***"Ah, that feels so good, Leon. I'm almost coming.""Hold on, baby. Just a little longer."The moans echoed clearly in Leon Hale's private room - a rising star actor who was taking the world by storm.Still lost in the throes of pleasure, Leon Hale could never have imagined that behind his bedroom door someone stood frozen, holding back tears.That someone was Anastasia Noire, his girlfriend and soon-to-be fiancée of five years.Anastasia couldn't believe the strange message she'd received on her phone, accusing Leon of betrayal. She was supposed to be filming a commercial in Paris today, but her schedule had been abruptly cancelled. Depressed, she decided to visit her boyfriend's luxurious apartment."This can't be real, can it? Those sounds... they're just in my head," Anastasia muttered, trying to calm herself. With trembling hands, she reached for the bedroom door, hoping that the bizarre noises were nothing more than a figment of her imagination.As she gripped the doorknob, h
***Inside her car, Anastasia Noire gripped the wheel tightly, trying to concentrate on the road ahead, but her mind kept replaying the events of the night before. Tonight had been nothing but a series of misfortunes.The injured man she had found now lay unconscious in the back of her car. She had no idea who he was or why he had been attacked, but she knew that she had inadvertently become involved in something much bigger than she had anticipated. Her instincts warned her to stay alert - and those instincts proved to be right.As she glanced in her rear-view mirror, her heart skipped a beat. A large black SUV was speeding towards her, closing in fast. Her face went pale as she recognised it as the same vehicle she had seen earlier, driven by those burly men."Damn," Anastasia muttered, tapping the steering wheel nervously. "They're after me."The black SUV came closer, almost side-by-side with her car. Without hesitation, Anastasia slammed her foot down on the accelerator, hoping t
***"You're awake?" Anastasia asked.Maximilian froze, staring at the unfamiliar woman before him. Her smile was unlike anything he'd ever seen - soothing, almost serene."Can you hear me?" A small voice came from beside him.He turned his head to see the woman standing nearby, relief washing over her face as she realised he was awake. She stepped closer, and before Maximilian could say a word, he felt her gentle hand press against his forehead, taking his temperature. The touch startled him. His body tensed, but not with pain.Before he could process what was happening, she withdrew her hand and placed the back of it against his cheek. "You look a little pale. Is anything hurting?" she asked, her tone soft but full of concern.Maximilian was stunned. His instinct should have been to pull away or push her hand away, but there was no allergic reaction or discomfort like he usually felt when women touched him. His skin didn't feel hot or itchy. It was as if her touch was completely harm
***"What? All the commercial deals are cancelled and I have to pay compensation? What's the reason?" Anastasia asked in shock.Lyra sighed heavily. "I don't know the exact reason either. They said you broke the rules and got involved in a big scandal.""A scandal? What? You know as well as I do that I've never been involved in anything like that in my entire career!"Lyra remained silent, biting her lip. It was hard for her to reveal the nature of the scandal that had derailed Anastasia's career.What should have been a major project for Anastasia had suddenly fallen through. Clients who had been eager to work with her disappeared without explanation, and demands for compensation came out of nowhere. It was a strange and deeply suspicious situation."Lyra, I'm talking to you. Look at me!" Anastasia's voice was sharp and direct.Lyra looked up, her eyes flashing with panic before she quickly composed herself. "What is it?""Something's wrong. Deals are being cancelled and now I have t
***"Oh my God! You... have you eaten?" Anastasia asked, staring at the stranger for a moment. Without waiting for an answer, she hurried to the kitchen.Maximilian was stunned by her panicked reaction. Did he look so pale as to alarm her? After all, he had eaten earlier and even stepped out with Bryan for a moment.Moments later, Anastasia returned and placed an omelette and a glass of orange juice on the table."Here, eat! I'm sorry I wasn't here all day. There were some things I had to take care of," Anastasia said with a smile that carried a hint of exhaustion.Maximilian wasn't hungry, but he didn't want to arouse her suspicions. He sat down and began to eat the food she had prepared."Have you contacted your family?" Anastasia asked.Maximilian shook his head."Why not? Won't they come and get you?" she asked, clearly surprised."I don't have a family," Maximilian replied, his tone cold.Anastasia froze for a moment before giving him a gentle smile. "Were those thugs from yester
***Anastasia was very worried, it was getting late. But none of her friends helped her, even all her calls were rejected by them. Anastasia was frustrated because she had promised to give a letter when she and Max got married."Why don't you sleep at night? You haven't even eaten," Maximilan said. Actually, he already knew what she wanted and he also knew Anastasia's problem that was currently a hot topic in the country, but he secretly didn't know because he wanted to know what Anastasia would do.Anastasia sighed, she was frustrated and looked at him."Max, we have to get married!""Get married? You want to marry me?"Anastasia nodded, "Yes. I've already told them we're married. How about we get married for a while? At least two years, for example, and then we can part on good terms?"Maximilian found what Anastasia said funny, she was offering a contract marriage?"Hmm... what's in it for me to be your husband?""You don't have a family, do you? And a place to live?" Anastasia ask
***He helped me because I saved his life, he just wanted to return the favor," Maximilian said."I forgot you were a thug," Anastasia said. She looked at the man's bruised face, "I'll get the doctor and introduce you to him. He's my best friend, but I don't want our marriage contract to be known. Do you understand?""Yes. Just do what you want," Maximilian replied."And even though we are legally husband and wife, there are limits to everything, Max. We are married by agreement and I expect no physical contact during our marriage. You must understand what I mean, right?""You don't want us to have physical contact because I'm just a poor man?" asked Maximilian deliberately.Anastasia shook her head, "No man touches me carelessly, Max. Including my ex-boyfriend, I never slept with him, even though he always tried to persuade me to give him up. I also turned down all offers of romantic movies or dramas because I don't feel comfortable being intimate with someone who isn't in my heart.
***Anastasia stood behind a thick curtain and surveyed the row of seats filled with reporters in front of her. The cameras' flashes flickered, as if to highlight every second that passed before she stepped forward. Today she was going to reveal something that had been a hot topic for a long time, that she shared a roof with a strange man and that there had been a lot of bad news about her lately.Lyra patted her shoulder gently. "It's time, Anastasia."Anastasia nodded and took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. "Alright, let's do this."Her steps were steady as she walked forward to the podium that had been set up in the center of the stage. The spotlight was immediately on her, and the thunderous sound of reporters' whispers echoed through the room. With her head held high, Anastasia stood before them, her eyes sharp and confident.After making sure everyone was paying attention to her, Anastasia began, "Thank you for being here today. There is something I want to share with you
***Maximilian sat on the sofa in his apartment, staring at the nearly empty wine bottle in front of him. His mind raced as he continued reading the document about Anastasia's past, which was open on his tablet screen. His heart was in turmoil. Every word he read felt like a thorn in his chest. He never realized how hard Anastasia's life had been—abandoned, scorned, hurt, and treated cruelly by the world. How had such a small girl survived?He reached for the wine glass on the table and took a quick sip, trying to chase away the sudden pain haunting him. Seeing Anastasia's smiling face in public photos confused him even more. The woman he knew was so cheerful and vibrant, yet there was so much hidden suffering underneath it all."How can that be?" Maximilian muttered quietly, putting down his glass roughly. "How can she keep smiling when the world is so cruel to her?"His eyes remained glued to a photograph of Anastasia as a child standing alone on a school stage, hugging the micropho
***Anastasia was trying on dresses in a luxury boutique owned by Celine Idzes when her eyes accidentally met a familiar figure. Renata and Selene Kingsley were standing near the boutique's entrance, smiling at her. With graceful steps, they approached her."Anastasia, what a coincidence to meet here," Selene said warmly. "It's been a while since we had dinner together."Anastasia smiled and arranged her long, flowing hair. "I'm glad to see you, too. How about we have dinner together? Aunt Celine might be able to join us, too.”“Sure, dear,” Celine replied.After they agreed, they headed to a fancy restaurant in the city center. The restaurant's atmosphere that night was elegant. It was dimly lit by candles and decorated with white roses on every table. They sat down at the table Selene had reserved, and a waiter soon came with the menu."Anastasia," Selene said with a proud smile. "I heard your album is selling well and breaking sales records. Congratulations! I know you'll always be
***"So, then. Can you trust me and tell me everything? You said I was valuable, right?"Maximilian looked lovingly at Anastasia, a soft smile forming on his lips as he brought his face closer to hers. "Because you are precious, Ana," he said in a low, sincere voice. "I will definitely take care of you."Anastasia's eyes glazed over at the words of the man who had been filling her days. "You know," Maximilian continued, still looking deeply into her eyes, "in all my life, I've never felt this crazy about a woman. I'm scared that if you leave me one day, my life will fall apart."Anastasia was silent, listening to every word that came out of Maximilian's mouth. A sense of warmth ran through her chest, but a faint worry lurked behind all her mixed emotions.Maximilian swallowed, trying to formulate his next words. “Whatever happens in the future, please believe in my love. I'm just putting together the puzzle of my life. When everything is complete, you'll be the first to know, so don't
***Anastasia's new album showcase was a huge success. The large room was filled with fans who had been waiting for this opportunity to meet their idol and get autographs. The music that echoed throughout the room and the spotlights that danced on the stage created an atmosphere full of energy, along with the unstoppable enthusiasm of the fans.Anastasia sat at the autograph table, smiling gently each time a fan approached with a face full of excitement. She knew how important this night was for her career and as a chance to show her appreciation to her supporters.In the middle of the long line, a man wearing a black mask and hat was seen slowly moving toward Anastasia. He looked ordinary, nothing special, just like any other fan. However, Anastasia's gaze immediately fell on him; she sensed that she knew him.As he approached, one of the bodyguards moved to stop him, suspecting something was amiss. However, Anastasia quickly raised her hand, signaling the bodyguard to back off."Let
***Elora slammed everything on the table in an uncontrollable rage. Notebooks, pens, even a half-full cup of coffee flew and shattered on the floor. Her eyes blazing with hate, her voice shaking as she glared at Anya, who stood trembling across from her."You are completely incompetent," Elora shouted, her tone filled with anger that threatened to explode. "I've given you time, money and everything you need to make sure that Anastasia's latest album fails. But look what's happening now!"Anya looked down and tried to calm her increasingly labored breathing. "I... I did everything as planned, Elora. I paid everyone, from the technicians to the music journalists. They were supposed to ruin Anastasia's reputation. I was sure the album would fail!" Anya's voice was full of fear, her hands shaking as she tried to pick up the papers scattered across the table.Elora approached, her eyes narrowed. "Oh, really? Then how do you explain this?" She picked up her phone and showed the headlines o
***Anastasia looked at Lyra thoughtfully. Lyra's words echoed in her mind, shaking her confidence. However, she still wanted to trust Maximilian. "I trust him because I always feel safe with him," Anastasia finally replied, her voice soft yet full of conviction.Lyra looked deeply into Anastasia's eyes, searching for the truth behind her words. Despite the doubt on her face, Lyra chose to respect Anastasia's feelings. "If you feel something's wrong, it's better to talk to him from the heart," Lyra finally said, her tone full of tenderness and support. "If Max really loves you, he wouldn't be able to lie to you."Anastasia fell silent for a moment, trying to take Lyra's advice in. She knew that talking to Maximilian was the only way to find answers. However, a fear loomed over her heart. The fear that what she was about to discover might change everything. Still, she couldn't continue to live in uncertainty. She had just experienced being loved and treated gently by someone, and she h
***"Do you know Dr. Steven?" Anastasia asked.Lyra nodded. "You really don't know who he is? He's very famous.”Anastasia nodded. "As you know, I don't really get along with anyone in the entertainment world. I never go to parties or anything like that. Didn't Leon say that I'm socially inept?"Lyra nodded slowly. She had looked uneasy since they entered the apartment. Her eyes scanned the room, and she occasionally glanced at Anastasia with a doubtful look. Sitting on the sofa, Lyra finally took a deep breath and moved closer to Anastasia. She whispered in a serious tone,"Okay, I want to talk about something important, but not here," Lyra whispered. "We should talk face to face."Anastasia turned her head, surprised by the sudden request, but simply nodded. "Fine. Later, when things calm down, we'll talk," she replied, trying to calm Lyra down. Although she was curious about what Lyra wanted to say, she chose not to ask.Soon after, the bedroom door opened. Steven and Maximilian ca
***Maximilian awoke slowly, his eyes still heavy and his body feeling weak. However, he immediately felt the presence of someone beside him. His vision blurred for a moment before finally focusing on the figure of Anastasia sitting beside the bed. The woman was asleep in a sitting position, her head resting on her crossed arms at the edge of the bed. Throughout the night, Anastasia had remained by his side, relentlessly guarding him.Maximilian sighed slowly, feeling a warmth in his chest. He knew very well how busy Anastasia had been lately, preparing for her new album that was about to be released. But in the midst of all that busyness, this woman still chose to be here, beside him, taking care of him.Maximilian's gaze softened as he looked at Anastasia. She looked tired, but even in sleep, Anastasia's face exuded a deep serenity. Maximilian reached out and gently touched Anastasia's hair, trying not to wake her. The touch was light, like an expression of deep gratitude.Maximilia
***The evening was more special than usual. The laughter and excitement of the Athena Records staff filled the room as they celebrated the success of Anastasia's latest album, which would be released in two days. Music played softly in the background while warm lighting added to the festive atmosphere. However, in the midst of the fun, a sudden feeling of unease came over Anastasia.She sat in a corner of the room, holding a sparkling glass of red wine and staring out the window. The spring night in New York was filled with stars, but her mind was distracted. She was worried because Maximilian hadn't returned her messages and she hadn't heard from him until this evening.Anastasia tried to distract herself by chatting with some of the staff, but somehow the excitement felt hollow. Suddenly, the glass she was holding slipped from her hand and fell to the floor. The sound of the broken glass echoed through the room, attracting the attention of many people."Ouch!" she cried, seeing tha