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..."

"What did you say?"

My eyes went wide, my mind blank.

Then my phone buzzed again. Another message from Curtis.

"Emma, your mother's medical bills went through the company account. Three hundred thousand. Don't forget to pay it back."

Three hundred thousand... Three hundred thousand...

Curtis had used that money to force me to my knees, to make me apologize to Margot.

And now that same money had killed my mother.

To him, it was nothing. The cost of a dinner. A handbag.

To me, it was the last straw.

I nearly lost my mind. I wanted to run out that door and drag Curtis down with me.

But Agnes stopped me.

Her eyes were red as she begged me to let it go. Told me the dead couldn't come back. Told me I had to keep living.

I sat motionless through the night, crying until there was nothing left.

Curtis didn't come home until dawn, still drunk.

He flinched when he saw me—a wreck on the floor—and quickly pulled me to my feet.

The moment his arm moved, Margot's perfume hit me like a slap.

He didn't even notice. Just pulled me close, murmuring comfort.

"What's wrong, Emma? Why are you crying like this?"

"Is it the thing with Margot? Or what people are saying online?"

"It's okay. We can drop the act if you want."

"You can stay home from now on. Just be Mrs. Delgado."

"I'll work hard, get a solid footing at the company. No one will ever bully you again."

I looked up at him, and a memory surfaced.

Years ago. The day we first met.

What Curtis had said to me then:

"Emma, I've seen your work. You're talented. Really talented."

"Don't ever give up on your dreams."

"I'll be with you every step of the way. I'll be your rock."

A kindred spirit—that's what I thought I'd found.

So I threw myself into my career. Took every role, every endorsement. Worked until I was vomiting blood, and still I didn't stop.

I didn't realize Curtis only wanted my fame to build his own connections.

Now his position was secure.

He didn't need a star anymore.

So I was supposed to abandon my dreams. Fade into the background.

And my mother had to die—so I'd have nowhere else to turn. So I'd settle down and be a good little wife. A supportive partner...

The pain was so total I couldn't speak.

I tried to pull away from his touch, but he let go first.

He was staring at his phone, his expression tense.

"Emma, get some rest. I'll have Agnes come stay with you."

"Something urgent came up at the office."

He rushed out without a second glance.

He didn't know Margot had sent me the same message.

To celebrate finally "taming" me, Curtis had bought her a villa worth thirty million dollars.

Right now, she was waiting for him in lingerie.

How pathetic. How absurd.

I scrolled through the calls to blacklist me, and the tears came again.

Why? Why?

Why did the people who destroyed my life get to live so freely?

Why was I—who had done nothing wrong—the one buried under hatred?

I sat in silence for a long time.

Then I made my decision.

Before I left this industry for good, I would give Curtis one last performance.

That night, the headlines exploded: