When I saw Asher again, he had transformed from an obscure actor into a powerful business magnate. Six years ago, I left the country when he needed me the most. Now, as we meet again, I’m on the verge of losing my eyesight, and his partner is a newly crowned Oscar-winning actress. Everyone envies them for being the perfect couple, yet my unexpected presence at the press conference made Asher lose his composure. “You’ve finally returned. At this press conference, I’ll introduce you to some directors. Maybe they have roles for you,” my old friend Phoebe said, linking her arm with mine. “I’m up for anything if they pay.” “Even the really intense roles?” “If the pay is good,” I hesitated before replying. “Didn’t you once sacrifice yourself for Asher’s future by accepting five million dollars from Mr. Felix? And now it’s all gone?” Phoebe was still upset with the decision I made back then. Six years ago, Asher and I were minor celebrities. Felix threatened me by leveraging Asher’s career to get what he wanted. At that time, Asher’s career was on the rise, and I couldn’t let him be destroyed because of me. I gripped Phoebe’s wrist tightly, my eyes red. “Phoebe, I’m sick.” Phoebe’s face turned pale. “What’s wrong? I thought you were living it up abroad. How did you get sick so soon after coming back?” Phoebe softened, her voice becoming gentle. “Retinitis pigmentosa. I just want to earn as much as I can while I still have my sight, to support myself in the future.” I said calmly, but it made Phoebe’s eyes well up with tears. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Does Asher know?” I hurriedly took her hand. “Please don’t tell him. He’s happy now.” “Esme! Why are you still as spineless as you were six years ago?!” “I just don’t want to be involved with him anymore.”
But I didn’t expect to run into Asher at the press conference Phoebe brought me to. When I first saw him, my instinct was to run away. Not knowing my way around, I accidentally hid in a VIP lounge. The sound of leather shoes approached. I hid behind the sofa, too nervous to breathe. The door clicked open, and someone sat on the sofa. “Harper, I think you’d look beautiful in that strapless wedding dress. Let’s have the wedding in New Zealand if you like.” That voice! It was Asher. His tone was gentle and indulgent, yet it felt like knives piercing my heart. Harper, the current top actress. I had seen entertainment news about them being together even before returning to the country. It seems they’re already talking about marriage. Six years have passed. No matter how deep the love, it should have faded. Especially since I was the one who chose to let go first, what am I still holding onto? Suddenly, my phone rang, dragging me back from my thoughts. I quickly covered the phone and rushed out the door. Wearing a V-neck long dress and heels, I found it hard to escape quickly. Asher’s footsteps closed in on me. A door appeared on my right. I hesitantly opened it and rushed through. But to my surprise, it led to the press conference hall. Instantly, all the reporters turned their cameras on me. I raised my hand to cover my face, bending down and jogging down the steps. “Stop her!” Asher’s voice came from behind me. I turned and saw him staring intently at me. Several bodyguards in black surrounded me. “Anyone who leaks a single photo from today will face consequences,” Phoebe jumped in front of me, shouting at Asher, “What do you want?! We live in a society governed by law!” Asher calmly walked up to her, “I don’t want anything. I just want to invite Miss Esme for a cup of tea.”
Then Phoebe was taken to that VIP room by Asher’s men, while he dragged me deeper into the corridor. “Asher, be gentle!” He was expressionless, ignoring my words. I didn’t know what he wanted. My heart was pounding. Once inside, he tossed me onto the sofa. His two attendants closed the door and approached me. “You two, go!” Asher gestured to his attendants, then took out his phone, pointing it at me. The attendants, as if receiving instructions, smiled wickedly and approached me. At that moment, I was scared, my voice trembling, almost crying. “Asher! Don’t do this!” I shrank back in fear. “Don’t you love getting into men’s beds? I got two strong bodyguards for you. Isn’t that great?” The men started tearing at my dress, breaking the straps. “Asher! I’m begging you! Please, don’t!” I trembled all over, loudly calling his name. His knuckles holding the phone turned white. After a pause, he put the phone away. My dress was torn. No matter how hard I struggled, the men’s disgusting lips still touched my neck and chest. Asher’s expression changed. He grabbed the men’s hair and threw them back. “Get out! Get out of here!” Asher’s sudden rage scared the attendants out of the room. I quickly gathered my clothes, shivering, covering myself tightly. Asher’s eyes were red, like a beast losing its mind. He gripped my arms tightly, “Isn’t this what you like? Isn’t this what you did to get into Felix’s bed?” “I… I didn’t, I… didn’t…” I buried my head in my arms, trembling uncontrollably, too weak to explain. Just then, Phoebe kicked the door open, pointed her phone at Asher, and pulled him away, slapping him hard. “Asher! You beast! If you don’t let us go today, I’ll ruin my career to send you to jail!” Asher glared at Phoebe, “You think you can stop me?” I tugged at Phoebe’s sleeve, “Take me away.” Phoebe hurriedly draped her coat over me, gently helping me up, her voice choked, “Let’s go.” As she supported me to the door, she stopped. “Asher, if you don’t want to regret it, don’t harm Esme again. Otherwise, I’ll make you wish you were dead.” We didn’t turn back and couldn’t see Asher’s expression, but it couldn’t have been good.
Phoebe took me back to her place. When I calmed down, she couldn’t help but ask me. “Do you regret sacrificing your innocence for such a scumbag?” “Actually, I don’t.” Phoebe looked surprised, “But the news Felix released…” “That was fake,” I calmly stared at the ceiling, speaking steadily. Six years ago, Felix of Starlight Entertainment set Asher up to get me. He planned to sabotage Asher’s career. That same night, if I didn’t go to his bed, a video of drugged, unconscious Asher sharing a bed with another female star would be released online. In the end, I knocked on Felix’s door. But when he lowered his guard, I used a hidden dagger in my high boots to wound him. He saw my determination not to comply and demanded I never return to the country. Otherwise, not only I but Asher would suffer too. But Asher’s grandmother was seriously ill and urgently needed surgery money. He couldn’t lose his job, especially with his career booming, securing numerous big endorsements. He couldn’t afford the huge breach penalty. So, in that situation, I had to leave. I didn’t take the five million. Life abroad wasn’t easy. I worked as a dishwasher, waitress, and cashier. Until recently, I saw a legal report from home, learning Felix had been executed. Only then did I dare return. Phoebe, knowing the whole story, hugged me tightly, sobbing, “Esme, you’ve suffered. Why not stop working? Even if you go blind, I can take care of you.” “You know my nature. I don’t want to be a useless person who only relies on others.” Given the circumstances, I had no other option but to leave, and I chose not to take the five million dollars. Living abroad wasn’t easy either. I worked various jobs, from washing dishes to being a waitress and cashier. It wasn’t until recently, when I read a legal news report from home about his execution, that I dared to return. Phoebe, who knew the whole story, hugged me tightly, her voice trembling with tears, “Esme, you’ve been through so much. Why don’t you stop working? Even if you go blind, I’ll take care of you.” “You know me. I can’t just sit around and do nothing.” “But if you join the entertainment industry, you can’t avoid Asher. He went crazy looking for you back then, especially after learning you were with Felix. We all thought Felix had sent you abroad for a better life. Later, some unscrupulous media even published photos suggesting you were pregnant abroad. Asher was devastated, and when he finally appeared in public again, he was a mere shadow of himself. His grandmother passed away during that time too.” Tears streamed down my face, soaking my clothes. “I suffered from severe depression abroad, which affected me physically. Now, I’m at a loss. There’s no other industry that pays as quickly as this one. My eyesight is deteriorating, and I don’t have much time left.” Half a month later, thanks to Phoebe’s connections, I landed a supporting role as the third female lead. A few days into filming, the lead actress was replaced by Harper, due to the influence of the financiers. I suspected Asher was involved, but I couldn’t understand his motives. Was it just to make my life difficult? That evening, Asher’s Maybach was already waiting by the set for Harper to finish work. The shoot was supposed to wrap up by noon, and I had dinner plans with Phoebe, but it dragged on until midnight. At night, my vision worsens significantly, and I can only make out vague shapes. I stumbled many times on set. This time, it was Harper’s foot that tripped me. I painfully got up from the ground. “Can’t you see? Walking past without even a greeting is one thing, but stepping on my foot?” I quickly stepped back, “I’m sorry, I didn’t see.” “Are those eyes just for decoration?” Harper leaned in, pointing at my eyes. Before I could react, she yanked at the pearl necklace around my neck, scattering the pearls everywhere. “No, you can’t. It’s the only thing my mother left me…” I dropped to the floor, desperately trying to gather them. But I couldn’t see, I couldn’t see. Tears of frustration welled up. “What’s going on here?” Asher walked over. Hearing his voice, I froze in fear and instinctively backed away.
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