Waking Up to a Nightmare

Author's Notes: Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.

The car ride back to her apartment felt like a blur.

Zi Yan sat in the backseat, staring out of the tinted window as the city lights flickered past. Her fingers curled tightly around her phone, the screen still glowing with endless notifications. Every second, new comments flooded in—accusations, insults, and speculation.

"So she's just another actress climbing into rich men's beds?"

"I always knew Zi Yan was fake! Look at her now, caught red-handed!"

"Guo Bao dumped her? Serves her right!"

Her chest tightened.

She had worked for years to build her career. Every endorsement, every film offer—she had fought for them without relying on anyone. And yet, one night, one trap, and it was all falling apart.

Her fingers clenched around her phone as she forced herself to breathe. Stay calm. Think.

The car pulled up in front of her apartment building.

Zi Yan exhaled sharply before stepping out, keeping her head down. The entrance was quiet at this hour, but she could already imagine the reporters that would swarm here by morning.

As she entered the lobby, the receptionist looked up—then quickly glanced away, as if afraid to meet her gaze.

The shame burned.

She stepped into the elevator and pressed her floor number. The doors slid shut, trapping her in the small, silent space.

Then, her phone buzzed again.

Another text.

Guo Bao: Don't contact me again. You've embarrassed me enough.

Her breath hitched.

A lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed it down. Why am I even surprised?

Guo Bao had never truly loved her. It was all an act—a carefully crafted image. And now that her reputation was tainted, he couldn't wait to throw her away.

Her grip on her phone tightened.

I won't let them destroy me.

The elevator doors opened, and Zi Yan stepped into the dim hallway. Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she reached her apartment. She pulled out her keys with a shaking hand and pushed open the door.

The moment she stepped inside, she let out a shaky breath.

Home.

She leaned against the door for a second, shutting her eyes. The weight of the night pressed down on her, exhaustion creeping in.

But before she could fully relax, a sharp voice cut through the silence.

"Where have you been?"

Zi Yan's eyes snapped open.

In the dim light of the living room, a woman stood with her arms crossed. Wang Mei—her stepmother.

Her cold eyes scanned Zi Yan's disheveled dress, the smudged makeup on her face.

Then, a slow, cruel smile formed.

"I saw the news," Wang Mei said. "What a shame. You had such a bright future."

Zi Yan's fingers dug into her palm.

She should have known. The first person to celebrate her downfall wouldn't be an outsider—it would be her own stepmother.

"Did you come here just to mock me?" Zi Yan asked coldly.

Wang Mei shrugged. "Mock you? No, no. I'm just… disappointed. You had everything, and now, it's all gone."

She sighed dramatically, shaking her head. "What will you do now? No company will want you. No man will respect you. I suppose you could always find a rich sponsor. Someone who doesn't care about your ruined reputation."

Zi Yan clenched her jaw.

"I won't fall that easily," she bit out.

Wang Mei raised an eyebrow, then chuckled. "We'll see about that."

With that, she turned and strolled toward the door. But before leaving, she paused and glanced over her shoulder.

"Oh, by the way," she said lightly. "Don't expect your father to help you. He already told me—if you bring shame to this family, you're on your own."

Then, she walked out, the door clicking shut behind her.

Zi Yan stood frozen.

The ache in her chest deepened, but she refused to let the tears fall. I should've expected this. I should've known.

Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to move.

She walked into her bedroom, peeled off the ruined dress, and stepped into the shower. The hot water poured down, washing away the sweat, the makeup, the traces of the night's disaster.

But no matter how long she stood there, the weight in her heart remained.

When she finally crawled into bed, exhaustion took over.

But sleep didn't come easily.

Her dreams were filled with blurred faces—voices calling her name. A warm hand holding hers. Laughter echoing in the distance.

A family.

A family she didn't recognize.

Zi Yan's eyes snapped open, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

The dream faded, but a strange sense of loss lingered.

Who were they?

She had no memories of her childhood before the age of five. Whenever she asked Wang Mei, the woman would dismiss it coldly. "You were just a sickly child. There's nothing worth remembering."

But something inside her whispered that wasn't true.

She shook her head. Now wasn't the time to think about the past.

Her phone buzzed again.

This time, it wasn't Guo Bao.

It was her agent.

Li Na.

Zi Yan hesitated before answering.

"Li Na," she said, her voice hoarse.

"You saw the news, right?" Li Na's voice was sharp, businesslike.

Zi Yan swallowed. "Yes."

A heavy sigh came from the other end. "It's bad. Your sponsors are already backing out. The production team for your upcoming movie is discussing replacing you."

Zi Yan's fingers curled around the sheets.

"Can we fix it?" she asked.

Li Na hesitated. "If you have solid proof that you were framed, maybe. But without evidence, the media won't let this go."

Zi Yan closed her eyes briefly. "I'll figure something out."

"You better," Li Na said bluntly. "Because right now, no one in this industry wants to be associated with you."

The call ended.

Zi Yan lowered the phone, staring at the ceiling.

A deep sense of frustration twisted in her chest.

I can't let them win. I won't let them destroy everything I worked for.

She had no proof yet. No way to clear her name. But there was one thing she knew for certain.

Wang Yin and Guo Bao set her up.

And she would make them pay.

Her nails dug into her palm as determination flared inside her.

If she had to crawl back from rock bottom, then so be it.

Zi Yan was not someone who stayed down.

This was only the beginning.