The people present all sat up straight involuntarily.
Durrell Landon had a hint of surprise but soon laughed lowly, his voice carrying a touch of delight: "You're the first to dare do this to me."
"Is that so? That's because you're the second young master of the Landon Family, others respect you and fear you, but I don't care. If you really provoke me, don't blame me if we both go down together."
Durrell Landon looked up at her. In that instant when their eyes met, a fire seemed to burn within hers that could consume everything, yet amidst the layers of flame, there was an impenetrable fog, making it hard to see through.
For a moment, he felt an illusion that they were of the same kind.
The corners of his lips curved into a smile; he was increasingly reluctant to let go.
Julian Haworth, seeing Quiana Sutton not letting go, couldn't help but feel anxious:
"Quiana, if you dare harm Durrell, I guarantee you won't make it out of the North Star alive."
Upon hearing this, Quiana Sutton tightened her grip, the veins under her fair skin faintly visible, as if wishing for someone to add a decadent pattern on them.
Oliver Gale leaned on the sofa, crossing his legs, seemingly enjoying the show.
Miss Sutton had dared to do something he wouldn't in his lifetime, and she was now considered a warrior in his eyes.
Quiana Sutton suddenly lost interest and let go of her hand.
"You guys have fun, I have other things to do, so I'll be leaving first."
After Quiana Sutton left, Durrell Landon instinctively touched his neck, which still retained the warmth of her fingertips.
Quiana Sutton stood in the corridor after leaving the room and casually lit a cigarette, letting the smoke blur her outline.
Recently, she had been smoking more frequently, which was not a good sign.
Yet she still liked this feeling, as if she could hide everything about herself in the darkness, unseen by others.
Not far away.
The silhouettes of Chloe Summers and Ella Shaw appeared slowly, surprised to encounter Quiana Sutton at North Star.
Ella Shaw was particularly astonished. "Chloe, Quiana is smoking."
In the entertainment circle, Quiana Sutton was an intriguing figure, with numerous black fans but also many followers. As long as she didn't act, she could cleanse her image occasionally. However, Ella Shaw wasn't so lucky. Even if she barely reached the same level as Quiana Sutton, her influence was far less.
Several times during endorsement negotiations, the other party explicitly said they would rather have Quiana Sutton than someone like her who couldn't stir up any waves.
It was enough to make her furious, and since then, she developed a grudge against Quiana Sutton.
Chloe Summers didn't pay Quiana Sutton any mind, looking at her like an ant.
They were artists of the same generation, but she had long left Quiana Sutton behind. It was impossible for Quiana to catch up with her. Her goal was to stand at the Oscars like her idol Evelyn Windsor.
As for Quiana Sutton, she was merely an occasional diversion in life.
She spoke leisurely, "Wasn't Quiana Sutton always crafting an image of a gentle and quiet lady? If her fans see her smoking, don't you think that persona would collapse?"
Ella Shaw's eyes reflected a few indescribable glints as she secretly took a photo and sent it to YXH.
As for how YXH would publicize it, that wasn't her concern.
...
After leaving North Star, Quiana Sutton went to a psychological consultation studio. The doctor there seemed to be an old acquaintance of hers.
As soon as they met, he said to her: "You haven't been here for some time. What made you decide to come today?"
Quiana Sutton didn't waste words with him: "The usual, prescribe me some medicine."
The doctor clearly didn't concur: "Medicine is three parts poison; you can't always rely on it."
He had previously wanted to provide Quiana Sutton with some psychological counseling, but her defenses were so high, he nearly fell into depression himself and ultimately chose to give up.
Initially, she wasn't that severe when they met, but later on, it was off and on, sometimes severe and sometimes seemed to have recovered.
However, he knew very well that at Miss Sutton's level, recovery was impossible—she was already in dire straits.
Perhaps doctors are naturally sympathetic; he still hoped Miss Sutton could live a bit happier. He spoke slowly:
"Find someone to accompany you, perhaps you can truly be yourself."
Quiana Sutton found it amusing after hearing this:
"Do you mean finding someone to save me or redeem me?"
The doctor nodded; that was indeed what he meant.
She chuckled coldly, with a hint of mockery.
Such ideas of redemption never suited her, and she never sought salvation from others; the only person who could pull herself out of the mire was herself.
"You'd better prescribe some medication."
The doctor sighed helplessly, knowing more words were useless, and finally handed her a bottle of medicine.
Quiana Sutton glanced at it, tossed it into her bag, and waved her hand: "I'm leaving. Remember not to tell anyone I was here."
"I understand."
After Quiana Sutton left, the doctor poured himself a cup of coffee, stirring it leisurely.
Miss Sutton was the most unexpected patient; despite being critically ill, she appeared as normal as anyone.
Even doing better than many people.
However, he also could not help but wonder if peeling away Miss Sutton's untouchable exterior would reveal internal rust and decay or darkness so deep that even she couldn't see through it.
Have you heard of the balloon theory?
Explosion often occurs at a critical point; clearly, Miss Sutton was approaching that threshold, no matter how well she disguised it. Sooner or later, she would reach a breaking point and crumble.
Quiana Sutton sat in the driver's seat, casually tossed her bag aside, which rolled on the chair, spilling its contents inside the car.
She bent down to pick up the scattered items.
Amid some lipsticks and that bottle of medicine, there was also a peace charm.
Seeing this peace charm, a faintly present yet real daze crossed her eyes.
Back in the days on set, some accident occurred, and she was hospitalized for a while due to an injury.
After returning to her apartment, he gave her this peace charm.
She always thought she had thrown it away long ago, yet she unexpectedly kept it in her bag all along.
She suddenly recalled what the psychologist had said to her earlier.
Find someone to save herself.
Haha...
She never believed nor needed it, rather than putting the peace charm back in her bag, she tossed it out the window.
When she returned to Imperial View Manor, she met Zeke Landon head-on as he was about to leave.
Zeke Landon wasn't all that surprised to see her, but the dark, inky emotion brewing in his eyes was hard to decipher.
As they were about to brush past each other, Zeke Landon stopped her.
"Wait a moment."
She halted, turning back to look at him: "What is it?"
The breeze was noisy earlier, but now it had quieted down completely.
His eyes rested on her.
"Miss Sutton, it's a pleasure."