Chapter 104

Winnie murmured softly, "My knees hurt a little..." Van chuckled lightly, releasing her and adjusting the collar of her shirt. "Go to sleep." The air mattress made faint sounds with her movements, and the night's chill gradually crept in, starkly contrasting the warmth inside the tent. Winnie wrapped herself in the down blanket, her flushed cheeks betraying her nervousness. In a low voice, she asked, "Can I borrow your phone? I'd like to call my mom." Van didn't object and casually handed her his phone. As she took the phone, a tinge of hesitation crossed her mind. It was her birthday, yet she hadn't been able to return home due to various matters. At the very least, she felt she should let her mom know she was safe. She dialed Ruby's number. When Ruby saw a call from Las Vegas, she assumed it was a scam and answered with a wary tone. But upon hearing Winnie's voice, her concern was evident. "Why is your phone off? Are you traveling abroad?" Winnie responded honestly, "I lost my phone. This is a friend's." Ruby sighed, "It's your big day, and after getting scolded like that, I couldn't even reach you. Forget about me—Yulia's been worried sick." Winnie frowned slightly and asked, "Who's been scolding me? I had no idea." Ruby sighed again, "Have you been online? It's blown up—so many people are criticizing you." Trying to make sense of it all, Winnie navigated through Van's phone and opened a few posts. She was met with an avalanche of gossip articles accusing Mia of snatching a role from her. Yet, oddly, no one was blaming Mia. Her expression grew somber as she began piecing it together. The articles all targeted her, but the source of the storm didn't seem simple. The comments were harsh, accusing her of colluding with David and employing underhanded tactics. Some even claimed her methods were so disgraceful they were beyond redemption. Winnie's face froze momentarily. Van noticed and frowned slightly, his voice deep with concern. "What happened?" "I..." Winnie frowned deeply, her tone laced with a hint of helplessness. "It's a long story, Mr. Marlowe. Let me make this call first." David had just had a heated argument with Mia and was furiously ranting to Wyatt when the call came through. Without hesitation, he declined it. After the third attempt, he finally picked up in frustration. "What do you want?" "It's me." Winnie's voice was calm but carried an unyielding firmness. David froze for a moment, his tone softening immediately. "Winnie?" "Explain," her voice was steady, almost devoid of emotion. "You saw it?" David asked anxiously. "I lost my phone and just got a chance to check. Now I know," Winnie replied, her words tinged with a hint of sarcasm. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?" "It wasn't me. Do you believe that?" David took a deep breath, speaking hurriedly. "It was Wyatt. I just tore into Mia for this. She has some ties to Wyatt, and I never expected him to use her name to pull this stunt." Winnie was silent for a long time. "Listen to me," David continued, "I've already paid to have it taken down. Don't worry about it. Enjoy your birthday." "You remembered my birthday?" Winnie chuckled softly, her tone light but carrying a trace of bitterness. "Happy birthday, Winnie. No matter what, I'd never do this to you." "Wouldn't you?" Her voice remained calm, but every word was as sharp as a blade. "Wasn't this orchestrated long ago? Dropping this on my birthday—it's effective, isn't it? Mia's fans must be overjoyed." "Winnie, there's no point in saying this. The company has its strategy. And our relationship..." Winnie let out a soft laugh, cutting him off. "The relationship you're talking about—twelve years' worth—is that enough to buy you a few luxury cars?" "Don't forget," David said after a pause, his tone deep and heavy, "when your bipolar disorder was at its worst, who stayed by your side? Who kept fighting for you, mending your ties with brands? For two years, I was there, even when you tried to end your life—I didn't give up on you." "David, you're being too loud," Winnie blinked slowly, her lips curling into a faint, cold smile. "If I didn't remember all that, do you think I would've taken on those terrible movies again and again? Or helped you sign new actors and appear on those mindless variety shows you set up?" David seemed to catch the quiver in her tone, though her voice remained steady and calm, like still water. He finally sighed, "Let's not bring all that up, okay? I'm not going to harm you. Do whatever you want to do—pursue art while you're young. Don't let your fans forget you." Winnie lowered her head, a tear slipping down her cheek. But she kept smiling, holding her emotions in check. "I'm fine, just like always." Her voice was composed and precise, yet carried an undertone of unspeakable pain. David didn't say anything more, but as Winnie spoke, he couldn't shake a vague sense of unease. He felt like he had missed something—missed a crucial turning point in her life, though he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. The 130-million penalty for breaking her contract loomed in Winnie's mind. She said she was fine, and David believed her. After hanging up, tears silently fell from her eyes. She took a deep breath, then handed the phone back to Van. "Sorry you had to witness that." "So you can get angry too," Van said, sitting by the window. He reached out to gently wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes. "But crying while you're angry? You're only hurting yourself in the end." Winnie couldn't help but laugh. "My agent... that man." She let out a sigh, her eyes tinged with a faint sadness. "He loves money even more than I do. We've known each other for so long—he was just a small assistant, and I was a rookie actress. Back then, we counted press release fees in his tiny rental apartment, thinking the future was full of hope." She choked back a soft sob and continued, "Mr. Marlowe, people always change, don't they?" Van didn't answer immediately. He understood that Winnie wasn't looking for a response right now. After she dried her tears, he asked gently, "I heard Wyatt's name earlier. Is he still giving you trouble?" "He... has taken a liking to a girl you danced with once. I'm not sure if it's him causing the trouble or if it's just that girl and I don't get along." "I see," Van responded nonchalantly. "He's sent a few business proposals my way, hoping to collaborate. I'll think about it." "You are so petty," Winnie said with a laugh, wiping the last of her tears. Van smiled faintly and tapped her forehead lightly with his fingertip. "Have you heard of the Maasai people? Their rite of passage into adulthood involves hunting a lion alone, decisively ending the animal's life. If a pride of lions hunts its prey in the same way, they too earn respect. It's called—an honorable kill." "An honorable kill," Winnie repeated, a small smile forming on her lips. "Tonight, I'm your student." --- It was 3 a.m. back home. A well-known journalist received a call from Las Vegas. "Wyatt's house is on Ninth Avenue in the Aurora Gardens complex, second building. Mia has likely been staying there recently." "Who is this?" The journalist couldn't identify the voice.