Chapter eighteen(18)
1080 Words
Chapter 18
The moment they got into the car, Clara quietly fastened little Anna’s seatbelt before buckling her own.
She forced a smile when she noticed the little girl staring at her.
“What?” Clara asked softly.
Anna frowned.
“You’re sad.”
“Sad?”
“Yes.”
Clara chuckled lightly. “Me?”
“Yes.” Anna folded her tiny arms across her chest. “Your eyes are sad.”
Clara’s smile faded slightly.
She turned her face toward the window, watching the busy streets pass by.
“I’m okay.”
“Sis Clara is lying.”
A brief silence filled the car.
Anna reached over and gently took Clara’s hand between both of hers.
“Did someone make you cry? Is it your bad friend?”
Clara smiled weakly.
“No.”
“You’re lying, Sis Clara.” Anna looked up at her seriously. “I remember you telling me that liars go to hell.”
Clara blinked.
“Do you want to go to hell?”
A small sigh escaped Clara’s lips.
“You’re too smart for a four-year-old child.”
“I know.” Anna nodded proudly.
Despite everything weighing on her mind, Clara couldn’t help but smile.
“It’s nothing, okay? So don’t worry about it.”
“I could be of help.”
Clara laughed.
“You really won’t give up, will you?”
“No.” Anna shook her head firmly.
Another silence followed.
Finally, Clara spoke.
“It’s about my sister.”
“You have a sister?”
“Mhm. She’s an actress.”
“Oh, I see.” Anna’s eyes widened with interest. “I should watch her movie. What happened to her?”
“Someone…” Clara hesitated. “Someone used their connections to make things difficult for her.”
Anna’s little face fell.
“That’s mean.”
“It is.”
“They don’t want her to be famous?”
Clara nodded.
“Why?”
“Sometimes, people are just evil.”
Anna thought about it for a moment.
“Is that someone your evil friend?”
Clara nodded again.
“She’s bad.”
Anna squeezed Clara’s hand.
“Do you need my help?”
Clara laughed softly.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“And how exactly do you intend to help me?”
Anna smiled confidently.
“I have my connections.”
Clara raised an eyebrow.
“Your connections?”
“Yes.”
Clara shook her head, amused.
“You don’t have to bother yourself with grown-up problems.”
“But I don’t like it when you’re sad.”
Clara’s heart softened.
She gently brushed a strand of Anna’s hair behind her ear.
“Thank you.”
“I mean it.” Anna tilted her head. “What’s her name?”
“I know you mean it.” Clara laughed, not taking her words seriously. “Her name is Bella Fairchild.”
⸻
One Hour Later
As soon as Clara stepped into her room after giving Anna lunch, her phone suddenly rang.
Ring… Ring… Ring…
She glanced at the screen.
Lilian.
Clara’s expression immediately turned cold.
She answered the call.
“What do you want?”
Lilian’s furious voice came through the speaker.
“How the f**k did you get Mrs. Amber’s number?”
Clara frowned.
“What do you mean? And who is Mrs. Amber?”
“Don’t play dumb! She’s my agency’s general manager.”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“How did you get her to transfer—”
“You’re not making any sense,” Clara cut her off.
“My manager just called me,” Lilian snapped. “She told me Bella has been transferred to Director Seo’s management team.”
Clara froze.
Director Seo.
She wasn’t part of the entertainment industry, but even she knew who he was.
Director Seo was one of the agency’s most senior managers. Several major entertainment companies had been fighting to recruit him for years.
There was a reason for his reputation.
Artists under his management consistently received the biggest endorsement deals, better scripts, and priority when it came to leading roles.
And now Bella had somehow ended up under him.
“How?” Clara whispered.
“Are you there?!” Lilian shouted through the phone.
Clara’s expression hardened.
“I don’t have time for you.”
She ended the call.
The phone rang again.
And again.
And again.
Three times.
Clara ignored every call.
A message soon appeared on her screen.
Lilian: Answer my phone this minute.
Clara stared at the message for a few seconds.
Then she blocked her number.
She tossed the phone onto the bed and sat down.
Her mind raced.
How did this happen?
⸻
Two Hours Earlier
When they got home, Clara helped Anna take her bath before leaving her to get dressed.
She then went downstairs to the kitchen to prepare lunch.
The moment Clara disappeared, Anna picked up her phone.
She dialed a number.
The call connected.
“Hello, Auntie Favour?” Anna said.
“My little angel!” Favour’s cheerful voice came through. “How are you doing? Do you need anything? Are you okay? Are you—”
“Auntie, I’m fine,” Anna interrupted.
Favour laughed.
“Oh, I was just surprised you called me first.”
“I just missed you.”
“Aww, my little angel. Auntie missed you too.”
Anna smiled.
“Auntie, I need you to help me with something.”
Favour laughed.
“I knew it. You wouldn’t just call me without wanting something. What do you want?”
“Do you know an actress called Bella Fairchild?”
There was a brief pause.
“Why do you ask? Do you want me to help you get her autograph? Are you her fan?”
“No…” Anna shook her head. “Do you know her? Does she work at your agency?”
Favour laughed softly.
“You know I don’t know much about my agency. I have someone who manages most of that for me.”
“Please, just help little Anna check.”
“Okay… okay.”
“Thank you, Auntie Favour. I love you.”
“I love you too…” Favour said with a smile.
The call ended.
Favour stared at the black screen of her phone for a moment, still smiling.
Then her expression changed.
She immediately dialed another number.
The call was answered on the third ring.
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