After five years of supporting my girlfriend’s acting career, she was in debt again. The first time, I sold the house my mom left me to pay off her three hundred million. The second time, I worked non-stop for a year, taking countless low-budget, terrible gigs. My fans ripped into me, calling me a sellout, a desperate guy chasing quick bucks. I paid off three billion for her. The third time, I heard her faint sobs through the phone. I stood outside my billionaire dad’s mansion, hesitating whether to knock. But that very night, I accidentally overheard her bragging to her friends in a private room. “Scarlett really knows how to play the game. So many people would pay tens of millions just to have dinner with Liam Stone, and he’s willing to be her little puppy.” “You’re telling me! So, Scarlett, how much debt are you planning to rack up this time?” “Nearly a hundred billion. Otherwise, Liam would just pay it off too easily. Where’s the fun in that?” I tore up the signed contract for degrading content and turned to knock on my billionaire dad’s mansion door. “Dad, I’m ready to come back and take over the family business. I’ll marry Seraphina Sterling.” “Good. The wedding is set for three days from now.”
When I got back from my billionaire dad’s place, Scarlett was in the study, on the phone with a friend. Her friend on the other end was excitedly suggesting, “Scarlett, I heard Liam Stone is even going to sell himself off for you! Is he filming explicit content, or just literally selling himself?” “Nearly a hundred billion? Filming isn’t enough for that. But a hot guy like him must be worth tens of millions a night, right?” “The men Scarlett plays with always taste good. Let me go first when you’re done.” Their vulgar words pierced my ears, one after another. I stood at the study door, clutching the marriage certificate I’d just signed with Seraphina Sterling so tightly my knuckles turned white. I’d been with Scarlett for five years, and I’d paid off her debts twice. The first time, she said the company’s funds had dried up. I sold the house my mom left me to help her. Scarlett knelt before me, tears streaming down her face, promising, “Liam, I swear I’ll marry you.” But then, as I worked non-stop for her, took on terrible roles and got ripped apart by fans, or drank with investors until I landed in the hospital, she came to me again. She claimed the company had been scammed and needed three hundred million to get it back. I didn’t blame her. I just worked even harder to help. She hugged me, touched, and said she’d love me forever. I just never imagined she’d been lying to me the entire time. “Alright, this drama is definitely going to be epic.” Scarlett hung up the phone, laughing as she walked out. When she saw my pale face, a flicker of panic crossed her eyes. “Honey, why are you back so early?” “What’s that in your hand?” I shoved the marriage certificate into my bag, trying to be casual, and forced a smile. “Nothing, just a little trinket from a fan.” Scarlett didn’t seem suspicious. She grabbed my hand, looking apologetic. “Honey, you’ve been through so much because of me. This nearly hundred billion debt… I just don’t know what to do.” “Maybe… maybe you should leave me. Don’t let me drag you down.” She even teared up, putting on an act of thinking only of me. In the past, I would have immediately told her, “Everything’s going to be okay. I’ll handle it.” “I’ll face it with her.” But now, I just stared blankly at the brooch on her dress. That brooch was a unique, limited edition. Not long ago, the mysterious tycoon who lavished billions on his secretary just to make her smile wore the exact same one. She was willing to blow billions for a smile, yet couldn’t pay off a hundred billion debt. And I, with nothing, was about to sell myself for her. It turns out my sincerity meant absolutely nothing to her. Seeing my prolonged silence, Scarlett pulled her hand away, a hurt expression on her face. “Liam, I know I have nothing right now. It’s normal that you don’t want to help me.” “I love you. I don’t want to burden you, but I was just about to…” She paused, pulling a ring from her pocket. “I was even ready to marry you.” It was the same old pity play. Because I loved her, she only needed one trick to fool me. “Liam, I promise this is the last time. Once this debt is paid off, we’ll get married, okay?” I looked at her seemingly earnest expression and suddenly remembered Seraphina Sterling’s shy smile from that afternoon when we signed the papers, and the snacks she’d thoughtfully prepared for me, knowing I hadn’t had lunch. Suddenly, I felt like none of it mattered anymore. If, at first, I had wanted to confront her and ask questions. Now, I just felt exhausted. All I wanted to do was pack my things and leave. I calmly pushed her hand away. “But Scarlett, I’m out of money.”
Scarlett froze, clearly not expecting that. After all, in her imagination, I should have been holding her, comforting her with every last ounce of my being, willing to do anything to pay off her debt. Instantly, her face twisted with fury. “Liam Stone, I really misjudged you.” “Have you been in this industry too long? Do you think I’m not as good as those people who can just hand you tens of millions? Is this how you hurt my sincere heart?” With that, she shot me a hateful glare, turned, and slammed the door as she left. No elevator sounds followed for a long time. I knew she was trying to force me to give in. But not only did I not call her back, I blocked all her contact information. I looked at the company share transfer contract she’d left on the floor – no official seal, no signature. How ridiculous was I, to have been fooled by something like this twice? I gave a bitter laugh and sent a message to my agent. 【Brenda, I’m planning to quit the industry. Help me draft a statement.】 I’d only entered this business to pay off Scarlett’s debts. For her, I’d forced myself to drink with repulsive, pot-bellied investors, enduring their creepy hands, and stayed silent when I was slapped on set. Now, I didn’t want her anymore. There was no reason to stay in this industry. My phone screen lit up. It was a message from Seraphina Sterling. I never would have expected someone who looked so cold and aloof to send me over a dozen wedding dress photos and bouquet styles, each with her thoughtful notes. A warmth spread through my chest. After all these years with Scarlett, she had never been so thoughtful towards me. I’m allergic to mangoes, but she kept buying me mango cake, just because that shop was on her way home. I hate noisy environments, but she dragged me to clubs to party with her friends, even after I hadn’t slept for three days, claiming it was to “boost her image.” She never actively gave me gifts. The only time was when she bought me a bottle of perfume for a mere hundred bucks. I was so happy I cried then. She just laughed, hugging me, saying how easy I was to fool. A little bit of kindness would make me incredibly grateful. I thought she was being sweet to me then. Now, it seems she truly thought I was a fool. I sent her all the money I earned from filming and gigs, keeping only two hundred for emergencies. She said, “Liam Stone is hopelessly stupid.” When our boat hit rough waters, I gave her my only life vest. She turned around and boasted to her friends, “That dumb guy was willing to die for me.” Even when I was hospitalized from exhaustion while paying off her debt, she’d take photos of my weak and pale face and send them to friends. “Liam Stone is so idiotic, he’s almost dying, but he’s still thinking about paying my debt…” Even through the door, I could imagine Scarlett’s triumphant, disdainful expression as she said those words. But it didn’t matter anymore. I was leaving her soon. Nothing about her concerned me anymore. I opened my suitcase and started packing. But in that massive room, my belongings were pitifully few. The closet was filled with Scarlett’s dresses. Back then, I foolishly thought she needed to look good for business, not shabby. So, every time I got paid, I spent it on her. Later, I just got used to it. I tried to put my clothes in the closet, but there wasn’t even a spot left. Scarlett had told me that once her company grew, she’d get us a bigger house and give me a grand wedding. I believed every one of her promises, then silently sacrificed for her, foolishly waiting for her to marry me. But now, it seems I never had a place in her heart at all. Just then, my agent called. “Liam, I can’t make the decision for you to quit. You need to talk to the boss yourself.” The next morning, I arrived at the company promptly to wait for the boss. On the luxurious top floor, through the blinds, I saw Scarlett. She was in a designer power suit, standing by the huge floor-to-ceiling window, on the phone. Then, a man in a dress shirt wrapped his arms around her from behind. Scarlett smiled softly and turned to melt into his embrace. They hugged intimately, but my heart went numb. Two weeks ago, the man who forced me to sign that degrading contract was the very same man. Back then, I was cornered in the dressing room. Several hulking men held me down, forcing me to my knees. The man in front of me slapped me without mercy. He said if I didn’t agree to film explicit content, they would seize Scarlett’s company, burden her with massive debts, and make her lose everything. Scarlett knew perfectly well that I would agree for her sake. So she deliberately tormented me, watching me get twisted around her little finger. After my fans found out I was going to film explicit content, they blocked the entrance, cursing me as a shameless jerk who only cared about money. Some even snuck into my dressing room and put thumbtacks in my shoes. My feet bled profusely from the punctures, but when I got home, I still felt guilty towards Scarlett. That day, when she hugged me as I sobbed uncontrollably, comforting me with tenderness, was she also thinking, *How pathetic is he, willing to do anything for me?* Thinking about it, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. When my agent arrived, I had already wiped away my tears. She looked at me, puzzled. “Why aren’t you going in? The big boss is waiting.” My voice trembled. I looked at my agent, incredulous. “Scarlett…” “Is she really the company’s owner?”
My agent looked confused. “You didn’t know? General Manager Sterling owns half the industry! Every movie, every TV show you’ve ever filmed was produced by a company under her.” I stared at Scarlett behind the blinds, the anger and indignation welling up in my chest becoming uncontrollable. Tears streamed down my face. I never imagined that the person who forced me into endless networking, made me endure the creepy hands of slimy investors, pushed me into all sorts of terrible projects, and subjected me to workplace bullying was Scarlett herself. The worst time, I simply bought the director the wrong brand of coffee. He slapped me on the spot and demanded I kneel and apologize. When I refused, unable to bear the humiliation, they dumped me in the middle of nowhere. Five years in this industry, being bullied and verbally abused had become routine. But I never mentioned it to Scarlett. I didn’t want to burden her. This one time, though, I was truly terrified, especially with the faint sound of wolves howling in the distance. I cried as I called her, too scared to form coherent sentences. I begged her, “Scarlett, I’m so scared, please come save me, I’m so, so scared.” Scarlett knew the truth, but she remained silent, telling me the crew wouldn’t abandon me and that I shouldn’t throw a tantrum or go against the director. Alone, using the faint light of my phone, I walked for an entire day and night before finally finding a main road. By the time I emerged, I was completely drained. But even then, I never hated Scarlett. I only regretted being useless, unable to bear all her burdens. But now, the truth was right in front of me. Scarlett was my boss. She knew I was stranded in the mountains. She could have saved me with a single word, but she didn’t. My agent was flustered by the torrent of tears on my face. “What’s wrong with you?” “Liam, you…” Before she could finish, I pushed her aside and ran out of the company, still crying. I hailed a cab and told the driver to take me to Seraphina Sterling’s mansion. In the car, my hands trembled as I called her. “Please come pick me up now…” “Okay.” With her answer, I leaned weakly against the seat back. I never thought that after twenty years, the person I could rely on would be the woman my father arranged for me to marry. ······ Meanwhile, Scarlett and her secretary were emerging from her office. She agitatedly pulled out her phone again, but there were still no messages from me. In the past, whenever we argued, I would constantly call her, apologize, and beg for her forgiveness. But this time… Scarlett felt an ominous premonition stirring within her. “General Manager Sterling, I want to try that new French restaurant. Will you come with me tonight?” The young secretary clung to her arm, whining, but Scarlett impatiently pushed him away, a hint of annoyance in her voice. “Go by yourself.” Seeing Scarlett’s phone screen still stuck on our chat, he said sourly, “Oh, but General Manager Sterling…” “What kind of waves can a man like Liam Stone possibly stir up? He’s like a dog, how could he bear to leave you?” Scarlett’s eyes flashed with anger, her voice turning serious. “How dare you speak about Liam Stone like that!” Just as she spoke, my agent, who had been waiting nearby, immediately approached. “General Manager Sterling, you know Liam Stone?” “That’s odd. Why didn’t he just talk to you about terminating his contract? Why was he waiting outside?” Scarlett frowned deeply, almost blurting out, “How could Liam Stone possibly terminate his contract!” My agent gave her an awkward smile, trying to be accommodating, completely unaware of the significance of his words. “Liam said he’s tired and wants to quit the industry to get married.” “I heard he signed the papers three days ago.” Scarlett’s eyes widened instantly. She lunged forward, grabbing my agent by the collar, her expression vicious. “What did you say? Married? Who’s getting married?” My agent’s face turned pale at Scarlett’s furious expression, and he stammered, repeating. “It… it’s Liam Stone!”
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