Chapter 4

I lowered my lashes and gazed at him, this man I had loved throughout my youth, the one I would sacrifice my future to protect.

But it wasn't until later that I realized the extravagant hopes he had once given me were like iridescent bubbles.

Ephemeral and illusory, shattering at the slightest touch.

He leaned in close, his lowered eyes fixed on my lips, his warm breath enveloping me.

I seemed to know instinctively what he wanted to do, and my arms wrapped around him of their own accord.

"Zachary—"

The office door swung open with a creak before we could pull apart.

The woman in the doorway wore a sharp suit, her eyes filled with undisguised contempt as she looked at me.

I knew her - Zachary's agent, the woman who had seduced him while he was drunk the day I got out of prison.

Zachary looked a bit awkward as he led me towards her.

"Freesia, this is my agent Vivienne."

"You can call her Serena. Serena has really helped me a lot."

"You and Serena are the most important people to me."

I felt a twinge of displeasure.

Zachary, how can there be two "most important" people?Vivienne frowned, "Zachary, I accepted the advertisement for Professor Ashford's face cream. Take a look at the contract, and if there are no issues, let's sign it."

Zachary was clearly excited, not even minding Vivienne's presence, and directly leaned down to kiss me on the side of my lips.

"That's fantastic, Freesia. I never dared to imagine working with a big-shot director like Professor Ashford."

Vivienne's face darkened, "Well then, Zachary, why don't you sign it and deliver it personally? It'll be a good chance to meet Professor Ashford in advance and show your enthusiasm."

Zachary left, his face beaming with excitement.

Only she and I remained in the hallway.

The air was momentarily silent, neither of us speaking.

I hesitated for a moment, then lowered my head and tried to walk past Vivienne to leave.

Suddenly, my wrist was grabbed, "Miss Astor."

"Let go!"

I tried to pull my hand away; I really had nothing to say to her.

"I assume you haven't forgotten your past, have you?"

"A murderer has no right to stand beside Zachary."

I yanked my hand free and slapped her across the face with it."Relying on Zachary's love for me, and you."

I sneered, "Just a pathetic opportunist preying on vulnerability."

On the first day of filming "Moonlight," I encountered Carlisle on set.

The scene where he confronted me with crimson eyes seemed like only yesterday. I lowered my head, feeling a bit dejected as I watched him interact intimately with his female assistant by his side.

With Carlisle present on set, Director Wellington, who was in charge of filming, couldn't help but feel nervous. His hand, gripping the walkie-talkie, trembled slightly.

"Preparing for 'Moonlight,' Scene 7, Take 14."

"Action!"

Zachary abruptly broke free from the woman embracing him, his voice cold.

"Enough. Even if you saved me, that's not love."

"Let's break up."

He removed the ring from his finger and tossed it to the ground without hesitation, leaving ruthlessly.

The moment he walked out of the camera's range, he saw me standing behind the crowd.

"Cut!"

The filming was abruptly halted. I looked toward Carlisle in surprise.

The man sitting in the director's chair exuded a cool and dignified air. His long legs were casually crossed as he gazed at Zachary in the lens, a hint of playfulness in his expression."Zachary, watch your expression."

"I need a ruthless and determined look from you, not this hesitant and guilty appearance."

I saw Zachary's fist clench at his side, and I couldn't help but feel nervous for him.

I wasn't sure if Wen Winters was off his game today, or if Lorne's presence was distracting him, but several takes in a row weren't going smoothly.

"Zachary."

Carlisle walked up to Zachary's side, leisurely straightening his crooked tie, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Aren't you supposed to excel at these backstabbing scenes? You can't even play it naturally."

"If you keep wasting everyone's time like this, I'll have to question whether you're up for this role."

Zachary remained silent, humbly lowering his head. His expressionless face filled me with dread.

Because the lead actor couldn't get into character, the crew had to skip his scenes and film the later ones first.

After filming wrapped up, I hurried over to him.

"Zachary, what's going on? Are you feeling unwell?"

Zachary kept his head down without speaking, gently leaning into my arms, his voice muffled.

"Freesia, would you mind not going back tonight?"I feel extremely nervous as his chin rests on my shoulder, slightly digging in. A piercing gaze burns into my back from behind.

I understand his mood after being mocked and cursed at by Lorne today, yet I can't seem to help.

Zachary, he cares so much about his reputation.

Being scolded to his face like that, especially by his longtime rival Lorne, how could he possibly accept it?

So when he begged me to stay, I gave in once again.

After the shoot wrapped, I followed Zachary back to his apartment.

Lying on the soft, spacious bed, I keep my eyes tightly shut, not daring to open them.

His kisses trail down from my eyes, to my nose, lips, neck...