The Abandoned Wife

Chapter 3

I took a deep breath, picked up the phone, and called Sebastian. It was beating fast in my chest, but my voice was calm. "Brother, it's time." "Let's begin the plan."

"Got it," Sebastian said in that calm voice that we all know. He was more than just a cousin to me; my dad had raised him, which made him like a brother. "I'll start leaking the articles and making scandals about the stars of Emperor Entertainment." Do you have a special person you want me to focus on?"

I stopped and felt a cool resolve come over me. "Too many to count," I replied. "But make sure you bring up the scandal involving Vivian and the vice-chairman." They're more trouble than they're worth.

His voice was strong and quiet as he said, "They won't know what hit them."

It all began five years ago, when my whole life fell apart. My father was never seen again, and soon after, my mother left with another guy. I was left to take care of my very sick grandfather and look out for myself. So I could make money, I had to go into the theater business. Sebastian had been there from the beginning. He worked as a paparazzi to watch over me and help me find my way in the rough world of show business. We built my public image together by spreading leaks and stories that made me more well-known in Emperor Entertainment. It had taken us years of careful steps to get to the top.

When my ex-fiancé Theodore Valmont pulled strings to make me look bad and get fired from the company, everything fell apart. I knew I couldn't just walk away without fighting back because the insult hurt too much.

It was now time to set everything on fire.

In the evening, as the sun went down, I turned on my computer and read the latest news stories. "Explosive Scandals at Emperor Entertainment Revealed!" was one of the headlines that popped up on my screen. Emperor Entertainment quickly became the most talked-about subject online, causing chaos in every part of the business. One piece in particular went viral: it was an expose on Vivian's sexy relationship with the vice-chairman and how she'd used their relationship to get roles and favors. People who had smeared my name before were now lost in their own mess.

The people in charge at Emperor Entertainment worked quickly to keep things under control. They were in a bad way. They called an emergency meeting and, in a hurry, they called Sebastian, who was leaking information. Changing his voice, he answered their questions with a frightening lack of interest. Why did you treat Seraphina that way after all she did for your business? If you put her back on the job, I might think about stopping the leaks.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, so one executive laughed. "This has to be a joke."

He said, "Try me." "Refuse, and tomorrow there will be even more scandals." He then ended the call, leaving them to try to make things right.

As I read the shocking news stories, I felt good about myself. They threw me away at Theodore's whim and treated me like a tool. I was now in charge of the strings. I raised a glass of wine to celebrate and was enjoying the moment when all of a sudden my phone rang. As I looked down, Alistair's name flashed on the screen. As I answered, my heart beat faster.

"Hello?" I tried to keep my tone light when I spoke.

"Are you asleep already?" His voice was soft and comforting, just what I needed after a crazy day. He must have just finished a meeting late, but he still thought of me.

As I tried to hide how worried I was, I said, "No... not yet." Tonight I was being sneaky, and I didn't want him to see that.

He didn't say anything else for a while. "Emperor Entertainment... that was your old company, right?"

"Yes." I had no idea why he was asking, but it made me feel very open.

He said, "Forget it," and his voice turned rude. "Take a break." After he hung up, I stared at my phone, confused but calm.

At the same time, Alistair looked at his secretary with a determined, grim face. "That business is a shame." I want it to go bankrupt in three days. "Find a reason and make it happen."

The secretary knew Alistair's status and said, "Understood, sir." Alistair wasn't just a businessman; he was also the head of the 489 Education Group, a prestigious school known for studying strange events. To the people close to him, he was a hero who kept his activities secret. They called him "Principal."

As I put down my phone, I felt a strange feeling growing inside me. Alistair's voice was still in my head, and the thought of our short talk made my heart beat faster. I admired him since we were kids, but I didn't know how I felt about him at the time. Because of the problems I had with Theodore and Emperor Entertainment for years, I hid how I felt. But tonight, I gave myself a tiny bit of hope.

When I woke up the next morning, I felt like I had a new mission. My phone rang while I was sipping my coffee. Of all the people calling, my agent seemed surprisingly happy.

"Lancaster, I love you. Where are you staying these days?" The head of the company wants to talk to you. I'll come get you. Good news! The company dropped the sixty million yuan claim, so they won't need you to... "entertain" their client anymore. They want you to work for them again as an artist.

I just couldn't hold back the laughs. “Oh?” I asked, pretending to be innocent. Why did you change your mind so quickly? Is there trouble with the business?"

There was a hint of anger in my agent's voice as she sighed. "I'm sure you've read the news." The company is being held hostage by Sebas. They're in bad shape if you don't help. They'll make it worth your time if you come back, though.

I smiled and asked, "Is that true?" Okay, please pick me up. I will listen to them.

By 10 a.m. that same day, I was back at Emperor Entertainment with my agent. As we walked down the halls, people were looking at us with interest. They tried to ruin the actor, but she came back not as a beggar but as a winner.

When I walked into the vice-chairman's office, I was met with a stiff smile. Lawrence, we're glad you're ready to come back. Here is a new deal. Read it over and let us know if you have any questions or concerns. The man pointed to a perfect paper on his desk and even made me a cup of tea, as if being friendly could wash away his sins.

I took my agent's pen, but I stopped just before I was going to sign. I put down the pen with a sweet smile. "On second thought," I said with a voice full of innocence, "I think I'll pass." In the end, I don't want to sign this deal.

When I spoke, it was like a lightning bolt, and the vice-chairman's mask fell for a second. I wasn't there to save them, though. I was there to see them move around.