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."

"Let me tell you, with muscles like that, you might just land a supporting role in an adult film..."

I felt a large hand creeping downward behind me and quickly knocked it away, alert and wary.

"What do you think you're doing?"

I glared at her, eyes locked.

Failing to get her way, her face twisted with anger. She suddenly grabbed me by the collar and raised her other hand high, ready to strike.

"You’re just a lousy security guard! I touched you only to give you some screen time and you dare act all high and mighty?"

I instinctively closed my eyes, bracing for impact, but to my surprise, the slap never came.

Yevana had caught her wrist mid-air. "That’s enough, Ms. Vance. Just take it as me owing you a favor."

Her unexpected intervention left me stunned.

She had been trying to embarrass me in front of everyone, so why would she step in now?

Lucan’s expression darkened at the sight of Yevana standing up for me, a flicker of resentment flashing across his face and then he suddenly pointed at my neck and cried out:

"Look! That necklace he’s wearing! That belongs to Serene Queenia."

At the mention of Serene, one of the most enigmatic figures in the entertainment industry, every head in the banquet hall turned in my direction.

Only then did I realize that the necklace, previously hidden beneath my shirt, had been exposed during the scuffle.

I calmly adjusted my collar, but Lucan snatched the necklace right off my neck, making me gasp in pain.

He examined it from every angle, then held it up high with smug certainty.

"I’m telling you, there’s no mistake! This is the necklace Serene never takes off!"

Well, he was not wrong. The necklace had indeed been a gift from Serene.

Still, was that level of dramatics really necessary?

I blinked, reaching to take it back, but just then, someone in the crowd voiced suspicion.

"You’re just a stinking security guard! How did Miss Queenia’s necklace end up on you? Be honest. Did you steal it with those dirty hands?"

"I was wondering the same thing. Serene Queenia was supposed to attend this event tonight. By now, she should’ve already made her appearance. But when I asked the staff earlier, they said she seemed to be looking for something..."

"That’s right! This filthy security guard must’ve stolen Serene’s necklace. No wonder he turned his nose up at Miss Cruz’s check and the job we offered him. It turns out he already hit the jackpot!"

Their accusations came so swiftly and confidently that it was as if they could not wait to condemn me on the spot.

"Everyone..."

I cleared my throat and calmly asked, "Isn't it possible that this necklace is mine and it just happens to resemble the one belonging to your so-called 'Movie Queen' Serene Queenia?"

I tried to explain, but to them, my words were nothing short of a joke.

"Yours? Are you seriously claiming you paid for that?"

Lucan’s tone sharpened, his voice rising as if he had caught me red-handed.

"You ignorant fool! The jade embedded in Serene's necklace is a rare heirloom that was auctioned at the capital city five years ago. It’s worth over 30 million dollars!"

"Even if someone wanted to make a fake, jadeite of this caliber is impossible to replicate!"

"You? A lowly security guard? Your lie is full of holes!"

I was genuinely stunned. I did not expect the necklace to be that valuable.

Lucan did have some knowledge, but what he did not know was that Serene had actually purchased two pieces of jade at that auction.

The higher-quality one had been given to me. The one she kept for herself… was slightly inferior.

"Believe it or not, this necklace really does belong to me."

"Now, please return it."

I extended my hand toward Lucan with neither humble nor arrogant attitude, but before I could reach it, the young director who had tried to take advantage of me earlier seized my wrist.

"You’re still lying? Even when the truth is staring you in the face?"