sure Brianne never missed the opportunity to.

Sighing to herself, she flipped a book closed and placed it back in its original spot before moving on to the couch. She pulled off the cushions, gave them a good shake outside, and ran a lint roller over the fabric.

She wiped the sweat gathering on her forehead and kept going. There was no time to waste.

Next was the floor. She swept every corner, collecting dust before mopping.

Checking the time on her phone, she realized it was already 8 AM.

"Damn," she cursed softly. She didn't curse often, but when she did, it was like a wake-up call—a sign that she needed to move faster.

So... "What next?" she whispered, setting her phone down. Her eyes slowly settled on the room where she had once been Brianne.

Then, she marched forward.