Get Out of the Cage

"Jamie, I've decided. I'm ready to join you at Hillridge as your exclusive screenwriter. I'll be there by the end of this month!" Melanie huddled in a quiet corner on the set as she made the call, a pregnancy test report clutched in her hand. She tried to shake off the chill from the freezing weather, but her hands and feet still felt painfully cold. Jamie's voice at the end of the line was a deep and pleasant baritone. "Your talent has long deserved a bigger stage. For eight years, you've turned me down nearly a hundred times for Ken's sake. Are you ready to leave him this time?" "Yes. I'm leaving him for good!" She clenched the pregnancy test report, her lips a bitter smile. Chapter 1 After finishing her call, Melanie Roland returned to the set and joined the crew to observe the filming. At the moment, the camera focused on her boyfriend Ken Lambert in a kissing scene with actress Jennifer Knowles. Ken's burning passion was evident as he locked lips with Jennifer. His tender, intimate expression was something Melanie had never seen before. Before Jennifer appeared, Ken had always avoided intimate scenes for fear of upsetting Melanie. He would never film such scenes in front of her. As Melanie recalled the past, a heavy weight settled on her heart. She suddenly found it difficult to breathe. "Cut! That's it for today. Great work, everyone!" The director called it a wrap, and cheers filled the set. Ken's assistants immediately rushed over to drape a coat over him and hand him a thermos. Melanie watched as he walked over, laughing and chatting with Jennifer. She numbly stepped aside to let them pass. In the past, Ken claimed he was worried about damaging his career if he got into a relationship. With that in mind, Melanie agreed to be his secret girlfriend. This relationship lasted eight years. To this day, only his manager and a few of their friends knew. Yet, while Ken went to great lengths to keep Melanie hidden and avoid any association with her, he was openly affectionate and sweet with Jennifer. Too often, Melanie would argue with him over Jennifer. He would always brush it off, saying it was just part of the job and that she was being unreasonable. The producer, Jeremy, came over to gossip with Melanie. "Ken and Jennifer's kissing scene looks so natural. It's like they're a real couple! So many people in the industry are saying they're actually dating. What do you think, Melanie? Could it be true?" "I don't know…" Melanie mumbled. "You're so indifferent! Anyway, you should focus on being a top-tier screenwriter and steer clear of Ken. There are so many shippers online accusing you of trying to steal someone's boyfriend. Doesn't that bother you?" How could it not? The online hate had nearly driven Melanie to depression. She had spent countless nights crying under her blanket. She had even asked Ken to make their relationship public, but he refused. He got annoyed and pointed angrily at her, snarling, "What's your problem? Keeping it private is for your protection! You're plain, full of flaws, overly sensitive, and dramatic. If fans knew you were really my girlfriend, they'd scrutinize you every day! Could you handle that?" Was keeping their relationship a secret really to protect her? Was she truly as terrible as he said? Melanie began to wonder if Ken simply didn't love her enough to acknowledge her publicly. Yet after rebuking her so harshly, Ken would embrace her tenderly, shower her with gifts, and appear so affectionate. In the end, she felt guilty for doubting his feelings. Caught between pain and self-loathing, Melanie found herself trapped in this toxic relationship. That was until a few days ago when Ken, drunk, accidentally revealed the truth. All these years, he had treated Melanie as Jennifer's substitute. Bzzz! Melanie's phone vibrated, pulling her out of her thoughts. Ken had sent a message. [Baby, I miss you. Come over!] Melanie bit her lip; she hesitated for a moment, but she ultimately decided to go to him. When she was 17, her father lost his job and her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Their family was on the verge of falling apart. Ken had stepped in, paying a million for her mother's treatment and finding a job for her father. Before her SATs, a drunk man nearly broke her right hand, but Ken saved her life and her future. He had always been her hero. Unfortunately, he was never a good boyfriend. Melanie took a deep breath, put her phone away, and headed to his trailer. As soon as she entered, Ken leaned in to kiss her. Melanie recognized the pattern. Jennifer must have thrown a tantrum again. Every time Jennifer gave Ken the cold shoulder, he would shower Melanie with extra affection. After all, her face and eyes bore a striking resemblance to Jennifer's. At the thought, Melanie was overwhelmed by a wave of nausea in her stomach. She instinctively pushed him away. "I don't want this!" Knowing she was just a stand-in, she could no longer endure such intimacy with him. Ken froze, but didn't push further. Instead, he hugged her and rested his head on her shoulder with a pitiful expression. "Thank goodness I have you. You're the only one who'll never leave me." Melanie remained silent. She was leaving in seven days—she wasn't going to stay by his side forever. Ken didn't pay any attention to her silence. He held her hand and frowned. "Why are your hands so cold? Leo, get Melanie some mango milk to warm her up!" Melanie was allergic to mangoes. She had told Ken this more times than she could count, but he never remembered. Yet she didn't want to reject his kindness, so she had always taken allergy medicine and drank it anyway. It was only recently that Melanie realized that he never forgot. Rather, he did it because mango milk was Jennifer's favorite drink. Melanie lowered her gaze, hiding her disgust. "No, thanks. I don't want it." Ken ignored her. Soon, Leo brought the mango milk and relayed a message. "Ken, Ms. Knowles wants to go over the intimate scene with you." "Great! I'll be right there!" Ken's eyes lit up. He was so eager to leave that he nearly knocked Melanie over. Her purse fell to the floor, spilling its contents. He quickly steadied her and bent down to pick up the scattered items. When he picked up a folded pregnancy test report, he froze. "What's this?" Chapter 2 Melanie's eyelashes fluttered. "This is..." Before she could finish, Ken grabbed the pregnancy report and shoved it back into her purse. "I put it in your purse. I'm going to find Jen. Make sure you leave without being seen!" Without giving her a chance to respond, he hurriedly handed her the purse and walked away. Melanie couldn't hold back any longer and called after him, "Ken, what if I'm pregnant?" "I was careful. Don't worry, you won't get pregnant! And if you do, get rid of it—it would ruin me otherwise!" Ken interrupted her again before leaving in a rush. Melanie stood there, feeling as if she had plunged into an icy abyss. He was just as cruel to her as he would be to their child. But in a way, that made things easier. At least she wouldn't feel guilty about hiding the existence of their child. Melanie returned to her hotel, eyes red as she deleted every post about Ken from her social media and left all his fan groups. She even deactivated the fan account she had built up for him, despite how much it hurt. Then, she drew a big cross on the 23rd on her mini calendar. She gave herself only seven days to end this sad excuse of a relationship with Ken. Seven days later, she would leave for good. By the time Melanie was done, it was nearly dawn. At that moment, Ken called her. "I feel like having seafood porridge and some fresh ravioli today!" "Ask someone else. I don't have time." Melanie had stayed up all night, and her head was pounding. In the past, no matter how exhausted or unwell she felt, if Ken said he wanted her cooking, she would push through and go to the market to buy fresh ingredients. Ken was picky about food. It had to taste good and be freshly made, or he wouldn't eat it. For years, he had almost exclusively eaten meals she prepared. Once, she scolded him. "You have a bad stomach. You need to eat regularly and stop being so picky. If you only eat my cooking, what will you do if I'm not around someday?" Ken had dismissed her concerns. "You love me too much to ever leave me." Thinking back on his words, Melanie felt a complicated mix of emotions. He still didn't know she would be gone in six days. If his stomach acted up in the future or he skipped meals, it would no longer be her problem. After hanging up, Melanie tried to catch some sleep. When she woke, she ordered takeout. Just as she set the ravioli on the table, Ken suddenly barged in with Jennifer. "Melanie!" Ken called angrily, but his expression softened when he saw the steaming ravioli. He shot her an exasperated look. "No wonder you didn't reply to my messages or answer my calls—you were making ravioli! Next time, even if you're busy cooking, let me know or I'll really get mad!" Melanie frowned, wanting to tell him not to flatter himself. The ravioli weren't for him. Before she could speak, Ken brushed past her, picked up a ravioli, and fed it to Jennifer. "Try it," he said dotingly. "Melanie's cooking is amazing. You'll love it!" Jennifer took a bite directly from his hand, then teasingly licked his finger with her tongue. Ken gazed at her, the desire in his eyes obvious. The meal was now ruined for Melanie. She no longer had any appetite. Her stomach churned in disgust, and she turned to leave. However, Jennifer stopped her. "Melanie, your cooking is excellent! From now on, I want to eat it every day. You should feel honored. Many of my fans would kill for this chance, but I wouldn't give it to them!" This was just takeout. How good could it be? Jennifer was clearly trying to humiliate her. Melanie refused. "I'm not a chef." Right after she said that, Ken rebuked her. "Enough! Why are you giving Jen an attitude?" Jennifer pretended to pull Ken back. "Ken, don't be upset. Melanie's famous and talented. Lots of people would love to poach her. Aren't you afraid she'll leave if you treat her this way?" Ken gently ruffled Jennifer's hair. "You don't need to worry. Anyone could leave me, but Melanie never would." He turned to Melanie, his gaze now cold. "Jen wants to eat your cooking from now on. Any problems with that? If you don't want to cook for her, then don't bother cooking for me either. I'm sick of your food anyway!" "Fine." Melanie looked at Ken, feeling no desire to argue further. He was tired of her cooking, just as he had long grown tired of her as a person. It didn't matter. Six more days, and she would set him free. Chapter 3 Melanie didn't have to cook, anyway. She only needed to buy meals for six more days. Not wanting to watch Ken and Jennifer fawn over each other any longer, she stepped outside and sent a large cash gift to her colleagues at work. Then, she made a call. "Can you help me pack up my stuff at the office and throw it all away? I'm planning to replace everything with new stuff." "Sure, I'll take care of it later." "Thank you." Those were things Ken had bought for her. She once cherished them, but now, she didn't want to keep a single thing. After hanging up, Melanie drew a cross over the 24th on her calendar and immediately got to work. She had a script to revise and had to deal with Ken and Jennifer's demands, leaving her utterly swamped. When she received a call from Jamie Grant early on the 25th, she was momentarily confused. "Hello, who's this?" "It's me!" Jamie said. "Do you remember that you promised to fly to Hillridge in five days?" She picked up the tension in his voice. Thinking about Jamie's global reputation, his godlike features, and the intimidating aura he exuded, Melanie found it hard to believe someone of his caliber would be nervous over one of her decisions. Her mind cleared instantly. "I do!" "Great! I'll book you a first-class ticket for the evening of the 30th. Does that work for you?" "Perfect. But no need for first-class—an economy ticket is fine." Just as Melanie finished speaking, Ken leaned over and stared at her. "A plane ticket? Where are you going?" "It's been a while since I visited my parents. I thought I'd go see them," she replied, her voice unnatural. She had never lied to him before. However, Ken didn't notice at all. Instead, he scowled. "If you leave, what will Jen and I eat? I'll hire the best caretakers and nurses for your parents. There's no need for you to go back." Upon hearing that, Melanie was rendered speechless. At that moment, an overwhelming sadness for her past self washed over her. Did Ken truly think she was meant to ignore her family and friends just to cater to his every whim? Ken, oblivious to her silence, continued, "A few companies know your contract is about to expire and are trying to poach you. Have they reached out to you?" "Yeah," Melanie answered perfunctorily, not even wanting to engage with him. "I don't know where they got the confidence to think they can steal you from me. Just remember to be polite when you turn them down. Don't embarrass me or make unnecessary enemies." Melanie lowered her head, hiding the emotions in her eyes. "What if, one day, I decide to leave?" "Don't joke about that! It's not funny," Ken said with a laugh, as if he'd heard the most ridiculous thing. He kissed the back of her hand. "Why are your hands so cold again? I'll have Leo bring you your favorite mango milk!" And yet, he snatched the takeout bag from her and hurried off to deliver breakfast to Jennifer. Watching him leave, Melanie smirked and continued to revise Jennifer's script according to her absurd requirements. She had been working for hours when Jeremy came looking for her. "Melanie, everyone's gone to Ms. Knowles' award celebration. Why are you still here? Hurry up! Ken booked the entire hotel. I heard he's going to confess to Ms. Knowles in front of everyone!" Upon hearing this, Melanie's head, muddled from revising the script, went blank. She thought that no matter how ridiculous Ken was, he wouldn't go so far as to confess his love to someone else while still being with her. It had to be a misunderstanding. Despite that, when she arrived at the hotel… "So many fireworks!" "He probably bought every last rose in the city!" "Oh my god! Look at the massive drone display! It's a portrait of Jennifer and Ken, and it even changes!" "This is even more romantic than a TV drama! He pulled out all the stops!" Everywhere, people were marveling at Ken's extravagant display of affection for Jennifer. Only Melanie stood frozen while she gawked at the scene. Chapter 4 The fireworks, roses, and drone portraits… Everything Ken had planned for this confession mirrored the dream scenario Melanie once described to him. But now, he was using it for someone else. Her gaze locked on Ken and Jennifer, who both stood together on the stage. She had already been heartbroken to realize she was just a stand-in, but this scene was a new level of devastation. It felt as though someone had ripped her heart out and trampled all over it. "Is Melanie here?" Jennifer's voice could be heard over the speaker, drawing everyone's attention to her. The crowd parted, and Melanie was ushered forward and onto the stage. As she passed Ken, he didn't bother to explain the situation. Instead, he leaned close and whispered a warning, "This is an important night for me. Don't screw it up!" Melanie hadn't even spoken when Jennifer approached them with her tongue stuck out. "What's the secret? You two seem awfully close—anything going on?" she teased deliberately. Ken waved his hands dismissively and denied it right away. "No way! Don't misunderstand. She's just a screenwriter for my company. Plain, annoying, and absolutely not my type. I'd have to be blind to be interested in her!" Melanie's eyes widened in disbelief. Ken couldn't wait to dissociate himself from her, speaking as though she were some repulsive object. At that moment, whatever goodness she perceived in him had vanished completely. She could feel her heart breaking, piece by agonizing piece. It hurt, but she would endure it. She would carve him out of her heart, no matter how much it cost her. Off stage, Ken's friends added to the humiliation by laughing and jeering at her. "Ken's status is way above someone like Melanie. How could he possibly be into her?" "Jen, everyone knows Ken only cares about you. When you got a boyfriend and moved abroad eight years ago, you had no idea how devastated he was!" "Good thing you're single again now. Just say yes to him already. He's been waiting for you all these years!" Melanie turned to them. Ken's relationship with her was a secret, but these people knew about it. She used to think they simply didn't like her. Now, she realized it wasn't that. They had never seen her as anything but irrelevant because they knew Ken's heart was never truly hers. Melanie couldn't find the words to speak. Ken's cold warning glance followed her, as if daring her to react. The absurdity of it all struck Melanie. For the first time, she felt she was truly seeing him for what he was. "It's fine. I'm leaving," she said, her voice void of emotion. Ignoring the laughter, she stepped down from the stage and left the banquet hall. The night air was chilly, stinging her eyes and making her tears harder to hold back. It wasn't losing Ken that made her mourn. Instead, it was the version of herself who had loved him in the past. Biting her lip and clenching her fists, she tried to keep herself composed. For the past eight years, not only had Ken used her as a stand-in, but now he had moved on to confess to someone else without even breaking up with her. He had played his part well, and she had been foolish enough to believe it. Her phone buzzed twice, pulling her back to reality. With tears streaming down her face, she checked it. Jamie had sent her a photo along with a message. [Here's your flight ticket. I'll be waiting for you.] [Alright. I'll be there in five days.] Five more days, and she would leave for good—free of Ken and Jennifer forever. Melanie headed to the stairwell to compose herself before returning to the hotel. To her surprise, Jennifer followed her. "There you are, Melanie! You little stand-in," Jennifer spat, her tone full of contempt. "How dare you get pregnant with Ken's child? I'm ordering you to get an abortion right now and leave him. If you don't, don't blame me for what happens next!" Melanie frowned. How did Jennifer know about her pregnancy? She was a little taken aback. The hostility in Jennifer's tone unnerved her, but she forced herself to stay calm. "I'll break up with Ken, but this child is mine. I've always had difficulty conceiving, and I want to keep the baby. Don't worry, I'm leaving the country at the end of the month. Neither I nor my child will ever interfere with you and Ken's lives." However, Jennifer wasn't interested in a compromise. She sneered, stepping closer before pushing Melanie down the stairs. "You scheming little tramp! I've seen your kind before. Trying to use a child to secure your place? Dream on!" Jennifer snarled viciously. Chapter 5 Melanie fell unexpectedly down the stairs, barely stopping at the landing. She was both shocked and terrified. Her entire body ached terribly. When she saw the blood between her legs, her face turned pale in an instant. "Save me and my baby!" Melanie, her phone broken, trembled as she pleaded with Jennifer for help. Jennifer, however, slapped herself twice and sat on the floor. "Ah! Melanie, stop hitting me!" she screamed shrilly. "Even if you hit me, I can't make Ken fall in love with you!" Upon hearing the commotion, Ken rushed over. "Jen, are you okay?" He anxiously picked Jennifer up and was ready to leave while completely ignoring Melanie below. Melanie frantically pleaded with him for help. "Ken, save me!" Ken noticed the blood on her, and his expression changed. Before he could do anything, Jennifer nestled in his arms and started crying. "Ken, Melanie attacked me and threw herself down the stairs to frame me! Look, she even prepared fake blood! She must have planned this all along to make me look bad. I have no idea what I did to upset her!" After hearing this, Ken looked at Melanie in disgust. "You make me sick!" "I didn't, Ken! It was Jennifer! She…" Melanie hadn't finished speaking but Ken was already walking away with Jennifer in his arms. She called out to him in fear, over and over, but he didn't even stop. Watching him disappear around the corner, Melanie's shock turned to disappointment, sadness, and finally hatred. She never thought that despite their relationship of eight years, he would still believe Jennifer's lies so easily and leave her to fend for herself. A stand-in was merely a stand-in. In his heart, she was worthless. What happened to his promises of being a loving boyfriend and her hero? Lies, all of them! Ken was the worst scammer in the world! Unable to stand, Melanie endured the pain and crawled her way up, trembling as she did so. Blood trailed behind her; the pain was unbearable, but she didn't dare pass out. She feared that if she died there, no one would ever know. Her voice had gone hoarse from shouting. Finally, the hotel staff discovered her and quickly sent her to the hospital. She couldn't hold on anymore, and fainted upon arrival. On the morning of the 26th, Melanie woke up. Apart from a mild concussion and extreme exhaustion, she had no other major injuries. Yet… The baby was gone. After undergoing a surgical evacuation of the womb, Melanie left the operating room in a daze. There were only four days left before she would leave. Why did this have to happen now? She could feel that the tiny life inside her was gone forever. "You're here anyway, so go apologize to Jen!" Ken suddenly appeared, grabbing her from behind. Melanie looked at him. Her heart filled with sorrow. "I didn't hurt her. She was the one who pushed me down the stairs and killed our baby!" "Jen said you'd lie about having a miscarriage. I didn't believe her, but it turns out she was right," he said. His eyes filled with disappointment. "I'm not lying! I was three months pregnant. You can ask the doctor. I…" "Enough! Stop making excuses. Go apologize to Jen! Otherwise, I'll tell your parents all about the terrible things you've done!" Melanie was used to seeing him treat others coldly. However, she never thought he'd be this cruel to her. Her mother had breast cancer and underwent surgery several years ago. She needed to avoid stress. Her father had a heart disease, and couldn't handle such shocking news. Thinking of them, Melanie felt her resolve crumble. Her voice hoarse, she said, "Fine, I'll apologize to her. Just don't get my parents involved." "See? That wasn't so hard." Melanie, physically unwell and unable to move fast, couldn't keep up. However, Ken ignored this and impatiently dragged her to Jennifer's ward. "Apologize to Jen!" "I'm sorry," Melanie said softly, clenching her fists. Jennifer smirked. "I didn't hear that. Say it louder." "I'm sorry!" "That sounded insincere." Melanie knew what Jennifer wanted—humiliation. Thinking of her parents, Melanie took a deep breath and said hoarsely, "I was petty and despicable. I was envious of Mr. Lambert's love for Ms. Knowles, so I tried to harm Ms. Knowles. It was all my fault. I'm sorry." "That barely sounded sincere, but I'll take it. Since you slapped me twice, just saying sorry doesn't make us even. I'm kindhearted and can't bring myself to hit you, so why don't you slap yourself twice?" Jennifer snuggled into Ken's arms, blinking innocently. Melanie couldn't understand how someone could be so shameless. Jennifer killed her child and still demanded that she, the victim, slap herself. Melanie suppressed her overwhelming anger and instinctively looked to Ken. However, he avoided her gaze and said coldly, "Do it. Once you're done, it'll all be settled." Chapter 6 "Haha…" Melanie let out a bitter laugh, but tears began to fall. She must have been blind to love a man like this, to think he was perfect in every way. Jennifer’s eyes were full of mockery. "Melanie, are you trying to gain sympathy?" Ken frowned impatiently. "Hurry up and do it! Jen still needs to rest!" "I know." Melanie took a deep breath, and slapped herself across the face. Then, she slapped herself again. With her cheeks burning, she looked at them with empty eyes and asked, "Is that enough?" Jennifer pouted. "It seemed a little light." Ken turned his head away, avoiding her gaze. "Keep going." Slap! Slap! By the time blood trickled from Melanie’s mouth, Jennifer finally seemed satisfied. "Melanie, I recorded that and sent it to the group chat. It’s for your own good, to teach you a lesson. Don’t blame me." Melanie’s face throbbed with pain and swelling. She just wanted to leave. "Can I go now?" "Sure," Jennifer said. "Just remember not to fake a miscarriage again. Your acting skills are terrible. You're like a clown!" Melanie thought of the child she had lost, her heart aching sharply, and turned to leave. In this failed relationship, she had indeed been nothing but a pathetic clown. As Melanie walked out, Ken chased after her. "Don’t forget to make dinner for Jen tonight. She wants crab roe pasta. Make sure there’s plenty of crab roe!" Melanie couldn’t understand how he could act as if nothing had happened. He was expecting her to cook for the woman who caused her miscarriage. She should have felt sadness, but her feelings had long turned numb. She couldn’t even muster anger—all that was left was disgust. "Jennifer caused my miscarriage. I won’t cook for her. Ken, I won’t press charges this time, but remember this. From now on, I owe you nothing!" she spat. In the past, he had done a lot for her and her family. But from now on, it was all over. His kindness would no longer hold her hostage. Melanie had spoken with finality. Ken was momentarily stunned, but his shock quickly turned into rage. "What do you mean by that? You hurt Jen! What right do you have to press charges?" Just then, Jennifer called out coyly from the ward, "Ken!" Without another word, Ken stormed back to Jennifer, leaving behind a cold warning as he left. "Melanie, you'd better watch out!" Very soon, Melanie heard the sound of passionate kissing from the ward. It reminded her of when she first met Ken. Back then, he always seemed melancholic, often holding her tightly and repeatedly asking, "Baby, you’re not like the others. You’ll never leave me, right?" Melanie didn’t know what he had been through to make him so insecure, but her heart ached for him. No matter how many times he asked, she would patiently promise, "No, I’ll always stay with you!" He didn’t like her having male acquaintances, so she deleted them all from her contacts. If she talked to other men, he would get upset, so she avoided interacting with them altogether. When he wanted her by his side at all times, she gave up career opportunities to stay with him. For eight years, he had taken for granted that she would always be there. But now, she had decided to leave. Her phone kept chiming. Melanie opened it and found that the video of her slapping herself had been shared in several group chats. [She looks like a stray dog no one wants!] [Isn’t she just Ken’s lapdog? If Ken told her to eat dirt, she would.] Screenshots from the group chats spread online, fueling the excitement of Ken and Jennifer’s fans. [Who is this mistress getting what she deserves? (smirks)] [Ken truly loves his wife. He’s so ruthless to this gold-digger! I love it!] [Stick to being a screenwriter! Why try to be a mistress? Did you really think Ken, the ultimate boyfriend, would put up with your nonsense? Serves you right!] Countless people swarmed Melanie’s social media accounts, leaving vile comments. Staring at the insults, she left the group chats, deleted her accounts, and logged out of everything. Jamie soon called. "Do you need my help?" "Thanks, but no. I’ll be gone in four days anyway." Melanie hung up and, amidst whispers of 'that’s the mistress-screenwriter,' took a taxi back to the 'home' she had once thoughtfully decorated. At that moment, she was only grateful her parents were too old to use the internet and wouldn’t see the scandal. Despite the physical pain Melanie was in, she gathered all their items—matching slippers, toothbrush cups, pajamas, trinkets, photo albums, love letters, and souvenirs from their trips. She threw away anything that was remotely connected to her relationship with Ken. Then, she marked off the 26th on her calendar. "Just a little longer, Melanie," she told herself. "In four days, you can leave." She placed her hand on her empty stomach, feeling a bleak void in her heart. In the eight-year-long relationship, she was the only one who fought to save it. She only wanted to get through the next few days peacefully. But on the morning of the 27th, Ken called, demanding her to deliver food to Jennifer. When Melanie refused, he showed up with Jennifer in tow. "Go be a stand-in for Jen and act in the drowning scene for her!" Ken demanded. Melanie had been telling herself to endure. Just a few more days, and she’d be free. Yet, his demands grew more and more absurd. Holding back her anger, she refused. "I won’t be her stand-in! It’s freezing in the dead of winter. I just had a miscarriage. Getting soaked in cold water could kill me!" she snapped. Chapter 7 Suddenly, Jennifer slapped Melanie hard across the face. Through her tears, Jennifer cried, "You know how unbearable it is to soak in cold water in this weather, so why did you deliberately give my stand-in expired milk tea? You made her sick, and now, she couldn't come to work! You did this to force me into the water, didn't you?" Melanie touched her swollen cheek. Feeling wronged, she tried to explain, "I didn't! I don't even know who your stand-in is!" The next second, Ken snarled, "Shut up! If you didn't do it, are you saying Jennifer is lying?" A chorus of voices from the crowd chimed in to accuse Melanie. "The stand-in isn't here, and Melanie happens to be the only one with the height, body type, and resemblance to Ms. Knowles who can be her substitute. What's her excuse for refusing?" "Melanie made the mistake, and now everyone has to clean up her mess. How annoying!" "She's so shameless! Ms. Knowles' stand-in didn't even press charges against her. That's more than generous. How does she have the nerve to refuse to take the stand-in's place?" Ken shot Melanie a cold glare. "We could've wrapped up with filming today, but you're holding up the entire production." Although Melanie hadn't done anything, she had been turned into everyone's scapegoat. She tried explaining several times, but no one would listen. They all continued berating her. In the end, Melanie was forced to go into the water. The production couldn't finish shooting smoothly otherwise, and she didn't want to delay her departure. Before stepping into the water after she dressed for the scene, Melanie looked at Ken. "Forcing your girlfriend who just had a miscarriage into icy water. Do you even have a conscience, Ken?" "Stop pretending! I've always taken precautions. You couldn't have been pregnant! Be good and cooperate. Once we wrap up filming, I'll take you to meet my parents." "No, Ken. I'm leaving." In four days, she'd be gone—they would never meet again. Melanie was telling the truth, but Ken didn't take her seriously. "Leaving?" he snorted. "Throwing a tantrum and going back to your family for a couple of days, only to come crawling back? Grow up and stop playing childish games!" Growing impatient with Melanie's reluctance, he pushed her into the water. The icy chill seeped through Melanie's body, bone-deep, making her shiver uncontrollably. The cold wind biting at her wet skin caused every cell in her body to tremble. After multiple retakes due to errors, Melanie remained in the freezing water for far too long. Her limbs grew weak, her forehead burned with fever, and her vision blurred. Before losing consciousness, she caught a glimpse of Ken and Jennifer kissing each other affectionately beneath a sycamore tree. How ironic. Melanie was hospitalized with a high fever and passed out, remaining there from the 27th to the 29th. For three days, Ken didn't visit her at all—not even once. Her social media, however, buzzed non-stop with news about him and Jennifer. [Ken spent 30 million to buy a 100-carat pink diamond ring for Jennifer, sparking engagement rumors.] [Ken and Jennifer spotted on a romantic dinner date at a fine-dining restaurant.] [Ken admits in an interview that he only shares intimate scenes with Jennifer on-screen.] When Melanie was discharged and returned to her apartment, she crossed the 29th off her calendar. That was when Ken showed up. He pulled out a bracelet and hugged her from behind, his tone intimate as he tried to fasten it onto her wrist. "I've been busy these past few days and couldn't get away to visit you at the hospital. I got you a gift. I got it just for you, so don't be upset anymore." Melanie had seen the bracelet on social media. It was a freebie that came with the jewelry set he had gifted Jennifer. Without a flicker of emotion, she pulled away. "Such a precious gift would be wasted on me. Why don't you just give it to Jennifer?" "Are you jealous? Jennifer and I are just playing up our relationship for publicity. It's all work! You're my real girlfriend. I haven't seen you in days. Did you miss me?" Ken smirked at her, as though everything was the same as always. Whenever they fought, he'd return like this as if nothing had happened. He reached out to hug her, placing a mask over her face. When he looked at her again, his gaze carried the same tender affection he reserved for Jennifer. "Baby, I love you so much. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you. Please stop being distant and make me sad, okay? My heart hurts so much!" Ken looked at her—Melanie couldn't tell if he was speaking to her, or gazing past her while declaring his love for someone else. Chapter 8 Melanie used to think the face mask was one of Ken's peculiar quirks. Now that she knew the truth, all she felt was disgust. She pushed him away in revulsion, taking off the mask. "Ken, I don't want this." Ken was rarely refused by her, so he seemed a little disappointed. "Is it that time of the month?" "Yeah." Melanie, drained from dealing with him, walked out. She wasn't surprised that he came back to coax her—Jennifer had probably ditched him again. Melanie scrolled through Jennifer's social media account. Sure enough, Jennifer's latest post read, [My uncle heard I was done with filming and came to visit me. He really spoils me! We went out together, and so many people asked if he was my boyfriend. Do you think we really look like a couple? (embarrassed emoji)] The post included a photo of her with her uncle. Underneath was a comment from Ken's closest friend, Wayne Shelton. [Ken's been in love with you for years. Whatever you asked him to do, he'd do it. Even if you told him to die, he'd do it! Why did you reject his confession a few days ago and flirt with another man? Are you just treating him like a dog you play with?] Jennifer replied, [Ken has always been my good friend. My uncle is just someone I respect.] Wayne shot back, [Respect, my ass! Are you even related to him by blood? You're just an orphan he took in!] There were plenty of other comments below. Melanie let out a cold laugh. "So you two fought again, and now you've come running back to me." She stopped scrolling, turned off her phone, and continued packing her things. If Ken paid attention, he would have noticed that many of her belongings were missing. However, he didn't notice anything unusual. As Melanie double-checked to ensure she hadn't left anything behind, Ken came over with her calendar in his hand. "I saw that you crossed out all the days this week and wrote 'the last day' here. What's that supposed to mean?" She glanced at the calendar in his hand, unfazed. "It's nothing." Ken smiled knowingly. "I get it. You're reminding me that tomorrow's our eighth anniversary, right? How could I forget such an important day? Don't worry, I've got it all planned out." "Yeah." Melanie let him think what he wanted. She didn't care anymore. If he wanted to celebrate tomorrow, fine. She'd take the opportunity to officially break up with him. As soon as Melanie woke up the next morning, Ken was standing in front of her with a large bouquet of red roses. "Melanie, happy eighth anniversary!" "Okay." Melanie accepted the flowers and casually put them down somewhere nearby, showing none of her previous excitement to take photos and share them online. She also didn't bother to remind him that her favorite flowers were pink lilies, not red roses. Ken looked surprised. "Don't you like them? I'll get you something else next time." "Okay." Whatever. There wouldn't be a next time. Ken still didn't notice anything wrong with Melanie's mood. After giving her the flowers, he accompanied her to the home theater to watch a romantic movie. It was one he and Jennifer had starred in. Ken was engrossed but Melanie was indifferent, scrolling through her phone the entire time. At noon, Ken surprisingly prepared a full meal on his own. He even opened a bottle of vintage red wine, pouring a glass for each of them. Ken pulled out a chair for Melanie. Once she sat down, he raised his glass to her. "Melanie, happy eighth anniversary!" Melanie had no desire to clink glasses with him. She was about to bring up their breakup and leave. "Ken, we need to—" Right at that moment, Ken's phone buzzed. He glanced at the caller ID, hesitated for a moment, and canceled it. But when the call came in again, he quickly answered, sounding a bit restrained. "Why are you calling me? You've already rejected me." "Ken, I feel so awful! Can you come and be with me?" Jennifer's tearful voice came through the line, instantly dissipating any irritation Ken had. "Where are you? I'll come right away!" He hung up, grabbed his coat, and rushed out. "Ken—" Melanie called out to him, but he didn't even stop. All he said was, "Wait for me!" He got into his car and disappeared from her sight. Melanie looked at the table full of food, and let out a mocking laugh. Wait for him? Hadn't she waited long enough? Clearly, there was no need for any formal goodbyes. She crossed out the 30th on her calendar, pulled out her small suitcase, and sent Ken a text. [Let's break up, Ken.] With that, she left for the airport without hesitation. She had loved him for eight years, but it only took her eight days to erase every trace of that love. From that day forth, she never wanted to see him again.