Damsel in Distress

Chapter 1

"Sorry, but we don't hire women over 30 here," the restaurant manager told Monica impatiently as he shooed her away.

As Monica walked away listlessly, she overheard the manager mumble under his breath, "Who would want to patronize my business if I have an old and ugly waitress?"

Monica frowned slightly. She had half a mind to turn around and tell the manager she was only 24!

However, she stopped herself when she saw her reflection in the window beside her.

Her face had lost it's youthfulness and the twinkle that once decorated her eyes long since dimmed.

Emanciated frame, dry hair, wrinkled face and outdated apparel had added at least 10 years to her appearance.

She realized she had grown into an old woman in the past few years...

Even though she was really only 24!

Monica smiled bitterly as hardships from the last few years swamped her mind. As she dragged her tired body away from the spot, she noticed a car pull up behind her.

The arrival of an expensive Maybach wasn't lost on the restuarant manager.

"CEO Mr. Gray, welcome, welcome!" The manager said obsequiously. Monica abruptly stopped in her tracks.

"Maxwell, can you accompany me to go clothes shopping after this? Today's the new arrival date for the Chanel counter." Susannah Powell said demurely as they descended from the car. Her hands were proprietarily wrapped around Maxwell Gray's arm.

Maxwell glanced at her and answered with a succinct "Yep!"

That one syllable froze Monica to the ground.

Before she could stop herself, her head slowly turned...

And her eyes fell on Maxwell's handsome face!

It had to be him...

Monica couldn't have predicted this is how they were going to meet after their divorce 3 years ago.

She was so haggard, so down on her lucks.

He was still his collected self, high above the ranks of commoners.

Susannah behind him was also as elegant and dignified as she was 3 years ago.

The two of them did eventually end up together.

Then again, with Monica out of the picture, was it really any surprise?

"Monica?" Maxwell said when he saw her. Disbelief was plainly written in his eyes.

Susannah's expression changed slightly and gasped, "Oh my god, is that really you, Monica Sin Claire? What happened to you?"

Monica snapped out of her daze. She quickly turned her head away, muttering, "You got the wrong person!"

Hastily, she turned to escape.

There was no way she was going to face the two of them today. No woman would be willing to face her rich ex-husband and her gorgeous ex-love rival in such an abject state.

Especially not after the two of them had gotten together!

The winner-and-loser comparison was simply too obvious.

Maxwell caught up to the escaping Monica, yelling, "Monica, stop!"

The moment his hand grabbed her arm, she screamed as if pricked by pins, "Let me go! I'm not Monica, I'm really not!"

She was completely focused on her struggles to get away from Maxwell, so she didn't notice that a car was speeding down the road. Finally, she struggled free and raced across the road.

"Monica, be careful!" Maxwell yelled, but it was already too late. The car slammed into Monica.

Monica landed headfirst and instantly knocked out.

She descended into a long dream...