Chapter 4

I suddenly spoke up.

"So if you two hadn't broken up, would you talk to her like this too? Demanding she marry you without even proposing?"

He looked irritated.

"That's not important. Right now you're in the rising phase of your career, you can't..."

My heart clenched suddenly.

Before he could finish, I slapped him across the face, my voice terrifyingly calm.

"You know I'm in my rising phase, but you still tricked me into gaining weight!"

"Yes, none of it matters. Whether your excuses were for my good or because you can't forget her—none of it matters. What matters is we've already broken up."

"Now get out of my house immediately! I don't want to see you!"

His eyes reddened with anger and a trace of shock at being kicked out for the first time.

He slammed the door on his way out, leaving behind a vicious parting shot.

"You'll regret this!"

In five years, I'd always accommodated him. We'd never had this kind of hostile atmosphere.

So when he realized I was no longer easy to control, no longer compliant, he pulled out all the dirty tricks he'd kept hidden.

My new agent, Livingston, said there was a charity gala to attend that evening.

But when I arrived, I discovered it was a low-end commercial drinking party.

Cameron and Natasha sat on either side of the boss.

Livingston gently pushed me inside.

"Your resources have been downgraded and you're not making money. Cameron said if you can help Natasha handle this event, he'll get the director to give you a good role."

When I was a newcomer working with Cameron, I couldn't land good roles or get paid, which dragged down his performance bonuses and evaluations.

To avoid being a burden to him, I secretly accepted a commercial dinner reception.

At first it was just drinking. Then several people started forcing drinks on me.

I tried to run, but the door was locked.

They groped me lewdly all over. Just as I was losing hope, Cameron kicked the door open, holding an axe, and split the round table in half.

His eyes bloodshot, he pulled me into his arms protectively.

He took me back and scolded me the whole way, saying I had no brains.

He said these drinking parties almost always ended in sleeping with clients.

By the end of his lecture, I'd gone silent, blood flowing from my mouth like water.

That time, his face showed a panic I'd never seen before.

After that, I almost never attended events that required drinking.

Seeing me frozen in place, Natasha walked over with a smile.

"It's my fault. I said I couldn't drink much but didn't want to refuse the investor's goodwill, so he said you could drink and called you over."

"You don't mind, right? After all, we're just trying to get you roles."

Seeing the triumph mixed with provocation in her eyes, I was surprisingly calm.

Fine. I'd drink tonight.

After tomorrow, all grudges would end.

I raised my glass, meeting his surprised and slightly nervous gaze.

"Thank you all for this opportunity."

The cheap alcohol burned down my esophagus into my stomach.

I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes and poured another glass.

"But this time..."

Before I could finish, Cameron frowned and snatched the glass from my hand.

His voice was low.

"If you can't drink, don't! Do you have to be so stubborn? Is it that hard to give in?"

I smiled. Just as I was about to speak, a clattering sound came from overhead.

Before we could look up, the room began shaking violently.