The night I was crowned Pure Jade Maiden of the entertainment industry, my intimate photos hit trending on social media.

I was on my way to find my boyfriend, to ask for his help, when I overheard his conversation with one of his lackeys.

"Mr. Simmons really lives up to his reputation. Leaking those photos of Beryl Summers just destroyed her overnight."

"Now that audiences won't touch her, they'll naturally flock to Marina's new film."

Abraham Simmons laughed, cruel and unhurried.

"Don't let that innocent face fool you. Underneath it all, Beryl Summers is wild and venomous. Absolutely addictive." He paused. "If she'd just behaved herself, I would've handed her any resource she wanted."

"But no. She had to go and hurt my Marina."

As he spoke, his expression went cold. He crushed out his cigarette, his voice dropping to something bone-chilling.

"I'm not just cutting off her career. I want her name dragged through the mud. I want her buried so deep she never crawls back out."

The words hit me like a bolt of lightning. I turned away and typed out a message to my family.

I'll agree to the arranged marriage.

——

Inside, the conversation continued.

"What if she comes to you and makes a scene?"

Abraham scoffed.

"A scene? She wouldn't dare." His voice dripped with contempt. "A woman that ambitious, even if she finds out I'm behind it, will just pretend she heard nothing and come crawling to me for resources like a good girl."

I could still remember the first time I met Abraham Simmons. The way he'd looked at me, his gaze so intense it felt like he wanted to crush me into his very bones.

After that, he'd pursued me relentlessly. Anything I mentioned in passing would appear in front of me the next day. He'd carve time out of his schedule to visit me on set. After a long day of filming, he'd cook for me himself, then massage the aches from my shoulders.

A dull, stinging pain spread through my chest.

Before I could collect myself, my phone buzzed with a new notification.

A message from my mother.

Sweetheart, the engagement party is set for next week. Come home early to try on your dress.

The moment I hit send, a pair of strong arms locked around me from behind.

"Heard everything?"

I swallowed the pain and forced the words out. "Why would you destroy me?"

Abraham smiled.

"Beryl, I know you can't stand even a grain of sand in your eye. But Marina saved my life." His tone shifted, half coaxing, half threatening. "If you'd been a little more obedient, if you hadn't gone after her, I could've kept lifting you up."

"Otherwise... you know what I'm capable of."

That familiar voice. Once, it had been tender. Now it was a warning.

I paused. After a moment, my voice came out level.

"Just let me go, and I won't compete with her for resources anymore."

Perhaps because I seemed compliant, he tilted my chin up with one finger.

"Beryl, remember this. I only like you when you're obedient."

But in the next breath, his expression darkened.

"Still, there's the matter of the resources you stole from Marina. How do we settle that score?" His eyes narrowed. "I don't trust you. For the sake of your career, how much did you make Marina suffer? How am I supposed to believe you'll actually behave?"

His words turned the blood in my veins to ice.

So that was how it was. Three years of everything I'd done for Abraham Simmons, every sacrifice, every sleepless night, and in his eyes, all of it had been an attack on Marina Mason.

I had left my family behind and come to the mainland to build something on my own. All I'd wanted was to become a leading actress, so my parents would finally agree to let me marry him.

For three years, I hadn't taken a single day off.

And all of it was erased by one sentence:

"If you can't find a way to make Marina forgive you, I'll have to handle it myself."

That killed whatever fight I had left, whatever questions I wanted to throw at him. Instead, I heard myself ask, almost like I was twisting the knife into my own chest:

"And if I refuse?"

He smiled coldly.

"I will make sure you never recover."

That night, I didn't remember how I made it to the hotel.

All I remembered was the wind on the road, biting cold.

So cold it felt like needles drilling into bone.

The next day, I still decided to go to set and finish my last scene.

The scene called for Marina to shove me underwater.

The moment the slate clapped, she didn't give me a second to prepare. Both hands clamped the back of my skull and forced me under.

My strength drained away, little by little, until the director finally yelled cut.

I knelt on the ground, gasping, and forced my eyes open.

In the distance, Marina ran up to Abraham, buzzing with excitement. She hooked her arm through his wrist like a child showing off a trophy.

"Abe, swapping the warm water for ice water was perfect. Watching her suffer put me in such a better mood."

Before today, Marina had always tormented me behind closed doors. No wonder she could be so brazen now.

Abraham was here.

I smiled bitterly, then heard her continue.

"But it's still not enough."

"Abe, what do you think... what other ways could we make her suffer?"

Abraham answered without looking up, his tone indifferent.

"Add a love scene for her."

Before I could refuse, several crew members grabbed me and dragged me onto the bed. The man pinning me down pulled off my clothes, his hands roaming across my skin.

In that moment, every pair of eyes in the room was on me.

I heard the whispers rippling around me.

My dignity was ground beneath their feet, crushed bit by bit.

And all of it happened with Abraham's permission.

Before Marina came back to the country, he had treated me like a princess. He wouldn't let a single thing hurt me.

After Marina came back, he could stand there and watch me be humiliated in front of everyone.

My heart went completely cold.

I struggled to my feet and wrapped my coat around my body.

"How much is the penalty?"

Seeing me fight back, Marina couldn't help but laugh.

"You're an orphan. Where do you get the nerve to even ask that?"

Abraham looked equally baffled.

"It's just a love scene. Nobody actually did anything to you. Is it really that serious?"

"Let Marina blow off some steam, and I'll make sure you get the best roles from now on."

I gripped the hem of my coat, forcing the anguish down.

"A hundred million? Two hundred million? I can afford either."

I pulled out my black card, eyes filled with resolve.

Neither of them seemed to have expected that.

Abraham's expression darkened instantly.

Marina, on the other hand, wore her usual sneer.

"Beryl, do you really think playing hard to get is going to make Abe care about you?"

"Besides, someone of your background owning a black card? What, did you find yourself another sugar daddy?"

Abraham let out a cold laugh.

"You really will stoop to anything for money and power."

"I'd love to see what kind of man you end up with once I'm out of the picture."

I shot back without flinching.

"That's none of your concern."

When he saw me actually swipe the card and pay the full penalty, Abraham closed the distance in a few strides and seized my wrist.

"Think carefully. If you walk out today, I will never give you another role. Ever."

His grip sent pain shooting up my arm. I wrenched free.

Abraham's smile turned even colder.

"I'm just worried that after dropping a hundred million, you won't be able to afford your next meal."

"Mr. Simmons doesn't need to worry about me."

I answered calmly, turned around, and walked out without looking back.

This time, he didn't follow.

The moment I stepped off set, I called my father.

"Dad, come pick me up."

When I got home, I didn't hesitate. I packed every piece of clothing into my suitcase.

My gaze drifted to the safe beside the closet.

My heart skipped half a beat.

Inside were all the gifts Abraham had given me over the years.

I let out a bitter laugh, opened the safe, and dumped everything inside into the trash.

Since I'd already decided to leave, there was no reason to keep any of it.

I grabbed my suitcase and was heading for the door when the man standing in my way stopped me cold.

Abraham leaned against the wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips. His eyes were dark and unreadable.

"Leaving?"

I hadn't expected him to come after me.

I froze but said nothing.

He frowned. "Just because I stood up for Marina, you're leaving? Is it really that serious?"

When I still didn't answer, he flicked the cigarette to the floor, irritation bleeding into his voice.

"Beryl, Marina saved my life. Was I wrong to help her?"

"You've been picking fights with her, and I've always turned a blind eye. But you actually went so far as to drug her."

"Tell me, didn't you deserve to be punished?"

I shook my head, unable to hold back the question any longer.

"Abraham, I'm genuinely curious. What kind of person do you think I am?"

"Why else would you believe every word out of Marina's mouth without giving me even an ounce of trust?"

If he'd just sent someone to look into it. If he'd just paid the slightest attention.

He would've known that Marina was the one who came after me every single time.

Slashing my gowns. Tampering with my foundation. Using my name to stir up trouble.

I'd endured it all in silence because she'd once saved his life.

But Abraham only grew more displeased.

"I know exactly what kind of person you are. You got with me because of my last name, didn't you?"

One sentence turned every hope I'd ever carried into a joke.

His gaze was thin and cold, his voice a low warning.

"If you still want a career in this industry, you'll stay by my side and stop provoking Marina."

"Otherwise, I guarantee you'll be blacklisted by tomorrow."

He thought I'd cry and beg him not to.

But I only met his eyes, devoid of any love.

"That's exactly what I want. I'm done with this industry anyway."

I meant every word. And with complete sincerity, I added, "Oh, by the way, I'm getting married next month. Would you like to come?"

Abraham seized my wrist.

"What did you just say? Married?"

His eyes were bloodshot. When he saw how calm my face was, he suddenly let out a scoff.

"Playing hard to get, is that it? Maybe that used to work on me."

"But Marina hasn't cooled down yet. Wait until she has, and then you can try that little trick again."

I cut him off, too impatient for his delusions.

"Believe whatever you want."

"But for the record, I'm making a unilateral announcement: we're done."

Abraham laughed in disbelief.

He pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, his voice cold as ice.

"Done? Beryl, without me, you're nothing."

"You think those producers and directors will still suck up to you? Still hand you roles?"

"One word from me, and you won't even be a footnote."

Every sentence hammered the sincerity of my past feelings against the wall like nails.

It made me realize just how terrible my judgment had been.

"Abraham, I truly regret ever knowing you."

This time, he was silent for a long while.

Long enough for a sports car to roar past on the street outside.

Then I heard his voice, ground out through clenched teeth.

"Fine. Just fine, Beryl. If you walk out that door today, don't ever come back."

I didn't respond. I just turned and left without looking back.

The next morning, I arrived at the agency right on time to handle the contract termination.

But on the way, someone pressed a cloth over my nose and mouth and dragged me away.

When I came to, I was strapped to a wooden cross.

Two people stood in front of me.

Abraham explained in an unhurried tone, "Marina wants to play a game of darts. She specifically requested you as the target."

"But don't worry. Once she's gotten it out of her system, I'll lift your punishment."