Chapter 11
As Amelia stepped out of the restaurant, a sly grin crept onto her face at the memory of Theo’s defeated expression.
She couldn’t help herself; the satisfaction was too sweet to suppress.
Her smugness didn’t go unnoticed by Vince.
It struck Vince how Amelia seemed to reinvent herself every time they met
The first time, she was a tear–streaked mess on the bridge, a tragic figure straight out of a melodrama
Just now, during their heated encounter at the restaurant, she was sharp and dazzling, like a blade unsheathed.
Now, her unrestrained glee was almost contagious
Feeling that good, huh?” Vince teased, his voice cutting into her thoughts
Amelia blinked, suddenly realizing her hand was still intertwined with his. Her brain stalled as their gazes locked for a brief moment
“Almost in sync, they released each other’s hands.
The warmth of his touch lingered on her skin.
Amelia quickly regained her composure, managing a polite smile. Thanks for earlier. If I’m not mistaken, you’re the one who saved me that day, aren’t you?”
“I am.” Vince confirmed with a small nod
She couldn’t suppress a wave of disbelief. Twice now, she’d been caught at her worst by the same man.
Feeling awkward, she scrambled to steer the conversation elsewhere.
“Quite the coincidence, running into you here,” she offered
“Not exactly,” Vince replied. “I came here to find you. Sierra needs your help?
Amelia froze. Sierra–THE Sierra—was the actress filming under the bridge the day Evelyn jumped.
Her chest tightened as unease gripped her.
Vince gestured toward his car, holding the door open. Without a word, Amelia slipped into the passenger seat
As he sealed into the driver’s side, Vince turned toward her, his gaze lingering
Amelia felt her face flush under his scrutiny.
“What? Is there something on my face?” she stammered.
He didn’t answer immediately. Leaning closer, he made her heart pound in her chest.
With a click. Vince popped open the glove compartment, pulling out a small jar of ointment.
He held it up and nodded toward her neck. “You should use this. It might help prevent a scar.
Only then did Amelia remember her injury.
Lung the mirror, she pulled her collar aside, revealing her pale neck streaked with angry red marks and shallow scrapes, some of them still bleeding
Her stomach churned. Theo. The man she had loved for three years had left her battered and humiliated,
If Vince hadn’t intervened, she didn’t want to innagine how things might have ended.
She glanced at Vince, hús expression steady and unreadable,
Without a word, he uncapped the ointment and reached out to her.
9:27 AM
Chapter 11
His fingers were warm as they moved gently over her skin, applying the cool gel with soft, deliberate movements.
The slight sting of the ointment contrasted with his soothing touch.
Trapped in the confined space of the car, Amelia felt heat rising to her cheeks. She didn’t know where to look or how to respond.
Vince, unfazed, slipped a sleek silver business card from his pocket and handed it to her. “Because of Sierra’s situation, we’ll probably see more of each other. If you’re ever in trouble like today, call me.”
The card read: Vince Hollow, CEO. Gust & Glow Entertainment
The card was simple and clear, just like the man himself.
Before she could process this revelation, Vince’s phone rang, the soft voice of a woman culting through the air. “Vince, are you on your way? Did something happen”
Clancing at his watch, Vince replied calmly, “We’ll be there soon.”
The hospital was only a five–minute drive from the restaurant
Vince soon parked, and they made their way toward the inpatient wing.
Standing outside was Sierra, her tall, elegant figure immediately drawing attention.
Her presence was magnetic, commanding the space with an effortless grace
Despite her striking appearance, her expression revealed thinly veiled impatience
When she spotted Amelia, she removed her oversized sunglasses, revealing a delicate, doll–like face.
Her voice, however, was anything but gentle. “Miss Hartwell, isn’t it? Ever since your mother’s incident at the river, people online have accused me of driving her to suicide.
“I need you and your mother to cooperate with a clarification video. Let’s go.”
Sierra’s demeanor was imperious, her tone edged with authority even as she sought help.
Yet when she addressed Vince, there was an unmistakable softness to her voice.
But this time, Sierra’s predicament was genuine
The night Evelyn jumped into the river coincided with Sierra’s film shoot nearby
Opportunistic onlookers captured footage, twisting it into a damaging story that Sierra had bullied her crew so harshly it drove someone to suicide.
As a rising star, Sierra was no stranger to attention—both adoration and controversy. But this scandal spiraled out of control, igniting a firestorm of outrage online.
gal threats and public relations efforts failed to quell the backlash, and soon, the internet branded her a murderer.
Her team’s legal
Her career screeched to a halt. Every project was put on hold, and relentless hate poured in
Desperate to clear her name, Sierra tracked down Evelyn’s hospital, intent on proving her innocence,
Inside the hospital room, the group entered in a whirlwind.
Bouquets of fresh flowers, baskets of fruit, and boxes of expensive supplements piled onto the small table.
Evelyn looked up, startled by the influx of people. Her wide eyes darted from one stranger to the next.
“Who who are you?” she asked hesitantly.
Sierra’s manager, Cody Blackwell, stepped forward with a polished smile,
His charm was almost rehearsed. “Mrs. Ellington, we’re
e the people who helped you that night. We’d like to do a short interview with you, if that’s
alright”
Evelyn hesitated, her apprehension gradually fading as Cody’s demeanor put her at ease. Slowly, she nodded.
Amid the commotion, no one seemed to notice Vince standing near the doorframe.
927 AM
Chapter 11
His expression had changed the moment he entered.
From the moment he entered the room, his gaze remained fixed on Evelyn’s weary, aged face.
For a brief moment, he seemed lost, as if struck by a memory long buried
Barely audible, he murmured, “Tve finally found you…
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