- 4 hours ago
[DUBBED] Until Fate Gave Us a Second Chance
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Short filmTranscript
00:01I'm a model. Well, a different kind. In this line of work, most of us have sugar daddies.
00:09They usually hop from one to another. I have one too. His name is Jacob Griffin Wood. Come to think
00:16of it, it's been almost a year since we met. Our contract expires in six months. By industry rules,
00:25we need to decide whether to renew or part ways. After all, youth is my only asset. A good sugar
00:30daddy is hard to find. If we don't renew, I'll have to find someone new. Honestly, I'm happy with
00:36Jacob. If he wants to stay together, I'll celebrate with champagne. However, knowing Jacob is hard to
00:43say. He's just too attractive. When a man is this rich and powerful, people flock to him in droves.
00:49I can charm Jacob all I want. Alas, I've reached my body's limit. Over the year, we've tried
00:55everything in bed. Jacob isn't interested in me anymore. He gave me a mountain villa that's almost
01:00five, 300 square feet. His previous lovers lived there too. I don't know how many there were,
01:06but the thought of leaving in two weeks makes me depressed. Late at night, Mary Atkins, the maid,
01:11wakes me. She says, Jacob is here. I have to go serve him. This life isn't as easy as it
01:17looks.
01:17I have to do so much. You need charm and a lot of luck. With a bad sugar daddy, you
01:25lose your money
01:26and your health. I've been a model for three years. Some of my colleagues have to wear diapers
01:31now. I'm one of the lucky ones. Jacob's only flaw is how he treats me in the bedroom,
01:36but he's generous. I rush downstairs in a robe. Jacob is passed out on the couch. He reeks of alcohol.
01:43Mary hands me some honey tea. I hold it to his lips lovingly. I coo. Have some tea, Mr. Wood.
01:50He's surnamed Griffin Wood. But he has a quirk. He hates his last name. I'm a woman with no education.
01:57I didn't know compound surnames exist. That's how I caught his eye. He says when people call him
02:04Mr. Griffin Wood out of respect, he just wants to slap them. Jacob take a sip and frowns.
02:11I quickly pull the cup away. The smell of booze and perfume makes my stomach turn.
02:16Still, I strip him down and fetch a basin of warm water. I wash him with a straight face.
02:23Jacob is still conscious. He moves his limbs for me. Georgia, how long has it been? Almost a year,
02:29Mr. Wood. Jacob nods. The contract's up soon, right? My heart skips a beat. He wants to talk
02:35about it now. If the renewal is a no-go, I wonder how much I'll get. Jacob is a generous
02:41man. If the
02:42payout is big enough, I'll quit being a model. But he doesn't say another word. I wait for him
02:47to speak, but he's already fallen asleep. The next day, Alice Lane invites me to the salon.
02:53As a kid, I never thought I'd visit a place like this so often. Models are competitive.
02:59We earn a lot, but we spend a lot. New girls are always joining. As I get older,
03:06maintenance costs more. I get the full head-to-toe package. I spend thousands every visit.
03:11I spend a ton at the salon. Once, I spent $200,000 on a package. I was heartbroken that day.
03:18Then again, it was worth it. Jacob couldn't resist me at all. That's rare for him. His self-control
03:24is insane. I give it my all in bed, but he always holds back at the last second.
03:29Alice asks about my future. She knows a decent sugar daddy in high society, but she offers to
03:35take me to meet him. I turn her down. Although the renewal might not happen, I'm still within
03:42the contracted period. Looking for a new daddy in secret is a death wish. I wonder who's lucky
03:48enough to become Jacob's next lover. Alice sounds jealous. No idea. I snap back. Jacob hates being
03:55speculated, but guessing client thoughts is habitual. This past year, Jacob has had many playthings,
04:03men or women. Sugar daddies care not about genders. As long as they're happy, the models get paid.
04:10Jacob used to be passionate, but now he's just cold. The honeymoon phase is over. He's lost interest in
04:17me. He'll likely replace me next year. Mid-facial, Jacob calls me. He gives me an address and tells me
04:23to get
04:24there now. It's a private estate. Members only. Very discreet. I know what's coming. When I arrive,
04:31Jacob is with clients from Halmyon. I'm there to entertain them in alternative ways. This is my job.
04:38I'm in my element. I drink and flirt with the clients. The party is getting wild. One client
04:46hands me his card. He tells me he likes me right in front of him. I glance at Jacob trying
04:52to gauge his
04:52reaction, but I can never guess what he's thinking or how he's feeling. I'm not that smart, but I am
04:59cautious. I won't do anything to upset him, not right in front of him. I turn the client down tactfully.
05:07I even tell him I belong to Jacob. Everyone is amused by that. Everyone except Jacob. He just sits there
05:14nonchalant, watching me with those mysterious eyes. I just give him a bright smile. When the first party
05:20ends, the night is actually just beginning. Everyone moves on. In the private room, the table is covered
05:27in pricey booze. Soon, a group of young people is led in. Like products on a shelf, they waited to
05:33be
05:33picked out. I spot a few fresh faces. In this business, you need sharp eyes. I can tell who's
05:42truly young at a glance. Jacob draws out lazily. The fresh one can stay. I'm instantly on guard.
05:48Shady tricks don't scare me, but I can never win against age. My purity is a facade. That girl is
05:54the real deal. Is this your first? Jacob asks. She nods, looking anxious. She tries to serve him a drink,
06:01but she's so nervous, she spills it. Jacob isn't even angry. He shoots me a look. I knew it. I'm
06:08the
06:08one who has to clean up. As for the entertainment, the newbie can handle that. I keep an eye on
06:13everything. I boost the mood with drinks and song. I'll dance too if they want. I hear Jacob talking
06:19to that girl in that languid tone of his. He asks her name and her age. She's Mila Jones, 18,
06:24and from
06:25some far off coastal town. Her family is sick, and she's broke. That poor me story is so overused.
06:30It's so cliche, I never used it. When Jacob asked why I do this, I said I was lazy and
06:37hated working.
06:38I thought being honest was refreshing, and that was why he liked me. But apparently, he believes Mila.
06:44He even pulls out his checkbook and writes her a check. I'm stunned. I didn't know pity was so
06:50effective. He could have just said he wanted sad. In school, my grades were great. I was an essayist.
06:56Making up sad stories is easy for me. It's already 3am by the time the party is over.
07:03Jacob has already left with Mila. At least he remembered me. He got me a ride home as a reward
07:08for my work tonight. The AC in the car is perfect, but I overdrank. I'm warmer than usual. I try
07:17to
07:17hold it together, but I can't. I stop the car. I'm out before he stops. I cling to a trash
07:23can and
07:23wretch. One year with Jacob, and my alcohol tolerance has dropped. After only 8 bottles
07:28of mixed red and white wine tonight, I've reached my limit. The driver kindly gets out and hands me
07:32some tissues. The bile I'm throwing up fills my mouth with bitterness. I awkwardly thank the driver.
07:38Are you okay? Should I take you to the hospital? It's okay. I wave it off. I'm fine. I know
07:44my
07:44body. I've gotten drunk like this before. I'm not that delicate. I force myself to head home.
07:49My brain feels like complete mush. I feel like I'll fall into a deep sleep when I close my eyes.
07:54Yet, the second I hit the mattress, all traces of sleep vanish. I have this strong feeling that
07:59my position is about to be taken by Mila. How is she so lucky? It was her first time out,
08:03and she met Jacob? I'm freaking jealous. Turns out, I was right. For the next week,
08:09I don't see Jacob, but I hear about him from everyone. Mila has, unsurprisingly,
08:14become Jacob's new favorite. She's the talk of the town now. Every time I hear it,
08:19I just curse myself for choosing to be the understanding type back then. If I had been
08:22more demanding, I could have confidently marched up to Jacob and told him to not have a new woman
08:26replace me. Days pass, and eventually, the contract ends. I'm smart. Before Jacob even asks me to leave,
08:34I've already packed my bags. I know that he hasn't mentioned renewing the contract because he
08:39doesn't want to continue, but what can I do? Going from luxury to simplicity is hard. I don't
08:43want to give up this villa or the housekeepers. Jacob sends his secretary to talk to me. He offers
08:47me an apartment. It's a four-floor flat downtown worth around six million dollars. My first thought
08:51is to sell it and cash out. I'm not exactly flush with cash, and my expenses are high. If I
08:56stay there
08:56a few months, I'll struggle to even pay the fees. The day after I move out of the villa, a
09:01business card
09:02comes into my hands. It's when I turn down at Jacob's dinner. Alice tells me, I think he makes
09:07a good sugar daddy. You're done with Jacob now, so you need to grab this chance. I hesitate. He's from
09:13Halmyon. I'm not keen on going there. I don't know that place. Oh, come on. You're worrying about
09:18nothing. A guy with his status? You won't be his only woman. He's probably got women stashed here and
09:23there, maybe even a dozen more overseas. Just have him rent you a place and stay here. If he's ever
09:28in
09:28town for business, you can take care of him. Listen, you can't rest now. In our line of work,
09:32once you stop, you'll never get back up. You have to keep networking and contact your sugar daddies.
09:37They're thousands of beautiful and fun women. You need to give them a reason to spend big money on
09:41you. Noticing my silence, Alice narrows her eyes. Georgia, don't tell me you've fallen for Jacob.
09:47You're right, I finally say. I need to get myself together. I need to make more money. There's a golf
09:52event this weekend. I'll bring you along. Alice is pleased. You better seize the chance. I learn
09:58about Lance's preferences. He's my sugar daddy from Halmyon. On the day of the golf event, the
10:03moment I see him, I can feel the weight of his gaze on me. I know right away that my
10:06business for
10:07the year is set. I make Lance laugh with my charm. Pretending I don't know how to play, I lean
10:12in close
10:12to him. I'm busy with the club while he's busy with me. We both get what we need. From a
10:17distance,
10:18a golf cart approaches. I look up and see Jacob holding Mila in his arms. He's looking at me
10:23indifferently. I'm nestled in Lance's arms. The two of us move like a single entity as we swing the
10:29club. Following a solid thwack, the ball takes a nonsensical path. It flies up in the air and lands
10:36on Jacob's head. At that moment, I've already picked out where my grave should be. I must have committed
10:40some horrible crime against this ball. This golf course is huge. So why does it have to hit Jacob's
10:46head specifically? Lance behind me. Immediately lets go. He looks like he can't wait to cut ties
10:50with me. I get it. In this place, nobody wants to get on Jacob's bad side. Whether I actually hit
10:56that
10:56ball today doesn't matter. The result can only be that I hit it. Mr. Griffin would. I'm so sorry.
11:03Let me take you to the hospital. Lance rushes over, looking guilty. This is all my fault. I wasn't
11:09watching her closely enough. I raise my hand and rub my eyes. They instantly turn red. Looking panicked,
11:15I drop to my knees in front of Jacob. My voice shakes. Mr. Wood, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I
11:21really don't know what happened. Honestly, though, this grass is pretty soft to kneel on. It doesn't
11:25hurt my knees at all. My head stays down, so I can't see Jacob's face. But everything around us
11:30goes silent. The mood is clearly serious. I was kind of hoping Jacob might go easy on me since I've
11:36served him for a whole year. It seems like that's not happening. His bodyguards yank me up. Two guys,
11:41one on each side, grab my arms, and practically drag me another step toward Jacob. Jacob sits
11:46there on his golf cart, looking down at me. His eyes are full of disgust. Looks like Mr.
11:52Courtie's quite taking with Georgia. He says it with a smile, but his voice is ice cold.
11:56Guess today I'll be taking what belongs to you. Taking what belongs to me? She's just a plaything.
12:01How dare she hurt you? As long as you're satisfied, Mr. Griffin would. Do whatever you want.
12:05Lance sells me out without hesitation. You rarely visit. I wouldn't want you getting lonely.
12:10Jacob gives Mila a gentle nudge toward Lance. Think of her as a little gift from me. I hope
12:17you won't mind. People like us only exist to please others. So being treated like objects traded or
12:22given away happens all the time. I lost my new sugar daddy and pissed off my old one. My mind
12:27goes dark.
12:28I have no idea how Jacob will punish me. I'm scared of pain. I'm terrified of it. But I can't
12:33just end
12:33it all either because I want to live. I want to live so desperately. Jacob takes me to his actual
12:38home. A place I've never been. All of his homes are mansions. This one doesn't look that different
12:44from the one I used to stay in. The bodyguards throw me on the floor. Footsteps echo all around
12:50me. I press myself to the ground too scared to move. After a while, everything goes quiet.
12:56Jacob's voice comes from above me. Georgia, look up. I flinch, then slowly lift my head to look at him.
13:02My face is covered in tears. Showing weakness is sometimes a tactic. It has nothing to do with
13:07gender. I never used to cry. I knew no one would care if I did, so I refused to let
13:11myself shed tears.
13:13Then I got into this line of work and realized that men actually love watching us cry. They love
13:17being worshipped by the weak. Even more, they love crushing the weak. Grinding them down.
13:22Why are you crying? Jacob asks me. Subconsciously, I think his mood seems a bit better now because his
13:28posture is clearly more relaxed than when he was with Lance. I crawl toward him. Looking pitiful,
13:33I place my hands on his knees. My face is full of hurt. Mr. Wood, please forgive me. I really
13:37didn't mean to. Jacob's eyes darken. He reaches out and grabs my chin. His grip isn't hard. His thumb
13:44strokes my neck gently. Your new sugar daddy abandoned you. New sugar daddy, old sugar daddy,
13:49I only want you, Mr. Wood. I blink and tears fall. But you don't want me anymore. You have someone
13:55new.
13:55An old toy like me isn't good enough for you anymore. Funny. I've never heard you say this
14:00before. Jacob says to me, I force a smile and lower my eyes. Someone in my position has no right
14:06to say such things. Then why say it today all of a sudden? If not now, I'd never get another
14:11chance.
14:12In your mind, am I really that cruel and heartless? Jacob forces me to look at him. Any idiot knows
14:17this
14:18is absolutely not the time to tell the truth. But if I lie, Jacob won't believe me either. What do
14:23I do?
14:23My life depends on this. I grip my teeth, straighten my back, tilt my head up, and kiss Jacob's thin
14:28lips. They say people with thin lips are heartless. I think there's truth to that saying. Jacob doesn't
14:33push me away, but he doesn't kiss me back either. I close my eyes, kissing him carefully. My hands
14:38shake as I undo Jacob's belt. When it comes to pleasing men with my body, I'm way too good at
14:42it.
14:43As long as Jacob lets me see this through, today's incident will be forgiven. I work hard to please
14:47him. After a year with him, I know exactly how to satisfy him. Move back in tomorrow, he says.
14:53Don't bother packing your things. I'll have someone buy you new stuff. I don't know if this
14:57counts as a blessing. I'm back by Jacob's side. But this time, he doesn't make me sign a contract.
15:02Not only that, he no longer just visits the mansion once in a while. He moves in completely.
15:08My friends praise my tactics. I actually won Jacob back, and by the looks of it, I might actually
15:12become permanent. Going permanent doesn't mean becoming his wife. It means I'm qualified to stay
15:17with Jacob. Not on a contract basis, but long-term and stable. The kind where I can rely on him
15:21for
15:21the rest of my life. That kind of relationship. Too bad I'm on pills. I can't have kids. Otherwise,
15:27if I gave Jacob a kid or two, my position would be completely secure. I don't really buy into all
15:32that. Never mind that I can't have kids. Even if I could, I would never have Jacob's child.
15:37At airport arrivals, I'm waiting eagerly. Jacob's been away for almost a month. Honestly,
15:42I actually kind of miss him. The display screen showed the plane had landed. A countdown
15:46down every second until finally I spot Jacob in the distance. Mr. Wood! I throw my arm
15:51up excitedly, waving hard. Jacob looks over. It's rare, but his eyes hold a hint of warmth.
15:57Every once in a while, I catch myself thinking maybe we're just a normal couple, no different
16:02from the other couples in the world. Lost in that thought, my gaze drifts to the side.
16:06My eyes meet someone else's. What a surprise. Of all places, I'm running into my mother here.
16:12My birth wasn't exactly honorable. Getting into this line of work wasn't voluntary either.
16:16But trauma has a way of clustering. My story might earn a few tears if it were on TV, but
16:21in this industry, it's nothing special. So, I never play the victim. Many people have it
16:25worse. Who am I to complain? The airport is crowded. I look away naturally and rush toward
16:30Jacob, throwing my arms around him to show how much I missed him. Jacob wraps one arm around
16:35me. His tone is casual, but his expression is soft. That happy to see me? Very happy.
16:40I nod enthusiastically. He chuckles, clearly pleased. Unusually, in front of others, he takes
16:47my hand. I'm completely floored. Jacob always travels with an entourage. My existence is an
16:52open secret, but my status was never respectable. He rarely shows affection to someone like me
16:56in public. I focus entirely on him, partly to show how much I missed him, partly to keep
17:02my gaze from wandering where it shouldn't. But in the end, I can't help myself. I glance
17:06back. My birth mother is chatting intimately with a young woman while smiling. That's
17:10probably my stepsister, someone I've never met before. What are you looking at? Jacob
17:15asks. Nothing. I quickly turn my gaze away and cautiously say, Mr. Wood, if you're going
17:21on a business trip again for so long, could you take me along? He doesn't answer. I suddenly
17:25realize that what I've said seems inappropriate. While I'm trying to think of a cover-up, he asks,
17:29why? Do you want to come with me? No. I wrinkle my nose and say, I haven't seen you
17:34in a while, so I've missed you. How clingy. Jacob sighs. Despite his troubled expression,
17:40his gentle tone tells me he isn't upset by my request. Next time, I'll have my secretary
17:45notify you. He says, while scratching my chin, almost like petting a dog. There's nothing
17:49wrong with that. After all, a rich person's dog lives a better life than the people from
17:53poor families. The sex tonight leaves me exhausted. Jacob is like a wolf that hasn't eaten
17:57for a long time. Not a single part of me is left untouched. I guess his schedule this
18:02month must be very tight, and he can't release his needs. After all, he is a workaholic.
18:07Work always comes first for him, even when it conflicts with his needs. I'm so tired,
18:12my eyes hurt and won't stay open. I wake briefly as he pulls away. He sees me looking at him,
18:18so he explains, I have work. Go ahead and sleep. In the past, I didn't have the right to spend
18:24the night in the same bed as Jacob. But ever since I return to his side, occasionally when
18:28it gets too late, Jacob stays in my room to rest. Didn't you just return from your trip?
18:31I rub my eyes, forcing myself to sit up. My sugar daddy isn't sleeping, so how can I be?
18:36I don't have the guts for that. Sleep. Be good. Jacob says firmly, pushing me back down. When he
18:41sees, I won't close my eyes. He sighs softly and leaves the bedroom. I hesitate between getting up
18:46and giving in to the drowsiness. But Jacob returns, holding a thick file, filled with professional
18:51terms in Aspirean. Just a glance makes my head hurt. Sleep, I'll stay here and read. He half reclines
18:57beside me and turns on the desk lamp. With glasses on the bridge of his nose, he even puts an
19:01arm
19:01around me, so I can sleep while hugging it. I am over the moon. Then I fall asleep. The next
19:07morning,
19:07when I wake up, Jacob is no longer in the bedroom. I reflect deeply, thinking it is because Jacob has
19:12been a little too indulgent with me lately. People are like that. We easily get carried away. Although
19:17I deeply fear Jacob's power and influence, the tenderness he occasionally shows is really hard
19:22to resist. I remind myself repeatedly not to let my guard down, but still find myself doing so
19:26without realizing it. While lost in thought, I sit on the bed and do a simple stretch to relieve the
19:31strain from last night's exertion. I casually pick up the phone from the table. I notice I have several
19:37missed calls from my birth father and mother. Ever since I get into this line of work, they only call
19:42me
19:42for one reason, and it is money. I am their cash machine. It was my birth father who led me
19:47into
19:48this line of work. He owed debts and used me as collateral. My first sugar daddy is my father's
19:52creditor. Back then, I was inexperienced and didn't know how to charm men, so I suffered a lot. Not long
19:57after, my first sugar daddy grew tired of me, and he sent me off for training. At a banquet, he
20:02handed me
20:02to my second sugar daddy. The second one had some fetishes, but he was very generous. With him, I paid
20:08off
20:08my father's gambling debts. Later, my biological mother heard that I was making a lot of money,
20:12so she called to say she needed some. I refused, so she came to my place and caused trouble. That
20:17interrupted my work, and for that, my second sugar daddy slapped me and made me lose a tooth.
20:21After I got involved with Jacob, I always did whatever they asked. I was afraid they would
20:26cause trouble. Earning money is hard, but living well is even harder. I make a lot, but I also spend
20:31a
20:31lot. Along with my parents' bottomless needs, I am living a very hard life. I actually consider giving up
20:37this line of work, but it is hard to get out. Truthfully, I am used to this luxurious lifestyle
20:42too. Without any skills, I can't make money if I leave this work. I won't be able to survive.
20:47Thinking about this, I expressionlessly call them back. Sure enough, my mother wants money.
20:52She saw me at the airport yesterday with Jacob. She believes I have gotten myself a rich guy.
20:56She feels what I give her isn't enough and asks me to double it. I don't have that much,
21:01I say. I checked with a friend at the housing bureau. You have a property under your name.
21:05You can transfer it to me. My mother says haughtily. Your sister just graduated. She
21:10needs a place to stay. Not possible. I refuse. Georgia, don't think that just because you found
21:15a strong backer that I won't deal with you. Trust me. If I make trouble outside Jacob's company for
21:19a few days, Jacob will immediately dump you. I believe her. After all, I lost my previous sugar
21:24daddy in the same way. They are only looking for fun and to relieve stress, not to clean up my
21:29mess.
21:29I sigh deeply. Give me some time. Hurry up. I don't have much patience. She huffs in frustration
21:35and hangs up. I steady myself, then call my father. Lately, Jacob likes you a lot, huh?
21:40My father says. I have something I need you to do. Once it's done, I promise I won't ask you
21:45for
21:45money again. What is it? You need to steal a document. It's related to X company's merger plan.
21:51I am not highly educated, but I know that whatever he wants me to steal is definitely not just a
21:56simple merger document. How simple? What if I refuse? I ask. If you refuse, I'll die. My father grits his
22:02teeth. If I die, I'll take you down with me. I end the call. Why are you lost in thought?
22:07The bedroom
22:07door is open and Jacob is staring at me with his arms crossed. I don't know how long he has
22:13been
22:13there. I feel uneasy. I don't know how much he has heard. Nothing. Get up if you're awake, Jacob says.
22:19Come downstairs. I groggily get up and wash my face. When I got downstairs, I freeze at the site. The
22:25living
22:25room has been redecorated. There are balloons everywhere. The wall in the center usually holds a painting worth
22:30billions, but it is now removed and replaced with balloons selling happy birthday. Jacob stands by
22:35the stairs holding a party popper. With a loud bang, the confetti sprays all over me. Georgia,
22:40happy birthday. I rarely celebrate my birthday. So when I see all the gift boxes and the two-tier cake
22:45in the middle of the living room, my first reaction isn't joy. It is unfamiliarity. Is today my birthday?
22:51I don't think so. Confused, I instinctively reach for my phone. Why aren't you happy? Jacob keenly
22:58notices my mood and the smile on his face fades. Panicking at once, I rush up and force a bright
23:05smile. No, no. I'm just so surprised that I didn't know how to react at first. Mr. Wood,
23:10you're the first person to celebrate my birthday. I'm really, really happy. My own thoughts don't
23:15matter. What matters is not spoiling his mood. I'm the main character of the birthday party,
23:19but Jacob is the director. As an actress, I have to follow the director's requests and perform
23:24according to the script. Jacob has prepared many gifts for me. Among them are luxurious goods,
23:28sports cars, and even landed properties. His gifts have solved the urgent problem. If I accept these
23:33gifts, I'll have bound myself to Jacob permanently. That means I'll have to deal with my birth parents
23:37for the rest of my life. I'll have to live in constant fear. But if I don't accept these gifts,
23:40I won't have any money at all. That means I won't be able to survive. Heck, I don't even know
23:44how long
23:44I can last without money. Thing is, I really love the car keys that are printed with luxurious logos and
23:48the
23:48watches that have sparkling jewels embedded on them. Yes, I'm just that realistic and materialistic.
23:52The gifts are placed before me. It's impossible for me to push them away. Happily, I reach out and
23:55accept the gifts. Then, I give Jacob a loud and deep kiss on his cheek. I don't care anymore.
23:59Even if I die, I'll die with these assets in my arms. I celebrate the grandest birthday I've ever
24:04known. Jacob is satisfied with my cooperation too. He's supposed to be extremely busy and yet he's
24:08able to block out a full day in his schedule to spend time with me. He's been spoiling me the
24:12whole
24:12time, but I've always been insecure my whole life. I can't help but wonder where exactly Jacob's bottom
24:15line lies. He's able to tolerate my occasional spoiled antics, just like how he's treating a pet dog
24:20that he adores. He can spare some time and effort to keep me company. In fact, he even prepares a
24:24pot
24:25of seafood boil for me on that very night. Ever since I joined this line of work, I've never had
24:28spicy and greasy food ever again. I need to remain healthy to avoid having rashes marring my skin.
24:32I don't want any dark circles either. God knows just how much suffering I go through whenever I eat
24:36bland salads while watching others devouring amazing food. It's not an exaggeration to call it the
24:39greatest torture methods. The smell of the spices keeps me drooling uncontrollably. I take a deep
24:44breath and gulp loudly before turning the seafood boil down as much as it pains me. No, thank you,
24:48Mr. Wood. You don't like seafood boil? Jacob then adds. I remember you telling me you come from
24:52Corville. Corville is known for having the best seafood boil. I do like it, I reply, clearly
24:56embarrassed. Then again, my sugar daddy has prepared so many surprises for my sake. Tonight, I must do my
25:00best to show my gratitude in bed, but it's been far too long since I had spicy food. What if
25:03my stomach
25:04can't handle the spice? What if I ruin everything when the time comes? I can't possibly imagine how
25:07disastrous things will be. Jacob can tell the reason behind my hesitation, so he tells me to sit down.
25:11Don't worry. He bends down and murmurs into my ear. I'll be very busy these few days, so I'll spare
25:17you from
25:17your duties. My eyes light up. The table is laden with all my favorite dishes. I only hate that after
25:22years of dieting, my stomach had shrunk and I couldn't fit all the food in. Jacob prefers lighter
25:28food, so this meal isn't for him. Most of the time, he drops food into my bowl. Not gonna lie,
25:33with the
25:34broth on the table, the warm lights overhead, and Jacob's reminders for me to eat slowly, the scene was
25:40pretty cozy, but after some time, he stopped me. He says it's cause my stomach is puffed up like a
25:45balloon
25:45that will pop if I keep going. I'm really embarrassed. My belly's pretty flat, so it's
25:49painfully obvious when it juts out, even just a bit. When he helps me upstairs, he looks disappointed
25:54in me. I've never once restricted what you eat, so just eat whatever you want. Why make yourself
25:59suffer? As if, men are all liars. Once, I craved something cold and ate half an ice cream. I'd gotten
26:05a stomach ache, so I couldn't give Jacob what he wanted. He'd frowned in displeasure and said I was
26:10unprofessional. Didn't I know what I should and shouldn't be eating? Later, after Jacob falls
26:14asleep, I'm still awake because I'm stuffed. I climb out of bed and take out the gifts, looking
26:19over them again. I love them. They make me feel secure and keep me standing. I quietly put them
26:25all away in the drawer, then slip out of the bedroom and head to the study. It's a room full
26:30of mystery to me. Jacob hates being disturbed when he's working. His business is massive and
26:35the amounts are huge. I'm always afraid I'll see things that I shouldn't. Plus, it's packed with books
26:39that are all foreign texts that I can't understand. It's always been a place of awe, fear and respect
26:43for me. I can feel my heart pounding way too fast. I stand at the door giving myself a full
26:48-on pep
26:48talk. But in the end, I don't go in. I'm not stupid. In this city, if I offend my father
26:53and
26:54whatever big shot backing him, I can still run. But if I offend Jacob, I'll be better off dead.
26:58After that day, I don't answer any more calls from my father. I also come up with a plan. I
27:03go to Alice
27:03for help and pay her to hire some thugs to teach my parents a lesson they won't forget. I've never
27:07done
27:08this before. Staying alive was hard enough. All I ever thought about was how to get through each
27:12day. But now, things are different. If I obey Jacob, I'll still have a way out, even if he grows
27:17sick of me. He won't make things hard for me. Alice asks me how far I want to take this.
27:22I ask how far
27:23things can go. A verbal threat? A warning? Or some violence? Or permanent injuries? Or maybe stage a
27:30car crash to take them out? Different levels? Different prices? I think about it. My father is going to need
27:36a beating. Or he won't take this seriously. As for my mother, get a few guys who look extra
27:41fierce and have them tail my half-sister for a few days. Then, threaten her. She's my mother's
27:46whole world. Her pain would kill my mother. Oh, one more thing. When the guys make their move,
27:51make sure my parents are aware that this is all my idea. Okay, wait for my good news. Alice works
27:56fast.
27:57In just a few days, my mother calls me. She swears to make me pay. Better not threaten me,
28:02I say calmly. The money's with me. Put me in a good mood. And I might give you some. But
28:07if you
28:07piss me off, this time, I just scared your daughter. Next time, I won't stop there. My mother curses me
28:13out. But in the end, all she can do is hang up. Why was I so dumb before? Why didn't
28:17I think of doing
28:18this? I'd wasted so much money. Honestly, they were all bark and no bite, like balloons that would burst
28:23once poked. Meanwhile, my father doesn't call me at all. I heard those thugs roughed him up bad,
28:28so he'd been recuperating and hadn't even left the house. I let out a shallow breath, thinking that
28:33maybe I can finally have peace. Unfortunately in my life, peace never seems to last long. I leave the
28:39house for a quick trip to the spa when a van suddenly comes screaming down the street. The door
28:43flies open and several guys in masks drag me into the vehicle. I don't even have time to scream before
28:49a damp towel is pressed over my mouth and nose. I'm genuinely surprised that someone like me is
28:54getting kidnapped. My life so far hasn't been smooth sailing, but a kidnapping is definitely a
28:58first. After all, I'm not rich, nor am I powerful. Why bother kidnapping me? I wake up to water in
29:04my
29:04face. It's pretty dark around me, so I'm guessing I'm in a basement or something. I shiver from the
29:08cold water. I force my eyes open and squint at the guy before me. I don't know him, but my
29:13father
29:14stands behind him. He looks as repulsive as ever. When he sees I'm awake, viciousness flashes in his
29:19eyes. He wants to teach me a lesson, but doesn't dare to do anything due to the pressure from the
29:23man in front of him. Georgia Lodge? I'm too scared to speak. This guy radiates that ruthless
29:28dominance those in power do. I can't afford to offend him. You don't look special. I wonder
29:33why you caught Jacob Griffinwood's eye. My father hurries to flatter him and says in a low voice,
29:38she was personally trained by Bob Jones. Bob Jones, my very first sugar daddy. Oh, him. I guess she's
29:44got some skills. The man sizes me up. Someone next to him steps forward to light a cigar for him.
29:49He takes a drag and exhales, blowing the smoke into my face. So, what do you think? Consider being
29:55mine. It's as good as being with Jacob. I'm terrified, but I still force a smile. Don't say
30:00that, sir. You and Mr. Wood are both outstanding men who are way out of my league. I can't pick
30:05and
30:06choose. If you know you can't cross me, then why are you saying no? He suddenly presses his lit cigar
30:11straight to one of my cheeks. The pain makes me tear up. Before the sting even fades, a hard slap
30:17lands across my other cheek. The blow leaves me woozy. How dare you provoke me? You've got some
30:23nerve. I didn't. I tried to deny it. How dare you deny it? My father steps forward, looking arrogant
30:29and smug. I work for Mr. Lowell. Laying a hand on me means laying a hand on him. Know who
30:34you're
30:34dealing with. Shame. You weren't much of a looker. Now that you're disfigured, you think Jacob will
30:39still want you? Mr. Lowell's rough palm slides over my neck, then suddenly tightens around it.
30:44The suffocation hits immediately. I instinctively struggle, but my wrists and ankles are bound.
30:49I can't fight back at all. Maybe I'm gonna die here. I don't want that. I don't wanna die.
30:54Being alive is painful, but in this exact second, I realize I'm desperate to live. Forget it.
31:00Mr. Lowell abruptly lets go. I collapse to the floor and gasp for air. Do you wanna live? He asks
31:06with a smile. I nod vigorously. That depends on you. He waves a hand lazily, and the men surrounding
31:12us immediately step forward. If you can satisfy all of them, I might consider letting you live.
31:18I curl up on the floor, unable to do anything but watch. A camera is set up and aimed right
31:22at me. I hear Mr. Lowell say, give it your best shot. This blockbuster's first viewer will
31:28be Jacob Griffin Wood. You know what to do, right? I lower my eyes. No, I don't. Look at
31:33my men. They're all young and strong. Jacob's almost 40. Can he compare to them? Just look into
31:39the camera and tell everyone the truth. No man can take being mocked for not being good
31:42in bed. I'm Jacob's sugar baby. We've slept together. If I face that camera and look like
31:48I'm enjoying myself while saying that Jacob is no match for these thugs, I can already
31:53imagine how utterly humiliated he'll be. But I want to stay alive even if it's just a few
31:57extra days. I drop my gaze, then put on a chastened, fawning smile. Mr. Lowell, I know
32:02what to do now, but I want to serve you first. My cheek still burns, but I don't dare touch
32:06it. I only look up at Mr. Lowell. He lets out a mocking laugh. You're such a whore.
32:11Don't think your price goes up just because you've served me. I'm not like Jacob Griffin
32:15Wood. People of your level don't even catch my eye. Despite his words, he has someone untie
32:21my vines. I grind my pride into the dirt and crawl over to him. Dignity means nothing to
32:26me. If it did, I wouldn't have survived this long. As a kid, I shamelessly begged, fluttered
32:31and grinned like an idiot despite getting beaten, all for a single bite of food. Now,
32:36to stay alive, I can lose my backbone and do every degrading thing. This is my line of
32:41work anyway. To me, I'm just serving a different man. I look up at Mr. Lowell and smile faintly.
32:47Then I kick him hard between his legs. Ah, a scream tears through the air. Fists and random
32:53objects rain down on me. Blood drips from my forehead, blurring my vision. I let out a ragged
32:58laugh and watch as the men rush to Mr. Lowell in a hurry. They're too scared to touch him.
33:02He roars that he wants me tortured and abused. I really do want to live. I do, but when I
33:07was with Jacob, I lived like a human, just barely. I can't go back to living like a rat.
33:11Maybe all he gave me were useless swaps of warmth, insincere greetings and perfunctory
33:15kindnesses, but even that was enough. It hurts. Every inch of me is in agony. My heart is deliriously
33:21alive, but I still can't ignore the physical pain. I collapse to the ground and curl up into a
33:26tight ball. Jacob, my life probably means nothing to you, but I'm about to lose it because of
33:31you. So, if it's not too much to ask, I hope you take a little longer to forget me. I
33:36wake
33:37up in a hospital. When I come to, I'm surprised I'm still alive. Am I that tough? Has my luck
33:42turned around after all this suffering? My gaze shifts and I see Jacob. Oh, I get it now.
33:48Jacob wrenched me right out of death's hands. Wait, something's off. Why does he look so worn
33:54out? I didn't steal his files. Did someone else leak his confidential papers and bankrupt
33:59him? I want to ask what happened. After all, I still have some savings. I'm worried he'll
34:04try to take back whatever I have. I would have taken death over that. But before I can speak,
34:10Jacob leans in and carefully cups my cheek. I blink dazedly and watch him lean over me to
34:14press a kiss to my forehead. He says hoarsely, you're awake. Something warm slides down my cheek.
34:20It must be coming from Jacob's eyes. All in all, the long and short of it is that I survived.
34:25I don't know how it happened. According to Jacob's secretary, he'd never seen Jacob lose control
34:29like that or look so wrecked. Ever since I woke up, Jacob hasn't left my line of sight.
34:34Even during video conferences, he sits somewhere, he can see me at a glance and every 10 minutes or so
34:39he looks at me to see what I'm doing. I'm really not used to him being like this. He's acting
34:43like I
34:43matter to him. The two things I care most about are money and my face. Thankfully, both are okay.
34:49The doctor saved my face. My cheek had a cigar burn, but I don't scar easily. With proper care,
34:55my looks won't be affected. As for money, as long as Jacob stays afloat, I probably won't go broke.
35:00I'm in the hospital for a month. Only when I'm about to go crazy does Jacob agree to my discharge.
35:06After getting out, Jacob keeps me at home for two more months to recover. And from that point on,
35:12anytime I set foot outside, I have a security detail. Friends say I'm in for good things
35:16now that I've cheated death. They can't believe that I managed to go legit with Jacob.
35:21Before this, everyone thought I was set for life for as long as I stuck with him,
35:25but nobody expected that I'd become his wife. From what I remember, Jacob has never once
35:30acknowledged my status. How is this counted as legit? The night the doctor announced that I had
35:34fully recovered, I can't hold back anymore and try to give myself to Jacob. I don't believe men can
35:39have platonic relationships. I've seen so many men in my life. Shouldn't I know better how much they're
35:44ruled by what's below the waist? Jacob has been abstinent. In three months, other than toilet
35:48breaks, I wasn't out of his sight, even for showers. More than once, I've caught his dark gaze on me.
35:53Each time I think he's about to lose control, he still manages to hold back. I worry that if he
35:57keeps this up, he'll have problems. This is directly related to my happiness, so I have to take it
36:01seriously. I do all my prep work. I set up a nice scent, slip into something sheer, and lie on
36:06the bed to
36:06wait for him. Taking care of Jacob in bed is something I'm familiar with. I know every one of his
36:11sensitive spots. I'm sure this will be a scorching, no-holds-barred night, but to my surprise,
36:15Jacob turns me down. It's not his first time rejecting me, but it is the only time that I'm
36:20caught off guard. I quickly adjust, though, and back off, giving Jacob space. In my softest voice,
36:26I say, I'm sorry, Mr. Wood. I overset. Ultimately, I'd overestimated myself. I'd assumed that with his
36:31recent treatment of me, I'd found a spot in his heart, even if he hadn't fallen for me. But the
36:36truth is,
36:37I can't even read him. Why would I be special to him? I thought my near-death to protect Jacob's
36:42business was a big deal, but in reality, I was probably more like a pet that had locked a tiny
36:47pebble for its owner. I'd almost died for him, but it wasn't notable to him. Jacob tells me not to
36:53overthink it and to focus on my recovery. I do as I'm told and don't dwell on the matter. Then,
36:58he slowly
36:59stops coming to the villa. Even contact is rare. When I meet my friends, they tease me, saying I've got
37:05a
37:05job I can't lose. They say I'm set for life as long as I stick with Jacob. I don't tell
37:10them that I'm
37:10going to lose the job. This time, things are different from when our contract expired. Back
37:15then, Jacob acted the same, despite the contract's expiration. This time, I can clearly feel him
37:20pulling away on purpose. One day, I go to the spa. When I get home, I find Jacob on the
37:26couch with a
37:27document in his hand. In that moment, I get it. Mr. Wood. I smile and walk over to him. Sit.
37:33He looks up at
37:34me, then slides the document toward me. Take a look. I obediently pick it up. Is this my severance
37:39pay? He sure is generous. Thanks, Mr. Wood. I accept the contract and don't cause a scene. Who am I
37:45to
37:45throw a fit? Jacob's face is devoid of emotion. I've given you plenty of money. Turn over a new leaf
37:51and live a decent life. Don't stay in this line of work. He doesn't need to be here. He could
37:56have sent
37:57someone else, like before. I will. I stand up and curtsy to him. I'll move out tomorrow, and this time,
38:04after leaving, I won't be coming back. Our relationship is ending, but I wrap things up
38:09properly. Jacob spends the night here. I draw him a bath and give him a full body spa. The bathtub
38:16faces the windows. The glass is one way, so when he's in the tub, he can enjoy the view in
38:21privacy.
38:21How long have you done this? I don't remember. Maybe five years? That's good. You're not worn
38:27out yet, so you can still find a husband. Mr. Wood, after being with a man like you,
38:32I'm afraid it's going to be hard for me to be interested in other men. Oh? Is that a hint
38:35not
38:36to let you go? I wouldn't dare. I'm just being honest. I actually know exactly why Jacob is
38:40letting me go. It's because he discovered my feelings for him. I have never claimed to be some
38:44morally noble person. In a life or death situation, I shouldn't be sacrificing my own life to protect
38:48Jacob's interests, but that's exactly what I did. I've fallen for him, so he can't keep me around.
38:53Money and profits make the most solid bonds. Jacob can give me all of that, but he won't give me
38:57even
38:58the slightest bit of love. I love him, so I can give up my life for him, but I might
39:02hurt him because he
39:03doesn't love me. I get that, so I accept this outcome. After moving out of the villa, my life
39:08settles. Jacob really is generous. Including this last payout, I now have three properties, tens of millions
39:15in cash, and even some stocks. As long as I don't splurge in ways that might break the law,
39:20what I have now has me set for life. After grinding for so long, I can finally start my retirement
39:25early. Alice comes over to hang out. She has a new sugar daddy. He's from Hutton and treats her
39:31pretty well. In just a few short months, he's already spent plenty on her. After cashing out on
39:36this job, I'm going to retire too. She takes a drag of her cigarette. The smoke curls around her face,
39:40so I can't make out her expression. I'm not getting any younger. It's time to settle down and
39:44actually live a normal life. You? Saying stuff like that? That's not like you at all. You remember
39:49my previous sugar daddy, right? The one from Jarton? Yeah, he's the only one who prematurely
39:53terminated his contract with you. I remember you cleaned him out right before you walked away.
39:57You were really proud and kept bragging to me about it. He went bankrupt. Alice looks despondent. I only
40:01found out recently. That money I took from him was probably everything that he had left. What? I'm
40:06stunned. He knew he was going under. That's why he ended things and handed over pretty much all the
40:10liquid assets he had left to me. She stubs out her cigarette and lets out a bitter laugh. If he
40:14were going to pull that, he should have hidden it better and kept it under wraps. Look at the
40:17situation I'm in now. It feels wrong to return, but it's also wrong if I don't. You want to do
40:21it
40:21though? I can see right through her. That's not all. You're even thinking of handing over all the money
40:26you've made to help him make a comeback. Alice looks miserable, but doesn't deny it. You're out of
40:30your mind. I shoot to my feet frustrated by her idiocy. You know what you're doing. With our history,
40:35we'll never be the kind to get to sit at the nice table. How much of that friendship between men
40:40is
40:40real? And how long does it last? Right now, you're remembering his kindness. But once you spend the
40:45money, once he makes a comeback, and once you're old and ugly, there'll be a line of fresh faces,
40:49prettier than you, sweeter than you, and wilder than you. When that time comes, how will you fare against
40:54them? And what about you? It's the same with Jacob, no? I'm at a loss for words. Women really are
41:00soft.
41:01We can't love in our work, so it's all about each getting what we need. It's a simple transaction.
41:05The lessons of those before us are still fresh in our minds, yet we somehow still end up making
41:09the mistakes they did. At least I took the money. I'll never have to worry about money, I say. I
41:13won't pay to be with him. That makes me better than you. That's because you got lucky and ran into
41:17Jacob. That guy is a businessman who never makes a losing deal. Believe it or not, if he goes bankrupt
41:21right now, you'll give him all your money. Don't jinx me. I quickly stop the conversation. Some things
41:26just can't be said. I learn about Jacob's bankruptcy from the news. In the past, I never watched the
41:33news. People like me were barely even educated. Why keep up with the news? But since splitting
41:37up with Jacob, I have started watching it. Because every now and then he shows up on the
41:41screen, how can you go bankrupt? But as the reports pile up, it starts looking real. I
41:46go around asking a few friends in the industry. Their sugar daddies all have connections, so
41:50they help me ask around. Turns out, the rumors are true. Alice also calls me. I asked around.
41:56It's probably by the same guys who kidnapped you last time. They're out to get Jacob. Jacob is
42:00far too influential in this city. It's practically his monopoly. Unless someone drags him down,
42:05everyone else will be stuck fighting over scraps. It's the result of standing out.
42:09I spend a few days at home before starting to go over all my assets. Everything I have
42:13is because of Jacob. I know that to him, what I've got is a drop in the bucket. But at
42:17least
42:17it's something to show where my loyalties lie. As Alice predicted, I was righteous with her,
42:22but when I was in her shoes, I was throwing all my money in and even more desperate than she
42:26ever was. At least Alice dreamed about being with her sugar daddy. I didn't even dare entertain a
42:30thought like that. I have Jacob's private number, but he doesn't answer when I call. So, I sent him
42:36a message, weighing every word carefully. In the end, Jacob's secretary calls me back and turns me
42:42down. Miss Lodge, Mr. Woods said to tell you that he appreciates the gesture. He hopes you'll live well
42:48and that you'll stop worrying about those from your past. I'd figured as much. Jacob's refusal of my
42:53kindness is not for my sake. His pride is in the way, making him refuse to accept charity from me.
42:58I'm prepared for that outcome, but I still feel disappointed. I know all too well the huge gap
43:04between us. I can't even do the smallest things for him, but I still go ahead and do what I
43:08want to
43:08do. In all my years alive, I've rarely gotten to be willful and to follow my heart. So, I'm more
43:14than
43:14willing to throw myself at him. When Alice loans me money, she prods me in the forehead and grumbles
43:18non-stop about how I can't repay her after borrowing so much from her. Some other friends also feel bad
43:23for me. When they lend me the money, they even suggest getting me a new sugar daddy. He's not
43:27exactly a great guy, but he's generous. I just need a year with him. I turn them all down. I
43:31take
43:31that card holding everything I own and mail it to Jacob. Then, I tell myself we're even and to stop
43:37thinking about him. I get an ordinary job and I start online content creation. After being with
43:41sugar daddies for years, I'd at least seen a lot of the world. I picked up some things about aesthetics
43:46and makeup. I didn't have a proper education, so I had to make money differently. Thankfully, my second video
43:52blew up. I've always felt like my luck was never really that bad. Sure, my parents neglected me,
43:57but at least I didn't starve. Later, I became an escort. It wasn't a respectable job, but I only
44:02suffered at the start. I got used to it after blending in. Then, when Jacob no longer wanted me,
44:07he still made sure I was taken care of for life. Food and bills were settled. And now, I may
44:13be broke
44:13again, but my career, which has never taken off before, is on the verge of blowing up. Good, isn't it?
44:18That's why we need to stay alive. There's a future to look forward to. I work a day job,
44:23shoot at night, and life keeps getting better. But one day, Alice suddenly calls me and says
44:28Jacob is back on top. I've gone out of my way to avoid news about him. Hearing about him again
44:33feels surreal. Really? That's good. I say earnestly, we will never be together, but I still hope he does
44:41well. You really are hopeless. I'm doing pretty great, and I'm pretty happy too. I even tried to talk
44:46Alice into it. If you're going to quit for good, then come work with me. I have a decent following
44:50now. I can send traffic your way, maybe when I hit rock bottom. I'm just calling you today to update
44:55you so you can stop worrying. Forget about Jacob. This call is unnecessary. I probably won't ever
45:00stop thinking about Jacob, but I'm also prepared to never see him again and to never check any news
45:05about him. I may seem like an idiot, but I'm actually really smart. With anything or anyone that
45:10may disappoint me, I never let myself expect anything from them. Just like I never once hoped that my parents
45:14would love me, I also didn't dare hope that Jacob would fall for me. After expanding my horizons,
45:19I make a lot of new friends. They don't know what I used to do and that I had sugar
45:22daddies.
45:23To them, I'm the best. Their comments are full of praise. Deep down, I'm uneasy. Maybe there's a name
45:29for it. Something like PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. Someone like me shouldn't have things go
45:35smoothly or be disliked. They think I'm perfect and flawless, but I know I'm tainted. Then, one day,
45:43the dirt on me spreads online along with hate and insults. I suddenly feel at peace. Part of me
45:48mocks myself for being happy about the hate. The other part makes a video of a sincere chat about
45:51myself. The whole process is even fun. I have nothing about my past that I feel the need to hide.
45:57Each and every one of those incidents shaped who I am today. Life can knock me down, but I will
46:02never
46:02stay down. I'm prepared to not be accepted. I tell myself that at least I've made good money lately.
46:07The debt I'd originally planned to pay off in 10 years, I can now clear in just two. That's good
46:11enough.
46:11To my surprise, I'm accepted. Many called me shameless and said I had no dignity for making
46:16such dirty money before cleaning myself up now. But even more people leave comments to cheer me on
46:20and tell me not to give up on life. They message me privately to share their own stories with me.
46:24It's like sharing the suffering makes it less unbearable. I cry a lot, to be honest. In front
46:28of my sugar daddies, I would always whine, put on a pitiful act, or play the victim just to spark
46:33their
46:33sense of conquest. But that was a survival tactic, not who I really was. I don't know what I ever
46:37did to
46:38deserve being accepted and liked. This world can actually be beautiful. If I hadn't had the nerve
46:42to take that first step, maybe I never would have seen this side of the world's kindness.
46:46At the end of the year, a platform invites me to attend an awards ceremony. I dress to the nines
46:50for it. The ceremony is a grand one. Besides big influencers, there are also several celebrities.
46:56I already know which award I'm getting, so I've prepared a speech. I'm about to go on stage,
47:00but I'm still memorizing it. I do have a terrible memory. It's only a few lines, but they just won't
47:05stick.
47:05Next, let's welcome our award presenter, Griffinwood Group CEO, Mr. Jacob Griffinwood.
47:10The host beams at the crowd and the audience is surprised. My smile freezes on my face.
47:15Influencers run the economy now, and every influencer here easily makes tens of millions
47:19a year. But why would Jacob? I stand there and follow the host's line of sight. Under the spotlight,
47:25Jacob walks toward me with all eyes on him. He still looks the way I remember. He's lofty,
47:30untouchable, and immaculate. Congratulations. He takes the trophy, and passes it to me.
47:36Thanks, I say in a small voice. You've done very well, better than I expected. He shakes my hand,
47:41and we stand side by side, facing the audience. I've never imagined a day like this, when I can
47:46openly stand by Jacob's side, accepting applause. Georgia. Jacob calls my name. Yeah? Do you want to
47:53be with me? I don't answer. This time, you have every right to stand by me openly as my fiancé.
47:58Jacob Griffin Wood first met Georgia Lodge at an ordinary cocktail party. Many wanted to suck up
48:02to him, but not everyone was qualified to do so. Everyone else addressed him as Mr. Griffin Wood.
48:07Only Georgia, like an uneducated brute, had called him Mr. Wood. Because he rarely heard that form of
48:13address, he'd given her a second glance. When someone held power, even a single look from them
48:17would be dissected and analyzed by the people below. That one look at Georgia made someone decide
48:22he must have taken a liking to her. And so, in no time at all, Georgia was delivered to his
48:26side,
48:26along with a background check and a medical report. He didn't have a companion then. Georgia stood in
48:31front of him, smiling stiffly. She hid it well, but he still caught the disgust and resentment in her
48:37eyes. The women sent to him were always thoroughly trained. He was a little curious how long someone
48:42like Georgia could survive in this world of power and profit. Unfortunately, she turned out to be a
48:47bore. Jacob later realized that whatever emotions Georgia had felt that day would never have any real
48:51impact on his life. He could tell that she was trying her best to blend into his circle.
48:55She fawned, acted cute, and bowed and scraped. To keep herself attractive to men, she splurged on
49:01cosmetic procedures, even going in for those so-called tightening packages that sounded magical, but didn't
49:07even have basic safety guaranteed. He'd lost control that one time. It wasn't because of the
49:11tightening treatment. Jacob just happened to pass by and saw Georgia limping out of the spa,
49:15dressed to the nines, but with her face twisted in pain. She looked so gaudy. People around her
49:21strange looks, but she seemed oblivious. But when she turned the corner, Jacob saw her with her
49:25arms around her knees and her head buried. She crouched there for a long time. She had a thin
49:29figure, and she looked so lonely. Jacob had seen way too many women like her. Whether they made a
49:35fortune, they always ended in tragedy. Almost none got happy ending. In that instant, Jacob suddenly had
49:40a thought. It wasn't impossible to keep Georgia by his side forever. He could just treat her like a
49:45pampered pet and a distraction. Not that he'd ever told her about it. As the last day of their contract
49:50crept closer, Jacob watched as Georgia found it harder and harder to quiet her growing anxiety.
49:55He kept wondering when she would come to him and ask to renew the contract. Unfortunately,
49:58she was just too well behaved, so much so that she never overstepped. Even when he openly brought in
50:03someone new, all Georgia did was swallow her hurt in silence and play her part to perfection.
50:08Jacob saw Georgia's mockery when the newcomer told her sob story. He also saw the despair in her eyes
50:13when the golf ball came crashing down on him. At the time, he'd wondered why he was being so harsh
50:17with
50:17her. Since he was invested in her, he would just keep her around. What Georgia really thought didn't
50:22matter much. As long as he felt satisfied, that was good enough. After getting back together,
50:28Jacob would sometimes spend the night in Georgia's room. Seeing her so sleepy that she couldn't open
50:32her eyes and kept nodding off while swearing she wasn't tired was pretty cute in his eyes. He'd
50:36never seriously considered what exactly Georgia meant to him. In any case, as long as he wanted her,
50:41she wouldn't be able to leave him. Later, he realized he was wrong. Georgia could leave.
50:45After all, in this world, no one could bridge the gap. Bridge the gap between life and death.
50:49At first, when Jacob heard that Georgia had been kidnapped, he didn't panic. Kidnapping was always
50:53about profit and Georgia had always known when to give in. They had an intimate relationship and
50:59she knew a thing or two about his affairs. She could tell them what she knew and that would keep
51:03her
51:03alive. And with her skills, she could easily find another sugar daddy. So, when Jacob's subordinates
51:10reported the news of Georgia's kidnapping, he hadn't even paused his meeting. She was just a pet he kept.
51:15If a bag went missing, he'd have the maids look for it. If it couldn't be found, he would simply
51:20buy
51:20another one. Things changed when his men found Georgia. They didn't know if she was alive and
51:24her face was so swollen, they couldn't even tell what she used to look like. If anything,
51:28she should be glad she'd only had cosmetic treatments and not plastic surgery. Otherwise,
51:32the implants alone would have pierced through her skull. She had several broken ribs, some organ
51:36damage, and her limbs abused to the point of being twisted out of shape. When a video was sent back,
51:40Jacob took one look and tossed his phone aside. Then, he headed to the hospital.
51:44Georgia was in the operating room for a full nine hours, from nightfall until dawn. When she was
51:49finally wheeled out, she had tubes everywhere. Jacob was busy, busy putting out fires at the
51:54company and dealing with his rival's attacks. Once Georgia was in the ICU, visits were limited
51:58to specific hours. So, staying at the hospital wasn't of much use. Still, Jacob chose to follow what
52:03his heart told him to do, and remained at the hospital. The accommodations there were far from
52:08comfortable. Even someone as tireless as Jacob couldn't help looking worn out. Yet, the rate at which he grew
52:13haggard was nothing compared to Georgia. She just lay there silently on that hospital bed and grew
52:18weaker with each day. The doctors said her will to live was weak, which was why she was still out.
52:23Jacob secretly mocked them for lying. If she really didn't want to live, why would she afford to cling
52:28to that last breath and hold on until he could save her? Jacob had never bothered to figure out
52:32what exactly he felt for Georgia. But in that moment, he suddenly started to understand his own
52:35heart. The fact that, deep down, he'd allowed Georgia to trade his secrets in exchange for her
52:40own life already meant he'd fallen for her. With Georgia, Jacob did indeed experience many emotions
52:45that were useless yet novel to him. Like the joy and agitation he'd felt the moment Georgia finally
52:50woke up. Like the heartache he'd felt when she pushed through rehab and pretended to be fine,
52:54even making herself smile at him. He'd nursed Georgia back to health, throwing everything at her to
52:58rebuild her body. And he'd assigned bodyguards to make sure she was always safe. Only he knew the
53:04genuine emotions he'd poured into all of that. To him, love was useless. Small doses were a fun
53:10distraction, but too much of it would only limit his efficiency. And so, after thinking it through,
53:15Jacob ultimately decided to end the relationship. He knew he'd fallen for her, and he knew Georgia had
53:20also fallen for him. But this was what the world was often like. Pure interest could keep a relationship
53:25going and even make it unbreakable. But when feelings got tangled up, the whole thing became
53:29fragile. Cutting their losses early was the best choice for both him and her. Georgia left without
53:33hesitation. She was never the type to cling, and she vanished from his life. She knew better. The
53:39first few days, Jacob hadn't been used to it. But as work piled up, he no longer had the time
53:45for
53:45romance. The traps he'd laid for so long were finally starting to work per his plan. News of his
53:49bankruptcy spread across the entire country. After that, he got a call from Georgia. He didn't answer it.
53:55So, she sent him a message instead, sounding as she always did with her familiar flattery,
54:00afraid of upsetting him. Jacob had his secretary reply for him. But not long after, he'd still
54:04received a bank card. The amount on it was higher than he'd expected. Maybe Georgia's friends had
54:08helped. They all had their own sugar daddies, so even if they weren't filthy rich, it was still a
54:13sizable sum overall. Still, Georgia had promised him she would quit that line of work. If she borrowed
54:17so much money, how was she going to pay it back? Jacob later had his answer. She'd gone into doing
54:21online content and had gotten somewhat popular.
54:23Per your instructions, I staged an encounter with Miss Lodge yesterday. His assistant reported,
54:27She seems to be in pretty good spirits. She said her career's on track, she has lots of fans who
54:31like her, and she's making good money. Is that so? But as far as Jacob knew, every single one of
54:36her
54:36videos had hate comments. People called her ugly and flashy, and just a few days ago, someone had
54:41exposed her past and how she used to be an escort. Her haters flooded the internet. If not for that,
54:46Jacob wouldn't have gone out of his way to arrange the chance encounter. He'd worried she would hurt
54:50herself, because that was what she was like. Whenever it came to her own pain, she always
54:54brushed it off. Maybe it was because she knew no one really cared about her, and that looking sad
54:58wouldn't change anything. But he knew perfectly well she had pills hidden in her cabinet. The
55:04pills had been saved up one by one in over a long time, but Georgia had never taken them.
55:07When the contract had expired, Jacob had brought her back out of fear that she would take them.
55:11Later, he'd let her go because he'd feared she'd be more attached. If he couldn't love her,
55:16she might ultimately still end up taking those pills. And after that, when Georgia had given him
55:20money, he hadn't returned it, so it would tie her to this world. If she remembered her debt,
55:24she wouldn't give up on herself. She needed to have a bit of hope, so she had a reason to
55:28keep
55:28living. Don't clean up the mess online too perfectly. Jacob said, Georgia is smart.
55:33Overwhelmingly positive comments will only make her suspicious. Understood so. Jacob knew then that in
55:38the end, he really did treat Georgia differently. Different enough that he was willing to break his own
55:42rules for her and pay attention to these details. He was willing to give Georgia time and wait for
55:46her to be remade. She had to look at the world again. There would be good and bad, but the
55:51good
55:51outnumbered the bad. At the end of the year, Jacob received word that Georgia had agreed to attend the
55:56awards ceremony. He had shares in the platform, but it was just one of his many assets. It wasn't
56:02particularly important. Even so, Jacob still showed up in full formal attire. He did it to stand before
56:07Georgia again and give her an opening. This time, he wanted her to have the courage to speak
56:12up and keep hold of what she truly wanted.
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