I Marry my High School Enemy

“Evelyn, I’m really sorry about this,” Dr. Mikee said gently, his tone calm yet filled with hesitation, as though each word was carefully chosen to soften the blow. “I know you’re doing everything you can, but your mother’s hospital bill has grown far too large. It’s been almost a year now, and not a single payment has been made toward the balance.”

“Don’t worry, Doc Mikee,” I replied with as much steadiness as I could muster. “I’ve just started a new job, one that pays much better than the last. I’ll finally be able to start paying off what I owe. And if I’m lucky, once I become a regular employee, I might even qualify for a loan. I know it’s embarrassing, but I hope you can still give me a little more time.”

The doctor sighed, the sound heavy and weary. He had always been the one to speak to me about my mother’s bills, and I could tell that even he was growing exhausted from having to shield me from the hospital’s demands. Still, there was kindness in his eyes—a quiet determination to help me however he could.

“In that case,” he said finally, “I’ll do everything I can to hold them off a little longer. I’ll talk to the management myself, on your behalf.”

His words made my chest tighten. The urge to cry was strong, but I bit it back. I couldn’t afford to break down now. Not when my mother was still fighting for her life. She was all I had left in this world, and I couldn’t—wouldn’t—give up on her.

“Thank you so much, Doc Mikee. I’ll never forget your kindness. I owe you more than I can ever repay.”

“If I can help even a little, then it’s worth it,” he said with a small smile. “I’m glad if I can somehow ease the weight you’ve been carrying.”

By the time I left the hospital, a small part of the heaviness in my chest had lifted. I had only planned to visit my mom and tell her about my new job, but instead, I’d been cornered again about the bill. Not that I blamed them—I knew I had to pay, one way or another. What mattered was that there was still hope, still a chance that my mother could get better.

Thankfully, I’d just been accepted at my new job last week. Tomorrow, I will officially start as the personal assistant—PA, as they called it—of the CEO of Nylerret IT Corp. The company was barely two years old, yet it was already making waves in the industry.

They said the CEO was a genius, a visionary who built his empire from the ground up. I couldn’t help but look forward to meeting him.

When I got home, my best friend Casey was already there, lounging comfortably on the sofa with a teasing smile on her face. I had gone straight home—partly because I didn’t have money to go out, and partly because I still had chores waiting for me.

I was folding the laundry, hers included. It was the least I could do for someone who had been so kind to me, even if she kept insisting I didn’t have to.

“You look happy,” I said with a grin. “Something good happened?”

“Not really. Just the usual date with Orion,” she replied, smiling.

“Then why are you home so early?” I asked, curious.

“Because I’m excited for your first day tomorrow!” she said dramatically. I couldn’t help but shake my head. “We should talk while we can. Once you start working, who knows when you’ll be free again. You said your working hours are indefinite, right?”

“You’re assuming I’ll come home early tonight?” I asked, raising a brow but smiling anyway.

“Of course! You’re my best friend—I know you better than anyone.” I smiled wider at that. Next to my mom, Casey was the most important person in my life.

“How’s your mom doing?” she asked gently, her tone laced with concern.

Two years ago, when I desperately needed money for my mom’s hospitalization, Casey had offered me a place to stay instead. That’s how we ended up living together. Whenever I had a bit of extra cash, I’d give her some—not as payment, but as a small gesture of gratitude.

I’d borrowed money from so many friends just to keep my mother in that hospital, and the debt had piled up beyond reason. Thankfully, none of them ever pressured me to pay it back. Still, the shame lingered. I couldn’t bring myself to borrow any more.

“She’s stable, but… Doc Mikee reminded me again about the bill. I feel bad, he probably doesn’t even know how to keep defending me at the hospital at this point.”

“Well, it’s a public hospital, right?” she said.

“I know. But even public hospitals need money to run, especially when the patient’s been confined for two years straight just like my mother.”

Her eyes dimmed slightly, and I immediately understood why.

“If it weren’t for what happened to your dad, you wouldn’t be in this mess right now,” she said softly. “What are you planning to do? You can’t clear your dad’s name when your mom still needs you.”

“I’ll get there eventually,” I said firmly. “Now that I’m earning more than I ever expected, I know things will start getting better. And once I’m stable enough, I’ll reopen my father’s case. If I find out that the Montemayor family really was behind the accusations against him… I swear, I won’t stop until they pay for what they did.”

Terrence Montemayor.

The very name made my blood run cold. He was the man I’d cursed since junior high, the son of the powerful tycoon whose shadow loomed over my father’s downfall.

Once my mother recovers, I’ll pour everything I have: my time, my money, my life into clearing my father’s name. I’ll make sure the Montemayors pay for every ounce of pain they’ve caused.

Casey and I talked for a while longer before I excused myself to rest. I couldn’t afford to be late tomorrow. After all, first impressions last.

The next morning, I woke up early to prepare for my first day of work. The apartment was a fair distance from the company, so I made sure to leave early to avoid getting stuck in traffic.

I wore a business suit, a knee-length skirt and a black blazer paired with a crisp white blouse. I decided against stockings and slipped on my high heels instead.

To make sure I arrived fresh, I booked a ride. Soon enough, I was standing in front of the towering glass building where Nylerret IT Corp occupied the 8th to 10th floors.

The moment I stepped inside the elevator, my phone buzzed. Casey, of course.

I shook my head with an amused smile. Gossip, probably.

“Bestie! Terrence came back yesterday! And guess what? He’s officially the new head of Montemayor Holdings!”

“Why is that even surprising?” I replied quickly as I walked down the hallway. I could almost imagine her rolling her eyes at my dry tone.

“He’s being called a ‘Double CEO’. Now, he’s running Montemayor Holdings AND his own tech company.”

I rolled my eyes for real this time. Typical. Of course, his life only kept getting better.

“I couldn’t care less about him. Knowing what’s going on in his life won’t make me any richer.” I hit send, then noticed people starting to gather nearby, so I typed one more message.

“Anyway, I have to get ready for work. Talk later!”

I slipped my phone back into my bag and approached a familiar face, one of the people who’d interviewed me. What was his name again?

Ah, right.

“Good morning, Sir Warren,” I greeted him with a polite but warm smile.

He turned to me, his own smile easy and friendly. “Good morning, Miss Evelyn. You can just call me Warren, no need to be so formal.”

“Alright,” I replied quickly. I wasn’t easily intimidated, and honestly, it didn’t take much to make me agree to things.

“Good thing you came early. Sir will be arriving soon, so I hope you’re ready.”

“Yes, Warren,” I said.

“Good.” He gave a short nod, then called the other staff members to line up near the entrance to the CEO’s office. “Stand here beside me, Evelyn.”

I followed his instruction, straightening my posture to match his, ready to meet the boss.

A soft ding announced the arrival of the elevator. My heart skipped a beat. I bent slightly, fixing my skirt and adjusting my ID, remembering what Warren had said last week that the boss preferred his staff to always look neat, respectable, and composed.

I lifted my gaze with a smile, ready to make a good first impression.

And then I froze.

Two men stepped out of the elevator, but it was the one in front who made my blood run cold. His sharp, commanding gaze met mine, and for a second, the world seemed to stop.

Of all the people in the world… Why him?

He looked right at me, utterly unreadable. No recognition. No surprise. Nothing.

Did he not remember me? Or was I so insignificant that he had simply erased me from his memory?

My jaw tightened as the realization sank in.

Now I know.

He was my new boss, the one man I swore I’d never see again.

The man who would pay dearly for what his family did to mine.

Terrence Montemayor.

“D*mn it!” Terrence cursed, spitting out the coffee he’d just taken a sip of. His glare could’ve burned through the mug.

Seriously? He’s mad? I’m the one who made that coffee!

“Are you trying to give me diabetes?” he snapped.

“You didn’t exactly say no sugar,” I answered simply, but instead of replying, he shot me a deadly glare and jabbed the intercom button.

“In my office. NOW!”

Within seconds, Warren appeared, entering only after his usual three warning knocks.

“Sir,” he greeted, standing straight in front of Terrence’s desk.

“Did you not tell her how I want my coffee?” Terrence demanded, his tone sharp and impatient.

“I’m sorry, Sir. I assumed you’d brief her yourself, just like you did when I first started. I’ll explain your preferences to her right away.”

“No need,” Terrence cut him off coldly before turning that infuriating stare back on me. “Make me another on