Chapter 3

Scarlett froze, clearly not expecting that.

After all, in her imagination, I should have been holding her, comforting her with every last ounce of my being, willing to do anything to pay off her debt.

Instantly, her face twisted with fury.

“Liam Stone, I really misjudged you.”

“Have you been in this industry too long? Do you think I’m not as good as those people who can just hand you tens of millions? Is this how you hurt my sincere heart?”

With that, she shot me a hateful glare, turned, and slammed the door as she left.

No elevator sounds followed for a long time. I knew she was trying to force me to give in.

But not only did I not call her back, I blocked all her contact information.

I looked at the company share transfer contract she’d left on the floor – no official seal, no signature.

How ridiculous was I, to have been fooled by something like this twice?

I gave a bitter laugh and sent a message to my agent.

【Brenda, I’m planning to quit the industry. Help me draft a statement.】

I’d only entered this business to pay off Scarlett’s debts.

For her, I’d forced myself to drink with repulsive, pot-bellied investors, enduring their creepy hands, and stayed silent when I was slapped on set.

Now, I didn’t want her anymore. There was no reason to stay in this industry.

My phone screen lit up. It was a message from Seraphina Sterling.

I never would have expected someone who looked so cold and aloof to send me over a dozen wedding dress photos and bouquet styles, each with her thoughtful notes.

A warmth spread through my chest.

After all these years with Scarlett, she had never been so thoughtful towards me.

I’m allergic to mangoes, but she kept buying me mango cake, just because that shop was on her way home.

I hate noisy environments, but she dragged me to clubs to party with her friends, even after I hadn't slept for three days, claiming it was to “boost her image.”

She never actively gave me gifts. The only time was when she bought me a bottle of perfume for a mere hundred bucks.

I was so happy I cried then.

She just laughed, hugging me, saying how easy I was to fool.

A little bit of kindness would make me incredibly grateful.

I thought she was being sweet to me then.

Now, it seems she truly thought I was a fool.

I sent her all the money I earned from filming and gigs, keeping only two hundred for emergencies. She said, “Liam Stone is hopelessly stupid.”

When our boat hit rough waters, I gave her my only life vest. She turned around and boasted to her friends, “That dumb guy was willing to die for me.”

Even when I was hospitalized from exhaustion while paying off her debt, she’d take photos of my weak and pale face and send them to friends. “Liam Stone is so idiotic, he’s almost dying, but he’s still thinking about paying my debt…”

Even through the door, I could imagine Scarlett’s triumphant, disdainful expression as she said those words.

But it didn’t matter anymore. I was leaving her soon. Nothing about her concerned me anymore.

I opened my suitcase and started packing. But in that massive room, my belongings were pitifully few.

The closet was filled with Scarlett’s dresses. Back then, I foolishly thought she needed to look good for business, not shabby.

So, every time I got paid, I spent it on her.

Later, I just got used to it. I tried to put my clothes in the closet, but there wasn't even a spot left.

Scarlett had told me that once her company grew, she’d get us a bigger house and give me a grand wedding.

I believed every one of her promises, then silently sacrificed for her, foolishly waiting for her to marry me.

But now, it seems I never had a place in her heart at all.

Just then, my agent called.

“Liam, I can’t make the decision for you to quit. You need to talk to the boss yourself.”

The next morning, I arrived at the company promptly to wait for the boss.

On the luxurious top floor, through the blinds, I saw Scarlett.

She was in a designer power suit, standing by the huge floor-to-ceiling window, on the phone.

Then, a man in a dress shirt wrapped his arms around her from behind.

Scarlett smiled softly and turned to melt into his embrace.

They hugged intimately, but my heart went numb.

Two weeks ago, the man who forced me to sign that degrading contract was the very same man.

Back then, I was cornered in the dressing room. Several hulking men held me down, forcing me to my knees. The man in front of me slapped me without mercy.

He said if I didn’t agree to film explicit content, they would seize Scarlett’s company, burden her with massive debts, and make her lose everything.

Scarlett knew perfectly well that I would agree for her sake.

So she deliberately tormented me, watching me get twisted around her little finger.

After my fans found out I was going to film explicit content, they blocked the entrance, cursing me as a shameless jerk who only cared about money. Some even snuck into my dressing room and put thumbtacks in my shoes.

My feet bled profusely from the punctures, but when I got home, I still felt guilty towards Scarlett.

That day, when she hugged me as I sobbed uncontrollably, comforting me with tenderness, was she also thinking, *How pathetic is he, willing to do anything for me?*

Thinking about it, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

When my agent arrived, I had already wiped away my tears. She looked at me, puzzled. “Why aren’t you going in? The big boss is waiting.”

My voice trembled. I looked at my agent, incredulous. “Scarlett…”

“Is she really the company’s owner?”