After following Genevieve's directions for a while, Rhode stopped in front of a massive building with big glass windows when he heard her say, “This is the area.”Once the car got parked, Genevieve looked at Noah and Leo sitting quietly by her, looking as though they could do no wrong, and felt a bit relaxed, saying, “Okay, guys. I am going to go in, and you three can wait out here.” “Bye, mommy!” Leo cheered, waving at her. “Love you!”“I love you too, Bambino.” Genevieve smiled, leaning down to give Leo one last quick kiss, causing him to squeal, before stepping out of the car.As soon as Genevieve closed the door, Noah and Leo locked eyes, and both grinned before Noah said, “We should get breakfast.”“Can we get some for mommy?” Leo asked, tilting his head slightly.“Yeah, let's do that, Buddy.” “Yay!” When Genevieve walked into the building, she saw that the place was crowded and noisy. People were bustling everywhere, yelling orders, moving cameras, lighting, and background pr
“3, 2, 1... Action.” Director Henson stated, looking through the camera as Genevieve approached the bar counter, pretending to clean it and not paying attention to the customers coming in.Then the male lead, Alex, walked over to the table, and Genevieve raised her gaze, giving a faint smile, and said, “Sorry, I will be done soon with cleaning this. But you can take another table if you want.”“No. I prefer this one since I know that it’s clean enough.” Alex replied calmly.Hearing that, the corners of Genevieve's mouth twitched a little, and she pretended to focus on wiping the chair for a little while before pulling back and saying, “Well, then it’s all. ““Mommy,” Genevieve heard Leo's voice, causing her to freeze mid-sentence and start looking around.“Cut!!” Director Henson suddenly yelled, making Genevieve jump slightly as he took his hands off the camera. Then he looked at her unimpressed, “What the hell is wrong with you?! You were supposed to act normally, and you were suppo
When Manager Josh tried to yank his hand out of Noah's grip, and it wouldn't budge, he attempted to throw his fist at Noah’s face, but Noah was quicker than him and dodged it easily.Then Noah twisted his wrist, making Manager Josh yell out in pain, pushing his head downward, and said coldly, “Apologize now,” Struggling to break free, Manager Josh gritted out, “Get your hands off of me.”Instead of letting go, Noah tightened his grip and yanked his arm upward, causing a grunt to erupt from his lips. “Apologize to him.” Noah threatened again, twisting his wrist harder until Manager Josh screamed in pain, “Alright, alright!! Stop hurting me already!”Looking up at Noah with pouted lips and watery eyes, Leo sniffed, and Manager Josh frowned at the sight of the kid, but his arm felt like it was about to get ripped from its joint, and the force had become enough to cause tears to well up in his eyes. “I am sorry! I apologize, kid!” Manager Josh yelled, his chest rising and falling rapid
Confused and already annoyed, Genevieve rolled her eyes and said, “I just came to get my things and leave! Whatever this is, I want nothing to do with it.”“Your presence is making our family a joke! You are a curse! It's such bad luck to be related to someone such as you! You have ruined the entire family! Why didn't you kill yourself, huh?! You should've been killed by that car! It would have been better for everyone!” Glenn screamed.Walking between Genevieve and her, knowing that Glenn was about to become aggressive, Noah calmly said, “That's enough.”Immediately, Glenn shoved him in the chest, causing him to slightly lose his balance, but he stood his ground as she screamed, “You two losers are such trash! Trash who should never be in the family! You’re ruining the whole family's reputation! The only thing you're good for is being worthless scumbags!”As his jaws clenched in fury and his body tensed, Noah could feel his grip on his own anger tighten and grow stronger. But he remai
Drawing the phone away from her ear, Genevieve didn't need to stare at Noah to know he wasn't happy about that call.Looking up towards him again, she could barely find anything in his face. It seemed like he was trying to hide his feelings, but she could feel the tension between them.“Get dressed. I will drop you.” Noah said.“You don't have to. I can just get an Uber.”“Don’t worry, it's my pleasure to drop you.”Even though he was saying it calmly, Genevieve could hear the slight hint of irritation and disappointment in his voice.“I said there's no need.” Genevieve insisted, looking at him.“Yes, yes, there is,” Noah sighed deeply, running his hand down his face, “You don't know how many pigs there are in the industry, and it's almost ten. You are a skinny woman, meeting up with some potbelly guy at a restaurant in a hotel alone. Do the math, Genevieve.”“It’s not what you think it is.”“And what do you think I think this is?”Biting on her lower lip as he stared at her with tho
The tightness from the guards’ grips around her wrists hurt, but Genevieve ignored the feeling and kept screaming, “Let me go, please let go.”The hallway that they dragged her down was long and deserted, with only her screams echoing and the sound of their footsteps chiming in the otherwise silent space. In that instant, there was only one person on her mind, and that was Noah. She grew desperate to see him, and he became her source of hope because he promised not to let her down. Every life choice she had made today up to this very moment became her most profound regret, and she knew that every step she took led her to the edge of ruin.As they arrived at the elevator and stopped, the sound of fast, quick footsteps echoed in their direction, making her hold her breath as she looked back.Within a flash, Noah appeared, sweating and looking like he was about to murder someone.“Genevieve! Are you alright?!” Noah exclaimed as his heart almost exploded out of his body, glaring at the
Silently, Genevieve looked up at Noah, who was so close to her she could feel his warm breath on her skin and the sound of his heart beating wildly in his chest, but she could also sense the fear in his eyes.There was something about the sincerity in his tone that had her heart racing as well, and as a momentary distraction, she pressed her finger underneath his lip where the cut was and tiptoed to plant a kiss there.Her soft lips touched the corner of his mouth, lingering a little longer before pulling back, and she said softly, “We don't mean nothing to me anymore, Jack. I'm tired of running away from things, and the most important thing right now is to take care of myself and keep Leo safe. But if you are going to hurt me... us, tell me now so I can run far away from here as fast as possible.”Those words knocked Noah back to his senses, knowing that he had put himself in a spot where the truth had to be delayed not to hurt her or Leo, and Noah sighed, pulling back, taking a step
Slowly raising her lashes, Genevieve's vision was blurred, but she could see a dull image of Noah staring at her with his cheek resting on his fist, and she shut her eyes again, feeling exhausted and sore from all that excitement and sex.“We should get going. Leo needs to go to school, and it is six already.” Noah said, making Genevieve snap her eyes open and glance at him. Groaning, she sat up, and when the blanket fell off her body, she realized that she was naked, and her cheeks flushed brightly.“Good morning,” Noah whispered, smirking at her as he lowered her gaze and wiggled his brows.“Shut up,” Genevieve chuckled, glaring at him.When he went silent, staring at her, she raised her gaze and mumbled, “What?”His hand slipped under her chin and tilted her face up towards his as his lips hovered inches above hers, and she stared back at him, her breath stuck in her throat, her pulse racing in nervousness.“Shut me up,” Noah murmured huskily and slowly leaned closer to her mouth,
Max's eyes widened at Noah's command, but he nodded without hesitation. “Understood, sir,” he replied, already mentally preparing the necessary security measures. Noah's expression softened briefly. “Thanks, Max. Your discretion is appreciated as always.”Max offered a small, respectful nod before hurrying off to carry out his orders. Noah watched him go, a wave of hesitation washing over him.With one last glance towards the guest suite, Noah headed out of the mansion. He climbed into his car and drove towards the airport. As he navigated through the city streets, his mind raced with thoughts of the confrontation ahead.The airport was bustling with the usual activity when Noah arrived. He parked his car in a strategic location, ensuring he had a clear view of the terminal entrance. He checked his watch, noting that Hunter’s flight was due to land any minute.Noah’s phone buzzed with an incoming message. It was from one of his men, confirming that Hunter had landed and was making hi
Noah’s heart hammered in his chest as he turned back to Genevieve, her words echoing in his mind. "Hunter... why do I feel like I’ve heard that name before?" “What do you mean, Genevieve?” Noah asked, his voice low but urgent. He took a step closer, his eyes searching hers for any hint of recognition. “Have you heard about Hunter before? Do you know something?”Genevieve’s gaze flickered away, a shadow of something unreadable passing over her face. She shook her head slightly, biting her lower lip. “It’s nothing, Noah. Just... a feeling. I can’t explain it.”Noah wanted to press her, to demand answers, but he saw the resolute set of her jaw and knew she wouldn’t budge. He let out a frustrated sigh but didn’t push further. “Alright,” he said softly, his tone gentler now. “But if you remember anything, anything at all, promise me you’ll tell me. This guy has been tailing you from since I can remember, and his coming here can not be a coincident.”She nodded, her eyes meeting his with a
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the city, Noah made his way through the bustling streets toward Genevieve's hotel. He had donned a simple disguise—a pair of dark glasses, a baseball cap pulled low over his forehead, and a scarf wrapped around the lower half of his face—enough to conceal his identity from casual observers.Arriving at the hotel, Noah hesitated for a moment before steeling himself and striding purposefully toward the entrance. The lobby was dimly lit, the soft murmur of conversation blending with the gentle hum of the air conditioning. Noah kept his head down, avoiding eye contact as he made his way to the elevator.Pressing the button for Genevieve's floor, Noah felt a surge of nervous energy coursing through him. When he reached her floor, Noah stepped out into the hallway and made his way to her door. He hesitated for a moment, his hand hovering over the handle before finally summoning the courage to knock.The sound echoed through t
Hunter’s heart pounded in his chest as he dashed out of the office, the echo of his boss's enraged voice still ringing in his ears. He fumbled with his phone, nearly dropping it as he opened the travel app to book a flight. His fingers moved frantically across the screen, selecting the earliest available departure."Please, please, please..." he muttered under his breath, watching the spinning wheel of the app processing his request. Finally, the confirmation screen appeared. "Yes!" he whispered, relief flooding through him as he saw the details: a flight to the city where Genevieve's production was taking place, leaving in two hours.Hunter grabbed his coat and briefcase, racing down the hall toward the exit. He pushed through the revolving doors and into the bustling street, hailing a cab with a frantic wave. A yellow taxi screeched to a halt beside him, and he jumped in."To the airport, please! As fast as you can!" he instructed the driver, his voice breathless.The driver nodded
Glenn reluctantly reached for her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she dialed Mrs. Stark's number. Each ring felt like an eternity, the weight of her mother's expectations bearing down on her with every passing second."Hello, Glenn. What can I do for you?" Mrs. Stark's voice was calm and professional, but there was an underlying tension that Glenn couldn't ignore."Mrs. Stark, it's me, Glenn. I... I wanted to talk to you about the situation with FoxZ and... and the role," Glenn stammered, her words faltering as she struggled to find the right way to phrase her request.There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Mrs. Stark responded, her tone cautious. "I understand, Glenn. Believe me, I wish there was more I could do to help. But given the circumstances..."Glenn's heart sank at Mrs. Stark's words, the reality of her situation crashing down on her with brutal force. "So, there's no chance of me getting back on the cast? Not even in a different production or wi
The plane ride back home felt like an eternity for Glenn. She sat in her seat, staring out the window, lost in thought. She couldn't shake off the events of the past few days—the confrontation with Noah, and the humiliation at the resort.As the plane landed and the passengers began to disembark, Glenn gathered her belongings and made her way through the airport. She hailed a cab and settled in for the ride home. The familiar sights of her town passing by felt both comforting and suffocating. She couldn't wait to be back in her own space, away from prying eyes and judgmental whispers.When she arrived home, she was relieved to find the house empty except for the maid."Young Miss, you are here?" the maid asked, her voice filled with surprise and concern.Glenn's mood, already sour from her encounter with her mother, turned even darker. She snapped at the maid, her words sharp and biting. "Of course, I'm here. Where else would I be?"The maid flinched at Glenn's tone, taken aback by her
As Noah and Rhodes sauntered away from the pool area, the tension hung thick around them, akin to the lingering resonance of an unresolved chord in a somber melody. Each step seemed weighed down by the weight of the confrontation they had just left behind.Rhodes's phone vibrated in his pocket, disrupting the heavy silence. Hastily retrieving it, he checked the caller ID before answering, his voice pitched low, betraying the gravity of the situation."Hello?" Rhodes's response was clipped, betraying a sense of urgency."Rhodes, it's Smith. We've got the footage," came the voice on the other end, crisp and professional.Rhodes's brows shot up in surprise. "Everything?""Yeah, our guy was in the right place at the right time. We've got everything, clear as day," Smith replied confidently.Rhodes nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. "Alright, send it over."Ending the call, Rhodes turned towards Noah, a mix of curiosity and caution etched across his features. "Boss, what's the pla
For the longest, Rhodes stood outside Noah's hotel room, his knuckles hovering over the door, hesitating for a moment before he finally knocked. The door opened, revealing Noah, who was dressed in a simple white wrinkled t-shirt and faded jeans, a stark contrast to his usual sharp suits. With a faint smile, Rhodes raised an eyebrow, surprised by Noah's attire. "Boss, you're looking... casual," he remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice. Noah chuckled, stepping aside to let Rhodes in. "I figured we're going incognito today. Can't have anyone recognizing us," he said, closing the door behind Rhodes. "Is everything ready?" Noah asked, getting straight to the point. Locking eyes with his sudden dark ones, Rhodes nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, boss. The arrangements have been made. We're all set." Noah leaned back, a thoughtful look on his face. "Good. I want everything to go smoothly today." Rhodes nodded again, understanding the importance of the task at hand. "Don't wo
The morning sun filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Glenn's room. She wakes up to the insistent ringing of her phone.Groaning, she reaches over and sees her mother's name flashing on the screen. She debates letting it go to voicemail but knows her mother won't give up easily.Reluctantly, Glenn answers. "Hello?""Glenn, finally!" Mrs. Carrell's voice is sharp, cutting through the early morning calm. "I've been calling and calling. Why haven't you been answering?"Glenn rubs her eyes, trying to wake up fully. "Sorry, Mom. I was sleeping. What's up?""What's up? What's up is that I just saw the news. Genevieve is still leading the production, and you're nowhere to be seen. What have you been doing all this time?"Glenn sighs, already feeling the weight of her mother's disappointment. "I'm handling it, Mom. Don't worry.""Handling it? For three months, Glenn! You keep saying the same thing, but nothing changes. I'm starting to think you don't know what you're doing."