Chapter 2

2 Landon's brow furrowed slightly.

After a moment of silence, he pulled a velvet box from his pocket.

"Your birthday is coming up. I picked this out for you―it is a one-of-a-kind piece."

When the box opened, it revealed a dull necklace.

I recognized it instantly as the exact piece Renee wore to a red-carpet gala last month.

Besides...

"My birthday was last month," I said calmly.

Landon froze.

He seemed to remember that on my actual birthday, his "bro" had shoved my face straight into the birthday cake.

After a tense beat, he cleared his throat and pulled a script from his bag.

"You know how busy my schedule gets."

"Look, I handpicked this new script specifically for you."

One glance at the cover told me everything.

It was the exact script Renee had tossed into the trash after rejecting it.

She had pointed at it back then and laughed: "This script is pure trash. Only desperate, washed-up women would take a role like this!"

Landon had nodded in agreement back then.

And now, he turned around and handed it to me like a grand prize.

Landon cleared his throat, tapping the folder.

"I know you were upset about Renee getting the lead role. Consider this my way of making it up to you, so do not overthink it."

"Also, someone leaked the footage of you falling on set, and now the internet is attacking Renee. You know injuries happen during stunts."

"You caused her a lot of trouble. You should post a public apology, don't you think?"

I almost let out a bitter laugh.

I should apologize?

In all my years of acting, I had never seen someone deliberately try to push an actress down the stairs to harm her.

I did not want to waste my breath, so I just nodded.

Seeing that he got what he wanted, Landon relaxed and leaned in close, pretending to be affectionate.

"By the way, Celine, is your injury bad?"

"Didn't you see it yourself?" I replied flatly.

He had seen the blood pooling beneath me.

He had heard my desperate cries for help.

Yet he still walked away with Renee just because she claimed she was terrified of blood.

And even now, he failed to see how pale my face was or the bandages wrapped around my wrists.

If he cared even a fraction of a percent, he would know I was recovering from losing our baby.

Landon blinked, taken aback.

Before he could speak, a distinct ringtone went off.

It was Renee's exclusive ringtone.

He walked toward the balcony immediately, pausing only to instruct me: "Celine, don't forget to post that apology to Renee online. I need to take this work call."

The moment he stepped outside, I dialed my manager without hesitation.

"Liz, I want to take that international audition. Please set it up."