Chapter 4

Lily came and went from the Pierce Holdings building like she owned the place. Everyone assumed she was Mrs. Pierce. After all, I'd kept my identity hidden at Rainfall Entertainment---no one knew about my relationship with Holt.

But Lily was different. She would loudly call Holt and act cute on the phone, then take takeout to his office.

As for me, after Holt coldly dismissed me the first time I visited, I never went again. Everyone else assumed I was some D-list actress trying to climb into the CEO's bed.

Lily was pure and lovely, and with Holt's backing, she quickly became popular, with resources constantly flowing her way.

When Lisa asked if I knew Lily, I said I didn't. Lisa then started gossiping about Lily, saying she acted like a diva and used her relationship with the CEO to snatch whatever endorsements she wanted.

It wasn't until three of my endorsements were stolen that I realized Lily was targeting me.

As for Holt, since I'd entered this industry, he'd never given me any preferential treatment. When we ran into each other in the building, he'd act like he didn't see me.

Back then, I still hadn't thought about divorce. After all, I really did like Holt.

Until something happened that seemed small to him.

For the first time, I felt that Holt and I couldn't make it work.

It started with a popular outdoor reality show that had invited both Lily and me. The whole thing had been harmonious.

Lily played the lively, cheerful starlet, while I dutifully showed my strengths in the games.

That day, Holt unexpectedly came to visit the set. The directors around him all greeted him warmly.

That's when the accident happened. The wooden bridge by the lake was old and poorly maintained. When both Lily and I stepped onto it, it suddenly broke.

Both of us fell into the lake.

Chaos erupted around us. The crew members all started to jump in to save us.

But what no one expected was that Pierce Holdings' CEO Holt would be the first to jump into the lake.

I couldn't swim. When I saw Holt dive in, I thought he was coming to save me. After all, I was his wife, wasn't I?

But when I saw him grab Lily and start swimming toward the shore, my heart suddenly felt at peace.

I only had one thought: So after three years together, he doesn't love me.

Holt acted like he didn't even see that I'd fallen into the water too. He carried Lily to his car, so anxious, so distressed. As I sank to the bottom of the lake, all I could see was the car driving away.

By the time the crew members pulled me out, I'd already lost consciousness.

It was just that coincidental---everyone thought someone else would save me. But Holt's interruption made them forget about me entirely. When the assistant director shouted to save me, everyone suddenly remembered I existed.

I was rushed to the hospital. The show was suspended.

When I woke up, only my agent Lisa was by my side.

She was terrified, looking at me with red-rimmed eyes.

I moved my body. I didn't seem badly hurt.

"Lisa, I'm not dead."

"Don't say that! You scared me to death, Genesis. How could you be so unlucky? It's all because Mr. Pierce made such a big scene rescuing Lily that everyone forgot about you. Don't you feel terrible?"

"No."

My heart was very calm. I'd foolishly thought that Holt and I were husband and wife, that we were one unit. Reality had given me a harsh blow.

I thought, Holt and I---our fate ends here.

I was discharged that afternoon. I saw Holt supporting Lily, with Mr. and Mrs. Shaw following behind them.

They were smiling, like a happy family. Lily leaned weakly against Holt while Mrs. Shaw gently draped a jacket over her shoulders.

It was like they'd completely forgotten about me.