I didn’t answer, wiping the tears from my
eyes.
“Ashley, let’s break up.”
Then, I calmly took off the ring I’d cherished
for so long and placed it on the table.
As I turned to leave, I heard Ashley sigh.
“Don’t worry, she’ll be back crying and
begging me to take her back soon enough.”
Exhausted, I followed Ethan back to his car
and deleted all of Ashley’s contact
information from my phone.
As I exited the page, I saw a picture of Ethan
and me leaving the restaurant trending on
Twitter.
The comments below were disgusting,
accusing me of cheating, being ugly, being
promiscuous, and playing both sides.
I didn’t want to drag Ethan down, so I sighed.
“Thank you for helping me back there. You
can just drop me off at the subway station up
ahead. I can get home myself.”
Ethan steered with one hand, turning to look
at me with amusement.
“Go home by yourself?”
“We’ve already been photographed. If you
take the subway, I might be accused of
abandoning my girlfriend.”
I blushed at the word “girlfriend” and lowered
my head.
After a long pause, I said, “Maybe it’s best if
your agency clarifies things.”
<
Ethan didn’t look at me, his profile sharp in
the light.
“What if I don’t want to clarify?”
His tone was serious, not like he was joking.
I didn’t know how to respond, so I just shut
my mouth awkwardly.
My gut told me this wasn’t the first time
Ethan and I had met.
After a moment of silence, Ethan chuckled,
changing the subject.
“If you really want to thank me, Ms. Summer,
come to Burning Star. I guarantee it’ll be
better than being with Ashley.”
Burning Star Entertainment was the agency
Ethan’s family had set up for him. It was new
and needed a highly capable actress to make
a name for itself.
Their agents had approached me a few times
before, but I’d always refused.
Back then, I was still foolishly believing that
L
Ashley would marry me one day.
Seeing my silence, Ethan pouted.
“I know you’ve been with Ashley for years, it’s
not easy to just cut it off. Don’t rush to reject
me, I’m willing to wai-”
“Ethan.”
I interrupted him, looking up.
“No need to wait. I’ve made up my mind. I’ll
join Burning Star.”
I packed my things at the villa.
After all these years with Ashley, most of my
money had gone to him. What little I actually
owned fit in a single suitcase.
Jane, my agent, picked me up, hesitantly
handing me her phone.
“It’s for you.”
Confused, I took the phone. Before I could
speak, Ashley’s angry voice boomed through
the speaker.
“Summer, you’ve got guts! Blocking me!”
“I was going to give you a supporting role in
Director Lincoln’s new movie for Emily, but
since you’re so ungrateful, don’t blame me for
being ruthless!”
I simply lowered my eyes, my voice flat.
“Then give it to someone else.”
I hung up.
I thought I wouldn’t see Ashley again.
But a few days later, I was invited to a charity
gala.
As soon as I entered, I saw Emily on his arm,
giving an interview.
The host asked them when they were getting
married. Emily blushed, glancing shyly at
Ashley and tugging his sleeve.
“Oh, I can’t really say. You explain it to
everyone.”
The camera focused on Ashley. He pursed his
lips, as if he hadn’t heard, his dark eyes fixed
on me through the screen.
Not wanting to get involved, I went to the
dressing room to touch up my makeup.
Not long after, Emily stormed in, wearing a
dark blue evening gown, her face grim.
“Summer, if I were you, I wouldn’t embarrass
myself here.”
“Clinging to him like this only makes you look
desperate.”
With no cameras around, she dropped the
act.
“Do you really think Ashley loved you all these
years?”
“You were just a replacement when I wasn’t
around. Otherwise, why would he still believe
me even after I broke your grandma’s
heirloom?”
Emily scoffed, folding her arms.
“Believe it or not, Ashley will always take my
side, no questions asked.”
I snapped, slapping her across the face.
<
“Are you done? If you are, shut up.”
Emily’s eyes widened in disbelief, a smirk
playing on her lips.
“Summer, you’re finished.”
The next second, Ashley kicked open the
dressing room door.
Emily fell to her knees, clutching her face,
tears welling up in her eyes.
“Summer, I really didn’t mean to steal your
job.”
“Please, just let me be. I’ll give you anything
you want. I just want to be with Ashley.”
Ashley rushed to help Emily up, glaring at me.
“I thought you’d learned your lesson after
being quiet for so long, but you’re still so
arrogant.”
“I’m the one who gave her the role. I’m the
one who put your career on hold.”
“If you have any complaints, take it up with
me!”
