hen, people started shouting insults at the top of their lungs.

“Oh wow, isn’t this the woman who dreams of being with David? She really will do anything to get his attention.”

“Exactly! First, she’s trying to act ugly to attract his notice, then she’ll clean up her image. What a scheming woman!”

“What’s the point of cleaning up? She’s not even worthy of touching Lucia’s heels. David isn’t blind. Only an idiot would be interested in an ugly woman like her.”

"Saveline, you’re so shameless! You bully our dear Lucia just because she’s kind. You deserve the worst!"

As they shouted, someone threw a bottle of mineral water straight at me.

I was so shocked that I didn’t even think to dodge.

The half-full bottle hit me square on the forehead.

A burning pain spread across my skin and tears welled up in my eyes, streaming down my face in grievance.

“Ugly woman, get off the red carpet! Look at yourself, do you really think you belong here, among all this glamour?”

“Get lost, clown!”

In front of the crowd, under the glare of hundreds of cameras, I felt utterly helpless. My legs went weak, refusing to move.

Just then, a bodyguard rushed toward me, supporting me as I struggled to take even a single step.

I looked at him gratefully.

"Miss Carter, hurry inside. Mr. Lincoln is waiting for you."

"Hey! Security guy, be careful! This woman is desperate for attention. If you touch her, she might latch onto you! Hahaha!"

Amidst the chaotic insults, the bodyguard pushed me into the venue.

David stared at my disheveled appearance with a cold expression. "What happened to your head?"

"As you can see, I was hit. David, are you satisfied now?" I glared at him angrily.

"Oh no! Saveline, I'm so sorry! I just heard from my assistant about what happened outside. Fans' actions are the idol's responsibility, so I apologize on their behalf!"

If it weren’t for the obvious amusement in her eyes, I might have actually believed her nonsense.

Just like last time, Lucia clung to David's arm like a human accessory, practically pressing herself against him.

In the past, David always prided himself on being an “affair detector”.

But now, it was as if he had gone blind, seeing Lucia as gentle and kind.

I ignored Lucia’s fake sweet words and looked straight at David. “I’ve done what I promised. Can you sign now?”

“Oh! Isn’t this Miss Saveline? I’ve heard so much about you!”

A man holding a wine glass walked over with a smirk.

“I heard that, just like Lucia, you were also a candidate for the lead role in The Legend of Diana. Since that’s the case, why don’t you perform a scene of Diana seducing King Zion? There are plenty of directors at this banquet. Who knows, you might get an opportunity in the future!”

I didn’t even know this man. David had already made it clear, my presence at this banquet was merely to highlight how elegant and pure Lucia was.

This man in front of me was most likely another pawn David had arranged to humiliate me.

“No need. I’m leaving the entertainment industry.” I glanced at him and coldly refused.

“Oh? A little firecracker, huh?” He chuckled mockingly before tilting his chin toward the crowd. “But tell me, can you still keep that fire burning over there?”

I followed the direction of his pointing finger and saw a woman with disheveled hair, dressed in a janitor’s uniform, limping as she wiped the staircase railing on the second floor.

At that moment, I felt like I had completely broken down.

My eyes turned bloodshot as I glared at David and questioned him, “Why did you drag my mother into this?”

“Wow, David, is Saveline always like this? She’s so fierce,” Lucia cooed, clinging to his arm like a spoiled child.

She blinked her big, sparkling eyes and pretended to hide behind David.

David, full of tenderness, pulled her into his arms, gently patting her head in comfort before turning to me with a mocking gaze.

“Aren’t I doing this for your own good? Didn’t you say you wanted to leave me? And you’re so capable that you insist on leaving with nothing. So, out of the kindness of my heart, I found a job opportunity for your mom. Why are you upset? Seven dollars a day isn’t bad, is it?”

Looking at the man before me, whose smile never reached his eyes, I felt an overwhelming sense of fear.

Back when we started our business, we were so frugal that we would stretch every penny. My mom took care of the household and even though we lived modestly outside, he always made sure to leave her enough money for daily expenses.

Back then, he always looked at me with guilt in his eyes and said, “Only by giving Mom more money will she feel that you didn’t suffer by marrying me. Baby, one day, I’ll earn a fortune and give you and Mom a truly good life.”

And now? Just to humiliate me, he paid seven dollars to hire my mom as a janitor.

“What will it take for you to let me go?” My throat was dry, my voice hoarse.

"You've always held a grudge over Lucia taking your role as Diana, haven't you? I'm giving you a chance to prove yourself. Perform an impromptu scene as Diana and I'll let you and your mother go."

"David, acting without props is really too difficult for Saveline," Lucia giggled, her voice sweet yet insidious. "I have a suggestion. Why not let Saveline pick a gentleman from the audience to play King Zion?"

"My Lucia is always so kind," David said indulgently, tapping the tip of Lucia's nose.

I held onto my last shred of dignity, scanning the room for a man willing to act alongside me.

But who here would dare offend David, their powerful benefactor?

One by one, they took discreet steps back, avoiding my gaze.

David's lips curled into a knowing smile, as if savoring my humiliation.

Lucia beamed, her beauty blooming like a flower in full bloom. David’s eyes softened with adoration.

"David, why don’t I play King Zion instead? I’ll help Saveline out."

Without waiting for my response, she cheerfully grabbed a bottle of liquor. "Saveline, let’s act out the famous 'Wine Pool and Meat Forest' scene, shall we?"

I panicked. "David, I can’t drink!"

I was pregnant.

Ever since James offered to take me abroad, I had planned to give birth overseas. As long as David never knew about this child, as long as he stayed out of our life, I could do it alone. I could be both mother and father.

I wanted to keep this child.

"Why are you being so pretentious? It's just a short scene. How much could you possibly drink? If you want to end this farce quickly, stop making a fuss." David remained as arrogant as ever.

Tonight, under the dazzling lights of this grand event, I was nothing but a clown.

I knew I had no way out.

Lucia was playing King Zion. To end this humiliation as soon as possible, I had no choice but to brace myself and approach her.

She pulled me tightly into her embrace. "My beloved consort, come, have a drink with me!"

I knew that if I didn’t drink this wine today, there was no way I’d be allowed to leave.

Clenching my teeth, I took a gulp. The burning sensation made me furrow my brows for a moment.

"Cut! Cut! Cut!" Lucia’s expression darkened.

"Saveline, Diana should be enjoying this moment. How could you frown? Let’s do it again!"

It was a two-ounce glass, filled to the brim. A sly smile flickered in her eyes. "My beauty, come on, enjoy yourself!"

She poured another two ounces of liquor into my mouth.

I was anemic, pregnant and drinking on an empty stomach. It didn’t take long for an allergic reaction to kick in. Large patches of red rashes spread across my body.

"David, look at this?"

David frowned as he looked at the red rashes spreading across my body. "I'll take you to the hospital."

"David, how about this?" Lucia suggested sweetly. "You can take Saveline to the hospital later. It's just a few rashes, nothing serious. Let her finish the scene first. There are so many directors here. It’s a great opportunity for her to secure her place in the entertainment industry!"

"David, I don’t want to stay in the entertainment industry anymore. Let me go. I’ll go to the hospital myself." I looked at David pleadingly.

"Why are you so stubborn? Lucia is thinking of you at every turn, yet you treat her kindness like it's nothing! I really misjudged you!" he snapped impatiently. "It’s just a rash. It's not like you're dying! If you act well, I’ll give you the second female lead in The Legend of Diana. That should satisfy you, right?"

David didn’t care about my well-being at all.

"I already said, I don’t want to act anymore! I just want to leave!"

My whole body itched unbearably.

"Saveline, do you think you can just quit acting whenever you want? Have you forgotten that you're still under a management contract?" David sneered. "Do you need me to call your boss? I promise you, if you cooperate with Lucia today, I’ll settle your contract for you. Otherwise, the sky-high penalty for breach of contract will take you half a lifetime to pay off."

I finally saw it clearly.

The man before me didn’t just stop loving me. He didn’t even see me as a human being anymore.

Just to please Lucia, he was willing to disregard my life.

And I had no way out of this.

I watched coldly as Lucia, her smile bright as a flower, poured me another full glass.

Her lips curled into a grin, but her eyes were filled with venom as she forced the drink upon me.

After being made to drink six glasses in a row, I could no longer endure it. Large beads of sweat formed on my forehead, my whole body trembled and worst of all, there was blood between my legs.

As a rush of fresh blood stained the hem of my dress, I felt an overwhelming suffocation.

My baby was gone.

"David! You bastard! You will never understand what you’ve missed out on!"

"Will she be okay?" Lucia asked, feigning concern.

"What could possibly happen to her? She's just on her period, making a big fuss over nothing. Playing these little tricks is what she's best at," David sneered.

As soon as his words fell, the room erupted in blatant, mocking laughter.

"David, why do you say that about her? You guys keep playing, I'll take her to change her pad!" Lucia giggled.

"No need. She probably isn’t even on her period, just using fake blood to act pitiful. It's her usual trick," David scoffed.