Chapter 3

Overnight, my fans became public enemies, condemned everywhere they went.

I could only watch as the people who cared about me were insulted and humiliated because of me.

It felt like a knife was twisting in my heart.

Kelvin kept his head down, messing around with his phone. When I looked down, I saw he was staring at our chat window.

Kelvin: [Stop ghosting me. Seriously. Admit you messed up now, and maybe I'll cut you some slack.]

He scratched his head in frustration, just waiting for Celine to wrap up her stream.

After all that, Celine's fame skyrocketed, while my name was dragged through the mud.

"Kelvin, do you think Tanya disappeared because she found out something suspicious about her mom's death?" Celine asked.

She walked over cautiously and gently sat down on his lap.

Kelvin absentmindedly played with her fingers and said, "No way. Tanya's mom just happened to walk in while I was throwing you a birthday party. There's no way that would've made her heart act up."

Celine let out a slow breath. "Good, I was worried that the old lady saw us kissing."

Celine was giving Kelvin that look that screamed love and devotion. But for me, it felt like my world just shattered.

It turned out my mom had left the estate to look for me, only to run into those two cheating scumbags all over each other.

And Celine, even though she knew that was my mom, didn't even hesitate to kiss Kelvin right in front of her.

My fists clenched tighter and tighter, but the stupid tears just kept streaming down my face.

I hated myself for being such a fool.

Celine said, "Tanya still hasn't contacted you? Honestly, she's really pushing it with this attitude."

Celine's hand slowly teased Kelvin's chest, her touch lingering.

Kelvin shook his head, looking grim. "She just doesn't know what's good for her. Forget her. The opening's almost here. Do you want anything special as a gift?"

Celine looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise and delight.

Then she slowly lowered her head and gave a gentle shake.

"I kinda want Tanya's bracelet... but, forget it," Celine mumbled, sounding unsure.

Kelvin poked her forehead, half annoyed, half amused.

He said, "It's just a bracelet. I thought you were gonna ask for something huge. I'm calling the shots. It's yours now!"

I was furious. He got to call the shots? Who gave him the right?

That was the keepsake my mom left for me! Why should Celine get it?

I lunged at them, trying to scratch and claw, but my hands just kept passing right through their bodies, again and again.

My enemies were right in front of me, but I couldn't do a damn thing to them.

Why should she get it?

Kelvin was taking Celine to get the bracelet.

Celine drove like she'd done it a hundred times, while Kelvin lounged in the passenger seat, still a bit buzzed.

Why did Celine know the way to the estate like the back of her hand?

And then it hit me. The home I rarely visited had been their secret rendezvous spot for a long time.

Who knew what disgusting things they had done here?

Celine wandered around my place in a skimpy nightgown, without a care in the world.

She even picked up a pen and started making changes to the oil painting my mom left me, signing her own name right on it.

Then she posted it on her social media. [Cultivating my artistic side, little painter at work.]

But that was one of the only precious paintings my mom ever made while she was alive!

I threw myself in front of it, desperate to shield it, but it was useless.

I used to think Celine had at least a shred of decency, but clearly, I gave her way too much credit.

When my mom was sick, there were only two things she truly loved, painting oil canvases and knitting clothes just for me.

But now, Celine was using the special robe my mom made for me as a foot rag, wiping her dirty feet with it like she owned the place.

And of all things, it was the one my mom hadn't even finished yet. It was the wedding gift she'd been making for me.

"Thanks for finding me a rag, Kelvin," Celine said, tossing the words out carelessly.

She suddenly latched onto Kelvin's arm, and he just brushed it off like it was no big deal.

"I just pulled it out of the box. Looked brand new, so whatever, it works," Kelvin said.

That box was locked tight. It was not something one could casually open.

But he couldn't care less, talking about it like it was no big deal, as if he was just making small talk about the weather.

Barefoot, Celine stepped in a puddle and slipped.

A long gash split open on her ankle. Blood pooled on the floor.

"Celine, are you okay?" Kelvin called out, his voice full of concern.

He reached for his phone, ready to dial my number.

But right then, his phone rang out of nowhere. Thinking it was me, Kelvin snapped, "I don't care where you are! Get your ass to the hospital and donate blood, now!"

Lucas shot back, "Are you insane? You want a dead person to donate blood?" Kelvin realized it was Lucas on the line, not me.

"You're such a bastard!" Lucas snapped.

Kelvin recognized Lucas's mocking tone and couldn't help but smirk.

"Weren't you her boy next door? You're the bastard! Tanya's not dead, and if she is, it's probably because you cursed her!" Kelvin asked.

Kelvin scratched his ear, sounding bored. "Seriously, you care about her this much. Are you still hung up on her or what?"

Kelvin's barrage of questions left Lucas frozen for a moment.

Then, as if something suddenly occurred to him, Kelvin grabbed his backup phone and dialed my number.

Lucas just let out a mocking laugh on the other end.

"Tanya's missing right now, but I had some tech guys go over your publicity video. I'm certain she wasn't faking when she collapsed!" Lucas retorted.