Chapter 52_Viviana’s Background

"Remember that I can break those wings anytime. If I wish, you would've long been a history without a page in a book."

Viviana was not bothered by his ridicule. Not even a bit. Instead, she gave him a mocking smile.

"You should've done exactly that long ago. Now even if you try to bury me, you'll only be confirming the rumors of the mistreatment of the artist." 

"…"

"Besides. I have only three months left in my contract. Being buried for three months is nothing. It's just a short break."

It was indeed as Vivi said. There were only three months left in the contract. After that, the Han Entertainment would no longer have any power to control her if she did not renew her contract, which she clearly was not planning.

"Don't challenge me. Viviana." Mr. Yan still warned her.

But the actress had already said enough. She stood up which was followed by her assistant.

"I'm done playing these games with you, your nephew and your little lover. Let's just end this here. Like a mature human being, let's just wish each other a better future."

Viviana wiped her hands. 

"Hope to not see you soon. Director."

With that, Viviana walked off. And not once did she turn back to look at this expression which was that of one who had swallowed a bitter pill. His hand clenched the wine glass. If the glass was any more fragile, it would've broken under the pressure of his fingers. 

When she reached a certain group of people who had not turned off their snooping mode yet, she stopped and turned to them.

"Have I not seen enough?" 

Daniel smiled at her as though he was not caught prying into them, while the rest was trying hard not to look at her direction and pretended to engage in a conversation suddenly, which of course, Viviana did not buy.

"What were you talking about? Director Yan did not look so happy?" 

Daniel was not even trying to hide anymore. He was already caught red handed. Why not just satisfy his curiosity by asking the person who is directly involved? 

Agent Kim wanted to smack her uncontrollable artist and his tendency to search for gossip wherever he went. She was completely ignoring the fact that she was hiding behind the couch equally with him just a few seconds ago. 

Too bad for Daniel. Viviana had an anti-nosy person function in her system. 

"Pies. We were talking about pies. He said he likes mango pies and that it was the best. But I disagreed. I told him I preferred a lemon pie over the mango ones. The old man didn't like my response. So I left him there."

"…"

"…"

"…"

A collective silence enveloped the small group. If Elisa had not heard every detail of their conversation, she would've considered how much truth was there in her sentences.

Obviously, nobody believed her excuse. But it was not like they could keep on insisting her to tell them what she talked about with the director of the Han Entertainment.

And Viviana knew exactly that.

Soon, after the party was over, Viviana was back in the van. Looking out the busy light of the Dawn Sky City.

And Manager An was back into her interrogator persona. 

"Now… Let's talk about your apartment in Emerald Water Complex."

Viviana almost whined. She was getting tired of answering all these questions Manager An was asking her.

"Can't you just print out all the questions at one time and give it to me? I'll mark down the answers and give it to you later." She suggested.

But An Mey was not having it.

"Just give me the answer."

Viviana could only sigh.

"It was my twentieth birthday gift."

An Mey and Elisa were in awe and also feeling a bit envious.

'Why didn't I get any of such gifts for my birthday?' 

"From whom?"

"A family."

The two-woman waited for her to elaborate. But Viviana did not elaborate. An Mey did not hide her doubt of whether Viviana was speaking the truth or not. Her eyes were still skeptical… 

Elisa also watched curiously without saying a word. And under the two's prying eyes, Viviana admitted that the apartment was indeed under her name. But it was a gift from her uncle.

Hearing the word 'Uncle', An Mey had a weird imagination in her mind, which of course Viviana saw on her face. And she was quick to cut the blooming flower in the bud.

"He's a relative. A real one…"

The manager released a sigh of relief when she heard that. Then she looked at Viviana under this luxurious surrounding. This answered some of the many questions that she had. Like why the girl did not care much about how much she got paid or why she did not care if her reputation in the industry was bad. But not all.

The manager wanted to know more. Like who Viviana really was. Which family's young lady was she? Who was her uncle? And why did she join Han Entertainment out of all the entertainment companies? 

Seeing that she got an apartment in the Golden Crown Building in the Emerald Water Complex as her twentieth Birthday gift, her uncle must've had a good connection. And with this connection, why did she chose the company which was known to exploit their artist. There were better options for her to chose from…

'Or….' The manager looked at the emotionless face of her actress in the mirror. 'Is she abandoned by her family now?' 

An Mey was about to pry into her family more. But before she could open her mouth, a warning came from the back seat.

"If you're going to ask about my family. Quit it." 

An Mey immediately closed her mouth. 

"I'd prefer if I don't talk about my family." 

Viviana said lightly. But An Mey could recognise the most sincere request she had heard from the girl. And so… she nodded.

Rich families are not the prettiest ones. So it's understandable that the girl was reluctant to talk about her family. Now everything was falling into place. Although she could not get the reason for Vivi to join the industry through her mouth, she could guess it now. 

It is not uncommon for children from rich families to enter the industry as a rebellion. But most of the time, they either excelled in the field on their own like Madeline Wells. End up being supported by their family, like Daniel Millers. Or just give up the industry before the contract could even end.

But the thing was that she did not even know which family Viviana belonged to. She had never seen or heard about her family ever.

Ignoring the two people in the front of the van, Viviana was enjoying the night view of the city. The sight of the little light that was seemingly being pulled to the back from her point of view. It reminded me of her childhood. How she used to think that the car was stable and everything else was being pulled back.

How silly she was!

She had not felt this much relaxed since she had entered the company. She saw the faint reflection of herself on the window. How did she even exist during these two years…. 

She had always pretended that those hurtful comments did not affect her. While in truth she was simply getting more and more numb to it. No one is not affected by being called names unfairly. Either they are hurt, angry or pretend to not be affected.

She thought that it didn't matter to her whether others cursed at her or praised her. After all, all were from some people whom she might possibly never meet. 

But clearly, she was wrong. Being praised really felt different from being cursed. They gave her these warm feelings even though they came from strangers. They made her rethink her decision of quitting acting. They gave her hope.

She was finally relaxing and feeling that she could face whatever came to her. 

'Just a few more months…' She told herself. 'Then I'll be free…' 

But she was not expecting it to come very fast. She was not prepared and the hope that had just sprouted was stepped on over and over again.