4

The next day when I woke up I felt like my waist was going to break. Last night I cried and asked to stop, but Leonard's angry mode was terrible.

I'm like a rabbit that was eaten without a trace by a hungry wolf. But there was one thing that was different, last night he said my name.

Usually what he calls is the name Ariel, his ex-lover. When I looked to the side, my husband was no longer in bed.

But there was the sound of gurgling water from the bathroom. Leonard put the black card that I rejected last night on the nightstand next to mybathroom

Suddenly my cell phone rang. There was a call from Aria.

"Hello."

[Hello, why haven't I picked up your phone before?]

"Sorry, I just woke up. The phone was on silent mode."

[Just waking up at this hour?]

"Last night Leonard and I argued, then he tortured me all night."

[Fuck, let's get a post-mortem and then report to the hospital.]

"Um, I don't mean that torture. But torture between husband and wife."

[Damn it, why didn't you say so earlier? I thought you were hit. It's amazing that you have the courage to argue, what are you guys fighting for?]

"He gave me a black card, banning me from working."

[Wow, Leonard is starting to pay attention to you. Usually he never cares about you. OK, just accept the card. During this time you have suffered a lot. Think of it as payment for your sacrifice. Even prostitutes who have been fucked get paid.]

"But he forbade me from working."

[What an idiot, you fight back. From now on you must be a disobedient wife!]

"Okay, then I'll take a shower. We'll meet at the agency office later, I'm going to take a taxi."

[But according to my hunch, when you started to disobey, Leonard seemed even more curious about you. He starts to become possessive of you. ]

"I don't care, I just want a divorce immediately"

[Right]

After the phone line was disconnected, Leonard came out of the bathroom.

My husband does have a very handsome face and an athletic body, so it's not surprising that at first sight I immediately fell in love with him.

Without looking into his eyes, I tried to get out of bed and go to the bathroom. My eyes immediately widened when I saw myself in the mirror.

There are lots of kiss marks on my neck, today I use a lot of foundation so they don't show up. Isn't it funny that the first time you go to work it becomes the subject of gossip? The dresses Aria bought last night really suit my taste. I wore a peach color dress, then I wore my long hair so that my neck couldn't be seen.

When I looked at myself in the mirror, I felt so satisfied.

It's true what Aria said, I have the gift of a beautiful face. Without plastic surgery, my face shape looks attractive from all angles. Moreover, after doing the treatment, my face looks brighter and healthier.

As per Aria's suggestion, I took my husband's black card and kept it. When I left the room and joined the dining room, they looked at me again.

In fact, this time Leonard's gaze at me lasted longer, a gaze that was difficult to interpret.

"Wow, Isla Grace. You're just getting prettier," said Sis Anna, clearly jealous.

"Thank you," I answered, still smiling sweetly.

"Isla Grace, where do you work?" asked my father-in-law.

"Luminary Entertainment," I answered.

"That's Dominic's entertainment agency, right?" interrupted Brother Dante.

"Yes, Brother Dante knows Dominic?" I asked back.

"Of course, we used to be at the same university," replied Brother Dante.

I just nodded my head.

"With an Isla Grace diploma, what kind of work can you do? At least it's just a cleaner," sneered at my mother-in-law.

"Even if there are people on the inside, you have to look at their abilities," interrupted my mother-in-law, glancing sarcastically at me.

I didn't respond, instead I focused on eating heartily after running out of energy last night. After eating, my father-in-law asked Leonard to take me along. But when I got outside the house, I stopped walking.

"Why? Come on, time is running out," interrupted Leonard.

"I'll just take a taxi," I answered

. "Why are you so complicated, just go up!" Leonard snapped impatiently.

"I just feel uncomfortable, I've never driven a luxury car like yours in my life. Besides, I'm only a small employee, if my co-workers saw me being driven by a luxury car it would only cause a stir!" I refused gently.

Leonard glanced at me, falling silent with a look I couldn't quite decipher. Yet, I felt a sense of satisfaction at having turned him down.

"Isla Grace, are you avoiding me? You used to always try so hard to get my attention," Leonard asked, narrowing one eye.

"Not really, why would I bother avoiding you? We were never close anyway—except in bed," I retorted sarcastically.

Leonard looked annoyed, but I quickly added, "Oh, right—you need to get going. Don't you usually pick up Serra? It would be a shame to keep her waiting," I jabbed.

I walked away briskly, especially since the rideshare I’d ordered had already arrived. I glanced back to see Leonard still standing there, looking dazed. I wondered what was going through his mind.

Luminary Entertainment was a massive company, and Aria was right—the people working there were a feast for the eyes.

"Wow, even the non-celebrities here are so good-looking," I whispered to Aria.

"See? I told you. Later, I’ll introduce you to my friends who are actually celebrities. Trust me, you won't regret coming along with me," Aria replied.

"It’s amazing that you get to work here," I said admiringly.

"An inside connection," Aria whispered.

Then, we both laughed. As Aria led me into the elevator, I suddenly found myself the center of attention.

"Why is everyone looking at us? Is the foundation on my neck smudging?" I asked in a panic.

"No, it’s just because you’re taking this elevator. You see, this one is reserved for top executives; even A-list actors aren't allowed to use it," Aria explained.

"Seriously? Then why did you bring me this way?" I exclaimed in shock.

"Because you're with me. Let me tell you something: my dad holds a major stake in this company. That’s why Dominic’s father always insists I use this elevator. As for you, I already asked Dominic for permission, and he gave the okay," Aria reassured me.

"That’s incredible—I’m even more stunned. You’re full of surprises," I said.

I was genuinely shocked, because back in high school, Aria had been a student in need who lived in an orphanage. That was why I had always helped her however I could. It was only after graduating high school that I heard the news about Aria reuniting with her parents. What I never expected was for them to be so wealthy. When we arrived at Dominic’s office, he welcomed me warmly.

Then, I was introduced to the trainers who would be working on my vocals and dance. I finished training at six in the evening. On my way home, I received a call from my father.

Usually, I’d pick up right away, but this time I ignored it. There was no point in being a dutiful child when my younger brother was the only one who ever got spoiled.