All Chapters of The Man I Should Hate Is My Sponsor: Chapter 41 - Chapter 45

~Maria Pov~ "Smile," my manager urged. I glanced up from my phone, forcing a small smile before looking back down at the screen. "Can I ask you something?" I said. I put my phone away and raised my head to look at her. "Sure." She looked tired. There was still sadness in her eyes, even when she smiled. Knowing she'd recently had a miscarriage made it difficult to look at her without wondering how she was coping. I hadn't even known she was pregnant. "Parents love their children, right?" I asked. One of her eyebrows rose slightly. Then a sad smile crossed her face. "Yes," she said. "But that doesn't mean their love can't hurt them, too. Parents make mistakes, Maria. Sometimes, they hurt the very people they're supposed to protect." I lowered my gaze. "All I'm saying is, about your dad... I'm sure he'll show up eventually." I nodded, but I wasn't sure I believed her. "Did you invite him to the gala?" she asked, her voice shifting to something lighter. I knew s

~Maria Pov~ Glasses clinked. Applause rose and fell. One speech followed another, and the lights stayed fixed on the people at the front, the actors and actresses being honored for their work. Someday, I'll be up there. To the Moon had been nominated for an award. After the scandal involving Teresa and the rumors about Lewis and me, I was surprised they'd even invited me. Still, I was here. Lewis, whom I'd invited, sat beside me, his attention fixed on the stage like everyone else's. "Do you want that?" he asked. I turned to him. "An award?" He nodded toward the stage. I looked at the people beneath the lights. They were smiling, shaking hands, and accepting congratulations. For a moment, I imagined myself among them, hearing my name called while the whole room applauded. Then I remembered who I was. Maria Moore. The actress whose family name made people whisper. The girl whose career had become everybody's business because of the man sitting beside her. "Would