13
Across society, news exploded that Seraphina was shamelessly pursuing an affair, eager to be a mistress. Only then did everyone realize the true third party was
someone else.
Did it feel satisfying? I didn’t know. All I knew was that if someone powerful wished it public opinion, truth or falsehood, could be twisted to their will.
One day, I received a letter.
[I’m so sorry, truly. I know I was wrong. I did know Julian was married. I just thought your relationship was bad! I regret it, I truly repent. I know I was wrong. Please, can you let me go? Can you make Julian let me go? I’m innocent!]
I looked at the letter in my hand. I could almost picture Seraphina’s delicate, now ghastly pale face. I simply tore it to shreds.
The bullet comments, absent for some time, reappeared. Compared to the previous frenetic pace, this time it was noticeably slower. I could even sense the commen-
ters‘ hesitation:
[…This plotline, it’s not right, is it?]
[What’s not right?! There were too many people defending Julian before, I didn’t dare speak up. I swear! Julian doesn’t deserve Ellie at all!]
[Yes. Even though Julian didn’t sleep with Seraphina and didn’t even like her–he just approached her to make Ellie jealous… he still spent a lot of money on Seraphi-
- na. That still bothers me.]
[But on the other hand, Julian only spent the money to make Ellie jealous, so rounding up, wasn’t it basically spent on Ellie?]
[Are you okay, upstairs? Is your brain still working?]
[Stop fighting, stop fighting. Isn’t this ending pretty good?]
[Sigh, honestly, I truly wish all male and female leads could end up happily together. But in this situation, Ellie shining on her own is pretty good too.)
Yes. Why did I have to be tied to Julian? Could I not live without him?
Just then, the bullet comments in front of me gradually turned transparent and faded away. I widened my eyes. I saw the very last comment before they vanished completely:
Everyone’s perspectives are different, you can’t force it. But I always hope every female lead can find her true self, rather than becoming an appendage. Perhaps
that’s the meaning of these comments being visible?]
My gaze lingered on that last comment for a long time. Finally, I lowered my head and curved my lips into a soft smile.
My dream was to open a design studio, giving more women the chance to build their own careers. But my father would only scoff, “Putting yourself out there, how undignified!” Later, I had a huge fight with him. He pointed at the door, furious. “If you dare open any studio, I’ll disown you!” I immediately ran and held a kitchen knife to my throat. “Fine,” I’d say, “then you can just mourn your daughter!” We stared each other down for a long time. He finally gave in, his face livid. “I’m not stop- ping you! But you must secure Julian’s loyalty!”
So now- Julian had targeted the Hayes family a few days ago, all to make me yield and beg. Now he cautiously asks me, “Do you need me to…”
I cut him off directly. “No.”
I wanted a different life than before. Anyone who hinders my progress had best stay out of it.
