Chapter 4
My agent looked confused.
“You didn’t know? General Manager Sterling owns half the industry! Every movie, every TV show you’ve ever filmed was produced by a company under her.”
I stared at Scarlett behind the blinds, the anger and indignation welling up in my chest becoming uncontrollable. Tears streamed down my face.
I never imagined that the person who forced me into endless networking, made me endure the creepy hands of slimy investors, pushed me into all sorts of terrible projects, and subjected me to workplace bullying was Scarlett herself.
The worst time, I simply bought the director the wrong brand of coffee. He slapped me on the spot and demanded I kneel and apologize.
When I refused, unable to bear the humiliation, they dumped me in the middle of nowhere.
Five years in this industry, being bullied and verbally abused had become routine.
But I never mentioned it to Scarlett. I didn’t want to burden her.
This one time, though, I was truly terrified, especially with the faint sound of wolves howling in the distance.
I cried as I called her, too scared to form coherent sentences.
I begged her, “Scarlett, I’m so scared, please come save me, I’m so, so scared.”
Scarlett knew the truth, but she remained silent, telling me the crew wouldn’t abandon me and that I shouldn’t throw a tantrum or go against the director.
Alone, using the faint light of my phone, I walked for an entire day and night before finally finding a main road.
By the time I emerged, I was completely drained.
But even then, I never hated Scarlett. I only regretted being useless, unable to bear all her burdens.
But now, the truth was right in front of me.
Scarlett was my boss. She knew I was stranded in the mountains. She could have saved me with a single word, but she didn’t.
My agent was flustered by the torrent of tears on my face. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Liam, you…”
Before she could finish, I pushed her aside and ran out of the company, still crying.
I hailed a cab and told the driver to take me to Seraphina Sterling’s mansion.
In the car, my hands trembled as I called her.
“Please come pick me up now…”
“Okay.”
With her answer, I leaned weakly against the seat back.
I never thought that after twenty years, the person I could rely on would be the woman my father arranged for me to marry.
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Meanwhile, Scarlett and her secretary were emerging from her office.
She agitatedly pulled out her phone again, but there were still no messages from me.
In the past, whenever we argued, I would constantly call her, apologize, and beg for her forgiveness.
But this time…
Scarlett felt an ominous premonition stirring within her.
“General Manager Sterling, I want to try that new French restaurant. Will you come with me tonight?”
The young secretary clung to her arm, whining, but Scarlett impatiently pushed him away, a hint of annoyance in her voice. “Go by yourself.”
Seeing Scarlett’s phone screen still stuck on our chat, he said sourly, “Oh, but General Manager Sterling…”
“What kind of waves can a man like Liam Stone possibly stir up? He’s like a dog, how could he bear to leave you?”
Scarlett’s eyes flashed with anger, her voice turning serious.
“How dare you speak about Liam Stone like that!”
Just as she spoke, my agent, who had been waiting nearby, immediately approached.
“General Manager Sterling, you know Liam Stone?”
“That’s odd. Why didn’t he just talk to you about terminating his contract? Why was he waiting outside?”
Scarlett frowned deeply, almost blurting out, “How could Liam Stone possibly terminate his contract!”
My agent gave her an awkward smile, trying to be accommodating, completely unaware of the significance of his words.
“Liam said he’s tired and wants to quit the industry to get married.”
“I heard he signed the papers three days ago.”
Scarlett’s eyes widened instantly. She lunged forward, grabbing my agent by the collar, her expression vicious.
“What did you say? Married? Who’s getting married?”
My agent’s face turned pale at Scarlett’s furious expression, and he stammered, repeating.
“It… it’s Liam Stone!”