Chapter 6 Join Showbiz
“Drop dead, you jerk!“Lamar opened the door with a sullen expression, and the wound on his thin lip was clearly visible.
He thought, “You bit me? You’ve got some nerve, Graciela.”
Meanwhile, Graciela slipped from behind him.
She pointed at him, snapping, “I’m warning you! You and I are through! I can sue you for harassing me!”
Suppressing his anger, he said in a deep voice, “Are you done, Graciela?”
“Do not touch me! If you come anywhere near me again, I swear I’ll call the cops!” She raised her voice.
Looking at their disheveled clothes and hearing their argument,
Leanna immediately had a general picture of what had happened in the lounge.
“You…”
She was pale–faced, and it seemed she’d collapse in any second.
Seeing this, Lamar quickly supported her.
“What’s wrong, Leanna?”
For some reason, seeing them so intimate made Graciela’s heart ached.
She couldn’t help but sneer, her barb harsh, “Gosh, get a room! One more second looking at you, I’ll throw up. I’m off.”
“Stop, Graciela!” Lamar blurted out.
He let go of Leanna and grabbed her wrist, sounding a bit anxious.
“Who are you with now? Where do you live?”
She shook his hand away, scoffing, “What’s it to you?
“To tell you the truth, I had a car accident and lost all memories of the past five years.
“Now, you’re just a stranger to me. I don’t know you, nor do I remember anything between us.
“Mr. Arellano, let go of me. And don’t show up in front of me
again. Let’s leave it at that. OK?”
Lamar didn’t know what to say for a second.
He thought, “No wonder she seems different.
“During those years when we were together, she was always
meek around me. And this side of her–so defiant and untamed -reminds me of the time we first met.”
“You had a car accident? Were you hurt…”
He blurted out instinctively, only to see her expression become impatient.
“I’m fine. Save your fake sympathy.”
He frowned. How come it seemed… she hated him?
Next to them, Leanna regained her calmness.
She said gently, “Lamar, Ms. Ferguson, don’t fight anymore.
“I know I’m partly to blame for how things turned out between
you two. Back then, I left and broke Lamar’s heart, or he
wouldn’t have found a substitute…”
“Watch your mouth, Leanna. Substitute? Who exactly are you
referring to?”
Willa suddenly showed up out of nowhere and shoved Leanna
away.
“Stop flattering yourself. You know what? You’re nothing
compared to Grace!”
Willa rolled her eyes.
Then she turned to Graciela and asked in a huff, “Grace, tell me.
Did they pick on you? Don’t be afraid. I’ll make things right for you!”
Graciela shook her head.
“I’m fine, Willa. Let’s go.”
She didn’t want to see either Lamar or Leanna ever again.
Lamar’s gaze upon her was so cold and stern, which upset her a lot.
Graciela and Willa turned to leave, while Lamar’s eyes were fixed on Graciela throughout this entire time.
Willa then sent Graciela back to the hospital, both agreeing not
to tell Emery what had happened today.
After Graciela repeatedly reassured Willa that Leanna hadn’t picked on her, Willa then came back to the company.
Graciela removed her makeup, changed back into her hospital
gown, and lay in bed. However, she tossed and turned, unable to
sleep at all.
She took out her phone and searched Lamar’s name online.
His name sounded so familiar.
Sure enough, the results showed that he was the CEO of the Arellano Group, the youngest billionaire, and the future heir of
the Arellano family. But that was all–she couldn’t find
anything else about him.
Not even a clear photo.
What she could find out about him online was so little.
He was so mysterious and lowkey. How did she manage to be with him in the first place?
The harder she tried to recall, the greater her headache became.
Then she tried searching for Leanna’s name, and the results stunned her.
It turned out Leanna was the big star who had recently returned from Haleywood.
She clicked on one of many interview videos, in which Leanna
was smiling gently at the camera.
“In fact, I came back for two reasons. For one, I wanted to build
my career in the country. For another, I wanted to apologize to
someone and patch things up with him. Many years ago, I failed
him, and I realize how wrong I was…”
Graciela thought, “Of course, that person is Lamar.
“Obviously, there’s something going on between them.
“Emery says Lamar is a jerk, dumping me for another woman.
So… that woman is Leanna?
“Lamar dumped me for Leanna? Seriously?
“What else is she besides an award–winning actress?
“My looks and family background are just as good as hers!”
The more she thought about it, the more furious she became. The next day, when Emery came to visit her with the soup he had cooked for two hours, she pouted.
She said in a huff, “Emery, I wanna join showbiz.”
Emery was so shocked that he nearly dropped the soup to the
floor.
“What now? Grace, where does this come from?
“Some people in showbiz can be really awful. You’re so harmless
and innocent–what if someone tries to hurt you? Stay at home,
OK? You never have to work. I’m more than happy to take care
of you for the rest of your life.”
