"Jacob, you've gone too far," Denzel couldn't help but comment."It's understandable if you can't accompany Liesel to honor Ms. Mallone because of work commitments, but you shouldn't have gone to Jeffrey's birthday party today. You're like stabbing her in the heart."Denzel's tone carried a distinct chill.Jacob's eyes darkened, and Alex sighed from the side. "If I were Liesel, I'd hate you for this. Jeffrey cheated on Ms. Mallone during their marriage and ended up having Natalie."We don't even know if Ms. Mallone was driven to her death on Jeffrey's birthday. And here you are, not only divorcing Liesel for this illegitimate daughter but also going to Jeffrey's birthday party on the anniversary of Ms. Mallone's death."Alex shook his head, exasperated.He thought about reaching out to Liesel, but he worried he might only hurt her further, so he held back his frustration.Jacob remained silent. His expression was grim as he downed glass after glass of alcohol.Denzel sensed the
"Are you not coming back with Lili for dinner tonight? It's odd. Lili would usually be heading back on this day. Did you snatch her away?" Vincent asked.Alex felt a wave of panic wash over him.Liesel wasn't avoiding Ford Manor because of Jacob. It was clear she didn't want to return because they were divorced.Jacob, with his bleary eyes, took a while to respond. "She left.""Left? What do you mean, Lili left? Where did she go?" Vincent fired off three questions in quick succession.Alex broke out in a cold sweat as he hurriedly grabbed the phone from Jacob's hand.He forced an awkward laugh and said, "Jake and Liesel had a fight. He couldn't swallow his pride to apologize, so he came to my place to drink. Liesel just left for some fresh air. It's nothing serious, Mr. Ford Senior. They'll be back to normal by tomorrow."Vincent frowned. "I knew you were the one who took him drinking."For heaven's sake! When did he ever take Jacob drinking? Jacob was here drowning his sorrows
Liesel used to hope that she could be bound to Jacob. But now, being tied to him would only bring her pain.Seeing Jacob made her uncontrollably think of everything that had happened today. She didn't want to and couldn't accept it all.She was a living, breathing person capable of laughing and feeling pain. How could she possibly recover quickly from the way Jacob had treated her and face him calmly again?Liesel forced a bitter smile before slowly speaking. "Can't I just prioritize myself, Alex?"This statement left Alex momentarily speechless.She was right. Why couldn't she do something for herself?She had merely married Jacob, but they were divorced now. Why should she keep bending over backward for a man who had hurt her?"Liesel, you absolutely can, but Jake is drunk right now. I'm just worried that when Mr. Ford Senior arrives, Jake might say something he shouldn't."Mr. Ford Senior looks healthy now, but he's been hospitalized before due to stress. He's getting older.
Alex's gaze fell on the bandage on Liesel's forehead, which looked like it had been changed recently.As he looked closely at Liesel's face, he could clearly see the weakness behind her pale complexion.Of course, she was weak.Who wouldn't look terrible on the anniversary of their mother's passing, especially when they were bullied by their ex-husband and his new partner? The harm Liesel suffered was undoubtedly greater."It's nothing. I bumped into something." Liesel forced a smile as if to divert attention.Alex was momentarily at a loss for words but couldn't take his eyes off Liesel's face. He could sense that she was trying to evade the topic. Perhaps her injury had occurred today.He felt a pang of concern. The words urging her to comfort Jacob got stuck in his throat.Liesel kept pressing her hand against her abdomen as she slowly walked over.Noticing something was off, Denzel pushed the glass of juice he had just ordered to the edge of the table. It was prepared for L
Vincent had arrived.Everyone knew it, and so did Liesel.Frowning, she moved closer to Jacob and took his hand, as if they were cuddling together.Anyone who saw this scene would assume they were a loving couple. But who could have guessed that it was all an act?As Vincent pushed open the door, he froze momentarily at the sight in the corner.Alex quickly stepped forward and smiled as he welcomed him in. "Mr. Ford Senior, I can't believe you actually came! I told you not to worry about Jake. Liesel was nearby. She was way more concerned about Jake than you are."He continued, "They just had a little spat. It's nothing serious."Vincent listened, but no one knew if he believed Alex.He walked over. His aged yet sharp gaze settled on Liesel and Jacob, and he quickly spotted the bandage on Liesel's forehead."How did you get that?" he asked Liesel.She paused for a moment, then raised her hand to casually touch the bandage on her forehead with a smile."I was too emotional wh
Liesel deliberately tried not to think about what had happened today, but she couldn't help it. The thoughts only grew deeper.Rubbing her forehead, she stood up. Her gaze landed on the wedding photos hanging on the walls of the room.In those pictures were Jacob and her.They had been taken three years ago after Vincent insisted Jacob take her for a photoshoot. Even though Jacob had been reluctant at the time, he had no choice but to comply.Vincent had specifically asked Edgar to hang the best shots on the walls.In the photos, Liesel was smiling gently. Though a hint of worry lingered in her eyes, it was overshadowed by a deep longing and hope for the future—a yearning to build a life with Jacob.At that time, she was so innocent. She stepped into marriage without a care for the world and somehow bound herself to it.He didn't love her. No matter what she did, he would never love her. That was a foregone conclusion.A loveless marriage was destined to wither. In the end, eve
Jacob was already dating Natalie. Liesel couldn't bring herself to be intimate with him.After everything that had happened today, how could they possibly connect on that level?If she were to accept his kiss casually after experiencing all this, what would that say about her character?Breathing heavily, Liesel pushed Jacob off her. Her cold gaze was fixed on him as she slowly spoke."We're divorced, Jacob. So please, stop it."For a moment, it seemed like Jacob truly halted in his actions.His gaze lingered on Liesel's face as if he were searching for something or trying to understand the emotions playing across her features.Liesel's lashes trembled as she repeated, "Your girlfriend is Natalie."Not Liesel Sharp.Finally, Jacob released her.Whether it was her words that reached him or because he recognized who she was, he didn't continue further.Liesel lay back on the bed while trembling slightly in the chill of the night.Once she calmed down, she retrieved a blanket f
Just like what Elijah had told her that day. The rising sun symbolized her new beginning.Since it represented a fresh start, she shouldn't dwell on the past with Jacob. They were both set to embark on new lives."Mrs. Ford, why are you up so early?" Edgar, an early riser himself, had planned to take a stroll in the courtyard but found Liesel sitting on the swing, watching the sunrise."I couldn't sleep," Liesel replied with a smile.Edgar didn't pry further. Instead, he changed the topic. "What would you like for breakfast? I remember you love muffins. Should I have the kitchen prepare extra for you to take away?"Liesel shook her head. "It's quite a hassle to make muffins, and I have a lot to deal with. I don't really have the time to wait for them to be ready." She smiled again.Actually, she just didn't want to entangle herself further with the Ford family."Well, Mr. Ford was drunk last night and will probably sleep in today. By the time he leaves, the muffins should be rea
The paparazzo burst into laughter. He held his stomach as he rolled on the couch in glee. "Oh, wow! You still invited your fans here in your current situation. They're really your diehard fans."A vein throbbed on Yvonne's forehead. She couldn't help but hiss under her breath. "Aren't you my fans? Since you are, you should be on my side and continue helping me!""We might be fans, but does that mean you can treat us as fools?"While Ophelia's eyes had gone red, she did not hold back as she lashed out at Yvonne. "You already knew that we're just useless female students. Why did you even message us privately and invite us to the performance venue?"We worried about you. We showed up with light sticks and gifts, just hoping to let you know we were still here and that we still had your back. "And what did you do? What are fans to you, Yvonne? Are we even people in your eyes? Or are we just tools—things you can use and toss aside whenever you feel like it?"Yvonne froze. Meanwhile, t
Yvonne opened the door and was startled by the sight of Ophelia and her friends. She patted her chest. "When did you guys arrive? Don't you know how to knock on the door?"Ophelia and her two friends stared at Yvonne with reddened eyes and did not respond. Yvonne recalled the public's opinions toward her as well as the online criticism toward her fans. Their expressions made Yvonne feel rather sympathetic toward them. Since their eyes had turned red, she believed they must have cried out of exasperation after learning that Yvonne was being bullied in the group. They really did seem to be her true fans. "Come in." Yvonne gestured with her chin. After the three entered the lounge, Yvonne handed them three bottles of juice. "Have something to drink for now. I'll take you out for a bite later."Ophelia held the bottle of juice but did not drink it. Finally, Yvonne noticed that each of them was holding a cat doll. "Are you giving me these cat dolls as presents?"The three did not say
Yvonne's chest ached, making it hard for her to breathe. The words Ophelia once said had left her feeling extremely miserable. Yvonne sat at the table and sobbed."Chelsea became what others have always dreamed to be because she didn't need any persona. She always shone the brightest on stage. Chelsea can lead her fans into a brighter future, and you'll only lead us into darkness and nightmares."Those were Ophelia's last words before leaving. Until now, her words haunted Yvonne like a relentless nightmare. It was like a projector that couldn't be switched off, replaying over and over that she was nothing compared to Chelsea.How did that happen? Ophelia was Yvonne's fan, and Yvonne believed Ophelia, the daughter of the Fords, should always be her fan. Yvonne wiped her tears away. As soon as she turned around, she saw the cat doll Ophelia had given her as a final gift. These days, Yvonne took the cat doll with her everywhere. She still kept it with her even while filming a self-
At Ashthorne Studios, the director announced, "Alright, cut! That's a wrap, everyone. Great work today! You can all head off to the hotel and get some rest." Crew members chuckled and began filing out. They were chatting as they made their way to their rooms.But Yvonne, who was still on set, was fuming as she clutched her phone. She had seen Ophelia's reply, and it only made her angrier.One of her assistants, who was trailing behind with genuine concern, asked, "Yvonne, are you alright? Feeling unwell?""Get lost!" Yvonne snapped, glaring. "You're an eyesore!"The assistant shrank back, clearly frightened and hurt by her harsh tone.Yvonne hurried off to her hotel room with her phone clutched tightly as she replayed a particular video over and over. There was no mistaking that the person in the video was one of her biggest fans from back in the day, the same fan who had once waited for her at the airport in Huntaria.A seething mix of jealousy, anger, and bitter resentment chur
Ophelia was done with Yvonne. Unable to hold back her emotions any longer, she took to Twitter to attack her."Did you really think that every gift I painstakingly made was worthless? After years of devotion, the person I once adored has become completely unrecognizable. When I confronted her, she acted as if nothing was wrong."She even claimed that because I was her fan, I had no right to criticize her. I find that utterly absurd."I once asked her what a fan meant to her, and she dismissed us as shallow, saying our love was something that could be discarded. I always believed an idol should be the pillar of her fans' dreams, a beacon of hope. "But the Yvonne I loved—the one who shone so brightly in pursuit of her dreams—was gone."So, from that day on, I severed all ties. The doll I once gave her on Twitter was my final farewell gift. It was a proper goodbye, not a sign of regret. I stopped logging into that account because I wanted to leave with dignity."And don't say Chels
Ophelia was utterly disgusted. She felt that any shred of loyalty she once had for Yvonne had completely vanished.She retweeted Yvonne's latest Twitter post and attached a formal statement of her own."I hereby solemnly declare that I was once a die-hard fan of Yvonne. I never betrayed her—I simply grew tired of the endless fan duties. I refuse to support an idol who is self-absorbed, caring only about herself while dismissing her fans. Today, I proudly stand as a fan of Chelsea because she is truly worth it."Honestly, when I first stopped being a fan, I never intended to expose all this. At the time, I just wanted to part ways amicably. Publicly trashing someone you once adored is downright disgusting, and I didn't want her remaining fans to follow suit. So, I swallowed my disgust."But it seems she saw me trending and thinks she can win back a fan with some influence. She even brought Chelsea into the mess and hinted that her fans should attack my current favorite idol. I simpl
Back in the day, when Ophelia first visited Huntaria, she had seen Yvonne performing at a local event and instantly became a fan. Coming from a wealthy family herself, Ophelia never hesitated to shower Yvonne with lavish gifts and even rallied her few devoted fans to support her idol.Later, when she learned that Yvonne had returned home to compete in a training camp, Ophelia was among the very first to cheer her on. But things took a bitter turn when Ophelia overheard Yvonne berating reporters backstage.Yvonne claimed that her fans were useless and couldn't secure her a center spot. She even mentioned Ophelia's name. According to Yvonne, Ophelia only sent gifts that she didn't want, and she'd be better off using her connections to get a debut instead.Ophelia finally realized what kind of person she had been supporting.Furious and heartbroken, Ophelia stormed into the backstage area and declared that she was done being a fan.Up close, she realized that Yvonne was pretty averag
Joseph immediately took a jab at Jeremy in the group chat. "Jasper was right. This mess is all on you, Jeremy."Jeremy was stunned. In his mind, he fumed, "I was the first one to change my avatar—and back then, I never even egged you shameless bastards on to do it together! Now you're all blaming me? Have you lost your minds?"Everyone was trying to avoid the barrage of marriage talks from their parents."This whole situation can be taken one way or another. I promise I'll set Damian straight so he stops stirring up scandals, but let's be clear, if it weren't for Jeremy changing his profile picture, the media wouldn't have run wild with rumors. And if you're going to call my grandfather, don't mention my name.""What? Jasper shoved this mess onto me, but now you're the one egging me on so I end up taking the fall?""I only shared the comments, headlines, and videos in the group. The one who kicked off this whole avatar fiasco was you," Joseph rebutted.Jeremy gritted his teeth an
Jimmy scrolled through the chat logs on his phone. His eyes grew wider with every message. He noticed that the group's avatar change had even hit trending topics. "Man, these guys are totally off their rocker," he thought—but then he grinned. "Maybe I should jump in!"He quickly typed. "They all switched their avatars and went completely nuts. Why not add one more crazy guy? Tobey can't get me over the phone!"So what if we change our avatars? It's all in good fun. Look on the bright side. If Chelsea ends up divorcing Tobey, being with Damian might not be so bad. As they say, 'good stuff stays in the family,' right?"The group was speechless. Everyone else had changed their avatars on a sudden whim. But Jimmy was different. His wild mind was always a few steps ahead and constantly fired off impulsive ideas.Even Elijah was stunned silent.After a beat, Jeremy couldn't hold back any longer and added, "Tobey's going to log in after a long day and see his world crumble!"At that ver