Chapter 9

Daniel couldn’t help but ask, “You turned down the offer, so why would Rosanne…” Joel clenched her fists. “Maybe you should ask her!” “You believe everything she says, but doubt every word I say. Chris, Daniel, is it me who’s changed, or is it you?” Chris and Daniel froze. Their minds drifted back to the time before Rosanne entered their lives. Back then, there were always people trying to sow discord among the three of them, spreading malicious rumors about Joel. But Chris and Daniel had always stood by Joel without question. “Joel wouldn’t lie to us.” That’s what they used to say. When had things changed? When had they stopped trusting her? Chris, who had been brimming with anger, paused, his tone softening. “That’s not what we meant. We’re just really worried about Rosanne.” He nudged Daniel for support. Daniel, lips pressed tight, still simmering with anger, responded without his usual warmth or tact. “How have we changed? If you didn’t do something like this, why not explain it properly…” But Joel felt there was no point in explaining anymore. Why not end things once and for all? After a moment of hesitation, Joel spoke calmly, “Since you’re both here, I might as well say it now. I’ve decided to leave the entertainment industry.” “I won’t be acting anymore, so there’s no need to fight over roles with your Rosanne.” Her voice was steady, but to Chris and Daniel, her words hit like a thunderclap. Chris’s eyes widened, staring at her in disbelief. Daniel’s face turned pale. “What do you mean? You love acting. Didn’t you say you wanted to prove yourself to your father?” “Joel, don’t be impulsive…” Joel felt a wave of exhaustion crash over her. Elsa, standing nearby, couldn’t hold back and shouted, “You two have the nerve to ask why!” “It’s your fault Joel’s in so much pain!” “Go to your Rosanne! Joel’s not just leaving showbiz, she’s also going to—” Joel quickly covered Elsa’s mouth, cutting her off. She was curious about how Chris and Daniel would react once she left. But she didn’t want to get entangled any further. Chris and Daniel weren’t fools. They sensed something was wrong. They frowned, reaching out to grab Joel, hesitating to speak. Meanwhile, Rosanne’s messages came pouring in, like an urgent summons. [Chris, I feel awful…] [Daniel, I can’t hold on anymore…] Their thoughts flew back to Rosanne. After exchanging a glance, they stood up, ready to leave. This time, Joel grabbed their arms. She studied their faces closely. Chris had shed the naivety of youth. His sharp, cold features now carried an urgency. Daniel was no longer the brash teenager he once was. His refined presence remained intact, even in such a situation. Joel’s mind wandered as she tried to find traces of who they used to be. They weren’t like this before, but… Both of them looked at her impatiently. With a firm tug, they broke free. “Enough, Joel. Stop being unreasonable. We need to check on Rosanne. We’ll talk about this later.” But there wouldn’t be a later. Joel had held onto them out of her last shred of attachment. And they had just destroyed it. Chris and Daniel hurriedly turned to leave, not noticing that their push had thrown Joel off balance. She stumbled backward and fell. Joel instinctively shut her eyes, bracing for the pain. But instead of hitting the ground, she landed in someone’s arms. Her breath caught. She blinked her eyes open and found herself staring up at a sharply defined face. She had never seen this face in real life, only in countless photographs. In her daze, Joel suddenly remembered— It was the 17th. The man holding her was her fiancé, Scott Wally, whom she had never met before.