“Why are you angry?” I sanpped back.

He threw his hands in the air and said irritably, “Look, if you loved me, you'd stop pestering me. Let's just go our separate ways. It's for the best.”

Just as I was about to ask more questions, there was a loud, forceful knock on the door.

I opened it to find a woman in her thirties standing there.

Margot Hickman. She was a well-known name in the entertainment industry—a powerhouse producer who had made stars out of countless actors and held a wealth of resources at her fingertips. What was she doing here?

Before I could say anything, Margot’s eyes swept over me with thinly veiled disdain. She scoffed, clearly unimpressed. “So, you’re Kieran’s secret girlfriend? Lila, is it?”

She didn’t wait for my response, continuing with an air of superiority. “You’re pretty, I’ll give you that, but it’s painfully clear you lack sophistication. Someone like you doesn’t belong by Kieran’s side.”

Margot took a step closer, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. “Let me give you some advice, sweetheart. If you know what’s good for you, break up with Kieran and disappear from his life. Don’t make me resort to... unpleasant measures to deal with you.”

Hearing Margot's voice in the house, Kieran hurriedly came out carrying his suitcase. He immediately took Margot's hand and coaxed her gently, “Don't spend your time talking to her. I'm done packing. Let's go.”

Seeing their intimate scene, I couldn’t hold back and snapped, “Wow, Kieran. I didn’t think your standards could sink so low. I never imagined you’d be so desperate as to date this old hag!”

My words struck a nerve. Margot’s face twisted in annoyance. Without a second’s hesitation, she slapped me hard across the face.

“Watch your filthy mouth, little girl! Insult me again and I’ll rip that filthy mouth right off your face!”

The slap left me stunned. No one had ever dared lay a hand on me—not even my parents. And now this Margot—who the hell did she think she was? How dare she hit me?

Before I could react, Kieran stepped between us. He glared at me, his tone dripping with irritation. “Listen, Lila, I never planned on marrying you. The years we spent together? It was just for fun.”

He added coldly, “Take that money and stay out of my life.”

Then, as if flipping a switch, he turned to Margot, his voice soft and full of admiration. “Let’s go. We need to get ready for the film’s wrap party tonight.”

Margot smirked, leaning in to kiss his cheek. She turned to me with a mocking sneer. “You’re just a country bumpkin. Don’t ever dream of becoming someone big.”

“I can make Kieran a star. Adored by millions,” she continued smugly. “His future is limitless. You and he will soon be worlds apart, so you’d better give up on the ridiculous idea of marrying him.”

She gestured dismissively at the table where Kieran had left a check. “Take that money and get as far away as possible. If I find out you’re still hanging around Kieran or spreading rumors that could damage his career, you can kiss your life goodbye.”

Her eyes narrowed into a cold, threatening glare. “I’ve seen plenty of girls like you—poor, with no background, living in a fantasy world where they could somehow marrying their idols. I’ve dealt with them all and I’ll deal with you if I have to. So, don’t test me. Got it?” With a self-satisfied toss of her hair, Margot linked her arm through Kieran’s and the two of them sauntered out as if they’d won some grand prize.

I pressed a hand to my burning cheek, fury bubbling up inside me until it felt like I might explode. My teeth clenched so hard my jaw ached. Reaching for the check Kieran had left, I tore it into tiny pieces and let them flutter to the ground.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, I pulled out my phone and called Ellis, my family’s head assistant.

“Ellis, cancel the plans I mentioned about secretly supporting Kieran Drake’s career. Oh, and one more thing—Velvetline Entertainment, that’s Margot’s company, right? Invite their executives to host the wrap party for their new movie at my family estate.”

A superstar adored by millions? A top-tier producer with endless resources? They were overrated, in my opinion. Let’s see if they could keep acting all high and mighty once I was done with them.

I wasn’t a saint. Turning the other cheek when someone slapped me wasn’t my style. If anyone dared to hurt me, I’d make sure they paid for it tenfold.

Tonight was the perfect opportunity for me to get my revenge. Tonight, I was going to make Margot feel what it was like to be humiliated and trampled on in front of everyone. But Kieran, on the other hand, got me into a mixed feeling. He was my first love, the one I could never quite forget, especially the memory of our first encounter.

It was a time when I was in my rebel phase. I disagreeing with everything, fighting with my family and deciding to run away. It wasn't planned—just a spontaneous decision, fueled by anger and hurt. That night, I had nowhere to go, not even a single dollar to my name, so staying in a hotel was out of the question. Hungry, tired and hopeless, I found myself standing at a crossroads: should I sleep on a park bench for the night or swallow my pride and go home to apologize?

Just as I was pondering my fate, exhausted and starving, two homeless men approached me, their eyes glinting with ill intent.

“Hey, pretty girl, what’re you doing out here all alone?” one sneered.

“Wanna come with us? Let’s head to the park and have some fun,” the other added, grabbing my arm.

They were strong, their hands grabbing me tightly, pulling me toward the dark path leading to a nearby park. I screamed, but the street was empty. No one could hear me, no matter how loud I shouted. I was seconds away from being dragged to dark alley when Kieran appeared.

Riding a battered old bicycle, he noticed the commotion and rushed to intervene. Without hesitation, he lifted his beaten-up bike and slammed it into the homeless men.

The impact sent them sprawling to the ground. Rising quickly, they charged at him blindly, ready to retaliate. However, Kieran wasn’t an easy target. His tall and strong frame made it difficult for them to overpower him. He easily dodged their wild swings, landing precise blows in return. He was clearly trained in self-defense. With quick punches and kicks, he swiftly overpowered them.

Bruised and humiliated, the two men scrambled to their feet and fled, stumbling as they vanished into the darkness.

Still shaken, I thanked him profusely. He responded casually, “You shouldn't be wandering around alone at this hour. This area is quiet and prone to crime.” His voice was firm, yet kind. “You better get going, head back to the safety of your home.”

Before I could pull myself together, he was already pushing his beat-up bike away. I rushed after him, insisting that he give me his contact information.

That night, I called home. My parents, frantic with worry, nearly lost their minds. When my father heard I had almost been assaulted, he sent people to track down and deal with those two homeless men.

From then on, I used my gratitude as an excuse to stay in touch with Kieran. I bought him a new bike as a token of thanks and started inviting him to hang out—shopping, eating and just spending time together. Gradually, we grew closer.

After getting to know each other better, I learned his story. He was a film school graduate without money or connections, struggling to survive in the entertainment industry.

One night, after a few too many drinks, he broke down in tears, clutching me tightly.

“Lila, you have no idea how hard this is,” he sobbed. “I worked part-time jobs all through school to get my degree, but life after graduation is even tougher. With no money and connections, it’s almost impossible to get anywhere.”

“Why is different. My classmates—some of them didn’t even do as well as me in school. They weren’t as talented, but they signed with big companies right after graduating. A year later, they’re already making names for themselves.”

“Why is the world so unfair? They don’t even need the money, but they’re flocking the industry, taking away the little opportunities we have just to survive.”

“You know what? I’ve decided. If I can’t make a name for myself in another year, I’ll quit. I’ll work in a factory or deliver food, or whatever. I’ll do anything but acting!”

That night, he poured out all his frustrations, years of pent-up bitterness and sorrow. My heart ached for him and I made a decision. I would use my family’s influence to help him from behind the curtains.

Kieran’s career soared after that. With a little push from my family, he quickly gained a foothold in the entertainment industry and built a solid fan base.

He promised me that once he entered the second tier of stars, he would make our relationship public. I would no longer be his girlfriend in secret and I couldn’t help but think about the future.

When the New Year came around, I planned to bring Kieran home with me. I was eager to show him my family, to finally reveal my true identity to him. I imagined the look of surprise on his face when he realized just who I really was. But to my shock, on my birthday, he gave me a surprise I would never forget for the rest of my life.

Kieran hit me with a blow that would leave me shattered. For the sake of his career, he discarded me without a second thought. He’d left me behind, without hesitation, without any remorse. It was like a cruel twist of fate. The man I had helped to lift up, the man I believed in, had tossed me aside like I was nothing.

I had done everything for him, only to be cast aside when it mattered most. The sting of betrayal was unbearable, but I couldn’t help but think, “Kieran, you’ll regret this.” I would make sure of it.

That afternoon, the family butler drove me back to the estate.

The house was bustling with activity; guests had already started arriving for the evening’s celebrations. Many of the guests didn’t know me, which wasn’t surprising. I had always kept a low profile and my parents had gone to great lengths to protect me from the public eye.

My parents were mingling with some of the influential figures from the capital, engaged in casual conversation, while I decided to take a walk around the grounds with our Pomeranian, waiting for the evening’s birthday festivities to begin.

It was then that I saw them—Margot and Kieran, standing off to the side with a group of people, all smiles and laughter. They were surrounded by the cast and crew from the film Kieran had starred in and they were all fawning over Margot. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the scene. The way they all doted on her was nauseating.

“Margot, you really are amazing! To get the wrap party for our film hosted here, at the Fitzgerald estate? That’s unbelievable!”

“This estate is practically a legend in Wickerdale. I’ve heard so many big shots have tried to get an invitation and failed!”

“We owe you big time, Margot. And of course, we have to thank Kieran, too. Without his stellar performance, our movie wouldn’t have been half as good!”

“Yes, yes! Kieran, you’re the real MVP! And while we’re at it, here’s to you and Margot—may you two have a long and happy life together!”

“When the two of you get married, don’t forget to invite us!”

Their over-the-top flattery had Margot beaming with pride, while Kieran humbly accepted the compliments, a modest smile on his face.

Margot, basking in the attention, said with a smug grin, “It’s true, getting you all into the Fitzgerald estate took some doing. The young lady of the house is hosting her birthday party tonight and she and I… well, we have a bit of a personal connection. She was kind enough to let me bring you all along.”

“But let me remind you,” she continued, her tone turning serious, “the Fitzgeralds have very strict rules. They’re not your typical wealthy family. So watch your words, keep your phones away and for heaven’s sake, don’t do anything inappropriate. If you mess up tonight, even I won’t be able to save you.”

The crew nodded eagerly, like obedient schoolchildren. Watching from a distance, I couldn’t help rolling my eyes. Margot really knew how to flatter herself.

A personal connection with me? Since when?  Just hours ago, she slapped me in the face and now she was here, strutting around in my family’s home like she owned the place. I couldn’t hold back my disgust.

Sensing my annoyance, the Pomeranian in my arms barked sharply in Margot’s direction.

The sudden noise caught their attention and they all turned to look at me. When Margot and Kieran saw me, they froze for a moment, clearly not expecting to see me here.

Margot was the first to recover. She frowned, her expression filled with disdain. “You again? You always show up when we're having fun, like a fly on a carcass. You're such a buzzkill!”