Chapter 3

3

The man didn't look happy, and was about to say something when Lily pulled Ethan to the side.

"Ethan, what are you doing? Mr. Shen is just trying to help Bianca..."

Before she could finish, Ethan said, "I'm just stating the facts. This is an audition, and there are reporters outside. These things shouldn't happen, or it could be bad for all of us."

Everyone looked around in silence. I turned to face Ethan. I didn't expect him to help me.

After what happened between us, we were basically strangers.

Ethan paused for a moment, and then pulled me to the side.

"Bianca, don't worry about trying to get a role yourself. We used to have a connection. Come back to me! I'll take care of you, but no one can find out. Lily is going to be my wife. Here's a room key to the hotel. I'll meet you there later."

I looked up at him, dumbfounded.

His face was still the same, but why had his values changed so much?

Last time, we were together from our first memories to our wedding.

He had the dream of becoming a star, and I wanted to be a screenwriter.

But to be with him through his Hollywood adventure, I abandoned my own dreams, trying to find ways to get him roles, and working jobs to pay for our expenses.

His auditions were unsuccessful, and he slowly started to give up. He would drink his problems away.

I knew that comforting him wouldn't work. I heard that a TV show was looking for the main character, and Ethan fit the requirements perfectly.

To get him the role, I went through all sorts of trouble. I put up with lewd comments, and went drinking with the director until I threw up blood. Finally, I got him the part.

We got married, and I thought everything would be okay, and our lives would get better.

But three years after we tied the knot, he started believing the rumors that said I was sleeping with people to get him the role.

When he found out I was pregnant, he took me to the hospital to abort it. He was angry.

"How could you do this, Bianca? My career is finally taking off! You're so shameless! I should have taken Lily's offer. She is rich! I could have spent so much less time trying to become successful. I'm ashamed of your affair."

"It's better that you don't have this child. No one will have any pride."

The abortion happened, and we began to fight.

I was bitter. Why did I work so hard? Why did I do so much for him? All I wanted was a stable marriage. And he couldn't even give me that!

I decided to ruin him. If I wasn't going to be happy, he wouldn't be either!

The rumors online kept getting worse, and he didn't come home anymore.

Over the Lunar New Year, I didn't go back to visit my family because of the rumors. But my mom called me.

She said, "Marriage isn't the only thing women should live for. A failed marriage should push you to become a better person. To have a better life. You shouldn't close yourself off to the world."

After thinking about it, I agreed with her.

On Valentine's Day, I asked Ethan to come back to me. I finally asked him the question that I had been holding onto for so long.

"Ethan, after everything, do you regret it?"

"Yes, I regret it. I regret meeting you, and I regret being with you."

His answer broke all my expectations.

When the psycho burned us alive, I wasn't scared. I was relieved.

Now, we've been reborn, and we've made our decisions. Why does he have to be so mean to me now?

I smirked. "Ethan, if Lily heard that you wanted to pay for a mistress, what would she do?"

"Don't worry, I don't mind."

Lily walked over to Ethan's side. She looked at the room key with anger, and said, "Bianca, I love Ethan. I can take anything. It's just a mistress. As long as you don't get any ideas, I'll be fine with you being with Ethan."

I looked at them both, with their shameless faces. I shook my head. "Sorry, I can provide for myself. I don't need anyone to support me. Especially scum. You're not worthy of me."

We were talking loudly enough that everyone around us could hear us.

They started yelling. "Bianca, don't be stupid. So many women would like to have Ethan as their man."

"Yeah, you get to sleep around and have a good life. Isn't that why you're here? So you can get some sponsors to sleep with? Stop pretending!"

"Maybe she's not getting paid enough."

Lily agreed. "Oh, right! It's my fault. Ethan, you should have reminded me."

She took out some money from her wallet and said, "Bianca, this is a Valentine's Day gift. I'll pay you the market rate if you're up to par. I won't cheat you out of money. You're working hard, right?"

I didn't understand what they were trying to do by embarrassing me. Weren't we here for an audition?

"You don't have to worry about me. I'm already married."

Ethan looked surprised, and then scoffed.

"Bianca, you don't have to lie to me. If you were married, why would you be here?

"And, you used to love me so much. You always said you would never marry anyone else.

"I'm giving you an offer. You'll be allowed to be by my side as long as you're obedient."

Everyone started whispering.