All heads seemed bowed, as if trying hard to hide their faces. Moreover, their hands were clenched, making their clothes crumpled because they didn't know how long this would last.

Initially, everything seemed fine, but who knows what happened inside, causing the lioness and snake-like figure to go on a rampage.

"All of you get in and clean this up immediately!" That terrifying voice made them rush in before something worse happened.

"I have to clean myself after getting blood from this poor man!"

Caroline, a beautiful name like her face. But not her life, more precisely... her job as a loan shark. Anyone who can't pay her money should be ready for the consequences.

"Already poor and trying to be stylish. Lots of kids too! I hate kids! Especially babies, but that poor person gives birth to children as if they want to be fed by the wind." Because of her parents' past life, Caroline doesn't want to get married, let alone have a child. At almost 32 years old, Caroline lives only with servants and her abundant wealth.

"What's for dinner tonight?" Caroline asked, an almost 70-year-old woman who always accompanies Caroline in this big house.

"Seafood, Miss. Just like you like." She said.

"Good, I love it."

"You can join us for dinner too, Auntie."

"Thank you, Miss. Miss, I'm already old, I could be gone anytime. Don't you want to get married? Or find someone to accompany you?" Those words stopped the spoon that Caroline was about to enjoy.

"If you're gone, I'll find another." Caroline replied flatly.

"But until when, Miss? I know you actually..."

"I don't like this conversation! And it's disturbing my appetite!" Caroline got up from there, leaving the old woman with a long sigh.

"Husband, children! Screw that! It only troubles me! If I want, I just need to hir3 a gigolo. I don't need protection, I can protect myself by using many weapons! I'm not a weak woman! There are no sincere men in the world! In fact, they want something!" Caroline lay down, she wanted tonight to pass quickly and be replaced by morning. Because tomorrow is payday for those who are due.

"Tomorrow morning is a good day for me. My money will come back, if not, be prepared for the consequences." That evil smile formed and those eyes began to close, but opened again.

"I know you're there. I don't want any disturbances. So don't bother me until tomorrow morning." She said, the old woman looked at her with hope.

"Hopefully, Miss will soon realize that what she thinks is wrong."

That face seemed to wrinkle along with the sound she heard. Disturbed, she finally opened her eyes.

"Shit! Whose crying is that!" She grumbled, throwing off her blanket, but she felt something flowing on her face.

"Sweat? What is this! Why is it so hot!"

"Auntie! Why is the air conditioner off! What's wrong with this morning, and aaaghhhh! Whose crying is that! I'm going to shoot their parents!" But just a few steps away, the beautiful woman froze at what was in front of her. Her sturdy and expensive room, shelves of skincare and her wardrobe full of beautiful clothes disappeared. Replaced by a wooden cupboard that was already worn and moldy.

"What is this! What is this! What is this place, and hah!" Caroline saw her smooth and white hands turn into dull skin.

"What's wrong with my hands! Hah! My face!" She screamed after seeing a small mirror that only showed her face.

"Whose face is this!" She screamed again, when her eyes glanced at the reflection of the mirror. A memory seemed to hit her head.

"Mother!"

"Gracia! Pay your debt! Your child has repeatedly taken cakes without paying!"

"Your husband had an accident and it paralyzed his leg!" The pieces of the incident became clearer and made her freeze.

"No-no! I became a poor person?" She said in disbelief.

She slapped her cheek hoping this was a nightmare, but it was real. When a little boy approached her with tattered clothes and a face wet from crying. "Mother, my little sister fell."

To be continued......

Caroline's eyes widened when she saw the boy approaching her. His thin face and ragged, dirty clothes made her sight and smell react.

She immediately recoiled, just seeing this boy made her nauseous and unbearable. "Mom, my sister fell." The boy said again.

Caroline, who wanted to step back again, stopped when she saw the small, scarred hand holding her equally tattered clothes. Her eyes returned to the boy's face, which was so pleading and already wet with tears. For some reason, a feeling crept into her heart.

A feeling of pity, but she tried to dismiss it. 'No! He's not my son! I'm not his mother!'

"Mom!" The boy called again, coinciding with Caroline coming out of the room. The sound of a baby crying grew louder.

With every step, Caroline saw every corner of the floor or building that confined her. 'This is an animal cage! Even worse! I have to get out of here and.....'

"Grace, can you please get the medicine box, maybe there's a bandage in there or something. Ella is hurt." A man's voice passed her ears. It immediately made her turn around, a man with a shabby appearance sitting in a wheelchair that looked very unworthy. His hands were holding a baby girl who was constantly crying with red liquid on her forehead.

Like a magnet, Caroline approached the baby and carried her. The baby's face was already red from crying and her body was trembling. "Ssshh, darling." Caroline's hand gently stroked the baby girl's hair and rocked her.

"Blood!" Panic immediately filled her heart and she rushed to run while carrying the baby.

"Grace!" The man in the wheelchair called.

"There's nothing here! Nothing!" One of her hands was rummaging through the room that could or could not be called a room.

Her brown eyes looked towards the light, and she immediately ran there. Her eyes saw a settlement with nice houses in front of her. She hurried there, but a high fence blocked her way. Caroline looked to her right, but there were only dilapidated buildings, her eyes looked to the left, there were some houses but they were quite far away.

"There it is!"

The baby's cries were heard again. "Calm down, honey, your wound will be treated soon. Her eyes lit up after seeing the green plants that climbed, Caroline immediately took them with just one hand.

She immediately applied the betel leaf to her daughter's forehead. Caroline took some betel leaves for her needs. But in the midst of it, someone approached.

"Hey! What are you doing! Are you stealing!" He said, looking at Caroline with her baby.

The man approached, "How dare you steal this plant! I will report you to my employer!" He said.

"Report me! I will also report you for bringing a woman to a house that is not your house! Let's see who gets processed!" Caroline challenged.

"Who do you think will believe a poor woman like you!" He said dismissively.

"Fire! Fire!" Caroline shouted, which immediately made a woman who was only using a blanket come out, and so did the people around.

"Fire? Where?"

"You! Silly woman!" The man said in disbelief.

"What! You want to retaliate against me, you better take care of your woman, you b@stard!" Caroline kicked a can nearby and hit the man who was running to save his secret.

Feeling it was enough, Caroline immediately left with the betel leaves that she had stored in her baby's sling.

"Grace, where have you been?" He asked worriedly.

"And Ella....."

"I've treated her wound. I'll mix these betel leaves first." But as soon as she entered, there was no suitable container to boil it in.

"What is this? There are no tools, not even a stove....."

"Mom, are you going to cook? I'm so hungry Mom...." The boy approached, holding his hungry stomach. Caroline could even hear it.

'What is this feeling? Is it because I've become this woman named Grace now? So I feel the sadness experienced by her son.'

To be continued.......

The sad and grimacing face showed a clear hunger etched on it. Caroline averted her gaze and looked at what was in the kitchen.

She didn't even know what kind of stove this was, or these cooking utensils. She was used to luxury and being served, but suddenly she had to cook.

"Wait a minute, okay?" That was all she could say, hoping the boy would understand.

And yes, there was a nod. The boy didn't budge, as if waiting for what his mother would cook. "What are you going to cook, Mom? Will the shop owner let us borrow again?" He said.

"Can we get an egg or a pack of noodles, Mom?" Caroline bit her lip, her tongue felt tied to answer.

'No! No! I can't live like this. There's not even anything to eat.'

"You wait here, I-I'll.... Be right back."

"Grace, are you going to the shop?" The man asked, pushing his wheelchair with difficulty.

"Here, the remaining money. Maybe it can be used to buy food," he said, handing the money to Grace.

Grace accepted it, but her mind was racing. How could this one bill, with such a small denomination, buy necessities.

"You can take care of them. I'll go out." The man nodded.

"Yes. Be careful!" He said with a small smile, his face covered in many fine hairs.

"*************************"

Wearing mismatched flip-flops with straps, Caroline walked along the dusty road. Once a vehicle passed. "Oh my god! What can be bought with this money! This money has never even been in my wallet!" She grumbled. But soon something gnawed at her.

"So hungry.... I don't know how long the owner of this body hasn't eaten, just looking at the condition of the house, it's not livable.

Caroline saw a shop, with a group of mothers shopping or just gossiping. She approached it, and as soon as she arrived. Sinister looks and demeaning words were immediately directed at her.

"Eh, Grace! Still dare to come here?"

"Yeah, isn't her debt already piling up. Don't expect to borrow again! You're lucky you haven't been reported to the police," said the shop owner.

"Oh, it's not that I mean anything, Grace. Your name is beautiful, like a foreigner. But.... Your life is like a bum." Caroline was holding herself back at this moment, if she raged or did something it would only make things worse.

'Be patient, be patient....' Caroline forced a smile.

"I came here to buy eggs, Ma'am," said Caroline.

"The money! If you don't have it, you better leave! You're lucky you haven't been kicked out," replied the shop owner sharply.

Caroline handed over the money in her hand. "Here! One!" Caroline wanted to leave, but the mothers seemed to be gossiping when a vehicle passed and stopped in front of them.

"Eh, that's Mr. Yano."

'Mr. Yano?' Caroline seemed to think for a moment, using Grace's memory.

"Ehh, have you come back from vacation, sir!" One of the mothers blurted out.

"Yes, Ma'am. Just finished, I forgot to buy rice, my wife just reminded me. So before arriving home, I want to buy it first."

"Oh, Mr. Yano, don't worry. The house is safe and clean! Because my child takes good care of it!"

Caroline remembered something. 'That's right, she is the mother of that b@stard man. I have an idea.'

"If that's the case, I'll go home first, I want to tell my child. That Mr. Yano has returned."

"Yes, Ma'am." The woman hurried away, and was soon followed by Mr. Yano.

"Hey Grace! What are you waiting for, go away!" Said the shop owner.

But Grace didn't respond, she quickened her pace chasing after the car. "Too fast, if this goes on, my plan could fail! Don't call me Caroline if I don't get it!" Caroline immediately picked up a fairly large stone and threw it, making Mr. Yano's driver shocked and the car stopped.

"What's wrong? Why?"

"Looks like there's something, sir, let me take a look."

"Let me do it!" Caroline smiled seeing her target come out.

"What's wrong, sir? Why did you stop?" Caroline said.

"Is the car flat?"

"No, but there was something earlier."

"You're the one whose house has betel leaves, right?"

"Yes."

'So arrogant.' Caroline thought, because the man didn't look at her.

"Sir! You should clean the sheets or blankets immediately after entering the house later."

"What do you mean?"

"Like this, sir, the worker at your house is indeed taking care of your house, but.... She makes your house dirty with her fluids...." The man's eyes widened.

"What do you mean!"

"If you don't believe it, just look for yourself."

"What's the proof?" Caroline smiled knowingly.

"If I tell you, what will I get.... Of course I want compensation for this information, sir. The others don't know."

"How much?"

"Not much, sir. I want......"

"******************"

Caroline smiled happily with the money she got, heading to the road to the house, she would get a show of the success of her plan.

"The show is tonight or this afternoon. I can buy food first, not at that shop!"

"Wow! Mom bought a lot of food!" The little boy was so happy to see the food that smelled and was seen by him.

A confused expression was etched on the face of the man in the wheelchair. "Grace.... Where did you get the money?" He asked, but before he could answer. What Caroline had been waiting for immediately happened.

A commotion was heard, especially at the big house. "Oo, so this is your job! How dare you have s3x in my room! Who do you think you are!"

"Sorry sir, have mercy! This is a misunderstanding!"

"Misunderstanding my foot! Get out! You're fired!"

"Don't sir....."

"You too! Mother and child are the same! Get out you!"

"Ihh, I didn't expect that."

"Yeah, she's really brave."

"Look! The woman is still naked like that. Ih! God forbid!"

"Come on, ladies and gentlemen, let's go around! You adulterers! She's polluting our environment! Let's parade her!"

"Don't! Don't take my son!" That sad face became happiness for Caroline, the face of the woman who insulted her.

"This is not much, I will get back at you one by one whoever dares to bother me!" Caroline peeked from afar and smiled widely.

To be continued.......