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“So, how are things going on set? I thought you were almost done filming.” I asked.
Naomi gave a small nod. “Yeah, the wrap party’s right around the corner. We’ve only got two more scenes to shoot, and we’ll be finished the day after tomorrow,”
I smiled and said, “Well, I’ll still need your help a little longer. Even after shooting ends, you and Jasper will have to team up for a few promotional events.
Even though Naomi was dating someone now, plenty of people still rooted for her and Jasper to be together. Because of that, they had to keep the act going to hold on to their fanbase–plus, the new show the company was pushing needed extra attention.
Naomi understood how things worked in showbiz and agreed without saying a word.
I glanced around, trying to spot Caden, but instead noticed Jessica standing beside him. She had a glass of champagne in her hand and was smiling brightly as she spoke to him, though I couldn’t make out what they were talking about.
Caden was facing away from me, so I had no way of knowing what kind of look he had on his face.
With a chilly smile, I stood up, brushing down my skirt as I headed toward them. “Don’t mind me,” I said sharply.
Naomi’s POV:
I looked over at Samuel and asked, “Any idea who that female werewolf is?”
The moment I saw her, I could tell she had feelings for Caden.
Still, she had some nerve–thinking she could go after the same guy as Rosaline.
“That’s Jessica–the Stars Pack’s heiress. She’s known for being a genius at witch’s stone betting,” Samuel said offhandedly while absentmindedly toying with my fingers.
“Witch’s stone betting?” I asked, raising an eyebrow in interest.
“Yep,” Samuel said. “The Stars Pack built their whole empire on it, and Jessica’s seen as their most gifted talent in years.”
“Seriously? That’s pretty amazing,” I murmured, genuinely impressed. Still, something about Jessica struck a chord–like I’d seen her somewhere before.
But I was sure we’d never met. Maybe my mind was just playing tricks on me.
Rosaline’s POV:
Just as I started walking toward Caden and Jessica, a young werewolf suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
I scowled slightly and glanced up at him.
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He gave me a polite grin, pulled a card from his inside pocket, and offered it to me. “Ms. Sinclair, my name’s Matthew Hoover. I’m with Neo Media.”
I took the card out of politeness, glanced over the details, and said, “Alright, Mr. Hoover–what’s this about?”
There was a flicker of hesitation in his face before he spoke. “I just wanted to treat you to a meal, Ms. Sinclair.”
“A meal?” I asked, narrowing my gaze. “Why do you want to treat me to a meal?”
He paused for a moment before saying, “I’ve looked up to you for a long time, Ms. Sinclair. I’ve always hoped for a chance to meet you.”
“I’ll take your card,” I replied calmly. “But I don’t think a meal is necessary. Now that I know who you are, that’s enough,” I said plainly, and not interested in getting involved.
But Matthew moved fast, once again cutting me off and standing in my way. “Ms. Sinclair, please–having a meal with you would be an honor. I really do admire you,” he said.
There was a hint of urgency in his voice that instantly raised red flags.
It felt like he had another reason for approaching me.
I met his gaze and asked, “Is having a meal with me really that important to you?”
“Of course,” Matthew said quickly, nodding eagerly. “It would be a great honor to get to know you.”
“Well then,” I said slowly after thinking it over, “I’ll call you when I have time. If I’m free, you can treat me to a meal.”
But Matthew’s smile faded slightly. “Why wait? How about now, Ms. Sinclair?”
I let out a short laugh. “Are you seriously trying to keep me here on purpose?”
That clearly rattled him. His eyes twitched for a split second before he quickly pulled himself together. “I’m not sure what you’re implying, Ms. Sinclair.”
I folded my arms and gave him a sharp look. “You do know I run an entertainment company, don’t you?”
He looked genuinely puzzled as if my words had completely thrown him off.
“I’ve seen many actors, but you have no acting skills at all,” I said with a slight grin.
Matthew’s face froze, his smile vanishing. I didn’t waste another second on him and simply stepped around him, making my way straight toward Caden.
Chapter 702 Is This a Proposal?
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I arrived just as Jessica was saying to Caden, “I wonder when you’ll have some free time, Mr. Holbrook. Could I have the honor of inviting you to dinner soon?
As she spoke, she raised her glass, clearly aiming to toast with Caden.
Before she could, I stepped in, tapping my glass against Caden’s instead. “What are you two discussing? Ms. Sullivan, you seem in such a good mood.“–
Jessica’s expression flickered for a moment, but she quickly masked it with a smile. “It’s just a business matter,” she said smoothly. “Though, Ms. Sinclair, you look a little tense. Are you perhaps misunderstanding something?”
Her voice was playful, and she even gave Caden a pointed look.
Caden, however, didn’t acknowledge her at all, turning his face away as if she weren’t even there.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “A misunderstanding? Hardly. There’s nothing to misinterpret here–Caden would never be interested in someone like you.”
Jessica’s expression gave a slight twitch, though she kept up a strained smile. “You sound awfully confident, Ms. Sinclair. What makes you so sure Mr. Holbrook wouldn’t be interested in me?”
I gave a mocking laugh. “The fact that you’d even ask such a foolish question is reason enough.” Leaning in toward her, I flashed a teasing wink. “Tell me, Ms. Sullivan, do you recall what you said at the witch’s stone betting table?”
Jessica’s brows drew together. “What are you talking about?”
“You said if you won, I’d have to walk away from Caden. But if you lost … “I gave a faint smile, though my voice had turned sharp and cold. “Then your life would be mine to take. Ring any bells, Ms. Sullivan?”
She really had the audacity to make a move on my man while I was standing right there–clearly, she needed to be put in her place.
Jessica paused, then let out a dry chuckle. “Technically speaking, that wager never actually happened, did it?”
My eyes narrowed. “That’s true,” I said coolly. “Because if it had, you wouldn’t still be standing here, Ms. Sullivan.”
“Rosaline, you’re crossing the line!” Jessica’s grin disappeared as she glared at me.
I calmly swirled the wine in my glass, watching the bubbles rise as I spoke evenly. “That’s exactly why I find you somewhat tolerable, Ms. Sullivan–you know when to stop. If it were some clueless she–w place, who knows how things would’ve ended.”
■ your
Jessica’s expression shifted. “What are you implying, Rosaline? Is that a threat? I’m the heiress of the Stars Pack–you really think you can lay a hand on me?”
“Oh no, I’m shaking in my boots,” I replied, my smile calm and careless.
Jessica leaned in slightly, her tone low and laced with sarcasm. “Rosaline, I will win Caden over.”
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Then, without waiting for a response, she turned on he heel and walked off.
I stared at her back with a frosty gaze, my hands balling into fists before I even realized it.
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Right then, I was pulled into a familiar warm hug. When I looked up, it was Caden’s striking face I saw.
“I’m feeling jealous,” I confessed without holding back.
Caden pressed a soft kiss to my neck, speaking in an even voice. “Our company does have some recent business with the Stars Pack, but I haven’t mentioned anything to Jessica.”
I turned in his arms to face him fully, looping my arms around his neck. “What am I supposed to do, Caden? I’ve never dealt with such a bold, shameless rival before.”
Caden hesitated for a moment before saying in a steady tone, “There is one solution.”
“What is it?” I asked, lookin
up at him with wide eyes.
He glanced down, gently running his fingers across my forehead, his voice soft and low. “Become my wife.”
I froze, completely caught off guard.
Lhadn’t seen that coming from Caden, and for a second, my heart skipped a beat.
I bit my lip and glanced at him. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
His voice dropped to a gentle murmur. “And if I am … would you accept?”
“This kind of place for a proposal?” I huffed, turning my head with a playful pout. “Mr. Holbrook, that’s seriously lacking in romance. No way I’m saying yes to that.” Then I rested my head against his shoulder.
I was only partly joking–deep down, I knew I wasn’t ready for marriage. It just didn’t seem like the right
moment.
Caden must’ve picked up on my hesitation, because he gently kissed the top of my head.
“You really wouldn’t say yes?” he murmured.
I could hear the quiet trace of disappointment in his tone, which made me pause. “It’s not that I don’t want to… I just haven’t seriously thought about it yet.”
Caden just gave a faint smile, slipped an arm around my waist, and stayed quiet.
That’s when Queenie showed up. She stood awkwardly a few steps away, clearly unsure of herself, before finally stepping forward. “Caden…” she called hesitantly.
He gave her a quick look, and Queenie nervously bit her lip before asking, “What are yo about Wendy?”
inning to do
Caden’s eyes settled on her, his tone turning cold. “Why? Is there something you need from me?”
Queenie faltered under his gaze, managing a shaky smile. “N–no, it’s nothing. I was just wondering … after what she did to Rosaline.”
Leved her coldly unimpressed by her little act. Honest she had some nerve trying to gauge Caden’s
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stance even now–was she completely clueless?
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If she’d gotten herself tangled up in Wendy’s scheme, she’d be rotting in a cell right next to that idiot by
now.
“Uh…” Queenie stammered, fumbling over her words, hen quickly turned to walk away.
As I watched her hurry off, I couldn’t hold back a laugh
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Caden glanced at me.
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I lazily curled up in his arms and said, “I really don’t get how someone like you could have a family like Queenie.”
Caden still said nothing.
I looked up at him and realized that the he was still upset about what had happened earlier.
I reached out and hooked my hand through his arm, gently fiddling with his cufflinks. “No way, you’re mad?”
Caden still ignored me. I wrinkled my nose and tiptoed closer. “Seriously mad?”
I kept my tone soft and coaxing as I tested the waters.
Suddenly, Caden grabbed my chin and kissed me hard, almost like a punishment. He even bit down lightly on my lip, making me let out a soft whimper of pain.
“What was that for?” I slapped his chest.
Caden looked at me, a shadow passing through his deep eyes.
“Rosaline,” he murmured my name as tenderly as if he were calling out to something precious.
Seeing that deep emotion in his eyes, my heart softened too. I couldn’t help but reply softly, “Give me a little more time, okay?”
Later that night, Hubert did something he rarely ever did–he called me.
“Richard is so petty,” Hubert grumbled on the phone, “Just because I didn’t send him a birthday gift, he now acts like he’s too good to even breathe the same air as me!”
I couldn’t help but laugh quietly. These two had once been major power players across the Werewolf Continent. Now, at their age, they still bickered like kids.
“I heard you brought out Shay?” Hubert said.
I nodded. “I asked him to teach me to carve a bracelet to give to Richard for his birthday.”
To the outside world, Shay had only ever acknowledged one apprentice–Norris. No one knew that I was also one of his students; I just never made it public.
Hubert nodded lightly. “Only you could’ve pulled Shay out of hiding. But I did hear his other disc might be heading to Rivemon soon.”
“Norris is coming I was a bit surprised.
But thinking about it more carefully, Jessica had already invited him to do some carving. Even if he wasn’t in Rivemon yet, he was probably somewhere nearby.
Ryan’s POV:
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“Cut!”
With the director’s call, af the cameras stopped rolling
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I immediately let go of Kristy, pushed her gently out of my arms and putting a few yards between us.
Kristy looked hurt as if she wanted to say something, but I quickly turned away and started chatting with the crew instead.
More staff’swarmed over to congratulate us, and she had no choice but to hold her tongue.
“Congrats to you both for your hard work. We finally wrapped up filming for the MV!” The director clapped, and everyone else applauded Kristy and me.
I smiled politely without saying much. Kristy exchanged some pleasantries, too, though her eyes stayed glued to me the whole time.
The director turned to me. “We’re all heading out to celebrate after we wrap up. There’s a restaurant nearby.”
The staff around us was excited, and Kristy looked at me hopefully.
I smiled apologetically. “I’m really sorry, but I can’t make it tonight. You all know my wife’s pregnant now that filming’s over. I want to spend some time with her
The crew looked at me with understanding and a bit of envy, while Kristy’s face darkened in clear disappointment.
The director looked a little bummed too, but he tried hard to persuade me. “You’re our male lead! It won’t be the same without you. It’s just a quick dinner, nothing too long.”
Kristy quickly said, “Yeah, if you don’t come, the whole celebration will feel half–baked. You don’t want to be a party pooper, do you?”
Seeing that even the director and Kristy were acting like this, the crew started chiming in and encouraging
me, too.
In the end, I reluctantly agreed.
We wrapped up quickly, and everyone headed to the restaurant.
At the celebration dinner, everyone was in a great mood. After a few rounds of drinks, my tolerance gave out–I was no match for these werewolf colleagues–and I passed out on the table.
Kristy’s POV:
As the party wound down, Ryan was still slumped over sound asleep.
A few people were getting ready to leave. The director and two other half–sober crew members looked at Ryan, worried.
“Maybe I should drive him home,” one werewolf crew member suggested, swaying slightly but still relatively clear–headed. “He’s in no shape to get back by himself.”
I immediately stepped up and propped Ryan up. “No need. I know where he lives, and my place is right
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nearby. It’s all on the way.
I’d been watching him the whole night. This was the opportunity I’d been waiting for.
#Finished
Many crew members knew about the ambiguous rumos between Ryan and me. Seeing how proactive I was, everyone just exchanged knowing looks and let it go.
Since no one objected, I happily helped Ryan into a tax.
But instead of telling the driver to take us to his House, directed him to the nearest hotel.
Looking at Ryan leaning unconscious against my shoulder, my heart raced with excitement.
We’d see just how much longer Yura could keep her hold on him tonight.
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Chapter 704 Kristy’s Setup
When we arrived at the hotel, I carefully laid Ryan down on the bed.
I softly called his naine, trying to see if he was still conscious.
He mumbled something in response, his mouth barely moving.
I leaned in closer to catch what he was saying.
To my fury, I heard him whispering Yura’s name.
Rage flared up inside me.
Even now, at a time like this, he was still thinking about that woman!
Finished
Jealousy burned in my chest. I sat stiffly on the edge of the bed, clenching my fists tightly. Ultimately, I steeled myself, grabbed my collar, and pulled off my clothes. Then, I stripped Ryan as well and slipped under the covers beside him.
I reached out and began touching him, kissing his lips gently at first, trying to arouse him.
-But no matter how much I teased him–licking, kissing, coaxing–Ryan was completely unresponsively
dead drunk.
No reaction at all.
Frustrated, I had no choice but to pull out my phone and start taking a bunch of fake intimate selfies with him, making it look like we’d slept together.
Exhausted afterward, I finally nestled into his arms and fell asleep too.
Ryan’s POV:
When I woke up, it felt like my skull was about to split open.
The shrill ringing of a phone filled the room, drilling into my pounding head.
I squinted, frowning, and reached out blindly for the phone, but someone else beat me to it. A soft, unfamiliar hand grabbed it first.
Then, I heard a woman’s voice. “Hello? What is it?”
I couldn’t hear what was said on the other end, but the call was hung up after a few seconds of silence.
Something immediately felt wrong. I forced my eyes open.
Turning my head, I saw Kristy. And to my horror, we were both completely naked under the covers.
1 yanked the blanket up to cover myself, glaring at her. What are you doing here?! What the hell happened last night?”
Kristy sat up, looking drowsy and confused at first.
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“You were so drunk last night,” she sobbed, “I was trying to take you home, but you said you were going to throw up. I couldn’t let you ruin the driver’s car, so I brought you to the nearest hotel. But then … you grabbed me and dragged ie onto the bed….
She trailed off, not finishing the sentence but I could guess the rest.
I wracked my brain, trying to recall any memory of the night before but there was nothing.
Just a blur of getting drunk and collapsing at the table. After that, complete darkness.
Watching her cry like that so pitifully made it impossible to figure out if she was lying.
“You couldn’t have pushed me away?!” I demanded, feeling a deep, gnawing guilt toward Yura. “You knew about Yura, you knew—”
I choked on my words, unable to finish. Yura was pregnant. If she found out about this, it would crush her.
Kristy slowly stopped crying and looked up at me, her face full of wronged innocence. “I know… I know Yura’s carrying your child,” she said in a small voice. “I know how much this would hurt her. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone what happened. Let’s just pretend it never happened. After all, you don’t even like me. Even if something happened between us, it doesn’t mean anything.”
Her words only made me feel worse.
I didn’t know what to say so I said nothing. I got dressed in silence and left the hotel without another word.
Kristy’s POV:
Watching Ryan leave, I wiped away my fake tears and let a triumphant smile spread across my face.
He had no idea that 10 minutes ago Yura had already called.
I couldn’t hide my excitement when the call came in, asking why Ryan hadn’t come home all night.
I answered in a deliberately tired voice, still dripping with smugness. “Ms. Nadine, Ryan was exhausted last night and passed out. If you need anything, you can tell me.”
Yura was clearly stunned into silence. It took a moment before she managed to stammer out. “Ms. Heart … are you saying… you’re with Ryan right now?”
I dragged out my reply lazily, pretending to be sleepy “Mmm… “Just as I spoke, Ryan stirred beside me and let out a soft grunt–perfecttiming. I quickly moved the phone closer to him, letting Yura hear his breathing.
”
He even mumbled again, giving me more ammunition I sat up slowly, whispering into the phone. “You heard him, right? Ryan drank a lot at the wrap party. He’s been with me all night, and cared for him. If there’s nothing urgent, I’m going to hang up now. I’ll tell him you called once he wake
After I hung up it wasn’t long before Ryan woke up completely clueless about what had already happened.
Now, all I had to do was sit back and wait for Yura and Ryan to fight.
After all, what woman could tolerate her man spending the night with someone else in a hotel room?.
Plus. I had arranged for reporters from the werewolf community to lurk nearby outside the hotel, just
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ready to snap photos of as leaving one after the other.
Once those pictures hit the headlines, Yura could not deny what had happened.
Ryan would be mine. He had to be mine.
Two minutes after Ryan left the hotel, I ‘appeared‘ in the lobby, acting suspicious, glancing around nervously, and pulling my hat down low as I slipped out.
A few moments later, my phone buzzed with a text message.
“Ms. Heart, everything’s done.”
I grinned in satisfaction, tucked the phone into my pocket, and disappeared into the streets, climbing into a waiting car.
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Yura’s POV:
Ryan was finally back.
He forced a smile at me. “Yura, I’m home.”
Hearing his voice, I blinked slowly and lifted my head to look at him.
But the moment I saw him, Kristy’s words flooded my mind again.
They had spent the entire night together. Ryan had even fallen asleep there.
A man and a woman alone, drunk. What else could have happened?
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My heart instantly plummeted to the bottom. I lowered my gaze and nodded faintly. “Oh. You’re back..
Ryan noticed my off mood and quickly came to sit beside me. “Yura, what’s wrong? Did something happen? You don’t look pleased.”
I turned my head slowly to look at him, but in the end, wearily brushed his hand away.
At that moment, I didn’t want to, or rather, I couldn’t bring myself to touch him.
I didn’t know whether Kristy had been telling the truth, but no matter what, the seed of doubt was already planted in my heart.
“I’m fine. Since you’re back, get some rest. I didn’t sleep much last night either, so I’m going to my room. now.” I said lightly.
Because of the pregnancy, we’d been sleeping in separate rooms for a while now.
After saying that, I went upstairs to my bedroom, leaving Ryan alone on the sofa.
Rosaline’s POV:”
Around noon, I dropped by Yura’s place.
“Yura, the company’s been super busy lately, so I haven’t had time to visit. How are you feeling? Any discomfort?”
I greeted her warmly, but I quickly noticed something wasn’t right. Even though Yura was smiling, it was faint and forced, and her whole demeanor was distracted, as if she wasn’t even there.
I gently grabbed her arm and asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong? Did something happen? Diyan upset you?”
Yura paused for a moment before softly replying, “It’s nothing. I was just a little tired yesterday, that’s all. I’m sure I’ll feel better after some sleep.”
Seeing she wasn’t willing to talk, I didn’t press her. I just reminded her to get plenty of rest and left it at
that.
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where I found Ryan and pulled him aside, lowering my voice. “Ryan, what’s going on between you and Yura lately? She looks terrible. Did you do something to upset her?”
Ryan looked totally batlled. He shook his head, his face full of innocence. “Rosaline, I honestly have no idea. When I got home today, she was already like that tried asking, but she wouldn’t tell me anything.”
I sighed quietly, studying Ryan carefully. Honestly, he didn’t seem quite right either today.
After thinking momentarily, I said thoughtfully, “Ryan, Yura’s carrying your child now. Pregnant women can be extra emotional. That’s normal. But if there’s any tension between you two, you need to fix it. If her mood is bad, it could affect her and the baby. She chose to marry you not to suffer. Understand?”
The words sounded light, but they were a warning. I was genuinely worried Yura might be getting mistreated.
“I understand, Rosie. I’ll treat Yura well,” Ryan said quickly, nodding sincerely.
Ryan’s POV:
Every time I thought about Kristy, I felt a splitting headache coming on.
I had no idea what exactly happened between us last night.
Judging by Kristy’s behavior, maybe everything really happened.
But I couldn’t remember a damn thing..
Seeing me answering so earnestly, Rosaline finally nodded, seemingly reassured.
She stood and said, “Alright then, I should get going. I won’t bother you two anymore.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Yura’s voice suddenly came from behind. She had left her room and wanted to walk Rosaline to the door.
Rosaline immediately stopped her. “Yura, don’t move around. You need to rest more.”
Yura was over six months pregnant, and her belly was noticeably larger than most women’s. Even walking seemed like a burden.
I quickly stepped forward to support her, too.”Yeah, Yura, you should lie down and rest.”
But Yura pushed me away instinctively. “Don’t touch me.”
I froze, completely stunned.
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“Yura, what’s wrong?” Seeing me like this, Rosaline grew even more worried and didn’t want to leave.
“It’s nothing.” I said, but just thinking about that call from Kristy made my chest feel unbearably tight.
Still, I didn’t want to show it in front of Rosaline. I didn’t want her to worry about me.
“Rosie, if you’ve got stuff to do, go ahead. I’m really fine,” I said, pressing my lips together and taking a deep breath.
Even so, Rosaline was clearly uneasy. Before she left, she reminded Ryan repeatedly to take good care of
- me.
“Don’t worry, Rosaline. I’ll look after Yura properly,” Ryan promised repeatedly.
“All right, I’ll come visit again in a few days. Yura, make sure you get plenty of rest.” Rosaline nodded and finally turned to leave.
Watching her walk away, I felt a deep sense of loss.
Rosaline and Caden finally have a happy ending and a beautiful future together. And me? My life was a complete mess.
First, my long relationship with Timothy had ended with nothing but regrets. Then, somehow, one reckless night with Ryan left me pregnant.
It had taken me so long to bury my feelings for Timothy deep in my heart, to slowly start accepting Ryan and even imagine a future together.
But now? Ryan was fooling around behind my back, tangled up with Kristy.
What hurt even more was that Kristy dared to call me and gloat.
How could I not feel suffocated?
Seeing the gloom written all over my face, Ryan asked worriedly, “Yura, what’s wrong? Are you upset about something? If there’s something on your mind, let me know. Don’t bottle it up. It’s not good for your health or the baby.”
I finally decided not to keep this inside anymore. I looked him straight in the eye and asked, “What exactly is going on between you and Kristy?”
“There’s nothing between us!” Ryan said, his voice faltering a little. “I told you before, I only think of her like a family.”
“A family?” I gave a cold laugh.
That guilty flicker in his eyes didn’t escape me.
Clearly, he knew perfectly well what he had done last night.
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“Enough. Stop overthinking it.” Ryan tried to brush it off, reaching out to pull me into his arms. “I took the day off to stay with you.”
I shoved him away harshly. “Go stay with Kristy instead!” I snapped.
My voice was loud enough that Zera, who was outside, immediately pushed the door open and came in, frowning. “What’s going on with you two?” she demanded.
“Mom, what are you doing here? We’re fine,” Ryan said hurriedly.
“Fine?” Zera snorted in disbelief. “If everything’s fine, why are you two yelling so loudly? I heard you from outside!” Then she glanced at me, her gaze sharp.
“I heard you mention Kristy just now. Listen, Yura, Kristy is a good girl. You better not talk bad about her behind her back.”
I was speechless. Seriously?
Kristy was throwing herself at Ryan, calling to provoke me, and somehow, I was the one at fault.
How could the Luna of the Storm Pack be entirely out of her mind?
Zera had always disliked me. If it weren’t for the fact that I was carrying Ryan’s child, she probably would’ve kicked me out of Storm Pack long ago.
Feeling utterly suffocated, I muttered, “I’m going for a walk.”
Without waiting for a response, I walked straight out of the room.
“Yura.” Ryan tried to chase after me, but Zera grabbed him by the arm.
“She’s completely out of line! She’s always throwing a tantrum–who does she think she’s giving that attitude to?”
I could hear Zera grumbling furiously behind me, but I didn’t stop. I just kept walking until I made it onto the street.
I wandered aimlessly, one hand protectively cradling my belly, feeling utterly lost.
Was keeping this child the right choice?
If I had ended the pregnancy and left, I would probably be in Phoshire, working on something I loved, helping Rosaline manage the Loe Studio.
But instead, here I was, stuck in Storm Pack, taking blow after blow every day.
I didn’t want to live like this anymore.
Not even one more day. And yet, I didn’t know where else to go.
While I was drowning in frustration, my phone suddenly rang.
It was a number I didn’t recognize.
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“Hello? Who’s this?”
On the other end, there was only silence.
My heart clenched painfully in my chest. A strange, familiar feeling stirred inside me.
“Timothy, is that you?” I asked, my voice trembling.
Still, there was no answer.
Only silence.
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I didn’t know how long I stood until my phone died. I listlessly lowered my hand, putting the phone away.
But deep down, I knew that call must have been from Timothy.
Where was he now?
Had his leg healed completely?
Was he doing okay?
Chapter 707 Intoxicated by Wine and Desire
Naomi’s POV:
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Today was our last day of filming, and as everyone was gearing up for the wrap party, Rosaline swung by the
set.
The director was thrilled to see her and invited her to join the party, but she just smiled and said she was too busy. Before she left, she made sure to tell Sandra to remind me not to drink too much.
Rosaline knew I could not hold my liquor to save my life, and with paparazzi probably lurking around, she did not want me making a fool of myself in the headlines again.
Sandra and I nodded, but what Rosaline did not know was that I had zero plans to hang around the party. I had already promised Samuel I would go on a date with him tonight.
After weeks of non–stop filming, I barely had any time with Samuel, so the moment the party kicked off, I tossed back a few drinks. Sandra caught on fast and was about to step in, but I gave her a cheeky wink and slumped dramatically into a chair, acting like I was about to pass out.
Sandra got the hint right away. She quickly stood up, helped me to my feet, and smiled apologetically at our werewolf colleagues. “Sorry, Naomi’s not much of a drinker. She’s already feeling it, so I’m taking her home.”
The director and the producer just laughed it off and told her to get me some rest.
The second we stepped out, I sprang right up, grinning from ear to ear.
“You’ve got some nerve to sneak out like that,” Sandra said, shaking her head and wagging a finger at me.
I dodged her finger, laughing. “Come on, it’s a special occasion!”
She snorted and checked her watch. “Go have your fun, but don’t stay out too late. You’ve got work tomorrow, remember?”
“Yes, Ma’am!” I laughed and took off.
Samuel’s POV:
I was waiting by the parking lot near the party when I saw Naomi rushing out.
I was about to wave when she suddenly ran straight at me and threw herself into my arms,
I was caught a little off guard but quickly hugged her back and patted her head.
“Where are we heading?” Naomi asked, looking up at me, her cheeks pink from excitement.
I leaned down to answer, but before I could say anything, she puckered her lips and leaned closer, clearly asking for a kiss.
I gave her a quick kiss and pinched her cheek. “Have you been drinking?”
Naomi widened her eyes and clung to my arm, pouting. “I faked being drunk to sneak out early, but I did
have a few drinks.”
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Chapter 707 Intoxicated by Wine and Desire
empty stomach.
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I suggested we should just head back so she could sober up, but Naomi shook her head stubbornly. “I want street food. The stuff at the party was terrible.”
I agreed and offered to grab her some hangover meds too, but she pouted and waved me off. “I’m not drunk! I’m totally fine. It was just a couple of drinks.”
Yeah, right. Not buying it for a second, I started driving us straight back to the Meteor Pack villa.
Sure enough, halfway there, Naomi started looking woozy, slumping against the passenger door and softly humming to herself.
She stared blankly out the window and mumbled, “Are we getting street food now?”
I had not expected her to get tipsy this fast. I pressed the gas a little harder, eager to get us home.
As soon as we pulled into the driveway, Naomi started acting up again.
Still sitting in her seat, she reached for me. “Carry me,” she demanded.
I chuckled, got out of the car, opened her door, and scooped her up.
Naomi tilted her head to look at the villa with wide eyes. “Wow, this street food place is gorgeous. Where’d you find it?”
I chuckled. “This is the villa of Meteor Pack–my home.”
Naomi blinked up at me in disbelief. “I thought your family ran a company? Since when did you open a street food joint?”
Her drunken rambling was too cute. I carried her inside and gently set her down on the couch.
While I went to grab some hangover meds, Naomi suddenly sat up and started “ordering“.
“Boss, I want a hotdog!” she announced, waving her arm dramatically.
I came back with a glass of water and the medicine, nodding like a good waiter. “All right, but first, take this.”
However, Naomi pushed my hand away, shaking her head fiercely. “No way. I came for hotdogs, not medicine.”
“Honey, you’ve had a little too much to drink,” I said softly. “Here, take the medicine, and get some rest, alright?”
“I’m not drunk.” Naomi pouted, inching her face closer to mine.
I sighed and gently stroked her cheek. “Oh yeah? Then how are you gonna prove it?”
I was planning to trick her into taking the medicine, but before I could do anything, she leaned in and kissed me.
Her lips were warm and tasted faintly of alcohol. I instinctively tried to hold her back, but she was faster- wrapping her arms and legs around me.
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The soft, alluring curves of her body made me lose control almost immediately. A low, helpless groan slipped from my lips as 1 grabbed Naomi’s hand, trying to steady her.
Yet, she was not having it. Completely ignoring my efforts, she kissed me even more fiercely. The silky brush of her tongue against mine sent a dizzying rush straight to my head.
As I tasted her sweetness, the air between us grew thick with heat and longing. When Naomi finally pulled back to meet my eyes, her gaze was so full of affection that it nearly undid me.
My throat tightened, and a raw, burning desire rose up inside me. I gently pushed her away, took a shaky breath, and said, “Naomi, you’re drunk.”
However, Naomi just smiled, grabbing onto my collar and tugging me closer.
“I’m not,” she said.
Her fingers trailed lightly over my neck, slow and teasing, moving lower with every pass.
I caught her mischievous hand, my voice dropping lower. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
Naomi leaned in, her lips brushing my ear as she whispered, her tone dripping with sweetness, “Samuel, I already told you I’m not drunk.”
After she said that, she kissed my ear lightly.
Her warm breath against my skin shattered what little control I had left.
Inside me, my wolf let out a hungry growl.
Without thinking, I scooped Naomi into my arms and gazed down at her irresistible face. My voice was rough as I warned, “You’re out of chances to back out now.”
And with that, I carried her upstairs.
Moonlight poured through the windows, silver and soft, painting everything in a dreamlike glow.
It was a wild night for me and her.
Naomi’s POV:
When I woke up, the first thing I saw was a broad, bare chest right in front of me.
I blinked a few times and caught a glimpse of Samuel’s sleeping face.
And just like that, memories of last night came flooding back. I glanced down at my arm sticking out from under the covers, and my face instantly lit up like a tomato.
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Chapter 708 No Chance for Regret
Carefully, I propped myself up against Samuel’s arm, tilting my head to stare at him.
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His long lashes fluttered ever so slightly with each breath, like fittle butterfly wings after a rainstorm. I rested my chin in my palm, just staring at his handsome face. The more I looked, the more obsessed I became.
Seriously, Naomi, you’ve got amazingtaste in men.
I could not resist. I lightly traced my finger down the bridge of Samuel’s nose and tapped it against his lips. Without thinking, I leaned in and stole a quick kiss.
Right then, his lashes flickered and his eyes popped open.
Startled, I blurted, “You were awake…”
Yet, before I could even finish, Samuel rolled me under him, raining kiss after kiss all over me.
Completely thrown off, I forgot how to breathe. His kisses left me dizzy until I had to tap his cheek to get him to stop. Finally, he pulled back with a grin on his face. “Silly girl,” he teased.
“You’re the silly one.” I huffed back.
“Fine, I’m the silly one.” Samuel laughed, wrapping me up in his arms like I was the most precious thing in the world. He tucked his chin on top of my head and whispered, “I still feel like I’m dreaming.”
“Huh?” I tilted my head, confused.
“I’m just so happy,” he murmured. “Happy that I met you. Happy that I fell for you.”
I snuggled closer, nuzzling against his chest like a kitten. “Me too.”
Looking up at him mischievously, I suddenly leaned in and gave him a tiny bite on his neck, leaving a faint red mark.
“Marked you,” I said proudly. “You’re mine now.”
Samuel stared at me, his eyes dark and burning with emotion. Clueless about the danger I was provoking, I poked his chest too and teased, “You don’t even work out, so how do you have such a nice body?”
As I teased him, my hand started to wander down.
Samuel raised an eyebrow, voice going all low and raspy in my ear. “You sure you know what you’re doing?”
I looked up at him in confusion then stuck out my tongue playfully. “I’m doing it on purpose.”
And before he could grab me, I wiggled out of his arms, wrapped myself in the blanket, and sprinted into the bathroom.
“I’m starving!” I shouted through the door, laughing as I locked it.
From outside, I heard Samuel’s frustrated but fond voice, “You little minx!”
Chapter 709 Skipping Work Without Reason
Naomi’s POV:
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Samuel and I spent the whole morning just being lazy in bed, sharing breakfast, and not wanting to move. Suddenly, Samuel’s phone rang.
He picked it up, glanced at the screen, then looked straight at me.
I blinked in confusion as he handed the phone over. “It’s Sandra. She’s looking for you.”
Panic hit me. Today was the day I was supposed to show up for work.
I looked at Samuel with big, desperate eyes, silently begging him to help me out.
He sighed, totally giving in, and answered for me. However before he could even say much, Sandra’s voice exploded through the speaker, “Naomi, don’t you dare play dead! Get over here right now!”
I winced, grabbed the phone from Samuel, and put on my best sweet voice. “Hey, Sandra …”
“Don’t even start! Sweet–talking isn’t gonna save you. Didn’t I tell you not to stay out late last night? And what happened? You didn’t come home and you didn’t pick up your phone!” she snapped.
“It was an accident! I swear!” I said, grinning sheepishly.
Truth was, I had left my phone somewhere in the living room last night, and after everything that went down with Samuel, checking it was the last thing on my mind.
“Hurry up and get to the office. You’ve got a promo interview soon. Keep this up and I’ll have to drag Ms. Sinclair in to whip you back into shape!” Sandra huffed before hanging up on me.
I flopped back onto the bed with a groan. “I’m doomed. She’s gonna lecture me to death.”
Samuel chuckled and moved the breakfast tray aside. “I’ll drive you back in a bit.”
I swung my legs off the couch, still sulking. “It’s the promo for my show today. Gosh, the filming’s finally over.”
Samuel came over and gently cupped my face. “Sorry, I’ve got a bunch of surgeries lined up this afternoon, so I won’t be able to pick you up later.”
“You’re stuck in surgeries all day?” I asked.
He nodded, letting out a small sigh.
My heart squeezed a little. Without thinking, I looked up and said, “Then let me come pick you up tonight!”
The hopeful look I gave him must have worked because his eyes turned affectionate as he nodded.
After some last–minute cuddles, Samuel drove me to the office.
And of course, as soon as I hopped out of the car, there was Sandra–waiting like a hawk.
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“Sorry, this will be the only time! I was celebrating wrapping up filming!” I whined, trying to win her over with some shameless puppy eyes.
Sandra was not buying it. She grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the building. “Nope! Let’s get your hair and makeup done. We’re leaving for the promo venue soon.”
The production team had set up a press conference to promote the new series, and all the main cast were there. When I arrived, Jasper was already sitting and waiting for his turn.
“Sorry I’m late,” I said apologetically while rushing over to him.
“No worries, the press conference hasn’t even started yet,” Jasper said with a smile. “But you left so early last night, were you feeling okay? Sandra mentioned you can’t really hold your liquor, but you sure went all out.”
I puffed up my cheeks and stayed quiet, but Jasper just laughed like he saw right through me. “So you were trying to make an escape, huh?”
I quickly patted his arm, giving him a look to drop it.
He just smiled and did not push it, and I grinned back.
Ever since we cleared the air between us, things had been super chill. We had gotten to that stage of friendship where we could joke about anything.
Not long after, the press conference kicked off and the main cast headed up on stage to face the media.
Thanks to the run–through we had done earlier, everything went smoothly. Since I was the lead–and because Starplay had pretty much tailored the show to promote me—I was the first one up for interviews.
“Were there any challenges getting along with the team when filming first started?” a reporter asked.
I thought for a second before answering, “Honestly, the vibe on set was super chill. Everyone got along naturally. No real challenges at all. Actually, there were a lot of funny moments too. Just between us, our cameraman is absolutely terrible at playing cards.”
The whole crowd cracked up, and I quickly shot an apologetic look over at the camera crew.
“How did it feel filming such a sweet, lighthearted school drama?” someone else asked.
“It felt like I was back in high school and went back in time,” I said with a laugh.
The interview flowed really naturally, and according to the schedule, I was supposed to wrap up after the last question.
Yet, weirdly, the last reporter on the list did not show up. The organizers were hesitating about wheth to end early when a young female werewolf reporter sitting in the corner raised her hand.
She was dressed neatly in a black–and–white suit, her face looking warm and approachable.
“I’d like to ask,” she said with a smile, “as an actor, what do you think is the most important quality?”
Chapter 710 Something Feels Off
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I honestly did not expect that kind of question. I paused for a beat before answering, keeping my voice steady, “I think it all comes down to responsibility.”
“Responsibility?” The reporter repeated, her smile sharpening like she had been waiting for this. “Funny you say that. There were reports you skipped work without giving any reason. Is that what you call being responsible? Oh, and let’s not forget the whole scandal about you juggling two relationships at once. Your explanation back then was pretty vague. Care to finally clear things up?”
Her words threw me for a second. My face stiffened slightly as I instinctively glanced at Sandra.
Normally, everything at these press conferences is super controlled–questions get screened, and reporters are handpicked to make sure nothing messy comes up. Everything’s supposed to boost my image, not tear it down.
Yet, today, it was a live broadcast, and this kind of question could blow up fast.
Sure enough, the livestream chat exploded. People were swarming in, some haters tossing around insults, eager to see me crash and burn.
Sandra immediately stepped forward, but I clenched my fists and took a breath, ready to answer. “I …”
Before I could get the words out, a voice suddenly shouted from the crowd.
“It’s true. She skipped work. And backstage just now, she was all over Jasper Sullivan!”
The whole room instantly buzzed with tension. Reporters whipped out their cameras and mics, trying to catch the chaos firsthand.
No one from the staff had seen this coming. It was a complete mess, and the team had no choice but to cut the live feed on the spot.
With the press conference officially derailed, the staff rushed Jasper and me out of the room.
Behind us, I could still hear the organizer barking furiously, “What the hell just happened? Who said that?”
My chest tightened. It was pretty clear the whole thing was set up to target me.
Sandra leaned in, whispering, “I’ve already called the company. They’re sending people over to handle it.”
However, my mind was still stuck on that question about responsibility. Had I really lived up to it?
Skipping work without warning… messy relationships… those things were not rumors–they were facts.
A bitter laugh bubbled up inside me.
Maybe this messy, flawed version of me is who I really am–way different from the polished image
everyone sees on screen.
I took a shaky breath, about to say something, but Jasper cut in first. “Let’s talk when we get back to the company,” he said firmly.
Chapter 710 Something Feels Off
viral, dragging all those old scandals of mine back into the spotlight.
Everything was spiraling out of control.
Rosaline’s POV:
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Back at the company, I got wind of what had happened at Naomi’s press conference and immediately called in the PR team to start damage control.
Still, I could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. It did not seem like this was just about Naomi -it felt like a bigger plan was at play.
Still, the media storm had to be the first thing we tackled.
As I was thinking about it, Wendy’s weird smile at Richard’s birthday party flashed through my mind.
I picked up my phone and dialed Caden. He did not pick up immediately–probably tied up with something, as usual.
Just then, the office door burst open. Sandra, dragging Naomi along by the wrist, rushed in.
“Ms. Sinclair,” Sandra said, her face serious.
Naomi looked completely wiped out, hiding under a black baseball cap.
I softened my tone and gestured toward the couch. “Come sit. I’ve already set things in motion to clean up the mess from earlier. Don’t worry too much, okay?”
Sandra quickly added, “Ms. Sinclair, something’s off about this whole thing. How did that reporter even get into the press conference?”
Naomi’s manager had been around in the entertainment world for a long time and had seen it all. Yet, times had changed–Naomi was now Starplay’s top priority, and our company had serious pull in the industry. For someone to dare mess with us like that, it clearly was not just some small stunt.
I kept my suspicions to myself, letting just a cold little smile creep into my heart.
At that moment, Naomi finally pulled off her cap and looked up at me, eyes tired but clear. “Rosaline,” she said quietly, “I want to leave the entertainment industry.”
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“Naomi, what are you talking about?” Sandra stared at Naomi in shock.
I could not help but frown too.
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I thought Naomi was just upset because of the bad press, but I had not expected her to actually think about something this serious.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. I really want to leave the entertainment industry. I just don’t think this world is for me.” Naomi sighed, her face full of exhaustion–a look I had never seen on her before.
In my mind, Naomi was always the kind of person who stayed positive no matter what she faced. Could a bump like this really shake her so badly?
“Naomi, why do you feel this way?” I asked, my tone serious.
I had always seen Naomi as someone special. I definitely did not want to lose her.
“Back when I wasn’t super famous, but not completely forgotten either, I honestly didn’t mind,” Naomi said after a short pause, a soft, self–deprecating smile tugging at her lips. “As long as I got to act every day, that was enough for me. But somewhere along the way, everything changed.
“I feel like I just keep causing more trouble. Last time, the company already had to clean up after me so much. It feels like it’s all because of me.” Naomi sighed again, the sound soft and tired.
“So that’s why you’re thinking of quitting?” I glanced at the file in my hand, then looked up to meet her gaze. “Tell me honestly, Naomi, do you still love acting?”
Naomi pressed her lips together, hesitating. After a while, she gave a small, bitter smile. “Of course I do. I love acting. It’s always been my dream. But lately, I’ve been wondering if I’m just not meant for it.
“Ms. Sinclair, maybe I’m just too sensitive, too fragile. I can’t seem to take even the tiniest setbacks. You know, there were times when I would search for all the hateful posts about me, scrolling through them just to figure out why people disliked me so much. But the more I read, the worse I felt. I’m not like other actors
and I felt like I was letting down the people who actually
who can just ignore it. It just made me miserable h
supported me.”
Naomi fidgeted anxiously, then lifted her head to look at me. “Rosaline, the company’s already done so much for me, but I just keep making things harder for everyone.”
“Naomi, don’t say that,” Sandra interrupted, frowning.
I stayed quiet for a moment, thinking it over, before finally saying, “If that’s how you’re feeling, it’s probably a good idea to take some time off. Go home, clear your head, and really think about what you want and whether you’re ready to keep chasing this dream. But for now, you’re still one of us, and I’ll make sure the company has your back.”
As I spoke, I stood and walked over to her. “Naomi, nothing about life is ever smooth sailing.”
The moment the words left my mouth, Naomi’s eyes filled with tears. She threw herself into my arms and started sobbing uncontrollably.
I gently patted her hair. letting out a sigh without saving anything.
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much more than most people experience in a lifetime. Honestly, the fact that she was still standing was impressive.
Sandra stood quietly to the side. She looked like she wanted to take Naomi away, but I shook my head slightly, letting Naomi cry it out.
It was a long time before she finally calmed down.
“Go home and rest for a few days. Once you’ve sorted out your thoughts, come back and talk to me, okay?” I said softly.
Naomi sniffled, looking even more pitiful. “Rosaline, why are you always so good to me?”
“If you know I’m good to you, then be a good girl and listen,” I said with a small smile.
Naomi nodded seriously. After a few more words to comfort her, I let Sandra take her away.
Just as they left, my phone rang–it was Caden returning my call.
“Hey, Caden?” I picked up.
“Sorry, I was stuck in a meeting,” Caden said on the other end. I remembered he had a big meeting today.
“What’s going on?” Caden asked, his voice gentle.
“You had someone take Wendy away at Mr. Richard’s birthday banquet, where is she now?” I asked.
“Wendy?” Caden paused for a while then answered, “I had someone send her back to the Wild Pack that night. I heard their Alpha decided to send her away after that.”
I gave a nod. After all, Wendy had stirred up quite the commotion at the banquet, turning herself into the butt of countless jokes.
On the Werewolf Continent, no pack takes their reputation lightly–least of all a powerful one like the Wild Pack.
“You think something’s off about that?” Caden asked, picking up on my hesitation.
“Don’t you think all the trouble Naomi’s been running into lately feels a little too convenient?” I said quietly.
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At first, I never thought it had anything to do with Wendy. After all, she disliked me, not Naomi. There was no reason for her to involve Naomi, who was completely unrelated.
But now, thinking about everything again, I couldn’t help but start feeling suspicious.
I kept wondering before if Naomi had made any enemies. Now that I thought about it, only one person was left–Kelsey.
He had always been after Naomi. But looking back at when he kidnapped her, it was hard to believe he pulled it off by himself.
He was just a spoiled rich scion who partied all the time. There was no way he could have planned something so detailed on his own.
So, maybe it wasn’t that I was overthinking. Deep down, I felt like there was a bigger picture I was missing.
Now, Naomi had become one of Starplay Entertainment’s top stars. Her interests were deeply connected to the company’s. If anything happened to her, Starplay would take the biggest hit.
Since arriving in Rivemon, the only person I’d openly fought with was Wendy.
“Do you think someone’s trying to hurt you by going after Naomi?” Caden asked, seeming to be thinking the same thing.
I sighed. “I hope I’m just overthinking it.”
I tried to believe it was just normal competition and drama in the entertainment world. But deep down, I knew it had already gone too far.
No matter what, I was determined to uncover who was behind it.
Naomi’s POV:
I sat quietly in the van with Sandra by my side.
She kept glancing at me, wanting to say something to make me feel better, but I stayed silent and gloomy, and she never found a good time to speak.
When we were almost home, a thought popped into my head. I turned to her and said, “Sandra, can you take me to FirstMedi Hospital first?”
“Are you feeling sick?” Sandra asked, worried.
I shook my head and answered in a low voice, “I promised Samuel I’d pick him up today, but …”
My words faded off. “Just take me there first.”
Sandra agreed without hesitation and changed direction toward FirstMedi Hospital.
But neither of us expected to see a huge group of reporters and fervent fans already gathered outside.
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was shocked by the sudden chaos and tried to shield me, but the crowd was too big. She was even pushed aside.
I was trapped by dozens of reporters and fans, unable to move.
“Naomi, can you respond to the question from the press conference?”
“Ms. Naomi, does your boyfriend know about your past?”
“What about the rumors of you skipping work? Care to explain?”
The loud shouting made me dizzy. I shook my head, not knowing what to do.
Right then, someone grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a comforting hug.
When I looked up, I saw it was Samuel.
He quickly brought me back into the van and signaled Sandra to drive off.
Still a little rattled, Sandra told the driver to leave right away.
“Are you hurt?” she asked, glancing back worriedly.
Samuel answered for me. Then, he reached out and gently ran his hand through my hair.
I didn’t say anything. I just clung to his waist, my heart a mess.
Soon, we arrived back at the villa in Meteor Pack.
Samuel’s POV:
Even after we got home, Naomi still didn’t let go of my hand. She leaned against me, acting all clingy.
I guided her to the couch and rubbed my forehead. I had done three consecutive surgeries this afternoon and was completely drained. When I stepped out of the operating room, I got news about Naomi’s situation.
I had planned to find her. But when I got to the hospital entrance, I saw reporters everywhere, and right in the middle of the crowd was Naomi.
“Samuel,” she whispered my name.
I answered her. When I looked down, her eyes were locked on mine, full of emotion.
I reached out and lightly brushed her eyebrows.
That small gesture brought tears to her eyes. She suddenly leaned in and hugged me tightly. “I’m sorry for dragging you into all this.”
I held her face gently and wiped her tears with my thumb.
“You don’t need to say sorry,” I said seriously.
Naomi’s body shook a little as she pressed her cheek against my hand. “Samuel, I want to quit showbiz.”
Chapter 713 Persuasion Succeeds
What Naomi said caught me off guard.
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“I don’t think I fit in this circle,” Naomi muttered, sounding tired and defeated, repeating the same words while I held her.
“Why do you feel like that?” I asked softly. “Is it just because of what happened today?”
She went quiet for a moment, then whispered, “Maybe I was never meant to be in this circle at all.”
I paused before gently holding her face. “Naomi, do you remember what you once told me?”
She lifted her eyes, looking a bit lost.
“You told me how much you love acting–how it lets you live other lives and be different people.” I looked into her eyes and spoke gently, “You said you’d chase this dream and climb to the top. Naomi, don’t challenges like this come with the path you chose?”
I wrapped my arms around her and ran my fingers through her hair, still trying to comfort her. “If something like this can knock you down, then you’re not the same Naomi I first met.”
Naomi pouted, and her eyes seemed unsure. “But I’ve already caused such a mess.”
“If you feel bad about it, then use this as motivation. Push yourself even more. Show everyone your true strength and prove them wrong.
“You’re in the spotlight now, and reporters live for scandals. If you let the gossip win, aren’t you just agreeing with them?”
Naomi froze, her gaze turning distant as if she were thinking deeply.
I stayed silent and watched her, sure that she was listening.
I believed she’d pull through. Many celebrities had faced worse and kept going. She was still rising in her career–why give up now?
“Naomi, don’t you think all this feels like someone’s purposely aiming at you?” I continued, “You told me your company planned the press conference. If they’re trying to push you into the spotlight, how could someone like that just slip in unnoticed?”
Even though I was a doctor, I was also set to inherit the Meteor Pack. I’d seen the cutthroat side of business growing up, which was why I chose medicine–to stay far away from all that.
But what Naomi was dealing with now clearly looked like someone was using her to strike at Starplay Entertainment.
“They’re using you to hurt your company,” I explained calmly.
“You’re right!” Naomi suddenly straightened up, her face serious. “Rosaline’s already done so much for me. Instead of staying strong, I ran away. I really let her down.”
“So, you finally understand, my little princess?” I asked with a smile.
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Her face lit up. I quietly let out a breath of relief, feeling happy for her. “So, Naomi, when’s your next project coming out?”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” she said, her eyes shining with confidence.
“Well then, Ms. Naomi, can your number one fan get a little treat?” I asked playfully, slipping an arm around her waist.
Naomi smiled. “Since you’ve worked so hard today, I guess you’ve earned a reward.”
She leaned in and gave me a soft, quick kiss on the lips–barely there, like a feather’s touch.
That small kiss? Definitely not enough.
I gave her a pouty look. “What should I do? I’m completely worn out. Surgery took up my whole afternoon.”
Naomi smiled. “Oh?”
She rolled her eyes playfully and stepped over, about to kiss me on the cheek.
But before she could, I leaned forward and kissed her, pulling her gently onto the couch.
“Samuel!” she gasped.
But whatever she meant to say was lost as our lips met again.
Rosaline’s POV:
“Alright. Got it.”
Hanging up the phone, I couldn’t help but frown.
I had asked someone to check on Wendy, and just like I suspected, the Wild Pack’s Alpha was making plans to send her overseas.
She’d been staying at their villa this whole time. Aside from Michael, she hadn’t been in touch with any other werewolves.
But if Michael was behind that, I couldn’t believe he’d go through all that trouble without a reason.
Right then, someone knocked on my office door. I responded, and my assistant entered with a pile of documents in hand.
“Here’s everything we’ve found about that female reporter.”
My assistant laid the files down in front of me. I took a quick look, feeling a bit surprised.
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hapter 715 Joel’s Goodbye
I was confused at first, but Joel kept urging me, so I ended up going with him.
He brought me to a foreign–style restaurant where he’d already reserved a table.
Finished
As we sat down across from each other, I raised an eyebrow. “You seem pretty confident that I’d accept your invitation.”
This place required booking at least three hours in advance.
Joel smiled. “I figured you wouldn’t be that cold to me.”
I took a sip of water and casually asked, “Will you come back someday?”
He blinked and rested his chin in his hands, eyes full of hope. “What? Are you going to miss me?”
I didn’t respond and just looked at him. Joel seemed to realize he was pushing it and gave an awkward laugh.
“I have no idea what the future holds,” he said.
We chatted idly, but my thoughts kept going back to Caden’s message.
It didn’t seem like something he’d usually say.
While I was distracted, my phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Caden.
Joel also saw the screen. His expression shifted for a second, but he still nodded, letting me answer.
“Where are you?” Caden’s voice came through, calm and low.
I told him the name of the restaurant. Joel leaned closer, unable to stop himself, and said with a playful smile, “Caden, Rosaline’s right here with me.”
I shot him a sharp look, but he just made a goofy face.
“I’ll be there to get you soon,” Caden said steadily.
I said okay, and he ended the call.
“You’re so mean–can’t you at least finish one dinner with me?” Joel said dramatically, clutching his chest like he was hurt.
“You knew how things were. You shouldn’t have invited me in the first place,” I replied coolly.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time,” he said, sounding disappointed.
“Then let’s eat quickly and enjoy what time we have left,” I replied with a soft smile.
Joel pouted. Instead of eating, he rested his chin in his hand and stared at me. “If I had met you first, do you think things would’ve turned out differently?”
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Chapter 715 Joel’s Goodbye
I smiled faintly.
If I’d met Joel first? Life didn’t work that way.
He tilted his chin and said, “Your Caden’s here.”
I turned and saw Caden walking toward us. Smiling, I got up to meet him.
Finished
Joel stayed where he was, staring at me. He spoke slowly, “Rosaline, seriously? Not even a little hope?”
I looked back at him with a soft smile. “Joel, the one I love–it’s not because of who came first. It’s just that he’s Caden.”
Joel looked like he wanted to say something else, but he stopped. Then, he gave me a gentle look. “I wish you happiness.”
I smiled. “Take care.”
Right after I said it, a familiar arm pulled me into a hug.
“Looks like you enjoyed your dinner,” Caden said, his voice low and touched with the smell of alcohol.
“I told you where I was, and all you said was ‘okay‘. Since when are you so easygoing?” I teased.
But as soon as I finished, his face tightened. “What reply?”
I blinked in confusion and showed him my phone. “See? You said ‘okay‘.”
When I looked up, Caden’s expression changed dramatically.
His sudden reaction caught me off guard.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
His eyes flickered for a moment, but he just shook his head. “No, I must’ve remembered wrong.”
I believed him and nodded, and we left the place together.
。
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Chapter 716 A Strange Feeling
As soon as I got home, Naomi called me.
“Rosaline, I’ve made up my mind. I’m staying in the showbiz,” she said with determination.
Finished
I wasn’t too surprised and laughed a little. “Didn’t you just say you were done with it? What changed your mind so fast?”
“I realized if I gave up now, I’d be doing exactly what those people want. So instead, I’m going to work even harder to prove I’m not someone they can push around.” She paused for a second, then added, “Also, I’ve got someone who moonlights as a therapist.”
Hearing her hint about Samuel, I could only sigh. “Alright, I get it, superstar. But you know that last scandal might still hurt the new show.”
“So what should I do now?” she asked, a little worried.
“Don’t worry. The company will do what it can. But no matter how much we clean things up, some people will still talk. Your image took a hit,” I replied, massaging my forehead.
“Is there any way to fix it?” she asked quickly.
“There’s one project, but I’m not sure if you’ll want it,” I said.
“I’ll take anything right now! What kind of project is it?” she asked eagerly.
As I walked over to my computer, I said, “I just sent you the details. It’s a new movie by a pretty big–name director.”
Naomi opened the email right away and gasped. “Wait–it’s Mr. Pearson? Rosaline, are you sure this script was meant for me? I have to take this role!”
Ambrose Pearson was a well–known director, and just one movie he made three years ago brought him global recognition and a stack of awards. Several actors had risen to fame under his guidance. For Naomi, landing a role in his movie could be a turning point in her career.
“Don’t get too excited just yet. Look closely at the details–it doesn’t offer any payment,” I said calmly.
“No pay?” Naomi sounded surprised.
“And do you know where they’re shooting? It’s deep in the southwest mountains. The filming will go on for two to three months, and you’ll be disconnected from the outside world.”
When I first saw Ambrose’s name, I was thrilled as well. But after going through the details, I had second thoughts.
This project was Ambrose’s bold attempt to try something new–an independent art film with very little funding, which meant the actors wouldn’t be paid much.
Shooting in the tough environment of the southwestern mountains wasn’t something even experienced actors were always willing to take on, let alone someone like Naomi, who was only just getting started.
– than that A..
LJ
tion fan hain
Lin.
Dasnite his mall
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Chapter 716 A Strange Feeling
Finished
“You should take some time to think. If you’re not up for it, no pressure,” I said softly, noticing Naomi had gone quiet.
But she just laughed softly. “Rosaline, do you think I can’t handle this?”
I didn’t say anything, curious about what she’d say next.
Her tone was strong and confident. “Rosaline, I want this role. Acting is my job, and what matters is picking the right project, not how much I get paid or how easy the shoot is.
“Please contact Mr. Pearson now and let him know I’m in. He better not give it to anyone else.”
I nodded slightly. That was exactly what I’d expected her to say.
“Don’t worry. I’ll talk to him tomorrow and lock in the role for you. But are you sure your favorite ‘psychologist‘ won’t panic if you vanish for three months?” I teased.
“I’m serious about my career. He’ll get it. And anyway, not hearing from me for that long could be a good test for him,” Naomi said with certainty.
“If he runs off with someone else while you’re gone, don’t come crying to me,” I joked.
“Gosh, Rosaline, please don’t joke with me!” Naomi immediately protested loudly. “Hey, Samuel, why do you look like that? Wait a minute–did Rosaline guess it? Would you truly mess around while I’m off filming for three months?”
“Don’t accuse me–I’d never do that,” Samuel replied quickly. “I just hate being away from you.” From the sound of it, they were together.
I figured I should stop joking, so I reminded Naomi to come by the office tomorrow to get the script before ending the call.
When I looked around, Caden was nowhere in sight. I remembered he had gone into the study when he came home. He was probably working on something.
With that thought, I went to make him a cup of coffee.
As I reached the study door, my phone buzzed with a message.
It was from a number I didn’t recognize.
I opened it out of curiosity and saw it was a photo.
When I saw the image, my chest tightened.
The shock hit me so hard my hands shook, and I dropped the cup. It crashed to the floor, breaking into pieces.
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hapter 714 Just a Prank
I was familiar with the entertainment tabloid that the female werewolf reporter worked for.
Finished
She had a reputation for digging into personal lives of celebrities. One time, she even made up stories just to get attention, which stirred up a big mess.
She probably slipped into the event without anyone noticing and raised her hand to ask a question only after realizing the last reporter hadn’t shown up.
It didn’t seem like she was acting on anyone else’s orders or backed by any strong group.
Noticing my expression, my assistant quickly explained, “I checked the security footage after what the reporter said. She did sneak in alone.”
I pursed my lips, wondering if I was just overthinking things again.
Still, I let out a sigh. I never liked dealing with corporate matters, staring at them for too long always made me a little paranoid.
“What’s the current situation online?” I asked as I pushed the files aside.
“The PR team responded right away yesterday,” my assistant said seriously. “They’ve been promoting the new show nonstop. Any bad comments are
being dealt with right away. Luckily, Naomi’s still seen positively
by most people, so things haven’t gotten out of hand.”
I nodded. I had faith in our PR team, so I instructed, “Since we’ve looked into the reporter’s background, just make sure she and her company apologize.”
My assistant agreed and left to handle it.
Checking the time, I saw the workday was over. I grabbed my stuff and headed out.
But as I walked through the parking lot, I suddenly felt like someone was tailing me.
I kept calm and pulled out my phone without drawing attention.
I had no clue how many were behind me, so I
I didn’t want to do anything careless.
When the footsteps got closer, I moved to a spot under the security cameras.
Just as I was about to unlock my car, a hand suddenly reached for me. Instinct kicked in–I caught the wrist and twisted it sharply.
I was ready to throw the person off when a voice shouted, “Wait! It’s me!”
The voice sounded familiar. I turned and saw someone squatting, looking miserable.
I was speechless for a moment. When I looked down at him, I felt a bit amused. “Why are you here?”
Joel rubbed his wrist and looked up at me. “It was just a prank. How could I have guessed you’d react like
that?”
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Chapter 714 Just a Prank
Finished
Honestly, I’d gone easy on him. If he hadn’t spoken up in time, I might’ve hurt him for real–maybe even popped his arm out of place.
“Why are you treating me like this? It really hurts,” Joel said with a pitiful look.
I spotted my car and asked him casually, “Just say it. What do you want?”
He smiled and asked, “Are you free right now?”
I raised an eyebrow but stayed silent.
Joel chuckled. Out of nowhere, he pulled out a rose and offered it to me.
“My lovely lady, would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner?”
I didn’t take the rose. I was just about to turn him down when I noticed the sadness in his voice. “I’m leaving Rivemon soon.”
That caught me off guard.
“You’re heading back home?”
Joel’s eyes flicked with emotion as he stepped a little closer. “Yeah. So, how about dinner? Just as friends.”
I hesitated, not sure what to say.
Joel sighed. “I’ve been here this whole time and never got the chance to invite you to dinner. Please don’t let me leave with regrets.”
Then, he added sincerely, “I know you’re worried Caden might get the wrong idea. Just send him a message. I’m not asking for much–just this one dinner.”
I frowned. I had already thought of texting Caden, but I remembered he had plans tonight and might not check his phone.
After thinking for a few seconds, I looked down and sent a quick message. Then, I glanced up at Joel. “Fine. I’ll go. Think of it as a goodbye dinner.”
For all his silly flirting, Joel had always been a decent friend.
He beamed, gave a playful bow, and said, “Right this way, Ms. Rosaline.”
Just then, my phone buzzed. Caden had replied.
I thought he might ask me or try to stop me from going. But instead, he just sent a single word.
“Okay.”
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apter 715 Joel’s Goodbye
I was confused at first, but Joel kept urging me, so I ended up going with him.
He brought me to a foreign–style restaurant where he’d already reserved a table.
Finished
As we sat down across from each other, I raised an eyebrow. “You seem pretty confident that I’d accept your invitation.”
This place required booking at least three hours in advance.
Joel smiled. “I figured you wouldn’t be that cold to me.”
I took a sip of water and casually asked, “Will you come back someday?”
He blinked and rested his chin in his hands, eyes full of hope. “What? Are you going to miss me?”
I didn’t respond and just looked at him. Joel seemed to realize he was pushing it and gave an awkward laugh.
“I have no idea what the future holds,” he said.
We chatted idly, but my thoughts kept going back to Caden’s message.
It didn’t seem like something he’d usually say.
While I was distracted, my phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Caden.
Joel also saw the screen. His expression shifted for a second, but he still nodded, letting me answer.
“Where are you?” Caden’s voice came through, calm and low.
I told him the name of the restaurant. Joel leaned closer, unable to stop himself, and said with a playful smile, “Caden, Rosaline’s right here with me.”
I shot him a sharp look, but he just made a goofy face.
“I’ll be there to get you soon,” Caden said steadily.
I said okay, and he ended the call.
“You’re so mean–can’t you at least finish one dinner with me?” Joel said dramatically, clutching his chest like he was hurt.
“You knew how things were. You shouldn’t have invited me in the first place,” I replied coolly.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time,” he said, sounding disappointed.
“Then let’s eat quickly and enjoy what time we have left,” I replied with a soft smile.
Joel pouted. Instead of eating, he rested his chin in his hand and stared at me. “If I had met you first, do you think things would’ve turned out differently?”
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I smiled faintly.
Doubye
If I’d met Joel first? Life didn’t work that way.
He tilted his chin and said, “Your Caden’s here.”
I turned and saw Caden walking toward us. Smiling, I got up to meet him.
Finished
Joel stayed where he was, staring at me. He spoke slowly, “Rosaline, seriously? Not even a little hope?”
I looked back at him with a soft smile. “Joel, the one I love–it’s not because of who came first. It’s just that he’s Caden.”
Joel looked like he wanted to say something else, but he stopped. Then, he gave me a gentle look. “I wish you happiness.”
I smiled. “Take care.”
Right after I said it, a familiar arm pulled me into a hug.
“Looks like you enjoyed your dinner,” Caden said, his voice low and touched with the smell of alcohol.
“I told you where I was, and all you said was ‘okay‘. Since when are you so easygoing?” I teased.
But as soon as I finished, his face tightened. “What reply?”
I blinked in confusion and showed him my phone. “See? You said ‘okay“”
When I looked up, Caden’s expression changed dramatically.
His sudden reaction caught me off guard.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
His eyes flickered for a moment, but he just shook his head. “No, I must’ve remembered wrong.”
I believed him and nodded, and we left the place together.
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As soon as I got home, Naomi called me.
“Rosaline, I’ve made up my mind. I’m staying in the showbiz,” she said with determination.
I wasn’t too surprised and laughed a little. “Didn’t you just say you were done with it? What changed your mind so fast?”
“I realized if I gave up now, I’d be doing exactly what those people want. So instead, I’m going to work even harder to prove I’m not someone they can push around.” She paused for a second, then added, “Also, I’ve got someone who moonlights as a therapist.”
Hearing her hint about Samuel, I could only sigh. “Alright, I get it, superstar. But you know that last scandal might still hurt the new show.”
“So what should I do now?” she asked, a little worried.
“Don’t worry. The company will do what it can. But no matter how much we clean things up, some people will still talk. Your image took a hit,” I replied, massaging my forehead.
“Is there any way to fix it?” she asked quickly.
“There’s one project, but I’m not sure if you’ll want it,” I said.
“I’ll take anything right now! What kind of project is it?” she asked eagerly.
As I walked over to my computer, I said, “I just sent you the details. It’s a new movie by a pretty big–name director.”
Naomi opened the email right away and gasped. “Wait–it’s Mr. Pearson? Rosaline, are you sure this script was meant for me? I have to take this role!”
Ambrose Pearson was a well–known director, and just one movie he made three years ago brought him global recognition and a stack of awards. Several actors had risen to fame under his guidance. For Naomi, landing a role in his movie could be a turning point in her career.
“Don’t get too excited just yet. Look closely at the details–it doesn’t offer any payment,” I said calmly.
“No pay?” Naomi sounded surprised.
“And do you know where they’re shooting? It’s deep in the southwest mountains. The filming will go on for two to three months, and you’ll be disconnected from the outside world.”
When I first saw Ambrose’s name, I was thrilled as well. But after going through the details, I had second thoughts.
This project was Ambrose’s bold attempt to try something new–an independent art film with very little funding, which meant the actors wouldn’t be paid much.
Shooting in the tough environment of the southwestern mountains wasn’t something even experienced actors were always willing to take on, let alone someone like Naomi, who was only just getting started.
Fran
than that Ahunna had a cantation for haina atuamal……
an hin
Damien Lin… 11
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Finished
“You should take some time to think. If you’re not up for it, no pressure,” I said softly, noticing Naomi had gone quiet.
But she just laughed softly. “Rosaline, do you think I can’t handle this?”
I didn’t say anything, curious about what she’d say next.
=
Her tone was strong and confident. “Rosaline, I want this role. Acting is my job, and what matters is picking the right project, not how much I get paid or how easy the shoot is.
“Please contact Mr. Pearson now and let him know I’m in. He better not give it to anyone else.”
I nodded slightly. That was exactly what I’d expected her to say.
“Don’t worry. I’ll talk to him tomorrow and lock in the role for you. But are you sure your favorite ‘psychologist‘ won’t panic if you vanish for three months?” I teased.
“I’m serious about my career. He’ll get it. And anyway, not hearing from me for that long could be a good test for him,” Naomi said with certainty.
“If he runs off with someone else while you’re gone, don’t come crying to me,” I joked.
“Gosh, Rosaline, please don’t joke with me!” Naomi immediately protested loudly. “Hey, Samuel, why do you look like that? Wait a minute–did Rosaline guess it? Would you truly mess around while I’m off filming for three months?”
“Don’t accuse me—I’d never do that,” Samuel replied quickly. “I just hate being away from you.” From the sound of it, they were together.
I figured I should stop joking, so I reminded Naomi to come by the office tomorrow to get the script before ending the call.
When I looked around, Caden was nowhere in sight. I remembered he had gone into the study when he came home. He was probably working on something.
With that thought, I went to make him a cup of coffee.
As I reached the study door, my phone buzzed with a message.
It was from a number I didn’t recognize.
I opened it out of curiosity and saw it was a photo.
When I saw the image, my chest tightened.
The shock hit me so hard my hands shook, and I dropped the cup. It crashed to the floor, breaking into pieces.
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Chapter 717 What’s So Wrong with Having Feelings for Caden?
Caden’s POV:
While I was on a call in the study, I heard a loud noise from outside.
56%
Finished
I quickly hung up and opened the door, only to find Rosaline staring blankly, a broken coffee cup on the floor near her feet.
“What happened? Did you get hurt?” I asked, walking toward her.
She suddenly looked up. Her gaze was sharp and cold, locking right onto me.
I’d never seen her like that before. It threw
off, and I couldn’t help frowning a little.
“Did you go to a business dinner today?” she asked flatly. Her voice was calm, but her eyes weren’t.
I nodded.
“Who was there?” she questioned again, still sounding distant.
“Byron Garcia, from Southrise Corporation. Why? Did someone tell you something?” I asked, confused by her mood.
“Besides Mr. Garcia, did you meet anyone else?” Her grip on her phone tightened, and her tone didn’t change.
Seeing that, I placed my hand gently on her shoulder. “Did someone send you something?”
Rosaline frowned. She exhaled slowly and turned her phone toward me, showing a photo.
My chest tightened when I saw it.
There were just two people in the image–me and Wendy from the Wild Pack.
What hit me hardest was that we were lying on the same bed.
Wendy’s clothes were messy, and I was sleeping on my side. The way we were positioned looked way too close.
“The people in this photo …
“It’s impossible!” Rosaline and I said at the same time.
She pursed her lips tightly after I spoke.
The photo was clear. She could see both our faces and how we were lying on the bed.
“I didn’t…” I paused, a sudden thought hitting me. I grabbed my phone and called my Beta, Yale.
“Did anyone go into my lounge?” I asked right away.
Yale sounded confused. “No, Mr. Holbrook. I stayed at the door the whole time.”
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Rosaline’s POV:
mga foi Caden?
Finished
Just as Caden ended the call, a new message popped up on my phone. The number wasn’t saved.
“Sorry, Caden. I didn’t mean to mess things up between you and Rosaline. I’ll just pretend it was all a dream.”
My hand clenched at my side, fingernails digging into my skin.
I took a breath and called the number.
It rang for a while before someone finally picked up. I recognized Wendy’s voice.
“Caden?” she said softly, like she hadn’t expected the call. “Why … Why are you calling me?”
“Wendy, what are you trying to do?” I asked coldly.
She sounded rattled right away, and I could hear noise in the background. After a few seconds, everything went quiet, and then she spoke again. “Rosaline? Why are you the one calling?”
“Were you hoping it was Caden?” I sneered.
I couldn’t believe she’d actually pulled something like this.
“So, you saw the photo,” she said softly.
“Are you truly that clueless, or are you just faking it? This isn’t Caden’s number. You meant to send it to me.”
I could almost picture her smug grin, which only made me angrier.
I used to think she wasn’t much of a threat, but I clearly misjudged her.
“I’m sorry, Rosaline. I didn’t mean for things to go this far. Can we just forget this ever happened?” she said, sounding desperate.
“I already gave you a chance,” I said firmly.
I had honestly believed that once the Wild Pack shipped Wendy off, she’d stay out of the picture. I neve. expected her to stir up more chaos.
“Wendy, didn’t the party mess teach you a lesson?” I asked, my voice cold.
She didn’t reply. I glanced at Caden, who looked furious.
Then, Wendy snapped, “Do you want to push me this far? What’s so wrong with having feelings for Caden?”
She let out a weird, sarcastic laugh. “Either way, it’s done. I guess I’ve won, haven’t I?”
She hung up before I could say a word.
I stood there, completely stunned, burning with anger.
I knew she was trying to mess with my head, but I couldn’t help how furious I felt.
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count deny it. Wendy’s little game seriously sickened me.
Caden’s face was tense with rage. He stepped forward, reaching for me, but I stopped him with my hand on his chest.
“What exactly happened?” I asked coldly.
“You think I’m lying to you?” he said, frowning.
“I trust you. But I need answers. Did Wendy use your phone to send that message?” I stared at him, my tone sharp.
He frowned harder. “I haven’t seen her at all today. I don’t even know where this photo came from.”
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Chapter 718 You Sleep in the Study
Caden then carefully and seriously explained everything that had happened that night to me.
Finished
Caden recalled concluding his business with Byron, who had quickly succumbed to the effects of alcohol and gone to his room. Feeling a bit lightheaded himself, Caden went to is assigned room, took care of some work, and then had a short rest before coming to find me.
“So you fell asleep in the room that was already arranged for you?” I listened and immediately sensed something off.
Caden nodded, and just then, Yale had already pulled up the hotel surveillance footage.
But to everyone’s surprise, Yale had stood outside Caden’s room the entire time, and no one else had entered.
“How did Wendy take that photo?” I frowned, growing more and more upset, and looked up at Caden.
Caden furrowed his brows and ordered Yale to investigate Byron immediately. Then he looked into my eyes and said earnestly, “I would never do something like that.”
I pressed my lips together and suddenly shoved Caden into the bathroom. “Wash yourself thoroughly! Don’t come out until you’re clean!”
The thought that Wendy might have been lying next to Caden made my skin crawl.
Caden’s POV:
I never imagined something like this would happen to me.
I had a strong feeling that Byron wasn’t capable of this by himself; other people had to be part of it.
A cold smile curled at the corners of my lips.
After coming out of the bathroom, I saw Rosaline sitting on the balcony reading. The night wind caught her long hair, making her look peaceful and gentle.
I walked over and scooped her up in my arms.
Rosaline gave my arm a little slap, glanced me up and down, and looked at me with a cold, indifferent expression that made me uncomfortable.
I furrowed my brows and said sternly, “I’m clean now.”
Rosaline crossed her arms, turned to face me, and stated firmly, “You’ll be sleeping in the study until this is completely resolved.”
Rosaline’s POV:
As soon as I said that, Caden’s expression darkened.
Though a smile flickered within me, I maintained a calm expression, pretending not to notice Caden’s gaze as I tried to walk past him towards the bed. But before I could, Caden’s arm shot out, and he effortlessly
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Finished
Caden remained silent, carrying me directly to the bed and gently pressing me down.
“Nothing happened between me and Wendy. His deep gaze locked onto my face.
With a small, contained smile, I reached out to him. “My mind knows nothing happened with her, because I believe you. But my feelings are still hurt. And Wendy’s photo… I know jis purpose was to create distance between us, and it succeeded.”
It was a reminder that even my usually steady self could be shaken, and Wendy had unfortunately been the catalyst.
Jealousy was a natural response. Anger was understandable.
I didn’t want to be someone who was always perfectly rational. I wanted permission to be unreasonable
sometimes.
And Caden was the one person who had the patience for all my unreasonable sides.
Caden gazed into my eyes, as if trying to understand something unspoken. In the end, a quiet, helpless laugh rumbled from him.
He knew my temper all too well.
The heir to the Eclipse Pack leaned down and kissed my forehead before getting up and saying, “Good night.”
I shifted my gaze, pushing myself up in bed to follow Caden’s departing form with my eyes, a smile involuntarily gracing my lips.
At that moment, I could clearly tell Caden felt as wronged as a little kid who’d been unfairly treated.
If the werewolves of Rivemon knew the heir to the Eclipse Pack had such a side to him, they’d probably all drop their jaws in shock.
Jack’s POV:
Rampage Pack’s corporate office.
I opened the door and walked in. The lights in the penthouse office were off, with only the neon glow of the city shining in through the floor–to–ceiling windows.
I casually tossed the jacket draped over my arm to the side and walked over to the couch to sit down.
“Looks like I need to replace the werewolf bodyguards at my company.” I lit a cigarette and looked at the figure behind the desk.
At that moment, the chair facing the desk slowly turned around. Sitting in it was Connor, wearing a strange smile. “I was hoping to surprise you. What a shame.”
“You didn’t come just to deliver a surprise, did you? If you’re only here to do something this pointless, the door’s over there, feel free to leave,” I said coolly, not even sparing Connor a glance.
“Uncle Jack, how can you be so cold?” Connor’s voice held a hint of wounded emotion, as if hurt by my attitude.
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we study
Finished
You’re nothing more than an illegitimate child the Rampage Pack refuses to acknowledge.”
Connor wasn’t angry. He chuckled and walked over, stopping right in front of me. “I just love calling you Uncle Jack. Seeing that disgusted look on your face brings me so much joy.”
“I’m guessing that’s not the only thing that brings you joy.” My tone was indifferent.
。
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Chapter 719 Holding Steady
Finished
“As expected, talking to a smart person really is more comfortable. How did a successor like you even appear among the bunch of idiots in the Rampage Pack?” Connor asked with a puzzled look.
I didn’t bother to respond and calmly stubbed out my cigarette.
Connor let out a long sigh and tapped his forehead helplessly. “It’s really disappointing how nothing can surprise you–you can see through me so completely.”
“Did you really think sending a couple of idiots would actually change anything?” I sneered coldly.
“It was just a bit of fun,” Connor suddenly said, erupting into maniacal laughter as if remembering something hilarious. “Hahaha, just picturing that woman’s face then; she looked more ridiculous than a circus clown!”
“Whatever it is you’re planning, that’s your business. I have no intention of provoking that lunatic Caden,” I said coolly.
“I’m not interested in Caden either,” Connor replied, stepping closer, a bright smile spreading across his face. “Uncle Jack, the person both you and I are interested in is the same.”
His expression lit up with excitement at the mention of that name. “Rosaline, isn’t it?”
Rosaline’s POV:
I had always been a light sleeper. In the middle of the night, I seemed to hear the door creak open. The next moment, the mattress beside me sank slightly, and I was pulled into a familiar, warm embrace.
Smiling faintly without opening my eyes, I turned and wrapped my arms around Caden. Above me, I heard him sigh softly. I nuzzled against his chest and quickly drifted back to sleep.
When I woke up the next morning, Caden was no longer there. As I went downstairs, the butler was already waiting with breakfast prepared. “Good morning, Mrs. Rosaline,” he greeted warmly.
Ever since Caden and I got engaged, the servants at the Eclipse Pack’s villa had all changed the way they addressed me.
I glanced around but didn’t see any sign of Caden. The butler immediately understood and said, “Mr. Holbrook has already gone to the company.”
I nodded. While setting up breakfast for me, the butler added, “We’ve uncovered some leads regarding yesterday’s incident.”
“Really?” I acknowledged briefly and motioned for him to continue.
“It seems that Byron is somehow connected to the Rampage Pack,” the butler reported. I frowned, immediately thinking of Jack.
This development didn’t surprise me much. After all, if anyone had the ability and guts to make a move against Caden, it would be the Rampage Pack.
But whether my suspicions were accurate or not, I wasn’t planning to act for the time being.
1/2
Outside my office, Naomi was already waiting eagerly. When she saw me arrive, she hurried
“Rosaline, you’re finally here!” Naomi said, practically bouncing with excitement.
over.
I scanned her appearance and, as I opened the office door, joked, “Did I accidentally step into an alternate reality?”
Naomi looked confused. “What do you mean?”
“It’s just that seeing you, the queen of being late, arrive before schedule is quite unexpected,” I explained with a smile.
“Rosaline!” Naomi immediately realized what I meant. She stomped her foot and followed me into the office. “I didn’t sleep at all last night!”
I glanced at her in surprise. “No wonder you’ve got a bump on your face.”
Naomi instantly went into panic mode, pulling out her phone and opening the front camera to examine her face carefully.
I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
She spotted a small pimple on her forehead and her expression turned pitiful.
As an actress constantly in front of cameras, skin care was extremely important.
“What were you doing last night? Why didn’t you sleep?” I asked as I settled onto the couch.
Naomi explained, “It’s because of the director, Mr. Pearson! I couldn’t stop worrying something would go wrong. And on top of that,” she lowered her voice slightly, “my horoscope mentioned a Mercury retrograde.”
“Horoscope? You actually believe in that?” I blinked, a bit thrown off. Was I gettingoldandoutoftouchwithyoungpeople’sinterests?
Goodness, whatam I thinking? Old? I’monly in myearly 20s!
Naomi waved her hand dismissively and leaned forward eagerly. “Forget that for now, have you contacted Mr. Pearson yet? How’s the role? Is it confirmed?”
Seeing her so anxious, I couldn’t help but shake my head helplessly. “I already told you, this role is secured. There’s no need to worry so much.”
Naomi didn’t respond but kept staring at me with hopeful eyes, making me both amused and exasperated. “Alright, alright, I’ll contact Mr. Pearson right now.”
Naomi instantly lit up with joy.
“Rosaline, I can see my bright future ahead of me!” Naomi said, smiling widely.
Looking at her, I couldn’t help but recall the Naomi from a few days ago, who had looked so worried and
downcast.
hapter 720 Meeting the Director
“I’ll inform your agent about the details. You go ahead and get busy,” I said calmly.
Naomi nodded quickly and hummed a cheerful tune, clearly in a great mood.
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“Wait a second,” I called out to her just as she was about to leave.
“Has Jasper arrived at the company today?” I asked.
Naomi tapped her chin, thinking seriously. “Jasper? Oh, I ran into him this morning. Are you looking for him?”
I nodded. “Could you help me call him over?”
Naomi agreed readily. Not long after she left, Jasper knocked on my office door and stepped inside.
“You were looking for me?” Jasper asked.
Lifting my gaze, I handed him a folder. “No rush on this, but your ongoing performance with Naomi requires a memorable closing number, and I think you’re just the voice for it.”
Jasper paused for a moment but still accepted the folder and looked down at it. “I thought we were hiring a professional singer? Why the sudden change?”
“We couldn’t settle on the payment,” I explained directly without hiding anything.
We had originally lined up a fairly popular online singer with a few viral hits, but after meeting in person, it turned out they had an unbearable attitude despite their friendly public persona.
It was just another reminder that in the entertainment industry, people wore countless masks, and it was impossible to know which face was real.
“Is the song still written by that person?” Jasper asked, glancing at the credits on the lyric sheet.
“We bought the rights to the song earlier. It’s just that when it came time to record, the singer suddenly raised their price. It doesn’t affect anything else. Get ready today–you might be recording in the next couple of days.”
“Got it,” Jasper nodded.
However, instead of leaving immediately as expected, he stood there, lingering in the office.
Noticing his gaze on me, I looked up.
Jasper hesitated before speaking. “About Naomi’s situation … should I-”
I immediately understood what he was referring to and shook my head firmly. “You stay out of it.”
Jasper nodded. “If anything happens, you can always tell me.”
His tone was particularly serious. I didn’t read too much into it and just smiled at him. “What’s with you today? Getting all solemn.”
Jasper blinked, as if realizing it himself. “Just thinking about the company’s best interests.”
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18:41 Wed, 14 May M.
Chapter 720 Meeting the Director
Finished
“If you really care about the company, go practice your singing properly. I don’t want to see a trending topic about the great actor Jasper going off–key during recording,” I teased.
Jasper chuckled helplessly, gave me a deep look, and then turned to leave.
Still preoccupied with Naomi’s situation, I immediately contacted Ambrose. To my surprise, he didn’t agree to anything right away. Instead, he requested to meet Naomi in person.
Naturally, I agreed. After settling the time and place with Ambrose, I passed the news on to Naomi.
Naomi had just wrapped up filming a commercial and was in the dressing room, getting her makeup touched up. The instant she answered my call, her excitement burst through the phone. “Wait, what? Mr. Pearson wants to meet me?”
“Seriously. Would I tease you about something like this?” I replied, a chuckle escaping me.
“When? Where?” Her voice was suddenly a flurry of panic.
“Hold your horses. Tonight. I’ll send the details to your agent. Just head over after you’re done with your day,” I said calmly.
“Just me and the director?” she asked, her nervousness palpable.
I chuckled softly. “Of course not, silly. I’ll be there with you.”
A sniffle came through the line. “Rosaline, what do I do? Just the thought of meeting Mr. Pearson in person is making me so anxious.”
A soft laugh escaped me, and I was about to reassure her when a knock sounded on my office door.
“Come in,” I called out. My assistant entered, a strange expression on her face.
I looked at her, puzzled, and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Ms. Sinclair, there’s a phone call for you,” the assistant said in a low voice.
“If it’s a call for me, just answer it. Who’s calling?”
“He said his name is Connor Horton.”
At the mention of that name, I immediately straightened up. “What? The caller said his name is Connor Horton?”
Startled by the sharpness in my voice, the assistant took a step back before nodding to confirm.
I frowned deeply, feeling uneasy. Why would Connor be calling me at a time like this?
Even with that question nagging at me, I still instructed my assistant to put the call through.
I didn’t speak immediately after picking up. Instead, I waited silently for the other side to make a move.
Perhaps Connor had the same thought. After a long silence between us, he finally spoke first. “It’s been a while, Ms. Sinclair.”
T
Chapter 721 Surging Undercurrents
I raised an eyebrow and confronted him indifferently, “How can I help you, Mr. Horton?”
“Don’t be so cold,” came his smooth reply, laced with amusement, “You can call me Connor.” That mocking, honeyed voice sent a chill down my spine.
I had absolutely no desire to get entangled with this twisted, volatile illegitimate heir of the Rampage Pack any further.
“I’m sure you didn’t call just to exchange pleasantries, Mr. Horton.” I had no patience for games, so I cut to the chase.
“Someone as stunning as you, Ms. Sinclair … how could I not think of you every now and then?” He chuckled, his timbre velvet and flirtatious.
Even over the phone, I could imagine his smirking face and those dark, unsettling eyes watching like a predator in the shadows.
My brows knitted together. I was about to hang up when he seemed to sense it and quickly changed course, “I heard one of the artists under your wing is about to collaborate with Mr. Pearson.”
The pen in my hand paused for a second. “Your sources are impressively swift, Mr. Horton.”
Now that Connor brought this up, I had a few guesses in mind. His sudden foray into the entertainment industry through Haroldene Entertainment wasn’t just a whim. He was targeting my company, Starplay.
“Mr. Pearson is quite the heavyweight director. With his support, your artist’s career will surely skyrocket. Consider this my early congratulations, Ms. Sinclair.”
My voice turned icy as I replied, “If you’re trying to start a business war, Mr. Horton, I’m always ready. Just spare me the cheap tricks. Some methods are downright repulsive.”
It all clicked now. He was probably the mastermind behind the PR disaster that recently hit Naomi’s press conference.
After we had clashed over that piece of land, he’d gone quiet. I had nearly forgotten about him.
Everyone in the industry knew Naomi was our flagship talent. If something happened to her, the Starplay brand would take a direct and critical hit.
“Now that’s just hurtful, Ms. Sinclair,” he replied, feigning injury. “I’d never think of competing with you. But hey, business is business. A little friction is inevitable when we’re in the same game, I’m sure you’d agree with that.”
“Aside from this so–called ‘friction‘, what else are you planning?” I pressed further.
I’ve always had a straightforward character, and never a fan of these back–and–forth charades.
He chuckled. “Life needs a few surprises now and then to keep things interesting, right, Ms. Sinclair?”
My patience ran out. “Whatever it is you’re planning, go ahead. I’ll be watching.”
Without waiting for a response, I hung up.
My assistant, who was quietly observing at the side, finally spoke up, “Ms. Sinclair … are you alright?”
18:41 Wed, 14 May M.
Chapter 721 Surging Undercurrents
$ . 54%–
Finished
“He’s right about one thing… life does need a few surprises.” I gave a faint smile. Looks like the coming days will be a lot more entertaining than I’d expected.
But knowing Connor, he wasn’t the type to stop at just one scandal with Naomi.
Maybe I’ve overlooked something, or he was far more cunning than I’d given him credit for.
“Look into Connor Horton for me. I want to know exactly what he’s been up to lately,” I instructed my assistant crisply.
Jessica’s POV:
The moment Rosaline hung up on him, Connor clicked his tongue and let his whole body sink lazily into the sofa.
“So there really are people who commit the crime and then hand over the whole confession themselves, huh?” I snarked as I sat across from him, legs elegantly crossed.
If it weren’t absolutely necessary, I would never work with someone like him.
This mad, bastard child of the Rampage Pack. Unhinged, unpolished, and utterly unsuited for the public stage.
“Ms. Sullivan, haven’t you heard? The best hunters are the ones who can play the prey convincingly. That’s what makes the game interesting. Let them think they’re in control, when in reality they’re just pathetic pawns dancing on someone else’s strings. Isn’t that right?”
Connor drawled, the edge of a twisted smile tugging at his lips, his murky eyes locked onto mine.
A cold shiver crawled up my spine. I shot to my feet instantly. “I’ve delivered Jack’s message. Whether you choose to listen is up to you. But let me warn you, Rosaline and Caden are not to be trifled with. You’d better tread carefully.”
I turned on my heel, not wanting to spend another second in his presence.
“Oh? That sounds awfully affectionate. Anyone who didn’t know better might think you’re about to become Luna of the Storm Pack. But Jessica,” his cadence slowed, dripping with malice, “don’t forget who you are.”
The words bit into me like ice, but I didn’t stop walking. I just clenched my fists, and left.
Chapter 722 Mr Pearson’s First Impression
Rosaline’s POV:
I brought Naomi to the location we had arranged to meet Mr. Pearson.
༢ བྷུ,53%–
Finished
“What should I do, Rosaline? I’m really nervous,” Naomi said, wringing her hands. When she opened her palms, it was covered in cold sweat. “What if Mr. Pearson has seen the news online and already has a bad impression of me?”
I patted her on the shoulder and reassured her. “If he had a bad impression of you, he wouldn’t have agreed to meet at all. Since he chose to come, it means you’ve got a good shot at landing this role. Just relax.”
After saying that, I looked down at the address on my phone, a trace of confusion creeping into my mind.
The address Mr. Pearson had given me was supposed to lead to an izakaya, but when we arrived, all we saw was a street full of seafood stalls.
I double–checked the location and confirmed that we were in the right place.
“Did Mr. Pearson send the wrong address? Or maybe we both just ended up in the wrong place?” Naomi blinked in confusion.
I tapped her head lightly. “That’s impossible.”
Just as I finished speaking, a deep, gravelly voice called out from the distance.
“Are you Ms. Sinclair?”
I looked up and saw a middle–aged werewolf standing in front of us. His sharp, penetrating eyes gave off the impression that he could see right through a person.
“You must be Mr. Pearson. It’s an honor to meet you,” I said with a sincere smile.
Ambrose’s expression was calm as he extended his hand to shake mine. “I’ve been wanting to meet the CEO behind Starplay for a while. Meeting you in person is truly impressive–Ms. Sinclair, you’ve achieved so much at such a young age. It’s quite admirable.”
“You flatter me, Mr. Pearson. Compared to your accomplishments, mine are hardly worth mentioning.” Ambrose smiled and shifted his gaze to Naomi. “This must be Ms. Lawrence.”
Naomi, hearing her name, tensed up and quickly offered a polite smile. “Hello, Mr. Pearson.”
He nodded and turned to look at the row of food stalls directly across from us. “There used to be an izakaya
I really liked here. I didn’t expect that after just a few months, it had turned into a seafood stall. My apologies–seems I didn’t do my homework.”
I didn’t say anything, just smiled, waiting to see what he would say next.
As expected, Ambrose stroked his chin thoughtfully before saying, “Ms. Sinclair, Ms. Lawrence, if you don’t mind, shall we just talk here?”
I didn’t react much, but Naomi looked a little surprised. “Huh? Here?”
Ambrose glanced at her, his tone serious. “Yes, right here. Is there a problem?”
18:42 Wed, 14 May M.
Chapter 722 Mr Pearson’s First Impression
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Naomi quickly waved her hands. “No, not at all. I’ve actually eaten at several of these stalls before–they’re really good.”
Apparently surprised by her response, Ambrose paused mid–step and gave her a look filled with newfound
interest.
So we went in, though we did look a bit out of place.
After all, who shows up to a street food stall dressed this formally?
Naomi’s POV:
Maybe it was my foodie instincts taking over, but I forgot all about being nervous.
The moment we stepped into the food stall area, my eyes scanned every table, checking out what the other customers were eating.
The three of us found a table, and the waiter quickly brought over the menus. Ambrose took one and ordered a few dishes he wanted. Then, he looked at me and Rosaline and said, “You two order as well–no need to hold back. A meal should always be enjoyed to the fullest!”
Even though he said that, I still felt a little reserved. After all, first impressions really matter.
Still, even though that was what I thought, my body had a different idea. After running around to a few schedules this afternoon, I hadn’t had much for lunch. Now that I was surrounded by all these delicious aroma, I couldn’t help but get hungry.
I leaned toward Rosaline and whispered a few suggestions. She nodded as she read the menu and then called the waiter over to order a few dishes.
The waiter looked pleasantly surprised. “Great choices! You picked all our specialties.”
“Those are some of the most popular ones,” Rosaline said with a smile, then looked at me. “Didn’t know you knew this area so well.”
I pressed my lips together shyly. “Well, after eating here many times, you get to know what’s good.”
Across from us, Ambrose looked up. “I can tell, Ms. Lawrence. Seems like you come here often.”
I scratched my cheek, a little embarrassed. “There was a film crew working nearby before, and I used to sneak out at night for supper.”
“I thought actresses were always super strict about their weight. Seems like you’re a bit different.”
“Of course I care about my weight,” I said with a smile, “but I think the real enemy isn’t supper–it’s lack of self–discipline. Besides, good food is something that should never be wasted.”
Hearing this, Ambrose let out a chuckle. “It seems there’s quite a gap between your on–screen persona and the real you.”
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Chapter 723 The Foodie Test
I blinked in confusion.
Finished
Ambrose suddenly steered the conversation back on track without warning. “Ms. Sinclair mentioned that you seem very eager to get this role, Ms. Lawrence.”
I immediately wiped the smile from my face and nodded sincerely.
“Why is that? Do you think my film can help restore your reputation?” Ambrose’s words were blunt and straight to the point.
I didn’t try to hide anything and replied directly, “Yes.”
“It’s rare to meet someone as candid as you, Ms. Lawrence,” Ambrose remarked casually.
“That’s because I’m speaking with Mr. Pearson,” I replied with a smile.
I wasn’t naive–I could more or less guess why Ambrose had chosen a street food stall for this meeting.
But no matter who I was facing, honesty was the only approach I was willing to take.
It’s not that I don’t know how to play the social games of showbiz–I just choose not to.
“Mr. Pearson, I’m sure you’re aware of the negative rumors about me online,” I said earnestly. “That’s one reason I want this role. But more importantly, I’m an actress–I should be playing diverse characters, not locking myself into a single mold. I want new challenges and opportunities.”
Hearing this, Ambrose didn’t respond. Instead, he simply picked up his fork and said, “Let’s eat.”
I glanced at Rosaline, who just smiled at me without a word.
To my surprise, Mr. Pearson turned out to be a great conversationalist. The discussion quickly shifted from serious talk about roles and scripts to how delicious this dish was and how impressive that one tasted.
It was obvious–Mr. Pearson was a serious foodie.
Since he took the focus off work and onto the food, the meal ended up being surprisingly relaxed for me.
Even when the bill arrived, Ambrose still hadn’t mentioned anything more about the film role.
“That was great. I’ll have to bring my friends here next time,” Ambrose said with a grin. “Actually, I’d highly recommend the place just across the street. Don’t let its small size fool you–they’ve got some amazing dishes.”
As soon as the topic returned to food, I got excited and started sharing my own recommendations. Ambrose listened intently, and we ended up in a lively discussion.
The awkwardness from our first meeting had completely disappeared.
Rosaline’s POV:
I watched helplessly as Naomi and Mr. Pearson happily exchanged foodie stories.
Even when we parted ways and Naomi got into the MPV, she was still in high spirits.
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Chapter 723 The Foodie Test
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“I didn’t expect Mr. Pearson to be so easygoing. Everyone always says he’s super serious,” she mused.
I didn’t respond–just crossed my arms and looked at her.
Finished
Noticing my gaze, Naomi paused, then suddenly slapped her thigh, eyes widening. “Oh no, oh no, Rosaline! I totally forgot we were supposed to be there for serious business–ugh, how could I be so dumb?”
I arched a brow. “What’s the matter? Was the food not good enough?”
Her expression instantly fell. She looked at me pitifully, tugging at the hem of my shirt. “Rosaline, I feel like such an idiot. Why do I get so distracted by food?”
Watching her half–laughing, half–crying face, I sighed and poked her on the forehead. “So now you remember why we were there? I was starting to think your brain only stored restaurant names.”
Naomi looked up at me. “Then what do I do now, Rosaline? Does this mean I won’t get the role?”
“I thought you were smarter than this,” I said with a knowing smile. “Do you really think Mr. Pearson would waste his time chatting and eating with you if he didn’t want you for the role?”
“Huh?” Naomi blinked. “Wasn’t he just being nice because the food was good?”
“Food, food, food–that’s all you think about,” I said, shaking my head.
Naomi pouted, clearly confused and not understanding what I was getting at.
“Rosaline, stop keeping me in suspense. What is Mr. Pearson really thinking?”
“You’d think after years in showbiz, you’d have picked up some social awareness,” I sighed. “You do know why he chose a street food stall, right?”
Naomi nodded quickly. “Of course! He wanted to test me. If I couldn’t handle this, how could I manage filming in a remote mountain area?”
“Exactly. So can’t you figure out if he’s giving you the role?”
During the meal, I’d carefully observed Ambrose’s expressions. Maybe Naomi had qualities he’d been searching for–otherwise, he wouldn’t have talked so openly with her.
Their rapport was natural. If Ambrose had been dissatisfied, the meal would’ve ended awkwardly within minutes.
Besides, with my influence, Naomi would land this role no matter what.
“Rosaline, you’re saying Mr. Pearson is definitely going to give me the role?” Naomi’s smile returned instantly.
I gave a small nod, and she immediately lit up, nearly jumping for joy–completely forgetting she was still in the car.
“Calm down–are you a child?” I blurted out, startled by her outburst.
“I’m just really happy,” Naomi said sheepishly, scratching her cheek.
Chapter 724 Restless
“The director should be reaching out to you soon. Keep your phone close,” I reminded her.
“Okay, will do.” Naomi nodded cagerly.
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After dropping her off at her apartment, I headed back to the Eclipse Pack’s villa. It was already late by then.
I’d let Caden know about my plans carlier, so when I walked in and found him sitting on the couch with his laptop, I wasn’t surprised. I dropped my handbag and flopped down into his arms as I was completely exhausted.
“I’m so full,” I muttered while resting against him and gazing up at his face.
He set his laptop aside, looked down at me, and started massaging my stomach with a slightly amused expression. “It was just a business dinner. How much did you end up eating?”
I closed my eyes as I relaxed in his arms while his warm hand soothed my discomfort, which eased the queasiness in my stomach.
“A street food stall,” I replied nonchalantly.
Caden paused, as he clearly did not expect that answer.
Seeing his reaction, I opened my eyes and filled him in on everything that had happened earlier that day.
He chuckled softly. “I’ve heard of Ambrose. He’s definitely one of a kind.”
I shifted in his arms and looped mine around his neck. “Caden, what if I had to go filming in the mountains for three months, and we couldn’t talk at all during that time? What would you do?”
His brows furrowed slightly at the question. He glanced down at me, his hand still gently rubbing my stomach. “That’s not going to happen.”
“Huh?” I blinked in confusion.
“I wouldn’t agree to it,” he said seriously.
“I used to think running a company was tiring, but it’s nothing compared to acting.” I sighed, resting my chin in my palm. “Actors might seem all glitz and glamour, but no one sees what really goes on behind the curtain.”
“What, thinking about switching careers?” Caden murmured, brushing a soft kiss against my forehead.
I chuckled and suddenly reached out to cup his chin, giving him an exaggerated once–over. “Honestly, if anyone’s going into acting, it should be you. With a face like that, it’s criminal not to have you on screen.”
Caden’s looks put most A–list actors to shame; it was no surprise he was the top fantasy of every she–wolf in Rivemon.
Without a word, he lifted me effortlessly and carried me off to bed to rest.
Another night of sweet, wild passion followed.
Yura’s POV:
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Chapter 724 Restless
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Finished
The rumors about Kristy and Ryan were getting worse by the day, making me frustrated and heartsick.
I had no choice but to return to the Galehowl Pack alone.
Standing at the villa’s front door, I reached out to press the doorbell, but hesitated.
If I just walked in like this, Mom would definitely have questions.
But after a moment’s thought, I couldn’t help myself and pressed the bell anyway.
The door opened quickly. The butler seemed momentarily stunned to see me. “Ms. Nadine …”
He then reported into the house, “Luna, Ms. Nadine is back!”
I forced a bitter smile and followed him inside, only to see Mom hurrying toward me.
“You’re back!” Her voice was filled with joy, but the next second, her face fell. “What happened? Why have you lost so much weight?”
She held my hand tightly, her eyes sweeping over me with worry. “Oh my, it hasn’t even been that long, and you’ve already lost so much weight.”
“I’m fine, Mom,” I said evenly, having anticipated her concern.
“How can you say that?” she murmured, gently caressing my cheek with a sigh. “You look so drained. Be honest with me, has life at Storm Pack been hard? Are they treating you poorly?”
The mere mention of Storm Pack soured my mood. I pulled my hand away. “Please don’t ask. I said I’m fine.”
Noticing my reaction, Mom gave a quiet sigh, as if understanding more than she let on. “I’m just glad you’re home. That’s what matters.”
“Is dinner ready?” she asked, turning to the butler who’d been silently waiting nearby.
“Don’t worry, Luna. As soon as Ms. Nadine arrived, I gave the order,” the butler replied promptly.
Mom nodded in satisfaction, then started fussing over me again.
“It’s okay, Mom. I’m not hungry.” I knew what she was trying to do, but after everything that had happened, I just didn’t have any appetite.
“My sweet girl, I know you’re hurting,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion as she gently cupped my face. “But you need to eat something. Even if you don’t have the appetite, the little one growing inside you does. You can’t let him go hungry.”
I let out a slow breath as I stared at the table full of delicious food, but still couldn’t muster any appetite.
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hapter 725 An Apology out of Necessity
Ryan’s POV:
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Finished
I had just finished my work at the office, and as soon as I stepped out, Yura was nowhere to be found.
Wiping the sweat from my brow, I glanced around frantically, but she was nowhere in sight. A knot of unease twisted in my chest as I quickly pulled out my phone to call her.
But the moment I hit dial, the call was cut off.
I stared at the screen, stunned, my heartbeat quickening. I tried again and again, but each time, she declined the call within seconds. Eventually, her phone went completely dark. She even powered off.
A dull ache throbbed at my temples as frustration set in. With no other option, I reluctantly tapped on Yura’s mother’s contact and hit call.
This time, the call finally went through.
“Hello.” Celia’s cool voice came from the other end.
I gulped nervously. “Mrs. Nadine, it’s me.”
“What do you want?” Celia was clearly displeased.
I understood instantly; Yura had most likely gone back to Galehowl Pack.
So I asked cautiously, “Mrs. Nadine, is Yura with you?”
“She’s not here. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.” Celia’s reply was cold.
Hearing her tone, I knew Yura had indeed returned to her mother.
“Is Yura … angry?” I asked carefully.
“You don’t even know if she’s angry?” Celia snapped, her irritation flaring. “If she was in a good mood, would she have come back here alone?”
Her agitation made her speak truth.
“I know, it’s my fault.” My voice grew smaller, and my voice was about to break.
“If you knew you were wrong, why did it take you this long to call?” Celia snapped, her voice rising with every word. “Do you even understand what it means to take responsibility? I entrusted my daughter to you, not so you could drag her into your Storm Pack mess, and now she’s back here, pregnant and alone!”
“I know… this is all my fault. I’ll come right now,” I said, keeping my voice low as I swallowed my guilt. Without delay, I arranged for a private jet.
Work had to wait. With Yura carrying our child, I needed to be by her side immediately.
Before long, the jet was cutting through the skies, and I had it land directly on the road outside the Galehowl Pack villa. When I arrived, my face was tight with anxiety. The butler took one look at me and didn’t ask questions; he opened the door without hesitation.
The butler at the villa saw my worried face and didn’t make things difficult for me. He just opened the door
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Chapter 725 An Apology out of Necessity
right away.
I stepped inside nervously, wondering how I should face Yura. Suddenly, she appeared before me.
Yura froze as she stared straight at me. The moment I saw her haggard face, my heart ached.
I walked up to take her hand, but she dodged away.
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I sighed. She still hadn’t forgiven me, but I understood. With all the recent rumors, anyone would find it hard to bear.
“I’m sorry,” I said sincerely as I lowered my head.
Yura’s eyes dropped, and exhaustion was written all over her face. “You don’t need to apologize.”
“I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have let the reporters run wild and let you get caught in the crossfire,” I said softly, trying to ease the tension in the air. “Mrs. Lindsay, please … just this once, can you forgive me?”
Yura’s POV:
Ryan seemed sincere, but both my reason and my wolf instinct warned me not to cave in so easily.
If I did, there would just be more issues down the line one after another.
I couldn’t bear that much.
, I shot Ryan a glare. “Who’s Mrs. Lindsey?”
“Isn’t that you?” Ryan stepped forward as he tried to hug me.
I moved away and said coldly, “Don’t touch me. You disgust me.”
Seeing how distant I was, Ryan nervously rubbed his hands together and tried to explain. “Yura, please, listen. There’s nothing going on between me and Kristy. You’re the only one I care about.”
“Nothing?” My chest tightened just thinking about the photos, and my voice sharpened. “Are you seriously trying to say those pictures were fake?”
“I…” Ryan was momentarily speechless.
In the end, he sighed. “I really don’t know.”
Kristy’s POV:
Seeing all the headlines flooding the internet about me and Ryan, I couldn’t stop myself from feeling thrilled.
“New Celebrity Kristy Heart & Best Actor Ryan Lindsay: Box Office Gold!”
“Kristy & Ryan: On–Screen and Off–Screen Lovers”
“Ryan to Dump Yura? Kristy Set to Take Her Place as Mrs. Lindsay!”
I scrolled through the trending posts and burst into laughter.
Sowhatif Yura ispregnant?
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Chapter 725 An Apology out of Necessity
Ryan isstillwithinmygrasp.
I don’tbelieve Yura canhandlereadingallofihis!
One day, Ryan willleave Yura, andhe’llbemine!
The titleof Mrs. Lindsay belongstome, andnooneelse.
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hapter 726 The Luna Fainted
Even though I’d been feeling pleased lately, I suddenly couldn’t get a hold of Ryan.
I spent the entire morning pacing around his company, but he was nowhere to be found,
Frustrated, I cornered his assistant and asked, “Where’s Ryan?”
“I’m not sure either, Ms. Heart…” the assistant stuttered nervously.
Losing my patience, I snapped, “If you don’t tell me, I’ll make sure Ryan fires you.”
Caught in a bind, the assistant finally caved in. “Mr. Lindsay took some time off and left the city.”
“He left?” My brows furrowed. “Where did he go?”
“I think … I heard he went back to Caffield, but I’m not completely sure,” the assistant admitted after some hesitation.
“What? Caffield?” I instantly felt a jolt of realization. “Are you sure you heard that right?”
Yura’shomeis in Caffield!
“I’m sure.” The assistant’s tone was firm.
I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that Ryan had actually taken time off just to visit Yura. There was so much going on at work, yet he tossed it all aside?
The frustration boiling inside me nearly made me grit my teeth to dust.
Is Yura reallythatimportanttohim? Even duringsuch a crucialperiod, he stillrantoherwithouthesitation.
Whatdoesshehavethatmade Ryan sohunguponher?
Fuming, I stormed back to my office and dialed a few top reporters I had connections with.
“Go ahead and publish the photos I sent you,” I ordered.
But the reporter hesitated. “The man in those photos is Mr. Lindsay from Storm Pack. Most people don’t want to mess with someone like that…
#
“Five hundred thousand dollars.” I coldly named a price.
“Um…” The reporter was hesitating.
“One million!” I gritted my teeth.
“Alright, fine.”
As expected, these paparazzi would do anything for money in the end.
“Do your job right and there’ll be another million in it for you,” I snapped.
There was no way I was going to let Yura live peacefully.
I planned to leak every last one of those exclusive photos, just enough to drive her mad.
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Once the payment went through, the reporters moved fast. Within a few hours, the photos were plastered across the internet.
Gossip headlines exploded online, each one more sensational than the last.
Yura’s POV:
I was still locked in a heated argument with Ryan, unwilling to hear a word of his excuses.
Suddenly, my phone rang. I picked it up and immediately saw the homepage of Twitter.
The next second, a trending headline instantly caught my eye.
“Scandal Erupts: Best Actor Accused of Cheating on Pregnant Wife. Leaked Photos Show Him in Bed With Mistress!”
My hands trembled as I clicked on the headline without thinking.
Ryan noticed my change in expression and quickly asked, “What happened?”
I didn’t respond. My eyes were fixed on the screen.
Sensing the tension, Mom walked over. I didn’t have time to put my phone away, and she saw everything; the intimate pictures of Ryan and Kristy all over the internet.
The photos were so up–close and suggestive that anyone unfamiliar with the truth would believe they were a real couple.
“What is the meaning of this?” Mom demanded, her finger shaking as she pointed at Ryan. “My daughter’s still carrying your child, and you’re already sneaking around with another woman?”
Ryan looked completely baffled and quickly explained, “Mrs. Nadine, it’s not what it looks like. I …”
But Mom didn’t let him finish. “I can’t believe you turned out to be this kind of man. You … you … ”
Her voice broke off mid–sentence. Overwhelmed with fury, she gasped for breath, shut her eyes, and suddenly collapsed.
“Mom!” I cried out, catching her as she fell. “Please, stay with me! Don’t do this!”
Ryan stood there in shock. “What happened? Is Mrs. Nadine okay?”
“It’s your fault!” I snapped at him, my chest tightening in panic.
Several housekeepers came rushing in. “Luna! Luna!”
I cried out anxiously, “Quick, get Mom to the hospital!”
We rushed Mom to the hospital, and after a quick assessment, the doctors immediately wheeled her into surgery. The red light above the operating room flicked on, and my chest tightened with dread.
I sank into one of the chairs in the corridor, completely overwhelmed. It felt like my heart was being ripped
to shreds.
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This was all because of me. If I hadn’t gotten into that argument, if I hadn’t let things spiral, Mom wouldn’t have collapsed like that.
Staring blankly at the glowing red light, tears rolled silently down my cheeks.
Ryan sat beside me and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Yura, please don’t cry. The doctors are doing their best. She’ll be okay.”
I couldn’t hold it together anymore. My emotions burst free as I broke down in tears.
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Chapter 727 Comatose
Ryan’s POV:
“Try to stay calm. You’re pregnant. You can’t let your emotions get too out of control,” I said softly, supporting her as gently as I could.
But Yura didn’t seem to hear me. She clutched her belly tightly, completely unresponsive to my concern.
“Please, go back and get some rest. I’ll wait here and keep watch. The moment there’s news about your mom, I’ll call you.” I tried to reassure her, though my own nerves were fraying. In my panic, I accidentally tugged her arm a little too roughly, and she flinched in pain.
“What the hell are you doing?!” she snapped, raising her voice at me. “Do I look that delicate to you? My mom is in surgery, and you expect me to just walk away? What kind of person do you think I am?”
She turned away, holding her stomach again, her face twisted with pain and sorrow.
“I’m only saying this because I care,” I muttered, heart aching at the sight of her. “You’re pregnant! What if something goes wrong?”
“I know my own body. Stop interfering!” Yura shoved me away forcefull. She stumbled and nearly fell to the floor.
“Careful!” I rushed forward to steady her. “See? This is exactly why you should listen to me. What if something happens?”
Yura’s expression changed. She grabbed my hand and bit down hard, making me let go in pain.
“Don’t come near me. Those hands of yours have already touched another woman. Just seeing you makes me nauseous.” Her voice was cold, and her eyes were as unfamiliar as a stranger’s.
Her words hit me like a knife. I shook my head in anguish. “I swear, nothing happened. What do I have to do to make you believe me?”
“Stop lying!” Yura screamed.
I stood there, stunned, when I noticed her face had gone ghostly pale. Sweat clung to her forehead as she clutched her belly and reached for the railing. Then suddenly, her legs gave out and she crumpled to the
floor.
“Yura!” My eyes widened as I rushed to gather her in my arms.
“Someone get a doctor! Please!” I yelled in panic.
A group of nurses and doctors nearby heard the commotion and immediately rushed over, lifting Yura and wheeling her quickly into the emergency room.
Now both operating room lights were glowing red. I sat alone on the bench in the corridor, hands locked tightly together, silently begging the Moon Goddess to protect them both.
I had no idea how much time had passed when the light above Yura’s operating room finally went out.
I jumped up from my seat as the door opened. Yura was wheeled out. She was staring blankly at the ciling, lost in her own thoughts.
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At least her emotions seemed to have stabilized.
“Doc, how is she?” I asked anxiously.
Taking off his surgical mask, the doctor spoke in a steady tone, “She’s out of danger for now, but she’s pregnant, and her condition is delicate. You need to keep her stress levels low; any further emotional trauma could lead to serious complications or even endanger the baby
I nodded. “I understand. Thank you, doctor.”
After being moved to another room, Yura still couldn’t stop worrying about her mother. She insisted on getting up to wait outside the operating room.
Realizing it was pointless to argue, I helped her walk there slowly, making sure to bring along a couple of blankets to keep her warm.
She stayed silent the entire time. I didn’t want to make things worse, so I kept my distance and quietly stood by, just watching her.
She sat on the bench, looking completely out of it. She was pale, exhausted, and unfamiliar, like someone I didn’t recognize anymore.
A deep sense of emptiness settled over me.
Howdidthingsenduplikethis…
Then, finally, the operating room light turned off.
Yura immediately stood up from her seat.
I hurried to steady her, afraid something else might happen.
Celia was wheeled out by several nurses, her face ashen, eyes tightly shut.
“Doctor, how’s my mom?” Yura asked, leaning on me for support.
The doctor’s face was grave, making both of us even more anxious.
“Please try to stay calm. Your mother has been stabilized, but her condition is still critical,” the doctor said gently, his words hitting Yura like a thunderclap.
“What …” she murmured as she stood frozen in place, unable to process it. “What happens if things don’t improve?”
“She could slip into a coma,” the doctor replied gravely.
Yura’s knees gave out, and she collapsed into my arms, silently sobbing as tears streamed down her cheeks.
“We’ve done all we can,” the doctor added softly before turning and walking away.
I held her tightly, trying to offer comfort. “Don’t give up hope. Mrs. Nadine is strong; she’ll make it through.”
“How did it come to this… how did everything fall apart like this…”
Tears rolled down her sorrowful face, but not a single sound escaped her lips.
Chapter 728 What’s Going On?
Yura’s POV:
“Alright now, don’t cry,” Ryan whispered as he gently rubbed my shoulder, his voice soft and reassuring. “You’re carrying a child; remember what the doctor said. You need to stay calm for the baby’s sake.”
I gave a small nod, trying to pull myself together, but no matter how hard I tried, the tears wouldn’t stop falling.
Mom was taken into the ICU, and because of my condition, I had no choice but to return to my own hospital room.
I lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling, my mind swirling with everything that had unfolded today.
If I had known this would happen, I never would’ve argued with her earlier.
But regrets came too late. Now, she was unconscious in a hospital bed.
I had no idea if or when she would open her eyes again.
Or worse what if she never did?
The thought twisted in my chest like a knife. Eventually, I picked up my phone, scrolled through my contacts, and ended up dialing Rosaline.
“Hello?”
Her familiar voice came through the line, and I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer. I started sobbing.
“Yura, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Rosaline’s anxious voice came through the phone. “Did Ryan do something to upset you?”
“No… ” I sniffled, my voice choked with tears. “My mom’s sick. The doctor said she might end up in a coma.”
“How did this happen?” Rosaline sounded shocked.
“It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have made her worry.”
“Don’t be upset. Hold on, I’ll be right there.”
Rosaline’s POV:
I quickly bought a plane ticket and flew to Caffield.
When I arrived at the hospital and walked in, I saw Yura still sobbing.
I hurried over and placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to reassure her. “Try not to worry. Maybe the doctor was wrong. Mrs. Nadine tough. She’s going to pull through.”
Yura gave a small nod, but after a moment, the tears returned, slipping down her cheeks despite her efforts
to hold them back.
“If you need to cry, don’t hold it in. Letting it out might help a little,” I murmured and pulled her i gentle hug. “We’ll get through this. I promise.”
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She looked up at me, eyes filled with fragile hope. “But how?”
“Don’t forget who I am.” I smiled confidently.
Her eyes instantly lit up.
She finally remembered my medical skills and my teacher, the wonder doctor Hughie Watts.
Yura wiped away her tears and immediately led me to her mother’s hospital room.
The space was unnervingly still, broken only by the rhythmic drip of the IV.
“Are you sure you can really help?” Yura asked, her voice full of worry.
“Just trust me.” I pulled up a chair beside Celia, gently opened her eyelids, then took her hand and carefully checked her pulse, assessing her condition with full focus.
Yura stood off to the side and did not dare to interrupt.
After a few minutes, I let go of Celia’s arm and looked back at Yura. “It’s a complicated case, but there’s still hope. If I use the witch’s stone, I can dissolve the blood blockage. She’s going to be okay.”
Relief washed over Yura’s face, and a smile broke through the sadness in her eyes.
I always kept the witch’s stone with me, so I asked Yura to wait outside and make sure no one came in.
Once she stepped out, I gently placed the stone on Celia’s chest and began to recite an incantation under my breath.
As the chant filled the room, the stone started to emit a faint glow.
Soon, reddish markings surfaced on Celia’s skin, concentrating over her chest before slowly absorbing into the stone itself.
Seeing signs that it was working, I continued the chant with steady focus. Suddenly, Celia’s fingers twitched, and a soft moan escaped her lips.
Yura burst through the door when she heard it. When she saw color returning to her mother’s face, she broke into a relieved, overjoyed smile.
“The stone and the chant are helping,” I told her gently, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat. “But it’s going to take time. Don’t worry. Your mom will wake up.”
Hearing that her mom would wake up, Yura threw her arms around me in excitement. “Thank you! I’m so lucky to have a friend like you.”
Her words made me blush a little, and I responded, “Alright, the doctor said you can’t get too emotional. Focus on taking care of yourself and the baby.”
“Okay, I’ll listen to you.” Yura nodded obediently.
I patted her shoulder, then turned to see Ryan, who had been waiting quietly nearby.
“Come here,” I said with a hint of amusement, motioning for him to come closer. Ryan walked over like a child caught in trouble, his head hanging low.
wly,
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+8 Pearls I cleared my throat and shifted my tone to one of seriousness. “You have a wonderful fiancée in Yura, and yet you don’t value her. Then there are all those rumors about you and Kristy. No wonder Mrs. Nadine collapsed from anger.”
Ryan kept his gaze downward while silently taking in my reprimands.
“On top of that, Yura’s pregnant. With Mrs. Nadine in critical condition if something happened to Yura, you’d regret it for the rest of your life, So, what are you going to do about all this?”
Ryan quickly responded, his voice filled with regret. “I know I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have hurt Yura or caused Mrs. Nadine to collapse. It’s all my fault. I’m truly sorry.”
His voice grew quieter and quieter, but I could hear the guilt in
“I saw the photos on Twitter. What’s your explanation?”
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Chapter 729 The Reason for Arrogance
Only after seeing Yura’s mood improve that I dared to ask the question in front of her.
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To be honest, if the two of them didn’t resolve their conflict soon, they might end up going their separate ways–something I definitely didn’t want to see.
“That night, I remember nothing. I only recall being drunk, but after that, it’s all a blank.”
“Really?” I raised an eyebrow.
Honestly, I didn’t believe someone like Ryan would betray Yura so easily.
“Really. And I don’t think I even touched Kristy that night. When I woke up, my shirt was gone, but my pants were still neatly on.” Ryan spoke earnestly.
Hearing this, Yura and I exchanged a glance and smiled.
“Then where did those photos come from?” I pressed.
As Yura’s best friend, I knew exactly what she was thinking, so I asked directly.
“I truly don’t know. I have no memory of them at all.”
Yura looked at me and gave a slight nod. I breathed a quiet sigh of relief–it seemed she believed Ryan.
These details were enough to prove that nothing had happened between Ryan and Kristy. It was likely all orchestrated by Kristy herself.
After comforting Yura a little more and “ordering” Ryan to stay and take good care of her, I left the hospital and caught the next flight back to Rivemon.
After a night’s rest, I returned to the company.
Ambrose had just sent word–Naomi’s role had been finalized, though it wasn’t exactly what we’d initially discussed. In fact, the new role was even more significant than the previous one.
When Naomi heard the news, she nearly jumped for joy.
Her manager decided to take her to meet with Ambrose to discuss the specifics. However, when Naomi learned she’d have to isolate herself in a remote location for three whole months, she hesitated.
The company had positioned her as a rising star, an “internet celebrity“. If she took this role, she’d disappear from the public eye for three months–something that didn’t align with her current image.
She had initially gained fans through her looks and persona, so while her fanbase was large, few were truly devoted. After this hiatus, only a handful of loyal fans might remain.
I completely understood Naomi’s hesitation. So, even though the deal with Ambrose was settled, the company held off on announcements, waiting for the production team to make the first move.
Then, Ambrose’s first directive was to invite Naomi out for a late–night snack.
Of course, this was how two foodies bonded.
But during that meal, Ambrose also shared some valuable insights.
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He felt Naomi’s current acting style wasn’t quite right for his film. The role she was taking would be a
+8 Pearls complete departure from anything she’d done before–a total transformation, inside and out.
Ambrose’s expectations for Naomi aligned almost perfectly with my long–term plans for her career. So, I even called Naomi personally, urging her to follow his guidance–it would be a huge boost for her future. Meanwhile, preparations for the drama’s theme song were underway. After the call, I stopped by the recording studio. Thankfully, Jasper’s work always put me at case–the recording was progressing smoothly. But then, an unexpected visitor arrived at the company. It was Scott Raven, the up–and–coming male singer I’d initially invited to sing the theme song–before negotiations fell through over price.
When my assistant informed me, I returned to my office to find Scott lounging on my sofa, sunglasses on, exuding an air of arrogance.
“Ms. Sinclair.” He gave me a slight nod as I entered, removing his sunglasses to reveal his face fully.
His eyes held a look of disdain as if he thought himself above it all. I couldn’t help but find it amusing. It had been a long time since I’d seen such an overconfident young man in the entertainment industry. “You know who I am, right?” Scott smirked.
I looked at him, deliberately feigning confusion. “You …
are
?”
His expression stiffened. He frowned. “Ms. Sinclair, you must be joking. As the CEO of an entertainment company, how could you not know me?”
I tilted my head slightly, meeting his gaze coldly. “Sorry, what was your name again? Are you, by any chance, an actor who has won the Golden Best Actor Award?”
Scott said nothing in response.
“Or perhaps a director of blockbuster films? Or a global touring music star?”
His face darkened. Through gritted teeth, he muttered, “Ms. Sinclair, you have quite the sense of humor.”
“Humor?” I pretended to be surprised. “Why would you think I’m joking? If you’re none of those things, why should I know you?”
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Chapter 730 A Rare Opportunity
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Scott could no longer sit still. He abruptly stood up, his expression darkening as he glared at me. But when i met his gaze, I subtly released a trace of Alpha’s aura.
The cy, domineering pressure made Scott stiffen. All traces of his earlier arrogance vanished as his face paled. He straightened up and said, “Ms. Sinclair, let me introduce myself. I’m Scott Raven. Three of the top songs on all major music charts right now are mine.”
Truth be told, Scott had only entered the entertainment industry a month ago. Yet in that short time, every single song he released had gone viral.
He started at the very top.
And that was precisely why he acted so arrogantly.
But I’d seen too many talented werewolves in my time. Someone like him, who thought he was untouchable after a minor success, wasn’t even worth my attention.
Still, I put on an act of sudden realization and smiled. “Oh, I remember you now. What brings you here?”
He pressed his lips together, clearing his throat before speaking slowly. “Ms. Sinclair, I came to propose a collaboration.”
I raised an eyebrow, amused. “If I recall correctly, our last collaboration fell through because you weren’t satisfied with the terms.”
Scott scratched his head and explained, “It wasn’t that I disagreed, Ms. Sinclair. Some things just require careful consideration. Actually, I’m here today because I want you to sign me.”
I blinked. I had wondered why he’d shown up unannounced, but this wasn’t what I’d expected.
“You want to join Starplay Entertainment?”
He nodded. “Right now, I’m working independently–no contracts with any company. But given my current popularity, plenty of major agencies have already extended offers. Still, your company is my top choice. Sign me, and I won’t just do the theme song–I’ll produce an entire album for that drama.”
I smirked. “And you’re so confident I’ll sign you?”
“Of course. What your drama needs right now is hype. If not for that lead actress, Starplay’s flagship project wouldn’t have been delayed this long, would it?”
I genuinely didn’t know who had given Scott such delusional confidence. A few hit songs and a sliver of fame, and he already thought he could look down on everyone?
Anyone listening might think he’d won some lifetime achievement award that would sustain him forever.
The entertainment industry was never short of fresh faces. Talented singer–songwriters like him were a dime a dozen.
Scott was lucky–that was the only reason he’d blown up now. But once the next big thing emerged, who knew where he’d end up?
“So you think you alone can save my drama?” I rested my chin on my hand, studying him.
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Scott clasped his hands together, leaning forward earnestly. “Ms. Sinclair, if you truly have an eye for talent, the profits I bring you will be immeasurable.”
I stared at him in silence.
Peop
like him had it too easy. He’d entered the industry and skyrocketed to fame overnight with a few songs Many would kill for that kind of luck, yet it had fallen effortlessly into Scott’s lap–making him underestimate the cutthroat competition lurking beneath the surface.
He thought success would come with a mere snap of his fingers. With his current fame, countless agencies were vying to sign him, The only reason he’d chosen Starplay was because we were the industry’s top name.
His logic was sound. Too bad for him, he was dealing with me.
“Well, Ms. Sinclair? You should consider it. An opportunity like this is rare,” Scott declared smugly. “I turned down offers from many companies just to come to you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. I pressed my forehead and smiled at him. “Who do you think you are?”
Scott’s smirk froze.
“Do you really think Starplay lacks singers like you?” I tilted my head. “With our current standing, who couldn’t we sign if we wanted?”
His face twisted. Leaning closer, he said through gritted teeth, “Ms. Sinclair, with my current popularity—*
I cut him off. “Popularity? You think this level of fame will last forever?”
“That’s exactly why I need a powerhouse like Starplay behind me. You have the resources to keep me at the top.” He stood abruptly.
“I do have the resources to make you our top artist,” I agreed, reclining in my chair. “But do you deserve it? Scott, you’re overestimating yourself.”
His fists clenched at his sides, fury flashing across his face.
“Figures. A big–name company like yours wouldn’t spare a glance for a small–time star like me.”
His attitude was almost comical. I truly didn’t know where he got the audacity to act so superior.
He was the one begging to join my company–not the other way around.
“Maybe my ‘small company‘ just isn’t grand enough for someone of your stature. Weren’t you just bragging about all those agencies fighting to sign you? Go sign with them, then,” I said coolly, tapping my desk. “Scott, you’re not worth it–and you certainly don’t have the right to speak to me like this.”
“You-!” Scott glared, then let out a sharp scoff.
“You’ll regret this.” With that, he stormed out.
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