Chapter 3 .3

Rosalie

"Huh?"

I let out because that was the last thing I expected to hear him say.

"I said that I can help you."

I smiled bitterly.

"Help me with what?"

I asked him. Was he kidding me? Last I checked, the man was supposed to hate me, and now he was offering to help me.

The last thing I want right now is to be helped by a man.

A man just ruined my whole life even though what happened wasn't even my fault, and here comes one who acted as if he hated me before.

I would be a fool to accept any help from him.

"I can help you clear your name and give you back your career."

He offered.

"Are you mocking me?"

I questioned him.

"No, I am being serious. If you want, we can go back to my apartment, and we will discuss it."

I couldn't believe him. Go back with him. Of course, he lives at such a luxury apartment.

Of course, he would offer to help since he has a lot of money. I know damn well the help won't be free.

"I don't do sexual favors in exchange for help, so if you think this is your chance to get me to sleep with you in exchange for your help, then think again because it's not going to happen."

I let out, and without waiting for his response, I walked away.

I drove to my family's house.

My reputation may be gone, but at least I have so much saved.

My family manages my account, and with what I have saved, I can buy a house somewhere far from the city and start again.

I hated that my career was taken.

But I won't let them win. I won't let them ruin me completely.

I rose from nothing to the top, and I can do it again. I just need time away.

I just need to lay low for now.

I pulled into my family's house and wasn't surprised that reporters were already at the front.

I decided to face them head-on.

"It's Rosalie!"

I heard one person yell and waited for them to rush to me.

"Rosalie, are the rumors true?"

"Did you really bully your fellow actor?" "Is it true that you are jealous of Lillian?"

"Did you steal her spotlight?" "Did the fact that she won last night make you mad?"

The questions were asked at the same time.

"I didn't do what I am being accused of! The videos are twisted to fight a stupid narrative, and the last thing I would ever be is jealous of that talentless bitch!"

I yelled my answer out so that I would be heard over the noise and started walking away while they followed me, still asking questions that I didn't want to answer.

"Why do you think she is untalented?" "Aren't you a little too harsh towards her?"

"Do you know that you have been dropped from your upcoming movie?"

I stopped at the third question.

"Let them drop me; no one can do what I do for that movie. If they plan to replace me with that bitch, then they are going to watch the movie flop, and I would like to see it too because no one will be able to watch her bad acting. She can sleep her way into getting an award and all my projects, but she can't sleep her way into the heart of movie fans."

I wasn't apologetic. Lillian set out to ruin my life, so why should I care about what I say to her?

"Are you saying she slept her way to the top?"

I smirked and shrugged my shoulders. I didn't answer any other question and walked through the gate, which was closed as soon as I got in.

"Ramon, I need fifty million."

I told my brother when I walked into the house.

"Huh?"

I took my seat and took off my shoes.

"Where's mom and dad? Where's Rita?"

I asked for my family.

"What are you doing here?"

I blinked in confusion at Ramon's question.

"This is my house; what do you mean, what am I doing here?"

This house was the first thing I bought once I started making money from acting.

I bought it in my parents' name, but it's still my house.

"Didn't you get my text?"

In the sea of texts that I have gotten since the news broke out, I didn't see his.

"No, what does the text say?"

I asked him.

"You shouldn't be here."

I looked at my brother as if he had lost his mind.

"Are you crazy? This is my house!"

"No, it's not!"

Was he out of his mind?

"Ramon, I don't have time for your bullshit! Wire me fifty million."

I told him.

"There's no money!"

I sat up and glared at him.

"What do you mean there's no money? All the money I have made from acting and all my commercials are managed by you."

I let out, hoping he was only playing a silly game with me.

"There's no money, Rosalie! The account is empty, and this house has been sold."

I stood up.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I am not done! Mom, Dad, and Rita already moved, and I will be leaving once the new owner arrives."

Was I dreaming?

"What are you talking about? What happened to all my money? Why would you sell my house?"

I let out.

"I can't explain to you, so just check the text I sent to you! The new owner is here, so I will go now."

I walked with him out of the house while yelling at him to explain himself, but the bastard didn't respond.

When the gate opened and a woman walked into the compound, I didn't know whether to laugh or yell.

"You sold my house to Lillian?"

I couldn't believe it. I watched in shock as my brother gave the keys to Lillian and, without looking back, he walked out of the house, ignoring all my yelling for me to stop.

"You didn't even know that they put this house up for sale? When was the last time you came here?"

Lillian mocked me.

The last time I came here was over six months ago, but that doesn't mean they can sell my house.

"Why would you buy my house?"

I asked Lillian, who smirked.

"It was up for sale, and I had the money. You should leave. I am about to lock it up. I have an important meeting with Twins Studio."

I wasn't even surprised by what she said. Twins Studio owns the new movie I was cast for.

Of course, they picked her as my replacement.

"Good for you."

I was hurting inside. I felt confused by everything going on, but I refused to let her see me break down.

"The reporters told me what you said about me."

I didn't stop walking even with her words.

"You are only further proving the bullying allegations right! Get it, you are never making it back! Your career is gone, and Collins will never be yours."

I stopped walking and turned to her.

"You can keep Collins, and as for my career, enjoy being my replacement for as long as you can because I will be back and I will take back everything that rightfully belongs to me."

My voice sounded firm and confident. I liked how it didn't betray any of the conflict I felt inside.

The one that hurt the most was my family's betrayal.

I refuse to believe everything that Ramon told me.

I ignored Lillian's outburst and walked out of the house. I ignored the reporters and made it to my car.

I checked through hundreds of texts and finally found the one Ramon had sent.

"Bastard!"

I let out when I read the whole text.

The text made no sense. The follow-up text didn't make any sense either.

Why would they share my hard-earned money between themselves as compensation for me ruining the family's reputation?

"They are cutting ties with me?"

I refuse to believe it, so I called my mom, my dad, and my younger sister. None of them picked my calls.

I drove to Rita's apartment that I paid for and found out she moved out nearly a year ago, which is crazy because I still paid rent in full early this year.

I drove to my brother's house, which I also pay for. They both said they don't like living with my parents, so I rented expensive apartments for them and paid yearly.

He also moved out. I drove to both of their workplace and found out they quit.

My mom's shopping mall said she sold it to someone else two months ago.

I was about to drive to my dad's business place when I got a shocking text from my mom.

"Stop trying to reach us. We are leaving the country and never coming back."

That's the only thing the text said, and when I tried to call her again, the number was switched off.

I couldn't even cry.

I tried to start my car, but it refused to start. It took a few tries to realize there wasn't fuel.

I got out and tried to look for a taxi, only to remember I don't have any money on me, so I just gave up and started trekking with no direction in mind.

I had nowhere to go. I lost everything, and my family betrayed me.

"Rosalie?"

I stopped at the sound of my name and turned around wearily.

Alexander Russell again. He seemed to be the one constant since yesterday. He got out of his car and came to me.

"You again."

I whispered tiredly.

"Why are you trekking? Where is your car?"

I laughed sadly at his question.

"I drove around like crazy, and the fuel finished, so I left it somewhere."

I explained.

"Get in, I will take you home."

I laughed at his words.

"I don't have a home. Not anymore."

It felt surreal, but it was the truth. In less than twenty-four hours, I lost everything, including my family.

"Why won't you have a home?"

Alexander asked me.

"The house I live in belongs to the company, and I found out my family sold my home. So I am homeless, broke, and apparently a bully."

I laughed bitterly after I said the words.

"Come with me."

I wanted to say no and push his hand away, but I couldn't, so I just let him lead me to his car.

"Take us to the mansion."

He told his driver, who started the car, while I did my best not to cry.

"My offer is still open, and before you say it again, I don't want to sleep with you!"

He told me, but I refused to believe him.

"If not that, then what will be your gain for helping me?"

I asked him and could have sworn that he smiled.

"Your reputation might be in shambles right now, but you are a reputable actor, and I would like to invest in you. I know I will make a lot of money once we clear your name and put you back at the top like you are meant to be."

He sounded so sure that I couldn't help but believe him.

It's not like I had much of a choice. He was the only one willing to help me, and I would be a fool to say no to him.