Chapter 2

2

But then, everything fell apart. All the fights, and his cheating. It stung.

My heart sank, and I went straight to the front. Lily noticed me first.

"Bianca! What are you doing here? Did you hear Ethan was going to be here and follow him?"

Everyone turned to face me.

"Bianca? Isn't that the woman who left Ethan when he was down on his luck?"

"I heard that she ran off with some bald billionaire. What is she even doing here?"

"Ethan is a famous actor now, and she's trying to weasel her way back in."

"Yeah, well, she's not very good at it! Look at her! At least her figure is good. I wouldn't mind taking her home for the night. If she's sleeping around, might as well be me!"

I didn't know that people had been talking about Ethan and me so much.

But, I was already a target online before. Hearing people talk about me didn't affect me at all.

I turned to leave when Ethan blocked my path.

We looked at one another, and I said, "Long time no see."

Ethan stopped and smirked. He didn't think I'd be so calm.

"Bianca, it's been a long time since we broke up. I didn't think you would show up here, to see me. It's really not your thing."

Lily turned to me with a dark look in her eyes. The next moment, she smiled, hooked her arm in Ethan's, and said, "Ethan is an amazing guy. All women want him. Bianca is just being brave. At least she's trying to get you to feel sorry for her by looking poor."

She looked me up and down, and smirked.

"Bianca, you shouldn't be doing this. Just look at what you're wearing! I don't think anyone would want to be with you."

"You want me to lend you some clothes and makeup? Maybe one of the sponsors here would like to pay you for your time, and you could make a lot of money."

She stopped talking, and everyone looked at me with judging eyes.

Lily was dressed head to toe in designer clothes, and her makeup was impeccable. She was the definition of class.

But I looked like I hadn't slept in three days. The dark circles under my eyes were showing. I had to make it here right after finishing some writing projects. My skin was worn and tired. I was just another workhorse trying to make a living.

I was dressed in an old pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a ponytail. There was no comparison between us.

"It's okay, I'm not here for Ethan. I'm here to see the director."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here, Bianca? Haven't you learned anything?"

I knew he was talking about what happened last time. I scoffed. "What I'm doing is not your business. The past isn't something I think of as a teaching experience. You can keep your kindness to yourselves. I don't need it."

Ethan was shocked. He was trying to hold back his anger.

Lily's eyes lit up, and she said, "If you want an audition, you should forget about the director. You're no one. Even the director isn't able to make changes. This TV show is being produced by Phoenix Studios. The only one with power is Mr. Phoenix. You'd better be ready to talk to him, otherwise, you're no one."

I thought about the man I was engaged to. I was starting to smile.

"I can try to introduce you to some of the sponsors here."

Lily finished talking, and some men with large bellies went over to her, smiling and acting friendly.

"Ms. Bianca, it's Valentine's Day. Let's have dinner together, and get to know each other. If I like you, you'll be in my next TV show."

"There's no way that Ms. Bianca can play anything but the main character. How about I let you be in a short TV series? You can play the main character."

"Hey, stop fighting! Can't she be with all of us?"

The men started saying crude things, looking at me with lust. No one was helping me. They all wanted to see how things played out.

I was annoyed, and the audition atmosphere was terrible. If I didn't have important things here, I would have left already.

When I didn't say anything, one of the sponsors got the wrong idea and reached out to touch me. I frowned and was about to fight back when Ethan came in front of me.

"Mr. Shen, this is a public place, and it's an audition. This isn't right."

His tone was cold, as if he were trying to hold back his rage.