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