Never Forgive, Never Remarry

The world was truly cold and heartless. My role had just been taken away and now even the assistant assigned to me by the company had been recalled. Carrying my medication, I returned to my hospital room only to see David sitting on my bed with a mocking smile. My heart instantly sank. "Saveline, did you really think I wouldn’t know? I installed a tracking system on your phone. And you really went all out with this act. Your little 'self-inflicted suffering' performance is quite convincing." I was wearing a white-and-blue-striped hospital gown, my lips pale and the white bandage on my forehead still seeping with traces of blood. Was the man I once loved actually mocking me, praising my acting skills with a fake smile? I let out a self-deprecating smirk, but despite myself, tears still slipped silently down my cheeks. "Crying? Already putting on an act? After all these years, do you really think I don’t know your little tricks? I didn’t take time out of my busy schedule to watch you play the innocent victim. Unlock your phone." "Give it back to me!" I stumbled forward, desperately trying to snatch my phone back. But how could I possibly stand a chance against David, who was taller and stronger than me? With one large hand, he gripped my shoulder tightly. The metal studs on his ring dug into my skin, sending a sharp pain through me. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. He signaled his bodyguards to hold me down, then casually adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose. A cruel smirk curled at the corners of his lips. "Saveline, if you just behave, you’ll suffer a lot less." I barely managed to let out a single syllable before David’s hand clamped tightly around my throat. His gaze turned cold and ruthless. "If you don’t want anything to happen to your crippled mother, you’d better post a clarification on X. Now." He was threatening me with the only family I had left in this world. Tears of helplessness streamed down my face. No matter how much I wanted to fight back, I could do nothing at all. “Hello, everyone. I am a hater of Lucia. Out of jealousy over her opportunities, I momentarily lost my judgment and tried to frame her. She has never interfered in anyone’s marriage. I sincerely apologize to Miss Lucia and Mr. David for the trouble I’ve caused." As I pressed the send button, it felt like my heart was bleeding. David smirked, his voice dripping with mockery. "See? Why did you even bother with all that useless resistance? If you had been obedient from the start, I wouldn’t have had to come all the way here myself. Your little act of pretending to be sick has been exposed. Pack up and go home. This matter is over. I forgive you. Take this time to reflect on your actions properly." After delivering his sharp reprimand, he suddenly softened his tone and pulled out his phone. "Saveline, it’s all settled. I’ll head to the set to see you now." Without a second glance, he walked out of my hospital room. With trembling hands, I opened the comment section… "Shameless! You’re not jealous of Lucia’s opportunities, you’re jealous that she has David by her side!" "Ugly people always stir up trouble. Are you trying to steal Lucia’s resources? Do you even deserve it?" "Exactly! You’re not even worthy of carrying her shoes!" "Ladies, don’t forget. This woman is actually David’s delusional fangirl! Hahaha! She must be furious because she couldn’t even manage to be his mistress!" I stared at the screen, my vision blurring with tears as the malicious comments flooded in like a tidal wave. "A disgusting woman like her should just get out of the entertainment industry! We need to boycott her dramas!" Thousands upon thousands of hate comments filled my screen. My whole body trembled uncontrollably. Then, another message from David popped up on WhatsApp: [Saveline, you better not even think about deleting that post. You should have considered the consequences before acting on impulse. This is just a small lesson for you. I hope you learn from it.] My fingers clenched around the phone as an overwhelming sense of despair crashed over me. I collapsed onto the floor, utterly drained. Rubbing my swollen, tear-streaked eyes, I sat there in a daze for a long time. Then, with a clarity I hadn’t felt in years, I typed out a single message to David: [David, let’s get a divorce.]

David's voice message came through almost instantly, dripping with impatience: [Saveline, what kind of stunt are you trying to pull this time? How many times do I have to tell you? I’m helping Lucia because it benefits me. My company invested a billion in The Legend of Diana, you were never capable of carrying the lead role. Stop making a scene.] [Yeah, I was a little rough earlier, but that’s only because you wouldn’t listen. If you behave now, I promise you, you will always be my wife. Lucia will never compare to you.] I stared at my phone, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. David was certain that I wouldn’t bear to leave him, so he played his usual game by hurting me first, then offering a so-called "sweet" consolation. "Miss Carter, why are you sitting on the floor?" A nurse walked in, startled to see me collapsed there. She hurried over and helped me up. "Miss Carter, congratulations. You’re pregnant." The moment she handed me the report, my first instinct was to go straight to the obstetrics department and terminate the pregnancy. These past few years, I had always wanted a child. I believed that a child would be the bond holding our marriage together. Every time I still harbored hope for David, I longed for a child even more. But now, when I have completely given up on him, the child arrives at this moment. For a brief second, I considered keeping the child and raising them alone. But deep down, I knew, I wanted my child to come into this world to experience happiness, not suffering. David would never let my child have a peaceful life. The thought of my innocent child never seeing this world, taken away because I was helpless, felt like a knife through my heart. Dizzy and unsteady, I made my way to the obstetrics and gynecology department. But the doctor told me that my current condition was severe hypoglycemia. They were concerned that I might suffer from oxygen deprivation to the brain during the procedure. They advised me to go home and recover for two weeks before considering the surgery again. I took a taxi home and looked at the cold, empty mansion, feeling waves of pain surging through my heart. Once upon a time, I had been moved when David bought me this house. What was once a love nest had now become a prison. Before our marriage, David had suggested that, as public figures, we should keep our private lives as hidden as possible. At his suggestion, we chose to have a secret marriage. Many people in the entertainment industry lived in our neighborhood and since he and I usually walked separately and given that I was just a minor celebrity, there was no chance that the media would ever associate me with him. Until late at night, David came back carrying a gift box. Seeing me curled up on the sofa, his brows furrowed slightly. "I bought you the latest Hermès bag. Stop throwing a tantrum." He was always like this. He’d strike with one hand and offer a sweet with the other, convinced that my love for him was unbreakable. As long as he gave me the slightest way out, he thought I’d gratefully scramble to take it. Looking at the cherry blossom pink bag, I found it laughable. He knew me best. I never liked anything pink. Sure enough, my phone’s special notifications chimed. Lucia had posted an update: "Straight men are so scary! Even though it's the latest Hermès, I really don’t like gaudy pink! Time to punish him, hmph!" "So? Giving me this gaudy pink bag that Lucia doesn't like is her way of punishing you? Am I just a part of your game with her?" David's originally handsome features instantly darkened with a layer of frost. "Can you stop acting like that?" He walked over, sat down and gently reached out to brush away the stray strands of hair on my forehead.

His touch made me feel physically sick. I wasn’t sure if it was morning sickness or just pure disgust at the sight of him. I gagged and spat out a mouthful of sour bile, instinctively pushing him away. "Saveline, are you insane? Are you done yet?" Funny enough. He didn’t care that I was throwing up. He only cared that I had pushed him. "Yes, I must be sick. I've been insulted by millions of comments, I don't dare turn on my phone and I still apologize. If that's not being sick, then what is?" Even after being cursed at so harshly, my voice remained soft and petulant as I voiced my grievance. I'd always been gentle and timid by nature. When others bullied me, I would simply avoid them. I remembered being bullied by a girl who acted sweet but was actually manipulative. Without hesitation, David stepped in front of me and said sharply, “You better jump and drown in the river. That way, people would still think it’s just a piece of trash!” The manipulative girl ran off after being scolded and David gently pinched my nose, speaking softly, “You little weakling, what would you do without me? You’d get bullied too much.” I never imagined that one day, David would stand against me. My parents were in the business of mining raw diamonds. That year, the mine collapsed. My parents were driven to suicide by public opinion, leaving me trapped in endless darkness. I was taken in by our housekeeper, but it was David who stole his father’s antique collection worth over ten million dollars and sold it on the black market to get the money to set up a home for me and the housekeeper in another city. As for David himself, he was beaten severely by his father and then kicked out of the family. When I was broken and battered, he treated me like a treasure. But now that all the hardships had passed, the man who once pulled me out of the abyss was the same one pushing me into another torment that devoured me from the inside out. I closed my eyes, bit my lip and choked back my tears. “David, let’s at least keep some dignity for each other. Let’s end this on good terms and get a divorce.” David frowned slightly, his voice laced with confusion. “Saveline, you’re really divorcing me over something this trivial? It’s just cyberbullying, haven’t you been through worse? When your parents killed all those people, weren’t the insults you got back then even harsher? You’ve already been through it once, haven’t you? Why are you still so sensitive? I really don’t get you.” The people closest to you always knew where it hurt the most. He knew better than anyone that my parents’ deaths were a pain I would never be able to face in this lifetime. Yet, at this moment, he tossed it at me so effortlessly, as if it was nothing. "Get out! I don’t want to see you!" With bloodshot eyes, I hurled a pillow at him. "Shrew! Completely unreasonable." Cursing under his breath, he grabbed the sakura pink bag and stormed out. Not long after, Lucia posted a new update: "My big straight man couldn’t even complete a simple little task. Girls, tell me, should I make him kneel on a washboard?" David immediately replied: "Diana, have mercy!" The comment section was flooded with people squealing about how sweet they were. It seemed I really was just a piece in their game. Love was supposed to be for both of us, but while I was still figuring out what went wrong, I had already been pushed from the main role in his story to just a background character. It was just another cliché romance story, where the new lover laughed while the old one cried. I wiped away my tears and unlocked my password-protected notebook. Then, I dialed an international call across the ocean. James was the CEO of the world’s largest diamond mining company. Growing up alongside my father, I had learned a lot about raw diamond mining. Even though my father had fallen from grace, his reputation in the industry remained formidable.

James admired my father, which was why he went to great lengths to find me and offered me a position at his company. His company was based in Zenova State. At the time, I was deeply in love with David and couldn’t bear to leave him. Besides, I didn’t want to follow in my father’s footsteps, so I gave up the opportunity. Right now, everything I once cherished regarded me as worthless. I had nothing left to hold me back. With my ruined reputation, finding work in the entertainment industry, let alone any job in the country, would be nearly impossible. Thinking about this made me uneasy. My heart pounded as I anxiously dialed the number. When the call connected, I carefully asked, “Hello, is this Mr. James?” There was a brief hesitation on the other end before a soft “Mm” came through, followed by silence. His quietness made my palms sweat with nerves. “I’m Lucas Carter’s daughter, Saveline Carter. Does your company still need a gemstone appraiser?” I felt completely uncertain. I was terrified that if I only introduced myself as Saveline, he wouldn’t remember me and would just hang up. So, I had no choice but to bring up my father. My body trembled with nervousness and my voice involuntarily choked up. “It's okay, don’t cry.” Unexpectedly, the voice on the other end was that of a gentle young man. It sounded somewhat familiar, but it was definitely not the voice of the person who had given me the number that day. “You… You’re not Mr. James? I’m sorry, I must have dialed the wrong number.” My heart, which had been hanging in suspense, plummeted once again into the depths. The person on the other end didn’t answer my question but instead said gently, “I’ll come pick you up.” I was utterly confused. If he wasn’t James, why would he come to pick me up? Sensing my silence, he added, “I’ve heard about what happened to you. I have a flight tonight. Let’s talk in person.” With that, he hung up. I was completely bewildered, knowing nothing about the identity of this person. The only thing I was sure of was that he knew me. Maybe it was because of my father that he was willing to help me. How ridiculous. Just to leave David, I had started to look forward to the arrival of a stranger I had never met. The love I once depended on had now become the very thing I was desperate to escape from. Two people who had once loved each other so deeply had now reached the point of mutual resentment. It was quite a pity. Even though that person was only willing to help me out of respect for my father, at least I had a place to go. For a brief moment, the heavy weight in my heart was lifted. Now, all I had to do was wait for him to arrive and help me process my work visa. While waiting for the visa, I could finalize my divorce. With that plan in mind, I started packing my belongings. Looking at the single suitcase before me, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. After ten years of marriage, everything I owned in this home could fit into just one suitcase. I had made up my mind. I didn't want anything. As long as David agreed to sign the divorce papers without trouble, I was willing to leave with nothing. Even the house and car that he transferred to my name, I would give them up as well. It wasn’t that I saw money as worthless or thought of myself as noble. It was just that David had once been the one who pulled me out of the abyss. He simply didn’t love me anymore; it wasn’t as if he had committed some unforgivable crime. I still remembered that year, right after my parents' suicide. The widows of the miners who had died in the collapse gathered at my doorstep, holding banners and demanding that I die with them, saying that the Carter Family deserved to be wiped out. It was David who hid me in the basement. Despite being so young, he stood tall like a man, looking at me with unwavering determination and saying, "Saveline, wait here. I'll take care of it and once it's done, I'll take you away."

I didn’t know how that young boy handled the situation, but when I saw him again, his body was covered in welts from a belt. I cried as I asked him if it hurt. He grinned, revealing a mouthful of bright white teeth. "Saveline, the old man has cut ties with me. From now on, I’m sticking with you!" It was only later that I found out. He had stolen antique calligraphy and paintings from his father and sold them at a low price. He took me away from that city where everyone wanted me dead. He gave me, an orphan with nowhere to go, a home. Love was supposed to conquer all hardships. In the early days of building our careers, we faced countless struggles together. But in the end, he rose from being a little boy to a president. Yet time didn’t just change our circumstances. It changed our love as well. I didn’t want to take advantage of him and I was willing to give my blessing to his love with Lucia. If I was destined never to have happiness, then at least the person I once cared about can be happy in my place. That’s enough. All I asked for now was a peaceful, amicable separation. After mailing my passport to the address James provided, I stayed home, waiting for his update. But before any news about my visa arrived, David came first. "You should get ready. You're coming with me to a banquet tonight." I was stunned. For years, David and I had even taken separate elevators downstairs, never once sharing a meal in public. What was wrong with him this time? Seeing that I didn’t move, he spoke arrogantly, "What, are you too excited to react? Look at you, acting like you've never seen the world before." "I'm not feeling well. I don't want to go. If you need a date, you can take Lucia. Aren’t you two trending as a couple right now?" I was leaving anyway. I had no intention of getting dragged into their mess. "Saveline, do you really think you're that important?" David scoffed. "Of course, I will date Lucia. The reason I'm taking you is so your rustic demeanor can make her look even more elegant and pure." Arrogance was written all over his face. "Saveline, let's be real here. Just do as I say and I promise I'll never abandon you. This time, your job at the banquet is to act meek and heartbroken. Leave the rest of the negative publicity to the media. Once Diana makes money, I'll reward you with a trip to the Maldiva." I listened to him quietly, then handed him the divorce papers I had prepared in advance. “David, let’s get a divorce.” “Saveline, are you getting too full of yourself?” David’s brows knitted tightly together, his arrogance replaced by a sinister glare. “What’s all this fuss about? So what if I have another woman? Which man doesn’t fool around? As a wife, ask yourself honestly. If you had done your part well, would I have gone looking elsewhere?" I was so enraged that I laughed. He made cheating sound so justified. Back in middle school, he and I were strolling through the park when we happened to witness a wife catching her cheating husband with his mistress. The wife’s family had shown up in full force and the hot-blooded teenage David took advantage of the chaos to kick the scumbag a few times along with them. Even afterward, he was still fuming. "Men who cheat should be physically castrated! They’re the worst kind of trash. Tell me, why isn’t infidelity a criminal offense?" Now, he had transformed from that young man who despised infidelity into the very thing he once loathed. Not only was he unaware of it, but he also had the audacity to manipulate me, his lawful wife. It must have been my fault. I must not have been good enough, otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone looking for another woman.

I let out a cold chuckle, which only made him even more furious. "Saveline, who do you think you are?" David gritted his teeth, his voice dripping with contempt. "Do you really think anyone else in this world would want you? Given your current situation, the moment you step out of my house, you’ll have no choice but to starve!" "You don’t need to worry about that," I replied indifferently. "Look over the agreement. If there are no issues, sign it. We’ll go to the civil affairs bureau in a month to finalize the divorce." Compared to David's rage, I remained remarkably calm. "Saveline, you wouldn’t have secretly latched onto another man, would you? Otherwise, how could you possibly be willing to give up on me, your financial backer..." "You are indeed a financial backer," I chuckled, "But you're not my financial backer, you’re Lucia’s. All these years, the money I’ve spent came from the roles I worked hard to get. I don’t have the habit of relying on a sponsor." "You’re still so stubborn," David sneered, his eyes flashing with malice. "Without me, do you really think you'll even get the chance to be an extra?" "Even if I have to pick up trash, I will never accept your charity," I calmly said. My unwavering stance made David so furious that his expression twisted in anger. "I’d love to see whether your stubbornness lasts or if my methods will break you first. Let’s see if you can still act this tough when the time comes!" "Just sign it!" I even uncapped the pen and handed it to him. David wavered for a moment as he held the divorce agreement, seemingly deep in thought. Then, shaking the document in his hand, he said, "If you want me to sign, fine. But you have to attend the gala with me tonight. Once it’s over, I’ll sign." After speaking, he pulled an invitation card from the pocket of his suit, my name clearly written on it. "Alright." As long as he agreed to the divorce, I was willing to go through fire and water. Let alone attend a mere gala. "I’ll give you a heads-up. With your current status and reputation, you normally wouldn’t qualify to attend a gala of this level. If the organizers invited you just to boost Lucia’s presence, you might find yourself in an awkward situation. If you apologize to me now, I might reluctantly help you back out of it." There was a subtle hesitation in his expression, a trace of reluctance that contradicted the arrogance he had when he first walked through the door. "As long as you sign, I’m definitely going." "You really don’t know what’s good for you! Don’t expect me to save you when things go south!" We were locked in a stalemate. After throwing out that harsh remark, he tossed a paper bag at me. "This is your dress for tonight. No ironing. Just wear it." I pulled it out and took a look. It was an outdated design from 2015. It was originally pure white, but now it had turned yellowish. On top of that, it had been carelessly crumpled into a ball, leaving the entire dress wrinkled beyond repair. It was obvious. David was determined to make Lucia shine like a graceful white swan while using me as the perfect contrast. Fine. I’d play the clown one last time. If that was the price to leave him, so be it. It wasn’t until I arrived at the venue that I finally understood. Lucia’s scheme was far more than just making me a laughingstock. I had underestimated the depth of David’s disdain for me. He was truly willing to go to any lengths for his beloved. All I had done was call out Lucia for being a mistress, yet to soothe her wounded pride, he had gone as far as inviting major media outlets from abroad to capture my humiliation. Looking at my wrinkled, yellowed gown, my overly dramatic hairstyle, the dreadful Barbie-pink lipstick and my peeling high heels, I felt the bitterness in my heart. On both sides of the red carpet, there were not only journalists with their cameras but also a crowd of fans. The moment they saw me in this ridiculous state, there was a brief moment of stunned silence, followed by a wave of murmurs and exclamations.

hen, people started shouting insults at the top of their lungs. “Oh wow, isn’t this the woman who dreams of being with David? She really will do anything to get his attention.” “Exactly! First, she’s trying to act ugly to attract his notice, then she’ll clean up her image. What a scheming woman!” “What’s the point of cleaning up? She’s not even worthy of touching Lucia’s heels. David isn’t blind. Only an idiot would be interested in an ugly woman like her.” "Saveline, you’re so shameless! You bully our dear Lucia just because she’s kind. You deserve the worst!" As they shouted, someone threw a bottle of mineral water straight at me. I was so shocked that I didn’t even think to dodge. The half-full bottle hit me square on the forehead. A burning pain spread across my skin and tears welled up in my eyes, streaming down my face in grievance. “Ugly woman, get off the red carpet! Look at yourself, do you really think you belong here, among all this glamour?” “Get lost, clown!” In front of the crowd, under the glare of hundreds of cameras, I felt utterly helpless. My legs went weak, refusing to move. Just then, a bodyguard rushed toward me, supporting me as I struggled to take even a single step. I looked at him gratefully. "Miss Carter, hurry inside. Mr. Lincoln is waiting for you." "Hey! Security guy, be careful! This woman is desperate for attention. If you touch her, she might latch onto you! Hahaha!" Amidst the chaotic insults, the bodyguard pushed me into the venue. David stared at my disheveled appearance with a cold expression. "What happened to your head?" "As you can see, I was hit. David, are you satisfied now?" I glared at him angrily. "Oh no! Saveline, I'm so sorry! I just heard from my assistant about what happened outside. Fans' actions are the idol's responsibility, so I apologize on their behalf!" If it weren’t for the obvious amusement in her eyes, I might have actually believed her nonsense. Just like last time, Lucia clung to David's arm like a human accessory, practically pressing herself against him. In the past, David always prided himself on being an “affair detector”. But now, it was as if he had gone blind, seeing Lucia as gentle and kind. I ignored Lucia’s fake sweet words and looked straight at David. “I’ve done what I promised. Can you sign now?” “Oh! Isn’t this Miss Saveline? I’ve heard so much about you!” A man holding a wine glass walked over with a smirk. “I heard that, just like Lucia, you were also a candidate for the lead role in The Legend of Diana. Since that’s the case, why don’t you perform a scene of Diana seducing King Zion? There are plenty of directors at this banquet. Who knows, you might get an opportunity in the future!” I didn’t even know this man. David had already made it clear, my presence at this banquet was merely to highlight how elegant and pure Lucia was. This man in front of me was most likely another pawn David had arranged to humiliate me. “No need. I’m leaving the entertainment industry.” I glanced at him and coldly refused. “Oh? A little firecracker, huh?” He chuckled mockingly before tilting his chin toward the crowd. “But tell me, can you still keep that fire burning over there?” I followed the direction of his pointing finger and saw a woman with disheveled hair, dressed in a janitor’s uniform, limping as she wiped the staircase railing on the second floor. At that moment, I felt like I had completely broken down. My eyes turned bloodshot as I glared at David and questioned him, “Why did you drag my mother into this?” “Wow, David, is Saveline always like this? She’s so fierce,” Lucia cooed, clinging to his arm like a spoiled child.

She blinked her big, sparkling eyes and pretended to hide behind David. David, full of tenderness, pulled her into his arms, gently patting her head in comfort before turning to me with a mocking gaze. “Aren’t I doing this for your own good? Didn’t you say you wanted to leave me? And you’re so capable that you insist on leaving with nothing. So, out of the kindness of my heart, I found a job opportunity for your mom. Why are you upset? Seven dollars a day isn’t bad, is it?” Looking at the man before me, whose smile never reached his eyes, I felt an overwhelming sense of fear. Back when we started our business, we were so frugal that we would stretch every penny. My mom took care of the household and even though we lived modestly outside, he always made sure to leave her enough money for daily expenses. Back then, he always looked at me with guilt in his eyes and said, “Only by giving Mom more money will she feel that you didn’t suffer by marrying me. Baby, one day, I’ll earn a fortune and give you and Mom a truly good life.” And now? Just to humiliate me, he paid seven dollars to hire my mom as a janitor. “What will it take for you to let me go?” My throat was dry, my voice hoarse. "You've always held a grudge over Lucia taking your role as Diana, haven't you? I'm giving you a chance to prove yourself. Perform an impromptu scene as Diana and I'll let you and your mother go." "David, acting without props is really too difficult for Saveline," Lucia giggled, her voice sweet yet insidious. "I have a suggestion. Why not let Saveline pick a gentleman from the audience to play King Zion?" "My Lucia is always so kind," David said indulgently, tapping the tip of Lucia's nose. I held onto my last shred of dignity, scanning the room for a man willing to act alongside me. But who here would dare offend David, their powerful benefactor? One by one, they took discreet steps back, avoiding my gaze. David's lips curled into a knowing smile, as if savoring my humiliation. Lucia beamed, her beauty blooming like a flower in full bloom. David’s eyes softened with adoration. "David, why don’t I play King Zion instead? I’ll help Saveline out." Without waiting for my response, she cheerfully grabbed a bottle of liquor. "Saveline, let’s act out the famous 'Wine Pool and Meat Forest' scene, shall we?" I panicked. "David, I can’t drink!" I was pregnant. Ever since James offered to take me abroad, I had planned to give birth overseas. As long as David never knew about this child, as long as he stayed out of our life, I could do it alone. I could be both mother and father. I wanted to keep this child. "Why are you being so pretentious? It's just a short scene. How much could you possibly drink? If you want to end this farce quickly, stop making a fuss." David remained as arrogant as ever. Tonight, under the dazzling lights of this grand event, I was nothing but a clown. I knew I had no way out. Lucia was playing King Zion. To end this humiliation as soon as possible, I had no choice but to brace myself and approach her. She pulled me tightly into her embrace. "My beloved consort, come, have a drink with me!" I knew that if I didn’t drink this wine today, there was no way I’d be allowed to leave. Clenching my teeth, I took a gulp. The burning sensation made me furrow my brows for a moment. "Cut! Cut! Cut!" Lucia’s expression darkened. "Saveline, Diana should be enjoying this moment. How could you frown? Let’s do it again!" It was a two-ounce glass, filled to the brim. A sly smile flickered in her eyes. "My beauty, come on, enjoy yourself!" She poured another two ounces of liquor into my mouth. I was anemic, pregnant and drinking on an empty stomach. It didn’t take long for an allergic reaction to kick in. Large patches of red rashes spread across my body.

"David, look at this?" David frowned as he looked at the red rashes spreading across my body. "I'll take you to the hospital." "David, how about this?" Lucia suggested sweetly. "You can take Saveline to the hospital later. It's just a few rashes, nothing serious. Let her finish the scene first. There are so many directors here. It’s a great opportunity for her to secure her place in the entertainment industry!" "David, I don’t want to stay in the entertainment industry anymore. Let me go. I’ll go to the hospital myself." I looked at David pleadingly. "Why are you so stubborn? Lucia is thinking of you at every turn, yet you treat her kindness like it's nothing! I really misjudged you!" he snapped impatiently. "It’s just a rash. It's not like you're dying! If you act well, I’ll give you the second female lead in The Legend of Diana. That should satisfy you, right?" David didn’t care about my well-being at all. "I already said, I don’t want to act anymore! I just want to leave!" My whole body itched unbearably. "Saveline, do you think you can just quit acting whenever you want? Have you forgotten that you're still under a management contract?" David sneered. "Do you need me to call your boss? I promise you, if you cooperate with Lucia today, I’ll settle your contract for you. Otherwise, the sky-high penalty for breach of contract will take you half a lifetime to pay off." I finally saw it clearly. The man before me didn’t just stop loving me. He didn’t even see me as a human being anymore. Just to please Lucia, he was willing to disregard my life. And I had no way out of this. I watched coldly as Lucia, her smile bright as a flower, poured me another full glass. Her lips curled into a grin, but her eyes were filled with venom as she forced the drink upon me. After being made to drink six glasses in a row, I could no longer endure it. Large beads of sweat formed on my forehead, my whole body trembled and worst of all, there was blood between my legs. As a rush of fresh blood stained the hem of my dress, I felt an overwhelming suffocation. My baby was gone. "David! You bastard! You will never understand what you’ve missed out on!" "Will she be okay?" Lucia asked, feigning concern. "What could possibly happen to her? She's just on her period, making a big fuss over nothing. Playing these little tricks is what she's best at," David sneered. As soon as his words fell, the room erupted in blatant, mocking laughter. "David, why do you say that about her? You guys keep playing, I'll take her to change her pad!" Lucia giggled. "No need. She probably isn’t even on her period, just using fake blood to act pitiful. It's her usual trick," David scoffed.