I couldn't help but look up at the people laughing and chatting inside the private room.

Under the dim, romantic lighting, Curtis was drinking a lover's toast with Margot, their lips meeting over the rim of the glass.

Margot pretended to stumble and fell into Curtis's arms, her face flushing red as the others whooped and cheered.

One of his friends laughed and teased him.

"Curtis, you really know how to play the game."

"Didn't spend a dime and still landed Emma Henson—that gorgeous woman—and kept her devoted to you all these years."

"But aren't you worried she'll find out and turn on you?"

Curtis lifted Margot's hand and kissed it lightly, then laughed like it was nothing.

"You know how much Emma owes in penalties for breaking her contract?"

"Eight hundred million dollars."

"Without me, she couldn't pay that off in a lifetime."

"So no matter what happens, she has no choice but to stay right by my side."

With that, Curtis smugly shared his expertise in "wife management" with the room.

How he'd bankrupted my family's company, then swooped in like a hero to win my heart.

How he'd used a box of fever medicine to destroy my reputation and wreck my career, leaving me no choice but to stay with him.

As he spoke, his face was full of pride.

He had no idea that outside the room, tears were streaming down my face.

When I first met Curtis, I was at the lowest point of my life.

My family's company had gone bankrupt. My father had taken his own life out of despair.

My mother, who had never weathered any real hardship, had a heart attack and ended up in the hospital.

To make money, I threw myself into every job I could get—acting, anything.

But I was drowning in lawsuits back then. Every actor and director who'd been friendly with me suddenly wanted nothing to do with me.

Only Curtis stepped forward to help.

It was a sunny day. He crouched down in front of me and smiled.

"Emma, I've seen your work."

"You're genuine. Beautiful. Nothing like those people chasing fame and fortune."

"Give me a chance—let me do something for you."

Before I could even respond, Curtis had already sprung into action.

He paid off every debt my family owed in one stroke.

He brought in the best specialists to treat my mother.

Designer jewelry, a mansion, a diamond ring—Curtis gave them freely, without hesitation.

When he found out I loved animals, he spared no expense.

In Capital City, where every inch of land cost a fortune, he built me an estate spanning several acres.

Everyone said I was lucky, landing a golden benefactor like Curtis.

He'd lifted me from a nobody actress to an A-list star.

Back then, I was at that age when girls fall in love easily.

I didn't understand how quickly things could change, or how cruel people could be.

So I let myself fall for his warmth and generosity.

Then, on our wedding day, Curtis said to me:

"Emma, I've been burned before. The thing I hate most in this world is a gold digger."

"I want our love to be pure—no money, no ulterior motives."

For that, he'd prepared a special divorce agreement.

The terms were crystal clear.

Curtis would take only one dollar a year in salary.

If we divorced, my share of the assets would be exactly that—one dollar.

To put his mind at ease, to prove my love was real—

I signed my name on that agreement without a second thought.

But after the wedding, I discovered the truth.

Curtis's scheming went far deeper than I'd imagined.

Every investment he'd made in my family had been structured as a loan.

Every single dollar, I had to repay—with interest.

All that jewelry? It was registered under Georgina Delgado's name.

I didn't own any of it. Every time I wore those pieces, I had to pay a hefty rental fee.

The mansion and the luxury cars? Only the down payments had been covered. The massive loans that remained were mine to pay off.

And that wasn't all. The prenuptial agreement spelled it out clearly.

As Mrs. Delgado, I was obligated to maintain the family's image and the company's reputation. I had to accompany Curtis to countless events, serve as an unpaid spokesperson for their products, and purchase designer jewelry out of my own pocket just to look the part.

The endless schedule of appearances and social obligations consumed every hour I had. My career—once at its peak—collapsed. My savings—already running thin—were bled dry.

I'd complained to Curtis before. Every time, he'd hold me close and say the same things.

"Emma, I don't want it to be this way either."

"But the Delgado family has so many moving parts. I can't override what the board decides."

"Just bear with it a little longer. Once I've taken full control of the family business, I'll make it up to you for everything you've sacrificed."

I endured it for three years.

Three years of pouring out my heart, giving everything I had.

And what did I get in return? My family destroyed. My reputation in ruins. And thanks to Curtis's scheming, a mountain of penalty fees I'd never be able to climb out from under.

All that talk of love. All those promises of devotion.

From the very beginning, it had been nothing but a scheme to drain me to the bone.

I couldn't hold it together anymore.

I fled to the bathroom and sobbed, letting the running water drown out the sound.

When I finally looked up, Margot was standing right in front of me.

She was dressed head to toe in designer couture, and her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"Emma. You heard our little conversation just now, didn't you?"

"Heartbreaking, isn't it? So painful, and there's not a single thing you can do about it."

"Here's some friendly advice—just be a good girl and divorce Curtis."

"You've still got a bit of fame left. Do some trashy films, find yourself a sugar daddy. You might actually pay off those debts someday."

"But if you wait until your looks are gone and they throw you out on the street? Life's going to get a lot harder."

She knew exactly where to hit. She understood my pain.

Every word was a knife twisting into my deepest wounds.

When I didn't respond, she leaned in closer.

Her voice dropped to a whisper only I could hear—soft and venomous, like a devil in my ear.

"Oh, and there's something else you don't know."

"I'm the one who drafted your prenup. And your family's bankruptcy? That was my design too."

"So don't even think about getting rid of me."

"I'm nothing like you, some pretty face with nothing behind it. I'm the one who deserves to stand beside Curtis in the end."

That vicious look on her face—it brought back the memory of my father's eyes in his final moments. Hopeless. Defeated.

I couldn't hold back anymore. My hand flew before I could stop it.

The slap had barely landed on Margot's cheek when a force shoved me hard to the side.

Curtis had appeared out of nowhere, positioning himself between us like a shield.

His face was full of concern as he examined the faint red mark on her skin. Those eyes that had once looked at me so tenderly now barely concealed his rage.

"Emma, what the hell are you doing?"

"Apologize to Margot. Now."

"Do you have any idea what this looks like if someone sees? You're damaging the company's image!"

He was worried about Margot. He cared about the company.

He didn't notice—or didn't care—that something inside me had already turned to ash.

I pulled myself to my feet. The words came out through clenched teeth.

"Curtis. I want a divorce."

Divorce.

I could cover Mom's medical bills myself.

I could work to pay off every cent of that debt.

Even if it took the rest of my life.

Even if it drained everything I had.

Anything was better than suffering by Curtis's side forever.

My words caught him off guard—a flicker of shock crossed his face.

But it vanished just as quickly, replaced by that familiar arrogance. That look of a man who believed he controlled everything.

He pulled Margot behind him and looked down at me.

"Emma, stop being ridiculous."

"You know how trashed your reputation is right now."

"Leave me, and your life is over. You'll never recover."

"Just do as I say. Apologizing to Margot is for your own good."

My life was already in ruins because of him.

How much worse could it get?

This time, I was done bowing my head.

I refused to look at the fake affection in his eyes. I shook off his hand and walked out without looking back.

On my way, Curtis flooded my phone with messages.

He still didn't know I'd learned the truth.

He kept urging me to apologize to Margot, insisting it was all for my benefit.

I ignored every one. But as I turned a corner, someone stepped into my path.

"Ms. Henson, you're suspected of intentional assault. Please come with us for questioning."

They showed me footage of me hitting Margot. The options: kneel and apologize publicly, or pay $300,000 in settlement.

Curtis, ever the devoted husband protecting his image, wired the money without hesitation.

He said he'd handle everything for me.

I was still wondering what game he was playing when the lawyer placed a video in front of me.

"Ms. Henson, we just received word from the hospital. Your mother is in critical condition and needs $300,000 for emergency surgery."

"Conveniently, Ms. Pruitt's settlement is also $300,000."

"So—would you like to apologize to Ms. Pruitt? Or watch your mother die?"

Mom's face on the screen was pale as paper. My hands wouldn't stop shaking.

Curtis pretended to love me. Pretended he'd solve all my problems.

While using my mother's life as leverage to force me to my knees before Margot.

He was the greatest actor in the world.

One performance after another of false devotion.

My heart twisted violently.

The tears I'd been holding back finally fell.

But in the end, I slowly closed my eyes and made the most humiliating choice of my life.

"I'll apologize."

I couldn't let Mom die because of me.

Surrounded by mocking stares.

Surrounded by cruel whispers.

I bent my knees and lowered myself to the ground.

Margot wore that same triumphant smile.

Only now, fresh marks dotted her neck—the kind lovers leave behind.

She leaned close and whispered.

"A-list star, on her knees, begging for forgiveness."

"Emma, how will you ever show your face again?"

"Whatever. Your life's been over for a while now."

"I can't be bothered with you anymore. I've got a new gift from Curtis to unwrap."

I watched her walk away, then made my way back to the Seaside Villa alone.

The moment I stepped through the door, Agnes Lambert rushed toward me, her face stricken.

"Ma'am, where have you been?"

"The hospital called. They said... they said your mother just passed away."

"I went to ask what happened. They told me the surgery payment was held back. That's why she didn't make it..."