It’s best to be merciful when you can.””Anyway, your reputation is already gone. Why don’t you just retire from the industry and live a life of leisure as a wealthy young man at home? Wouldn’t that be better?”I was shocked by her blindness, disbelieving that Celeste would still indulge him to this extent.I was about to say more, but the next second, I received a stinging slap across my face. My cheek burned.Her knuckles were red, her breathing ragged, and a never-before-seen violence surged in her eyes.She threw a disclaimer at me.”Be a good boy and sign this. Once the storm passes, I’ll help you make a comeback.””But if you dare to call the police again, don’t even think about stepping out of this door!”
“I won’t sign!”I gritted my teeth, staring fiercely at her.But no matter how I struggled, how I refused to sign, Celeste forcibly pressed my handprint onto the disclaimer.The moment I collapsed to the floor, exhausted.An unprecedented sense of powerlessness and piercing pain swept over my entire body, like a thousand needles pricking my heart.They left, their casual conversation like venomous insects burrowing into my ears:”Celeste, is Asher okay…?””He’s fine. As long as he wants to make a comeback, he’ll listen to me. At worst…”
“I’ll give him a forgiveness voucher. There are still dozens left anyway. He’ll be obedient.”No, there weren’t. Only one last one remained.Celeste Kingston, I won’t be your puppet anymore.I lay stunned on the floor for a long time before returning to my room and retrieving my journal.Though everyone said the modeling industry wasn’t much cleaner than entertainment, I truly loved my career.
Standing on that runway, enveloped by the spotlight, that surge of confidence was where I found my worth.But now, it was utterly destroyed. Perhaps even fate was telling me it was time to leave, to let go.Tears streaming, I wrote about the day’s events in my journal, ending with “98.”Each time she hurt me, I would record it in my journal, reminding myself not to soften.But then, Celeste’s voice suddenly came from behind me.”What does 98 mean?”
