My Movie Star Ex-Girlfriend

Under a pitch black sky and a cold breeze swirling around the H City, Caroline Young, along with the directors and other actors and actresses, was having a good time in the VIP room of a popular pub in the city. They were all enjoying the booze the pub was serving, and even Caroline let herself go all out with them to celebrate the smooth sailing of their new TV drama.

All of them were delighted, especially Caroline, as the ongoing TV drama they were working on was an adaptation of a famous novel with millions of fans. Meaning, that even with no or less effort in publicizing it, the drama would surely hit the box office, making the actors, actresses, and directors even more popular. Moreover, all of Caroline's co-workers in the play were big-time celebrities, even if it was her first TV series after signing a contract with Pleasure Entertainment. So, she would be dragged along to their level by this series, as her agent told her.

All their backs were laid back in their seats, booze in hand, enjoying the night, when Caroline's phone suddenly rang out. Upon excusing herself, she went out of the rowdy VIP room and picked up the call.

A moment later, Caroline was done talking with the caller and dropped the call. But when she turned around, she saw Lucien Smith holding a cup of honey water in his hand.

Lucien was entitled Best Actor at the recent Flower Awards and was the hero of the ongoing play. He was an exceptional and well-known actor, but unlike other famous celebrities, he was unpretentious.

This series was the second time Caroline and Lucien worked together, and they had numerous scenes together in this drama. So, after more than three months of shooting, Lucien and Caroline got along together and eventually became friends.

"I saw you drank a lot, so I asked the waiter to make honey water for you," Lucien explained before walking over to Caroline and handing her a cup of honey water. "Drink it now. It'll help you become sober," he added.

Appreciating his thoughtfulness, Caroline took the cup and expressed her gratitude, "Thank you."

Occasionally sipping the honey water, they went to the terrace and began to converse.

"You seem to be in a good mood today, huh?" Lucien remarked, gazing at the gleaming stars in the dark sky.

"Yeah, I'm glad to be in the drama," Caroline honestly answered, looking at the cup she was holding with a sweet smile on her lips.

Lucien propped his arms on the railing and gazed at Caroline with intense emotion in his eyes. He then said, "Me too."

Their chitchat lasted for several minutes before Caroline decided to go back to the VIP room, thinking that others might look for them.

Unexpectedly, as she was in her high heels and was also a bit tipsy, she accidentally missed her step on the short stairs when she was about to walk out of the terrace.

Fortunately, Lucien was watching her and quickly took action. He immediately grabbed her arm with his right hand before she stumbled.

"Be careful," Lucien said.

With his right hand on her arm, he supported her at her waist with his other hand, allowing their bodies to be only a few inches apart.

Amidst their thin distance, concern overflowed into Lucien. "Are you hurt?" he worriedly asked, looking down at Caroline and checking her for possible scratches.

But Caroline shook her head and said, "I'm fine, thank you."

"You are really drunk. Let's return to the room, and please, no more drinking," Lucien said. Then he held Caroline's shoulder and offered, "Let me support you."

Caroline had a high tolerance for alcohol, but she was surprisingly inebriated tonight because the liquor was too strong compared to other drinks she had tried, making her head spin and her vision blur.

Thus, on their way to the VIP room, she was staggering and kept falling into Lucien's arms, despite the latter's support.

As Lucien had all his attention on Caroline, they accidentally bumped into someone.

Upon looking up, Lucien saw a tanned man dressed in a black T-shirt, dungarees, and black hiking boots. Despite his body being wrapped up, it was clear that he was toned, giving him the appearance of an athlete.

But what Lucien didn't overlook was the man's expression, which was icy and clearly not one to be trifled with.

Seeing this, Lucien hurriedly apologized to him, "Sir, I'm sorry, she drank too much..."

But he hadn't finished his apology when Caroline groaned, "My head hurts."

Her dizziness consumed her entire being and worsened when they collided with someone. She now felt her head was about to split open.

"Who's that? Why did I bump into a hard surface?" Caroline asked as she hardly raised her head to see who was in front of them.

As she was tiddly, her vision was a bit hazy. But after several minutes of focusing her eyes on the man in front of her, her vision gradually improved, and she finally saw the man's face.

The second Caroline recognized that the man was Simon Johnson, her mind was immediately jolted awake, and her body straightened up.

Subconsciously, her feet took a step back, and her hand crept up Lucien's arm.

Simon, on the other hand, simply slid his hand into his pocket while expressionlessly staring at the two people in front of him. Slowly, his gaze was drawn to Caroline's hand on Lucien's arm, making him snort.

Caroline heard the derision in his snort, and her grip on Lucien's arm tightened unconsciously, alerting the latter.

Sensing something was up, Lucien frowned in bewilderment and looked at Simon and then Caroline. He didn't want to jump to a conclusion, so he asked, "Carol, do you know each other?"

'Carol?' Simon echoed in his mind.

It was obviously Lucien's endearment to Caroline, and Simon was not that dumb not to know it. With that thought, he couldn't help but sneer again in derision.

Caroline heard his sneer for the second time, and this time, she broke out in a cold sweat. After almost five years since she dumped Simon, she had never expected to see him again, even in her wildest dreams.

Caroline didn't want her life entangled with Simon's once again, so she clung to Lucien's arm and answered, "No, I don't know him. Let's go; others might be looking for us now."

With that, Caroline dragged Lucien over to the direction of their VIP room. And surprisingly, her drunkenness seemed to vanish as she walked straight as if she had not been tipsy earlier.

Meanwhile, Simon remained at his spot as he watched Caroline walk away, clinging to another man.

But instead of being consumed by exasperation, he was preoccupied with Caroline's slender body, which exuded elegance in every move. At first, Simon's gaze was on her exposed shoulders and back, revealed by her tube-style, backless silver-white dress. Then, a moment later, his gaze was drawn to her waist, swaying side to side with each step she took. But his eyes narrowed as he gazed at her calves in the end.

Simon was absorbed with Carolines disappearing figure when a man of the same height as him spoke up, jolting him out of his trance. Simon, why are you standing here? the man asked as he approached Simon and then patted him on the shoulder after reaching him.

Only then did Simon drift his gaze from Caroline to one of his close friends, Bradley Jones, who was now peering in the direction Simon was staring at a while ago.

Curious about what his friend was looking at, Bradley asked, Who are you looking at? Youre totally obsessed.

Nothing, lets go, Simon answered, dropping off the topic, and turned around.

At last, Bradley remembered the welcome party for Simon. Resting his arm on the latters shoulder and grinning, he cheerfully said, Anyway, you have to drink with us and enjoy a full-on night. Everyone misses you, dude.

He then led Simon to their VIP room, where many of his long-time friends awaited him.

Just as Simon entered the room, everyones attention was drawn to him and showered him with greetings, making the room livelier.

Simon, you are back! I cant even remember the last time I saw you, said Melvin Wright, one of Simons close friends for years.

Melvin strode over to Simon, wrapped his arm around Simons shoulder, and exclaimed, I miss you so much, my love!

Simon found his friends words nauseous, so he pushed Melvin away without affection and remarked, Sorry, Im not interested in men.

Hearing his friend ridiculing him, Melvin complained, Youre ruthless, man. Weve been classmates since kindergarten, dont you remember?

However, Simon turned a deaf ear to Melvins complaint and sat on a sofa. It had been a long time since he had seen his friends, so they immediately began boozing as soon as he settled down.

As they enjoyed themselves, they didnt forget to interview the celebrant. They first asked Simon how he had been in the past years and then asked about his future plans.

After clinking glasses with Simon, Bradley asked, Are you still going to leave?

Simon smiled casually at first and was about to open his mouth to answer, but before he could, Melvin said, Dont leave again, please. Until now, I cant understand why you refused to inherit your family property and chose to be busy with that mobile hospital in the remote mountain areas...

He stopped in the middle of his sentence as an idea dawned on him. Hey, I knew it now! Theres a pretty woman you like in the mobile hospital. Am I right? Melvin blurted out his hypothesis as he nudged Simons waist.

Pretty woman I like? Simon echoed in his head.

Out of the blue, a particular sexy figure flashed through his mind.

Remembering the exquisite body of that woman, Simons body heated up. He swallowed hard to get a grip of himself, but when he thought it was not enough, he quickly grabbed a glass full of whisky with ice and chugged it all at once. Just as he finished his whiskey, he heard a conversation.

Hey, did you know there are artists next door? Ive heard theyre having a party for their ongoing drama. I had a glimpse of a few of them earlier, and the female artists are stunning, dudes, the man in a blue polo thrillingly said.

Simons grip on the glass tightened, nearly crashing the glass as he somehow had an idea of who his friend was talking about.

Is Caroline Young one of them? I saw her at an event last time. Shes really breath-talking! the other man in a red turtleneck tee said, confirming Simons hunch.

Oh, how is she? Did you hook up with her? I heard lots of scandals about her private life. And I heard she was with... the former hadnt finished his sentence as the sound of shattered glass rang out in the entire room.

Simon couldnt stand listening to them talking dirty about Caroline any longer, so he threw the glass on the floor, drawing everyones attention to himself.

Si...Simon? the man in blue polo stammered in shock.

Dont make these dirty jokes in front of me. Its disgusting, Simon reasoned, deadpanned, then stood up and left the room.

Melvin and Bradley knew Simon well among the others, so as they sensed something was up, they exchanged glances and then quickly followed Simon.

With that, everyone in the room felt the rooms temperature drop abruptly.

Simon was known for being irascible, but his reason this time was not something he would be upset about in the past, so the two people talking earlier were at a loss for words.

Simon, on the other hand, headed to the terrace, followed by his two close friends.

Finally, after minutes of chasing Simon, Melvin and Bradley caught up with him. Seeing Simons eyebrows furrowed, the two knew that the two mens words earlier really got into him. Thus, Melvin tried to appease his friends exasperation. Dude, just ignore them; theyre already drunk, so theyre talking nonsensically.

Bradley then added, Hes right. Besides, you just came back. You must be enjoying your night instead of getting mad over such things.

Dont invite me to drink with those guys again, Simon sparingly replied.

Noticing Simons emotion going better, Melvin simply noted in jest, Got it, you are the boss.

To pacify Simon more, Bradley apologized, Im sorry. Im the one who put this party together for you and invited them despite knowing you dont like women, and theyd undoubtedly talk about it there.

With knitted brows, Simon asked, What did you say?

Catching sight of Simons furrowed brows, Bradley thought Simon was offended by his question, so he fidgety explained, No, no. I mean, youre aloof to women.

Melvin chuckled as he agreed with Bradley, Yeah. But seeing you so angry just now, I cant help but think you liked Caroline.

Hearing it, Simons expression, which had just softened, became stern again, and with a grim expression, he asked, What are you talking about?

They had just quelled Simons rage, so Melvin quickly defended himself and refuted not to trigger him again. Well, its Caroline were talking about here. Shes gorgeous. So I dont think any men dislike her. But as realization dawned on him, he contradicted himself right away, saying, On the second thought, youve been in remote mountain areas all year round, so youre probably unaware of any entertainment news and have no idea who she is. Hmm... it makes sense now.

However, instead of being pacified by Melvins explanation, the areas temperature quickly dropped as Simon icily asked, Oh, so you like her?

Melvin didnt sense the danger awaiting him and proudly responded, Of course. Who doesnt like a pretty woman like that? You will definitely fall in love with her if you meet her.

Im not interested in her, Simon briefly replied, which bewildered the two as they didnt expect the irked Simon would only say five words.

Meanwhile, Carolines phone rang just as the party was over. She checked who the caller was first, and upon seeing it was her agent, Jana Lopez, she quickly picked it up.

Hello? she greeted on the phone.

Hello, Im at the underground parking lot; Ill wait for you here, okay? Jana informed.

Okay, Im already on my way, Caroline replied before dropping the call.

With that, she and Lucien stepped into the elevator to go downstairs. They talked now and then, but Caroline had been preoccupied since she met Simon. After a few minutes, they were already at their destination, but she was in a trance to notice it. Therefore, when Caroline realized it and was about to step out, she was almost caught by the elevator door. Luckily, Lucien hurriedly pulled her out.

Noticing Caroline was not her usual self, Lucien couldnt help but ask, You seem distracted; whats the matter?

Caroline shook her head lightly and reasoned, Nothing, Im just drunk.

Lucien seemed to buy it as he dropped off that topic and thoughtfully asked, Wheres your agents car? Let me take you there.

Caroline was about to turn down his offer when she caught sight of Simon and several people coming out of the elevator on the other side. And to worsen the situation, Simon also caught sight of her.

They were separated at a distance of about nine or ten feet, but it didnt help Caroline not to feel his icy dagger-like gazes, making her break out in a cold sweat.

She was only snapped out of her stupor when Lucien repeated himself. Carol? Come on; lets go now to your agents car.

Caroline forced a smile and nodded at Lucien. Yeah, thank you.

For no apparent reason, Lucien felt a warm hand touch his heart right after seeing Carolines sweet smile.

Much elated, he couldnt restrain from complimenting her as they walked toward her agents car. You look lovelier when you smile. You should smile more often.

As he said that, they happened to pass by Simon, which the latter didnt miss out on.

Suppressing the intense emotion that wanted to escape from his body, Simon balled his fists in his pockets.

Bradley also heard what Lucien had said. Knowing Melvin had a crush on Caroline, the former faced Melvin and made fun of him. Youre so unlucky, man. Your love already had someone in her heart.

Melvin also heard Lucien and saw the two walking side by side with his own two eyes, and they appeared to be a perfect match, so he felt blue. But his feelings were even more trampled when his friend said it aloud, crashing even the last glimmer of hope of ever being with her.

Since Bradley was busy teasing Melvin, who was lamenting his broken heart, they didnt notice the change in Simons expression after hearing what Lucien and Bradley had said.

Continuing the chaffing, Bradley asked, That man is Lucien Smith. Dont you know him or even heard of him?

Is he that popular for me to know? asked Melvin, dispirited.

Bradley was already laughing internally but managed not to and exclaimed, Of course, he is! The survey even said that nine out of ten teenage girls are his fans.

With a famous and attractive man like him and a gorgeous rising star like Caroline, they make a perfect match, huh? Bradley kept ragging, even touching his chin as if he was not doing it on purpose.

Suddenly, he was struck by a thought and soon blurted out his conclusion. Oh, I suddenly remembered one of our friends mentioned earlier that some artists were having a party for their ongoing drama right next to our room. And from what Ive heard, Caroline and Lucien are working together in that series. So, you know what I mean. They most likely fell in love while filming.

You know a lot about them, huh? Simon spoke up out of nowhere, surprising Bradley and Melvin as he had been quiet for a long time and was not interested in such things, and now he suddenly joined the discussion.

Why are you suddenly interested in artists? Bradley asked, still quite shocked.

Upon recovering from the shock, Melvin smirked and teased Simon, Come on, do you also like Caroline? Shes gorgeous like I told you, right? Do you believe me now?

As the subject of mockery became him, Simon dismissed the topic as he sneered, You really have bad taste.

Melvin just laughed, but Bradley was rendered speechless as he felt Simon found Caroline displeasing. On second thought, Simon didnt know Caroline personally, so it didnt make sense.

Bradley was about to get an answer to his question from Simon, but the latter started to walk away and left them behind.

After minutes of walking, Simon caught sight of Caroline walking, and beside her was Lucien, whose arms rested on Carolines shoulders as he sent her to the car. Afterward, a woman got out of the car and welcomed Caroline. In his guess, the woman must be Carolines agent, but he noticed that she was not Carolines previous agent, which relieved him because her last agent was not treating her well.

Later, Simon saw Caroline smile and wave goodbye to Lucien, but the two hadnt parted ways yet and had a long conversation in front of the car before they did. Anyone who would see them definitely assumed they were a couple.

Seeing that lovely view, Simon could only smile wryly as Caroline never showed him that side of her back when they were together. She just treated him as a pastime and then dumped him when she got bored with him. So, there was no way she would feel sorry for doing so.

Looking back on that bitter past, Simons eyes grew grimmer and colder as he stared at Caroline, who was in her agents car.

Meanwhile, Caroline felt sleepy as soon as she sat in the car due to exhaustion. So she snuggled down under a blanket and prepared to sleep. However, when she looked out the window, she noticed Simon was not far away.

Caroline hitched her breath and froze in her seat. Her hands clenched the blanket in agitation, even though she knew Simon couldnt see her through the cars heavily tinted window.

Fortunately, Jana saved her from flusters when she suddenly spoke. However, Caroline didnt catch what her agent was saying, which the latter noticed, so she helplessly asked, Did you hear what I just said?

What is it again? Caroline asked, somewhat dazed.

Jana could only sigh deeply and repeat herself. The event dinner for CR Jewelry will be held tomorrow evening at 7 p.m.

Am I required to attend? Caroline innocently asked.

It cant be helped. Youre the events spokesperson. So, I contacted the stylist, and she will pick you up at noon tomorrow for your modeling assignment. Then our studio will issue your photos online so you can rest in the afternoon and prepare for the evening event.

Hearing how hectic her schedule was, which she found uninteresting, Caroline could only reply, Oh.

Seeing right through her, Jana persuaded, Dont just say, Oh. Im telling you, this event is crucial. Many big shots will show up there. So, if you piqued their interest, you may be able to obtain additional endorsements.

Caroline was exhausted and sleepy, so she ended their conversation simply by saying, I see. Im going to bed now.

Afterward, she tucked herself up to her head and fell asleep.

At that time, Simon remained standing at his previous spot as he watched Janas car leave the parking lot and hit the road. That was when Melvin and Bradley caught up and found him staring at nothing again.

Nevertheless, since Simons driver had just dropped him off in H City that day, he didnt have a car with him. Melvin soon realized this and offered him a ride since Simons house was along the way to the formers.

On the way, Simon didnt say anything or make a sound, prompting Melvin, sitting next to him in the back seat, to assume he was in a bad mood. Melvin wanted to complain to Simon about how the silence was killing him, but he couldnt because a question consumed him.

Who made his hackles rise for him to be like this? Melvin pondered as he cast sidelong glances at Simon.

A few minutes later, the silence finally broke as Simons phone rang.

Simon picked up the call and heard his eldest brother, Hardy Johnson, say, There will be a dinner party tomorrow evening. Come to my place, understand?

Im not available tomorrow, Simon reasoned.

But Hardy was unstirred by his younger brothers rejection as he held the last card. Do you know who the CR spokesperson is? Hardy asked, arousing Simons interest.

Seconds had passed, but Simon had not responded and had not dropped the call as well. That was enough for Hardy to know that Simon was only hesitant to ask. Even so, he was not planning to tell him who the CRs spokesperson was right away. Instead, he simply said, You can check it after you hang up the phone. Ill have someone pick you up tomorrow. Bye.

As Hardy had already said goodbye, Simon dropped the call immediately and went to Google to do what his brother told him to. The moment he searched for it, his phones screen was immediately flooded with Carolines shot for CR Jewelry.

One of the images was an extreme close-up shot where Caroline was wearing a wedding dress and a wedding ring. With that shot, her exquisite facial features and alluring eyes were highlighted by her heavy makeup, intensifying her visual impact.

Somehow, Simon found the temperature rising, so he loosened his collar irritably to cool himself down. But then he felt his member jolted, so his eyes were automatically drawn into it.

He was much absorbed with Carolines images. Simon didnt notice that they had already arrived at their residence.

Melvin, who was engrossed with his phone, also noticed that the car had stopped. Raising his head to face Simon, he asked, Are we here? The gate...

However, he froze right away the moment he saw Simon looking odd.

Simon, on the other hand, quickly pulled his act together and locked his phone screen, preventing Melvin from having a glimpse of what he was admiring.

Even so, Melvin still caught sight of his phone screen, and it was an image of a pretty woman, but it was not enough to recognize who it was.

Just drop me here. Ill get in myself, Simon said, but the hoarseness of his voice was too evident for Melvin and even the driver not to know what was going on with him. The driver did as was instructed and pulled over just in front of Simons place. But before Simon got off the car, Melvin remarked, Just get yourself a girlfriend already. Womens pictures online wont help you. Youre already thirty years old and have a strong desire...

Simon didnt let Melvin finish his sentence and roared, Back off. He then slammed the door shut, making Melvin chuckle.

As Simon stepped out of the car, he slid his phone into his pocket and strode to his apartment, taking deep breaths one after the other to try to cool himself down.

As soon as he entered, he put on slippers and directly headed to the bathroom.

He spent nearly 40 minutes inside to get rid of the heat in his body before wrapping himself in his bathrobe. He then stood in front of the mirror, his hands on the sink, and stared at himself in the mirror. His hair was drenched, water trickling down his chin and dropping to the floor. His eyes were bloodshot, and his mouth was partially open, gasping for air.

He remained in that position for a long time, contemplating his feelings for Caroline. Soon after, he punched the mirror, cracking it and causing his fist to bleed.

He lost control of himself and cursed loudly in the bathroom as he couldnt fathom what was wrong with his body and mind.

In the end, the five years had been in vain because his desire for her had not faded even a bit.

Meanwhile, Jana was watching Caroline lying in her car, having a nightmare while sleep-talking. Carolina kept murmuring something in her sleep and contorting her face as if she was tormented in her dreams.

Dont touch him... I wont let you off the hook I hate you Go to hell! Carolina muttered, her head turning sideways and tears streaming down her cheeks.

Seeing Caroline crying while dreaming, Jana shook the latters shoulders to awake her.

Caroline, Caroline? Wake up, Jana called out, waking Caroline up.

Caroline got up a minute later, but her deep eyes were filled with confusion, which rarely appeared.

Her eyes also welled up with tears, making Jana worried.

She had just started being Carolines agent, but ever since, Carolines gorgeous face had never failed to amaze her. That was also why the media labeled the rising star an incredible beauty, because even Jana, who was also a woman, couldnt resist Carolines charm.

Caroline only came to when she saw her agent and wiped the tears from her face when she felt something cold on her face.

Jana handed her a tissue before explaining, You had a bad dream. You kept saying things like, do not touch him, I hate you, go to hell, and so on. You were also crying earlier, so I woke you up.

I see, Caroline only replied, looking down.

Worried, Jana tried to look Caroline in the eyes and asked, What did you dream about? Have you recently been stressed?

Refusing to discuss her dream, Caroline shook her head and replied, No, nothing.

Then she turned around and gazed out the window, taking in the scenery while ruminating on her dream.

Nightmares indeed not only appear in dreams; they also hunt one even after one wakes up, Caroline realized.

These past few years, she had frequently been hunted by past memories when pressure overwhelmed her. But she hadnt had one in the previous six months, so she assumed shed gotten over it. Unexpectedly, that nightmare reoccurred again, bringing back her anxiety.

Did Simon trigger it? she wondered, as she could only think of him as its cause.

Thinking of Simon, a picture of him looking at her earlier flashed through her mind. Recalling it, an ironic chuckle escaped from her mouth.

He used to be very gentle when he spoke to her. But now, he looked at her with dagger-like eyes, ready to stab her to death. He must have hated her so much after the event that even five years couldnt wash it away.

Once again, Carolines past memories came to haunt her in her dream in the evening, preventing her from getting any rest. Her dream flashed back to how she first met Simon when she was trapped in a cave and on the verge of death due to the raging storm and a heavy landslide. Given her situation, she really thought her life would end there. Gradually, her hope faded away along with her consciousness. After an unknown time, she opened her eyes and saw Simon in a white gown. It was then followed by her memories of how they fell in love with each other in the past.

Having that thought, Carolines lips curved into an ironic smile as her dream ended the same way their relationship did. Caroline wiped her tears away and climbed out of bed. She then sat in front of her dressing table and looked at her reflection, whose eyes were puffy from excessive crying in her sleep and a lack of sleep. Seeing that, she sighed deeply and mumbled, I have to apply more makeup to hide this in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, similar to Caroline, dreams also haunted Simon one after another, ruining his nights sleep. Upon waking up, he was panting heavily and sweating profusely. He also felt his chest tightening, making it difficult for him to breathe properly and his throat dry.

Since it was still early, Simon changed into his usual sportswear and went for a run outside. After running for miles, his shirt was drenched in sweat, but it helped him clear his mind. Soon, he decided to go home, and it was only then that he realized it was already 8:30 a.m.

Like usual, Simon cleaned himself up first, then brewed some coffee for himself. Suddenly, Caroline popped into his head while drinking his coffee, and his hand immediately searched for Carolines name on Twitter. Actually, Simon had never had an account before and only downloaded it yesterday for some reason.

To his surprise, Carolines name, photos, and even videos of her and Lucien were spread on Twitter with the caption [Attracted to Each Other Like in Those Fiction Stories.]

Those were shot when the latter sent the former to Janas car in the parking lot after their celebration party for their ongoing TV series.

Since Luciens gestures toward Caroline were too sweet, the media misconstrued their relationship and assumed they were a real couple.

While looking at the photos, his attention was drawn to a comment that said, [What a perfect match!] Reading that comment hurt his eyes, so he logged out right away.

Sure, the news spread like wildfire and quickly reached Jana. As soon as she saw the trending topic, she gave Caroline a call.

Caroline heard her phone ring. Seeing it was her agent, her brows furrowed for a moment, then she quickly took the call.

Hello, she greeted.

Have you seen todays trending news? Jana asked.

Completely clueless, Caroline answered, Not yet. What about it?

Well, better to see it for yourself. Its viral on Twitter, Jana said.

With that, Caroline ended the call and went straight to Twitter. Like what her agent had told her, it was indeed viral that she didnt need to search for it anymore. Her photos with Lucien in the parking lot after the celebration party for their ongoing drama flooded her feed.

Caroline couldnt deny the skill of whoever took the photos, as those were captured in the perfect angles, enough to pique the medias interest and create a story out of them. It also amazed Caroline how creative the media could be to have interpreted their normal chatting as intimate whispering and Luciens thoughtfulness in supporting the drunk her as a Public Display of Affection.

Caroline couldnt help but sneer thinking about it. Fortunately, she was used to handling such situations after being in the industry for many years.

She was thinking about taking care of the issue when her phone beeped. She picked it up again and saw that it was Jana again.

Jana: [Shall we tweet the truth?]

Caroline had already typed [Okay], but her instincts told her to take another look at the photos. Following her instinct, she was surprised to notice something on it. She zoomed in and saw a man standing nearby, staring at her. Although it was quite blurred due to the reduced quality of the photo, she couldnt be mistaken: the man was Simon!

After staring at the photo for a minute, Caroline logged out of Twitter, deleted her supposed reply, and composed again.

Caroline: [No need.]

Not long after, Jana replied: [Okay. For sure, they will forget about it soon. BTW, try not to eat anything. Your dress is a bit tight.]

As everyone knew, celebrities had strict diet plans where they only ate a minimal amount to none, especially if they had some special event or project coming up. So, as a long-time actress, Caroline was already used to it.

However, boozing too much yesterday left her stomach empty today, so she ate a few toffees to avoid passing out, which was caused by a sudden drop in sugar level.

Afternoon came, and the stylist Jana had contacted yesterday arrived and picked Caroline up for styling. Upon arriving at the venue of her modeling assignment, she saw the black sequined dress. Jana was right; when Caroline tried the dress on, it hugged her body quite tightly, but it didnt fail to make her look lovelier than ever, though she was trying to hold her breath to keep it fitted to her, even if she was already so slim.

Throughout the shoot, the photographer lavished Caroline with compliments. But Caroline, being a modest lady, simply laughed it off.

After the modeling, she then prepared for the CR Jewelry's evening event. And before the clock struck seven oclock, Caroline had arrived at the venue. While walking on the red carpet at the banquet hall to sign in, camera flashes blinded her.

As someone who was already used to it, she stood there, smiling at the camera for perfect shots. Afterward, she proceeded inside and left the media in the hall, her hands pulling up her dress to avoid tripping on its hem.

A few minutes later, Simon arrived at the same event venue and walked in when he caught sight of Caroline turning around.

As a result, Simon could only catch a glimpse of her wavy hair and red lips and failed to see her whole face. Thus, his eyes landed on her dress, highlighting her bottle-shaped body. But soon, his eyes settled on her waist.

Hearing the praises of the fans and reporters for Caroline, a smile crept into Simons lips. Unbeknownst to the public, the person they praised for having a slim waist had been pregnant before.

Caroline stretched her lips into an alluring smile, not even intimidated by the blinding flashes of cameras in front of her. After her last pose, she continued walking on the red carpet.

Youre stunning as ever, Miss Young! A woman in her mid-twenties greeted Caroline. Her name was Tessa Lee, CR Jewelrys Marketing Department manager.

Caroline politely smiled at her.

The fans are going crazy! They think youre the perfect brand ambassador of CR Jewelry! Tessa said with excitement.

Youre flattering me too much! Its an honor to be the face of your brand, Caroline replied.

Tessa grinned. By the way, the chairman is over there. Ill introduce you to him.

Caroline didnt have a choice but to follow Tessa. After all, it was part of her job. At times, it could be draining, but years of being in such an industry made her used to it.

Caroline spent the next thirty minutes socializing and proposing toasts with many higher-ups from the company. Not long after, she finally had a chance to escape from them and find a quiet place to rest.

But before she could even walk away, her eyes immediately landed on Finn Balcom.

Stunned, Caroline took a step back. Her hands trembled, and her champagne glass almost dropped to the floor. She took a deep breath and calmed herself down. Seeing the man in front of her made her realize that there would always be people who wouldnt fade away from her memories quickly, no matter how hard she tried to forget them.

Most especially those whom she loved and hated.

Caroline heard the CR Jewelrys chairman speak, snapping her back to reality. Good to see you here, Mr. Balcom! Have you met our brand ambassador yet? Ill introduce you to her.

The chairman looked at her and smiled. This is Caroline, our newest brand ambassador. You must have heard of her?

Finn was a very tall man, probably more than six feet tall. The dark grey suit hugged his body perfectly, and the pair of gold-rimmed glasses made him look more ravishing.

He stared at Caroline for a long while until a slight smirk formed on his lips. Of course. Carol is very popular and quite a beauty.

Carolines hold of the champagne glass tightened. She gritted her teeth and tried her best not to throw the glass at Finns face.

How can he look despicable and dignified at the same time? she thought.

The people around them laughed at Finns comment. Wide smiles were painted across their lips, interested in Finn and Carolines relationship.

It seems like you know each other well, Mr. Balcom, the chairman asked.

Finn shook his head. Not really. Ive watched many of Carols works, and I admire her talent and skills.

The people nodded their heads simultaneously.

I see, Mr. Balcom. I guess you two must have a lot to talk about, so well excuse ourselves first. See you.

Caroline heavily sighed as she watched the crowd around them disperse. Only she and Finn were left on their spots. Uninterested in talking to the man, she turned around and stepped away.

However, a firm hand grabbed her arm and pulled her back. Shocked, Caroline took a few steps backward until her foot tripped on someone elses foot.

Caroline gasped as she stumbled and almost fell, but Finn successfully caught her in his arms. He lowered his head, buried his nose in her hair, and gently sniffed it.

You changed perfume? A chuckle escaped his lips.

Stay away from me, Caroline muttered before removing herself from his hold. She put a distance between them as she controlled her emotions.

Over the years, Caroline had mastered how to hide her real feelings. But for some reason, Finn always knew how to trigger her anger.

Finn took a step closer to her and cupped her chin. You look hotter when youre mad, he whispered.

Carolines eyes glistened in pure rage. The winged eyeliner she had made her eyes look fiercer, which amused Finn even more.

Years had already passed, but he would still do anything just to see those eyes of hers.

Unfazed by Carolines anger, Finn lifted her chin and whispered in her ears, Still got that short temper of yours, huh? I thought that after what happened, you learned how to behave.

His words instantly fueled her anger. Her body started to tremble, much to Finns delight. Suddenly, he removed his grip from her chin and smoothly transferred his hand to her shoulders.

Come on, lets go and get some drinks, he cooed, but his firm grip on her shoulder told Caroline she didnt have a choice.

She muttered several curses in her mind. She hated him so much! Just the thought of what he had done to her made her want to send him to hell.

The two of them started to walk. Caroline kept her gaze on him as her mind constantly tried to think of ways to snap his head off.

All of a sudden, Finn chuckled. You cant take your eyes off of me, can you? You must have missed me a lot.

You Caroline said, but her words were cut off when she suddenly bumped into someone.

Horror etched her face when she saw the content of her glass already spilled on the persons shirt.

Oh, sorry. She was busy staring at me that she didnt notice you, Finn apologized, although there was no remorse in his voice.

Caroline raised her head and saw Simons threatening gaze directed at the man beside her. Then, his eyes transferred to her, making her swallow hard.

Its fine, he gravely said.

His voice sent shivers down Carolines spine. She looked away and prayed that no one heard the loud beating of her heart.

Caroline felt like fate seemed to enjoy playing with her.

In less than twenty-four hours, she bumped into her ex-boyfriend not just once but twice. In those moments, she was with two different men.

Caroline could only imagine what Simon must be thinking right now.

Ill ask my secretary to pay for your clothes, Finn said beside her, interrupting her thoughts.

Both of them scanned Simons outfit. Dressed in a white t-shirt, denim pants, and black boots, it seemed like Simon didnt get the memo that this was a formal event.

Finn took Carolines wrist and moved past him without waiting for Simons reply. Caroline, on the other hand, silently tagged along with Finn. She knew that this man was easier to deal with than Simon.

Finn displayed a smile of satisfaction. He slid his arm around Carolines waist, crouched, and pressed his lips near her ears. What a pity you didnt obey me earlier, he teased.

Caroline clenched her teeth and disregarded Finns remark. However, there was something she couldnt completely ignore.

She could feel someone staring at her from behind. The intensity of his gaze made her mind absolute haywire, and her chest couldnt stop pounding.

She didnt need to look back to check who it was. Of all people, she knew Simon the best.

Meanwhile, Simon remained on his spot. His brooding eyes watched how Finn rested his hand on Carolines waist until they disappeared in the crowd. He looked away and scanned his surroundings to look for a glass of wine.

In just a few minutes, Simon had already finished his fourth glass of wine. He couldnt find any more potent alcohol, so he settled with gulping down wine as if it was just water.

He put down his sixth glass and was ready to drink a few more when Leo Sheen, his assistant, approached him.

Mr. Johnson.

Simon turned to him. Done now? Can I leave? he asked. Impatience was laced in his tone, making Leo panic. Bullets of sweat formed on the side of his face.

Hardy appointed Leo to be Simons personal assistant, and today was his first day of work.

The Johnson family had two legitimate sons. Hardy was a favorite subject of most journalists, but he never failed to protect his familys privacy and never let them show up in public.

Leo thought that Simon, Hardys younger brother, would be easy to get along with. However, his first encounter with him instantly deflated his optimism.

Simon refused to wear a suit for the party. Instead, he wore jeans and a pair of boots. He made it clear to Leo that he didnt plan on mingling with anyone and would leave the event as soon as possible.

Hes a tough nut to crack, Leo thought as he sighed.

He laughed nervously and glanced at the empty glasses beside Simon. Im afraid we cant leave yet, Sir. The CR Jewelrys chairman wants to talk to you.

When he heard the company Leo mentioned, Carolines image immediately flashed on Simons mind.

No, he muttered darkly before leaving Leo to the bathroom.

Leo thought that working for Hardy was already like serving a king. However, meeting his younger brother tonight made Hardy look more amiable and patient.

He clicked his tongue as he stared at Simons retreating form. At that moment, he knew he would have a hard time with his new boss.

Indeed, Simon Johnson was a tough nut to crack.

As soon as he left the bathroom, Simon was greeted by a group of ladies in beautiful dresses, talking and laughing.

He looked away and was ready to leave when he heard Carolines name. He stopped in his tracks and silently looked at the women again.

Did you see Caroline Youngs face just now? Why is she like that? She was paid generously to come here and put on her friendly smile in front of the guests! I dont get why CR Jewelry chose her, A woman stressed.

Why are you surprised? She was obviously chosen because of her popularity, another voice said.

Yeah. Shes been a hot topic recently. Also, she has paired up with Lucien again, attracting all those hopeless fans to root for their nonexistent love story. Last night, I heard that gossip about her went viral. Everyones very eager to ride on her fame.

Their management must be working hard to keep their clout. I just saw Caroline on the terrace, and shes with a different man. Who knows? She must be his sugar baby, one said, and the women giggled together.

Simon clenched his fists as he listened to them. These women must be talent managers or agents. He felt so disgusted listening to their envious voices as they talked about Caroline. On top of it all, the word sugar baby left a bad taste in his mouth.

His neck and ears reddened in anger. Veins in his arms protruded as he fisted his hands. He didnt know that he had already caught the womens attention.

Hey, handsome. Are you interested in the showbiz industry? You certainly have the looks, one of them said.

Simon was towering over them. His white shirt perfectly showed off his fair skin, well-shaped biceps, broad shoulders, and perfectly-shaped waist. It would be too hard to ignore a sight like him.

He was a perfect epitome of a manly guy.

And people would always dig for manly guys on the television.

Simon clenched his jaw and glanced at the woman talking to him. She was also the same person who labeled Caroline as a sugar baby.

Without any word, he walked away from her.

Finns grip on the side of Carolines waist tightened as they smoothly exited the huge hall. Caroline didnt want to make a scene, so she had no choice but to follow him until they both arrived at the underground parking lot.

Finn forcefully made her get into the backseat of his car before sitting beside her. He shut the door and looked at the driver, signaling him to start the car.

Where are you taking me? The event is not over yet, and my manager will look for me, Caroline said while looking at him with irritation.

Finn grabbed her purse. Its over, he replied nonchalantly.

Caroline took a deep breath. No, the higher-ups will probably think Im rude because I left the party. My career is at stake here, Finn! she convinced him.

Suddenly, Finn threw her purse to the side and moved closer to her. Carolines eyes widened, and she hastily moved away from him to avoid body contact.

But before she could move again, Finns arms were already resting on the sides of her body, trapping her. The small distance between them made Caroline shiver in disgust. She tried to move away from him but to no avail.

CR Jewelry badly wants to collaborate with me. They would do anything to please me. Heck, they could even send you to my place if I want, Finn said in a low voice while staring at her lips.

You really think they will look for you after seeing that Im the one who took you away from that party, hmm?

The answer was obviously no.

Caroline had already memorized the dark and ugly side of the entertainment industry. She knew how far people would go to achieve something.

She tried to calm herself down and think clearly. Where are we going?

Finn didnt reply. Instead, he grinned at her and leaned on his seat lazily, looking at the scenery in front of them.

The whole ride was eerily silent, which made Caroline more uncomfortable. She watched the night view of the city in a daze as the car steadily moved onward.

She let out a small yawn. Bumping into Finn and Simon was too overwhelming and draining for her. She felt like her mind couldnt function properly anymore.

Not long after, she drifted off to sleep.

Finn glanced at Caroline and noticed that she was already asleep. She was breathing softly while her head leaned on the window.

Finn gestured to the driver to lower the temperature of the air conditioner before covering Carolines body with a blanket. He was about to retrieve his hand when all of a sudden, Caroline started to sleep talking.

I swear, I will kill you if you hurt him.

Give me back my baby.

Go to hell, asshole.

I will kill you, Finn Balcom. Mark my word.

Finns eyebrows knitted as he watched her murmur. She must be exhausted that she couldnt even talk in an audible voice. He leaned closer to her to hear what she was saying. Then, he noticed that she was crying.

Caroline let out a small whimper as Finn gently wiped her tears away. He stared at Carolines sleeping face for a while.

He smiled.

You despise me a lot. I wonder what you saw in that doctor, he whispered.

Simon had lost all his patience for this awful party. For the past thirty minutes, he hid in the corner, drinking all the wines he could get from the passing servers.

Leo stood by his side, silent and unmoving. He just prayed that Simon would stay here until the end of the party, so both of them could end the night peacefully.

Obviously, Simon was in a bad mood. He felt like no amount of alcohol could erase the images of Caroline with Lucien or Finn in his mind.

Not to mention the things he heard near the bathroom earlier.

Although the entertainment industry would be the last thing that would spark Simons interest, he had heard a lot of stories about the dark things that happened there. Looking back, Caroline was just a nobody in the industry when they were still in a relationship. However, after they called it quits, she suddenly rose into stardom.

Everybody knew her. She was always the face of articles and billboards.

Mr. Johnson, Leo suddenly said beside him, disrupting his thoughts.

What? he asked in annoyance.

Leo gave him a nervous laugh before glancing at his wristwatch. T-The event is done, so we can leave now. Ill drive you home.

Simon put down his glass and immediately went outside. Leo ran and trailed behind him. Mr. Johnson, please wait for me at the entrance of the hotel. Ill just get the car in the parking lot!

Three minutes had passed. Simon stood in front of the hotel entrance with his hands in his pocket. He blankly stared at the passing cars in front of him while his mind wandered elsewhere.

Living in the mountains alone for a long while made the city life strange to him. He wasnt even surprised when Melvin teased him that he looked like a primitive man.

All of a sudden, a bright light flashed before him. Simon frowned and saw that the light came from the car not far from him. Then, he noticed a woman running toward the car while she pressed the phone to her ear.

A realization hit him. The woman was Carolines agent.

Simon looked around and looked for Caroline, but he didnt see her.

I cant find Caroline. Shes not picking up my calls, and the security couldnt find her on the CCTV footage. What should we do? Should we call the police? Carolines manager said in a panicking tone, unaware that she had just caught someones whole attention.