Chapter 3

Carlisle stood at the doorway in an impeccably tailored suit. The boy whose eyes were once always gentle and clear now gazed at me with a sinister expression as I was pinned against the corner by a man, subjected to his wolfish stare.

"Director Garrison seems to be in high spirits. As far as I know, 'Moonlight' hasn't even started filming yet."

"Are we already throwing a celebration party?"

Unlike his arrogant attitude towards Zachary, the man pressuring me quickly scrambled to his feet, putting on a sycophantic smile as he approached Kane.

"Mr. Carlisle, you jest. It's all thanks to your involvement as executive producer that 'Moonlight' has gained such popularity."

Carlisle remained silent, his face cold. His gaze swept over my swollen lips and the trail of small hickeys on my neck, suddenly turning furious.

I didn't dare to look up at him, curling my knees and shrinking into the corner.

Carlisle unbuttoned his suit jacket and draped it over my bare shoulders.

In the next moment, he scooped me up in his arms and left, his demeanor icy.

As he reached the doorway, he abruptly halted, turning his head to look at the dazed Zachary, letting out a contemptuous laugh."Zachary truly is a master at manipulating people's hearts. But have you ever thought about the karmic retribution you might face one day for toying with emotions like this?"

I didn't hear what Zachary said. At that moment, being held in his strong arms, I just felt that this was enough.

I was roughly shoved into the car by Carlisle.

"How pitiful you are, Freesia."

His gaze toward me was full of contempt and disdain.

"I never thought you'd stoop so low as to sell yourself to curry favor with the director, all for Zachary's sake."

Looking at Carlisle's barely contained rage, I suddenly felt so tired.

Explaining seemed pointless, so I simply kept my mouth shut and turned my gaze to the window outside.

But my silence seemed to anger him even more.

He abruptly pushed me against the closed passenger door, his hands braced on either side of me, trapping me in front of him.

"Say something! Have you gone mute?"

My eyes welled up with tears.

"What should I say? You've already decided I'm that kind of woman. Would you believe anything I say now?"

"Fine. Very well."

"Freesia, you've got some nerve."

Carlisle's smile turned sickly, his gentle expression gradually morphing into something vicious.He gripped my shoulders, leaning in and pressing against me.

"Didn't you say you'd do anything for him?"

"Sleep with me for one night, and I'll invest in making him the lead actor."

He was like a raging wild beast, completely out of control.

"No—Carlisle... get a hold of yourself..."

I struggled violently, my sharp nails leaving bloody streaks across his back.

A resounding slap echoed.

I stared blankly at my raised hand.

"I'm sorry—I didn't mean to..."

Kane's eyes flickered for a moment, finally releasing his grip on me.

"Freesia, is it fun to trample on my sincere feelings?"

He roared with red eyes, backing away step by step as tears streamed down his face.

Then with a turn, he resolutely left me.

I reached out with trembling hands to pull him back, but only grasped thin air.

The temperature difference between day and night in Charleston during late fall was extreme.

As night fell, the temperature gradually dropped, and I was still only wearing that flimsy work uniform.

By the time I made it home shivering, I saw an unexpected person at my doorstep.

......

My mind went blank.

The man kneeling before me was pale-faced. He gripped my hand, forcefully intertwining his fingers with mine.

Our fingers entwined."Freesia, I'm begging you."

"Just come to my studio. I can protect you if you're by my side."

The way he pleaded softly was just like five years ago.

Even though he was being so unreasonable, I just couldn't refuse him.

Trying hard to hold back the bitterness in my heart, I gently closed my eyes, my voice hoarse.

"Zachary, what more do I have to do for you to let me go?"

......

The staff at Zachary's studio were all easy to get along with. The few colleagues who knew about my prison history tactfully kept quiet and didn't show any discrimination towards me.

Zachary assigned me the position of marketing director, which was actually more about managing media operations, but I didn't understand any of that editing stuff. Most of the time, I was still just following Zachary around, running errands for him.

When Zachary came down, I was busy organizing a stack of documents.

I was focused on studying the quarterly report, not noticing someone quietly approaching from behind.

The next second, a dark shadow darted behind me, suddenly hugging me tightly.

My nose was filled with the familiar scent of cologne. I was startled, and the folder of documents suddenly fell to the ground.

"So focused?"His warm breath tickled my ear, and I could feel the lazy heat emanating from his body. My entire face burned hot.

"Zachary, stop teasing," I said.

"No," he replied.

Zachary wrapped his arm around my waist, spinning me in the air before securely holding me in his embrace.

"Next week at the Legacy Charity Gala, you'll be attending with me, Freesia."

I nervously fidgeted with the hem of my shirt. "But I..."

Zachary held me even tighter. "No buts."

"I'll declare to the world, Freesia, that you'll be my one and only wife."

In that moment, I truly wished time would stand still forever.