The people around me pinched their noses and sized me up, their eyes filled with disdain. "That shabby-looking woman is supposed to be Mr. Stellan's ex? Look at her outfit. She looks like someone's maid. I can smell her from here!"

"This is a high-society event hosted by the most prestigious family in Daxton. Since when could just any random stray sneak in? What's security even doing?"

"She's probably a janitor here. Maybe she heard Mr. Stellan was coming and snuck in just to catch a glimpse of him ... "

I calmly put the half-eaten pastry in my hand and smiled politely at Mark. There wasn't even a hint of embarrassment on my face, which only annoyed Mark. He mocked me with a cold smirk. "Westlyn, was breaking up with me so suddenly part of your plan to end up cleaning floors at events like this?"

As soon as Mark finished speaking, another round of laughter erupted. Everyone was waiting to see me humiliated and fleeing disgracefully, but I didn't take it to heart. Instead, I maintained my polite smile.

"Westlyn, don't you have any sense of shame? If I were you, I would turn around and leave right now!" Mark felt like he was punching a pillow and couldn't help but get angry.

Sarah linked her arm with his, comforting him softly, "Alright, Mark, don't get upset. She must be heartbroken to have missed out on you. Why make her embarrass herself in public."

Then, she pretended to reach for my hand. "You're Westlyn Storm, right? Don't blame Mark. After all, the way you left him really did hurt his pride. But Mark was right about one thing: this kind of cleaning job is justn't right for a young woman like you. A woman's hands are her second face, you know? And yours ... honestly, they're rougher than some men's."

"And working yourself to the bone for just a few bucks all month? Totally not worth it. Why not just apologize to Mark? He might tip you a million or two if he's in a good mood. That's more than you'd make in your whole life." She spoke as if offering heartfelt advice, but her eyes kept sneaking glances at Mark. Seeing him soaking it all in with a satisfied look, she finally relaxed.

Mark raised his chin and pulled out a check, waving it at me with his usual arrogance. "Since Sarah wants to help you, here's the deal. Westlyn, apologize for what happened back then. Say you regret it and this million is yours."

I stared at him, stunned. I couldn't believe he actually had the nerve to ask me to apologize. I met Mark while secretly working as an intern at a company under my family's group. He was just starting out in the entertainment industry, full of ambition but frustrated. He was too proud to play the fame game like everyone else. "Westlyn, I can't stand those pretty boys who climb up by getting cozy with rich sponsors. There's no difference between them and nightclub escorts."

I had planned to use my family's influence to help him, but his scornful tone made me swallow my words. Instead, I supported him from the shadows. I feared revealing my identity would affect his career, so I stayed quiet. I endured a secret relationship for three years, doing everything I could to boost his popularity. Eventually, he became one of the most promising rising stars.

I planned to reveal my identity to him, but he publicly embraced Sarah on the day he won the Best Newcomer Award. He made a high-profile announcement of their relationship. He sent me a breakup text and ended our three-year relationship with a single stroke.

I used many connections to track him to his new address and ask why. Alas, he smiled slyly. "How dare you ask why I broke up with you, Westlyn Storm? Why don't you ask yourself? Sarah Bane brings me exposure, awards and connections to powerful investors. And you? You're just a broke assistant. What do you have to offer me?"

I was utterly speechless at his question. The way Mark acted so self-righteous, you'd think he'd forgotten that he was the one who once said he'd climb to the top step by step with no help from anyone. Later, just to shake me off, he smeared my name and called me a crazy stalker. In the end, I died under the wheels of one of his deranged fans.

After my rebirth, I severed all ties with him without hesitation and he didn't even try to make me stay. It wasn't until a week later, when I saw the news about the start of filming for his new drama trending online, that I realized he had been reborn, too. I couldn't understand it. Mark reached a height in just five years that most people couldn't dream of achieving in a lifetime. He got everything he ever wanted. So why did he still paint himself as the victim and force me to apologize in public?

I slowly reached for the check and, under everyone's shocked gaze, stuffed it back into Mark's pocket. "Money doesn't come easy. You should keep it and buy yourself some health supplements." My eyes deliberately drifted to a spot near his waist and Mark's face instantly flushed red.

Despite his fame over the years, Mark's been tangled up in several scandals. He's often seen shopping with rich older women. Although he always explained it as necessary business networking, everyone knew the real reason. Still, no one dared to call him out on it directly. I was the first. The onlookers held their breaths, awkwardly clutching their wine glasses.

"You ungrateful cleaning lady! What do you mean? I was trying to help you out of kindness and you dare to act like this!" Mark burst out angrily.

I kept my polite smile. "Don't get me wrong. I'm just concerned about your health, nothing more."

Frustrated, Mark stood there looking grim. Sarah yelled aggressively to the throng while her eyes darted. "Since Miss Storm insists on refusing Mark's kindness, we won't force her. But as former lovers, Mark can't bear to see her doing such hard and tiring work. If anyone in the crew needs a supporting actress, perhaps we could consider Miss Storm ... "

"Sure, it's a bit tiring, but it pays better than being a janitor. Let's treat it as doing a good deed … " Her tone was sweet and sincere.

Unfortunately, someone interjected sarcastically before she could finish. "Miss Bane, you know not everyone can be a supporting actress. Even with limited screen time, you still need the right face. Someone like Miss Storm … "

They paused, glancing at me awkwardly, prompting a few chuckles from the crowd. "Well, my team is looking for someone to play a whore. I wonder if Miss Storm would be interested?"

The room exploded with laughter. I also laughed softly and calmly set down my wine glass. "Thank you all for your kind offers, but I don't think there's anything wrong with being a janitor. At least I earn my living with my own two hands."

"Tch, there she goes again, putting on an act," someone scoffed. "We went out of our way to offer her a job and she turns up her nose at it."

"Exactly. This woman's just being stubborn. She's rejecting us now, but she'll probably beg for our contact info after the party!"

"Yeah, she's perfect for that role, really. Saying no with her mouth, but her body's saying yes."

Before I could even respond, Mark walked up to me again. This time, his face was full of irritation. "Westlyn Storm, you've hit rock bottom. Who are you trying to impress with that attitude?"

"Go get changed. Let the directors see if you can act." His tone was commanding as if he genuinely believed he was doing me a favour.

"No, thank you." I politely refused, but the assistant director beside me didn't care for manners.

He shoved me straight toward the dressing room. "Come on, Miss Storm, enough with the act already. Let's be honest. You've got a decent figure. You could probably land a supporting role in an adult film ... "

I felt his hand slide down my back, growing bolder. I quickly slapped it away, my senses on high alert. "What do you think you're doing?" I glared at him.

He clearly frustrated by my rejection. That man later grabbed my collar, raising his other hand to strike me. "You ungrateful little tramp! I was doing you a favour and this is how you repay me?"

I instinctively closed my eyes, bracing for the slap. Fortunately, the blow never came. Mark had seized the man's wrist in a tight grip. "Alright, Mr. Zander, just let it go. Do it for me."

His intervention surprised me. I'd expected him to relish my public humiliation, not come to my rescue. Sarah's face twisted with jealousy at seeing Mark standing up for me, but she soon pointed at my neck and exclaimed, "Look, the necklace on her neck. Isn't it the one that belonged to Declan Shaw, the blockbuster king?"

When Sarah mentioned the most famous actor in the entertainment industry, all eyes in the gala hall were focused on me. I realized then that the necklace hidden beneath my clothes had been exposed during the scuffle.

I calmly adjusted my neckline, but Sarah rushed forward and yanked the necklace off me. The chain dug into my skin as she pulled, making me suck in a sharp breath. She examined it closely, turned it over in her hands, then raised it triumphantly. "I'm sure of it! This is definitely the exact same necklace Declan never takes off!"

That woman was right. Declan gave it to me, but was all this drama necessary? I blinked and was just about to take it back when someone in the crowd shouted, "You're just a damn janitor! How could you possibly have Declan's necklace? Be honest, did you steal it?"

"I was wondering the same thing! Declan was invited to today's event but still hasn't shown up. When I asked the staff, they said he's been looking for something ... "

"That settles it! This cleaner stole Declan's necklace! No wonder she turned down Mark's check and the job we offered her. She already hit the jackpot!"

They were all so convinced, practically ready to condemn me on the spot. "Everyone ... " I cleared my throat. "Is it possible that this is mine and it just happens to be the same style as the one you're talking about?" I tried to explain, but they laughed as if I'd told a joke.

"Yours? And it's the same style?" Sarah's voice rose sharply as if she'd finally caught me in a lie.

"You're so ignorant! The emerald on Declan's necklace is a priceless treasure, auctioned off at Christie's in this country five years ago for two hundred million dollars!"

"You couldn't even fake emerald of that quality, let alone find a matching one!"

"You're just a lowly janitor! Your lies don't even make sense!"

I was genuinely shocked to learn the necklace's value. Sarah certainly knew her stuff, but she didn't realize that Declan had bought two pieces of jade at the auction. He'd given me the more exquisite one while keeping the slightly inferior piece for himself. "Believe it or not, this is mine," I insisted.