The sea was calm.Moonlight shone on the water and created a shimmering reflection. The board wandered aimlessly on the endless sea.The person on that board seemed petrified under the moonlight. Like a statue, he knelt at the edge of the board and didn't move an inch.It was as if there was nothing left in this world that was worth a glance. Gazing at the deep sea, David resembled the legendary Amah Rock. He was frozen.Nobody knew what he was thinking.Was he regretting the lies he had told from the beginning or reflecting on the scars he had inflicted on her?Was he feeling sorry for not pulling her up immediately or perhaps finding solace in letting her go?No matter what, the fact remained unchanged—she was gone.Was he wrong? Maybe.But if he were given a chance to choose again, he would probably make the same choice. Before David met Rebecca, she was merely a stranger to him. The scars he had inflicted on her back then were seen as his accomplishments and a means to
Albert thought he had heard it wrong when he received Sam's call in Rookfort.How could Rebecca possibly fall into the sea?However, the extended silence on the other end of the phone and Sam's solemn tone proved that he hadn't misheard anything.Although he didn't know the entire story, the fact remained unchanged.Rebecca fell into the sea and was still missing."What exactly happened?"After all, Albert was the eldest among his siblings. Despite feeling anxious, he remained composed.Sam's voice was hoarse as he recounted the whole incident to Albert.In fact, he had only received the news early this morning.Last night, he and Caleb had waited for Rebecca at a private airport in the western suburbs, as indicated by the note she had left.However, she didn't show up even though they waited until late at night.The Jenkinses were the first to receive the news of Randy's return from the Collins. They said that apart from his hands, there was hardly any spot on his body left
Upon hearing Daniel's response, Ryan fell speechless.They had been searching for three days. If there were any signs of Rebecca, they should have found her near the shore a long time ago.Even though he didn't want to give up on Rebecca, he knew they had to face reality. It didn't make sense to say things that defied the evidence in front of them.Seeing Daniel's reaction, Ryan couldn't bear to shatter his hopes.So, he kept quiet.Daniel shifted his gaze back to the deep sea and watched as a school of fish leaped out of the water. They created a graceful arc under the moonlight.His eyes flashed, and his lips moved. However, no one knew if he was talking to Ryan or muttering to himself."I've survived death twice. She's suffered so much during the previous half of her life. The future must hold good fortune for her. She should be able to stay safe out on the ocean."If he could, he would pray to the heavens and trade the remaining years of his life for her safety. All he wa
Perhaps Darren didn't believe David would die just like that, too. He hoped someone could look for him.He might have ended up in a nearby village, somewhere on the island, or in a hospital ...All in all, he didn't want to give up so easily."Alright, here's the plan. I'll inform the people over there, and you'll take over them in the future. I'll let Richard accompany you for now and ask him to introduce you to the people there. You don't have to rush back to Clarkdale. Once you're familiar with things there, you can send Richard back," Darren instructed. He seemed concerned that the people in Fairport would take advantage of Daniel since he wasn't familiar with this place. Hence, he advised, "Make sure you bring Richard with you for the first few days. Not everyone there will recognize you, and don't hold back when it's necessary to take action. Some of these people are like dogs. Once you've shown them who's the boss, they'll listen. Call me if there are any problems you can't
Four years later, the annual Golden Tiger Film Festival Awards was planned to be held at Fairport. People claimed that Fairport had a run of good luck recently. They had attracted numerous investors to the city.Setting aside the support for the heavy industry at the port, XR Entertainment from Riverwood suddenly relocated its subsidiary to Fairport. The MRC Group from Rookfort also established a subsidiary company here.Besides these well-established companies, GW, a leading gaming platform for Gen Z, established an esports city club base here. They even built a related theme park. It significantly boosted the already thriving tourism industry in Fairport.Gaming-related companies also followed suit. Many of them relocated to the city and set up an ecological chain. Fairport emerged as one of the fastest-developing cities in the country over the past four years.The Golden Tiger Film Festival Awards featured a star-studded lineup, not only with top-tier figures in the film indus
Penny didn't notice the change in her husband. She sighed lightly and rubbed her belly. "Maybe it's because of this child that I seem to dream of Becca these days …"The incident of Rebecca falling into the ocean four years ago didn't become a taboo topic in the Johnson family. They believed that their little sunshine was alive in another part of the world. Whenever they encountered someone who looked like her, they would go up to clarify, even if the results were always disappointing. They never gave up looking for her and lived their lives as they normally would.If they came across any accessories they felt suited Rebecca, they would buy a set to give her when she returned. They would also prepare presents for her come Christmas Day and for when it was her birthday. However, it had been four years. The presents had accumulated in her room, waiting to be unwrapped.Sam poured a cup of warm water for Penny and replied in a calm voice, "Let's go and have a look later. There's ma
Any onlooker could guess how anxious his face was based on his hurried footsteps.The camera cut to Penny, who was sitting in front of the stage. Penny had a worried look on her face as she stood up, supporting her belly. The way she looked on screen was that of an anxious wife being abandoned by her husband.The comments did a 180-degree turn from the original congratulatory tone."That's so awkward. I got slapped in the face right after wishing them a happy marriage.""Hands down! Can't they finish something before making more drama? I feel like a clown for getting jealous of them. (Grin) (Grin) (Grin)""I feel sorry for the beautiful lady. She's carrying a bun in her oven but the guy went after another woman. How pitiful!""You can attack the guy, but not my Ms. Lowe. She's the best! She wasn't loved by her parents but she managed to earn a living in the entertainment industry. Her husband is a scumbag, yet she received awards for her movies. Focus on your career, Ms. Lowe!
"I didn't get to see her, but I have a feeling … that it was her."His target was gone by the time he ran out. However, he wasn't willing to give up and followed his gut feeling to where it brought him, just like that time when he felt a connection to her among a crowd of people when they were overseas.He had chased after her up till here and suddenly didn't know where he should go next. So, he could only sit here helplessly and pray for God's mercy to let him see his sister one more time.Penny started to feel sore after standing for some time. She took Sam's hand and sat down. In a gentle voice, she said, "Isn't that a good thing? Although you didn't see Becca, at least you got a lead and some news. Maybe it'll be a reunion the next time you meet."She looked up and saw that Sam still had a disappointed look on his face. She squeezed his hand. "It's been four years. It'll be a joyous event the next time you meet. It'll have been a long four years."Sam looked at his wife's gent
Penny didn't have much free time over the past three years.As she had envisioned, during the first year, she honed her acting skills amidst criticism while also working as a translator.Later on, she felt that acting didn't hold much appeal anymore. Moreover, realizing that there weren't any roles left for her, she gradually gave up and moved toward working behind the scenes.She had some work during this period.It seemed that a daring reality show, not caring about potential risks, decided to capitalize on her controversial popularity and invited her to participate in one of their programs.The reason Penny agreed to participate was because the show's first season had a good reputation, and the payment offered was reasonable.Continuously doing translations could be quite tiring. After discussing with Cecilia and weighing the pros and cons, she eventually signed up for this TV show.Unfortunately, she had underestimated the darker side of human nature.The show's production
"Really?" Zane blurted out, staring incredulously at Sam, who nodded calmly. His unruly and carefree demeanor was restrained, and his composed attitude showed that he wasn't joking.Zane fell silent again, furrowing his brow as he intently observed Sam.It was as if he thought everything through in an instant, giving up without hesitation. He didn't even remind Zane of the request from years ago to take care of Penny. Instead, he said this would be the last time he would help out.Logically speaking, this should be a satisfactory outcome for Zane. After all, from any perspective, the Lowe family's scion would only be a burden to Sam.Looking again at Sam's attitude, it seemed he didn't want Penny to know he was the one quietly spending money to handle things behind the scenes.Since there was no plan to meet her, he didn't need to worry about anything after that. If that was the case, it would be better to just end it early.That way, if Sam saw Penny falling in love, getting mar
All those old scoundrels from the Lowe family undoubtedly ranked the highest. Then there was Jessica, the entertainment industry's national goddess, who also played a significant role.Besides them, there were a few minor celebrities who didn't really make the cut.However, as Sam's partner and someone who watched him grow up, Zane privately hoped Sam could find a better girl.So, he advised, "There are plenty of socialites in Riverwood, and Amdale has no shortage of beautiful young ladies, either, and Rookfort isn't much different."You and the Lowe family's daughter haven't even officially met…""Who said I haven't met her?" Sam interrupted him without a second thought.He had even seen her twice. How could Zane say they hadn't even met yet?The first time, she gave him all the money she had. The second time, he spoke up to help her get that role.After these interactions, they could be considered acquaintances.Zane choked up and couldn't find the words to refute.He was s
Because Penny declined his offer, Zane didn't insist. After a bit of small talk, he ended the call.He politely mentioned that if she needed any help, she could call this number again. If he could assist in any way, he certainly would.However, Zanw knew very well that, given Penny's temperament, she would rather give up what she had than actively seek help from a stranger.Yes, to Penny, Zane was just a stranger. He was a person she had met once but didn't really know.This time, Penny didn't respond as coldly as she did when she was 18. Instead, she exchanged a couple of polite pleasantries, mentioned that she would reach out if needed, and then hung up the phone.After that, she let out a long sigh of relief and lay on the lounge chair on the balcony, gazing at the view outside the window.There were fluffy white clouds in the azure sky and the greenery visible in the neighborhood. Sparrows were chirping persistently as they darted through the forest, and the cicadas loudly bu
Although the other person said only one word, Penny could still tell he didn't have any ill intentions.Because of that faint sense of familiarity, Penny didn't hang up the phone immediately. "Hello? May I ask what this is about?"The unfamiliar and distant tone probably made the man on the other end of the phone pause for a moment. It was only after a brief silence that he responded."Young lady, don't you remember me? It's Zane Moran."His voice carried a laugh, with a hint of teasing.Only then did Penny remember who he was, but she wasn't happy at all.Zane meant no harm when that incident happened back then. But despite that, over the years that had passed, he became one of the people and things Penny would rather not recall.Whether it was the exam she missed, the incident where Spencer took her to the hotel against her will, or Zane, who gave her 30 dollars for a taxi ride.She just wanted to hide all of them deep in her memories.The recent events had particularly made
"I'm fine. You all don't have to look so worried. You're making it seem as if something bad is going to happen to me."Penny looked at the two people at the door who were showing a range of expressions, feeling speechless.Cecilia was provoked by her words, and her eyes turned red."We're worried about you. You have no idea what you look like right now. You're almost like one of those disheartened protagonists in novels who hated the world."Penny clicked her tongue twice and said, "Aren't you exaggerating?"She didn't believe it. She was just worried about money. It wasn't like she had become disillusioned with life.Besides, she didn't dislike this world at all. On the contrary, she really liked it.Whenever Penny came across posts online suggesting that all humans should just die, she always felt like rolling her eyes. If they wanted to die, they shouldn't drag others with them.When searching for her own role in movies, TV dramas, and novels, Penny particularly preferred re
Penny's way of clarifying things was to simply tell the truth.Sometimes, trying to cover things up would just lead to needing 100 more lies to continue the cover-up. That would often end up making things worse and more ridiculous.It was better to tell the truth about the situation.To answer the question of why she lashed out at the Lowe family, she briefly explained her experiences over the years.Why didn't she attend the final paper of the college entrance examinations? She personally reopened that old wound.As for that man in the hotel, Penny didn't have much of an impression of him anymore. She only remembered not taking his business card and accepting 30 dollars from him.Why did she show up at that man's hotel room? She wrote it down truthfully—it was her father who personally took her and left her at the hotel, wanting to trade her like a commodity.Every single word was carefully considered and written by Penny.She didn't share much of these things with Cecilia. Th
Once the official statements were released, Penny's career being ruined became a certainty.The only surprising thing was probably that after the film crew issued their statement, the largest investor also requested to withdraw.The film crew was completely shocked, but there was nothing they could do. The scion was willing to lose money just to withdraw his investment, so what could they do?The amount of money in the compensation was nothing compared to the amount that the scion planned to invest. The production team would incur a significant loss.With one less investor, the project's status was essentially downgraded. They had much less room to manipulate their gains now, too.One would understand why the scion was doing this if they used their brain a little.However, the protests from the audience couldn't be ignored, and compared to the investors, it was clearly more important to keep the show going.After all, they could always attract more sponsors, even if the amount o
In addition to the widespread backlash caused by the phone recording, Penny's academic credentials were also scrutinized and exposed.Before the college entrance exam, she had always been the top student in her school and had never ranked anything else.However, in the college entrance exam, she barely passed the minimum mark for key institutions, far below her usual performance.Some people speculated that she had been cheating during regular exams and that her actual abilities were much worse.However, the exam results could be checked online, and the fact that Penny scored zero on the last exam was surprising.It was even more shocking that she was admitted to a top-tier university despite missing an exam. It was truly exceptional.But few people paid attention to this information.After all, the achievements attained through hard work couldn't be faked. Even if the results weren't as expected, it was undeniable that she was stronger than many others.Regarding this topic, t