“It was all her fault. I’ve dealt with her.”
Apparently, Sarah had been a switched–at-
birth baby, a fake heiress.
After being sent abroad, she had no place in
her family, so she clung to Mark, her former
admirer
く
But Mark was with me then. So, Sarah played
him, along with other men.
When the truth came out, Mark dumped her.
But Sarah wouldn’t let go, desperate for his
forgiveness.
With Sarah out of the picture, Mark finally
remembered me, the woman who’d loved him
unconditionally.
But no one waits forever.
Mark wouldn’t budge.
I finally walked away from “Bubbles.”
“Jenna, please, give me another chance.”
Г
“I know I messed up, but we had good times,
didn’t we?”
I stood at the doorway, not turning back.
“Mark, I’ll never forgive you. My mother’s
death stands between us.”
His shoulders slumped.
He agreed to sign the divorce papers.
Ethan was waiting downstairs.
He took my hand.
“Are you okay?”
“Our father’s dying. Not much time left. He
wants to acknowledge me before he goes.”
99
After that, both Mark and Ethan seemed to
disappear from my life.
I couldn’t find a script I liked, so I joined a reality show.
My blunt honesty resonated with viewers.
Endorsements poured in.
I heard about Mark again when his father
died, leaving his entire estate to Ethan.
Mark was ousted from the company.
The once–mighty heir, stripped of his family’s
fortune, was left with only his acting career.
But he’d only won those awards because of
me, because I’d spent countless nights
dissecting scripts, helping him craft his
performances.
Now, without me, his shallow acting was
exposed.
Stripped bare, he finally remembered what
he’d lost.
“Jenna, I’m sorry.”
“I was insecure. I thought you were with me
for my money.
دو
Г
“I tested you, pushed you away, because I
loved you.”
“I was so afraid of losing you, so afraid you’d
leave, that I destroyed everything.”
“I was wrong. Love is like a balloon. One
prick might not burst it, but keep pricking,
and eventually, it’ll shatter.”
“Jenna, I’m so sorry.”
His apology was raw, genuine.
“I have nothing left, but I still own the rights
to ‘Bubbles.’ I’ll give it to you. Please, forgive
me.”
His eyes pleaded with me.
Г
“I don’t hate you, Mark.”
Hope flickered in his eyes.
I continued, “Hate requires love. I don’t love
you, so I don’t hate you.”
Our story wasn’t a simple tale of love and
hate.
Ten years of tangled emotions, of him saving
me, then breaking me.
My mother’s death was a chasm between us.
But Mom had wanted me to be happy.
And hate was exhausting.
く
So I let it go.
“Bubbles‘ is a good script. Focus on it. You
might win another award.”
He was silent for a long time, his eyes
glistening, his hand trembling around his
glass of water.
There was nothing left to say.
I stood up, turned to leave.
“Jenna!” he shouted after me. “Did you ever
love me?”
く
I didn’t answer.
I didn’t look back.
Chapter 3
(Ethan’s POV)
I admit, I had ulterior motives when I first
approached Jenna.
But I was genuinely impressed by her talent.
When I was forced to leave the country, I
invited her to come with me, to work with me.
I knew she wouldn’t last with Mark. I saw it
from the beginning.
Mark was moody, insecure, a product of his
toxic family.
Who has security in a family like ours?
My own father had forced himself on my
mother, resulting in me, a living reminder of
his transgression.
I grew up with that shame, that resentment
simmering beneath the surface.
When my mother died, consumed by
depression, the seed of revenge finally took
root.
But Mark, spoiled and entitled, only cared
about being a star.
So, I learned the business, learned to direct.
built my network, and finally, with “Desert
Bloom,” I returned.
Seeing Mark’s defeated face the night I
brought Jenna home was intoxicating.
After all these years, I’d finally won.
Even if Jenna didn’t love me.
Her choosing my side was victory enough.
When my father died, he left me everything.
Mark was out.
Everything was going according to plan.
I bought a massive bouquet of roses,
<
confessed my feelings to Jenna.
Jenna, I like you. Will you give us a shot?”
She laughed, pushed the roses away.
“Ethan, I’ve never liked roses.”
“But roses are beautiful flowers. There will
always be someone to appreciate them. Like
you. You’ll always be my champion.”
Her sincerity caught me off guard. I felt a
pang of guilt.
I took back the roses, smiled.
“In that case, I hope you’ll be my leading lady
again someday.”
This time, she didn’t hesitate.
She said yes.
