Chapter 4

I took my spare phone and called a private investigator.

"I need you to investigate someone. Her name is Jolie Wolf.

"I want every hotel check-in record, surveillance footage, and pregnancy examination record from the hospital for the past six months since she joined the production.

"Money isn't an issue. I want hard evidence, and the more detailed, the better."

After hanging up, I logged into the private group chat used by Ace's work team. He'd created the group behind my back, but he didn't know that the technical director in the chat was a junior from my alma mater whom I'd once helped financially.

In the group's files sat a document titled "Confidential PR Plan Following the Starlight Awards."

I opened it and was so furious that I actually laughed.

According to the plan, he intended to imply that I, his "controlling agent," had subjected him to years of psychological manipulation, stolen his earnings, and forced him to accept terrible projects to launder money.

He'd even prepared several photographs of bruises on his own body. He planned to accuse me of years of domestic abuse and physically restricting his freedom.

That way, he could portray himself as the perfect victim and completely whitewash the fact that he'd abandoned me.

Once that press release went out, with his most extreme fans and paid online accounts stirring up the frenzy, I could imagine exactly what would happen to me.

What a way to bite the hand that fed him. He wasn't just burning bridges. He was trying to destroy me completely!

Two days later, the private investigator sent me a thick stack of documents about Jolie.

After reading through everything, I couldn't help marveling at just how busy she'd been over the past half month.

In just two short weeks, she'd spent multiple nights at different hotels having "long, private conversations" with three influential men in the entertainment industry.

I bundled all the evidence together to distribute as gift packages to the hundreds of media outlets attending the awards ceremony.

Over the next few days, I continued playing the role of the "frumpy, overbearing agent" with the same diligence as always.

Jolie grew increasingly arrogant. She even ordered me to buy her the shaken espresso from the shop in the south of the city that always had the longest line.

I went along with everything, even smiling as I wished her a "safe and healthy delivery."

At last, the highly anticipated Starlight Awards ceremony arrived.

In the backstage dressing room, Ace wore the bespoke designer suit I'd borrowed for him and wrapped an arm around my waist.

"Honey, everything will be better after tonight. I'll give you a grand wedding to make up for all the hardship you've endured over these past five years," he said with heartfelt affection.

But out of the corner of my eye, I caught him typing a message to Jolie behind his back without even looking at his phone.

[Baby, once I win tonight, I'll announce that I'm marrying you.]

Suppressing my disgust, I straightened his tie and gave him a gentle smile. "Sure. I'll be looking forward to it."

The awards ceremony officially began.

Ace stepped onto the red carpet, greeted by waves of excited screams from his fans. He basked in the glory of the moment.

Meanwhile, dressed inconspicuously, I sat in the staff section in the darkest corner of the main auditorium.

"The winner of this year's Best Actor award is... Ace Davidson!"

As the presenter announced the winner with an impassioned voice, the entire auditorium erupted.

Ace walked excitedly onto the stage and accepted the heavy trophy, a symbol of the industry's highest honor.

Standing beneath the spotlight, his eyes welled up with emotion. "Thank you to the judges. Thank you to my fans. But tonight, in addition to this award, there's something personal I'd like to announce on this stage, the highest honor of my career."

He paused, his tone growing heavy. His voice even began to choke with emotion.

"For the past five years, I've been subjected to psychological pressure and control by someone close to me.

"She hasn't just interfered with my life. She's subjected me to long-term verbal and physical abuse, driving me into a state of severe depression..."

The media below immediately sensed a major scandal brewing, and camera flashes went off wildly.

Comments in the livestream chat exploded as viewers speculated that the person he was talking about was me.

Jolie, seated in the front-row guest section, sat up even straighter, a smug smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

"That person is my agent, Alisson Lawrence!" Ace took a deep breath and finally called my name aloud.

A spotlight immediately fell on me, and the auditorium erupted into commotion.

Everyone wanted to see the panic and terror on my face.

But I simply lowered my head calmly and tapped the "Send" button on my phone.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

In the media section below the stage, a chorus of notification sounds rang out at the exact same moment.