Chapter 16
753words
It felt like she was erasing every trace of her existence.
A sleek silver plane glided gracefully along the runway before ascending into the sky.
It grew smaller and smaller until it vanished into the vast expanse of blue, leaving only clouds behind.
*
Leo was in the middle of a morning meeting.
“Let’s capitalize on Nina’s current buzz and secure a few more variety show deals…”
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
His phone vibrated several times in quick succession, signaling incoming messages.
He picked it up for a glance and saw they were from Tara.
A smirk of disdain tugged at the corner of his lips.
“Finally come to your senses and want to apologize?” he thought.
After what she had done, how could she expect him to take her back?
He flipped his phone face down on the table and continued the meeting.
Nina, looking radiant and composed, chimed in sweetly, “More variety shows are fine, but I’d really like to focus on secWesleyng roles in major films or TV dramas.”
Leo nodded. “Alright. We’ve recently acquired a strong script. Our company is funding the production, and you’ll be the lead.”
Some of the other high-profile celebrities in the room didn’t look too pleased, their expressions tinged with dissatisfaction. But there was nothing they could do. Nina was Leo’s first love, his shining "one true love," after all.
Nina responded with a gracious smile toward them, though her eyes glimmered with pride and arrogance.
*
Bang!
The conference room door burst open.
Wesley stormed in, his face pale and filled with panic.
“Leo! Nina! Something’s happened. Help me!”
Leo frowned, his tone sharp with irritation. “What’s going on? Why are you barging in like this?”
Wesley’s voice trembled as he stammered, “Check the videos online quickly!”
Everyone reached for their phones, their screens lighting up with the trending topics.
The entire top five were dominated by Tara, Nina, and Leo.
But this time, the target wasn’t Tara.
It was Nina.
The videos recorded by Tara’s earring camera were crisp and clear, captWesleyng both visuals and audio perfectly.
Leo remained composed as he watched the footage of the nightclub parking lot.
But when the video from the private room, Box 88, played, his hands began to shake with rage.
Did Wesley actually claim that Leo sent Tara to him?
And he even dared to drug her?
As the video of the paint incident outside the nightclub played, Leo saw the attacker nearly kill Tara while he had been too busy protecting Nina.
Then came the recording of the confrontation between Nina and Tara in the police station restroom. Leo’s eyes reddened with fury.
Nina had treated him like a dog.
Finally, the footage of Tara, battered and heartbroken outside the police station, cut through him like a knife.
But what truly shattered him was her parting words in fluent, flawless Genovian. His mind buzzed, his vision blurred, and everything went dark for a moment.
“Mr. Carter!” someone called out.
Leo sprang to his feet, snatched his car keys, and stumbled toward the door.
Nina grabbed his arm, panic flashing in her eyes. “Leo, you’re in no state to drive…”
“Get lost!” he roared, shoving her aside.
“Stay away from me! Just the sight of you, you venomous, deceitful woman, makes me sick!”
Nina fell backward, landing sprawled on the floor in humiliation.
Before anyone could react, the meeting room doors swung open, and officers in uniform stepped in, flashing their badges.
“Leo Carter, Nina Lucas, and Wesley Lima, you are being summoned for questioning. Please cooperate and come with us.”
Nina’s face turned ashen.
It was over.
Completely over.
The three were escorted out of the office building, only to be met by a horde of reporters, influencers, fans, and paparazzi waiting at the entrance.
The vitriol the crowd hurled at Nina was far more venomous than anything Tara had faced.
“She’s disgusting! Stealing someone’s boyfriend and ruining lives!”
“She used us, her fans, to bully Tara! What a manipulative snake!”
“Get out of here!”
A rotten egg hit Nina squarely on the head.
The egg burst, its rancid contents dripping down her hair and face.
“Trash!” another egg struck her forehead, the goo splattering across her features.
Nina ducked her head, using her arms to shield herself, but in doing so, her handcuffs caught the sunlight, gleaming unmistakably in full view of the crowd.
