8
But a person can’t live in a single moment forever.
Carefully placing the bouquet before the tombstone, I rose and left. By the time I returned to the mansion, it was late night.
The buzz around Blake’s proposal gossip had died down.
New scandals had taken over the trending lists. The internet was truly fast; perhaps Blake himself had handled this one.
I packed some essentials, then took a shower.
As I lay in bed, my phone popped up with the latest trending news.
It was Skylar Vance’s clarification video.
She sat before the camera in a simple white T–shirt, her face pale. In the dim light, her red, swollen eyes clearly showed she’d been weeping.
“Hello everyone, I’m Skylar Vance. Regarding the proposal video circulating online, that was Mr. Sterling accompanying me for a scene rehearsal, which was maliciously filmed and spread by ill–intentioned individuals. I’m truly sorry for the impact it has had on Sterling Enterprises and Mr. Sterling’s family.”
As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. Looking utterly fragile and pathetic, she rose to her feet. A prominent scar marked her arm. She
bowed to the camera, then choked out,
“I also hope Mrs. Sterling can rest assured, Mr. Sterling and I are completely innocent.”
With that, the video ended.
I clicked on the comment section, and it was exactly as I’d imagined.
“OMG, actresses care about their skin most, that arm injury can’t be self–inflicted, can it?”
“It must be that woman, afraid her husband will be stolen. After all, out of so many kept women, only Skylar gets special treatment.”
“Skylar’s been with him the longest, and the gifts she’s received are the most expensive. I bet that woman panicked.”
Scrolling further down, the speculation became too repulsive to read.
I exited the video, turned off my phone, and prepared to sleep. Blake returned.
He called my name before entering. When he pushed the door open, the veins on his arms were bulging.
