Chapter 146

Tara held an umbrella as she walked to the security booth outside the villa. She sought temporary shelter from the rain. Her clothes were soaked through, and a sudden gust of wind made her shiver uncontrollably. She quickly pulled out her phone to search for nearby hotels. Since the original host had been fired, she had received triple pay as compensation. There wasn't much money left from her, but thankfully, the compensation was enough to get Tara by for now. She booked a room and immediately called a ride. Tara was drenched to the skin, and the wind and rain were growing fiercer by the minute. She knew she couldn't afford to linger. Catching a cold would only make things worse. The ride arrived promptly. Tara climbed in, feeling awkward in her soaked clothes. She offered the driver 50 dollars to help cover the cost of cleaning the car. But the driver, sensing she was going through a rough time, waved it off with a shrug. "No worries," he said. "I'll grab a towel from the trun