Chapter 2

2.

In the penthouse office of Vanguard Media, the CEO, Leona Quinn―who also happens to be my older sister―frowned at her phone.

"What's going on? Are those people bullying you again? Who is it? Lucia or that manager Tina? Tell me, and I'll ruin them."

I usually wasn't this sensitive, but hearing my sister's voice made my throat tighten.

"All of them," I said. "They're all in on it."

Leona started lecturing me immediately.

"I told you to work for the family company years ago. You could have any role you wanted. But no, you had to go off and build something from scratch with those nobodies. Regretting it now? Come back and help me run this empire."

I pushed back the vulnerability and hardened my gaze.

"I regret trusting them, but I'm not coming back yet. I'm going to settle this debt myself."

Our mother, Penelope Quinn, was a legendary three-time Oscar winner back in the day. She retired to start her own investment firm after having us.

I've loved acting since I was a kid, but I didn't want to be known as a nepo baby. Living in my mother's shadow seemed boring.

So, I didn't join the family business. I chose a promising startup and started from the bottom, doing bit parts until I became an A-list star through my own sweat.

Earlier this year, I got seriously ill while filming in the mountains and lost fifteen pounds. Leona was so worried she started pouring money into my company's projects, despite my protests.

We have different last names―I took my dad's and she took my mom's. No one ever connected us.

I'm low-profile. I only show up at the office for script readings or major deals. Lucia always handled the direct talks with Vanguard.

Consequently, everyone thought Vanguard was investing because of Lucia's charms.

If they hadn't pulled this stunt, I might have never revealed who I really was.

They think they have the contract signed and the money secured, so they're ready to slaughter the workhorse now that the cart is moving.

Too bad for them. They don't realize the person they're trying to discard is their only real connection to the money.