Chapter 3
The moment the page was read, the comments exploded.
They read: [Seriously? Who was the bully? Who was it?]
[Whoa, isn't the nepotism hire the female lead in Caspar's series?]
[My heart aches for Caspar.]
[Hold on, so Caspar was telling the truth? Claire actually passed the audition?]
[Then why didn't she end up playing the role?]
The diary read: [September 3rd, 2019
It was pouring rain today.
Caspar and I had a huge fight.
This was probably the most intense fight we've ever had since we got together.
Dear Diary, It's crazy late right now.
I can't bother Grandma.
Guess you're the only one I can talk to.
Caspar's mom, Peggy, took a tumble on the stairs this afternoon.
Thankfully, she's okay.
But her left leg is seriously fractured.
She'll need to rest and recover for at least three months.
Caspar and I just paid the down payment for our house, so we're pretty strapped for cash right now.
The cost of a caregiver is way out of our budget.
Caspar stared at our bank balance for a long moment, then turned to me and squeezed my hand. "Claire, maybe you should quit that web series.
"It's not like it's going to get you anywhere.
"Could you look after my mom instead?"
A chill ran through me.
Caspar was the male lead, and the penalty for breaking his contract was huge.
I hadn't signed the contract yet.
So I was the one who had to step back.
It seemed like the best option.
I lowered my head, managing a bitter smile.
I said, "Let's pinch our pennies and hire a caregiver.
"Even if we have to borrow some money to tide us over.
"Once the money from this series comes in, it should cover it."
Caspar clearly hadn't expected me to refuse.
His brows knitted together.
"Why waste money?" His voice rose.
In the tiny room, his words sounded even sharper.
He said, "That's my mom. How could I possibly trust a stranger to take care of her?"
His words echoed painfully in my ears.
I lowered my voice and tried to explain, "Caspar, you know how hard it is to get a shot in this industry.
"I really love this role."
Caspar frowned, looking genuinely unhappy.
I let out a sigh and said, "If you're worried about the caregiver, maybe my grandma could stay here to keep an eye on things. That way, the caregiver would probably be more attentive."
I was just trying to help, but he totally blew up.
He said, "Your grandma's in her seventies. It's already lucky my mom doesn't have to look after her.
"Seriously, who knows how much time she's got left? How could you even think of asking her to help out?"
I was rooted to the spot, totally stunned.
My blood ran cold.
Grandma was my everything.
Dear Diary, can you believe this?
It was actually Caspar who said that.
I was shaking all over, my voice trembling as I asked, "Caspar, do you even realize what you're saying?"
He looked super impatient.
He said, "It's just a crappy web drama and you're only a supporting actress. I don't get why you're making such a big deal out of it."
At that moment, Caspar felt like someone I barely knew.
He brushed off my role as "some supporting actress in a crappy web drama". He had no idea how hard I'd worked to land it.
That night, we lay in bed, backs turned to each other.
Neither of us said a word.
Dear Diary, honestly, I really don't want to let this opportunity slip away.
I've been grinding for so long, and this is the first time I've ever landed the third female lead.]
That was where this page ended.
People online started raising questions.
They read: [I feel like Caspar was really looking down on his own wife.]
[Crappy web drama? Dreamscape is actually amazing. come on.]
The host shot Caspar a meaningful look.
Then she flipped to the next page.
The diary read: [September 12th, 2019
Dear Diary, Caspar apologized to me today.
He pulled me into his arms, his voice soft and gentle. "Claire, I was wrong. I shouldn't have said anything about your grandma.
"Your grandma is going to live to be a hundred."
He rubbed his face against mine like a puppy.
His voice was all apologetic and playful, clearly trying to win me over.
He totally broke through my defenses. I ended up laughing.
He started talking about all the sweet stuff we'd been through together.
Yeah, it's true. We've loved each other for so long.
It took so much for us to finally get our lives on track.
Why let something so small mess things up for us?
Forget it.
I forgive him.
Caspar patiently tried to explain things to me.
He sounded a little defeated.
He said, "Claire, money's been tight for me lately.
"The screenwriter keeps telling me I've got real talent.
"He even wants to bring me in for the next show.
"You know how it is. Talent's everywhere, but finding someone who actually sees it? That's rare.
"To show my appreciation, I'm planning to send him two bottles of liquor in the home.
"Getting in good with a director isn't easy, you know?"
He gave my arm a little shake, trying to win me over.
He sounded so convincing, like he really knew what he was talking about.
But... Dear Diary, at that moment, my mind flashed to how he was when he first started out in the industry.
Back then, all he cared about was becoming a real actor.
He used to dream of winning everyone over with his acting.
But now?
Now, it feels like all he cares about is connection.
Honestly, he just wants to be famous.
I spent all afternoon agonizing over it.
But in the end, I still let go of the third female lead in Dreamscape.
I grew up without a mom.
When I got married, Peggy hugged me and said, "Claire, from now on, I'm your mom."
She always said I was like her real daughter, so taking care of her just felt like the right thing to do.
It's just one part, isn't it?
There'll be more chances down the road.]