Chapter 2
I stormed out of the internet café as my phone buzzed nonstop in my pocket.
The caller said, "Anna, you are always welcome to join Primewell Corporation."
That man's voice coming through the phone felt just like a lifeline—finally, someone was reaching out as I hit rock bottom. For a second, I could breathe again.
Over the past few years, I'd been burning the midnight oil, churning out script after script. Two of them caught the eye of Edward from Primewell Corporation.
He wanted me to move all the way to Northvale, thousands of miles away, to take my career to the next level.
But I just couldn't leave Chris behind while he was still in school. After agonizing over it, I ended up turning down the opportunity.
Who would've thought that just when I was at my lowest, Edward would show up again, like a ray of light in the darkness, pulling me back from the brink.
In my previous life, Edward had called me, too, but I was clueless back then. I was terrified that if I left, Chris would be left alone in Ravenshire, facing all kinds of gossip and judgment.
But in this lifetime, I decided to live for myself.
I replied, "Mr. Lewis, thank you for trusting me. As soon as I finish up the last few things in Ravenshire, I'll head over to Primewell and get started."
After I hung up, I stumbled back to my apartment, barely keeping myself together—honestly, I felt more like a zombie than a real person.
The place still looked warm and inviting, but the truth hit me: the haven across the river had been a bottomless pit of despair all along.
I wiped away the tears from the corner of my eyes, hatred burning inside me as I rummaged through every corner of the apartment, hunting for any hidden cameras.
I practically turned the whole place upside down, but there wasn't a single camera to be found.
I realized Chris had already swept everything clean. The brother I'd once thought innocent was a devil in disguise, hiding his darkness behind a perfect mask.
My eyes were glazed over as I slumped onto the floor, totally spent. Just then, the keypad on the door chimed and clicked open.
"Why didn't you turn on the lights?" Chris called out, his voice making my skin crawl with goosebumps.
He walked over to me, slow and deliberate. Our eyes met—his gaze was calm, not a hint of guilt or anxiety, just worry. He said, "The floor's cold. Come sit on the couch.
"Anna, those intimate photos—they're everywhere online, and people are saying all kinds of filthy things, calling you reckless and shameless. But I don't buy it for a second. Listen, even if everyone at school shuns me, I've got your back no matter what."
I'd heard these same words from him in my previous life.
Back then, I was buried under misery and despair, but after hearing him say that, all I felt was crushing guilt.
I even took out my savings, the 30 grand I'd been saving for my future.
The next second, Chris answered the phone.
The place was so quiet that the girl's pouty, slightly accusatory voice on the other end came through loud and clear.
Vivian said, "Everyone knows about your sister. She has no self-respect at all. Tell me, if my parents found out, do you really think they'd still let you marry me?"
A cold smile tugged at my lips as I caught the flash of annoyance on Chris's face.
"It looks like my scandal's messing up your love life. What a tragedy," I said, dropping my head so he couldn't see the mockery in my eyes. All those ugly words from the internet café kept echoing in my head.