Chapter 4 · No More Funds For His Love Story

Alex's fingers froze mid-air.

It finally hit him that I wasn't waiting for him to make things right. I'd already scratched tomorrow off my calendar.

"Charlotte, don't be impulsive," he said.

"I'm calm," I replied.

"Getting married isn't a joke."

"That's exactly why I canceled it."

He stood up, paced a couple of steps in the living room, and then stopped. "You know the rumors are already everywhere.

"If we don't go through with the marriage tomorrow, everyone will take what I said on the livestream as the truth. Brands will start to panic, platforms will get cold feet, and the fans will lose it."

I nodded. "Took you long enough."

Alex turned around, his eyes dark and heavy. "What do you want me to do?"

I handed him another file. "After midnight tonight, all resources tied to our marriage are suspended.

"If you want to keep working with us, you need to make a public statement, admit your comments on the livestream were out of line, and clarify that there's nothing personal between you and Sophie.

"Also, you have to tell people that you accept that my company will be reevaluating your value to the project."

Alex took the file, and after skimming the first few lines, his expression changed. "A public apology?"

"Yeah."

"And you want me to mention Sophie?"

"She's already number three on the trending list."

"She has nothing to do with it."

I couldn't help but laugh.

Alex saw the look on my face, and his brow furrowed right away.

I pulled up Sophie's post from half an hour ago on my phone, which read: [Some people are only meant to walk with you through your youth. The moon knows.]

The picture was an old movie ticket. It was from the movie they watched together on Alex's twenty-second birthday.

The comment section was going wild.

[She still hasn't let go, has she?]

[This is true love.]

[Capitalism won the marriage, but it can't win love.]

I set my phone down on the table. "She's already involved."

Alex glanced at it and said right away, "She's always been like that, always posting sentimental stuff. People online read too much into it. It's not all her fault."

"Did I ever blame her?"

"You want me to publicly distance myself from her."

"You don't want to?"

He fell silent.

That silence spoke louder than any excuse.

I leaned back on the couch, staring at that face the camera always loved.

For the past three years, I'd handpicked his scripts, cut out the trashy endorsements, and slowly pulled him out of the star-driven series rut.

I'd seen him pull all-nighters memorizing lines, freeze in cold water for a single shot, and sit in the back of his car after a wrap, so lonely that he wouldn't say a word.

I used to admire how serious he was about his work, and believe he could keep his feelings in check.

But now, sitting right in front of me, his silence said it all. He wanted the resources, he wanted the marriage, and he still wanted to keep up appearances with Sophie.

I snatched the statement back. "Fine."

Alex's eyes flickered, thinking I'd finally caved.

I ripped the statement in half and tossed it into the trash. "Mia."

Mia came out from the study. She'd been waiting for my instructions.

I said, "Tell Olivia to send out an internal risk alert at 8 AM tomorrow. We're not using the company's PR resources for the media fallout caused by Alex's personal actions."

Mia nodded.

I continued, "Notify the business department. We're meeting with three brands at 10 AM tomorrow. Any deals that haven't been officially announced are now on hold for risk assessment."

Alex's face went completely pale. "Charlotte, are you really going to push it this far?"

I stood up, meeting his gaze. "You're the one who made our marriage a spectacle for the livestream."

He gripped his phone so hard that the veins on the back of his hand stood out. "I never meant to hurt you."

"Save that for the interviews."

He stared at me for a long time, like he was searching my face for any crack in my resolve.

I didn't give him an inch.

Finally, Alex grabbed his jacket, his voice icy and clipped. "I'm heading to the studio."

As he reached the door, I called out to him, "Alex."

He stopped, but didn't turn around.

I said, "I'm having your access revoked. Make sure your stuff is out by 10 AM tomorrow."

His back went stiff.

A few seconds later, he pulled the door open and walked out.

As the door closed, Mia lingered by the living room, quietly letting out a breath she'd been holding.

I unzipped the file bag on the table, took out my own documents, and tucked them back into the drawer.

I packed Alex's paperwork, along with the ring box he'd picked out, into a paper bag.

As I sealed the paper bag, my phone screen lit up.

Sophie had posted another tweet. [Regret may be late, but it always shows up.]

The top comment read: [Be brave. Go get him back.]

I stared at the words, and then pushed the paper bag to the corner of the desk.

Someone couldn't wait to turn up the drama. Let her put on her show. But I was not paying for her stage.

Chapter 4

Alex's fingers froze mid-air.

It finally hit him that I wasn't waiting for him to make things right. I'd already scratched tomorrow off my calendar.

"Charlotte, don't be impulsive," he said.

"I'm calm," I replied.

"Getting married isn't a joke."

"That's exactly why I canceled it."

He stood up, paced a couple of steps in the living room, and then stopped. "You know the rumors are already everywhere.

I nodded. "Took you long enough."

Alex turned around, his eyes dark and heavy. "What do you want me to do?"

I handed him another file. "After midnight tonight, all resources tied to our marriage are suspended.

"If you want to keep working with us, you need to make a public statement, admit your comments on the livestream were out of line, and clarify that there's nothing personal between you and Sophie.

"Also, you have to tell people that you accept that my company will be reevaluating your value to the project."

Alex took the file, and after skimming the first few lines, his expression changed. "A public apology?"

"Yeah."

"And you want me to mention Sophie?"

"She's already number three on the trending list."

"She has nothing to do with it."

I couldn't help but laugh.

Alex saw the look on my face, and his brow furrowed right away.

I pulled up Sophie's post from half an hour ago on my phone, which read: [Some people are only meant to walk with you through your youth. The moon knows.]

The picture was an old movie ticket. It was from the movie they watched together on Alex's twenty-second birthday.

The comment section was going wild.

[She still hasn't let go, has she?]

[This is true love.]

[Capitalism won the marriage, but it can't win love.]

I set my phone down on the table. "She's already involved."

Alex glanced at it and said right away, "She's always been like that, always posting sentimental stuff. People online read too much into it. It's not all her fault."

"Did I ever blame her?"

"You want me to publicly distance myself from her."

"You don't want to?"

He fell silent.

That silence spoke louder than any excuse.

I leaned back on the couch, staring at that face the camera always loved.

For the past three years, I'd handpicked his scripts, cut out the trashy endorsements, and slowly pulled him out of the star-driven series rut.

I'd seen him pull all-nighters memorizing lines, freeze in cold water for a single shot, and sit in the back of his car after a wrap, so lonely that he wouldn't say a word.

I used to admire how serious he was about his work, and believe he could keep his feelings in check.

But now, sitting right in front of me, his silence said it all. He wanted the resources, he wanted the marriage, and he still wanted to keep up appearances with Sophie.

I snatched the statement back. "Fine."

Alex's eyes flickered, thinking I'd finally caved.

I ripped the statement in half and tossed it into the trash. "Mia."

Mia came out from the study. She'd been waiting for my instructions.

I said, "Tell Olivia to send out an internal risk alert at 8 AM tomorrow. We're not using the company's PR resources for the media fallout caused by Alex's personal actions."

Mia nodded.

I continued, "Notify the business department. We're meeting with three brands at 10 AM tomorrow. Any deals that haven't been officially announced are now on hold for risk assessment."

Alex's face went completely pale. "Charlotte, are you really going to push it this far?"

I stood up, meeting his gaze. "You're the one who made our marriage a spectacle for the livestream."

He gripped his phone so hard that the veins on the back of his hand stood out. "I never meant to hurt you."

"Save that for the interviews."

He stared at me for a long time, like he was searching my face for any crack in my resolve.

I didn't give him an inch.

Finally, Alex grabbed his jacket, his voice icy and clipped. "I'm heading to the studio."

As he reached the door, I called out to him, "Alex."

He stopped, but didn't turn around.

I said, "I'm having your access revoked. Make sure your stuff is out by 10 AM tomorrow."

His back went stiff.

A few seconds later, he pulled the door open and walked out.

As the door closed, Mia lingered by the living room, quietly letting out a breath she'd been holding.

I unzipped the file bag on the table, took out my own documents, and tucked them back into the drawer.

I packed Alex's paperwork, along with the ring box he'd picked out, into a paper bag.

As I sealed the paper bag, my phone screen lit up.

Sophie had posted another tweet. [Regret may be late, but it always shows up.]

The top comment read: [Be brave. Go get him back.]

I stared at the words, and then pushed the paper bag to the corner of the desk.

Someone couldn't wait to turn up the drama. Let her put on her show. But I was not paying for her stage.