Chapter 4

After wrapping up filming, Felix came home and apologized to me for everything that had happened.

"Just wait a little over a year, Emma. I promise I’ll go public with our relationship."

I shook my head and said, "Do whatever you want."

Later, someone messaged him, inviting him to hang out. He glanced at me, his eyes silently asking for permission.

"Go ahead," I told him.

What he did not tell me was that the gathering allowed plus-ones, but he did not mention it.

I had not deleted Zia from my contacts, and when I woke up the next morning, I saw a video she had sent me.

"Truth or Dare."

Felix chose "Truth," and someone asked what his relationship with me was.

"She’s just the girl next door."

Everyone laughed and accused him of lying, telling him to take a drink.

He pouted, annoyed, then answered again.

"If it weren’t for using her as a stepping stone, who would bother with someone so dull and boring?"

"Wow, you’re more ruthless than we thought. But that girl isn’t even that much older than you, and she treats you so well. Can you really walk away from that?"

"Walk away? I don’t care. If any of you want her, she’s yours."

I watched the video Zia sent, and shortly after, she sent me an invitation to meet for lunch.

When I arrived, it was just the two of us. She wore large sunglasses.

"You saw the video I sent you, right? You should know by now that he doesn’t care about you. So why not just let him go? You two can end things peacefully.

"He loves me. He’s with me, not you," she said confidently.

Zia then pulled down her turtleneck to reveal the love bites on her neck.

"See these? All from him."

"You really have no shame. Do you even realize what consequences you’re facing by provoking me?"

She did not seem to care. Maybe after I let her off last time, she thought I had no power.

Right in front of her, I called her boss. Then I made calls to all the major talent agencies.

Not long after, the news of her contract termination came through.

She stared at her phone, trembling uncontrollably.

"You’re finished," I said.

I took the tea the server had brought over and calmly poured it over her head.

As soon as I left the restaurant, my chest tightened painfully, my heart pounding like it was going to explode.

My private doctor rushed me to the hospital, and I passed out.

When I woke up two days later, I immediately picked up my phone to deal with work and review the results of the company’s successor evaluations.

That was when I saw a message from Felix.

"Where are you? What did you do to Zia? Do you know she tried to kill herself?"

I was about to put the phone down when he called.

"Why did you blacklist her? You think just because you’ve got a bit of power, you can ruin people’s lives?

"Do you even know she attempted suicide? You’re nothing but a murderer!

"I hate you. Stay away from me from now on."

I waited until he finished yelling before asking where he was. He hung up without answering.

When I tried to message him again, I realized he had blocked me everywhere.

I did not have much time left. All I wanted was for him to spend a little time with me, but even that was too much to ask.

I stared at my phone, feeling utterly numb, and deleted all of his contact information. When I got home, I moved back to my family house and sold the place we used to live in.

Another week passed in a blur of work.

I called Shirley and told her my plans.

She was furious, calling Felix nothing but trash.

I told her it was my fault for being too young and naive to see through him.

"Once the company’s new product launch is over, I’m leaving."