Chapter 2

"Gianna, have you lost your mind!"

Agent Lisa's shriek nearly pierced my eardrums.

"Look at this yourself! Trending number one! #GiannasBoyfriendIsADeliveryDriver# --- it's exploding!"

"The company phones are ringing off the hook. All your endorsements want to terminate their contracts!"

"Do you know how much your penalty fees will be? You couldn't pay them back even if you sold yourself!"

I ignored her, just turning my head to look out the window.

The man I'd called my "husband," Sebastian Cole, sat quietly beside me.

He still wore that yellow delivery uniform, sweat still beading on his forehead.

He wasn't checking his phone or saying anything, just unscrewing a bottle of water to hand to me.

"You still have the nerve to drink water?"

Lisa snatched the bottle away and hurled it at the car door.

"Let me tell you, Gianna---you're done. Completely done!"

"Fiona says she wants you to disappear from this industry entirely!"

I finally turned to look at her.

"Lisa, you've been with me for three years."

"These three years, seventy percent of the money I earned went into the company's pocket, and ten percent went into yours."

"I bought you bags, bought gifts for your parents. I treated you like my own sister."

"Just because I earned a lead role on my own merit, you're going to destroy me like this?"

Lisa froze for a moment, then sneered.

"Sister? Gianna, don't be so naive."

"What are you? Just a dog the company raised."

"Fiona is different---her uncle is a major shareholder in the company."

"By stealing her role, you cut off her career path. Of course I had to help you 'wake up.'"

She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a malicious whisper.

"Are you actually dating a delivery guy? Don't you know a singer got torn apart online for dating a farmer!"

"Is he just really good in bed? Does he satisfy you that well?"

I raised my hand and slapped her across the face.

Clear and loud.

The car fell instantly silent.

Lisa held her cheek, staring at me in disbelief.

I shook out my stinging hand.

"That slap was payback for when you grabbed me earlier. As for the rest, we'll settle that slowly."

Sebastian, who'd been silent the whole time, suddenly moved, a slight smile curving his lips.

He gently pulled me behind him, then looked down at Lisa:

"Which company are you from?"

Lisa laughed as if she'd heard the world's funniest joke.

"Oh? A delivery driver daring to use that tone with me?"

"What, you planning to cause trouble at our company? Let me tell you, our company is Starlight Entertainment. Someone like you can't even get through the front door!"

Sebastian nodded and pulled out his old smartphone, dialing a number.

"Hello, it's me. The company is called Starlight Entertainment. Fifteen minutes. I don't want to hear that name again."

Someone on the other end said something.

Sebastian made an affirmative sound and hung up.

Lisa laughed until tears came out.

"Go ahead, keep acting!"

"Fifteen minutes? Who do you think you are? The President of the United States or the Prime Minister of the UK?"

"A stinking delivery driver putting on airs!"

The driver stopped the car in front of my apartment building.

Lisa yanked the car door open.

"Gianna, the company has decided to freeze all your activities effective immediately. Legal will send you the termination contracts as soon as possible. Take care of yourself."

She finished speaking, slammed the car door, and left.

Only Sebastian and I remained in the car.

I looked at my phone flooded with curses and mockery, suddenly feeling exhausted.

Five years in the industry, I'd been careful and cautious, walking on thin ice.

And this is how it ended.

"Do you regret it?"

Sebastian's voice was gentle.

I shook my head, leaning against his somewhat broad shoulder.

"No regrets."

"Just a little hungry."

He took the food container from my hands and opened it.

Various types of sushi.

I loved Japanese food.

He handed me a fork.

"Eat up. No matter how busy work gets, you have to eat on time."

I buried my head and started eating in big bites.

But tears fell.

Sebastian didn't try to comfort me, just clumsily patted my back.

I'd known him for three months.

That day I failed an audition and was publicly humiliated by the director. I sat alone on the side of the road crying.

He rode by on his bicycle, stopped, and handed me a pack of tissues and a sandwich.

He said: "There's no obstacle you can't overcome. You need to eat before you have the energy to cry."

After that, he came to deliver lunch to me every day.

Rain or shine.

A month ago, I got drunk and grabbed him to ask.

"Sebastian, would you dare marry me?"

He looked at me and nodded very seriously.

"I dare."

The next day, we went to get our marriage certificate.

No wedding, no ring, just a marriage certificate.

I thought I was being ridiculous.

But in that moment, I felt an unprecedented sense of security.

I finished the last bite of food. My phone rang.

It was Lisa.

Her voice was full of terror and trembling.

"Gianna... Gianna, check the news!"

"The company... the company went bankrupt!"

"Just now, it was acquired by a company called 'Universal Capital.' All the shareholders were kicked out!"

"The boss jumped off a building!"