Chapter 16

I underwent a long period of therapy.

And slowly, I began to feel a sense of shame about having publicly revealed the incident with my father at nineteen.

Fortunately, my appearance now differed significantly from when I was nineteen.

Plus, so many years had passed, no one would truly recognize me anymore.

But I remained restless.

It wasn't until recently, at my teacher’s urging, that I dared to perform on stage without a mask for the first time.

After therapy, I gradually began to understand Adrian’s past accusations and disappointment.

No one can tolerate pouring out their entire heart for so long, only to receive no response.

But I had, in fact, responded.

I just didn’t understand it back then.

So many things I had quietly done for Adrian, I never mentioned, thinking I didn't need to.

After many days at home, my fridge was empty.

I had no choice but to go out and buy groceries.

I hadn’t checked my phone in days, so I didn't know I was being relentlessly cyberbullied online.

I had underestimated Chloe’s hatred for me.

Using Adrian’s indulgence, she relentlessly twisted and amplified the story of me no longer starring in Director Miller’s film.

Then she fabricated countless other stories, wildly slandering and defaming me.

She claimed I had questionable character, indecent behavior, and that my awards were undeserved.

And my many days of not checking my phone, of not responding, were twisted into an admission of guilt, a fear of showing my face.

A massive wave of paid trolls hired by Chloe, combined with a crowd of misled internet users, even began clamoring to 'dox' me.

They demanded to dig up my past, my family situation, and every experience I'd ever had.

I knew nothing of this.

I had assumed the online commotion from a few days ago had long since died down.

When I went to the mall, I didn't even wear a mask.

But as soon as I entered the mall doors, I felt someone staring at me from behind.

Before I could even turn around, Adrian, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, grabbed my arm.

By the time I fully processed it, he had already pulled me into a fire escape stairwell.

Peeking through the crack in the door, I saw a large group of reporters rushing past.

Their anxious voices vaguely reached my ears: "She definitely ran this way, how could she disappear?"