Until Fate Gave Us A Second Chance Full Hd Mega

Audra Paul

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Transcript

00:00I'm a model. Well, the other type of model, if you know what I mean.

00:03People in my line of work tend to have sugar daddies of their own.

00:05They often switch from one sugar daddy to another.

00:07Naturally, I have one too.

00:08My sugar daddy is Jacob Griffin Wood.

00:09Now that I think about it, it's been almost a year since I first met him.

00:12There's less than half a year till our contract expires.

00:15According to the rules of this industry, we should have a proper discussion on

00:17whether or not we should extend the contract or part ways.

00:19After all, youth is my greatest asset.

00:20It's very rare to have met a nice sugar daddy.

00:21If the contract isn't extended, I need to find my next target as soon as possible.

00:24If I have to be honest, I'm quite satisfied with Jacob as my sugar daddy.

00:27If he's willing to extend our contract, I'll definitely celebrate it with champagne.

00:30Unfortunately, based on my knowledge of Jacob, it's hard to say.

00:33He's too attractive after all.

00:34When a man's wealth and power reaches a certain point,

00:36countless new people will flock to him in droves.

00:38No matter how much I flaunt my charms, the fact that I've reached my body's limit still stands.

00:42Over the year, we've tried everything in bed.

00:44Jacob is no longer interested in me.

00:46Jacob has assigned me a villa halfway up the mountain.

00:48That's almost 5,300 square feet.

00:50His previous lovers had stayed here.

00:51I'm not sure how many lovers Jacob had,

00:52but the thought of leaving this villa in half a month makes me depressed.

00:55When it's almost late night, Mary Atkins, the housekeeper, wakes me up

00:57and tells me that Jacob is here.

00:59Naturally, I have to be of service to him.

01:00This line of work isn't as easy as it looks.

01:01I can't just lie on the bed and do nothing.

01:03Besides being able to read the room and handle people, you also need a stroke of luck.

01:05If a model ends up with a questionable sugar daddy,

01:07not only does she lose all the money, but her body also gets ruined.

01:09I've been in this line of work for three years.

01:10A few of my colleagues need to wear diapers for the rest of their lives.

01:12I'm considered pretty lucky.

01:14Jacob doesn't have any flaws other than the fact that he loves tormenting me in bed.

01:16Also, he's very generous with money.

01:17I hurry down the stairs in a robe.

01:18Jacob is already lying on the couch with his eyes squinted.

01:25In a high-pitched voice, I call out to him softly.

01:27Have some tea, Mr. Wood.

01:28Jacob's last name is Griffin Wood, but he has a quirk.

01:30He hates it when others call him Mr. Griffin Wood.

01:31I'm a woman of zero culture, you see.

01:32I never knew that.

01:33Griffin Wood is an actual compound surname.

01:34That's how I accidentally got Jacob's attention.

01:36According to Jacob, many people tend to address him respectfully as Mr. Griffin Wood.

01:39Whenever it happens, he just feels like slapping him on the spot.

01:41Jacob manages to take two sips from the teacup before he frowns.

01:43Quickly, I remove the teacup from his lips.

01:45The mixture of the stench of alcohol and the fragrance of perfume disgusts me to no end.

01:48Still, I strip Jacob's clothes and socks off him and fetch a basin of warm water

01:50so that I can give him a proper white down while maintaining a straight face.

01:53Jacob is still conscious.

01:54He cooperates by moving his head and arm for me.

01:56Georgia, how long have we been together?

01:57It's been almost a year, Mr. Wood.

01:59Jacob nods in response.

02:00That means our contract is aspiring soon, right?

02:01My heart skips a beat.

02:02Jacob is going to discuss the contract with me now.

02:03If he doesn't plan on extending it, I wonder how lucrative of a breakup fee I can receive.

02:06Jacob is a generous man.

02:07If he gives me enough money, I'll quit being a model once and for all.

02:09Unfortunately, Jacob doesn't say anything else.

02:10After asking that question, I keep waiting for him to speak up as I sit next to him.

02:12All I hear is Jacob's deep breathing, seeing as he's falling asleep.

02:14The next day, my friend Alice Lane has invited me to a salon.

02:16If this were to happen before I turned 18, I'd never have thought that.

02:18I visit a place like the salon so frequently.

02:20Everyone in this line of work is very competitive.

02:21Although we earn a lot of money, our expenses are huge as well.

02:23New blood keeps gushing into this industry.

02:25Once age is no longer on my side, my skills and appearance require more upkeep.

02:27I go for the treatment packages that cover from head to toe.

02:29Every time I visit the salon, I have to spend at least $5,000.

02:31I send hundreds of thousands of most on the packages.

02:32Previously, I went for a package that cost me $200,000.

02:35My heart was practically bleeding when I paid for it.

02:36Then again, the effects were pretty amazing.

02:38That night, Jacob couldn't resist my allure at all.

02:39This is a rare occasion.

02:40After all, Jacob's self-control is insanely strong.

02:42I always give it my all in bed, but he tends to hold his urge in at the last moment.

02:45Alice asks me what I plan on doing next.

02:46She's gotten to know a pretty decent sugar daddy in the elite society.

02:49If I'm interested in getting to know him, she will take me with her to the next gathering.

02:51I turn her down on the spot.

02:53Although Jacob most likely won't extend our contract, I'm still within the contracted period.

02:56If I dare look for my next target behind his back, I'll be signing my own death warrant.

02:59I wonder who's lucky enough to become Jacob's next lover.

03:01Alice sounds quite jealous.

03:03No idea, I reply decisively.

03:05Jacob dislikes it when others speculate what he's thinking.

03:07But the thing is, it's already a natural impulse for people in this line of work

03:09to speculate what clients are thinking.

03:10Over the year of being with Jacob, many people deliver beautiful playthings to him,

03:13yet men or women.

03:13Truthfully speaking, sugar daddies don't mind their playthings genders at all.

03:15As long as they can make the sugar daddies happy, they will earn a lot of money.

03:17Jacob used to be passionate about me at first, but as time passed, he grew more nonchalant

03:20toward me.

03:21Perhaps the honeymoon phase has passed, and he's lost interest in me.

03:23Perhaps he'll get himself a new lover to have fun with next year.

03:25Halfway through my treatment package, I receive a phone call from Jacob.

03:28He gives me an address and tells me to head over immediately.

03:29The address belongs to a private estate.

03:30Only members are permitted entry, making the estate an extremely discreet place.

03:32I have vague feeling about what I can come next.

03:33When I arrive at the private estate, I find out that Jacob is entertaining some clients

03:35who hails from hell me on.

03:36The reason I'm there is so that I can entertain these clients using alternative ways.

03:40Well, this is my original job, so I'm back in my element.

03:42I keep downing glass after glass of alcohol while kissing up to the clients nonstop.

03:45The atmosphere in the private estate is very boisterous.

03:46In fact, one of the clients hands me his business card and tells me that he really likes me

03:49right in front of Jacob.

03:50I shoot a discreet glance at Jacob, hoping to probe his attitude.

03:53Unfortunately, I can never guess what Jacob is thinking, so I can't tell what he's feeling

03:57at the moment.

03:57I'm not that smart, but thankfully I'm a very cautious person.

04:00I won't do anything that might displease Jacob right in front of him, so I turn down

04:04the client in a tactful manner.

04:05I even tell the client that I forever belong to Jacob.

04:08Everyone is tickled pink by my statement.

04:09Well, everyone by Jacob.

04:10He remains seated on his chair in a nonchalant manner while gazing at me with those eyes

04:13I can never see through.

04:13I just smile brightly at him in return.

04:15When the business meeting with these VIP ends, the night is actually just beginning.

04:18Everyone soon switches to another location.

04:20In a huge private room, the coffee table is filled with a variety of expensive alcohol.

04:22Soon, Amadam brings a group of young men and women into the private room.

04:25They are like intricately packaged products, which are displayed on the shelf for the clients

04:27to pick them out.

04:28I even spot people who have just come of age in the group.

04:29Those who are involved in this line of work must have just extremely sharp eyes.

04:31I can tell at first glance who is truly young and who's just pretending to be young.

04:33Jacob draws out lazily.

04:34The one who has just come of age can stay.

04:36Immediately, I perk up an alert.

04:37Shady tricks and vile plots don't scare me.

04:38But the thing is, I can never win against age.

04:40I'm just pretending to be innocent, but that youngster is innocent by nature.

04:43Is this your first time entertaining a client?

04:43Jacob asks the youngster.

04:45She nods, feeling awkward and anxious.

04:46After that, she pours a glass of alcohol for Jacob clumsily.

04:47Maybe she's too nervous, for alcohol has spilled out of the glass.

04:50Jacob isn't angry at the young woman at all.

04:51Instead, he shoots me a look, which I understand immediately.

04:53I know I'll have to be the one doing such minuscule tasks.

04:54As for entertaining Jacob and the others, the youngster is capable of doing that.

04:57I pay attention to everyone and everything, while keeping my ears perked at all times.

04:58I'm the one refilling glasses, and seeing the higher things up.

05:00When the clients are in the mood for something better, I'm also the one dancing for everyone.

05:02Vaguely, I can hear Jacob chatting with the youngster, in that languid tone of his.

05:04He asks her what her name is, and how old she is.

05:06Apparently, the youngster, Mila Jones, is 18 years old, and hails from a coastal town far, far away.

05:09Her family is sick, and she's in a tough financial situation right now.

05:10Honestly speaking, the background of the story is overused by everyone.

05:13Not to mention it's so lame.

05:13I don't even bother using that story.

05:14Back when Jacob asked me why I was in this line of work, I just told him that I was

05:16lazy.

05:17I truly believed that, and didn't want to put in effort just to earn money.

05:18This refreshing, interesting, and honest excuse is the reason why Jacob developed an interest in me.

05:21Alas, Jacob actually believes Mila's excuse.

05:23He even digs out his checkbook, and writes her a check.

05:25The sight leaves me stunned.

05:26Had I known that selling a soft story works on Jacob, I wouldn't have waited till Mila proved it to

05:29me.

05:29If Jacob prefers people with tragic backgrounds, he could have told me from the start.

05:31Back when I was still a student, I was one of the top-ranking students with excellent grades.

05:33I always represented my school in essay competitions.

05:34Naturally, I could easily invent a sad story whenever I want.

05:35It's already 3 a.m.

05:36By the time the drinking party is over, Jacob has already left with Mila.

05:39Thankfully, he's not that big of an ingrate.

05:40At least he's kind enough to provide a ride home, considering how hard I work tonight.

05:43The air conditioner is turned on in the car, so the temperature is just right.

05:46But perhaps I've had too much to drink, or my body feels warmer than usual.

05:48See, in the back, I try my hardest to hold it in.

05:49In the end, I can't hold it any longer, so I have the driver stop the car.

05:51Before the car comes to a complete halt, I get out of the car instantly.

05:52As I cling to the dirty trash can by the side of the road, I vomit into it non-stop.

05:54One year with Jacob, and my tolerance for alcohol has plummeted.

05:56After only 8 bottles of mixed red and white wine tonight, I've reached my limit.

06:00The driver kindly gets out, and hands me some tissues.

06:02The bile I'm throwing up fills my mouth with bitterness.

06:04I awkwardly thank the driver.

06:05Are you okay?

06:06Should I take you to the hospital?

06:08It's okay.

06:08I wave it off.

06:09I'm fine.

06:10I know my body.

06:11It's not the first time I've drunk myself sick.

06:12I'm not that delicate.

06:13I force myself to head home.

06:14My brain feels like complete mush.

06:16I feel like I can drop dead into a deep sleep.

06:17The moment I close my eyes, yet, the second I hit the mattress, all traces of sleep vanish.

06:20I have this strong feeling that my position is about to be taken by Mila.

06:24How is she so lucky?

06:25It was her first time out, and she met Jacob?

06:27I'm freaking jealous.

06:28Turns out, I was right.

06:29For the next week, I don't see Jacob.

06:31But I hear about him from everyone.

06:34Mila has, unsurprisingly, become Jacob's new favorite.

06:36She's the talk of the town now.

06:37Every time I hear it, I just curse myself for choosing to be the understanding type back then.

06:40If I had been more spoiled and demanding, I could have confidently marched up to Jacob,

06:44and told him to not have a new woman replace me.

06:45Days pass, and eventually, the con-

06:47I'm smart.

06:48Before Jacob even asks me to leave, I've already packed my bags.

06:51I know that.

06:52He hasn't mentioned renewing the contract, because he doesn't want to continue.

06:55But what can I do?

06:56Going from luxury to simplicity is tough.

06:57I really don't want to give up this villa, or the housekeepers.

06:59Jacob sends his secretary to talk to me.

07:00He offers me an apartment.

07:01It's a full floor flat downtown, worth around six million dollars.

07:04My first thought is, to sell it and cash out.

07:05I'm not exactly flush with cash, and my expenses are through the roof.

07:07If I stay there a few months, I'll struggle to even pay the maintenance fees.

07:10The day after I move out of the villa, a business card comes into my hands.

07:13It's the one I turn down.

07:14At Jacob's dinner.

07:15Alice tells me, I think this guy is pretty good as a sugar daddy.

07:18You're done.

07:18With Jacob now?

07:19So you need to grab this chance.

07:20I hesitate.

07:21He's from Halmyon.

07:22I'm not keen on going there.

07:23I don't know that place.

07:24Oh, come on.

07:25You're worrying about nothing.

07:26A guy with a status?

07:26You won't be his only woman.

07:28He's probably got women.

07:29Stashed here and there, maybe even a dozen more overseas.

07:31Just have him rent you a place, and stay here.

07:33If he's ever in town for business, you can take care of him.

07:35Listen, you can't rest now.

07:36In our line of work, once you stop, you'll never get back up.

07:39You have to keep networking, and stay in touch with your sugar daddies.

07:41There are thousands of beautiful ladders and fun women out there.

07:43You need to give them a reason to spend big money on you.

07:45Noticing my silence, Alice narrows her eyes.

07:47Georgia, I don't tell you've actually fallen for Jacob.

07:49You're right, I finally say.

07:50I need to get myself together.

07:51I can't stop.

07:52I need to make more money.

07:53There's a golf event this weekend.

07:54I'll bring you along.

07:55Alice is pleased.

07:56You'd better seize the opportunity.

07:57I learn about the preferences of Lance Gordy, my sugar daddy from Halmyon.

07:59On the day of the golf event, the moment I see him, I can feel the weight of his gaze

08:02falling upon me.

08:03I know right away that my business for the year is set.

08:05I make Lance laugh with my charm.

08:07Pretending I don't know how to play, I lean in close to him.

08:09I'm busy with the club while he's busy with me.

08:11We both get what we need.

08:12From a distance, a golf cart approaches.

08:14I look up and see Jacob holding Mila in his arms.

08:17He's looking at me with an indifferent stare.

08:18I'm nestled in Lance's arms.

08:20The two of us move like a single entity as we swing the club.

08:23Following a solid thwack, the ball takes a nonsensical path.

08:26It flies up in the air and lands squarely on Jacob's head.

08:29At that moment, I've already picked out where my grave should be.

08:31I must have committed some horrible crime against this ball.

08:33This golf course is a thousand acres wide, so why does it have to hit?

08:36Jacob's head specifically?

08:37Lance behind me immediately lets go.

08:38He looks like he can't wait to cut ties with me.

08:40I get it.

08:41In this place, nobody wants to get on Jacob's bad side.

08:44Whether I actually hit that ball today doesn't matter.

08:45The result can only be, and will definitely be, that I hit it.

08:48Mr. Griffin would.

08:49I'm so sorry.

08:50Let me take you to the hospital right away.

08:51Lance rushes over, looking guilty.

08:53This is all my fault.

08:54I wasn't watching her closely enough.

08:55I raise my hand and rub my eyes.

08:57They instantly turn red.

08:57Looking panicked, I drop to my knees in front of Jacob.

09:00My voice shakes.

09:01Mr. Wood, I'm sorry.

09:02I'm so sorry.

09:03I really don't know what happened.

09:04Honestly though, this grass is pretty soft to kneel on.

09:06It doesn't hurt my knees at all.

09:07My head stays down, so I can't see Jacob's face.

09:09But everything around us goes silent.

09:10The mood is clearly serious.

09:12I was kind of hoping Jacob might go easy on me since I've served him.

09:15For a whole year.

09:17It seems like that's not happening.

09:18His bodyguards yank me up.

09:19Two guys, one on each side, grab my arms and practically drag me.

09:23Another step toward Jacob.

09:24Jacob sits there on his golf cart, looking down at me.

09:27His eyes are full of disgust.

09:28Looks like Mr. Cordy is quite taken with Georgia.

09:30He says it with a smile, but his voice is ice cold.

09:32Guess today.

09:33I'll be taking what belongs to someone else.

09:35She's just a plaything.

09:36How dare she hurt you.

09:37As long as you're satisfied.

09:38Mr. Griffin would.

09:39Do whatever you want.

09:40Lance sells me out without hesitation.

09:41You rarely visit.

09:42I wouldn't want you getting lonely.

09:44Jacob gives Mila a gentle nudge toward Lance.

09:47Think of her as a little gift from me.

09:48I hope you won't mind.

09:49People like us only exist to please others.

09:52So being treated like objects, traded or given away, happens all the time.

09:55I lost my new sugar daddy and pissed off my old one.

09:57My mind goes dark.

09:58I have no idea how Jacob will punish me.

10:00I'm scared of pain.

10:01I'm terrified of it.

10:02But I can't just end it all either.

10:03Because I want to live.

10:04I want to live so desperately.

10:06Jacob takes me to his actual home.

10:07A place I've never been.

10:08All of his homes are mansions.

10:10This one doesn't look that different from the one I used to stay in.

10:13The bodyguards throw me on the floor.

10:14Footsteps echo all around me.

10:15I curl up with my head pressed to the ground.

10:17Who's scared to move?

10:18After a while everything goes quiet.

10:19Jacob's voice comes from above me.

10:21Georgia, look up.

10:22I flinch.

10:23Then slowly lift my head to look at him.

10:24My face is covered in tears.

10:26Showing weakness is sometimes a tactic.

10:28It has nothing to do with gender.

10:29I never used to cry.

10:31I knew no one would care if I did.

10:32So I refused to let myself shed tears.

10:34Then I got into this line of work.

10:34And realized that men actually love watching us cry.

10:37They love being worshipped by the weak.

10:38Even more, they love crushing the weak beneath their feet.

10:39Grinding them down.

10:40Why are you crying?

10:41Jacob asks me.

10:42Subconsciously, I think his mood seems a bit better now.

10:44Because his posture is clearly more relaxed than when he was with Lance.

10:48I gather my courage and crawl toward him.

10:49Looking pitiful, I place my hands on his knees.

10:51My face is full of hurt.

10:53Mr. Wood, please forgive me.

10:54I really didn't mean to.

10:55Jacob's eyes darken.

10:56He reaches out and grabs my chin.

10:58His grip isn't hard.

10:59His thumb strokes my neck gently.

11:00Your new sugar daddy abandoned you.

11:02New sugar daddy, old sugar daddy.

11:04I only want you, Mr. Wood.

11:05I blink.

11:06And tears fall.

11:06But you don't want me anymore.

11:08You have someone new.

11:08An old toy like me isn't good enough for you anymore.

11:10Funny.

11:10I've never heard you say this before.

11:12Jacob says to me, I force a smile and lower my eyes.

11:14Someone in my position has no right to say such things.

11:17Then why say it today all of a sudden?

11:18I was scared that if I didn't say it now, I'd never get another chance.

11:20In your mind, am I really that cruel and heartless?

11:22Jacob forces me to look at him.

11:25Any idiot knows this is absolutely not the time to tell the truth.

11:27But if I lie, Jacob won't believe me either.

11:29What do I do?

11:30My life depends on this.

11:31I grip my teeth, straighten my back, tilt my head up, and kiss Jacob's thin lips.

11:34They say, people with thin lips are usually heartless.

11:36I think there's truth to that saying.

11:38Jacob doesn't push me away, but he doesn't kiss me back either.

11:40I close my eyes, kissing him carefully.

11:42My hands shake as I undo Jacob's belt.

11:44When it comes to pleasing men with my body, I'm way too good at it.

11:47As long as Jacob lets me see this through, today's incident will be forgiven.

11:50I work hard to please him.

11:51After a year with him, I know exactly how to satisfy him.

11:54Move back in tomorrow, he says.

11:55Don't bother packing your things.

11:56I'll have someone buy you new stuff.

11:58I don't know if this counts as a blessing in disguise.

11:59I'm back by Jacob's side, but this time, he doesn't make me sign a contract.

12:02Not only that, he no longer just visits the mansion.

12:05Once in a while, he moves in completely.

12:07My friends praise my tactics.

12:08I actually want Jacob back, and by the looks of it, I might actually become permanent.

12:12Going permanent doesn't mean becoming his wife.

12:14It means I'm qualified to stay with Jacob, not on a contract basis, but long-term and stable.

12:17The kind where I can rely on him for the rest of my life.

12:20That kind of relationship.

12:21Too bad I'm on pills.

12:21I can't have kids.

12:22Otherwise, if I gave Jacob a kid or two, my position would be completely secure.

12:25I don't really buy into all that.

12:26Never mind that I can't have kids.

12:27Even if I could, I would never have Jacob's child.

12:30At airport arrivals, I'm waiting eagerly.

12:32Jacob's been on this business trip for almost a month.

12:33Honestly, I actually kind of miss him.

12:35The display screen showed the plane had landed.

12:37I count down every second until finally, I spot Jacob in the distance.

12:40Mr. Wood, I throw my arm up excitedly, waving hard.

12:43Jacob looks over.

12:43It's rare, but his eyes hold a hint of warmth.

12:45Every once in a while, I catch myself thinking maybe we're just a normal couple,

12:49no different from the thousands of other couples in the world.

12:51Lost in that thought, my gaze drifts to the side.

12:54My eyes meet someone else's.

12:55What a surprise, of all places, I'm running into my birth mother at the airport.

12:58My birth wasn't exactly honorable.

12:59Getting into this line of work wasn't voluntary either, but trauma has a way of clustering together.

13:03My story might earn a few tears if it were on TV, but in this industry, it's nothing special.

13:07So I never play the victim.

13:08Plenty of people have it worse.

13:09Who am I to complain?

13:10The airport is crowded.

13:11I look away naturally and rush toward Jacob, throwing my arms around him to show how much I missed him.

13:16Jacob wraps one arm around me.

13:17His tone is casual, but his expression is soft.

13:19That happy to see me?

13:20Very happy.

13:21I nod enthusiastically.

13:22He chuckles, clearly pleased.

13:24Unusually, in front of others.

13:25He takes my hand.

13:26I'm completely floored.

13:27Jacob always travels with an entourage.

13:29My existence is an open secret, but my status was never respectable.

13:31He rarely shows affection to someone like me in public.

13:34I focus entirely on him, partly to show how much I missed him, partly to keep my gaze from wandering

13:38where it shouldn't.

13:39But in the end, I can't help myself.

13:40I glance back.

13:41My biological mother is chatting intimately with a young woman while smiling.

13:44That's probably my stepsister, someone I've never met before.

13:47What are you looking at?

13:48Jacob asks.

13:49Nothing.

13:49I quickly turn my gaze away and cautiously say,

13:52Mr. Wood, if you're going on a business trip again for so long, could you take me along?

13:55He doesn't answer.

13:56I suddenly realize that what I've said seems inappropriate.

13:58While I'm trying to think of a cover-up, he asks,

14:00Why?

14:00Do you want to come with me?

14:01No.

14:02I wrinkle my nose and say,

14:03It's just that I haven't seen you in a while, so I've missed you.

14:05How clingy.

14:06Jacob sighs.

14:07Despite his troubled expression, his gentle tone tells me he isn't upset.

14:11By my request.

14:12Next time, I'll have my secretary notify you.

14:14He says while scratching my chin, almost like petting a dog.

14:16There's nothing wrong with that.

14:17After all, a rich person's dog lives a better life than the people from poor families.

14:19The sex tonight leaves me exhausted.

14:21Jacob is like a wolf that hasn't eaten for a long time.

14:23Not a single part of me is left untouched.

14:24I guess his schedule this month must be very tight, and he has no time to release his needs.

14:28After all, he is a workaholic.

14:30Work always comes first for him, even when it conflicts with his needs.

14:32I'm so tired my eyes hurt and won't stay open.

14:35I wake briefly as he pulls away.

14:37He sees me looking at him, so he explains,

14:39I have work.

14:40Go ahead and sleep.

14:41In the past, I didn't have the right to spend the night in the same bed as Jacob.

14:44But ever since I returned to his side,

14:45occasionally, when it gets too late,

14:47Jacob stays in my room to rest.

14:48Didn't you just return from your business trip?

14:49I rub my eyes, forcing myself to sit up.

14:51My sugar daddy isn't sleeping, so how can I be?

14:53I don't have the guts for that.

14:54Sleep, be good.

14:55Jacob says firmly, pushing me back down.

14:56When he sees I won't close my eyes,

14:57he sighs softly and leaves the bedroom.

14:59I hesitate between getting up and giving in to the drowsiness.

15:02But Jacob returns, holding a thick file,

15:04filled with professional terms.

15:05In Asperian.

15:06Just a glance makes my head hurt.

15:07Sleep, I'll stay here and read.

15:08He half reclines beside me and turns on the desk lamp.

15:11With glasses on the bridge of his nose,

15:12he even puts an arm around me,

15:14so I can sleep while hugging it.

15:15I am over the moon.

15:16Then I fall asleep.

15:17The next morning, when I wake up,

15:19Jacob is no longer in the bedroom.

15:20I reflect deeply,

15:21thinking it is because Jacob has been a little too indulgent with me lately.

15:23People are like that.

15:24We easily get carried away.

15:25Although I deeply fear Jacob's power and influence,

15:27the tenderness he occasionally shows,

15:29is really hard to resist.

15:30I remind myself repeatedly not to let my guard down,

15:32but still find myself doing so without realizing it.

15:34While lost in thought,

15:35I sit on the bed and do a simple stretch

15:37to relieve the strain from the previous night's exertion.

15:38Then, I casually pick up the phone from the bedside table.

15:41I notice I have several missed calls

15:42from my biological father and mother.

15:44Ever since I get into this line of work,

15:45they only call me for one reason,

15:46and it is money.

15:47I am their cash machine.

15:49It was my biological father who led me into this line of work.

15:51He owed debts and used me as collateral.

15:52My first sugar daddy is my father's creditor.

15:54Back then, I was inexperienced

15:55and didn't know how to charm men,

15:57so I suffered a lot.

15:57Not long after,

15:58my first sugar daddy grew tired of me,

15:59and he sent me off for training for a few months.

16:01At a banquet,

16:01he handed me to my second sugar daddy.

16:03The second one had some fetishes,

16:04but he was very generous.

16:05With him,

16:06I paid off my father's gambling debts.

16:08Later,

16:08my biological mother heard

16:09that I was making a lot of money,

16:10so she called to say she needed some.

16:11I refused to give it to her,

16:12so she came to my place

16:13and caused trouble.

16:14That interrupted my work,

16:15and for that,

16:16my second sugar daddy slapped me

16:17and made me lose a tooth.

16:18After I got involved with Jacob,

16:19I always did whatever they asked.

16:20I was really afraid

16:21they would cause trouble again.

16:22Earning money is hard,

16:23but living well is even harder.

16:24I make a lot,

16:25but I also spend a lot.

16:26Along with my parents' bottomless needs,

16:28I am living a very hard life.

16:29I actually consider

16:30giving up this line of work,

16:31but it is hard to get out.

16:32Truthfully,

16:33I am used to this luxurious lifestyle too.

16:35Without any skills or qualifications,

16:36I can't make money if I leave this work.

16:37I won't be able to survive.

16:38Thinking about this,

16:39I expressionlessly call them back.

16:40Sure enough,

16:41my mother wants money.

16:42She saw me at the airport yesterday

16:43with Jacob.

16:44She believes I've gotten myself

16:45a rich guy.

16:46She feels what I give her isn't enough

16:47and asks me to.

16:48I don't have that much,

16:49I say.

16:50I checked with a friend

16:50at the housing bureau.

16:51You have a property under your name.

16:52You can transfer it to me.

16:53My mother says holly,

16:54your sister just graduated.

16:55She needs a place to stay.

16:56Not possible.

16:57I refuse.

16:58Georgia,

16:58I don't think that just because

16:59you found yourself a strong hacker

17:00that I won't be able to deal with you.

17:01Trust me,

17:02if I make trouble outside

17:03Jacob's company for a few days,

17:04Jacob will immediately dump you.

17:05I believe her.

17:06After all,

17:06I lost my previous sugar daddy.

17:07In the same way,

17:08they are only looking for fun

17:09and to relieve stress.

17:10Not to clean up my mess.

17:11I sigh deeply.

17:12Give me some time.

17:13Hurry up.

17:14I don't have much patience.

17:15She huffs in frustration

17:16and hangs up.

17:17I steady myself,

17:18then call my father.

17:19Lately,

17:20Jacob likes you a lot, huh?

17:21My father says,

17:22I have something I need you to do.

17:23Once it's done,

17:24I promise I won't ask you

17:25for money again.

17:25What is it?

17:26You need to steal a document.

17:27It's related to

17:28X company's merger plan.

17:29I am not highly educated,

17:30but I know that

17:31whatever he wants me to steal

17:32is definitely not just

17:33a simple merger document.

17:34How simple?

17:34What if I refuse?

17:35I ask.

17:36If you refuse,

17:36I'll die.

17:37My father grits his teeth.

17:39If I die,

17:40I'll take you down with me.

17:40I end the call.

17:41Why are you lost in thought?

17:42The bedroom door is open

17:43and Jacob is staring at me

17:44with his arms crossed.

17:45I don't know how long

17:46he has been there.

17:47I feel uneasy.

17:48I don't know how much

17:48he has heard.

17:49Nothing.

17:50Get up if you're awake,

17:51Jacob says.

17:51Come downstairs.

17:52I groggly get up

17:53and wash my face.

17:53When I got downstairs,

17:54I freeze at the sight.

17:55The living room

17:56has been redecorated.

17:57There are balloons everywhere.

17:58The wall in the center

17:59usually holds.

18:00A painting worth billions,

18:01but it is now removed

18:02and replaced with balloons.

18:03Spelling happy birthday.

18:04Jacob stands by the stairs,

18:05holding a party popper.

18:06With a loud bang,

18:07the confetti sprays all over me.

18:08George, a happy birthday.

18:09I haven't celebrated

18:10my birthday in so long,

18:10so when I see all the gift boxes

18:12and the two-tier cake

18:13in the middle of the living room,

18:14my first reaction isn't joy.

18:16It is unfamiliarity.

18:17Is today my birthday?

18:17I don't think so.

18:19Confused.

18:20I instinctively reach for my phone.

18:21Why aren't you happy?

18:22Jacob keenly notices my mood

18:23and the smile on his face

18:24fades a little,

18:25panicking at once.

18:26I rush up and force a bright smile.

18:28No, no.

18:29I'm just so surprised

18:30that I didn't know

18:30how to react at first.

18:32Mr. Wood,

18:32you're the first person

18:33to celebrate my birthday.

18:34I'm really, really happy.

18:35My own thoughts don't matter.

18:36What matters is not spoiling his mood.

18:37I am the main character

18:38of the birthday party,

18:39but Jacob is the director.

18:41As an actress,

18:41I have to follow

18:42the director's requests

18:43and perform.

18:43According to the script,

18:44Jacob has prepared

18:45many gifts for me.

18:46Among them are luxurious goods,

18:47sports cars,

18:48and even landed properties.

18:49His gifts have perfectly solved

18:49the urgent problem

18:50that has been plaguing me.

18:50If I accept these gifts,

18:52I'll have found myself

18:52to Jacob permanently.

18:53That means I'll have to deal

18:53with my biological parents

18:54for the rest of my life.

18:55I'll have to live in constant fear,

18:56but if I don't accept these gifts,

18:57I won't have any money at all.

18:58That means I won't be able to survive.

18:59Heck, I don't even know

19:00how long I can last without money.

19:00Thing is, I really love

19:07me.

19:07It's impossible for me

19:08to push them away.

19:09Happily, I reach out

19:10and accept the gifts.

19:10Then I give Jacob

19:11a loud and deep kiss

19:12on his cheek.

19:12I don't care anymore.

19:13Even if I die,

19:14I'll die with these assets

19:15in my arms.

19:15Just like that,

19:16I celebrate the grandest birthday

19:16I've ever known.

19:17Jacob is satisfied

19:18with my cooperation, too.

19:19He's supposed to be

19:19an extremely busy businessman,

19:21and yet he's able

19:21to block out a full day

19:21in his schedule

19:22just to spend time with me.

19:22He's been spoiling me

19:23the whole time,

19:23but I've always been

19:24insecure my whole life.

19:25I can't help but wonder

19:25where exactly Jacob's bottom line

19:26lies when it comes to me.

19:27He's able to tolerate

19:27my occasional spoiled

19:28and haughty antics.

19:28Just like how he's treating

19:29a pet dog that he adores,

19:29he can spare some time

19:30and effort to specifically

19:30keep me company.

19:31In fact,

19:31he even prepares a pot

19:32spicy seafood boil for me

19:32on that very night.

19:33Ever since I joined

19:34this line of work,

19:35I've never had spicy

19:35and greasy food ever again.

19:36I need to remain healthy

19:37to avoid having rashes

19:38and pimples marring my skin.

19:38Also, I don't want

19:39any dark circles

19:39under my eyes either.

19:40God knows just how much

19:40suffering I go through

19:41whenever I eat land salads

19:42while watching food

19:42influencers devouring

19:43amazing food on my phone.

19:44It's not an exaggeration

19:44to call it one of the greatest

19:45torture methods in the world.

19:45The smell of the spices

19:46keeps wafting up my nostrils

19:47uncontrollably.

19:48I take a deep breath

19:48and gulp loudly

19:49before turning the seafood boil down

19:50as much as it pains me.

19:51No, thank you, Mr. Wood.

19:52You don't like seafood boil?

19:53Jacob then adds,

19:54I remember you telling me

19:54you come from Corville.

19:55Corville is the city.

19:56Known for having the best seafood boil.

19:56I do like it.

19:57I reply, clearly embarrassed.

19:58Then again,

19:59my sugar daddy has prepared

19:59so many surprises.

20:00For my sake,

20:01tonight I must do whatever I can

20:01to show my gratitude to him in bed.

20:02But it's been far too long

20:03since I've had spicy food.

20:03What if my stomach can't handle

20:04the spice at all?

20:04What if I ruin everything

20:05when the time comes?

20:06I can't possibly imagine

20:06how disastrous things will become.

20:08Jacob can tell the reason

20:08behind my hesitation

20:09so he pulls a chair over

20:10and tells me to sit down.

20:10Don't worry.

20:11He bends down

20:12and murmurs into my ear.

20:13I'll be very busy these few days

20:14so my eyes light up.

20:16The table is laden

20:17with all my favorite dishes.

20:18I only hate that

20:18after years of dieting,

20:19my stomach had shrunk so much

20:20that I couldn't fit all the food in.

20:22Jacob likes his food

20:22on the lighter side

20:23so the spicy seafood boil

20:24is just a novelty for him.

20:25Most of the time,

20:25he sits there and drops food into my bowl.

20:27Not gonna lie,

20:27with the broth bubbling away

20:28on the table,

20:29the warm lights overhead

20:30and Jacob's occasional little reminders

20:31for me to eat slowly.

20:32The scene was pretty cozy

20:33but after some time,

20:34he didn't let me eat anymore.

20:35He says it's cause my stomach

20:35is puffed up like a balloon

20:36that will pop if I keep going.

20:37I'm really embarrassed.

20:38I didn't have much fat on my belly

20:39so the moment my stomach sticks out a little,

20:41it's painfully obvious.

20:42When he helps me upstairs,

20:42he looks utterly disappointed in me.

20:44I've never once restricted what you eat

20:45so just eat whatever you want.

20:47Why make yourself suffer like this?

20:48As if.

20:49Men are all liars.

20:50One time,

20:50I got a craving for something cold

20:51and ate half an ice cream.

20:52I'd end up with an upset stomach

20:52which meant I couldn't give Jacob

20:53what he wanted.

20:54He'd frowned in obvious displeasure

20:55and said I had no professional ethics.

20:57Didn't I know what I should

20:57and shouldn't be eating?

20:58Later that night,

20:59after Jacob falls asleep,

21:00I'm still awake

21:01cause I'm too stuffed.

21:01I climb out of bed

21:02and take out the expensive gifts

21:03looking over them again and again.

21:04I love them.

21:05They're the source of my security

21:06and the foundation

21:07to keep me standing.

21:08I quietly put them all away in the drawer

21:09then slipped out of the bedroom

21:10and headed to the study.

21:11It was a room

21:12that was full of mystery to me.

21:13Jacob hates being disturbed

21:14when he's working.

21:15His company's business is massive

21:16and the amounts are huge.

21:17I'm always afraid I'll see something

21:18that I shouldn't.

21:18Plus, it's packed with books

21:19that are all foreign texts

21:20that I can't make heads or tails of.

21:21It's always been a place

21:22of awe, fear, and respect for me.

21:24I can feel my heart pounding

21:24way too fast.

21:25I stand at the door

21:26giving myself a full-on pep talk

21:27but in the end,

21:27I don't dare to go in.

21:28I'm not stupid.

21:29In this city,

21:30if I offend my father

21:30and whatever big shot

21:31who is backing him from the shadows,

21:32I can still run.

21:33But if I offend Jacob,

21:34I'll be better off dead.

21:35After that day,

21:36I don't answer any more calls

21:37from my father.

21:38I also come up with a plan.

21:39I go to Alice for help

21:39and pay her to hire a bunch of thugs

21:41to teach my irresponsible parents

21:41a lesson they won't forget.

21:43I've never done anything like this before.

21:44Back then,

21:45staying alive was already hard enough.

21:46All I ever thought about

21:47was how I get through each day.

21:48But now,

21:48things are different.

21:48If I stay obediently by Jacob's side,

21:50even if he grows sick of me one day,

21:51I'll still have a way out.

21:52He won't make things too hard for me.

21:53Alice asks me how far

21:54I want to take this.

21:54I ask how far things can go.

21:56A verbal threat?

21:57A warning?

21:57Or even roughing them up?

21:59Or do you want to leave them

21:59with permanent injuries?

22:00Or maybe save a car crash

22:01to take them out?

22:02Different levels

22:03and different prices.

22:04I think about it.

22:04My father is going to need a beating.

22:06Or he won't take this seriously.

22:08As for my mother,

22:08get a few guys

22:09who look extra fierce

22:10and have them tail

22:10my half-sister for a few days.

22:12Then just give her

22:12a couple of nasty threats.

22:13She's my mother's whole world.

22:14My mother can't bear

22:15having anything happen to her.

22:16Oh, and one more thing.

22:16When the guy make their move,

22:17make sure my parents are aware

22:18that this is all my idea.

22:19Okay, wait for my good news.

22:21Alice works fast.

22:22In just a few days,

22:23my mother calls me.

22:24She's furious

22:24and swears she'll make me pay.

22:25I'd suggest you don't threaten me.

22:26I say calmly.

22:27The money's with me.

22:28If you manage to put me in a good mood,

22:29I might even toss you

22:30a little something.

22:30But if you piss me off,

22:31this time,

22:32your daughter was only

22:33a little shaken up.

22:33Next time,

22:34I can't promise it'll stop there.

22:35My mother curses me out.

22:35But in the end,

22:36all she can do

22:37is slam the phone down hard.

22:37How could I have been

22:38so dumb before?

22:39Why hadn't I ever thought

22:39of doing this?

22:40I'd handed over

22:40so much money for nothing.

22:41Honestly,

22:42they were all bark and no bite,

22:43like balloons that would burst

22:44once poked.

22:44Meanwhile,

22:45my father doesn't call me at all.

22:46I heard those thugs

22:46went a little overboard

22:47roughing him up,

22:48so he'd been recuperating

22:48and hadn't even left the house.

22:50I let out a shallow breath,

22:51thinking that maybe I can

22:52finally have peace for a while.

22:53Unfortunately,

22:53in my life,

22:54peace never seems to last long.

22:56I leave the house

22:57for a quick trip to the spa.

22:58When a van suddenly comes,

22:59screaming down the street.

23:00The door flies open,

23:00and several guys in masks

23:01grab me and drag me

23:02into the vehicle.

23:03I don't even have time to scream

23:04before a damn towel

23:05is pressed over my mouth and nose.

23:06I'm genuinely surprised

23:06that someone like me

23:07is actually getting killed.

23:08My life so far

23:09hasn't exactly been smooth sailing,

23:10but a kidnapping

23:11is definitely a first.

23:12After all,

23:12I'm not from a rich family,

23:13nor am I someone powerful.

23:14What's the point in kidnapping me?

23:15I wake up to a bucket of water

23:15in my face.

23:16It's pretty dark around me,

23:17so I'm guessing

23:17I'm in a basement or something.

23:19The ice-cold water

23:19has me shaking all over.

23:20I force my eyes open

23:21and splint

23:21at the guy before me.

23:22I don't know him,

23:23but my father

23:23is standing behind him.

23:24He looks as repulsive as ever.

23:26When he sees I'm awake,

23:26a trace of viciousness

23:27flashes across his face.

23:28He seems to want

23:28to teach me a lesson,

23:29but doesn't dare to do anything

23:30due to the presence and pressure

23:31from the man in front of him.

23:32George Elijah,

23:33I shrink back,

23:33too scared to make a sound.

23:34This guy radiates.

23:35That cold, ruthless dominance.

23:36The people on top

23:37used to crush the ones below.

23:37He's not someone

23:38I can afford to mess with.

23:38Your looks are nothing special.

23:39I wonder what about you

23:40has caught Jacob Griffinwood's eye.

23:41My father hurries to flatter him

23:42and says in a low voice,

23:43she was personally trained

23:44by Bob Jones.

23:44Bob Jones,

23:45my very first sugar daddy.

23:47Oh, him.

23:47I guess that means

23:48she's got some skills.

23:48The man narrows his eyes

23:49and sizes me up.

23:50Someone next to him

23:50is quick on his feet

23:51and steps forward.

23:52He'll light a cigar for him.

23:52He takes a dragon and exhales,

23:53blowing the smoke

23:54right into my face.

23:55So, what do you think?

23:56Consider being mine.

23:57I promise it'll be

23:57just as good as being with Jacob.

23:58I'm terrified,

23:59but I still force a smile

24:00to please him.

24:01Don't say that, sir.

24:02You and Mr. Wood

24:02are both outstanding men

24:03who are way out of my league.

24:04I'm in no position

24:05to pick and choose.

24:06If you know you can't

24:06afford to cross me,

24:07then why are you

24:07turning me down?

24:08He suddenly presses

24:09his lit cigar

24:09straight to one of my cheeks.

24:10The sharp pain

24:11instantly fills my eyes

24:11with tears.

24:12Before the burning sting

24:13even fades,

24:13a hard slap lands

24:14across my other cheek.

24:15The blow makes my ears buzz

24:16and my head spin.

24:17You dared to send someone

24:18to provoke me.

24:18You've got some nerve.

24:19I, I didn't.

24:20I tried to deny it.

24:21How dare you deny it?

24:22My father steps forward,

24:23looking arrogant and smug.

24:24I work for Mr. Lowell.

24:25You laid a hand on me,

24:26which is the same

24:26as laying a hand on him.

24:27Know who you're dealing with.

24:28Shame.

24:28You weren't much of a looker

24:29to begin with.

24:30Now that you're disfigured,

24:31do you think Jacob

24:31will still want you?

24:32Mr. Lowell's rough palm

24:33slides over my neck

24:34and suddenly tightens around it.

24:35The feeling of suffocation

24:35hits almost immediately.

24:37The instinct to live

24:37makes me struggle,

24:38but my wrists and ankles

24:39are bound.

24:39I can't fight back at all.

24:41Maybe I'm really gonna die here.

24:42I'm seriously unwilling.

24:43I don't wanna die.

24:44Being alive is painful,

24:45but in this exact second,

24:46I realize I still

24:47desperately want to live.

24:48Forget it.

24:49The hand at my throat

24:49abruptly lets go.

24:50I collapse to the floor

24:50and gasp for air.

24:51Do you wanna live?

24:52Mr. Lowell asks with a smile.

24:54I nod vigorously.

24:55That depends on what you can do.

24:56He waves a hand lazily,

24:57and the dozen or so men

24:58surrounding us

24:58immediately step forward.

24:59If you can satisfy all of them,

25:00I might consider

25:01letting you live.

25:03I curl up on the floor,

25:04powerless to do anything

25:05but watch.

25:05A camera is set up

25:06and aimed right at me.

25:07I hear Mr. Lowell say,

25:08give it your best shot.

25:09The first person

25:09to watch this blockbuster

25:10will be Jacob Griffin Wood.

25:11You know what to do, right?

25:12I lower my eyes.

25:13No, I don't.

25:13Look at my men.

25:14They're all young and strong.

25:16Jacob's an old man

25:16who's almost 40.

25:17You think he can compare to them?

25:18You just need to look

25:19into the camera

25:19and tell everyone the truth.

25:20No man can stand being mocked

25:21for not being good in bed.

25:22I'm Jacob's sugar baby.

25:23We've slept together

25:24countless times.

25:25If I face that camera

25:26and look like I'm enjoying myself

25:27while saying that

25:28Jacob can't hold a candle

25:28to these thugs,

25:29I can already imagine

25:30how utterly humiliated he'll be.

25:31But I want to stay alive

25:32even if it's just a few extra days.

25:34I drop my gaze

25:35then deliberately put on

25:36a properly chastened,

25:36fawning smile.

25:37Mr. Lowell,

25:38I know what to do now

25:39but I want to serve you first.

25:40The wound on my face

25:41still burns with pain

25:42but I don't dare touch it.

25:43I only look up at Mr. Lowell.

25:44He lets out a mocking laugh.

25:45You're a whore through and through.

25:46Don't think your price goes up

25:47just because you've served me.

25:48I'm not like Jacob Griffin Wood.

25:49People of your level

25:50doesn't even catch my eye.

25:51Despite his words,

25:52he still has someone

25:52untie my binds.

25:53I grind my pride into the dirt

25:55and crawl over to him.

25:56Truth is,

25:57I don't care about things like dignity.

25:58If I did,

25:59I wouldn't have survived this long.

26:00As a kid,

26:01I shamelessly begged,

26:02flattered,

26:02and grinned like an idiot.

26:03Decided getting beaten?

26:03All for a single bite of food.

26:05Now, to stay alive,

26:06I can lose whatever backbone I have

26:07and do every filthy,

26:08degrading thing there is.

26:08This is my line of work.

26:09Anyway, to me,

26:10it's just a matter of

26:11serving a different man.

26:12I look up at Mr. Lowell

26:13and smile faintly.

26:15Then I kick him hard

26:15between his legs.

26:16Ah, a scream tears through the air.

26:18Fists and random objects

26:19rain down on me.

26:20Warm, sticky blood drips

26:21from my forehead,

26:21blurring my vision.

26:22I let out a ragged laugh

26:23and watch as the men

26:24flock toward Mr. Lowell

26:25in a hurry,

26:26wanting to help

26:26but too scared to touch him.

26:27I watch him roar

26:27that he wants me seen alive

26:28and to suffer a fate

26:29worse than death.

26:29I really do want to live.

26:30I do.

26:31But when I was with Jacob,

26:31I lived like a human,

26:32if only just barely.

26:33I can't go back to living like a rat.

26:34Maybe all he gave me

26:35were scraps of warmth

26:36that cost him nothing,

26:37insincere greetings

26:37and perfunctory kindnesses,

26:38but even that was enough.

26:39It hurts.

26:40Every inch of me is in agony.

26:41My heart is deliriously alive,

26:42but I still can't ignore

26:43the physical pain.

26:44I collapse to the ground

26:45and curl up into a tight ball.

26:46Jacob,

26:47my cheap life may mean nothing to you

26:48and probably isn't even worth mentioning,

26:49but I'm about to lose it

26:50because of you.

26:51So,

26:52if it's not too much to ask,

26:53I hope you take a little longer

26:53to forget me.

26:54I wake up in a hospital.

26:56When I come to,

26:57my first thought is that

26:58I'm somehow not dead.

26:58Am I that tough?

26:59Has my love finally burned around

27:00after half a lifetime of suffering?

27:01My gaze shifts

27:02and I see Jacob.

27:02Oh,

27:03I get it now.

27:04Jacob wrenched my pathetic soul

27:05right out of the grim reaper's hands.

27:06Wait,

27:06something's off.

27:06Why does he look so worn out?

27:08I didn't steal his files.

27:09Did someone else

27:09leak his company's confidential documents

27:11and bankrupt him?

27:12I open my mouth to ask what happened.

27:13After all,

27:13I still have some money tucked away.

27:14I'm worried he'll try to take back.

27:15Whatever little money I have tucked away,

27:17I would have taken death over that.

27:18But before I can speak,

27:20Jacob leans in

27:20and carefully cups my cheek.

27:22I blink dazedly

27:23and watch him lean over me

27:24to press a reverent kiss to my forehead.

27:26He says hoarsely,

27:27you're awake.

27:28Something warm slides down my cheek

27:29and seeps into my collar.

27:30It must be coming from Jacob's eyes.

27:31All in all,

27:32the long and short of it

27:33is that I survived.

27:34I don't know how it happened.

27:35According to Jacob's secretary,

27:36he'd never seen

27:37Jacob lose control like that

27:38or look so wrecked.

27:39Ever since I woke up,

27:40Jacob hasn't left my line of sight.

27:41Even when he has video conferences,

27:43he sits somewhere,

27:43he can see me at a glance.

27:45And every 10 minutes or so,

27:46he looks at me to see what I'm doing.

27:47I'm really not used to him being like this.

27:49He's acting like I actually matter to him.

27:51The two things I care most about

27:52are money and my face.

27:53Thankfully,

27:53both have come through okay.

27:54The doctor did some work on my face.

27:55My cheek was burned by a cigar,

27:57but I'm not the type to start easily.

27:58With proper care,

27:59my looks won't take much of a hit.

28:00As for money,

28:01as long as Jacob doesn't go bankrupt,

28:01I probably won't ever be strapped for cash.

28:03I spend almost a month in the hospital.

28:04It's only when I feel like I'm about to go crazy

28:06that Jacob agrees to let me be discharged.

28:07After getting out,

28:08Jacob uses rest and recovery as an excuse

28:09to keep me at home for another two months.

28:10And from that point on,

28:12anytime I set foot outside,

28:12I must have a driver and bodyguards with me.

28:14My friends all say I'm in for good things

28:15now that I've cheated death.

28:16They can't believe that I actually managed

28:17to go legit with Jacob.

28:18Before this,

28:18everyone more or less thought

28:19I was set for life

28:20for as long as I stuck with him.

28:20But nobody expected

28:21that I become the official Mrs. Griffin Wood.

28:23From what I remember,

28:24Jacob has never once publicly acknowledged my status.

28:25How is this counted as going legit?

28:32I've never believed in men

28:32being capable of a platonic relationship.

28:34I've seen so many men in my life.

28:35Shouldn't I know better than anyone

28:35how much they're ruled

28:36by what's below the waist?

28:37Jacob has gone without sex for three months.

28:39In these three months,

28:39other than going to the bathroom,

28:40I wasn't allowed to leave his sight

28:41to take a shower.

28:42More than once,

28:43I've caught his dark and heavy gaze on me.

28:44Each time I think he's about to lose control,

28:46he still manages to hold himself back.

28:47I'm worried that he keeps doing this himself.

28:48Something will go wrong with him.

28:49This is directly related

28:49to the rest of my life's happiness,

28:50so I have to take it seriously, don't I?

28:52I do all my prep work.

28:52I set up a nice scent,

28:54slip into something sheer and revealing,

28:54and lie on the bed,

28:56like a consort waiting for the king to summon her.

28:57Taking care of Jacob in bed

28:57is now something I can do with my eyes closed.

28:58I know every one of his sensitive spots.

29:00I'm sure tonight will be a scorching,

29:01no holds, barred night.

29:02But, to my surprise,

29:03Jacob turns me down.

29:04It's not his first time rejecting me,

29:06but it is the only time

29:07that I'm caught off guard.

29:08I quickly adjust though,

29:09and back off,

29:10giving Jacob's face.

29:11In my softest voice I say,

29:12I'm sorry Mr. Wood,

29:13I overstepped my boundaries.

29:14Ultimately, I'd overestimated myself.

29:15I'd assumed that,

29:16after how he treated me these past few months,

29:17I'd at least carved out a special place,

29:18in his heart,

29:19even if he hadn't fallen in love with me.

29:21But the truth is,

29:21I can't even tell if he feels anything for me.

29:22Why would I be special to him?

29:23I thought that,

29:24nearly losing my life to protect Jacob's business,

29:25was a big deal,

29:26but in reality,

29:27I was probably more like a kitten,

29:28that happened to block a tiny pebble,

29:29for its owner.

29:29It looked like I'd almost died for him,

29:30but to him,

29:31it wasn't even worth mentioning.

29:32Jacob tells me not to overthink it,

29:33and that I should focus on getting better.

29:34I do as I'm told,

29:35and don't dwell on the matter.

29:36And then he starts coming to the villa,

29:37less and less.

29:37He doesn't even contact me often anymore.

29:38When I occasionally catch up with my friends,

29:40they tease me,

29:40saying I found a job I can't lose.

29:42They say I'll never have to worry about material things,

29:43for as long as I stick with him.

29:44I don't tell them,

29:45that I'm probably on the cusp of losing the job.

29:46This time,

29:47things are different,

29:47from when our contract expired.

29:48Back then,

29:49Jacob treated me the same as always,

29:50even though he didn't mention renewing the contract.

29:51This time,

29:52I can clearly feel him,

29:53pulling away on purpose.

29:54One day,

29:55I head to the spa for my usual maintenance.

29:56When I get home,

29:57I find Jacob on the couch,

29:58with a document in his hand.

29:59In that moment,

30:00I understand everything.

30:01Mr. Wood.

30:01I smile and walk over to him.

30:03Sit.

30:03He looks up at me,

30:04then slides the document across the table,

30:05toward me.

30:06Take a look.

30:07I obediently pick it up.

30:08Is this my severance pay?

30:09He sure is generous.

30:10Thank you for taking care of me all this time,

30:11Mr. Wood.

30:12I accept the contract with a smile,

30:13and don't cause a scene.

30:14What right do I have to throw a tantrum anyway?

30:15Jacob's face is devoid of emotion.

30:17I've given you more than enough money.

30:18From now on,

30:18turn over a new leaf,

30:19and live a decent life.

30:20Don't stay in this line of work anymore.

30:21Honestly,

30:22he doesn't need to do this in person.

30:23He could have sent,

30:24a secretary or assistant,

30:25like last time.

30:26I will.

30:26I stand up and give him a proper curtsy.

30:28I'll move out tomorrow,

30:29and this time,

30:30after moving out,

30:30I won't be coming back anymore.

30:31Our relationship is about to end,

30:33but I want to do my last shift properly.

30:34Jacob spends the night at the villa.

30:35I draw him a bath,

30:36and carefully give him a full body spa.

30:38The bathtub face is the floor to ceiling windows.

30:39The glass is one way,

30:40so when he's soaking in the tub,

30:41he can enjoy the view outside in privacy.

30:42How long have you been doing this?

30:44I don't remember.

30:44Maybe two, three, four, five years?

30:46That's good.

30:46You're not worn out yet,

30:47so you can find a good man to marry in the future.

30:49Mr. Wood,

30:50after being with a man like you,

30:51I'm afraid it's going to be hard for me,

30:51to ever be interested in other men again.

30:52Oh?

30:53Are you hinting that I shouldn't let you go?

30:54I wouldn't dare.

30:55I'm just being honest.

30:56I actually know exactly why.

30:57Jacob is letting me go.

30:57It's because he discovered my feelings for him.

30:59I have never claimed to be some morally noble person.

31:01In a life-or-death situation,

31:02I shouldn't be sacrificing my own life

31:04to protect Jacob's interests,

31:05but that's exactly what I did.

31:06I've fallen for him,

31:07which is why he can't keep me around anymore.

31:09Money and profits make the most solid bonds in this world.

31:11Jacob can give me plenty of that,

31:12but he won't give me even the slightest bit of love.

31:14I love him,

31:14so I can give up my life for him,

31:16but there's also a chance I'll hurt him,

31:17because he doesn't love me.

31:18I understand that,

31:19so I accept this outcome.

31:20After moving out of the villa,

31:21my life goes back to being peaceful.

31:23Jacob really is generous.

31:24Including this last severance payout,

31:25I now have three properties in my name,

31:27tens of millions in cash,

31:28and even some stocks.

31:28As long as I don't splurge in ways

31:30that might break the law,

31:31then what I have now will be enough

31:31to kick back and coast through the rest of my life.

31:32After grinding for more than 20 years,

31:33I can finally start my retirement early.

31:35Alice comes over to hang out with me.

31:36She's switched to a new sugar daddy lately.

31:37He's from Hutton,

31:38and apparently treats her pretty well.

31:39In just a few short months,

31:40he's already spent a ton of money on her.

31:41After cashing out on this job,

31:42I'm gonna retire too.

31:44She takes a drag of her cigarette.

31:45The smoke rolls around her face,

31:45so I can't make out her expression.

31:47I'm not getting any younger.

31:48It's time to settle down,

31:48and actually live a normal life.

31:49You?

31:50Saying stuff like that?

31:51That's not like you at all.

31:52You remember?

31:52My previous sugar daddy, right?

31:53The one from Jarton.

31:54Yeah.

31:54He's the only one who prematurely terminated

31:56his contract with you.

31:57I remember you cleaned him out

31:57right before you walked away.

31:58You were really proud of yourself,

31:59and kept bragging to me about it.

32:00He went bankrupt.

32:00Alice looks despondent.

32:02I only found out recently.

32:03That money I took from him back then

32:04was probably everything that he had left.

32:05What?

32:06I'm stunned.

32:07He knew he was going under.

32:08That's why he terminated the contract,

32:09and handed over pretty much

32:10all the liquid assets he had left to me.

32:11She stubs out her cigarette,

32:12and lets out a bitter laugh.

32:13If he were going to pull something like that,

32:14he should have hidden it better,

32:15and stopped others from finding out.

32:16Look at the situation he has me in now.

32:17It feels wrong to give everything back,

32:18but it's also wrong if I don't.

32:18You want to pay him back, though.

32:20I can see right through her.

32:21That's not all.

32:22You're even thinking of handing over

32:23all the money you've made

32:24to help him make a comeback.

32:25Alice looks miserable,

32:26but doesn't deny it.

32:27You're out of your mind.

32:28I shoot to my feet,

32:29frustrated by her idiocy.

32:30Do you even know what you're considering?

32:31With our history,

32:31we'll never be the kind

32:32who gets to sit at a nice table.

32:40And once you're old and ugly,

32:41there'll be a line of fresh faces.

32:42Prettier than you,

32:42sweeter than you,

32:43and wilder than you.

32:44When that time comes,

32:44how exactly will you compete with them?

32:45And what about you?

32:46You feel the same for Jacob Griffin Wood,

32:47don't you?

32:48I'm at a loss for words.

32:49Women really are soft-hearted creatures.

32:50We're in a line of work

32:50where we can't catch feelings.

32:51So it's all about

32:52getting what we need from each other.

32:53It's a simple transaction of interests.

32:54The lessons of the women who came before us

32:55are still fresh in our minds,

32:56yet we somehow always end up

32:57making the same mistakes they did.

32:58At least I took the money.

32:58I'll never have to worry about material things

33:00for the rest of my life.

33:00I say,

33:01I didn't and won't pay to be with him.

33:02That already puts me a step above you.

33:03That's because you got lucky

33:04and ran into Jacob Griffin Wood.

33:04That guy is a businessman

33:05who never makes a losing deal.

33:06Believe it or not,

33:07if Jacob's bankrupt right now,

33:08you'll throw money at him faster than I can.

33:09Don't jinx me.

33:10I quickly shut the conversation down.

33:11Some things just couldn't be said.

33:13I learned about Jacob's bankruptcy

33:14from the news.

33:15In the past,

33:16I never watched the news.

33:17People like me were barely even educated.

33:19Keeping up with the news was pointless.

33:20But since splitting up with Jacob,

33:21I've started watching it

33:22because every now and then,

33:22he shows up on the screen.

33:23How can you possibly go bankrupt?

33:24But as the reports pile up,

33:26it starts looking real.

33:26I go around asking a few friends.

33:28In the industry,

33:29their sugar daddies

33:29all have connections everywhere,

33:30so they help me ask around.

33:31Turns out the rumors are true.

33:32Alice also calls me.

33:33I asked around.

33:34It's probably the doing of the same people

33:35who kidnapped you last time.

33:36They're out to get Jacob.

33:37Jacob is far too influential in this city.

33:39He practically has a monopoly on the place.

33:40Unless someone drags him down,

33:41everyone else will be stuck.

33:42Fighting over scraps.

33:42That's what happens when one stands out.

33:44I spend a few restless days at home

33:45before starting to go over all my assets.

33:47Everything I have,

33:47I only manage to build up

33:48because of Jacob.

33:49I know that to him.

33:50What I've got is a drop in the bucket.

33:52But at least it's something

33:52for me to show where my loyalties lie.

33:53As Alice predicted,

33:55I was all righteous in giving her advice,

33:56but when I was in the same situation,

33:57I was throwing money in faster than anyone else

33:58and even more desperate than she ever was.

34:00At least Alice dreamed about

34:01spending the rest of her life

34:02with her sugar daddy.

34:03I didn't even dare

34:03entertain a thought like that.

34:05I have Jacob's private number,

34:06but he doesn't answer when I call.

34:07So I send him a message,

34:08weighing every word carefully.

34:10In the end,

34:10Jacob's secretary calls me back

34:11and turns me down.

34:12Miss Lodge,

34:13Mr. Woods said to tell you

34:14that he appreciates the gesture.

34:15He hopes you'll live well from now on

34:16and that you'll stop worrying

34:17about the people from your past.

34:18I fear as much given Jacob's personality.

34:19He's not accepting my kind gesture,

34:20but it's not necessarily for my best interest.

34:21It's most likely just his pride getting in the way,

34:23making him refuse that

34:23to accept charity from someone like me.

34:24I'm prepared for that outcome,

34:25but I still feel disappointed.

34:26I know all too well

34:27the huge gap between us.

34:28I can't even do

34:29the smallest things for him,

34:30but I still go ahead

34:31and do what I want to do.

34:32In all my years alive,

34:33I've rarely gotten to be willful

34:34and to follow my heart.

34:35So even if I'm throwing myself at him,

34:37I'm more than willing to do it.

34:38When Alice hands me the money,

34:39she prods me in the forehead

34:40and grumbles nonstop

34:41about how I'd have trouble paying her back.

34:42After borrowing so much from her,

34:43some other friends also feel bad for me

34:43when they lend me the money.

34:44They even suggest

34:45introducing me to a new sugar daddy.

34:46He's not exactly a great guy,

34:47but he's generous with his money.

34:48I'll only have to put up with him for a year.

34:49I turn them all down.

34:50I take that card holding everything I own

34:51and mail it to Jacob.

34:53Then I tell myself we're even our cab

34:54and I should never think about him again.

34:55I get an ordinary job

34:56and I got into online content creation.

34:58After hanging around sugar daddies

34:58for years,

34:59I'd at least seen a lot of the world.

35:01I'd picked up some knowledge

35:02about cosmetic procedures and makeup.

35:03I didn't have a proper education,

35:04so I need other ways to make money.

35:06Thankfully, my second video blew up.

35:08I've always felt like my luck

35:09was never really that bad.

35:10Sure, my parents didn't care about me,

35:11but at least they didn't let me starve.

35:13Later, I was out of options

35:13and went into modeling.

35:14It wasn't the most respectable line of work,

35:15but I only really suffered in the beginning.

35:16I got used to it after blending in.

35:18Then, when I failed to move up the ladder

35:19and Jacob no longer wanted me,

35:20he still made sure the rest of my life

35:21was taken care of.

35:22Food and bills stopped being a problem.

35:23And now, even though I'm broke again,

35:25my career,

35:25which has never taken off before,

35:26is suddenly on the verge of blowing up.

35:28Good, isn't it?

35:28That's why we need to stay alive.

35:30It means having something to look forward to

35:31and a future.

35:31I work a day job,

35:32shoot at night,

35:33and life keeps getting better.

35:34But one day,

35:34Alice suddenly calls me

35:35and says Jacob is back on top again.

35:37I've gone out of my way,

35:37not to keep up with him for a long time now.

35:39Hearing about him again

35:40feels like something from another lifetime.

35:41Really?

35:42That's good.

35:43I say earnestly,

35:44nothing will ever happen between us,

35:45but I still hope he does well.

35:46You really are hopeless.

35:48I'm doing pretty great,

35:49and I'm pretty happy too.

35:50I even try to talk Alice into it.

35:51If you're really gonna quit for good,

35:52then come work with me instead.

35:53I have a decent following now.

35:55I can send traffic your way.

35:55I'll come to you when I hit rock bottom.

35:57I'm just calling you today to update you,

35:58so you can stop worrying

35:59and forget about Jacob from now on.

36:00This call is unnecessary,

36:01really.

36:02I probably won't ever stop

36:03thinking about Jacob in this lifetime,

36:04but I'm also prepared

36:05to never see him again

36:06and to never check any news about him.

36:08I may seem like an idiot,

36:09but I'm actually really smart

36:10with anything or anyone

36:11that might make me sad or disappointed.

36:12I never let myself expect anything from them.

36:13Just like I never once hoped

36:14that my parents would love me,

36:15I also didn't dare hope

36:16that Jacob would look at me any differently.

36:17After expanding my horizons a bit,

36:18I made a lot of new friends.

36:19They don't know what I used to do

36:20and that I used to have sugar daddies.

36:22In their eyes,

36:23I'm kind, capable, and worldly.

36:24The comments they leave for me are all praise.

36:25Deep down,

36:26there's a faint uneasiness.

36:27Maybe there's a name for it.

36:28Something like PTSD,

36:29post-traumatic stress disorder.

36:30Someone like me

36:30isn't supposed to have things go so smoothly

36:31or be disliked.

36:32They think I'm perfect

36:34and flawless,

36:35but I know I'm tainted.

36:36Then, one day,

36:36the dirt on me starts spreading online.

36:38Along with a flood of hate

36:39and I suddenly feel at peace.

36:40Part of me laughs at myself

36:41for being weird

36:41and feeling happy about getting cursed out.

36:42The other part focuses on making a video

36:43of a sincere chat about myself.

36:44The whole process is even kind of fun.

36:45I have nothing about my past

36:46that I feel the need to hide.

36:47Each and every one of those incidents

36:48are what shaped who I am today.

36:50Life can knock me down,

36:51but I will never stay down.

36:52I'm prepared to not be accepted.

36:53I tell myself that at least

36:54I've earned pretty good money lately.

36:55The debt I'd originally planned

36:56to pay off in 10 years,

36:57I can probably not clear in just two.

36:58That's good enough for me.

36:58To my surprise,

36:59I'm accepted.

37:00Many people called me shameless

37:00and said I had no dignity

37:01for making such dirty money

37:02before trying to clean myself up now.

37:03But even more people

37:04left on a message to me on

37:05and tell me not to give up on life.

37:06They messaged me privately

37:07to share their own stories with me.

37:08It was like once

37:08all that suffering got spread out,

37:10it wasn't so unbearable anymore.

37:11I cry a lot, to be honest.

37:11In front of my sugar daddies,

37:12I would always whine,

37:14put on a pitiful act,

37:14or play the victim

37:15just to spark that sense

37:16of conquest in them.

37:17But that was a survival tactic.

37:18I'm not who I really was.

37:18I don't know what I ever did

37:19to deserve being accepted

37:20and liked by so many people.

37:21This world can actually be beautiful.

37:22If I hadn't found the courage

37:23to take that first step,

37:24maybe I never would have seen

37:25this side of the world's kindness.

37:26At the end of the year,

37:26I got an invitation from a platform

37:28inviting me to attend

37:29an awards ceremony.

37:29I dressed to the nines for it.

37:31The ceremony is a grand one.

37:32Besides a bunch of big name influencers,

37:33there are also several celebrities.

37:35I already know which award I'm getting,

37:36so I've prepared an acceptance speech.

37:37I'm about to go on stage,

37:38but I'm still memorizing it.

37:39Well, I do have a terrible memory.

37:40It's only a few lines,

37:41but they just won't stick.

37:43Next, let's welcome our award presenter,

37:44Griffin Wood Group CEO,

37:46Mr. Jacob Griffin Wood.

37:46The host beams at the crowd,

37:47and the audience erupts in surprise.

37:49My smile freezes on my face.

37:50Sure, it's now the era

37:51of influencer economics,

37:52and every influencer here

37:53easily makes tens of millions a year.

37:54But why would Jacob?

37:55I stand there and follow the host's

37:56line of sight.

37:57Under the spotlight,

37:58Jacob walks toward me,

37:59with all eyes on him.

37:59He still looks exactly the way I remember.

38:01He's lofty, untouchable,

38:02and immaculate.

38:02Congratulations.

38:03He takes the trophy

38:04and passes it to me with both hands.

38:05Thanks, I say in a small voice.

38:06You've done very well,

38:08better than I expected.

38:08He shakes my hand,

38:09and we stand shoulder to shoulder,

38:11facing the audience.

38:12I've never imagined a day like this,

38:13when I can openly stand by Jacob's side,

38:15accepting applause from an audience.

38:17Georgia, Jacob calls my name.

38:18Yeah?

38:19Do you want to be with me?

38:20I don't answer.

38:21This time, you have every right

38:22to stand by me openly as my fiancé.

38:25Jacob Griffin Wood first met Georgia Lodge

38:27at an ordinary cocktail party.

38:28Many people were eager

38:29to curry favor with him,

38:29but not everyone was qualified to do so.

38:31Everyone else respectfully

38:31dressed him as Mr. Griffin Wood.

38:33Only Georgia,

38:33like an uneducated brute,

38:35had called him Mr. Wood

38:36because he rarely heard

38:36that form of address.

38:37He'd given her a second glance.

38:39When someone held power,

38:39even a single look from them

38:40would be endlessly dissected

38:42and analyzed by the people below.

38:43He only looked at Georgia

38:43one extra time,

38:44but someone decided

38:45he must have taken a liking to her.

38:46And so, in no time at all,

38:47Georgia was delivered to his side,

38:48along with a full background check

38:49and a medical report.

38:50Coincidentally,

38:51he didn't have a companion then.

38:52Georgia stood in front of him,

38:53smiling stiffly.

38:54She hid it well,

38:55but he still caught the flicker

38:56of resentment and disgust in her eyes.

38:57The women sent to him

38:58were always thoroughly trained in advance.

38:59He was a little curious

39:00how long someone like Georgia

39:01could survive

39:02in this world of power and profit.

39:03Unfortunately,

39:04she turned out to be terribly boring.

39:05Jacob later realized that

39:06whatever emotions

39:06Georgia had felt that day

39:07would never have any real impact

39:08on his life.

39:10He could tell that she was trying her best

39:11to blend into his circle.

39:13She fond,

39:13acted cute,

39:14and bowed and scraped.

39:15To keep herself attractive to men,

39:16she spent a fortune

39:17on cosmetic procedures,

39:17even going in for those

39:18so-called miraculous tightening packages

39:19that sounded magical,

39:20but didn't even have

39:20basic safety guaranteed.

39:21That was the only time

39:22he'd ever lost control.

39:23It wasn't because

39:23the tightening treatment did anything.

39:24Jacob just happened to pass by that day

39:25and saw Georgia limping out of the spa,

39:27dressed to the nines,

39:28but with her face twisted in pain.

39:29She looked so gaudy.

39:30People around her threw her strange looks,

39:32but she seemed oblivious.

39:33But when she turned the corner,

39:34Jacob saw her

39:35with her arms around her knees

39:36and her head buried between them.

39:37She crouched there for a long time.

39:38She had a thin figure

39:39and she looked so lonely from the back.

39:40Jacob had seen

39:41way too many women like Georgia.

39:42Whether they made a fortune or not,

39:44their stories always seemed to end in tragedy.

39:45Almost none got a happy ending.

39:46In that instant,

39:47Jacob suddenly had a thought.

39:48It wasn't impossible

39:49to keep Georgia by his side forever.

39:50He could just

39:50treat her like a pampered pet

39:51and a distraction.

39:52Not that he'd ever told her about it.

39:54As the last day of their contract

39:55crept closer,

39:55Jacob watched as Georgia

39:56found it harder and harder

39:57to quiet her growing anxiety.

39:58He kept wondering

39:59when she would come to him

39:59and ask her to renew the contract.

40:01Unfortunately,

40:01she was just too well behaved.

40:02So much so,

40:03that she never overstepped,

40:04not even a little,

40:04even when he openly

40:05brought in someone new.

40:06All Georgia did

40:06was swallow her hurt in silence

40:08and play her part to perfection.

40:09Jacob saw the mockery in Georgia's eyes.

40:10When the newcomer told her sob story,

40:12he also saw the despair in her eyes.

40:14When the golf ball

40:14came crashing down on him.

40:16At the time,

40:16he wondered why.

40:16He was being so harsh

40:17with a semi-literate nobody.

40:18Since he was somewhat invested in her,

40:19he would just keep her by his side.

40:21What Georgia really thought

40:21didn't matter much.

40:22As long as he himself felt satisfied,

40:23that was good enough.

40:24After getting back together,

40:25Jacob would sometimes spend the night

40:26in Georgia's room,

40:27seeing her so sleepy

40:28that she could barely keep her eyes open

40:29and kept nodding off

40:30while swearing that she wasn't tired.

40:32It was pretty cute in his eyes.

40:32He'd never seriously considered

40:34what exactly Georgia meant to him.

40:35In any case,

40:36as long as he wanted her,

40:37she would never be able to leave him.

40:38Later,

40:38he realized he was wrong.

40:39Georgia could leave.

40:40After all,

40:41in this world,

40:41no one could bridge the distance

40:42between life and death.

40:43At first,

40:44when Jacob heard that

40:44Georgia had been kidnapped,

40:46he didn't panic.

40:46Kidnapping was always about profit

40:48and Georgia had always known

40:48when to Bend and when to Santal.

40:50They had an intimate relationship

40:51and she knew a thing or two

40:51about his affairs.

40:52As long as she told them

40:53what she knew,

40:54that would be enough

40:54to keep her alive.

40:55And with her skills,

40:56she could easily find

40:57another sugar daddy.

40:58So when Jacob's subordinates

40:59reported the news

40:59of Georgia's kidnapping,

41:00he hadn't even paused his meeting.

41:02She was just a pet

41:02he kept in a gilded cage.

41:03If a bag went missing,

41:04he would have the maids look for it.

41:05If it couldn't be found,

41:06he would simply buy another one.

41:07Things changed

41:08when his subordinates reported

41:08that Georgia had been found.

41:10They didn't know

41:10if she was alive or dead

41:10and her face was so swollen,

41:11they couldn't even tell

41:12what she used to look like.

41:13If anything,

41:13she should be thankful.

41:14She'd only have cosmetic treatments

41:15and not plastic surgery.

41:15Otherwise,

41:16the implants alone

41:16would have been driven

41:17straight into her skull.

41:17She had several broken ribs,

41:18some organ damage,

41:19and her limbs abused

41:20to the point of being

41:21twisted out of shape.

41:22When a video of the scene

41:22was sent back,

41:23Jacob took one look

41:23and tossed his phone aside.

41:24Then he headed straight

41:25to the hospital.

41:26Georgia was in the operating room

41:27for a full nine hours

41:28from nightfall until dawn.

41:29When she was finally wheeled out,

41:31she had tubes everywhere

41:31in her body.

41:32Jacob was busy,

41:33busy putting out fires

41:33at the company

41:34and busy dealing

41:34with his competitors' attacks.

41:35Once Georgia was transferred

41:36to the ICU,

41:37visits were limited

41:37to specific hours,

41:38so staying at the hospital

41:39wasn't of much use.

41:40Still,

41:40Jacob chose to follow

41:41what his heart told him to do

41:42and remained at the hospital.

41:43The accommodations there

41:44were of course

41:45far from comfortable.

41:45Even someone as tireless as Jacob

41:46couldn't help looking worn out,

41:48yet the rate at which

41:48he grew haggard

41:49was nothing compared to Georgia.

41:50She just lay there silently

41:51on that hospital bed

41:52and grew weaker

41:52with each passing day.

41:53The doctors said

41:54her will to live

41:54wasn't strong enough,

41:55which was why

41:55she still hadn't woken up.

41:57Jacob secretly mocked them

41:58for being liars.

41:58If she really didn't want to live,

42:00why would she have fought so hard

42:01to cling to that last breath

42:01and hold on until he could save her?

42:02Jacob had never bothered

42:03to figure out

42:04what exactly he felt for Georgia,

42:05but in that moment,

42:06he suddenly started to understand

42:06his own heart.

42:07The fact that deep down,

42:08he'd allowed Georgia

42:09to trade his secrets

42:10in exchange for her own life

42:11already meant he'd fallen for her.

42:12With Georgia,

42:13Jacob did indeed experience

42:14many emotions

42:15that were useless yet novel to him.

42:16For instance,

42:17the sheer joy and agitation he'd felt

42:18the moment Georgia finally woke up.

42:19For instance,

42:20the heartache he'd felt

42:21when she gritted her teeth through rehab

42:22and pretended to be fine,

42:23even forcing herself to smile at him.

42:24He patiently nursed Georgia back to health,

42:25throwing the best medical resources at her

42:26to rebuild her body

42:27and he assigned bodyguards

42:28to make sure she was always safe.

42:30Only he knew the genuine emotions

42:31he'd poured into all of that.

42:32To him,

42:33love was useless.

42:34Small doses of it

42:35were a fun distraction,

42:35but too much of it

42:36would only drag down his efficiency.

42:37And so,

42:38after thinking it through,

42:39Jacob ultimately decided

42:40to end the relationship.

42:41He knew he'd fallen for her

42:41and he knew

42:42Georgia had also fallen for him.

42:44But this is what the world was often like.

42:45Pure interests

42:45could keep a relationship going

42:47and sometimes even make it unbreakable.

42:48But when feelings got tangled up in it,

42:49the whole thing became fragile.

42:51Cutting their losses early

42:51was the best choice

42:52for both him and her.

42:54Georgia left without hesitation.

42:55She was never the type to cling

42:56and she vanished entirely from his life.

42:57She was too self-aware

42:58to do anything else.

42:59The first few days,

43:00Jacob hadn't been used to it,

43:00but as work piled up,

43:01he no longer had the time

43:02or space for romance.

43:03The traps he laid for so long

43:04were finally starting to play their role.

43:05Or his plan.

43:06News of his bankruptcy

43:07spread across the entire country.

43:08After that,

43:09he got a call from Georgia.

43:10He didn't answer it,

43:11so she sent him a message instead.

43:12Sounding as she always did,

43:13with her familiar flattery,

43:14afraid of saying anything

43:15that might upset him,

43:15Jacob had his secretary reply for him.

43:17But not long after,

43:17he'd still received a bank card.

43:18The amount on it

43:19was higher than he'd expected.

43:20Perhaps Georgia had asked

43:21her friends for help.

43:22They all had their own sugar daddies,

43:23so even if they didn't have too much money,

43:24it was still a sizable sum

43:25when put together.

43:26Still, Georgia had promised him

43:27she would quit that line of work.

43:28If she'd borrowed so much money,

43:29how was she planning on paying it back?

43:30Jacob later had his answer.

43:31She'd gone into doing online content

43:32and had gotten somewhat popular.

43:33Per your instructions,

43:34I staged an encounter

43:35with Miss Lodge yesterday.

43:36His assistant reported,

43:37She seems to be in pretty good spirits.

43:39She's set her career's on track now.

43:40She has lots of fans who like her

43:41and she's making good money.

43:42Is that so?

43:42But as far as Jacob knew,

43:44every single one of her videos

43:45had hate comments.

43:46People called her ugly

43:46and attention-seeking.

43:47And just a few days ago,

43:48someone had exposed her past

43:49and how she used to have

43:50rich sugar daddies.

43:51The internet was flooded with her haters.

43:52If not for that,

43:53Jacob wouldn't have gone out of his way

43:54to arrange the chance encounter.

43:55He was afraid Georgia would hurt herself

43:56because that was what she was like.

43:57Whenever it came to her own pain,

43:58she always brushed it off

43:59like it was nothing.

43:59Maybe it was because she knew

44:00no one really cared about her

44:01and that looking sad

44:01wouldn't change anything.

44:02But he knew perfectly well

44:03there was a bottle of pills

44:04hidden in her cabinet.

44:05The pills had been saved up

44:06one by one

44:07and over a long time,

44:08but Georgia had never taken them.

44:09When the contract had expired,

44:10Jacob had brought her back

44:11because he was afraid

44:12she would pop the pills.

44:13Later, he'd let her go

44:14because he was afraid

44:15she'd grow more attached.

44:16If he couldn't give her

44:16what she wanted,

44:17she might ultimately still end up

44:18taking those pills.

44:19And after that,

44:19when Georgia had mailed her card to him,

44:20he hadn't returned it

44:21because he wanted something

44:22tying her to this world.

44:23If she remembered

44:23that she owed her friends,

44:24she wouldn't give up on herself.

44:25She needed to be left

44:26with a little bit of hope.

44:26So she had a reason to keep living.

44:27Don't clean up.

44:28The mess aligned too perfectly.

44:30Jacob said,

44:30Georgia is smart.

44:32Overwhelmingly positive comments

44:32will only make her suspicious.

44:33Understood, sir.

44:34Jacob knew then that in the end,

44:35he really did treat Georgia differently.

44:36Different enough that he was willing

44:36to break his own rules for her

44:38and pay attention to these details.

44:40He was willing to give Georgia time

44:41and wait for her to be remade.

44:42She had to open her eyes

44:43and look at the world again.

44:43There would be good and bad,

44:49he owned shares in the streaming platform,

44:51but it was just

44:51one of many assets under his name.

44:52It wasn't particularly important.

44:53Even so,

44:54Jacob set up in full format attire.

44:55He did it

44:55so he could appear before Georgia again

44:57and give her an opening.

44:58This time,

44:58he wanted her

44:59to have the courage to speak up

45:00and keep hold of what she truly wanted.

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