"Just do as I say! I'm on my way now. We'll talk later!" Minnie urged, panic in her voice. Coco dropped everything and told her assistant to go home. Before leaving, she shut down her computer and locked the studio door. While heading to the main entrance of the building, she saw a group of people stopped by the guards. The people were either holding cameras or microphones. In the crowd noise, she heard someone talking about Studio Alice and her name. Were these people after her? Coco thought, momentarily dumbfounded.Coco quickly turned away and got to the side entrance. Not long after she exited the building, she heard the people shouting her name from behind. The people followed her and surrounded her."You must be Alice Souza. Is that your pen name? Is your real name Coco Souza? The author of 'I See You'? I heard you were a bully victim in school. Is that true?" Coco came face-to-face with a crowd of reporters and stiffened at the series of questions."I heard you were bulli
Loke had seen the news too, and a frown twisted his face. The bullying incident in university was brought up by the news again, his name blatantly omitted, and all the focus was turned to Coco's name.Why had this story come out? Who had brought up the news again?!Although the incident had happened in the university, only a small group of students were involved in the actual bullying. Most of the students were only watching, not knowing the cause of the incident. Someone had exposed the story without missing any details. Only a few knew the matter well. Were the abusers the ones who had shared the story? Were they jealous of Coco's latest success and planning to ruin everything?Who could it be? Who was behind this?Loke's mind was still on the names of those involved in this matter when his phone rang. "Hello?""Loke!" His best friend Mason's voice came over the phone. "Have you seen the latest video about Coco? It's all over the internet!""No, not yet. What happened?" Uneas
Coco's boyfriend looked like a typical rich kid who came from money. Could it be him?Loke wondered if Coco's boyfriend was helping Coco with money. Was he just playing around with Coco? Or was it something more?Suddenly, Loke panicked. Was Coco's boyfriend serious about her? If he was, could Loke still start over with Coco? Or maybe he would never get the chance again.Coco did not end up staying in Minnie's place. Instead, Minnie found a service apartment on the internet and rented it for her.The serviced apartment was further away from the city but with strong security. All visitors and tenants required an access card to enter or exit the building. "You should stay here for the next few days. I'll bring you food every day," Minnie said, but Coco suddenly let out a laugh."How could you laugh in a time like this?" Minnie said. "I suddenly feel like a fugitive on the run from the public. Are you going to sneak around? Secretly bring me food every day? Maybe someone might be
"It's alright," Coco refused. "The news has been taken down, anyway. Besides, I'm not a celebrity. It's not like everyone knows my face. I'll get dinner for myself or order takeaway. You don't have to travel so far to send me food."It was an hour and a half drive from here to Minnie's place."Okay, then. Take care of yourself," Minnie sighed. "Call me if you need anything. I'll talk to the director. Perhaps you can go back to the set in a few days." "Alright," Coco responded.After her best friend left, Coco was left alone in the 40-square-foot apartment. A sense of loneliness surrounded her.Coco grabbed her phone and searched for Lucas' name in her contacts. After hesitating shortly, she made the call.The call connected, and there was a low voice on the other end of the phone. "Hey." Feeling nervous, Coco involuntarily tightened her grip on the phone. "Hey… I don't know if you know, but the story about my past was on the news.""Yeah, I know," Lucas replied, his voice pra
After the call was ended, Coco put on her mask and cap and headed to the grocery store with only her phone and purse. Minnie and Coco had talked about this before. Although she did make the news occasionally, she was not a celebrity. No one would recognize her in a small town like this.Even so, Coco could not help but worry about privacy, especially when Lucas suggested having a meal together. What if the public recognized them? She could not imagine the trouble they would be in for causing a commotion.Coco grabbed some groceries in the supermarket. Knowing she had to spend a few more days in the apartment, she bought more for the rest of her stay. After that, Coco returned to the apartment and began the preparations. She washed the rice and rinsed the vegetables and meat, ready to cook.By the time Lucas arrived, Coco was still cooking. "Wait a minute. There's one more dish to go. Food will be ready soon," Coco greeted Lucas and told him to have a seat first.Lucas sat in the
"Well… I didn't mean it that way…" Coco began to stammer. "Umm, no, that's not what I meant. I mean…""Even if anything had happened, you seem to be one on the losing end, and…""Besides, you certainly wouldn't hurt me, I think…" Coco mumbled, her face turning even redder as she tried to explain herself.'Pfft!' Lucas could not resist, and a laugh escaped him. Coco was so cute and funny, especially with her reddened cheeks and hand movements, which reminded him of a squirrel.Coco froze when she saw the clear amusement reflected on his face. Lucas would usually wear a polite, small smile, but this time, his smile was genuine."What?" Lucas asked, looking at the way she was staring at him blankly."You have a beautiful smile," she complimented, her hand instinctively reaching out for his cheek. Coco had an urge to draw his smile at this moment. She wanted to use her eyes to record his genuine smile; he could melt glaciers with that smile.Lucas stared at Coco, wondering if he s
"You won't hurt me," Coco said, trust evident in her eyes.Lucas narrowed his eyes dangerously. "What makes you think I won't? I'm a man, you know.""Because you promised, so you won't hurt me. I trust you," Coco said. She knew Lucas had another woman in his heart, and everything he did with Coco was for the one he loved.Something flashed in his eyes. A short silence later, his lips parted to speak. "Don't trust me too much. I'm not like what you think.""Oh," Coco responded, her eyes bright and confident.Lucas could see the unquestionable trust in her eyes. Her faith was a weight pressing down on his body, threatening to crush him.-Loke came to Minnie and demanded immediately, "Where's Coco?""Why should I tell you, huh?" Minnie scowled at Loke. "Haven't you caused enough trouble for her? It's all your fault! She can't even go home now! Now, the reporters are coming for her because of what you did!" "So, she hasn't been home for the last two days, right?" Loke asked shar
Over the next few days, Coco did not see much news about her online. Her alias was mentioned during the promotion of the TV series, but it did not garner much negative attention. Realizing that the storm was over, she let out a sigh of relief.Coco knew this was all because of Lucas' help. Without him, the storm would have grown and lasted longer. Fortunately, the worst had passed quickly.On the days they agreed to date, Lucas came over and spent time with Coco in the serviced apartment. He would sit on the sofa, either reading books or watching TV shows while she drew him in her sketchbook.If Coco was fast, she could finish a sketch of him within fifteen minutes. If she took her time, she would take half an hour to finish.Coco loved to draw close-ups of his face, focusing on his chiseled features. Lucas was so mysterious, yet so strangely attractive. The more she tried to understand him, the less she could read him. Although he seemed cold, his eyes were full of stories, all ki