Chapter 2 The Wedding of the Century

　　ANNA'S POV

　　Days passed as they always do, and life moved on. Without Desmond, I didn't crumble.

　　When he left me without a reason or a word, I thought maybe I wouldn't be able to survive this heartache, but I did. I surprised myself by handling it so well.

　　Today, I was on the set of the movie I had recently signed. It had been a busy day with back-to-back scenes since the morning. Currently, I was resting with my eyes closed while the makeup artist applied makeup for a new scene requiring a change in makeup and costume.

　　Then, out of the blue, I overheard gossip about Desmond getting married to Caroline on Valentine's Day.

　　"It's so romantic to marry the one you love on Valentine's Day. He will never forget their wedding anniversary," someone commented.

　　I couldn't help but think that he was indeed good with dates. He remembered all our special moments, from anniversaries to birthdays, and even my family's birthdays.

　　But it made me wonder how many other girls he was involved with. I couldn't help but feel sympathy for those girls deep in my heart.

　　"What?" another makeup artist asked in surprise. "How come I didn't know?"

　　I had no idea that Desmond Lake was planning to marry an heiress - and not just any heiress, but Caroline Blake, from Blake's Company.

　　Danvas Industries and Blake's Company had been bitter rivals for years, constantly competing for the top spot in the industry.

　　So, when I heard the news, I couldn't help but feel a surge of resentment and jealousy.

　　As I sat in the salon chair, I eavesdropped on the makeup artists gossiping about the upcoming nuptials.

　　"Apparently, it's going to be the wedding of the century," one makeup artist said, envy in her eyes.

　　"It's going to be held at a private island in the Maldives, with only the most exclusive guests invited," the other makeup artist chimed in.

　　"I heard that the menu will feature exotic delicacies like Kobe beef and caviar." My ears perked up at the mention of the menu. How extravagant, I thought, feeling a mix of jealousy and curiosity.

　　"It's rumored that the wedding dress was designed by the most famous designer," one of the makeup artists whispered excitedly.

　　My eyes widened in disbelief.

　　"And I heard the groom's tuxedo is Armani," the other makeup artist added.

　　I felt my heart sink as I listened to the conversation. It was clear that Desmond Lake and Caroline Blake were going to have an extravagant wedding, and I couldn't help but feel envious.

　　As the makeup artists continued to gossip about the lavish details of the upcoming wedding, I tried to tune out the noise. I couldn't bear to hear any more about the grandeur and extravagance of it all.

　　To think that my rival was going to have a fairy-tale wedding while I remained single and alone. It was too much to bear.

　　I closed my eyes, attempting to focus on the sensation of the makeup brush against my skin, trying to escape the swirling thoughts in my head. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about how unfair it all was.

　　The makeup artists' voices pulled me out of my reverie.

　　"I can't believe how lucky they are," one of them said, a hint of longing in her voice.

　　I had the urge to tell them that I had hidden my relationship for three years, but I feared that revealing it would lead to my blacklisting in the entertainment circle by Maria.

　　Our relationship had started at the after-party of the Gala three years ago. Despite knowing it was wrong, I couldn't help falling for my boss, Desmond, who ran the entertainment company I was signed with. We both felt an undeniable attraction to each other, and I foolishly believed it was love. When he offered me a contract with his company, I accepted it, thinking we could be together. I was blinded by my feelings and ignored the warning signs.

　　However, when he abruptly announced his marriage to another woman, I realized I had been deluding myself. He wasn't the right man for me. He had broken me in the worst way possible.

　　As months passed, the truth became more evident - Desmond had never truly loved me. He had used me to advance his own career and gain power within the entertainment industry. I had been a pawn in his game, and I had been too blind to see it. It was a bitter truth to swallow, but I knew I had to face it.

　　Now, I found myself avoiding the office, not wanting to see him or be reminded of what had happened. Yet, it was impossible to escape the memories that haunted me.

　　You see, when I started working for Desmond's company, my career skyrocketed in a way I never could have imagined. I went from being a moderately successful actress to one of the most sought-after stars in the industry. He handpicked the best agent for me and ensured I got the best deals. My success was undeniable, and I couldn't help but attribute it all to him.

　　When I won my first national award, I thought it would be the moment when he would finally announce our relationship to the world. But when I looked around the room, he was nowhere to be found.

　　I knew how ruthless and invasive the media could be, especially towards women. In this man's world, they wouldn't criticize Desmond, but they would label me a seductress, someone who ensnared an innocent man to climb the social ladder.

　　The thought of witnessing the man I loved marrying someone else squeezed my heart. For an entire month, Maria kept a constant watch on me, fearing I might do something rash.

　　Truth be told, Maria wasn't entirely wrong. I was on the verge of doing something impulsive. But I wouldn't be taken advantage of. I wouldn't allow anyone to break my heart without consequences.

　　I sat in my apartment, plotting my revenge. I needed to be strategic if I wanted to make him pay. I couldn't just lash out in anger; I needed to be calm and calculated. I took a deep breath and tried to think rationally.

　　The first step was to accept the truth: he was never coming back to me. I couldn't hope for a reconciliation; I had to move on. But that didn't mean I had to let him off the hook. I could make his life difficult without ever having to see him again.