- 8 hours ago
(DUBBED) Until Fate Gave Us a Second Chance Full (Chinese)
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Short filmTranscript
00:01I'm a model. Well, a different kind. In this line of work, most of us have sugar daddies.
00:09They usually hop from one to another. I have one too. His name is Jacob Griffin Wood. Come to think
00:16of it, it's been almost a year since we met. Our contract expires in six months. By industry rules,
00:25we need to decide whether to renew or part ways. After all, youth is my only asset. A good sugar
00:30daddy is hard to find. If we don't renew, I'll have to find someone new. Honestly, I'm happy with
00:36Jacob. If he wants to stay together, I'll celebrate with champagne. However, knowing Jacob is hard to
00:43say. He's just too attractive. When a man is this rich and powerful, people flock to him in droves.
00:49I can charm Jacob all I want. Alas, I've reached my body's limit. Over the year, we've tried
00:55everything in bed. Jacob isn't interested in me anymore. He gave me a mountain villa that's almost
01:01five, 300 square feet. His previous lovers lived there too. I don't know how many there were,
01:06but the thought of leaving in two weeks makes me depressed. Late at night, Mary Atkins, the maid,
01:11wakes me. She says, Jacob is here. I have to go serve him. This life isn't as easy as it
01:17looks.
01:17I have to do so much. You need charm and a lot of luck. With a bad sugar daddy, you
01:25lose your money
01:26and your health. I've been a model for three years. Some of my colleagues have to wear diapers
01:31now. I'm one of the lucky ones. Jacob's only flaw is how he treats me in the bedroom,
01:37but he's generous. I rush downstairs in a robe. Jacob is passed out on the couch. He reeks of alcohol.
01:43Mary hands me some honey tea. I hold it to his lips lovingly. I coo. Have some tea, Mr. Wood.
01:50He's surnamed Griffin Wood. But he has a quirk. He hates his last name. I'm a woman with no education.
01:57I didn't know compound surnames exist. That's how I caught his eye. He says when people call him
02:04Mr. Griffin Wood out of respect, he just wants to slap them. Jacob take a sip and frowns.
02:11I quickly pull the cup away. The smell of booze and perfume makes my stomach turn.
02:16Still, I strip him down and fetch a basin of warm water. I wash him with a straight face.
02:23Jacob is still conscious. He moves his limbs for me. Georgia, how long has it been? Almost a year,
02:29Mr. Wood. Jacob nods. The contract's up soon, right? My heart skips a beat. He wants to talk
02:35about it now. If the renewal is a no-go, I wonder how much I'll get. Jacob is a generous
02:41man. If the
02:42payout is big enough, I'll quit being a model. But he doesn't say another word. I wait for him to
02:47speak, but he's already fallen asleep. The next day, Alice Lane invites me to the salon. As a kid,
02:54I never thought I'd visit a place like this so often. Models are competitive. We earn a lot,
03:01but we spend a lot. New girls are always joining. As I get older, maintenance costs more. I get the
03:09full head-to-toe package. I spend thousands every visit. I spend a ton at the salon. Once I spent
03:14$200,000 on a package. I was heartbroken that day. Then again, it was worth it. Jacob couldn't
03:21resist me at all. That's rare for him. His self-control is insane. I give it my all in bed,
03:27but he always holds back at the last second. Alice asks about my future. She knows a decent
03:32sugar daddy in high society, but she offers to take me to meet him. I turn her down. Although the
03:40renewal might not happen, I'm still within the contracted period. Looking for a new daddy in secret
03:45is a death wish. I wonder who's lucky enough to become Jacob's next lover? Alice sounds jealous.
03:52No idea. I snap back. Jacob hates being speculated, but guessing client thoughts is habitual. This past
04:00year, Jacob has had many playthings, men or women. Sugar daddies care not about genders. As long as
04:08they're happy, the models get paid. Jacob used to be passionate, but now he's just cold. The honeymoon
04:14phase is over. He's lost interest in me. He'll likely replace me next year. Mid-facial, Jacob calls
04:21me. He gives me an address and tells me to get there now. It's a private estate. Members only. Very
04:28discreet. I know what's coming. When I arrive, Jacob is with clients from Halmion. I'm there to entertain
04:35them in alternative ways. This is my job. I'm in my element. I drink and flirt with the clients.
04:42The party is getting wild. One client hands me his card. He tells me he likes me right in front
04:50of
04:50I glance at Jacob, trying to gauge his reaction. But I can never guess what he's thinking or how he's
04:57feeling. I'm not that smart, but I am cautious. I won't do anything to upset him, not right in front
05:04of him. I turn the client down tactfully. I even tell him I belong to Jacob. Everyone is amused by
05:10that. Everyone except Jacob. He just sits there, nonchalant, watching me with those mysterious eyes.
05:17I 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
05:30people is led in. Like products on a shelf, they waited to be picked out. I spot a few fresh
05:36faces.
05:37In 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
05:49me. But I can never win against age. My purity is a facade. That girl is the real deal. Is
05:55this
05:55your first? Jacob asks. She nods, looking anxious. She tries to serve him a drink, but she's so nervous,
06:02she spills it. Jacob isn't even angry. He shoots me a look. I knew it. I'm the one who has
06:08to clean up.
06:09As for the entertainment, the newbie can handle that. I keep an eye on everything. I boost the
06:15mood with drinks and song. I'll dance too if they want. I hear Jacob talking to that girl in that
06:20languid tone of his. He asks her name and her age. She's Mila Jones, 18, and from some far off
06:26coastal
06:26town. Her family is sick and she's broke. That poor me story is so overused. It's so cliche, I never
06:32used
06:32it. When Jacob asked why I do this, I said I was lazy and hated working. I thought being honest
06:39was
06:39refreshing, and that was why he liked me. But apparently, he believes Mila. He even pulls out
06:46his checkbook and writes her a check. I'm stunned. I didn't know pity was so effective. He could have
06:51just said he wanted sad. In school, my grades were great. I was an essayist. Making up sad stories is
06:58easy for me. It's already 3am by the time the party is over. Jacob has already left with Mila.
07:05At least he remembered me. He got me a ride home as a reward for my work tonight. The AC
07:10in the car
07:11is perfect, but I overdrank. I'm warmer than usual. I try to hold it together, but I can't. I stop
07:20the
07:20car. I'm out before he stops. I cling to a trash can and retch. One year with Jacob, and my
07:26alcohol
07:26tolerance has dropped. After only 8 bottles of mixed red and white wine tonight, I've reached my
07:30limit. The driver kindly gets out and hands me some tissues. The bile I'm throwing up fills my
07:35mouth with bitterness. I awkwardly thank the driver. Are you okay? Should I take you to the hospital?
07:41It's okay. I wave it off. I'm fine. I know my body. I've gotten drunk like this before. I'm not
07:47that
07:47delicate. I force myself to head home. My brain feels like complete mush. I feel like I'll fall into a
07:52deep sleep when I close my eyes. Yet, the second I hit the mattress, all traces of sleep vanish.
07:57I have this strong feeling that my position is about to be taken by Mila. How is she so lucky?
08:02It was her first time out, and she met Jacob? I'm freaking jealous. Turns out, I was right.
08:08For the next week, I don't see Jacob, but I hear about him from everyone. Mila has, unsurprisingly,
08:14become Jacob's new favorite. She's the talk of the town now. Every time I hear it, I just curse myself
08:20for choosing to be the understanding type back then. If I had been more demanding, I could have
08:23confidently marched up to Jacob and told him to not have a new woman replace me. Days pass,
08:28and eventually, the contract ends. I'm smart. Before Jacob even asks me to leave, I've already
08:35packed my bags. I know that he hasn't mentioned renewing the contract because he doesn't want
08:39to continue, but what can I do? Going from luxury to simplicity is hard. I don't want to give up
08:43this
08:44villa or the housekeepers. Jacob sends his secretary to talk to me. He offers me an apartment. It's a full
08:48-floor
08:48flat downtown worth around $6 million. My first thought is to sell it and cash out. I'm not
08:53exactly flush with cash, and my expenses are high. If I stay there a few months, I'll struggle to even
08:58pay the fees. The day after I move out of the villa, a business card comes into my hands. It's
09:04when I
09:04turn down 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 Halmion. I'm not keen on going there. I
09:15don't
09:15know that place. Oh, come on. You're worrying about nothing. A guy with his status? You won't be his
09:21only woman. He's probably got women stashed here and there, maybe even a dozen more overseas.
09:25Just have him rent you a place and stay here. If he's ever in town for business, you can take
09:29care
09:30of him. Listen, you can't rest now. In our line of work, once you stop, you'll never get back up.
09:34You have to keep networking and contact your sugar daddies. They're thousands of beautiful and fun
09:39women. You need to give them a reason to spend big money on you. Noticing my silence,
09:43Alice narrows her eyes. Georgia, don't tell me you've fallen for Jacob. You're right,
09:48I finally say. I need to get myself together. I need to make more money. There's a golf event
09:53this weekend. I'll bring you along. Alice is pleased. You better seize the chance.
09:58I learn about Lance's preferences. He's my sugar daddy from Halmion. On the day of the golf event,
10:02the moment I see him, I can feel the weight of his gaze on me. I know right away that
10:06my business for
10:07the 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.
10:23He's looking at me indifferently. I'm nestled in Lance's arms. The two of us move like a single
10:28entity as we swing the club. Following a solid thwack, the ball takes a nonsensical path. It flies
10:35up in the air and lands on Jacob's head. At that moment, I've already picked out where my grave should
10:39be.
10:39I must have committed some horrible crime against this ball. This golf course is huge.
10:44So why does it have to hit Jacob's head specifically? Lance behind me. Immediately let's go. He looks
10:49like he can't wait to cut ties with me. I get it. In this place, nobody wants to get on
10:54Jacob's bad
10:54side. Whether I actually hit that ball today doesn't matter. The result can only be that I hit it.
11:00Mr. Griffin would. I'm so sorry. Let me take you to the hospital. Lance rushes over,
11:06looking guilty. This is all my fault. I wasn't watching her closely enough. I raise my hand and
11:11rub my eyes. They instantly turn red. Looking panicked, I drop to my knees in front of Jacob.
11:17My voice shakes. Mr. Wood, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I really don't know what happened.
11:22Honestly though, this grass is pretty soft to kneel on. It doesn't hurt my knees at all. My head stays
11:27down so I can't see Jacob's face. But everything around us goes silent. The mood is clearly serious.
11:33I was kind of hoping Jacob might go easy on me since I've served him for a whole year.
11:37It seems like that's not happening. His bodyguards yank me up. Two guys, one on each side, grab my arms
11:43and practically drag me another step toward Jacob. Jacob sits there on his golf cart, looking down at
11:49me. His eyes are full of disgust. Looks like Mr. Corti's quite taking with Georgia. He says it with a
11:54smile, but his voice is ice cold. Guess today I'll be taking what belongs to you. Taking what belongs to
11:59me? She's just a plaything. How dare she hurt you? As long as you're satisfied, Mr. Griffin
12:04Wood, do whatever you want. Lance sells me out without hesitation. You rarely visit. I wouldn't
12:10want you getting lonely. Jacob gives Mila a gentle nudge toward Lance. Think of her as a little gift
12:16from me. I hope you won't mind. People like us only exist to please others. So being treated like
12:21objects traded or given away happens all the time. I lost my new sugar daddy and pissed off my old
12:27one.
12:27My mind goes dark. I have no idea how Jacob will punish me. I'm scared of pain. I'm terrified of
12:32it, but 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
12:43one doesn'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,
13:00then slowly lift my head to look at him. My face is covered in tears. Showing weakness is sometimes
13:05a tactic. It has nothing to do with gender. I never used to cry. I knew no one would care
13:10if I did,
13:11so I refused to let myself shed tears. Then I got into this line of work and realized that men
13:15actually love watching us cry. They love being worshipped by the weak. Even more, they love crushing
13:20the weak. Grinding them down. Why are you crying? Jacob asks me. Subconsciously? I think his mood
13:26seems a bit better now, because his posture is clearly more relaxed than when he was with Lance.
13:31I crawl toward him. Looking pitiful, I place my hands on his knees. My face is full of hurt.
13:35Mr. Wood, please forgive me. I really didn't mean to. Jacob's eyes darken. He reaches out and grabs
13:41my chin. His grip isn't hard. His thumb strokes my neck gently. Your new sugar daddy abandoned you.
13:47New sugar daddy, old sugar daddy. I only want you, Mr. Wood. I blink and tears fall. But you don't
13:53want me anymore. You have someone new. An old toy like me isn't good enough for you anymore. Funny?
13:59I'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?
14:09If not now, I'd never get another chance. In your mind, am I really that cruel and heartless?
14:15Jacob forces me to look at him. Any idiot knows this is absolutely not the time to tell the truth.
14:20But if I lie, Jacob won't believe me either. What do I do? My life depends on this.
14:25I grit my teeth, straighten my back, tilt my head up, and kiss Jacob's thin lips. They say people with
14:30thin lips are heartless. I think there's truth to that saying. Jacob doesn't push me away,
14:33but he doesn't kiss me back either. I close my eyes, kissing him carefully. My hands shake as I
14:39undo Jacob's belt. When it comes to pleasing men with my body, I'm way too good at it.
14:43As long as Jacob lets me see this through, today's incident will be forgiven. I work hard to please
14:48him. After a year with him, I know exactly how to satisfy him. Move back in tomorrow, he says.
14:53Don't bother packing your things. I'll have someone buy you new stuff. I don't know if this counts as a
14:57blessing. I'm back by Jacob's side. But this time, he doesn't make me sign a contract. Not only that,
15:03he no longer just visits the mansion once in a while. He moves in completely. My friends praise
15:08my tactics. I actually won Jacob back, and by the looks of it, I might actually become permanent.
15:13Going permanent doesn't mean becoming his wife. It means I'm qualified to stay with Jacob,
15:17not on a contract basis, but long term and stable. The kind where I can rely on him for the
15:21rest of
15:22my life. That kind of relationship. Too bad I'm on pills. I can't have kids. Otherwise,
15:27if I gave Jacob a kid or two, my position would be completely secure. I don't really buy into all
15:32that.
15:32Never mind that I can't have kids. Even if I could, I would never have Jacob's child.
15:37At airport arrivals, I'm waiting eagerly. Jacob's been away for almost a month. Honestly,
15:42I actually kind of miss him. The display screen showed the plane had landed. I count down every
15:47second until finally I spot Jacob in the distance. Mr. Wood! I throw my arm up excitedly, waving hard.
15:53Jacob looks over. It's rare, but his eyes hold a hint of warmth. Every once in a while,
15:58I catch myself thinking maybe we're just a normal couple. No different.
16:02From the other couples in the world. Lost in that thought, my gaze drifts to the side.
16:06My eyes meet someone else's. What a surprise. Of all places, I'm running into my mother here.
16:12My birth wasn't exactly honorable. Getting into this line of work wasn't voluntary either.
16:16But trauma has a way of clustering. My story might earn a few tears if it were on TV,
16:20but in this industry, it's nothing special. So, I never play the victim. Many people have it worse.
16:26Who am I to complain? The airport is crowded. I look away naturally and rush toward Jacob.
16:30Throwing my arms around him to show how much I missed him. Jacob wraps one arm around me.
16:35His tone is casual, but his expression is soft. That happy to see me? Very happy.
16:40I nod enthusiastically. He chuckles, clearly pleased. Unusually, in front of others, he takes my hand.
16:47I'm completely floored. Jacob always travels with an entourage. My existence is an open secret,
16:52but my status was never respectable. He rarely shows affection to someone like me in public.
16:57I focus entirely on him, partly to show how much I missed him, partly to keep my gaze from wandering
17:03where it shouldn't. But in the end, I can't help myself. I glance back. My birth mother is chatting
17:08intimately with a young woman while smiling. That's probably my stepsister, someone I've never
17:13met before. What are you looking at? Jacob asks. Nothing. I quickly turn my gaze away and cautiously
17:19say, Mr. Wood, if you're going on a business trip again for so long, could you take me along?
17:23He doesn't answer. I suddenly realize that what I've said seems inappropriate. While I'm trying
17:28to think of a cover-up, he asks, why? Do you want to come with me? No. I wrinkle my
17:32nose and say,
17:33I haven't seen you in a while, so I've missed you. How clingy. Jacob sighs. Despite his troubled
17:39expression, his gentle tone tells me he isn't upset by my request. Next time, I'll have my secretary
17:45notify you. He says, while scratching my chin, almost like petting a dog. There's nothing wrong with
17:50that. After all, a rich person's dog lives a better life than the people from poor families.
17:54The sextonite leaves me exhausted. Jacob is like a wolf that hasn't eaten for a long time.
17:58Not a single part of me is left untouched. I guess his schedule this month must be very tight,
18:03and he can't release his needs. After all, he is a workaholic. Work always comes first for him,
18:09even when it conflicts with his needs. I'm so tired, my eyes hurt and won't stay open.
18:14I wake briefly as he pulls away. He sees me looking at him, so he explains, I have work.
18:21Go ahead and sleep. In the past, I didn't have the right to spend the night in the same bed
18:25as Jacob,
18:25but ever since I returned to his side, occasionally when it gets too late,
18:29Jacob stays in my room to rest. Didn't you just return from your trip? I rub my eyes,
18:32forcing myself to sit up. My sugar daddy isn't sleeping, so how can I be? I don't have the guts
18:37for
18:37that. Sleep. Be good. Jacob says firmly, pushing me back down. When he sees, I won't close my eyes.
18:42He sighs softly and leaves the bedroom. I hesitate between getting up and giving in to the drowsiness,
18:47but Jacob returns, holding a thick file filled with professional terms in Aspirean. Just a glance
18:54makes my head hurt. Sleep. I'll stay here and read. He half reclines beside me and turns on the desk
18:58lamp with glasses on the bridge of his nose. He even puts an arm around me so I can sleep
19:03while
19:03hugging it. I am over the moon. Then I fall asleep. The next morning when I wake up, Jacob is
19:08no longer
19:09in the bedroom. I reflect deeply, thinking it is because Jacob has been a little too indulgent with
19:14me lately. People are like that. We easily get carried away. Although I deeply fear Jacob's power
19:19and influence, the tenderness he occasionally shows is really hard to resist. I remind myself
19:23repeatedly not to let my guard down, but still find myself doing so without realizing it.
19:27While lost in thought, I sit on the bed and do a simple stretch to relieve the strain from last
19:32night's exertion. I casually pick up the phone from the table. I notice I have several missed calls
19:38from my birth father and mother. Ever since I get into this line of work, they only call me for
19:42one
19:42reason and it is money. I am their cash machine. It was my birth father who led me into this
19:48line of
19:48work. He owed debts and used me as collateral. My first sugar daddy is my father's creditor. Back then
19:53I was inexperienced and didn't know how to charm men, so I suffered a lot. Not long after, my first
19:58sugar
19:58daddy grew tired of me and he sent me off for training. At a banquet, he handed me to my
20:02second
20:03sugar daddy. The second one had some fetishes, but he was very generous. With him, I paid off my
20:08father's gambling debts. Later, my biological mother heard that I was making a lot of money,
20:12so she called to say she needed some. I refused, so she came to my place and caused trouble. That
20:17interrupted my work and for that, my second sugar daddy slapped me and made me lose a tooth.
20:22After I got involved with Jacob, I always did whatever they asked. I was afraid they would cause
20:26trouble. Earning money is hard, but living well is even harder. I make a lot, but I also spend a
20:31lot.
20:32Along with my parents' bottomless needs, I am living a very hard life. I actually consider giving up this
20:37line of work, but it is hard to get out. Truthfully, I am used to this luxurious lifestyle too. Without
20:43any skills, I can't make money if I leave this work. I won't be able to survive. Thinking about this,
20:48I expressionlessly call them back. Sure enough, my mother wants money. She saw me at the airport
20:52yesterday with Jacob. She believes I have gotten myself a rich guy. She feels what I give her isn't
20:58enough and asks me to double it. I don't have that much, I say. I checked with a friend at
21:03the housing
21:03bureau. You have a property under your name. You can transfer it to me. My mother says haughtily,
21:08your sister just graduated. She needs a place to stay. Not possible, I refuse. Georgia, don't think
21:14that just because you found a strong backer that I won't deal with you. Trust me, if I make trouble
21:18outside Jacob's company for a few days, Jacob will immediately dump you. I believe her. After all,
21:23I lost my previous sugar daddy in the same way. They are only looking for fun and to relieve stress,
21:28not to clean up my mess. I sigh deeply. Give me some time. Hurry up. I don't have much patience.
21:34She huffs in frustration and hangs up. I steady myself, then call my father. Lately, Jacob likes
21:39you a lot, huh? My father says. I have something I need you to do. Once it's done, I promise
21:44I won't ask you
21:45for money again. What is it? You need to steal a document. It's related to X company's merger plan.
21:51I am not highly educated, but I know that whatever he wants me to steal is definitely not just a
21:56simple
21:56merger document. How simple? What if I refuse? I ask. If you refuse, I'll die. My father grits his teeth.
22:02If I die, I'll take you down with me. I end the call. Why are you lost in thought? The
22:07bedroom door
22:08is open and Jacob is staring at me with his arms crossed. I don't know how long he has been
22:13there.
22:13I feel uneasy. I don't know how much he has heard. Nothing. Get up if you're awake,
22:18Jacob says. Come downstairs. I groggily get up and wash my face. When I got downstairs,
22:23I freeze at the site. The living room has been redecorated. There are balloons everywhere.
22:27The wall in the center usually holds a painting worth billions, but it is now removed and replaced
22:33with balloons selling happy birthday. Jacob stands by the stairs holding a party popper.
22:37With a loud bang, the confetti sprays all over me. Georgia, happy birthday.
22:41I rarely celebrate my birthday. So when I see all the gift boxes and the two-tier cake in the
22:46middle
22:46of the living room, my first reaction isn't joy. It is unfamiliarity. Is today my birthday? I don't
22:52think so. Confused, I instinctively reach for my phone. Why aren't you happy? Jacob keenly notices my
22:59mood and the smile on his face fades. Panicking at once, I rush up and force a bright smile. No,
23:06no. I'm just so surprised that I didn't know how to react at first. Mr. Wood, you're the first person
23:10to celebrate my birthday. I'm really, really happy. My own thoughts don't matter. What matters is not
23:16spoiling his mood. I'm the main character of the birthday party, but Jacob is the director. As an
23:22actress, I have to follow the director's requests and perform according to the script. Jacob has prepared
23:26many gifts for me. Among them are luxurious goods, sports cars, and even landed properties.
23:30His gifts have solved the urgent problem. If I accept these gifts, I'll have bound myself to
23:34Jacob permanently. That means I'll have to deal with my birth parents for the rest of my life.
23:38I'll have to live in constant fear. But if I don't accept these gifts, I won't have any money at
23:41all.
23:42That means I won't be able to survive. Heck, I don't even know how long I can last without money.
23:45Thing is, I really love the car keys that are printed with luxurious logos and the watches that have
23:48sparkling jewels embedded on them. Yes, I'm just that realistic and materialistic. The gifts are placed
23:53before me. It's impossible for me to push them away. Happily, I reach out and accept the gifts.
23:56Then, I give Jacob a loud and deep kiss on his cheek. I don't care anymore. Even if I die,
24:00I'll die with these assets in my arms. I celebrate the grandest birthday I've ever known. Jacob is
24:05satisfied with my cooperation too. He's supposed to be extremely busy and yet he's able to block out
24:09a full day in his schedule to spend time with me. He's been spoiling me the whole time, but I've
24:12always been insecure my whole life. I can't help but wonder where exactly Jacob's bottom line lies.
24:16He's able to tolerate my occasional spoiled antics, just like how he's treating a pet dog that he
24:20adores. He can spare some time and effort to keep me company. In fact, he even prepares a pot of
24:25seafood boil for me on that very night. Ever since I joined this line of work, I've never had spicy
24:29and greasy food ever again. I need to remain healthy to avoid having rushes marring my skin.
24:32I don't want any dark circles either. God knows just how much suffering I go through whenever I
24:35eat bland salads while watching others devouring amazing food. It's not an exaggeration to call it
24:39the greatest torture methods. The smell of the spices keeps me drooling uncontrollably. I take a deep
24:44breath and gulp loudly before turning the seafood boil down as much as it pains me. No, thank you,
24:48Mr. Wood. You don't like seafood boil? Jacob then adds. I remember you telling me you come from
24:52Corville. Corville is known for having the best seafood boil. I do like it, I reply, clearly
24:56embarrassed. Then again, my sugar daddy has prepared so many surprises for my sake. Tonight, I must do my
25:00best to show my gratitude in bed, but it's been far too long since I had spicy food. What if
25:03my stomach
25:04can't handle the spice? What if I ruin everything when the time comes? I can't possibly imagine how
25:07disastrous things will be. Jacob can tell the reason behind my hesitation, so he tells me to sit down.
25:11Don't worry. He bends down and murmurs into my ear. I'll be very busy these few days, so I'll spare
25:17you from
25:17your duties. My eyes light up. The table is laden with all my favorite dishes. I only hate that after
25:22years of dieting, my stomach had shrunk and I couldn't fit all the food in. Jacob prefers lighter
25:28food, so this meal isn't for him. Most of the time, he drops food into my bowl. Not gonna lie,
25:33with the
25:34broth on the table, the warm lights overhead, and Jacob's reminders for me to eat slowly, the scene was
25:40pretty cozy, but after some time, he stopped me. He says it's cause my stomach is puffed up like a
25:45balloon
25:45that will pop if I keep going. I'm really embarrassed. My belly's pretty flat, so it's
25:49painfully obvious when it juts out, even just a bit. When he helps me upstairs, he looks disappointed
25:54in me. I've never once restricted what you eat, so just eat whatever you want. Why make yourself
25:59suffer? As if, men are all liars. Once, I craved something cold and ate half an ice cream. I'd gotten
26:05a stomach ache, so I couldn't give Jacob what he wanted. He'd frowned in displeasure and said I was
26:10unprofessional. Didn't I know what I should and shouldn't be eating? Later, after Jacob falls
26:14asleep, I'm still awake because I'm stuffed. I climb out of bed and take out the gifts, looking
26:19over them again. I love them. They make me feel secure and keep me standing. I quietly put them
26:25all away in the drawer, then slip out of the bedroom and head to the study. It's a room full
26:30of mystery to me. Jacob hates being disturbed when he's working. His business is massive and
26:35the amounts are huge. I'm always afraid I'll see things that I shouldn't. Plus, it's packed
26:39with books that are all foreign texts that I can't understand. It's always been a place
26:42of awe, fear, and respect for me. I can feel my heart pounding way too fast. I stand at
26:47the door giving myself a full-on pep talk. But in the end, I don't go in. I'm not stupid.
26:51In this city, if I offend my father and whatever big shot backing him, I can still run. But
26:56if I offend Jacob, I'll be better off dead. After that day, I don't answer any more calls
27:00from my father. I also come up with a plan. I go to Alice for help and pay her to
27:04hire some
27:05thugs to teach my parents a lesson they won't forget. I've never done this before.
27:08Staying alive was hard enough. All I ever thought about was how to get through each
27:12day. But now, things are different. If I obey Jacob, I'll still have a way out, even if he
27:17grows sick of me. He won't make things hard for me. Alice asks me how far I want to take
27:22this. I ask how far things can go. A verbal threat? A warning? Or some violence? Or permanent
27:28injuries? Or maybe stage a car crash to take them out? Different levels? Different prices?
27:33I think about it. My father is going to need a beating. Or he won't take this seriously.
27:39As for my mother, get a few guys who look extra fierce and have them tail my half-sister for
27:43a few days. Then, threaten her. She's my mother's whole world? Her pain would kill my mother.
27:48Oh, one more thing. When the guys make their move, make sure my parents are aware that this
27:52is all my idea. Okay, wait for my good news. Alice works fast. In just a few days, my mother
27:59calls me. She swears to make me pay. Better not threaten me, I say calmly. The money's
28:04with me. Put me in a good mood, and I might give you some, but if you piss me off,
28:08this
28:09time, I just scared your daughter. Next time, I won't stop there. My mother curses me out,
28:14but in the end, all she can do is hang up. Why was I so dumb before? Why didn't I
28:18think
28:18of doing this? I'd wasted so much money. Honestly, they were all bark and no bite, like balloons
28:23that would burst once poked. Meanwhile, my father doesn't call me at all. I heard those thugs roughed
28:27him up bad, so he'd been recuperating and hadn't even left the house. I let out a shallow
28:31breath, thinking that maybe I can finally have peace. Unfortunately in my life, peace
28:37never seems to last long. I leave the house for a quick trip to the spa when a van suddenly
28:41comes screaming down the street. The door flies open, and several guys in masks drag me into
28:46the vehicle. I don't even have time to scream before a damp towel is pressed over my mouth
28:51and nose. I'm genuinely surprised that someone like me is getting kidnapped. My life so far hasn't
28:56been smooth sailing, but a kidnapping is definitely a first. After all, I'm not rich, nor am I
29:01powerful. Why bother kidnapping me? I wake up to water in my face. It's pretty dark around
29:06me, so I'm guessing I'm in a basement or something. I shiver from the cold water. I
29:10force my eyes open and squint at the guy before me. I don't know him, but my father stands behind
29:14him. He looks as repulsive as ever. When he sees I'm awake, viciousness flashes in his
29:19eyes. He wants to teach me a lesson, but doesn't dare to do anything due to the pressure from
29:23the man in front of him. Georgia Lodge? I'm too scared to speak. This guy radiates that
29:28ruthless dominance those in power do. I can't afford to offend him. You don't look special.
29:33I wonder why you caught Jacob Griffinwood's eye. My father hurries to flatter him and
29:37says in a low voice, she was personally trained by Bob Jones. Bob Jones, my very first sugar
29:42daddy. Oh, him. I guess she's got some skills. The man sizes me up. Someone next to him steps
29:48forward to light a cigar for him. He takes a drag and exhales, blowing the smoke into
29:52my face. So, what do you think? Consider being mine. It's as good as being with Jacob. I'm
29:57terrified, but I still force a smile. Don't say that, sir. You and Mr. Wood are both outstanding
30:02men who are way out of my league. I can't pick and choose. If you know you can't cross
30:07me, then why are you saying no? He suddenly presses his lit cigar straight to one of my cheeks.
30:13The pain makes me tear up. Before the sting even fades, a hard slap lands across my other
30:18cheek. The blow leaves me woozy. How dare you provoke me? You've got some nerve. I didn't...
30:24I tried to deny it. How dare you deny it? My father steps forward, looking arrogant and
30:29smug. I work for Mr. Lowell. Laying a hand on me means laying a hand on him. Know who you're
30:34dealing with. Shame. You weren't much of a looker. Now that you're disfigured, you think
30:39Jacob will still want you? Mr. Lowell's rough palm slides over my neck.
30:43Then suddenly tightens around it. The suffocation hits immediately. I instinctively struggle,
30:48but my wrists and ankles are bound. I can't fight back at all. Maybe I'm gonna die here.
30:52I don't want that. I don't wanna die. Being alive is painful, but in this exact second,
30:58I realize I'm desperate to live. Forget it. Mr. Lowell abruptly lets go. I collapse to the floor
31:03and gasp for air. Do you wanna live? He asks with a smile. I nod vigorously. That depends on you.
31:09He waves a hand lazily. And the men surrounding us immediately step forward. If you can satisfy
31:15all of them, I might consider letting you live. I curl up on the floor, unable to do anything but
31:20watch. A camera is set up and aimed right at me. I hear Mr. Lowell say, give it your best
31:26shot.
31:26This blockbuster's first viewer will be Jacob Griffin Wood. You know what to do, right? I lower my
31:31eyes. No, I don't. Look at my men. They're all young and strong. Jacob's almost 40. Can he compare to
31:38them?
31:38Just look into the camera and tell everyone the truth. No man can take being mocked for not being
31:42good in bed. I'm Jacob's sugar baby. We've slept together. If I face that camera and look like I'm
31:48enjoying myself, while saying that Jacob is no match for these thugs, I can already imagine how
31:53utterly humiliated he'll be. But I want to stay alive even if it's just a few extra days. I drop
31:58my gaze,
31:59then put on a chastened, fawning smile. Mr. Lowell, I know what to do now, but I want to serve
32:04you first.
32:04My cheek still burns, but I don't dare touch it. I only look up at Mr. Lowell. He lets out
32:09a mocking
32:09laugh. You're such a whore. Don't think your price goes up just because you've served me.
32:14I'm not like Jacob Griffin Wood. People of your level don't even catch my eye. Despite his words,
32:19he has someone untie my vines. I grind my pride into the dirt and crawl over to him. Dignity means
32:26nothing to me. If it did, I wouldn't have survived this long. As a kid, I shamelessly begged,
32:30flattered, and grinned like an idiot despite getting beaten, all for a single bite of food.
32:35Now, to stay alive, I can lose my backbone and do every degrading thing. This is my line of work
32:41anyway. To me, I'm just serving a different man. I look up at Mr. Lowell and smile faintly. Then I
32:48kick him hard between his legs. Ah, a scream tears through the air. Fists and random objects rain down
32:54on me. Blood drips on my forehead, blurring my vision. I let out a ragged laugh and watch as the
32:59men rush to Mr. Lowell in a hurry. They're too scared to touch him. He roars that he wants me
33:03tortured and abused. I really do want to live. I do, but when I was with Jacob, I lived like
33:08a human,
33:09just barely. I can't go back to living like a rat. Maybe all he gave me were useless scraps of
33:13warmth, insincere greetings, and perfunctory kindnesses. But even that was enough. It hurts.
33:18Every inch of me is in agony. My heart is deliriously alive, but I still can't ignore the physical pain.
33:24I collapse to the ground and curl up into a tight ball. Jacob, my life probably means nothing to you,
33:30but I'm about to lose it because of you. So, if it's not too much to ask, I hope you
33:34take a little
33:35longer to forget me. I wake up in a hospital. When I come to, I'm surprised I'm still alive.
33:40Am I that tough? Has my luck turned around after all this suffering? My gaze shifts, and I see Jacob.
33:46Oh, I get it now. Jacob wrenched me right out of death's hands. Wait, something's off. Why does he
33:53look so worn out? I didn't steal his files. Did someone else leak his confidential papers and
33:58bankrupt him? I want to ask what happened. After all, I still have some savings. I'm worried he'll
34:04try to take back whatever I have. I would have taken death over that. But before I can speak,
34:10Jacob leans in and carefully cups my cheek. I blink daisedly and watch him lean over me to press a
34:15kiss
34:15to my forehead. He says hoarsely, you're awake. Something warm slides down my cheek. It must be coming
34:21from Jacob's eyes. All in all, the long and short of it is that I survived. I don't know how
34:25it
34:25happened. According to Jacob's secretary, he'd never seen Jacob lose control like that or look
34:30so wrecked. Ever since I woke up, Jacob hasn't left my line of sight. Even during video conferences,
34:35he sits somewhere, he can see me at a glance, and every 10 minutes or so, he looks at me
34:39to see what
34:40I'm doing. I'm really not used to him being like this. He's acting like I matter to him. The two
34:44things I
34:45care most about are money and my face. Thankfully, both are okay. The doctor saved my face. My cheek
34:51had a cigar burn, but I don't scar easily. With proper care, my looks won't be affected. As for
34:57money, as long as Jacob stays afloat, I probably won't go broke. I'm in the hospital for a month.
35:03Only when I'm about to go crazy does Jacob agree to my discharge. After getting out, Jacob keeps me at
35:08home for two more months to recover. And from that point on, anytime I set foot outside, I have a
35:14security detail. Friends say I'm in for good things now that I've cheated death. They can't
35:18believe that I managed to go legit with Jacob. Before this, everyone thought I was set for life
35:24for as long as I stuck with him, but nobody expected that I'd become his wife. From what I remember,
35:29Jacob has never once acknowledged my status. How is this counted as legit? The night the doctor
35:34announced that I had fully recovered, I can't hold back anymore and try to give myself to Jacob.
35:38I don't believe men can have platonic relationships. I've seen so many men in my life. Shouldn't I know
35:43better how much they're ruled by what's below the waist? Jacob has been abstinent. In three months
35:48other than toilet breaks, I wasn't out of his sight, even for showers. More than once, I've caught his
35:52dark gaze on me. Each time I think he's about to lose control, he still manages to hold back. I
35:56worry
35:57that if he keeps this up, he'll have problems. This is directly related to my happiness. So I have to
36:01take it seriously. I do all my prep work. I set up a nice scent, slip into something sheer and
36:06lie on the
36:06bed to wait for him. Taking care of Jacob in bed is something I'm familiar with. I know every one
36:10of his
36:11sensitive spots. I'm sure this will be a scorching, no-holds-barred night, but to my surprise,
36:15Jacob turns me down. It's not his first time rejecting me, but it is the only time that I'm
36:20caught off guard. I quickly adjust though and back off, giving Jacob space. In my softest voice, I say,
36:26I'm sorry, Mr. Wood. I overstepped. Ultimately, I'd overestimated myself. I'd assumed that with his
36:31recent treatment of me, I'd found a spot in his heart, even if he hadn't fallen for me. But the
36:36truth
36:37is, I can't even read him. Why would I be special to him? I thought my near-death to protect
36:42Jacob's
36:42business was a big deal, but in reality, I was probably more like a pet that had locked a tiny
36:47pebble for its owner. I'd almost died for him, but it wasn't notable to him. Jacob tells me not to
36:53overthink it and to focus on my recovery. I do as I'm told and don't dwell on the matter. Then,
36:58he slowly
36:59stopped coming to the villa. Even contact is rare. When I meet my friends, they tease me, saying I've got
37:05a job
37:05I can't lose. They say I'm set for life as long as I stick with Jacob. I don't tell them
37:10that I'm
37:10going to lose the job. This time, things are different from when our contract expired. Back
37:15then, Jacob acted the same, despite the contract's expiration. This time, I can clearly feel him
37:20pulling away on purpose. One day, I go to the spa. When I get home, I find Jacob on the
37:26couch with a
37:27document in his hand. In that moment, I get it. Mr. Wood. I smile and walk over to him. Sit.
37:33He looks
37:33up at me, then slides the document toward me. Take a look. I obediently pick it up. Is this my
37:38severance
37:39pay? He sure is generous. Thanks, Mr. Wood. I accept the contract and don't cause a scene. Who am I
37:45to throw a fit? Jacob's face is devoid of emotion. I've given you plenty of money. Turn over a new
37:50leaf
37:51and live a decent life. Don't stay in this line of work. He doesn't need to be here. He could
37:56have sent
37:57someone else, like before. I will. I stand up and curtsy to him. I'll move out tomorrow, and this time,
38:04after leaving, I won't be coming back. Our relationship is ending, but I wrap things up
38:09properly. Jacob spends the night here. I draw him a bath and give him a full body spa. The bathtub
38:16faces the windows. The glass is one way, so when he's in the tub, he can enjoy the view in
38:21privacy.
38:21How long have you done this? I don't remember. Maybe five years? That's good. You're not worn
38:27out yet, so you can still find a husband. Mr. Wood, after being with a man like you, I'm afraid
38:32it's
38:32going to be hard for me to be interested in other men. Oh? Is that a hint not to let
38:36you go? I wouldn't
38:37dare. I'm just being honest. I actually know exactly why Jacob is letting me go. It's because he
38:41discovered my feelings for him. I have never claimed to be some morally noble person. In a life-or-death
38:46situation, I shouldn't be sacrificing my own life to protect Jacob's interests, but that's exactly what I
38:50did. I've fallen for him, so he can't keep me around. Money and profits make the most solid bonds.
38:55Jacob can give me all of that, but he won't give me even the slightest bit of love. I love
38:59him,
39:00so I can give up my life for him, but I might hurt him because he doesn't love me. I
39:04get that,
39:04so I accept this outcome. After moving out of the villa, my life settles. Jacob really is generous.
39:10Including this last payout, I now have three properties, tens of millions in cash, and even some
39:17stocks. As long as I don't splurge in ways that might break the law, what I have now has me
39:22set
39:22for life. After grinding for so long, I can finally start my retirement early. Alice comes over to hang
39:27out. She has a new sugar daddy. He's from Hutton and treats her pretty well. In just a few short
39:33months, he's already spent plenty on her. After cashing out on this job, I'm going to retire too.
39:37She takes a drag of her cigarette. The smoke curls around her face, so I can't make out her expression.
39:41I'm not getting any younger. It's time to settle down and actually live a normal life.
39:45You? Saying stuff like that? That's not like you at all. You remember my previous sugar daddy,
39:50right? The one from Jarton. Yeah, he's the only one who prematurely terminated his contract with
39:54you. I remember you cleaned him out right before you walked away. You were really proud and kept
39:58bragging to me about it. He went bankrupt. Alice looks despondent. I only found out recently.
40:02That money I took from him was probably everything that he had left. What? I'm stunned. He knew he was
40:07going under. That's why he ended things and handed over pretty much all the liquid assets he had left to
40:11me.
40:11She stuffs out her cigarette and lets out a bitter laugh. If he were going to pull that,
40:15he should have hidden it better and kept it under wraps. Look at the situation I'm in now. It feels
40:19wrong to return, but it's also wrong if I don't. You want to do it though, I can see right
40:22through
40:23her. That's not all. You're even thinking of handing over all the money you've made to help
40:27him make a comeback. Alice looks miserable, but doesn't deny it. You're out of your mind. I shoot to my
40:31feet frustrated by her idiocy. You know what you're doing. With our history, we'll never be the kind
40:36to get to sit at the nice table. How much of that friendship between men is real? And how long
40:41does
40:42it last? Right now, you're remembering his kindness. But once you spend the money, once he
40:46makes a comeback, and once you're old and ugly, there'll be a line of fresh faces, prettier than
40:50you, sweeter than you, and wilder than you. When that time comes, how will you fare against them?
40:55And what about you? It's the same with Jacob, no? I'm at a loss for words. Women really are soft.
41:01We can't love in our work, so it's all about each getting what we need. It's a simple transaction.
41:05The lessons of those before us are still fresh in our minds, yet we somehow still end up making
41:09the mistakes they did. At least I took the money. I'll never have to worry about money, I say.
41:13I won't pay to be with him. That makes me better than you. That's because you got lucky and ran
41:17into
41:17Jacob. That guy is a businessman who never makes a losing deal. Believe it or not, if he goes bankrupt
41:21right now, you'll give him all your money. Don't jinx me. I quickly stop the conversation.
41:26Some things just can't be said. I learn about Jacob's bankruptcy from the
41:30news. In the past, I never watched the news. People like me were barely even educated.
41:35Why keep up with the news? But since splitting up with Jacob, I've started watching it.
41:39Because every now and then he shows up on the screen, how can you go bankrupt?
41:43But as the reports pile up, it starts looking real. I go around asking a few friends in the
41:47industry. Their sugar daddies all have connections, so they help me ask around. Turns out, the rumors
41:52are true. Alice also calls me. I asked around. It's probably by the same guys who kidnapped you
41:58last time. They're out to get Jacob. Jacob is far too influential in this city. It's practically his
42:02monopoly. Unless someone drags him down, everyone else will be stuck fighting over scraps. It's the
42:07result of standing out. I spend a few days at home before starting to go over all my assets. Everything
42:12I have is because of Jacob. I know that to him, what I've got is a drop in the bucket,
42:17but at least
42:17it's something to show where my loyalties lie. As Alice predicted, I was righteous with her, but when I was
42:22in her shoes, I was throwing all my money in and even more desperate than she ever was. At least
42:27Alice dreamed about being with her sugar daddy. I didn't even dare entertain a thought like that.
42:31I have Jacob's private number, but he doesn't answer when I call. So, I sent him a message,
42:37weighing every word carefully. In the end, Jacob's secretary calls me back and turns me down.
42:43Miss Lodge, Mr. Woods said to tell you that he appreciates the gesture. He hopes you'll live well
42:48and that you'll stop worrying about those from your past. I'd figured as much. Jacob's refusal
42:53of my kindness is not for my sake. His pride is in the way, making him refuse to accept charity
42:58from
42:58me. I'm prepared for that outcome, but I still feel disappointed. I know all too well the huge
43:04gap between us. I can't even do the smallest things for him, but I still go ahead and do what
43:08I want to
43:08do. In all my years alive, I've rarely gotten to be willful and to follow my heart. So, I'm more
43:14than
43:14willing to throw myself at him. When Alice loans me money, she prods me in the forehead and grumbles
43:18nonstop about how I can't repay her after borrowing so much from her. Some other friends also feel bad
43:23for me. When they lend me the money, they even suggest getting me a new sugar daddy. He's not
43:27exactly a great guy, but he's generous. I just need a year with him. I turn them all down. I
43:31take that
43:32card holding everything I own and mail it to Jacob. Then, I tell myself we're even and to stop
43:37thinking about him. I get an ordinary job and I start online content creation. After being with sugar
43:41daddies for years, I'd at least seen a lot of the world. I picked up some things about aesthetics and
43:46makeup. I didn't have a proper education, so I had to make money differently. Thankfully,
43:51my second video blew up. I've always felt like my luck was never really that bad. Sure,
43:55my parents neglected me, but at least I didn't starve. Later, I became an escort. It wasn't a
44:01respectable job, but I only suffered at the start. I got used to it after blending in. Then, when Jacob
44:06no longer wanted me, he still made sure I was taken care of for life. Food and bills were settled.
44:11And now, I may be broke again, but my career, which has never taken off before, is on the
44:16verge of blowing up. Good, isn't it? That's why we need to stay alive. There's a future to look
44:21forward to. I work a day job, shoot at night, and life keeps getting better. But one day,
44:27Alice suddenly calls me and says Jacob is back on top. I've gone out of my way to avoid news
44:31about
44:31him. Hearing about him again feels surreal. Really? That's good. I say earnestly, we will never be
44:39together, but I still hope he does well. You really are hopeless. I'm doing pretty great,
44:44and I'm pretty happy too. I even tried to talk Alice into it. If you're going to quit for good,
44:48then come work with me. I have a decent following now. I can send traffic your way,
44:52maybe when I hit rock bottom. I'm just calling you today to update you,
44:55so you can stop worrying. Forget about Jacob. This call is unnecessary. I probably won't ever stop
45:01thinking about Jacob, but I'm also prepared to never see him again and to never check any news about him.
45:06I may seem like an idiot, but I'm actually really smart. With anything or anyone that may
45:10disappoint me, I never let myself expect anything from them. Just like I never once hoped that my
45:14parents would love me, I also didn't dare hope that Jacob would fall for me. After expanding my
45:18horizons, I make a lot of new friends. They don't know what I used to do and that I had
45:22sugar daddies.
45:23To them, I'm the best. Their comments are full of praise. Deep down, I'm uneasy. Maybe there's a name
45:30for it. Something like PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. Someone like me shouldn't have things go
45:35smoothly or be this light. They think I'm perfect and flawless, but I know I'm tainted. Then, one
45:42day, the dirt on me spreads online along with hate and insults. I suddenly feel at peace. Part of me
45:48mocks myself for being happy about the hate. The other part makes a video of a sincere chat about
45:51myself. The whole process is even fun. I have nothing about my past that I feel the need to hide.
45:57Each and every one of those incidents shaped who I am today. Life can knock me down, but I will
46:02never
46:02stay down. I'm prepared to not be accepted. I tell myself that at least I've made good money lately.
46:07The debt I'd originally planned to pay off in 10 years, I can now clear in just two. That's good
46:11enough. To my surprise, I'm accepted. Many called me shameless and said I had no dignity for making
46:16such dirty money before cleaning myself up now. But even more people leave comments to cheer me on
46:20and tell me not to give up on life. They message me privately to share their own stories with me.
46:24It's like sharing the suffering makes it less unbearable. I cry a lot, to be honest. In front of my
46:29sugar daddies, I would always whine, put on a pitiful act or play the victim just to spark their
46:33sense of conquest. But that was a survival tactic, not who I really was. I don't know what I ever
46:37did
46:38to deserve being accepted and liked. This world can actually be beautiful. If I hadn't had the nerve to
46:42take that first step, maybe I never would have seen this side of the world's kindness. At the end of
46:46the year, a platform invites me to attend an awards ceremony. I dress to the nines for it. The ceremony
46:51is a grand one. Besides big influencers, there are also several celebrities. I already know which award I'm
46:57getting, so I've prepared a speech. I'm about to go on stage, but I'm still memorizing it. I do have
47:02a terrible memory. It's only a few lines, but they just won't stick. Next, let's welcome our award
47:07presenter, Griffinwood Group CEO, Mr. Jacob Griffinwood. The host beams at the crowd and the
47:12audience is surprised. My smile freezes on my face. Influencers run the economy now, and every
47:17influencer here easily makes tens of millions a year. But why would Jacob? I stand there and follow
47:23the host's line of sight. Under the spotlight, Jacob walks toward me with all eyes on him.
47:27He still looks the way I remember. He's lofty, untouchable, and immaculate. Congratulations.
47:33He takes the trophy and passes it to me. Thanks, I say in a small voice. You've done very well,
47:39better than I expected. He shakes my hand, and we stand side by side, facing the audience. I've never
47:45imagined a day like this, when I can openly stand by Jacob's side, accepting applause. Georgia,
47:50Jacob calls my name. Yeah? Do you want to be with me? I don't answer. This time, you have every
47:56right
47:56to stand by me openly as my fiancé. Jacob Griffinwood first met Georgia Lodge at an ordinary cocktail
48:01party. Many wanted to suck up to him, but not everyone was qualified to do so. Everyone else
48:06addressed him as Mr. Griffinwood. Only Georgia, like an uneducated brute, had called him Mr. Wood.
48:11Because he rarely heard that form of address, he'd given her a second glance. When someone held power,
48:16even a single look from them would be dissected and analyzed by the people below. That one look
48:21at Georgia made someone decide he must have taken a liking to her. And so, in no time at all,
48:25Georgia was delivered to his side, along with a background check and a medical report.
48:29He didn't have a companion then. Georgia stood in front of him, smiling stiffly. She hid it well,
48:34but he still caught the disgust and resentment in her eyes. The women sent to him were always thoroughly
48:40trained. He was a little curious how long someone like Georgia could survive in this world of power
48:44and profit. Unfortunately, she turned out to be a bore. Jacob later realized that whatever emotions
48:49Georgia had felt that day would never have any real impact on his life. He could tell that she
48:54was trying her best to blend into his circle. She fawned, acted cute, and bowed and scraped.
48:59To keep herself attractive to men, she splurged on cosmetic procedures, even going in for those so-called
49:04tightening packages that sounded magical, but didn't even have basic safety guaranteed. He'd lost control
49:10that one time. It wasn't because of the tightening treatment. Jacob just happened to pass by and saw
49:14Georgia limping out of the spa, dressed to the nines, but with her face twisted in pain. She looked
49:19so gaudy. People around her threw her strange looks, but she seemed oblivious. But when she turned the
49:24corner, Jacob saw her with her arms around her knees and her head buried. She crouched there for a
49:28long time. She had a thin figure, and she looked so lonely. Jacob had seen way too many women like
49:34her.
49:34Whether they made a fortune, they always ended in tragedy. Almost none got happy ending.
49:38In that instant, Jacob suddenly had a thought. It wasn't impossible to keep Georgia by his side
49:43forever. He could just treat her like a pampered pet and a distraction. Not that he'd ever told
49:47her about it. As the last day of their contract crept closer, Jacob watched as Georgia found it
49:52harder and harder to quiet her growing anxiety. He kept wondering when she would come to him and ask
49:57to renew the contract. Unfortunately, she was just too well behaved, so much so that she never
50:01overstepped. Even when he openly brought in someone new, all Georgia did was swallow her hurt in silence
50:06and play her part to perfection. Jacob saw Georgia's mockery when the newcomer told her sob story.
50:11He also saw the despair in her eyes when the golf ball came crashing down on him. At the time,
50:16he'd wondered why he was being so harsh with her. Since he was invested in her, he would just keep
50:20her around. What Georgia really thought didn't matter much. As long as he felt satisfied, that was good
50:26enough. After getting back together, Jacob would sometimes spend the night in Georgia's room.
50:30Seeing her so sleepy that she couldn't open her eyes and kept nodding off while swearing she wasn't tired
50:34was pretty cute in his eyes. He'd never seriously considered what exactly Georgia meant to him.
50:38In any case, as long as he wanted her, she wouldn't be able to leave him. Later, he realized he
50:43was
50:44wrong. Georgia could leave. After all, in this world, no one could bridge the gap, bridge the gap between
50:48life and death. At first, when Jacob heard that Georgia had been kidnapped, he didn't panic.
50:53Kidnapping was always about profit, and Georgia had always known when to give in. They had an intimate
50:58relationship, and she knew a thing or two about his affairs. She could tell them what she knew,
51:02and that would keep her alive. And with her skills, she could easily find another sugar daddy.
51:08So, when Jacob's subordinates reported the news of Georgia's kidnapping, he hadn't even paused his
51:13meeting. She was just a pet he kept. If a bag went missing, he'd have the maids look for it.
51:18If it
51:18couldn't be found, he would simply buy another one. Things changed when his men found Georgia. They
51:23didn't know if she was alive, and her face was so swollen, they couldn't even tell what she used to
51:27look like. If anything, she should be glad she'd only had cosmetic treatments and not plastic surgery.
51:31Otherwise, the implants alone would have pierced through her skull. She had several broken ribs,
51:36some organ damage, and her limbs abused to the point of being twisted out of shape.
51:39When a video was sent back, Jacob took one look and tossed his phone aside. Then,
51:43he headed to the hospital. Georgia was in the operating room for a full nine hours,
51:47from nightfall until dawn. When she was finally wheeled out, she had tubes everywhere.
51:51Jacob was busy, busy putting out fires at the company and dealing with his rival's attacks.
51:56Once Georgia was in the ICU, visits were limited to specific hours. So,
51:59staying at the hospital wasn't of much use. Still, Jacob chose to follow what his heart told
52:04him to do, and remained at the hospital. The accommodations there were far from comfortable.
52:09Even someone as tireless as Jacob couldn't help looking worn out. Yet the rate at which he grew
52:13haggard was nothing compared to Georgia. She just lay there silently on that hospital bed and grew weaker
52:18with each day. The doctors said her will to live was weak, which was why she was still out.
52:23Jacob secretly mocked them for lying. If she really didn't want to live,
52:26why would she afford to cling to that last breath and hold on until he could save her?
52:30Jacob had never bothered to figure out what exactly he felt for Georgia. But in that moment,
52:34he suddenly started to understand his own heart. The fact that, deep down, he'd allowed Georgia to
52:38trade his secrets in exchange for her own life already meant he'd fallen for her. With Georgia,
52:43Jacob did indeed experience many emotions that were useless yet novel to him.
52:47Like the joy and agitation he'd felt, the moment Georgia finally woke up. Like the heartache he'd felt
52:52when she pushed through rehab and pretended to be fine, even making herself smile at him. He'd
52:56nursed Georgia back to health, throwing everything at her to rebuild her body. And he'd assigned
53:01bodyguards to make sure she was always safe. Only he knew the genuine emotions he'd poured into all
53:06of that. To him, love was useless. Small doses were a fun distraction, but too much of it would only
53:12limit his efficiency. And so, after thinking it through, Jacob ultimately decided to end the
53:16relationship. He knew he'd fallen for her, and he knew Georgia had also fallen for him. But this was
53:22what the world was often like. Pure interest could keep a relationship going and even make it
53:26unbreakable. But when feelings got tangled up, the whole thing became fragile. Cutting their losses
53:30early was the best choice for both him and her. Georgia left without hesitation. She was never the
53:35type to cling, and she vanished from his life. She knew better. The first few days, Jacob hadn't been
53:41used to it. But as work piled up, he no longer had the time for romance. The traps he'd laid
53:46for so
53:47long were finally starting to work per his plan. News of his bankruptcy spread across the entire
53:51country. After that, he got a call from Georgia. He didn't answer it. So, she sent him a message
53:56instead, sounding as she always did with her familiar flattery, afraid of upsetting him. Jacob had his
54:01secretary reply for him. But not long after, he'd still received a bank card. The amount on it was
54:06higher than he'd expected. Maybe Georgia's friends had helped. They all had their own sugar daddy,
54:11so even if they weren't filthy rich, it was still a sizable sum overall. Still, Georgia had promised
54:15him she would quit that line of work. If she borrowed so much money, how was she going to pay
54:18it back? Jacob later had his answer. She'd gone into doing online content and had gotten somewhat
54:22popular. Per your instructions, I staged an encounter with Miss Lodge yesterday. His assistant
54:27reported, she seems to be in pretty good spirits. She said her career's on track, she has lots of fans
54:31who like her, and she's making good money. Is that so? But as far as Jacob knew, every single one
54:36of
54:36her videos had hate comments. People called her ugly and flashy, and just a few days ago,
54:40someone had exposed her past and how she used to be an escort. Her haters flooded the internet.
54:45If not for that, Jacob wouldn't have gone out of his way to arrange the chance encounter. He'd
54:49worried she would hurt herself, because that was what she was like. Whenever it came to her own pain,
54:54she always brushed it off. Maybe it was because she knew no one really cared about her, and that
54:58looking sad wouldn't change anything. But he knew perfectly well she had pills hidden in her
55:03cabinet. The pills had been saved up one by one and over a long time, but Georgia had never taken
55:07them. When the contract had expired, Jacob had brought her back out of fear that she would take
55:11them. Later, he'd let her go, because he'd feared she'd be more attached. If he couldn't love her,
55:16she might ultimately still end up taking those pills. And after that, when Georgia had given him
55:20money, he hadn't returned it, so it would tie her to this world. If she remembered her debt,
55:24she wouldn't give up on herself. She needed to have a bit of hope, so she had a reason to
55:28keep living.
55:28Don't clean up the mess online too perfectly, Jacob said. Georgia is smart. Overwhelmingly
55:34positive comments will only make her suspicious. Understood, sir? Jacob knew then that in the end,
55:38he really did treat Georgia differently. Different enough that he was willing to break his own rules
55:42for her and pay attention to these details. He was willing to give Georgia time and wait for her to
55:46be remade. She had to look at the world again. There would be good and bad, but the good outnumbered
55:52the
55:52bad. At the end of the year, Jacob received word that Georgia had agreed to attend the awards
55:56ceremony. He had shares in the platform, but it was just one of his many assets. It wasn't
56:02particularly important. Even so, Jacob still showed up in full formal attire. He did it to stand before
56:07Georgia again and give her an opening. This time, he wanted her to have the courage to speak up and
56:13keep hold of what she truly wanted.
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