20

Chapter 20

The next place we visited was the park near our high school. There were many students hanging out there. Since Fabian and I didn't want attention, we decided to stay in the car and just watch from inside.

Before I became an actress, this was how I enjoyed my high school life too. Eating street food with lots of friends, laughing without caring what others would think, and not worrying about gaining weight or getting sick from the street food.

"Fabian, how many years have you been in the industry?" I asked while looking out the window. Fabian answered flatly, catching my attention.

"I've lost count. I've been appearing in magazines since I was 8 years old," Fabian said, resting his chin on the steering wheel and staring ahead. Students were passing by.

"You were so young then. Why?" I asked. Fabian glanced at me briefly.

"What do you mean, why?"

Fabian started very young. I thought maybe it was because of his parents' influence that he entered the industry.

"Ahh, I wanted to sever my connection with my parents."

I choked after hearing that. Fabian adjusted his seat and asked if I was okay. I was drinking coffee when he said that. Was he serious at that age?

"What kind of people are your parents? Did they abuse you or something?" I asked with wide eyes. Fabian laughed and quickly shook his head.

"Absolutely not, they're not like that, especially my dad. Mom is strict, but she never hurt us or raised her hand against us. Dad is always supportive and spoils us. It's just that at that age, I wanted to earn a lot of money, fund my own education, build my own career, and establish a company bigger than my mom's," Fabian said, now resting his chin on his hand and looking out the window.

I laughed at the idea of Fabian's ambition at such a young age. It was amusing.

"What about you? Why did you become an actress?" Fabian asked, turning to me. I paused and then smiled slightly.

I looked away slightly. I said it was because of Victor. Now that I think about it, I realize how far I've come because I wanted Victor to notice and be proud of me. I want to punch myself.

"Sometimes I wonder if I really love acting or if I'm just doing it because of my love for Victor."

Victor pushed me to act and audition. I remember the first time he encouraged me to audition for my first drama.

"We'll rise together, Sonia. I won't leave you. Trust me—you'll become the best actress."

I also used to imagine myself every day, looking at a billboard with my face on it. Victor would see it and be proud of me. Victor's family would also like me once I achieved more.

"Talent and passion can't just come from wanting to be recognized by someone. You need so much effort and time to polish it—I believe you can achieve more if you become more ambitious."

Fabian laughed and smiled at me. He said that acting, despite his weaknesses, gives him a sense of satisfaction.

"Not because I'm famous, many people like my drama, or I'm on the rank list, but because all my efforts and time investment have results."

Smiling at me, Fabian asked what I thought was the reason he kept acting even though he had a successful business.

"For my career and business. Even if my children and future grandchildren don't work, they won't suffer," Fabian added. I smiled slightly at that. Fabian was right.

Fabian patted the top of my head. I looked directly at him.

"Don't say your career is over because I believe you haven't even started yet. Maybe you don't have the interest to return now, but I believe the day will come when you'll feel like returning to the industry."

I smiled and joked that if that happened, since Fabian said it, I might take his ranking.

"I don't mind. There's nothing I wouldn't share with you," Fabian said with a grin. I paused slightly.

"One of those is your smile and happiness, Sonia."

I didn't know why, but hearing that made me cry. Fabian wiped my tears and looked intently into my eyes.

"Didn't you say there were only three places you could think of to go? I'll choose the third one," Fabian said after moving his warm hands away from my cheeks.

Fabian held my hand and started the car. I couldn't stop crying. I was annoyed because I hated crying.

In my frustration, I cried even more. I got irritated. Fabian laughed, so I looked at him.

"Why are you laughing?"

I stopped when Fabian brought my hand to his lips and kissed the back of my hand while still looking at the road.

"If you don't stop crying, I'll kiss you for real. I can't accept that I'm your fiancé and you're here—crying over another man."

I clamped my mouth shut and tried hard to stop crying. I didn't breathe and kept looking at Fabian. Fabian glanced at me briefly, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"What! I'm trying to stop crying. It's your fault I'm crying!"

I stopped when Fabian suddenly pulled the car over. I looked out the window, thinking we might have reached our destination, but I heard the click of the seatbelt and felt Fabian's hands on my jaw.

He turned my face towards him and suddenly kissed me on the lips. I gasped in shock and slightly pushed him away. Half of his body was on my side—one hand on my jaw and the other propped on the car window on my side. I blinked, and he grinned.

"Then I'll take responsibility to make you stop," Fabian whispered, then lightly kissed my lips. My tears seemed to dry up in my tear glands because of the heat on my cheeks now.

This is so unfair. Fabian used his looks again. When he saw that I seemed to have stopped crying, he sat back properly. Cars were honking behind us, and a police officer knocked on the driver's window.

When Fabian rolled down the window, I quickly pulled up the neckline of my hoodie to cover half my face.

I wanted to sink into the seat when the police officer asked why we stopped suddenly.

"Sorry, officer. My wife was crying. I needed to comfort her a bit," Fabian said. The officer, a woman, laughed at Fabian's explanation and seemed to understand.

I half-sank into the seat and pressed myself against the window.

Fabian, if you weren't handsome, I would have slapped you. It's embarrassing. What comfort? Does a kiss count as comfort? You always surprise me, so I forget to cry.

Fabian drove off. The officer recognized Fabian and just asked for an autograph before letting us go.

I glared at Fabian. I saw the corner of his lips rise, then he reached for my hand.

I thought he was reaching for his phone, so I handed him his phone from the dashboard and placed it in his palm, but he let go, and it fell on my seat.

He took my hand and clasped it. I felt worried because my palm was rough and had burn marks. I felt embarrassed. I tried to pull away, but Fabian held it tighter.

"Fabian, my hand is rough and scarred—"

"If it doesn't hurt, don't take it out. I just want to hold your hand," Fabian said without taking his eyes off the road. I held his hand back and looked at Fabian.

I saw the corner of his lips rise. With that simple gesture, Fabian immediately smiled. It was amusing.

I stopped when Fabian brought me to a familiar agency. It was Victor's family's company.

My heart started pounding, and I saw many reporters outside. Themarie and Victor were just coming out.

Fabian parked the car near the vans on the side of the road.

"Fabian," I whispered, not taking my eyes off Victor, who was smiling in front of the cameras and showing sweetness towards Themarie.

"I want you to look at them one last time as Sonia Salazar—Valencia."

"They are two of the people who ruined your life as Sonia Salazar. I want you to look at them closely," Fabian said, now looking at me. I didn't know what to say because my chest was immediately filled with intense anger.

"As his wife—I gave everything as I promised. For better and for worse, we were supposed to be together, but—he left me. He was ashamed of me and cursed me. He took everything from me, including our child after my face and career were ruined."

"Like—as if I was no longer Sonia Salazar, the wife he loved, after my face was ruined."

His words from the last time I went to his mansion played like a broken record in my mind.

He deceived me because Themarie could give him everything I lacked. He felt inferior in our relationship because of the gap in our careers. I clenched my fists.

I was so blinded by his lies and fake support. I could do anything as long as he was there.

"He used me and my family."

If it weren't for me, the Valencia company would have been bankrupt long ago. If it weren't for my money, even the Valencia mansion would have been gone.

All because of me, but I never made a big deal out of it because I thought they were my family. I just laughed and leaned back in the passenger seat.

It's crazy because all these years, I was the only fool expecting that one day they would accept me.

"I thought Themarie was my best friend. I shared everything with her and even recommended her to some of my sponsors, which is why she's there now. I always gave her gifts and shared things I had—it's funny because she wasn't satisfied with that and even took my husband."

"What can you say about the issue that Sonia Salazar left you for Fabian Martinez? Is it true that there was a third party—"

The reporter glanced at Themarie. Victor immediately denied, saying whatever it was, it wasn't true.

"We've already broken up with Sonia, and things got complicated when Themarie and I got together, following her relationship with Fabian Martinez."

I felt nauseous after hearing that—how could he lie so effortlessly.

"So? Another true issue is that Sonia Salazar left you because of Fabian Martinez."

Victor's smile vanished instantly. I was shocked by his act of disappointment. The reporters murmured as the guards came out to escort them away.

Victor's managers arrived, mentioning it was time for their talk show schedule. Victor managed to promote his next movie with Themarie.

My face darkened as I turned to Fabian's side. I pressed the car horn, making loud noises.

Fabian didn't bother to stop me. If he wasn't in the driver's seat, I would have switched seats, started the car, and hit Victor.

I was furious. I only stopped when Fabian hugged my waist and suddenly started the car.

I looked back and saw the guards chasing the car. Fabian laughed, saying it was the first time he saw me so angry.

I was so angry, I forgot to cry. I just slumped on the other side of the seat—half of my body on Fabian's lap.

I'm annoyed. Extremely annoyed. Liars, deceivers, and manipulators. They're a perfect match for Themarie.

"Trash and plastic!"