Yevana Cruz and I had been secretly in a relationship for three years. Behind the scenes, I funneled family resources to help her rise to fame, transforming her into a rising star in the entertainment world.

However, just as she reached the top, she turned on me, clinging to top actors while branding me as a twisted stalker.

Blinded by her lies, her fanatic fans despised me. One of them even ran me down on my way home, ending my life in an instant.

After I was reborn, I made a firm decision. I decided to withdraw every investment and cut all ties with her.

Over the next five years, relying on memories from her past life and the powerful support of her new boyfriend, Lucan Raye, Yevana starred in countless blockbusters and climbed to the pinnacle of showbiz.

At a lavish industry dinner, she arrived hand-in-hand with Lucan, flaunting their success and drawing envious stares from everyone in the room.

Spotting me quietly seated in a dim corner, she walked over with a sneer.

"Stefan Lorrimer, seeing where I am now, you must be gnashing your teeth with regret. Too bad there's no medicine for that."

I said nothing. I simply reached out and pulled Serene Queenia, who was currently the most sought-after actress, into a kiss right in front of her.

The flashing lights from the cameras made Yevana’s face go ghostly pale.

"Stefan! How could you fall for someone else?"

——

After parting ways with Yevana, I had no interest in wasting the experience I had gained from my previous life. So, I took full control of my family's entertainment empire.

Now, when boredom strikes, I occasionally appear as a background actor just for fun under the guise of being the company’s big boss.

I had just come off the set and was rushed straight to the banquet hall by the driver before I even had a chance to change out of my costume.

After spending the entire day playing a security guard, I was so hungry that I felt lightheaded. So I skipped getting changed, slipped into a quiet corner and focused on getting some food into my stomach.

I did not even notice Yevana walking arm-in-arm with Lucan, glowing like the moon surrounded by stars.

"Miss Cruz has only been in the entertainment industry a few years and already she has bagged three more trophies at this film festival. She’s basically a legend in domestic entertainment!"

"That’s right! She’s been trending nonstop for three months straight! Her name’s practically glued to the hot search rankings!"

"And that’s not even the craziest part. From what I’ve heard, the number of international brands lining up to work with Miss Cruz is too many to count on both hands. Just imagine the fortune that must be pouring in! Even a sliver from her pinky would be enough to feed the rest of us for years."

Although Yevana was used to this kind of flattery, she was still young and I could not help but notice the slight smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Just then, one of the reporters grinned and said teasingly, "We all can see that Miss Cruz and Mr. Raye’s relationship is rock-solid. So, when are the wedding bells ringing?"

Lucan gave a dramatic shrug and smirked. "That’s not up to me. You’ll have to ask Miss Cruz when she’s willing to finally marry me."

With just that one line, he gave Yevana all the spotlight and she practically lit up with joy.

"Haha, don’t worry. Once the date is set, I’ll make sure everyone knows."

Then someone asked, "Hey, Yevana, isn’t that your ex-boyfriend over there?"

Lucan was the first to spot me with his sharp eyes. The crowd, sensing the whiff of gossip in the air, turned to look in my direction one by one.

"I heard that before her debut, Miss Cruz had a first love. I heard it was some guy who dumped her because she was poor and he was chasing wealth. Turns out it was him!"

"What a shallow man. He clearly didn’t expect Miss Cruz to rise to stardom. He must be kicking himself with regret now!"

"That’s why we’re lucky to have Mr. Raye. He had the vision to stay by Miss Cruz’s side all the way to the top!"

Yevana raised her brows proudly.

Lucan masked the satisfaction in his eyes and responded with a modest smile.

"Well, that’s all in the past. Some men just want to reap the rewards without enduring the struggle. I guess it’s just human nature. No need to be too harsh."

Though his tone was magnanimous, the glance he threw at me was laced with bitterness and disdain.

The people around me wrinkled their noses and looked me up and down with contempt.

"That scruffy-looking guy used to date Miss Cruz? Look at him. He’s dressed like a greasy middle-aged man. I can smell him from here."

"This is a dinner party hosted by the richest family in Duvant City. How did some stray mutt manage to sneak in?"

"He’s probably a security guard here. Maybe he heard Miss Cruz would be attending and snuck in for a glimpse…"

I calmly put down the half-eaten snack in my hand and gave Yevana a polite smile.

She did not see a shred of embarrassment on my face and sneered. "Stefan, did you dump me back then just so you could rush over here to work security?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, laughter erupted from the crowd again.

Everyone was waiting for me to slink away in shame, but I did not flinch. My expression remained composed and my smile appeared courteous.

"Stefan, don’t you have any dignity? If I were you, I’d have left by now."

Yevana felt like she had just punched cotton since there was no satisfying reaction from me and her irritation flared.

Lucan gently took her arm and said soothingly, "All right, Yevana, don’t be angry. It must already be painful for him to see what he’s missed. Why humiliate him in public?"

As he spoke, he reached out and gave my shoulder a pat, adding with fake sincerity, "Isn’t that right, Stefan? Don’t blame Yevana. After all, you did abandon her. Of course, it hurt her deeply."

"But Yevana does have a point. A job like security isn’t really suitable for someone your age. It’s… undignified."

"Plus, you work so hard just to make a few thousand a month. It’s not worth it. Why don’t you bow your head and apologize to Yevana? If she’s in a good mood, she might toss you a tip, maybe even one hundred thousand or two. That’s more than you could earn in years."

Lucan spoke as if giving heartfelt advice, but his eyes were watching Yevana, gauging her reaction. Seeing her pleased expression, he quietly let out a sigh of relief.

Yevana raised her chin arrogantly, pulled out a check from her purse and dangled it in front of me.

"Well, since Lucan is so eager to help you, Stefan Lorrimer, if you apologize for what happened back then and admit you regret it, this one hundred fifty thousand dollars is yours."

I stared at her in disbelief, stunned that she had the audacity to demand an apology from me.

The year I met Yevana Cruz, I had just started as an intern at one of the group's entertainment companies, keeping my identity hidden.

Back then, she was new to the entertainment industry. She was ambitious but frustrated, aloof and full of disdain for the capital-driven machinery of a famous magazine, "Elite Times."

"Stefan, I really can’t stand those bitches who rely on rich sponsors to climb the ladder. How are they any different from those cheap bitches working in nightclubs?"

Back then, I had wanted to use my family's resources to support her, but the scorn and disdain in her eyes when she said those words made me swallow everything I was about to say.

From that moment on, I only dared to help her from the shadows.

Fearing it might affect her rise to stardom, I buried my pride and kept my relationship hidden. For three years, I was secretly in relationship with her and quietly poured in resources, finally pushing her into the limelight as the industry's newest darling.

I had planned to tell her the truth about who I truly was, but on the night she won the Newcomer Award, she wrapped her arm around Lucan Raye and made a grand, public announcement of their relationship.

At that time, she just sent a cold breakup text and erased the three years we shared with the tap of a screen.

I used every connection I had to track her down at her new place, desperate for answers.

However, she merely looked at me with mocking eyes and sneered, "Stefan, do you really have the nerve to ask why I broke up with you? You should be asking yourself instead…"

"Lucan brings me fame, helps me win awards and connects me with powerful investors. What about you? What can a pathetic part-timer like you possibly offer me?"

Her words left me speechless.

She stood there, confident and self-assured, as if she had completely forgotten her own words where she swore she would make it to the top on her own.

Later, afraid that I would continue clinging to her, she did not hesitate to smear my name by branding me a twisted stalker. That lie led to my tragic death under the wheels of her crazed fans.

After being reborn, I cut all ties with her without a moment’s hesitation and she never tried to stop me.

A week later, when her new drama trended at the top of the hot search, I realized something shocking. Yevana had also been reborn.

I could not understand it. She had already achieved, in five short years, what most could not reach in a lifetime and she had done it by exploiting every possible advantage.

So why act like a victim now? Why twist the truth and force me to apologize publicly?

I slowly reached out and, under everyone’s stunned gaze, tucked the check back into Yevana’s pocket.

"It’s not easy earning that kind of money. You should keep it for your health."

I spoke with a pointed glance at a certain spot on her chest. Yevana’s face flushed instantly.

Though she had become a major celebrity in recent years, she was no stranger to scandals. Paparazzi often caught her shopping with wealthy backers and though she always claimed it was just part of business socializing, everyone knew the truth. Still, no one ever dared call her out directly.

Until now.

The onlookers didn't dare to express their anger and they were awkwardly holding their wine glasses in a stalemate.

The crowd froze, wine glasses in hand, caught in an awkward silence, not daring to speak.

"You filthy security guard! What the hell do you mean by that? I was just trying to help you out of kindness and you act like this?"

Yevana snapped, unable to contain her anger.

I maintained a calm, polite smile. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just concerned about your health, that’s all.”

Yevana stood rooted in place, utterly humiliated.

Lucan rolled his eyes dramatically and raised his voice to the people around him.

"Well, since Mr. Lorrimer insists on rejecting Yevana’s kindness, we won’t press the matter any further. Still, given that the two of them were once in a relationship, Yevana still can't bear to see him toiling away in such a physically demanding job. If any crew happens to be short on extras, why not prioritize Mr. Lorrimer?"

"It's a bit tougher, sure, but it pays better than working security. Let’s just treat it as an act of charity, shall we…"

Despite his seemingly considerate tone, someone in the crowd could not help but interject with a smirk.

"Mr. Raye, as you know, not everyone qualifies to be an extra. Even if it’s just a few seconds on screen, appearance still matters…"

"So, with Mr. Lorrimer's appearance..."

He paused mid-sentence with exaggerated hesitation, which drew a round of mocking laughter.

"Well... coincidentally, our production is looking for someone to play a male escort. I wonder if Mr. Lorrimer would be interested?"

The room erupted with raucous laughter.

I smiled faintly and set down my wine glass.

"Thank you for the offer," I replied calmly.

"But I don’t see anything wrong with working security. At the very least, I earn my living with dignity."

"Tch, there he goes again, putting on airs. We go out of our way to offer him work and he still acts like he’s too good for it!"

Someone snorted in disdain.

"Exactly. He’s just trying to save face. Keeps turning us down now, but I bet he’ll be begging for our contact details once the dinner’s over."

"I actually think it fits the role perfectly, saying no with his mouth, but his body’s clearly eager to say yes."

Before I had the chance to decline, Yevana stepped forward, her expression calm and composed.

"Stefan, look at the miserable state you’re in, yet you still put on airs like you're above everyone else."

"Go on, change your clothes and let the directors see if you’ve got any acting talent at all."

Her tone left no room for refusal as if she were genuinely doing me a favor.

"No need."

I said, declining politely. Still, before I could take a step back, the female director named Margot Vance beside me gave me a firm push toward the dressing room.

"All right, Mr. Lorrimer, let’s not keep up the charade any longer."