On the way to the karaoke room, it started to rain heavily.

The car stopped, and I looked down at my new white shoes. Leo understood and skillfully carried me in a princess carry while the assistant held an umbrella.

Leo was a top star in the entertainment industry, while I was just his manager.

I had been with him from his audition days to becoming famous, never leaving his side for five years.

He took great care of me as well.

To give me a sense of security, he refused to create fake relationships since his debut and pinned a post on Twitter saying I was his girlfriend and true love.

Just like now, the staff at the karaoke room exclaimed in envy when they saw him carrying me in.

"Leo treats his manager so well!

"Vivian must have saved the world in her past life!"

Leo smiled as he set me down. He ruffled my hair, and held my hand, leading me to the recording studio.

Inside were five versions of "Proposal Balloon". He had personally written the lyrics and melody, taking six months to complete them.

The vocal coach on the side marveled at Leo's dedication.

As I looked at the lyrics. "You are my only one, the lover I would take away even if I had to fight the whole world..." I couldn't help but feel a bittersweet irony.

Lover?

I looked up at Leo. He was leaning over, finalizing the last version with me.

"Vivian, which one do you like? I think the third version sounds good.

"This weekend, I'll definitely give you an unforgettable proposal concert."

Leo's beautiful peach blossom eyes were full of anticipation. The starlight reflected only my image.

His devotion made me feel dazed.

"Is this how he treated love?"

Preparing for a proposal while sleeping with the second female lead of his drama.

Vivian and Mia were such a stark contrast.

By the time we finalized the lyrics, it was already eight o'clock in the evening.

The assistant had taken leave for something. Leo held an umbrella and walked me home, completely soaked.

Looking at Leo's dripping wet suit jacket, I felt soft-hearted and urged him to take a shower.

Suddenly, a special notification alert came from my phone.

Leo froze, retracting his foot from the bathroom. He glanced at my phone, then grabbed the umbrella and prepared to leave.

"There's an issue with the drama crew, Vivian. You go to sleep first. Wait for me to come back," he said.

What an excuse.

I tried to keep him. "It's so late. Can you not go? Whatever it is, discuss it over the phone."

Without hesitation, Leo pried my hand off his sleeve.

"Be good, don't make a fuss. I'm the lead actor. It's hard to resolve this without me being there."

He leaned down and hugged me gently. He was calm and without a trace of guilt.

I whispered almost inaudibly, "Okay, I'll wait..."

Before I could finish, Leo left without looking back. His hurried steps were nothing like his reluctance to go to work when he first started filming.

I sat on the sofa in a daze, with the expensive takeout Leo had ordered on the table. The aroma was enticing, but it didn't stir my appetite.

At ten, a video came through on WhatsApp.

Leo wore pink swim trunks and had his arm around Mia, who was in a skimpy bikini. He looked at her chest with blatant desire in his eyes.

There were many people at the pool party. Leo didn't refuse anyone, kissing one and pinching another.

But in the end, he kissed Mia and went to a room with her, stripping eagerly at the door.

In the second video, the two were full of passion. They were engaging in provocative activities, with the screen filled with explicit content.

Leo looked excited.

I masochistically watched it to the end and felt completely hopeless.

I asked that person, "What do you want from me by sending these?"

Actually, when Leo's new movie started shooting, I had already received news of his infidelity.

A year ago, Mia was just a minor actress in Leo's movie. She was unexpectedly promoted and given the chance to appear with the Best Actor, Leo.

Later, I found out that Leo gave her the chance.

That night, I drank until I vomited blood just to help Leo secure a major production at a party.

And Mia, wearing bold and provocative lingerie, seduced Leo.

When I saw the photos that person sent, I was stunned. I called Leo in disbelief.

His suppressed panting was amplified infinitely by the night.

Leo lied that he was running. He hung up before I could speak.

My stomach hurt, and so did my heart.

Since then, he never kept our weekend dates, spending every night with his mistress instead.

I gave him a chance and asked why his voice was hoarse.

Leo hesitated for a moment and then naturally replied, "I was dubbing a TV show last night. It really wore me out."

Just like tonight, my attempts to hold on were meaningless.

This was my fault.

Eight years together made me forget that the tender and devoted man before me was still a playboy at heart.

He just put on an uncomfortable mask to suppress his true nature when he was with me.

Why did I think I was the destined one to make him change his ways?

Playing the self-deceiving game for too long, I just couldn't get out of it.

I was just unwilling to accept it. I was the one who made him famous!

Leo returned home at 3 a.m., trying to sneak into the room quietly.

Seeing me sitting on the floor, he walked over nervously and picked me up.

"Vivian, you're being naughty. Why aren't you wearing socks again? Your feet are so cold."

The concern in his eyes didn't seem fake. He warmed my feet with his hands, just like he had done countless nights before.

"Vivian, didn't I tell you not to wait up for me? You look so tired. Come on, I'll put you to bed."

As he spoke, he tried to stand up and carry me, but I pushed him away.

Caught off guard, he fell to the ground, looking bewildered.

"What's wrong? Are you in a bad mood because of your period?"

Leo got up to fill a hot water packet.

"See, he's so considerate."

He handled all the little things effortlessly. No wonder he's called the best boyfriend in the entertainment industry.

Watching his busy back, I suddenly felt a deep sadness.

How strong must his mindset be to smoothly float between two women like this?

He was now making me feel powerless and wanting to throw it away.

"Leo, let's break up."

The words I had prepared for a year finally came out. I suddenly realized that ending eight years of relationship wasn't as hard as I had imagined.

With a loud thud, the hot water packet fell on Leo's foot. It spilled hot water everywhere.

Ignoring the burn, he hopped over to me. His voice was unconsciously tense.

"Vivian, don't joke like that. We're getting our marriage certificate this weekend."

"See, he's sure I love him too much to leave him.

And yes, I loved him at his lowest. How could I not love him now at his peak?"

Before, a friend told me I was inherently cheap, that I couldn't do without him. What would I do if he abandoned me after I did so much for him?

He smiled at me gently and promised he would never abandon me. He told me to block all friends who had seen him at his lowest. And I did it.

At that time, the Wilson family went bankrupt. Leo pawned everything valuable.

The students he used to bully started mocking and retaliating against him.

Every time Leo got beaten up and tried to act nonchalant in front of me, I would hide and cry secretly.

I saved my part-time job money and combined it with my scholarship to sign him up for "The Birth of a Leading Man."

That summer, Leo won the championship with his excellent looks and natural acting talent.

The company offered him attractive contract terms. But Leo refused them all, wanting me to be his manager.

With just one sentence. "Vivian, I can't live without you." I used to be the top student in the directing program, and I gave up my dreams to stay by his side.

I spent countless days and nights with him, humbly attending numerous social events to seek sponsorships and dramas.

Leo was moved by my dedication. He was always developing a career in film, TV, and music, making a name for himself.

No wonder he became a top actor under my guidance, always delivering outstanding performances.

"Vivian, I won't break up. I love you. I can't live without you..."

I finally interrupted his declaration in silence and opened my phone.

Within a year, there were photos of him dating Mia. The hotel records and videos of numerous chaotic parties were all very clear.

"Vivian's always nagging. It's so annoying.

"Mia is more fun. She's so exciting to play with."

Leo's complaints to his assistant echoed in the night.

Leo finally panicked, trembling as he knelt before me.

"Vivian, don't release it. I was wrong..."

It felt like pulling out the thorns stuck in my heart one by one and then stabbing them back in. The cold wind blew in, stinging painfully.

I once thought that even though I had a miserable birth, enduring hardship would lead to a love envied by others. I believed that even someone as unfortunate as me could have my own home.

Looking back now, it was just a foolish dream.

My eyes stung badly, but my tears had long dried up from countless trials and torments.

I got up and shouldered my bag. I was about to leave, but Leo tightly held onto my legs, speaking frantically.

"Vivian, I was wrong. I lost my way for a moment. You love me so much. Give me a chance to make it right, okay..."

See, he was taking advantage of my affection without any scruples.

"Vivian, didn't you say you would never leave me? You love me, right..."

An hour ago, he was still high and mighty, enjoying the company of others. Now he was humbly begging the woman he called boring to stay.

I forcefully pried his hands off, leaving red marks. But his grip on my legs didn't loosen a bit.

"Vivian, I won't let go. I'm afraid I'll lose you if I do."

Looking at his pleading expression, I suddenly felt very tired.

"How could that be..." I said flatly, quickly extinguishing the hope in his eyes. "We were done the moment you cheated a year ago."

Leo frantically shook his head. He stood up, held my head, and tried to kiss me.

Every time we had a quarrel before, he used the excuse of makeup sex to make me compromise.

But this time, I wouldn't waver.

A loud slap landed on Leo's handsome left cheek.

"Don't kiss me with the mouth that kissed other women. It's dirty."

My look of disgust hurt Leo. He completely broke down when he saw me pull out a tissue to wipe my hands.

"Vivian, I'm a bastard. I'll break up with Mia immediately. Please don't leave..."