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