Ashley snatched the wine glass from her hand
and replaced it with milk.
“Can you even handle alcohol? Drink this.”
I lowered my hand, about to swap my wine for
milk too, when Ashley frowned.
“Summer, stop pretending, I know you can
drink.”
“Emily’s not even holding a grudge anymore.
Why are you being so dramatic?”
I laughed self–deprecatingly.
Ashley knew I’d once gotten a stomach ulcer
from drinking too much to secure a role for
him.
The doctor said I couldn’t have any alcohol or
spicy food.
Love, or lack thereof, was really obvious.
“Come on, Summer, everyone’s waiting. When
will you learn to be more like Emily and not
cause trouble!”
Ashley urged impatiently, his tone arrogant.
I bit my lip, my fingers turning white as !
gripped my skirt.
Summer, just hold on.
One last time, don’t let anything jeopardize
my plan at this point.
I tipped back the glass and downed the wine,
the burning liquid making me cough violently.
“Excuse me, I need the restroom.”
With that, I opened the door and ran out.
Ashley’s voice faintly drifted from behind me.
“What a drama queen. That wasn’t even half
of what she usually drinks.”
“She’s just being difficult, trying to make
things hard for Emily.”
I dry heaved a few times in the restroom, and
the pain in my stomach eased a bit.
I was about to wash my face and go back out
く
when my vision blurred and my limbs went
weak.
I realized, belatedly, that the wine had been
drugged.
No wonder Emily insisted I drink it. It was all a
setup!
Just then, the restroom door burst open.
A fat, greasy man from the dinner table
rushed in, tearing at my clothes.
“Summer, oh Summer, you want the lead role,
don’t you?”
“If you keep me happy tonight, I’ll give you
any role you want!”
My head spun, and I was weak. I pushed him
away with all my might and struggled to run.
“Help!”
I cried hoarsely, and when I looked back, the
investor was chasing me.
I stumbled forward, not daring to stop.
Just as I turned the corner, I saw a group of
reporters with cameras at the end of the
hallway.
“Isn’t that Summer? What’s she doing with
Producer Lewis in the restroom?”
A woman with earrings walked towards me.
“Ms. Summer, did you get your previous roles
this way too?”
“Ms. Summer, you were photographed at a
women’s clinic before. Was that because you
were pregnant with a sponsor’s baby?”
Amidst the flashing lights, I saw Emily walk
out, arm in arm with Ashley.
Ignoring my disheveled state, I pleaded with
Ashley.
“Please, help me!”
Ashley hesitated, about to reach out, when
Emily stopped him.
She looked at me with a surprised expression.
“Oh my god, Summer! Ashley and I were
worried about your stomach, so we came to
check on you. We never expected you to be
with Producer Lewis like this…”
“It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have come back.
If I hadn’t taken your role, you wouldn’t have
done this!”
The pity on Ashley’s face slowly disappeared,
replaced by a sneer.
He patted Emily’s head.
“It’s not your fault. Summer’s always been
someone who’d do anything to get ahead.”
“You’re just too kind. She probably thinks
we’re ruining her fun.”
I stared at him in disbelief, as if slapped
across the face.
This was the man I’d loved for ten years, the
man I supported from penniless to millionaire.
I thought my years of devotion would move
him, but in his eyes, I was just a disposable
toy.
It was ridiculous that I’d wasted so much time
on him.
Ashley stopped looking at me and returned to
the private room with Emily.
As Producer Lewis’s hand reached for me, I
closed my eyes in despair.
The next moment, a warm camel coat draped
over me, filling the air with a woody scent.
A man put his arm around me, patting my
back, calming my racing heart.
“If anyone publishes anything about this, the
Rivers family won’t let you get away with it.”
I looked up, stunned. It was Ethan Rivers, the
rising star.
Ashley’s half–brother, and his biggest rival in
the industry.
Ethan took me back to his private room and
gave me some lemonade.
When the unnatural flush on my face
subsided, he pulled a flash drive out of his
pocket and handed it to me.
“This is the restaurant’s security footage. It
clearly shows Emily drugging your wine.”
“Whatever you want to do, I can help.”
I took it and thanked him softly.
Indeed, some things needed to be dealt with
face–to–face.
I returned to the private room with Ethan.
Just in time to hear Ashley comforting a
tearful Emily:
“Don’t blame yourself, it’s not your fault. You
shouldn’t have to leave.”
“Summer did this willingly. How else do you
think she became a star with no background
and no family?”
“She’s done worse things before!”
Even though I was prepared, my eyes still
welled up when I heard those words.
Seeing me, Ashley wiped the smile off his
face and gave me a contemptuous look.
“Done so soon? Did you get the role?”
“Why are you crying? Don’t think I don’t know,
you called the reporters.”
“Summer, when will you grow up? Making
everyone deal with your drama. Isn’t it enough
that the company handles your scandals every
day?”
His eyes fell on Ethan behind me, and his
expression darkened.
“Why are you two together?”
