On his knees.

Berielle's POV:

Zen sent me the name and location of the doctor as well as the time of appointment. Out of curiosity, I looked into the doctor and found that he is pretty renowned in his field. Well, I did not expect anything less from Zen Warner. He has the habit of getting only the best things.

My heart was compelling me to say 'fuck' to everything and swallow my pride to take him help for once but my mind was not agreeing to this.

'You only have your pride and self-respect. Do not compromise on it, Elle.' A voice whispered from inside and I knew this was the right thing to do. If I hold onto his hand now, I will be initiating an endless loop of getting his help. One thing will lead to another and so on. After such a long time, I am finally managing to stand on my feet, I cannot do this again.

Thus, in the battle of a heart and mind, my mind won and I decided not to swallow my pride and listen to whatever he is telling me to do. Moreover, I am not aware of his intent. Why is he doing this? Why is he in China? The reaction of his family? There is so much shady about him. I cannot trust him.

"Do not go that way, Elle. You have already been hurt." I reminded myself as I danced in front of the mirror. My leg hurts whenever I spin and it is impossible to put all of my weight on it but I grit my teeth as I dance.

In the past, dance used to be something that would make me feel alive, that would give me a way out of the terrible reality but now I have to do this in order to get by. In order to make a living. The only thing that I have ever loved, it was taken away from me.

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror and found my face soaked with tears. I was overwhelmed with sadness, "I will never forgive Warner family. I can never." I made a firm resolution and it took me a few days as I finally started to get used to the dance routine that I have to perform at the audition.

In the meantime, Duan Yan would daily check up on me and ask about my condition. I was extremely grateful to him for looking after me when we just met.

Duan Yan: We needed to perform our scene together.

Elle: You are a great actor, I am sure you will guide me well and I have seen all of your works, you even have chemistry with the male actors. I am not worried about it at all.

And that's the truth. What I am worried about is the dance part. If I am able to pull it off successfully, there is a great chance that I will manage to get the role.

Duan Yan: Then, I should consider working in a BL ;)

I chuckled at his response. If there was someone else, I don't know what kind of a reaction that person would have given me. However, he played along with my joke. I like him, I really do and I look up to him as my senior. Deep down, I am also looking forward to working with him. If my first role as a lead actress is to be with Duan Yan, I am sure there would be so much to learn from him and his popularity is no joke. Everything he works in, it just goes viral. I am shameless since I am ready to ride on his coattail.

Elle: Thank you for helping me so much and for looking after me.

I was genuinely grateful to him. In fact, since that day when he helped me at the set. If one day, I would be successful, I am definitely going to pay him back for helping me when there is no one on my side.

Duan Yan: Later, Elle, later. After you get the role, you will have to treat me to a meal.

Elle: I promise.

This is the least that I can do for him. After I was done talking to him, I slipped my phone back into my tote bag and went out. I have a shift at the cafe and I was late for it. Lily must be fuming at me. I rushed out of my apartment and I was about to be on my way when my eyes fell onto the lavish Mercedes that was parked into the tiny street. I did not need to confirm to whom it belonged. Although I have pushed aside the appointment which he fixed with the doctor for me but in my subconscious I remembered it is today.

Upon seeing me, he got out of the car. Wearing black pants with a white button down shirt and black coat on top... his hair that I have always seen combed back neatly, today they were falling leisurely on his forehead, hiding some of his beauty. His attire, the demure which he carried and his car too, everything about him felt so out of place. It looked like he did not belong to my world.

'This is how he and his family must have seen me.' A thought popped up in my head and for a second, I did not resent them for being so obsessed with money and status. They were right. I was really out of my place in that family.

"Where are you going?" He inquired, there was a clear frown in between his brows as he looked pissed by my defiance, "Just tell me you are going to the doctor's."

"I am not obliged to tell you about my whereabouts." I treated him like he does not matter and I was about to leave when he held my hand to stop me from leaving.

"You are. You definitely are." I seethed. I don't know where his confidence came from as we are not bounded by any social relationship but he was hell bent on making me speak.

"Let go of me. I have been tolerating you for a while. You broke into my apartment twice, you came to the company and even at the cafe where I work, I am sure there is plenty of evidence to prove you as a stalker. No, no, In fact, this case will be stronger when the police and the prosecution will get to know that you are my ex- husband and you traveled across the world to seek vengeance." This was the end of my patience. I could no longer tolerate his attitude of 'I don't give a fuck and I am going to do everything that I wish'.

"I am a human being. I have feelings and I am hurt whenever I look at your face. Don't you get it?" I spoke ruthlessly to him and I am not feeling guilty for behaving this way.

"I am sorry." He whispered as he let go of my hand, "I didn't mean to hurt you. My only intentions are to help you."

"Good that you know." I moved away from him, "And I do not need your help."

"Elle, for once please listen to me." He practically begged and the tone of his voice, the softness, the helplessness, it stirred something in me. He looked so vulnerable, the mighty Zen Warner in front of whom the world bowed, he appeared to be so weak in front of me and I might have thought it must feel good to see him like this but trust me, it did not.

He is born to command. He is born to rule. This was not a good sight.

"I have a shift at the cafe." I whispered.

"I got it covered. Before I came here, I went there first and I told them that you are not available." He informed me and I had to shut my eyes to suppress my anger. He crossed the line again and took a step without asking me first. This is what I do not like about him, like my opinion does not matter.

"Zen-"

"Elle, please." He stopped me before I could continue insulting him, "I know you do not like me and this time I am not here to ask for forgiveness. I just don't want you to be in pain. The accident-" He paused. Something flashed through his eyes. Guilt? Pain? I don't know.

"It happened when you were still my wife. I feel obliged. I just want to make sure you have recovered completely." I could feel his honesty. However, I could not stop myself from scoffing.

"Fancy coming from a husband who divorced me when I was crippled." I did not want to taunt him. It just came out. I still can't believe that I begged to see him then. I am never going to forgive myself for it.

"This is the last time. Let me take care of you once." He said and then what he did next, it shocked me. He was on his knees, begging me.