Chapter 5

Stella POV

The screech of tires pierced the night as a black Bentley swung abruptly, blocking my path completely.

The car door opened, and Julian stepped out.

His face was terrifyingly dark, the handsome face that often graced the covers of financial magazines was now contorted with rage.

He advanced step by step, his towering figure looming over me, casting me entirely in shadow.

"Had enough drama?"

His voice was icy, carrying its usual condescending tone.

He pulled a checkbook from his inner jacket pocket, quickly signed his name, tore off a check, and casually flicked it to my feet.

"Here's ten million."

"Delete all video backups and quit this show."

The check fluttered lightly onto the concrete.

In his eyes, everything had a price.

I smiled.

I bent down, picked up the check, and slowly and deliberately flicked off the dust.

The next second, I pulled out my phone and, aiming it at the check, snapped a photo.

Before he could react, I opened an interface and hit submit.

"Mr. Vance," I shook my phone, my voice calm, "I forgot to mention, once a report of commercial bribery is confirmed, the whistleblower receives a reward. Thank you for voluntarily providing the evidence."

On the screen, the "Submission Successful" notification was remarkably clear.

"One more thing."

I looked up at him, my voice colder than the night.

"You engaged in asset transfers during our marriage and now you're trying to buy my silence with this money. I've already applied for an emergency asset freeze measure based on this. It went into effect an hour ago."

His face instantly went ashen.

He instinctively reached for his phone, only to find that, unnoticed by him, several people had appeared behind him and were slowly circling around him.

Just then, a pair of blinding headlights suddenly flashed.

A slightly worn pickup truck pulled up beside us with a squeal of brakes.

The window rolled down. It was the staff member with the baseball cap.

"Get in."

Alex Stone's voice was short and authoritative.

I didn't hesitate, immediately pulling open the car door and getting in.

"Stop them!"

A furious roar came from behind.

Several people rushed forward.

Alex yanked the steering wheel, the front of the truck swerved, and we peeled into a narrow service alley.

He clearly knew the routes here well, making several sharp turns and quickly shaking them off completely.

Inside the car, my agent Carol Hayes's forehead was slick with sweat. The moment she saw me, she shoved a document into my hand, her voice trembling.

"Stella! A contract from Starlight Media! Julian's sworn rivals! They saw your live stream and offered twenty million per episode-more than his hush money!"

I took the contract, quickly scanned it, picked up a pen, but paused at the signature line.

"Carol, add a supplementary clause."

I looked up, my voice calm.

"I want them to rent the huge electronic billboard directly across from Vance Group headquarters. Starting tomorrow, it's to play my show's promo on a twenty-four-hour loop."

Carol gasped.

I later heard that Julian had smashed more than one priceless antique that night.

The next day, the city's largest and most expensive digital billboard, which was positioned directly across from Vance Group headquarters, lit up.

It showed me.

I was wearing the same simple white T shirt from the show, smiling at the camera and holding a handwritten sign.

The sign read, "Refuse Harmful Waste."

It was a silent statement, yet more blinding than any public declaration.

I knew Julian saw it.

My source close to him confirmed that he then smashed several more expensive antiques.