Redeeming the Unparalleled, One and Only You

Chapter 2: Divergence

Jasper's face was a thundercloud of brooding darkness as he marched towards the elevator, furiously jabbing at the buttons. Twyla watched, speechless, as his barely contained rage simmered on the brink of eruption. Everything had fallen apart!

Just this morning, they were buzzing with excitement over their dream project of becoming independent producers. Beyond his roles as an actor and singer, Jasper yearned to be a true creative force, brimming with a kaleidoscope of innovative ideas.

Whenever he spoke of these visions, his eyes sparkled with an intensity that was almost blinding. But for these dreams to materialize, they needed to break away from SSNC, to escape the clutches of this behemoth, this avaricious vampire!

"You knew from the start that Sky Fund wasn't just a charity, right? Damn it, they also had several commercial funds!" Jasper's face, now turned towards Twyla, was pale and gloomy, the light in his eyes extinguished. "Do you realize? Everything we've worked for over five years..."

"No, don't lose hope, it's just delayed, not hopeless," Twyla consoled, though her voice lacked conviction. How many five-year periods did a top star have in their golden era?

"Sure, I'll leave here eventually, before I retire," Jasper said as he stepped out of the elevator, his voice cold, his words dropping like icy pellets.

"Sorry I didn't comfort you right away about the resignation," Jasper continued, his voice laced with a mix of irony and resignation. "Although, personally, I think leaving now would be the best thing that could happen to me. It's exactly what I want but can't have."

Twyla bristled at his sarcastic tone, her brows furrowing in frustration,"The Sky Fund was a project Allen pushed onto us. When you promoted it, it was indeed only a charity fund. But then, as they raised a substantial amount of money, they branched into several commercial funds. By that time, your collaboration with them had already ended, so I didn't see the need to tell you."

Her explanation, far from soothing, only fueled Jasper's explosive temper.

"What, are you some rookie fresh on the scene? The minute I'm involved in a project, no matter how long ago it was, if anything goes wrong, I'm the one who gets blamed. My popularity is my curse, my original sin. Do you get that?!"

Jasper's voice rose with each word, a mix of frustration and a bitter realization of the harsh realities of his fame.

"Why couldn't you consider me more? Don't you know I can't afford mistakes?"

"I didn't want this either!" Twyla was near breaking point. "What now? Are we both forced to retire early because of this?"

"You still don't understand!" Jasper pushed open the office door, stormed past the reception, and slammed the door of the break room, locking it with a snap.

Twyla rushed to the water cooler, downing two glasses of ice water. Only then did the burning sensation in her chest and the nausea start to subside. Her mind cleared slightly, and she blurted out, "Do you mean Allen will use this to blackmail you, and if you disobey, SSNC will sue me?”

Jasper only shot her a look that mixed annoyance with a hint of 'not this again', and focused on steadying his shaky hands as he poured water.

Twyla, trying to lighten the mood, quipped, "So they'll sue, what's the worst that could happen? I won't be behind bars for ages. Let them try!" She attempted a brave smile, tinged with irony. "Besides, I'd rather face a lawsuit than watch Allen make you his dance monkey."

Jasper sneered,"If a dance could solve your problems, I'd do it. Unfortunately, Allen would never be that merciful to me."

"I think not renewing the contract is better than being imprisoned here. At least in a real jail, no one can control you," Twyla said earnestly. It was a drastic solution she was seriously considering.

"Allen usually doesn’t do the predictable, like sending you to jail. If he makes a move, it’ll be where you least expect it," Jasper said, his eyes downcast, his voice heavy with sorrow.

Twyla was Jasper's weakness, and Allen knew it. This time, he clearly intended to sever this weak link. Before cutting it off, he aimed to exploit it fully, using her to coerce Jasper into renewing his contract.

Jasper's dazzling public persona couldn't mask the turmoil of his private life, constantly hunted and exhausted from evading predators.

Twyla never understood what her leaving meant to him – he was losing his only anchor in this world, his companion through the cold wilderness, his safety net, and the only tangible sense of security he had. How could she be blind to her own loss?

"You don't understand what this means to me. Everything might be over because of one careless decision, Twyla." Jasper brushed past her without giving her a chance to argue and left.

Twyla opened her mouth to speak but ultimately closed it in defeat. Could the empire they built over five years vanish so suddenly? Were she and Jasper truly doomed to part ways? What had they done wrong? Was it, as Jasper said, that popularity was an original sin, and people would convict them without trial?

She had to admit, Jasper might be right. There was only a week left to the end of the month. Seven days, and Jasper would be free from SSNC. And yet, this scandal has erupted now, reeking of conspiracy. But at this point, their brains oxygen-deprived from the trap they had fallen into, the blame mainly lay with her.

The internet's power proved limitless. The scandal exploded at rocket speed, dominating the day's top trending topics. Astute observers noticed SSNC's subtle manipulation of the trends, not quashing them entirely, raising eyebrows.

Can you believe a talent agency just stood by while their golden goose got dragged through the mud online? It seemed unreal, but it totally exposed how they wanted to rein in their 'rebellious' superstar.

By noon, the tone of the event shifted entirely. A fan had committed suicide! This touched a nerve with the masses – already financially struggling, idolizing stars as a labor of love, trusting their idols enough to invest, only to lose their life-saving money.

The girl who jumped had lymphoma, already metastasized. Her suicide note said she came to SSNC for money because she couldn't afford treatment.

The story, overly dramatic and sensational, resonated on the internet, not a place for truth but for venting emotions. Suddenly, everyone has found a scapegoat in Jasper and Twyla.

After handing over her duties, Twyla left SSNC. She heard from her assistant that Jasper had gone to the studio and hadn't returned. She had wanted to talk to Jasper, but now she had to give up.

The online comments were so alarming that she couldn't stay online for more than ten minutes. She could only hope that the internet's memory was short-lived, that she could endure this.

Twyla began to understand how cyberbullying could be so bloodlessly lethal. Anyone with slightly less mental fortitude couldn’t escape unscathed.

As she headed to the underground parking with a box of her personal items, she ran into Adler Balton. After a day filled with cold shoulders from her colleagues, suddenly seeing this enthusiastic young man felt jarring.

"You’re okay, right? Those people online are just after clicks, don't take them seriously," Adler's demeanor remained warm and attentive as ever.

"I'm not ready to die yet, haha," Twyla joked for the first time that day. "Thanks, kid. But we won't be seeing each other anymore, I've been fired."

Adler seemed surprised, silent for a moment, then stubbornly asked, "Do you need help moving stuff home today?"

Twyla gave Adler a once-over, her silence stretching out for a few moments. Adler, the new heartthrob at SSNC, had been on her tail for a month now. Rumor had it he was the company's new golden boy, set for the fast track.

The SSNC corridors were crowded with Jasper-hangers-on trying to catch a ride on his star, but Adler was different. He wasn't just another face in the crowd; he had his own spotlight and didn't need to play the flattery game with Twyla.

Twyla couldn't figure out his angle and gave up trying. Smiling, she said, "I'm now penniless and nameless, less than a nobody. You still want to help me?"

Adler returned her smile, gentle and harmless,"Just moving some luggage, no big deal."

"What if I ask you for a loan?" Twyla asked, smiling.

"Do you need money? I can lend you some. If that's not enough, I can even apply for a company loan," Adler said, his eyes innocent like a fawn's, his voice soft and youthful, his cheeks still chubby with baby fat.

"Come on, let's go to my place," Twyla patted Adler's shoulder. "You drink, right? I could use some company tonight."

"I'll pour for you," Adler replied cheerfully.

Twyla's red BMW became a bubble of laughter and conversation as they climbed in. Unbeknownst to them, a white Land Rover lurked in the background, where Jasper sat, his expression icy, a stark contrast to the warmth inside the BMW.

Although Twyla had accepted Adler's month-long offerings of flowers, chocolates, and lattes, it didn't mean she took him seriously. Maybe it was because she had never enjoyed such overt pursuit.

Her heart had been Jasper's territory all along, the wildest dream she held deep within, yet unspoken. Since he was 16, her feelings for him, then just a boy, had blossomed silently.

Now, Jasper, at 21, was a superstar, a heartthrob for forty million fans. How could she possibly reveal her heart? The idea seemed so daring, almost forbidden.

With Jasper reigning at the height of fame and her years ticking by, their paths as lovers seemed like parallel lines - never meant to meet.

Twyla refused to be hidden away as someone’s secret or be the reason for any fan-led betrayal against Jasper. And Jasper? He seemed lost in his own flawless image, too ensnared in his beauty, perhaps destined for a solitary, narcissistic existence.

Twyla was an adult, needing companionship, sweets, and intimacy amidst her high-pressure job. Casual flings weren't off the table for her. Especially today, after facing a disaster akin to the apocalypse, she wasn't even sure if she'd see tomorrow's sun. She felt an impulse to do something wild.

"What kind of drink would you like?" Adler leaned in close to Twyla, whispering in her ear. Twyla glanced at him, a playful smile on her lips, "Whatever you can pour, I'll drink. I'm not picky."

The white Land Rover Range Rover silently parked by the roadside, with Jasper sitting motionless inside, his eyes fixed on the right side of the street. There, amidst the city's clamor, was the doll shop they had discovered together—their secret playground. Unknown to others, both were doll enthusiasts, hoarding hundreds of dolls at home.

Now, the shop's large street-facing window was adorned with a line of exquisitely dressed dolls, almost lifelike in their complexity.

Jasper’s eyes were drawn to a particular doll—gender ambiguous, bald, with a dumbfounded expression and skin shimmering with a metallic copper hue. Its eyes were tightly shut, hands crossed over the chest, its slender neck leaned forward in a pose of devout pleading.

Jasper stared transfixed out the window, lost in thought. A suffocating, moth-to-flame sensation of despair welled up inside him—an urge to rip out his heart and hand it to someone, regardless of whether it would be cherished or discarded, just to end the pain.

Suddenly, a sharp pang of agony struck his heart. His love, like a futile chase against the wind, seemed destined to suffocate and die. Like the doll, destined to be bought, cherished for a while, then forgotten on a high shelf, forever overlooked.

A sleek black luxury sedan glided to a stop beside him.

There, under the shadow of a dark baseball cap, Jasper, clad in a fitted black suit with a slim tie, was the epitome of a brooding, ethereal beauty. His features, a mix of sorrow and softness, innocence and fragility, radiated a profound, almost haunting vulnerability.

"Everything will be as you wish, my superstar." Allen's smooth voice whispered in Jasper's ear. Jasper looked at him, unresponsive. Allen was like the serpent in Eden, tirelessly tempting Eve with the apple. This time, he had seemingly succeeded.

Jasper's silence continued the air heavy with tension. His gaze returned to the doll, silently witnessing the chaos within him. Allen watched him like a predator eyeing its prize. The car engine hummed softly, a subtle but constant reminder of Allen's power.

"Come, Jasper. Let's not dwell on things we can't change," Allen coaxed, his tone velvety soft but laced with an unspoken threat. "The future is still bright, I assure you, I'll take care of everything."

Jasper's eyes met Allen's, a storm of emotions churning inside him. He knew all too well the price of Allen's care. It was a gilded cage, a carefully crafted trap filled with promises and threats, and dreams hanging tantalizingly out of reach.

"Your fans are waiting for you, Jasper. You are their idol, their dream," Allen continued, his words a skillfully woven snare.

Finally, Jasper spoke, his voice a mere whisper, "What about my dreams, Allen?"

"As long as you play by the rules, they are within reach," Allen, a master manipulator, spoke words Jasper dared not believe.

"The world is cruel, Jasper. I'm just offering you a way to survive."

Jasper stepped out of the car, his heart aching with an indescribable sense of loss. The doll shop, memories of Twyla, the life he once dreamed of—all seemed like distant echoes, ill-suited for his life.

Behind him, not far away, was Allen's car. He didn't instruct his driver to follow Jasper, confident that Jasper would ultimately turn back.