Despair curled into a bitter smile on Elena's lips. "Fine. This is the Cheng Family's property? I don't want it."
She removed the ring from her left middle finger and flung it across the street. "I'm tossing away what I don't want. Whoever wants it can pick it up themselves!"
The road's median was long, and the ring rolled somewhere beyond sight, disappearing into the darkness.
Elena, you little wretch!
Sophia seethed in fury, but in front of Felix, she dared not act. A flicker of malice crossed her beautiful eyes. Just wait, Elena. I have plenty of ways to deal with you.
Felix trembled with anger. "Elena!"
Elena smiled coldly. "Aren't you going to pick it up? Without the ring, Sophia's going to have a hard time getting into the Cheng Family."
Derek pointed at her, his voice vicious. "Elena, why did I give birth to such a rebellious, unfilial child? I should have strangled you the moment you were born!"
Even though she had long stopped hoping for anything from her father, his words still pierced her heart like a dagger.
"Sophia, let's go."
They quickly got into the car, turning at the traffic light to retrieve the ring.
Elena returned to the hospital, her body still bruised and aching. The lights of the emergency room were still burning.
Time crawled by as doctors fought to pull Sean back from the brink of death.
When Sean was finally wheeled out of the ER, and the doctor told her he was temporarily stable but still needed two days in the ICU for observation, Elena collapsed to the floor, clutching her knees and sobbing.
She felt like she couldn't hold on much longer. Surviving was already hard enough for her, but seeing Sean so severely ill pushed her to the edge. If he had to go through another emergency procedure, she wasn't sure she could survive it.
Her face was pale, her body trembling, and the desperate cries she tried to stifle echoed mournfully through the quiet hospital corridors.
The next day, 5:00 PM, the Eurasia Group Executive Office.
Lucian slumped in his large leather chair, rubbing his forehead in irritation as he flipped through a stack of files. Lucas had just finished a call outside and entered to report,
"Mr. Sterling, the security just called. They checked the surveillance and saw Miss Sung hiring a locksmith to break into your apartment."
Lucian paused, his eyes darkening with an unreadable shadow. Lucas, sensing the sudden drop in the office's atmosphere, cautiously asked, "Do you want me to handle it in person?"
Lucian's face remained cold. "Call Clara. Have her wait for me downstairs immediately."
The abrupt shift left Lucas confused. "Mr. Sterling…"
Lucian's voice was icy. "Do it."
"Yes, Mr. Sterling."
Lucas left the office, still trying to make sense of Lucian's intentions, and called the rising star Clara.
With the office door shut behind him, Lucian tugged at his tie, lit a cigarette, and let the smoke curl around him. The burn of the tobacco temporarily eased the tension knotted in his chest.
…
In the apartment, Elena, wearing an apron and wincing at every ache in her body, had been busy in the kitchen for nearly two hours. Finally, she placed the last dish on the dining table.
The table was filled with home-cooked dishes, the aromas tempting and comforting. Elena sank into a chair and glanced at her phone—7:00 PM.
Lucian hadn't returned.
She wasn't even sure if he would come back. She might have been preparing the meal in vain, but she had no other option. At least here, there was still hope.
For Sean's sake, even the tiniest glimmer of hope was worth clinging to.
Elena didn't call Lucian. She knew perfectly well that even if she did, he wouldn't answer. Why bother?
While waiting, her phone rang. Ryan, her agent, was calling. She hadn't been to the office in over a week, and he must be furious.
Elena braced herself. The call would likely start with a storm of scolding.
The noisy chatter spilled into her ears. "Hold on a second, it's noisy here," Ryan's voice came through.
Elena waited patiently a few seconds until the noise died down. He had apparently stepped out of the lounge.
She apologized immediately. "Sorry, Ryan. I've had some personal matters to deal with, so I haven't been to the office."
"Elena, I'm not calling to scold you. I just want to check on you." Ryan's rare patience softened his tone. "Your brother… is he okay?"
Okay?
Of course not. Just thinking about Sean made her whole body tremble, her heart threaten to collapse.
Even if something happened, Ryan couldn't help her.
Her voice hoarse, she forced a small smile. "He's fine. Thanks for checking on us, Ryan."
"Honestly…" Ryan sighed heavily. "If you don't want to talk, fine. But you must come by the office tomorrow. Director Xu has a second female lead role and specifically wants you to audition."
Elena instinctively refused. "I can't go."
"Elena!" Ryan's tone snapped. "This is Director Xu personally calling. The second female lead. You have to go."
She tried to explain, but Ryan cut her off with a string of scolding.
"Look at yourself—years in this industry, still stuck as a background actor. Do you ever wonder why? All those stars who came after you are now famous. They've got the looks, the body, the talent—what's wrong with you?"
"But why can't you make it? Elena, if you just sacrificed a little…"
Elena knew Ryan meant well. She hadn't earned much for the company and refused to compromise herself, or she would have been let go long ago. He even found her side jobs behind the company's back.
"Ryan…"
"Don't interrupt or try to talk your way out. Today, I need to make something clear. Elena, you're not a teenage girl anymore. You need to understand what it takes to survive in this industry. Actors live off their youth. If you don't land a role that stands out, you won't even get to eat from your youth."