Chapter 4

I sat in the taxi.

For the first time in ten years, I didn't rush to manage Theo's public opinion crisis first.

Instead, I opened my own Twitter and drafted a statement.

As of today, I am no longer serving as Mr. Theo Delgado's agent, and my collaboration with Delgado Studio is officially over.

I tapped send.

I stared at that post for a few seconds.

No tears, none of the pain I had imagined.

Less than half a minute later, my phone rang, and a clear, lovely woman's voice came through.

"Congratulations on joining Stellar International."

"Word got out that you were coming, and every rising star at the company is fighting to have you manage them."

I let out a soft laugh.

The suffocating weight that had been pressing on my chest all night finally began to ease for the first time.

"Workaholic, let me rest a few days first."

"My flight's tomorrow afternoon."

The person on the other end couldn't help but laugh.

"Theo really is blind."

"He'll never understand in his whole life what a top agent is worth."

After I hung up.

My phone quickly filled with messages trying to poach me.

I replied politely to each one: "I'll think about it."

When I got home, to my surprise, I didn't lie awake.

For the first time in ten years, I didn't jolt awake in the middle of the night over Theo's appearances, business deals, or public opinion.

When I woke around noon the next day, I heard sounds coming from the living room.

I walked out and saw Rowena sitting cross-legged on the sofa.

Theo was peeling grapes, feeding them to her one at a time.

My steps froze.

"What are you doing here?"

Rowena looked up at me and smiled sweetly.

"I'm Theo's legal wife."

"Is there a problem with me living in my own home?"

I was stunned for a moment.

She stroked the ring on her finger.

"Theo already had someone change the property deed yesterday."

"This is our wedding home now."

I stood frozen in place.

This apartment was one Theo bought for me when he first got paid as a leading man.

Back then he'd said, "Beulah, once we get married, we'll live here."

When we decorated it, I picked out every detail myself, from the color of the floors to the style of the curtains.

I thought this was our home.

It wasn't until today that I learned

it had only ever been what I thought.

Theo tossed the grape skins into the trash can.

His tone was calm.

"Rowena's pregnant, so it's easier to look after her if we move back in."

When he finished, he glanced at me.

"But don't worry, she won't drive you out."

"You can stay as long as you like."

Suddenly it all felt absurd.

He thought leaving me a place to live was making it up to me.

As if I should be grateful as long as he hadn't abandoned me completely.

I said nothing more, turned, and went back to my room to pack.

When I opened the closet, my hands suddenly stopped.

The heirloom bridal gown my mother had embroidered for me by hand before she died was gone.

I searched the whole room and couldn't find it.

Finally, in the living room, I saw them getting ready to leave,

and there, on Rowena, was that bridal gown.

My whole body went rigid.

Theo noticed my stare and fell silent for a moment.

"Rowena likes it."

"I'll give it back to you after we finish the wedding photos."

The tears fell instantly.

That gown was one my mother had embroidered stitch by stitch before she passed.

By then her health was already failing, but she took painkillers and insisted on finishing those last few stitches.

Before she died, in front of Theo, she placed the gown in my hands.

"Your mother may not live to see you married."

"But on your wedding day, wear this."

"And it'll be like your mother is still with you."

Theo had held her hand and made a solemn promise.

"Ma'am, I will take care of Beulah for the rest of my life."

But now he stood beside another woman.

Silently letting her wear the gown my mother left me.

I rushed over.

"Take it off."

"That was left to me by my mother."

Theo stepped in front of Rowena and grabbed my wrist.

"Beulah, don't be difficult."

"She's just borrowing it for a bit."

I looked at him, my voice trembling beyond my control.

"You know exactly what this gown means to me."

"It's the last thing my mother left me."

Theo avoided my eyes.

"I'll make it up to you."

I suddenly laughed.

I shook off his hand.

"Theo."

"I don't want your compensation."

He told Rowena to go wait for him in the car first.

Only once it was just the two of us in the living room did he lower his voice.

"Rowena's pregnant, her emotions are sensitive."

"She just wanted to wear this gown and take a set of wedding photos."

"Be good, and once the child is older, I'll take care of everything."

"In the end, the one who stays with me for life is still you."

I closed my eyes.

My fingers tightened bit by bit.

In that moment, even anger felt unnecessary.

"Get lost, Theo!"

"You make me sick."

He froze for a second,

then reached out to wipe my tears.

I turned my head away.

He was silent for a moment.

"Then once you've calmed down, handle the PR for the public announcement first."

"Don't let it get in the way of work."

With that, he hurried off.

I wiped away my tears, took out my phone, and called a moving company.

"Come over now."

"Move everything out of the house."

There was a pause on the other end.

"The furniture too?"

I looked at everything familiar in the living room.

No hesitation.

"Yes."

"Leave nothing behind."

After I hung up.

I packed my carry-on and drove to the airport.

……