Until Fate Gave Us a Second Chance - All Episodes - video Dailymotion

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Until Fate Gave Us a Second Chance - All Episodes

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

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

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

00:07Naturally, I have one too.

00:08My sugar daddy is Jacob Griffin Wood.

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

00:13There's less than half a year till our contract expires.

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

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

00:20After all, youth is my greatest asset.

00:21It's very rare to have met a nice sugar daddy.

00:22If the contract isn't extended, I need to find my next target as soon as possible.

00:25If I have to be honest, I'm quite satisfied with Jacob as my sugar daddy.

00:28If he's willing to extend our contract, I'll definitely celebrate it with champagne.

00:31Unfortunately, based on my knowledge of Jacob, it's hard to say.

00:34He's too attractive after all.

00:35When a man's wealth and power reaches a certain point,

00:37countless new people will flock to him in droves.

00:40No matter how much I flaunt my charms, the fact that I've reached my body's limit still stands.

00:44Over the year, we've tried everything in bed.

00:46Jacob is no longer interested in me.

00:47Jacob has assigned me a villa halfway up the mountain.

00:50That's almost 5,300 square feet.

00:52His previous lovers had stayed here.

00:53I'm not sure how many lovers Jacob had,

00:54but the thought of leaving this villa in half a month makes me depressed.

00:57When it's almost late night, Mary Atkins, the housekeeper, wakes me up

00:59and tells me that Jacob is here.

01:01Naturally, I have to be of service to him.

01:02This line of work isn't as easy as it looks.

01:04I can't just lie on the bed and do nothing.

01:05Besides being able to read the room and handle people, you also need a stroke of luck.

01:08If a model ends up with a questionable sugar daddy,

01:09not only does she lose all the money, but her body also gets ruined.

01:11I've been in this line of work for three years.

01:12A few of my colleagues need to wear diapers for the rest of their lives.

01:15I'm considered pretty lucky.

01:16Jacob doesn't have any flaws, other than the fact that he loves tormenting me in bed.

01:19Also, he's very generous with money.

01:20I hurry down the stairs in a robe.

01:21Jacob is already lying on the couch, with his eyes squinted.

01:24He reeks of alcohol.

01:25Mary approaches me with a cup of honey tea.

01:26I take the cup and hold it to Jacob's lips like a loving partner.

01:29In a high-pitched voice, I call out to him softly.

01:30Have some tea, Mr. Wood.

01:31Jacob's last name is Griffin Wood, but he has a quirk.

01:33He hates it when others call him Mr. Griffin Wood.

01:35I'm a woman of zero culture, you see.

01:36I never knew that.

01:37Griffin Wood is an actual compound surname.

01:38That's how I accidentally got Jacob's attention.

01:39According to Jacob, many people tend to address him respectfully as Mr. Griffin Wood.

01:43Whenever it happens, he just feels like slapping them on the spot.

01:45Jacob manages to take two sips from the teacup before he frowns.

01:47Quickly, I remove the teacup from his lips.

01:49The mixture of the stench of alcohol and the fragrance of perfume disgusts me to no end.

01:52Still, I strip Jacob's clothes and socks off him and fetch a basin of warm water

01:55so that I can give him a proper wipe down while maintaining a straight face.

01:57Jacob is still conscious.

01:58He cooperates by moving his head and arm for me.

02:00Georgia, how long have we been together?

02:02It's been almost a year, Mr. Wood.

02:03Jacob nods in response.

02:04That means our contract is aspiring soon, right?

02:06My heart skips a beat.

02:07Jacob is going to discuss the contract with me now.

02:08If he doesn't plan on extending it, I wonder how lucrative of a breakup fee I can receive.

02:11Jacob is a generous man.

02:12If he gives me enough money, I'll quit being a model once and for all.

02:14Unfortunately, Jacob doesn't say anything else.

02:15After asking that question, I keep waiting for him to speak up as I sit next to him.

02:17All I hear is Jacob's deep breathing, seeing as he's fallen asleep.

02:19The next day, my friend Alice Lane has invited me to a salon.

02:21If this were to happen before I turned 18, I'd never have thought that.

02:24I'd visit a place like the salon so frequently.

02:26Everyone in this line of work is very competitive.

02:27Although we earn a lot of money, our expenses are huge as well.

02:29New blood keeps gushing into this industry.

02:31Once age is no longer on my side, my skills and appearance require more upkeep.

02:33I go for the treatment packages that cover from head to toe.

02:35Every time I visit the salon, I have to spend at least a few thousand dollars.

02:37I send hundreds of thousands at most on the packages.

02:38Previously, I went for a package that cost me two hundred thousand dollars.

02:41My heart was practically bleeding when I paid for it.

02:42Then again, the effects were pretty amazing.

02:44That night, Jacob couldn't resist my allure at all.

02:46This is a rare occasion.

02:47After all, Jacob's self-control is insanely strong.

02:48I always give it my all in bed, but he tends to hold his urge in at the last moment.

02:51Alice asks me what I plan on doing next.

02:53She's gotten to know a pretty decent sugar daddy in the elite society.

02:55If I'm interested in getting to know him, she will take me with her to the next gathering.

02:58I turn her down on the spot.

03:00Although Jacob most likely won't extend our contract, I'm still within the contracted period.

03:03If I dare look for my next target behind his back, I'll be signing my own death warrant.

03:06I wonder who's lucky enough to become Jacob's next lover.

03:09Alice sounds quite jealous.

03:10No idea, I replied decisively.

03:12Jacob dislikes it when others speculate what he's thinking.

03:14But the thing is, it's already a natural impulse.

03:16For people in this line of work, to speculate what clients are thinking.

03:18Over the year of being with Jacob, many people deliver beautiful playthings to him.

03:21Yet men or women, truthfully speaking, sugar daddies don't mind their playthings genders at all.

03:23As long as they can make the sugar daddies happy, they will earn a lot of money.

03:25Jacob used to be passionate about me at first, but as time passed, he grew more nonchalant toward me.

03:29Perhaps the honeymoon phase has passed, and he's lost interest in me.

03:31Perhaps he'll get himself a new lover to have fun with next year.

03:33Halfway through my treatment package, I receive a phone call from Jacob.

03:36He gives me an address, and tells me to head over immediately.

03:38The address belongs to a private estate.

03:39Only members are permitted entry, making the estate an extremely discreet place.

03:41I have a vague feeling about what I'm next.

03:42When I arrive at the private estate, I find out that Jacob is entertaining some clients, who hails from hell

03:45neon.

03:45The reason I'm there, is so that I can entertain these clients, using alternative ways.

03:49Well, this is my original job, so I'm back in my element.

03:51I keep downing glass after glass of alcohol, while kissing up to the clients nonstop.

03:54The atmosphere in the private estate is very boisterous.

03:56In fact, one of the clients hands me his business card, and tells me that he really likes me, right

03:58in front of Jacob.

04:00I shoot a discreet glance at Jacob, hoping to probe his attitude.

04:03Unfortunately, I can never guess what Jacob is thinking, so I can't tell what he's feeling at the moment.

04:07I'm not that smart, but thankfully, I'm a very cautious person.

04:10I won't do anything that might displease Jacob, right in front of him.

04:13So I turn down that client, in a tactful manner.

04:15I even tell the client that, I forever belong to Jacob.

04:18Everyone is tickled pink by my statement.

04:19Well, everyone by Jacob.

04:20He remains seated on his chair, in a nonchalant manner while gazing at me, with those eyes I can never

04:23see through.

04:24I just smile brightly at him in return.

04:25When the business meeting with these VIP ends, the night is actually just beginning.

04:29Everyone soon switches to another location.

04:30In a huge private room, the coffee table is filled with a variety of expensive alcohol.

04:33Soon, a madame brings a group of young men and women into the private room.

04:35They are like intricately packaged products, which are displayed on the shelf for the clients to pick them out.

04:38I even spot people who have just come of age in the group.

04:40Those who are involved in this line of work must possess extremely sharp eyes.

04:42I can tell at first glance who is truly young and who's just pretending to be young.

04:45Jacob draws out lazily.

04:46The one who has just come of age can stay.

04:47Immediately, I perk up an alert.

04:48Shady tricks and vile plots don't scare me.

04:50But the thing is, I can never win against age.

04:52I'm just pretending to be innocent, but that youngster is innocent by nature.

04:54Is this your first time entertaining a client?

04:55Jacob asks the youngster.

04:56She nods, feeling awkward and anxious.

04:57After that, she pours a glass of alcohol for Jacob clumsily.

04:59Maybe she's too nervous?

05:00Her alcohol has spilled out of the glass.

05:02Jacob isn't angry at the young woman at all.

05:03Instead, he shoots me a look, which I understand immediately.

05:05I know I'll have to be the one doing such miniscule tasks.

05:06As for entertaining Jacob and the others, the youngster is capable of doing that.

05:09I pay attention to everyone and everything, while keeping my ears perked at all times.

05:11I'm the one refilling glasses and singing to hype things up.

05:12When the clients are in the mood for something better, I'm also the one dancing for everyone.

05:14Vaguely, I can hear Jacob chatting with the youngster in that languid tone of his.

05:17He asks her what her name is and how old she is.

05:19Apparently, the youngster, Mila Jones, is 18 years old and hails from a coastal town far, far away.

05:21Her family is sick and she's in a tough financial situation right now.

05:23Honestly speaking, the background of the story is overused by everyone.

05:25Not to mention it's so lame.

05:26I don't even bother using that story.

05:27Back when Jacob asked me why I was in this line of work, I just told him that I was

05:29lazy.

05:29I truly believe that and didn't want to put in effort just to earn money.

05:31This refreshing, interesting, and honest excuse is the reason why Jacob developed an interest in me.

05:34Alas, Jacob actually believes Mila's excuse.

05:36He even digs out his checkbook and writes her a check.

05:38The sight leaves me stunned.

05:39Had I known that someone's soft story works on Jacob, I wouldn't have waited till Mila proved it to me.

05:42If Jacob prefers people with tragic backgrounds, he could have told me from the start.

05:45Back when I was still a student, I was one of the top-ranking students with excellent grades.

05:47I always represented my school in essay competitions.

05:48Naturally, I can easily invent a sad story whenever I want.

05:49It's already 3 a.m.

05:50By the time the drinking party is over, Jacob has already left with Mila.

05:53Thankfully, he's not that big of an ingrate.

05:54At least he's kind enough to provide a ride home, considering how hard I work tonight.

05:57The air conditioner is turned on in the car, so the temperature is just right.

06:00But perhaps I've had too much to drink, or my body feels warmer than usual.

06:02See in the back, I try my hardest to hold it in.

06:03In the end, I can't hold it any longer, so I have the driver stop the car.

06:05Before the car comes to a complete halt, I get out of the car instantly.

06:06As I cling to the dirty trash can by the side of the road, I vomit into it non-stop.

06:09One year with Jacob, and my tolerance for alcohol has plummeted.

06:11After only 8 bottles of mixed red and white wine tonight, I've reached my limit.

06:14The driver kindly gets it out, and hands me some tissues.

06:16The bile I'm throwing up fills my mouth with bitterness.

06:19I awkwardly thank the driver.

06:20Are you okay?

06:21Should I take you to the hospital?

06:23It's okay.

06:23I wave it off.

06:24I'm fine.

06:24I know my body.

06:26It's not the first time I've drunk myself sick.

06:27I'm not that delicate.

06:28I force myself to head home.

06:29My brain feels like complete mush.

06:31I feel like I can drop dead into a deep sleep.

06:32The moment I close my eyes, yet, the second I hit the mattress, all traces of sleep vanish.

06:36I have this strong feeling that my position is about to be taken by Mila.

06:39How is she so lucky?

06:40It was her first time out, and she met Jacob?

06:42I'm freaking jealous.

06:44Turns out, I was right.

06:45For the next week, I don't see Jacob, but I hear about him from everyone.

06:49Mila has, unsurprisingly, become Jacob's new favorite.

06:52She's the talk of the town now.

06:53Every time I hear it, I just curse myself for choosing to be the understanding type back then.

06:56If I had been more spoiled and demanding, I could have confidently marched up to Jacob,

07:00and told him to not have a new woman replace me.

07:02Days pass, and eventually, the con-

07:04I'm smart.

07:05Before Jacob even asks me to leave, I've already packed my bags.

07:07I know that.

07:08He hasn't mentioned renewing the contract, because he doesn't want to continue.

07:11But what can I do?

07:12Going from luxury to simplicity is tough.

07:14I really don't want to give up this villa, or the housekeepers.

07:15Jacob sends his secretary to talk to me.

07:17He offers me an apartment.

07:18It's a full floor flat downtown, worth around six million dollars.

07:21My first thought is, to sell it, and cash out.

07:22I'm not exactly flush with cash, and my expenses are through the roof.

07:24If I stay there a few months, I'll struggle to even pay the maintenance fees.

07:27The day after I move out of the villa, a business card comes into my hands.

07:30It's the one I turned down.

07:31At Jacob's dinner, Alice tells me,

07:33I think this guy is pretty good as a sugar daddy.

07:35You're done.

07:36With Jacob now?

07:37So you need to grab this chance.

07:38I hesitate.

07:38He's from Halmyon.

07:39I'm not keen on going there.

07:41I don't know that place.

07:42Oh, come on.

07:42You're worrying about nothing.

07:43A guy with a status?

07:44You won't be his only woman.

07:46He's probably got women.

07:47Stashed here and there, maybe even a dozen more overseas.

07:49Just have him rent you a place, and stay here.

07:51If he's ever in town for business, you can take care of him.

07:54Listen, you can't rest now.

07:55In our line of work, once you stop, you'll never get back up.

07:57You have to keep networking, and stay in touch with your sugar daddies.

08:00There are thousands of beautiful lars and fun women out there.

08:02You need to give them a reason to spend big money on you.

08:04Noticing my silence, Alice narrows her eyes.

08:06Georgia, I don't tell you actually all in for Jacob.

08:08You're right, I finally say.

08:09I need to get myself together.

08:10I can't stop.

08:11I need to make more money.

08:12There's a golf event this weekend.

08:13I'll bring you along.

08:14Alice is pleased.

08:15You'd better seize the opportunity.

08:16I learn about the preferences of Lance Gordy, my sugar daddy from Halmyon.

08:18On the day of the golf event, the moment I see him, I can feel the weight of his gaze

08:21falling upon me.

08:22I know right away that my business for the year is set.

08:24I make Lance laugh with my charm.

08:26Pretending I don't know how to play, I lean in close to him.

08:29I'm busy with the club while he's busy with me.

08:31We both get what we need.

08:32From a distance, a golf cart approaches.

08:34I look up and see Jacob holding Mila in his arms.

08:37He's looking at me with an indifferent stare.

08:38I'm nestled in Lance's arms.

08:40The two of us move like a single entity as we swing the club, following a solid thwack.

08:44The ball takes a nonsensical path.

08:46It flies up in the air and lands squarely on Jacob's head.

08:49At that moment, I've already picked out where my grave should be.

08:52I must have committed some horrible crime against this ball.

08:54This golf course is a thousand acres wide, so why does it have to hit?

08:56Jacob's head specifically?

08:57Lance behind me immediately lets go.

08:59He looks like he can't wait to cut ties with me.

09:01I get it.

09:02In this place, nobody wants to get on Jacob's bad side.

09:04Whether I actually hit that ball today doesn't matter.

09:06The result can only be, and will definitely be, that I hit it.

09:09Mr. Griffin Wood, I'm so sorry.

09:11Let me take you to the hospital right away.

09:12Lance rushes over, looking guilty.

09:14This is all my fault.

09:15I wasn't watching her closely enough.

09:17I raise my hand and rub my eyes.

09:18They instantly turn red.

09:19Looking panicked, I drop to my knees in front of Jacob.

09:21My voice shakes.

09:22Mr. Wood, I'm sorry.

09:24I'm so sorry.

09:25I really don't know what happened.

09:26Honestly though, this grass is pretty soft to kneel on.

09:28It doesn't hurt my knees at all.

09:29My head stays down, so I can't see Jacob's face.

09:31But everything around us goes silent.

09:32The mood is clearly serious.

09:34I was kind of hoping Jacob might go easy on me since I've served him for a whole year.

09:39It seems like that's not happening.

09:40His bodyguards yank me up.

09:42Two guys, one on each side, grab my arms and practically drag me.

09:45Another step toward Jacob.

09:47Jacob sits there on his golf cart, looking down at me.

09:50His eyes are full of disgust.

09:51Looks like Mr. Cordy's quite taken with Georgia.

09:53He says it with a smile, but his voice is ice cold.

09:55Yes, today.

09:56I'll be taking what belongs to someone else.

09:58She's just a plaything.

09:59How dare she hurt you?

10:00As long as you're satisfied.

10:01Mr. Griffin Wood, do whatever you want.

10:03Lance sells me out without hesitation.

10:04You rarely visit.

10:06I wouldn't want you getting lonely.

10:07Jacob gives Mila a gentle nudge toward Lance.

10:10Think of her as a little gift from me.

10:12I hope you won't mind.

10:13People like us only exist to please others.

10:15So being treated like objects, traded or given away, happens all the time.

10:18I lost my new sugar daddy and pissed off my old one.

10:21My mind goes dark.

10:22I have no idea how Jacob will punish me.

10:24I'm scared of pain.

10:25I'm terrified of it, but I can't just end it all either because I want to live.

10:28I want to live so desperately.

10:30Jacob takes me to his actual home, a place I've never been.

10:33All of his homes are mansions.

10:34This one doesn't look that different from the one I used to stay in.

10:37The bodyguards throw me on the floor.

10:39Footsteps echo all around me.

10:40I curl up with my head pressed to the ground.

10:42Who's scared to move?

10:43After a while, everything goes quiet.

10:44Jacob's voice comes from above me.

10:46Georgia, look up.

10:47I flinch, then slowly lift my head to look at him.

10:50My face is covered in tears.

10:51Showing weakness is sometimes a tactic.

10:53It has nothing to do with gender.

10:55I never used to cry.

10:56I knew no one would care if I did, so I refused to let myself shed tears.

10:59Then I got into this line of work and realized that men actually love watching us cry.

11:02They love being worshipped by the weak.

11:03Even more, they love crushing the weak beneath their feet, grinding them down.

11:06Why are you crying?

11:07Jacob asks me.

11:08Subconsciously, I think his mood seems a bit better now, because his posture is clearly

11:12more relaxed than when he was with Lance.

11:13I gather my courage and crawl toward him.

11:16Looking pitiful, I place my hands on his knees.

11:17My face is full of hurt.

11:19Mr. Wood, please forgive me.

11:20I really didn't mean to.

11:21Jacob's eyes darken.

11:22He reaches out and grabs my chin.

11:24His grip isn't hard.

11:25His thumb strokes my neck gently.

11:27Your new sugar daddy abandoned you.

11:28New sugar daddy, old sugar daddy.

11:30I only want you.

11:31Mr. Wood.

11:31I blink, and tears fall.

11:33But you don't want me anymore.

11:34You have someone new.

11:35An old toy like me isn't good enough for you anymore.

11:37Funny.

11:37I've never heard you say this before.

11:39Jacob says to me, I force a smile and lower my eyes.

11:41Someone in my position has no right to say such things.

11:44Then why say it today all of a sudden?

11:45I was scared that if I didn't say it now, I'd never get another chance.

11:47In your mind, am I really that cruel and heartless?

11:50Jacob forces me to look at him.

11:52Any idiot knows this is absolutely not the time to tell the truth.

11:54But if I lie, Jacob won't believe me either.

11:56What do I do?

11:58My life depends on this.

11:59I grip my teeth, straighten my back, tilt my head up,

12:01and kiss Jacob's thin lips.

12:02They say, people with thin lips are usually heartless.

12:04I think there's truth to that saying.

12:05Jacob doesn't push me away, but he doesn't kiss me back either.

12:08I close my eyes, kissing him carefully.

12:10My hands shake as I undo Jacob's belt.

12:12When it comes to pleasing men with my body, I'm way too good at it.

12:15As long as Jacob lets me see this through, today's incident will be forgiven.

12:18I work hard to please him.

12:19After a year with him, I know exactly how to satisfy him.

12:22Move back in tomorrow, he says.

12:24Don't bother packing your things.

12:25I'll have someone buy you new stuff.

12:26I don't know if this counts as a blessing in disguise.

12:28I'm back by Jacob's side.

12:29But this time, he doesn't make me sign a contract.

12:31Not only that, he no longer just visits the mansion.

12:34Once in a while, he moves in completely.

12:36My friends praise my tactics.

12:38I actually want Jacob back.

12:39And by the looks of it, I might actually become permanent.

12:41Going permanent doesn't mean becoming his wife.

12:43It means I'm qualified to stay with Jacob.

12:45Not on a contract basis, but long-term and stable.

12:47The kind where I can rely on him for the rest of my life.

12:49That kind of relationship.

12:50Too bad I'm on pills.

12:51I can't have kids.

12:52Otherwise, if I gave Jacob a kid or two, my position would be completely secure.

12:55I don't really buy into all that.

12:56Never mind that I can't have kids.

12:57Even if I could, I would never have Jacob's child.

13:00At airport arrivals, I'm waiting eagerly.

13:02Jacob's been on this business trip for almost a month.

13:04Honestly, I actually kind of miss him.

13:05The display screen showed the plane had landed.

13:07I count down every second until finally, I spot Jacob in the distance.

13:10Mr. Wood.

13:11I throw my arm up excitedly, waving hard.

13:13Jacob looks over.

13:14It's rare, but his eyes hold a hint of warmth.

13:16Every once in a while, I catch myself thinking maybe we're just a normal couple.

13:19No different from the thousands of other couples in the world.

13:22Lost in that thought.

13:23My gaze drifts to the side.

13:24My eyes meet someone else's.

13:26What a surprise.

13:27Of all places, I'm running into my birth mother at the airport.

13:29My birth wasn't exactly honorable.

13:30Getting into this line of work wasn't voluntary either.

13:32But trauma has a way of clustering together.

13:34My story might earn a few tears if it were on TV, but in this industry, it's nothing special.

13:38So I never play the victim.

13:40Plenty of people have it worse.

13:41Who am I to complain?

13:42The airport is crowded.

13:43I look away naturally and rush toward Jacob, throwing my arms around him to show how much I missed him.

13:48Jacob wraps one arm around me.

13:49His tone is casual, but his expression is soft.

13:51That happy to see me?

13:52Very happy.

13:53I nod enthusiastically.

13:54He chuckles, clearly pleased.

13:56Unusually, in front of others.

13:57He takes my hand.

13:58I'm completely floored.

13:59Jacob always travels with an entourage.

14:01My existence is an open secret, but my status was never respectable.

14:04He rarely shows affection to someone like me in public.

14:06I focus entirely on him, partly to show how much I missed him, partly to keep my gaze from wandering

14:11where it shouldn't.

14:12But in the end, I can't help myself.

14:13I glance back.

14:14My biological mother is chatting intimately with a young woman while smiling.

14:17That's probably my stepsister.

14:19Someone I've never met before.

14:20What are you looking at?

14:21Jacob asks.

14:22Nothing.

14:22I quickly turn my gaze away and cautiously say,

14:25Mr. Wood, if you're going on a business trip again for so long, could you take me along?

14:28He doesn't answer.

14:29I suddenly realize that what I said seems inappropriate.

14:31While I'm trying to think of a cover-up, he asks,

14:33Why?

14:34Do you want to come with me?

14:35No.

14:35I wrinkle my nose and say,

14:37It's just that I haven't seen you in a while, so I've missed you.

14:39How clingy.

14:40Jacob sighs.

14:41Despite his troubled expression, his gentle tone tells me he isn't upset by my request.

14:46Next time, I'll have my secretary notify you.

14:48He says while scratching my chin, almost like petting a dog.

14:50There's nothing wrong with that.

14:51After all, a rich person's dog lives a better life than the people from poor families.

14:53The sex tonight leaves me exhausted.

14:55Jacob is like a wolf that hasn't eaten for a long time.

14:57Not a single part of me is left untouched.

14:59I guess his schedule this month must be very tight, and he has no time to release his needs.

15:03After all, he is a workaholic.

15:04Work always comes first for him, even when it conflicts with his needs.

15:07I'm so tired my eyes hurt, and won't stay open.

15:10I wake briefly, as he pulls away.

15:12He sees me looking at him, so he explains,

15:14I have work.

15:15Go ahead and sleep.

15:16In the past, I didn't have the right to spend the night in the same bed, as Jacob.

15:19But ever since I returned to his side, occasionally, when it gets too late,

15:22Jacob stays in my room to rest.

15:24Didn't you just return from your business trip?

15:25I rub my eyes, forcing myself to sit up.

15:27My sugar daddy isn't sleeping, so how can I be?

15:29I don't have the guts for that.

15:29Sleep.

15:30Be good.

15:30Jacob says firmly, pushing me back down.

15:32When he sees I won't close my eyes,

15:33he sighs softly and leaves the bedroom.

15:35I hesitate between getting up and giving in to the drowsiness.

15:38But Jacob returns, holding a thick file, filled with professional terms.

15:42In Asperian.

15:43Just a glance makes my head hurt.

15:44Sleep.

15:44I'll stay here and read.

15:45He half reclines beside me, and turns on the desk lamp.

15:47With glasses on the bridge of his nose,

15:49he even puts an arm around me, so I can sleep while hugging it.

15:52I am over the moon.

15:53Then I fall asleep.

15:54The next morning, when I wake up,

15:56Jacob is no longer in the bedroom.

15:57I reflect deeply, thinking it is because Jacob has been

15:59a little too indulgent with me lately.

16:00People are like that.

16:01We easily get carried away.

16:02Although I deeply fear Jacob's power and influence,

16:04the tenderness he occasionally shows,

16:06is really hard to resist.

16:07I remind myself repeatedly not to let my guard down,

16:09but still find myself doing so without realizing it.

16:11While lost in thought,

16:12I sit on the bed and do a simple stretch

16:14to relieve the strain from the previous night's exertion.

16:16Then I casually pick up the phone from the bedside table.

16:18I notice I have several missed calls

16:19from my biological father and mother.

16:21Ever since I get into this line of work,

16:23they only call me for one reason, and it is money.

16:25I am their cash machine.

16:27It was my biological father who led me into this line of work.

16:29He owed debts and used me as collateral.

16:30My first sugar daddy is my father's creditor.

16:32Back then, I was inexperienced

16:33and didn't know how to charm men,

16:35so I suffered a lot.

16:36Not long after, my first sugar daddy grew tired of me,

16:38and he sent me off for training for a few months at a banquet.

16:39He handed me to my second sugar daddy.

16:41The second one had some fetishes,

16:43but he was very generous.

16:44With him, I paid off my father's gambling debts.

16:47Later, my biological mother heard

16:47that I was making a lot of money,

16:49so she called to say she needed some.

16:50I refused to give it to her,

16:51so she came to my place and caused trouble.

16:53That interrupted my work,

16:54and for that, my second sugar daddy slapped me

16:56and made me lose a tooth.

16:57After I got involved with Jacob,

16:58I always did whatever they asked.

17:00I was really afraid they would cause trouble again.

17:01Earning money is hard,

17:02but living well is even harder.

17:03I make a lot, but I also spend a lot.

17:05Along with my parents' bottomless needs,

17:07I am living a very hard life.

17:09I actually consider giving up this line of work,

17:10but it is hard to get out.

17:12Truthfully, I am used to this luxurious lifestyle too.

17:14Without any skills or qualifications,

17:15I can't make money if I leave this work.

17:17I won't be able to survive.

17:18Thinking about this,

17:19I expressionlessly call them back.

17:20Sure enough, my mother wants money.

17:22She saw me at the airport yesterday.

17:23With Jacob,

17:24she believes I've gotten myself a rich guy.

17:26She feels what I give her isn't enough

17:27and asks me to-

17:28I don't have that much, I say.

17:30I checked with a friend at the housing bureau.

17:32You have a property under your name.

17:32You can transfer it to me.

17:34My mother says haughtily,

17:35your sister just graduated.

17:36She needs a place to stay.

17:37Not possible.

17:38I refuse.

17:39Georgia,

17:39I don't think that just because

17:40you found yourself a strong backer

17:41that I won't be able to deal with you.

17:42Trust me,

17:43if I make trouble outside

17:44Jacob's company for a few days,

17:45Jacob will immediately dump you.

17:46I believe her.

17:47After all,

17:47I lost my previous sugar daddy.

17:48In the same way,

17:49they are only looking for fun

17:50and to relieve stress.

17:51Not to clean up my mess.

17:53I sigh deeply.

17:53Give me some time.

17:55Hurry up.

17:55I don't have much patience.

17:57She huffs in frustration and hangs up.

17:58I steady myself,

17:59then call my father.

18:01Lately,

18:01Jacob likes you a lot, huh?

18:03My father says,

18:03I have something I need you to do.

18:05Once it's done,

18:06I promise I won't ask you for money again.

18:07What is it?

18:08You need to steal a document.

18:09It's related to X company's merger plan.

18:11I am not highly educated,

18:12but I know that

18:13whatever he wants me to steal

18:14is definitely not just

18:15a simple merger document.

18:16How simple?

18:17What if I refuse?

18:17I ask.

18:18If you refuse,

18:19I'll die.

18:20My father grits his teeth.

18:21If I die,

18:22I'll take you down with me.

18:23I end the call.

18:24Why are you lost in thought?

18:25The bedroom door is open

18:26and Jacob is staring at me

18:27with his arms crossed.

18:28I don't know how long he has been there.

18:29I feel uneasy.

18:30I don't know how much he has heard.

18:32Nothing.

18:32Get up if you're awake,

18:33Jacob says.

18:34Come downstairs.

18:35I groggily get up and wash my face.

18:36When I got downstairs,

18:37I freeze at the site.

18:38The living room has been redecorated.

18:40There are balloons everywhere.

18:41The wall in the center usually holds.

18:43A painting worth billions,

18:44but it is now removed

18:45and replaced with balloons.

18:46Spelling happy birthday.

18:47Jacob stands by the stairs,

18:48holding a party popper.

18:49With a loud bang,

18:50the confetti sprays all over me.

18:52Georgia, happy birthday.

18:53I haven't celebrated my birthday in so long,

18:54so when I see all the gift boxes

18:55and the two-tier cake

18:57in the middle of the living room,

18:58my first reaction isn't joy.

19:00It is unfamiliarity.

19:01Is today my birthday?

19:01I don't think so.

19:03Confused.

19:04I instinctively reach for my phone.

19:05Why aren't you happy?

19:06Jacob keenly notices my mood,

19:07and the smile on his face fades a little,

19:09panicking at once.

19:10I rush up and force a bright smile.

19:12No, no.

19:13I'm just so surprised

19:14that I didn't know how to react at first.

19:16Mr. Wood,

19:17you're the first person

19:17to celebrate my birthday.

19:18I'm really, really happy.

19:19My own thoughts don't matter.

19:21What matters is not spoiling his mood.

19:22I am the main character

19:23of the birthday party,

19:24but Jacob is the director.

19:25As an actress,

19:26I have to follow

19:27the director's requests

19:28and perform.

19:28According to the script,

19:29Jacob has prepared many gifts for me.

19:30Among them are luxurious goods,

19:32sports cars,

19:33and even landed properties.

19:34His gifts have perfectly solved

19:34the urgent problem

19:35that has been plaguing me.

19:36If I accept these gifts,

19:37I'll have bound myself

19:37to Jacob permanently.

19:38That means I'll have to deal

19:39with my biological parents

19:39for the rest of my life.

19:40I'll have to live in constant fear,

19:41but if I don't accept these gifts,

19:42I won't have any money at all.

19:44That means I won't be able to survive.

19:45Heck, I don't even know

19:45how long I can last without money.

19:46Thing is, I really love

19:47the car keys that are printed

19:48with luxurious logos,

19:48and the watches

19:49that have sparkling jewels

19:50embedded on them.

19:50Yes, I'm just that realistic

19:51and materialistic.

19:52The gifts are already placed

19:53right in front of me.

19:53It's impossible for me

19:54to push them away.

19:55Happily, I reach out

19:56and accept the gifts.

19:56Then I give Jacob

19:57a loud and deep kiss on his cheek.

19:59I don't care anymore.

19:59Even if I die,

20:00I'll die with these assets

20:01in my arms.

20:01Just like that,

20:02I celebrate the grandest birthday

20:03I've ever known.

20:04Jacob is satisfied

20:04with my cooperation too.

20:05He's supposed to be

20:06an extremely busy businessman,

20:07and yet he's able to block out

20:08a full day in his schedule

20:08just to spend time with me.

20:09He's been spoiling me the whole time,

20:10but I've always been insecure

20:11my whole life.

20:11I can't help but wonder

20:12where exactly Jacob's bottom line lies

20:13when it comes to me.

20:14He's able to tolerate

20:14my occasional spoiled and haughty antics.

20:15Just like how he's treating

20:15a pet dog that he adores,

20:16he can spare some time and effort

20:17to specifically keep me company.

20:18In fact,

20:18he even prepares a pot

20:19of spicy seafood boil for me

20:19on that very night.

20:20Ever since I joined this line of work,

20:21I've never had

20:22spicy and greasy food ever again.

20:23I need to remain healthy,

20:24who avoid having rashes

20:25and pimples marring my skin.

20:26Also, I don't want any dark circles

20:26under my eyes either.

20:27God knows just how much

20:27suffering I go through

20:28whenever I eat bland salads

20:29while watching food influencers

20:30devouring amazing food

20:30on my phone.

20:31It's not an exaggeration to call it

20:32one of the greatest torture methods

20:33in the world.

20:33The smell of the spices

20:33keeps swafting up my nostrils

20:35uncontrollably.

20:35I take a deep breath

20:36and gulp loudly

20:36before turning the seafood boil down

20:38as much as it pains me.

20:39No thank you, Mr. Wood.

20:40You don't like seafood boil?

20:41Jacob then adds,

20:42I remember you telling me

20:42you come from Corville.

20:43Corville is the city

20:43known for having the best seafood boil.

20:44I do like it.

20:45I reply, clearly embarrassed.

20:46Then again,

20:46my sugar daddy has prepared

20:47so many surprises.

20:48For my sake,

20:49tonight I must do whatever I can

20:49to show my gratitude to him in bed.

20:50But it's been far too long

20:51since I've had spicy food.

20:51What if my stomach can't

20:52handle the spice at all?

20:52What if I ruin everything

20:53when the time comes?

20:54I can't possibly imagine

20:55how disastrous things will become.

20:56Jacob can tell the reason

20:56behind my hesitation.

21:05with all my favorite dishes.

21:07I only hate that

21:07after years of dieting,

21:08my stomach had shrunk so much

21:09that I couldn't fit

21:10all the food in.

21:11Jacob likes his food

21:11on the lighter side,

21:12so the spicy seafood boil

21:13is just a novelty for him.

21:14Most of the time,

21:15he sits there and drops food

21:15into my bowl.

21:16Not gonna lie,

21:17with the broth bubbling away

21:17on the table,

21:18the warm lights overhead,

21:19and Jacob's occasional

21:20little reminders

21:20for me to eat slowly,

21:21the scene was pretty cozy.

21:22But after some time,

21:23he didn't let me eat anymore.

21:24He says it's cause my stomach

21:25is puffed up like a balloon

21:26that will pop if I keep going.

21:27I'm really embarrassed.

21:28I didn't have much fat on my belly,

21:29so the moment my stomach

21:30sticks out a little,

21:30it's painfully obvious.

21:31When he helps me upstairs,

21:32he looks utterly disappointed in me.

21:34I've never once

21:34restricted what you eat,

21:35so just eat whatever you want.

21:37Why make yourself suffer like this?

21:38As if men are all liars.

21:40One time,

21:40I got a craving for something cold

21:41and ate half an ice cream.

21:42I'd end up with an upset stomach,

21:43which meant I couldn't give

21:43Jacob what he wanted.

21:44He'd frowned in obvious displeasure

21:45and said I had no professional ethics.

21:47Didn't I know what I should

21:47and shouldn't be eating?

21:48Later that night,

21:49after Jacob falls asleep,

21:50I'm still awake

21:51cause I'm too stuffed.

21:52I climb out of bed

21:53and take out the expensive gifts,

21:54looking over them again and again.

21:55I love them.

21:55They're the source of my security

21:57and the foundation to keep me standing.

21:59I quietly put them all away in the drawer,

22:00then slipped out of the bedroom

22:01and headed to the study.

22:02It was a room

22:03that was full of mystery to me.

22:04Jacob hates being disturbed

22:05when he's working.

22:06His company's business is massive

22:07and the amounts are huge.

22:08I'm always afraid I'll see something

22:09that I shouldn't.

22:09Plus, it's packed with books

22:11that are all foreign texts

22:12that I can't make heads or tails of.

22:13It's always been a place

22:13of awe, fear, and respect for me.

22:15I can feel my heart pounding way too fast.

22:17I stand at the door,

22:17giving myself a full-on pep talk,

22:18but in the end,

22:19I don't dare to go in.

22:20I'm not stupid.

22:21In this city,

22:21if I offend my father

22:22and whatever big shot

22:23who is backing him from the shadows,

22:24I can still run.

22:25But if I offend Jacob,

22:26I'll be better off dead.

22:27After that day,

22:28I don't answer any more calls

22:28from my father.

22:29I also come up with a plan.

22:30I go to Alice for help

22:31and pay her to hire a bunch of thugs

22:33to teach my irresponsible parents

22:33a lesson they won't forget.

22:35I've never done anything like this before.

22:36Back then,

22:37staying alive was already hard enough.

22:38All I ever thought about

22:39was how to get through each day,

22:40but now things are different.

22:41If I stay obediently by Jacob's side,

22:42even if he grows sick of me one day,

22:43I'll still have a way out.

22:44He won't make things too hard for me.

22:45Alice asks me how far

22:46I want to take this.

22:47I ask how far things can go.

22:49A verbal threat?

22:49A warning?

22:50Or even roughing them up?

22:51Or do you want to leave them

22:52with permanent injuries?

22:53Or maybe save a car crash

22:54to take them out?

22:55Different levels

22:56and different prices.

22:57I think about it.

22:58My father is going to need a beating

22:59or he won't take this seriously.

23:01As for my mother,

23:02get a few guys who look extra fierce

23:03and have them tail

23:04my half-sister for a few days.

23:05Then just give her

23:06a couple of nasty threats.

23:07She's my mother's whole world.

23:08My mother can't bear

23:08having anything happen to her.

23:09Oh, and one more thing.

23:10When the guy make their move,

23:11make sure my parents are aware

23:12that this is all my idea.

23:13Okay, wait for my good news.

23:15Alice works fast.

23:16In just a few days,

23:16so my mother calls me.

23:17She's furious

23:18and swears she'll make me pay.

23:19I'd suggest you don't threaten me.

23:20I say calmly.

23:21The money's with me.

23:22If you manage to put me

23:23in a good mood,

23:23I might even toss you

23:24a little something.

23:24But if you piss me off,

23:26this time,

23:26your daughter was only

23:27a little shaken up.

23:27Next time,

23:28I can't promise it'll stop there.

23:29My mother curses me out.

23:30But in the end,

23:30all she can do

23:31is slam the phone down hard.

23:32How could I have been

23:32so dumb before?

23:33Why hadn't I ever thought

23:34of doing this?

23:34I'd handed over

23:35so much money for nothing.

23:36Honestly,

23:36they were all bark

23:37and no bite,

23:38like balloons

23:38that would burst once poked.

23:39Meanwhile,

23:39my father doesn't call me at all.

23:41I heard those thugs

23:41went a little overboard

23:42roughing him up,

23:42so he'd been recuperating

23:43and hadn't even left the house.

23:45I let out a shallow breath,

23:46thinking that

23:46maybe I can finally

23:47have peace for a while.

23:48Unfortunately,

23:48in my life,

23:49peace never seems to last long.

23:51I leave the house

23:52for a quick trip to the spa.

23:53When a van suddenly comes,

23:54screaming down the street,

23:55the door flies open

23:55and several guys in masks

23:57grab me and drag me

23:58into the vehicle.

23:58I don't even have time to scream

23:59before a damn towel

24:00is pressed over my mouth and nose.

24:01I'm genuinely surprised

24:02that someone like me

24:03is actually getting ki-

24:04My life so far

24:05hasn't exactly been smooth sailing,

24:06but a kidnapping

24:06is definitely a first.

24:07After all,

24:08I'm not from a rich family,

24:08nor am I someone powerful.

24:09What's the point in kidnapping me?

24:10I wake up to a bucket of water

24:11in my face.

24:12It's pretty dark around me,

24:13so I'm guessing

24:13I'm in a basement or something.

24:14The ice-cold water

24:15has me shaking all over.

24:16I force my eyes open

24:17and swint at the guy before me.

24:18I don't know him,

24:19but my father is standing behind him.

24:21He looks as repulsive as ever.

24:22When he sees I'm awake,

24:23a trace of viciousness

24:23flashes across his face.

24:24He seems to want to teach me a lesson,

24:25but doesn't dare to do anything

24:26due to the presence and pressure

24:33The people on top

24:33used to crush the ones below.

24:34He's not someone

24:34I can afford to mess with.

24:35Your looks are nothing special.

24:36I wonder what about you has caught

24:37Jacob Griffin Woods' eye.

24:38My father hurries to flatter him

24:39and says in a low voice,

24:40She was personally trained

24:41by Bob Jones.

24:41Bob Jones,

24:42my very first sugar daddy.

24:44Oh, him.

24:44I guess that means

24:45she's got some skills.

24:46The man narrows his eyes

24:46and sizes me up.

24:47Someone next to him

24:47is quick on his feet

24:48and steps forward.

24:49He'll light a cigar for him.

24:50He takes a dragon and exhales,

24:50blowing the smoke

24:51right into my face.

24:52So, what do you think?

24:54Consider being mine.

24:54I promise it'll be

24:55just as good as being with Jacob.

24:56I'm terrified,

25:03pick and choose.

25:03If you know you can't afford

25:04to cross me,

25:05then why are you turning me down?

25:06He suddenly presses his lit cigar

25:07straight to one of my cheeks.

25:08The sharp pain instantly

25:09fills my eyes with tears.

25:10Before the burning sting

25:11even fades,

25:11a hard slap lands

25:12across my other cheek.

25:13The blow makes my ears buzz

25:14and my head spin.

25:15You dared to send someone

25:16to provoke me.

25:17You've got some nerve.

25:17I...

25:18I didn't.

25:19I tried to deny it.

25:19How dare you deny it?

25:21My father steps forward,

25:21looking arrogant and smug.

25:22I work for Mr. Lowell.

25:23You laid a hand on me,

25:24which is the same

25:25as laying a hand on him.

25:25Know who you're dealing with.

25:27Shame.

25:27You weren't much of a looker

25:28to begin with.

25:29Now that you're disfigured,

25:29do you think Jacob

25:30will still want you?

25:31Mr. Lowell's rough palm

25:32slides over my neck

25:33and suddenly tightens around it.

25:34The feeling of suffocation

25:34hits almost immediately.

25:36The instinct to live

25:36makes me struggle,

25:37but my wrists and ankles

25:38are bound.

25:38I can't fight back at all.

25:40Maybe I'm really gonna die here.

25:42I'm seriously unwilling.

25:43I don't wanna die.

25:43Being alive is painful,

25:44but in this exact second,

25:46I realize I still

25:47desperately want to live.

25:47Forget it.

25:48The hand at my throat

25:49abruptly lets go.

25:49I collapse to the floor

25:50and gasp for air.

25:51Do you wanna live?

25:52Mr. Lowell asks with a smile.

25:53I nod vigorously.

25:54That depends on what you can do.

25:55He waves a hand lazily,

25:57and the dozen or so men

25:58surrounding us

25:58immediately step forward.

25:59If you can satisfy all of them,

26:00I might consider

26:01letting you live.

26:03I curl up on the floor,

26:04powerless to do anything

26:05but watch.

26:05A camera is set up

26:06and aimed right at me.

26:07I hear Mr. Lowell say,

26:08give it your best shot.

26:09The first person

26:10to watch this blockbuster

26:10will be Jacob Griffin Wood.

26:12You know what to do, right?

26:12I lower my eyes.

26:13No, I don't.

26:14Look at my men.

26:15They're all young and strong.

26:16Jacob's an old man

26:17who's almost 40.

26:18You think he can compare to them?

26:19You just need to look

26:19into the camera

26:20and tell everyone the truth.

26:21No man can stand being mocked

26:22for not being good in bed.

26:23I'm Jacob's sugar baby.

26:24We've slept together

26:25countless times.

26:26If I face that camera

26:27and look like I'm enjoying myself

26:28while saying that

26:29Jacob can't hold a candle

26:29to these thugs,

26:30I can already imagine

26:31how utterly humiliated he'll be.

26:32But I want to stay alive,

26:33even if it's just a few extra days.

26:35I drop my gaze,

26:36then deliberately put on

26:37a properly chastened,

26:38fawning smile.

26:39Mr. Lowell,

26:39I know what to do now,

26:40but I want to serve you first.

26:42The wound on my face

26:43still burns with pain,

26:44but I don't dare touch it.

26:45I only look up at Mr. Lowell.

26:45He lets out a mocking laugh.

26:47You're a whore through and through.

26:47Don't think your price goes up

26:49just because you've served me.

26:49I'm not like Jacob Griffin would.

26:51People of your level

26:52doesn't even catch my eye.

26:53Despite his words,

26:54he still has someone

26:55untie my binds.

26:55I grind my pride into the dirt

26:57and crawl over to him.

26:58Truth is,

26:59I don't care about things

27:00like dignity.

27:01If I did,

27:01I wouldn't have survived this long.

27:03As a kid,

27:03I shamelessly begged,

27:04flattered,

27:04and grinned like an idiot.

27:05Despite getting beaten,

27:06all for a single bite of food.

27:07Now, to stay alive,

27:09I can lose whatever backbone I have

27:10and do every filthy,

27:10degrading thing there is.

27:11This is my line of work.

27:12Anyway, to me,

27:13it's just a matter of

27:14serving a different man.

27:15I look up at Mr. Lowell

27:16and smile faintly.

27:17Then I kick him hard

27:18between his legs.

27:19Ah!

27:20A scream tears through the air.

27:21Fists and random objects

27:22rain down on me.

27:23Warm, sticky blood drips

27:24from my forehead,

27:24blurring my vision.

27:26I let out a ragged laugh

27:27and watch as the men flock toward

27:28Mr. Lowell in a hurry,

27:29wanting to help

27:29but too scared to touch him.

27:30I watch him roar

27:31that he wants me seen alive

27:31and to suffer a fate

27:32worse than death.

27:33I really do want to live.

27:34I do.

27:34But when I was with Jacob,

27:35I lived like a human,

27:36if only just barely.

27:37I can't go back to living like a rat.

27:38Maybe all he gave me

27:39were scraps of warmth

27:39that cost him nothing,

27:40insincere greetings

27:41and perfunctory kindnesses

27:42but even that was enough.

27:43It hurts.

27:44Every inch of me is in agony.

27:45My heart is deliriously alive

27:46but I still can't ignore

27:47the physical pain.

27:48I collapse to the ground

27:49and curl up into a tight ball.

27:51Jacob,

27:51my cheap life may mean nothing to you

27:52and probably isn't even worth mentioning

27:54but I'm about to lose it

27:55because of you.

27:55So,

27:56if it's not too much to ask,

27:57I hope you take a little longer

27:58to forget me.

27:59I wake up in a hospital

28:00when I come to

28:02my first thought

28:02is that I'm somehow not dead.

28:03Am I that tough?

28:04Has my love finally burned around

28:05after half a lifetime of suffering?

28:06My gaze shifts

28:06and I see Jacob.

28:07Oh,

28:08I get it now.

28:09Jacob wrenched my pathetic soul

28:10right out of the grim reaper's hands.

28:11Wait,

28:11something's off.

28:12Why does he look so worn out?

28:13I didn't steal his files.

28:14Did someone else

28:14leak his company's confidential documents

28:16and bankrupt him?

28:17I open my mouth

28:18to ask what happened.

28:18After all,

28:19I still have some money tucked away.

28:20I'm worried he'll try to take back

28:21whatever little money

28:22I have tucked away.

28:23I would have taken death over that

28:24but before I can speak,

28:25Jacob leans in

28:26and carefully cups my cheek.

28:28I blink dazedly

28:29and watch him lean over me

28:30to press a reverent kiss

28:31to my forehead.

28:32He says hoarsely,

28:33you're awake.

28:34Something warm slides down my cheek

28:35and seeps into my collar.

28:36It must be coming from Jacob's eyes.

28:37All in all,

28:38the long and short of it

28:39is that I survived.

28:40I don't know how it happened.

28:41According to Jacob's secretary,

28:42he'd never seen

28:43Jacob lose control like that

28:44or look so wrecked.

28:45Ever since I woke up,

28:46Jacob hasn't left my line of sight.

28:48Even when he has video conferences,

28:49he sits somewhere,

28:50he can see me at a glance.

28:51And every 10 minutes or so,

28:52he looks at me to see what I'm doing.

28:54I'm really not used to him

28:55being like this.

28:56He's acting like I actually matter to him.

28:58The two things I care most about

28:59are money and my face.

29:00Thankfully,

29:00both have come through okay.

29:01The doctor did some work on my face.

29:02My cheek was burned by a cigar

29:04but I'm not the type to start easily.

29:05With proper care,

29:06my looks won't take much of a hit.

29:07As for money,

29:08as long as Jacob doesn't go bankrupt,

29:09I probably won't ever be strapped for cash.

29:10I spend almost a month in the hospital.

29:12It's only when I feel like

29:12I'm about to go crazy

29:13that Jacob agrees to let me be discharged.

29:15After getting out,

29:15Jacob uses rest and recovery as an excuse

29:17to keep me at home for another two months.

29:18And from that point on,

29:19anytime I set foot outside,

29:20I must have a driver and bodyguards with me.

29:22My friends all say I'm in for good things

29:23now that I've cheated death.

29:24They can't believe that I actually managed

29:25to go legit with Jacob.

29:26Before this,

29:26everyone more or less thought

29:27I was set for life

29:28for as long as I stuck with him.

29:28But nobody expected

29:29that I become the official Mrs. Griffinwood.

29:31From what I remember,

29:32Jacob has never once

29:32publicly acknowledged my status.

29:33How is this counted as going legit?

29:34The night the doctor announced

29:35that I had fully recovered,

29:37I can't hold back anymore

29:38and serve myself up to Jacob

29:39on a silver platter.

29:40I've never believed in men

29:41being capable of a platonic relationship.

29:42I've seen so many men in my life.

29:43Shouldn't I know better than anyone

29:44how much they're ruled

29:45by what's below the waist?

29:46Jacob has gone without sex

29:47for three months.

29:47In these three months,

29:48other than going to the bathroom,

29:49I wasn't even allowed to leave his sight

29:50to take a shower.

29:51More than once,

29:52I've caught his dark and heavy gaze on me.

29:53Each time I think

29:54he's about to lose control,

29:54he still manages to hold himself back.

29:56I'm worried that he keeps doing this to himself.

29:57Something will go wrong with him.

29:58This is directly related

29:58to the rest of my life's happiness,

29:59so I have to take it seriously, don't I?

30:01I do all my prep work.

30:02I set up a nice scent,

30:03slip into something sheer and revealing,

30:04and lie on the bed,

30:05like a consort waiting for the king to summon her.

30:06Taking care of Jacob in bed

30:07is now something I can do with my eyes closed.

30:08I know every one of his sensitive spots.

30:09I'm sure tonight will be a scorching,

30:10no holds, bard night.

30:12But, to my surprise,

30:13Jacob turns me down.

30:14It's not his first time rejecting me,

30:16but it is the only time

30:17that I'm caught off guard.

30:18I quickly adjust though,

30:19and back off,

30:20giving Jacob space.

30:21In my softest voice I say,

30:22I'm sorry Mr. Wood,

30:23I overstepped my boundaries.

30:24Ultimately, I'd overestimated myself.

30:26I'd assumed that,

30:27after how he treated me these past few months,

30:28I'd at least carved out a special place.

30:29In his heart,

30:29even if he hadn't fallen in love with me.

30:31But the truth is,

30:31I can't even tell if he feels anything for me.

30:33Why would I be special to him?

30:34I thought that,

30:35nearly losing my life to protect Jacob's business

30:36was a big deal,

30:37but in reality,

30:38I was probably more like a kitten

30:38that happened to block a tiny pebble

30:39for its owner.

30:40It looked like I'd almost died for him,

30:41but to him,

30:42it wasn't even worth mentioning.

30:43Jacob tells me not to overthink it,

30:44and that I should focus on getting better.

30:45I do as I'm told,

30:46and don't dwell on the matter.

30:47And then he starts coming to the villa,

30:48less and less.

30:48He doesn't even contact me often anymore.

30:49When I occasionally catch up with my friends,

30:51they tease me,

30:52saying I found a job I can't lose.

30:53They say I'll never have to worry about material things.

30:54For as long as I stick with him,

30:55I don't tell them

30:56that I'm probably on the cusp of losing the job.

30:58This time,

30:58things are different

30:59from when our contract expired.

31:00Back then,

31:00Jacob treated me the same as always,

31:02even though he didn't mention renewing the contract.

31:03This time,

31:03I can clearly feel him

31:05pulling away on purpose.

31:06One day,

31:06I head to the spa for my usual maintenance.

31:08When I get home,

31:09I find Jacob on the couch

31:10with a document in his hand.

31:11In that moment,

31:12I understand everything.

31:13Mr. Wood.

31:13I smile and walk over to him.

31:15Sit.

31:15He looks up at me,

31:16then slides the document across the table.

31:17Toward me.

31:18Take a look.

31:19I obediently pick it up.

31:20Is this my severance pay?

31:21He sure is generous.

31:23Thank you for taking care of me all this time,

31:24Mr. Wood.

31:24I accept the contract with a smile,

31:25and don't cause a scene.

31:26What right do I have to throw a tantrum anyway?

31:27Jacob's face is devoid of emotion.

31:29I've given you more than enough money.

31:31From now on,

31:31turn over a new leaf,

31:32and live a decent life.

31:33Don't stay in this line of work anymore.

31:34Honestly,

31:35he doesn't need to do this in person.

31:36He could have sent

31:37a secretary or assistant,

31:38like last time.

31:39I will.

31:39I stand up and give him a proper curtsy.

31:41I'll move out tomorrow,

31:42and this time after moving out,

31:43I won't be coming back anymore.

31:45Our relationship is about to end,

31:46but I want to do my last shift properly.

31:47Jacob spends the night at the villa.

31:49I draw him a bath,

31:50and carefully give him a full-body spa.

31:51The bathtub faces the floor-to-ceiling windows.

31:53The glass is one way,

31:54so when he's soaking in the tub,

31:55he can enjoy the view outside in privacy.

31:56How long have you been doing this?

31:57I don't remember.

31:58Maybe two, three, four, five years?

31:59That's good.

32:00You're not worn out yet,

32:01so you can find a good man to marry in the future.

32:03Mr. Wood,

32:04after being with a man like you,

32:04I'm afraid it's gonna be hard for me

32:05to ever be interested in other men again.

32:06Oh?

32:07Are you hinting that I shouldn't let you go?

32:09I wouldn't dare.

32:09I'm just being honest.

32:10I actually know exactly why.

32:11Jacob is letting me go.

32:12It's because he discovered my feelings for him.

32:13I have never claimed to be

32:14some morally noble person.

32:16In a life-or-death situation,

32:17I shouldn't be sacrificing my own life

32:18to protect Jacob's interests,

32:19but that's exactly what I did.

32:21I've fallen for him,

32:22which is why he can't keep me around anymore.

32:23Money and profits

32:24make the most solid bonds in this world.

32:25Jacob can give me plenty of that,

32:27but he won't give me

32:27even the slightest bit of love.

32:29I love him,

32:29so I can give up my life for him,

32:31but there's also a chance I'll hurt him

32:32because he doesn't love me.

32:33I understand that,

32:34so I accept this outcome.

32:35After moving out of the villa,

32:37my life goes back to being peaceful.

32:38Jacob really is generous,

32:40including this last severance payout.

32:41I now have three properties in my name,

32:42tens of millions in cash,

32:43and even stocks.

32:44As long as I don't splurge in ways

32:45that might break the law,

32:46then what I have now will be enough

32:47to kick back and coast through the rest of my life.

32:48After grinding for more than 20 years,

32:49I can finally start my retirement early.

32:51Alice comes over to hang out with me.

32:52She's switched to a new sugar daddy lately.

32:53He's from Hutton,

32:54and apparently treats her pretty well.

32:55In just a few short months,

32:56he's already spent a ton of money on her.

32:57After cashing out on this job,

32:58I'm gonna retire too.

32:59She takes a drag of her cigarette.

33:01The smoke curls around her face,

33:01so I can't make out her expression.

33:03I'm not getting any younger.

33:04It's time to settle down,

33:05and actually live a normal life.

33:06You?

33:06Saying stuff like that?

33:07That's not like you at all.

33:08You remember?

33:09My previous sugar daddy, right?

33:10The one from Jarton.

33:10Yeah.

33:11He's the only one,

33:11who prematurely terminated his contract with you.

33:13I remember you cleaned him out,

33:14right before you walked away.

33:15You were really proud of yourself,

33:16and kept bragging to me about it.

33:17He went bankrupt.

33:17Alice looks despondent.

33:18I only found out recently.

33:19That money I took from him back then,

33:20was probably everything that he had left.

33:22What?

33:23I'm stunned.

33:24He knew he was going under.

33:25That's why he terminated the contract,

33:26and handed over pretty much all the liquid assets he had left to me.

33:28She stubs out her cigarette,

33:29and lets out a bitter laugh.

33:30If he were going to pull something like that,

33:31he should have hidden it better,

33:32and stopped others from finding out.

33:33Look at the situation he has me now.

33:34It feels wrong to give everything back,

33:35but it's also wrong if I don't.

33:36You want to pay him back though.

33:37I can see right through her.

33:39That's not all.

33:39You're even thinking of handing over dad all the money you've made,

33:41to help him make a comeback.

33:43Alice looks miserable but doesn't deny it.

33:45You're out of your mind.

33:46I shoot to my feet,

33:47frustrated by her idiocy.

33:48Do you even know what you're considering?

33:49With our history,

33:49we'll never be the kind who gets to sit at a nice table.

33:51How much of all that talk about brotherhood between men is real?

33:52And how long does it last?

33:54Right now,

33:54you're clinging to the tiny bit of kindness he showed you.

33:56But once you spend the money,

33:57once he makes a comeback,

33:58and once you're old and ugly,

33:59there'll be a line of fresh faces.

34:00Prettier than you,

34:01sweeter than you,

34:01and wilder than you.

34:02When that time comes,

34:03how exactly will you compete with them?

34:04And what about you?

34:04You feel the same for Jacob Griffin Wood,

34:06don't you?

34:06I'm at a loss for words.

34:07Women really are soft-hearted creatures.

34:08We're in a line of work where we can't catch feelings.

34:10So it's all about getting what we need from each other.

34:12It's a simple transaction of interests.

34:13The lessons of the women who came before us

34:14are still fresh in our minds,

34:15yet we somehow always end up

34:16making the same snakes they did.

34:17At least I took the money.

34:17I'll never have to worry about material things

34:19for the rest of my life.

34:19I say,

34:20I didn't and won't pay to be with him.

34:21That already puts me a step above you.

34:22That's because you got lucky

34:23and ran into Jacob Griffin Wood.

34:24That guy is a businessman

34:25who never makes a losing deal.

34:26Believe it or not,

34:26If Jacob goes bankrupt right now,

34:27you'll throw money at him faster than I can.

34:28Don't jinx me.

34:29I quickly shut the conversation down.

34:31Some things just couldn't be said.

34:32I learn about Jacob's bankruptcy

34:34from the news.

34:35In the past,

34:35I never watched the news.

34:37People like me were barely even educated.

34:39Keeping up with the news was pointless.

34:40But since splitting up with Jacob,

34:41I've started watching it

34:42because every now and then,

34:42he shows up on the screen.

34:43How can he possibly go bankrupt?

34:44But as the reports pile up,

34:46it starts looking real.

34:47I go around asking a few friends.

34:48In the industry,

34:49their sugar daddies

34:49all have connections everywhere,

34:50so they help me ask around.

34:51Turns out the rumors are true.

34:52Alice also calls me.

34:53I asked around.

34:54It's probably the doing of the same people

34:55who kidnapped you last time.

34:56They're out to get Jacob.

34:57Jacob is far too influential in this city.

34:59He practically has a monopoly on the place.

35:00Unless someone drags him down,

35:02everyone else will be stuck,

35:02fighting over scraps.

35:03That's what happens when one stands out.

35:05I spend a few restless days at home

35:06before starting to go over all my assets.

35:08Everything I have,

35:08I only manage to build up

35:09because of Jacob.

35:10I know that to him.

35:11What I've got is a drop in the bucket.

35:13But at least it's something

35:14for me to show where my loyalties lie.

35:15As Alice predicted,

35:16I was all righteous when giving her advice.

35:17But when I was in the same situation,

35:18I was throwing money in faster than anyone else

35:20and even more desperate than she ever was.

35:21At least Alice dreamed about

35:23spending the rest of her life

35:23with her sugar daddy.

35:24I didn't even dare

35:25entertain a thought like that.

35:26I have Jacob's private number,

35:28but he doesn't answer when I call.

35:29So I sent him a message,

35:30weighing every word carefully.

35:31In the end,

35:32Jacob's secretary calls me back

35:33and turns me down.

35:34Miss Lodge,

35:35Mr. Woods said to tell you

35:36that he appreciates the gesture.

35:37He hopes you'll live well from now on

35:38and that you'll stop worrying

35:39about the people from your past.

35:40I fear as much given Jacob's personality.

35:41He's not accepting my kind gesture,

35:42but it's not necessarily for my best interest.

35:44It's most likely just his pride getting in the way,

35:45making him refuse that

35:46to accept charity from someone like me.

35:46I'm prepared for that outcome,

35:48but I still feel disappointed.

35:49I know all too well

35:49the huge gap between us.

35:50I can't even do

35:51the smallest things for him,

35:53but I still go ahead

35:54and do what I want to do.

35:55In all my years of life,

35:56I've rarely gotten to be willful

35:57and to follow my heart.

35:58So even if I'm throwing myself at him,

35:59I'm more than willing to do it.

36:01When Alice hands me the money,

36:02she prods me in the forehead

36:03and grumbles nonstop

36:04about how I'd have trouble paying her back.

36:05After borrowing so much from her,

36:06some other friends also feel bad for me.

36:07When they lend me the money,

36:08they even suggest

36:08introducing me to a new sugar daddy.

36:10He's not exactly a great guy,

36:11but he's generous with his money.

36:11I'll only have to put up with him for a year.

36:13I turn them all down.

36:14I take that card holding everything I own

36:15and mail it to Jacob.

36:16Then I tell myself we're even our cab

36:18and I should never think about him again.

36:19I get an ordinary job

36:20and I got into online content creation.

36:21After hanging around sugar daddies

36:22for years,

36:23I'd at least seen a lot of the world.

36:24I'd picked up some knowledge

36:26about cosmetic procedures and makeup.

36:27I didn't have a proper education,

36:28so I need other ways to make money.

36:30Thankfully, my second video blew up.

36:32I've always felt like my luck

36:33was never really that bad.

36:34Sure, my parents didn't care about me,

36:35but at least they didn't let me starve.

36:37Later, I was out of options

36:37and went into modeling.

36:38It wasn't the most respectable line of work,

36:41used to it after blending in.

36:42Then, when I failed to move up the ladder

36:43and Jacob no longer wanted me,

36:45he still made sure the rest of my life

36:46was taken care of.

36:47Food and bills stopped being a problem.

36:48And now, even though I'm broke again,

36:49my career, which has never taken off before,

36:51is suddenly on the verge of blowing up.

36:53Good, isn't it?

36:53That's why we need to stay alive.

36:55It means having something to look forward to

36:56and a future.

36:56I work a day job,

36:57shoot at night,

36:58and life keeps getting better.

36:59But one day,

37:00Alice suddenly calls me

37:00and says Jacob is back on top again.

37:02I've gone out of my way

37:02not to keep up with him for a long time now.

37:04Hearing about him again

37:05feels like something from another lifetime.

37:07Really?

37:07That's good.

37:08I say earnestly.

37:09Nothing will ever happen between us,

37:11but I still hope he does well.

37:12You really are hopeless.

37:14I'm doing pretty great,

37:15and I'm pretty happy too.

37:16I even try to talk Alice into it.

37:17If you're really gonna quit for good,

37:18then come work with me instead.

37:19I have a decent following now.

37:21I can send traffic your way.

37:21I'll come to you when I hit rock bottom.

37:23I'm just calling you today to update you,

37:24so you can stop worrying

37:25and forget about Jacob from now on.

37:27This call is unnecessary, really.

37:28I probably won't ever stop

37:29thinking about Jacob in this lifetime,

37:31but I'm also prepared

37:32to never see him again

37:32and to never check

37:33any news about him.

37:34I may seem like an idiot,

37:36but I'm actually really smart

37:36with anything or anyone

37:37that might make me sad or disappointed.

37:38I never let myself

37:39expect anything from them.

37:40Just like I never once hoped

37:40that my parents would love me,

37:42I also didn't dare hope

37:42that Jacob would look at me

37:43any differently.

37:44After expanding my horizons a bit,

37:45I made a lot of new friends.

37:46They don't know what I used to do

37:47and that I used to have sugar daddies.

37:49In their eyes,

37:50I'm kind, capable, and worldly.

37:51The comments they leave for me

37:52are all praise.

37:53Deep down, there's a faint uneasiness.

37:54Maybe there's a name for it.

37:55Something like PTSD,

37:56post-traumatic stress disorder.

37:57Someone like me

37:58isn't supposed to have things

37:58go so smoothly

37:59or be disliked.

38:00They think I'm perfect

38:01and flawless,

38:02but I know I'm tainted.

38:08Part of me laughs at myself

38:08for being weird

38:09and feeling happy

38:09about getting cursed out.

38:10The other part focuses

38:11on making a video

38:11of a sincere chat about myself.

38:12The whole process

38:13is even kind of fun.

38:13I have nothing about my past

38:14that I feel the need to hide.

38:15Each and every one

38:16of those incidents

38:16are what shaped who I am today.

38:18Life can knock me down,

38:19but I will never stay down.

38:20I'm prepared to not be accepted.

38:21I tell myself that at least

38:22I've earned pretty good money lately.

38:24The debt I'd originally planned

38:24to pay off in 10 years

38:25I can probably now clear in just two.

38:26That's good enough for me.

38:27To my surprise,

38:27I'm accepted.

38:28Many people called me shameless

38:29and said I had no dignity

38:30for making such dirty money

38:31before trying to clean myself up now.

38:32But even more people

38:33left on message me on

38:33and tell me not to give up on life.

38:35They messaged me privately

38:36to share their own stories with me.

38:37It was like once

38:37all that suffering got spread out,

38:38it wasn't so unbearable anymore.

38:40I cry a lot to be honest.

38:40In front of my sugar daddies,

38:41I would always whine,

38:43put on a pitiful act,

38:44or play the victim

38:44just to spark that sense

38:45of conquest in them.

38:46But that was a survival tactic.

38:47I'm not who I really was.

38:48I don't know what I ever did

38:48to deserve being accepted

38:49and liked by so many people.

38:50This world can actually be beautiful.

38:51If I hadn't found the courage

38:52to take that first step,

38:53maybe I never would have seen

38:54this side of the world's kindness.

38:55At the end of the year,

38:56I got an invitation from a platform

38:57inviting me to attend an awards ceremony.

38:59I dressed to the nines for it.

39:00The ceremony is a grand one.

39:02Besides a bunch of big name influencers,

39:03there are also several celebrities.

39:04I already know which award I'm getting,

39:06so I've prepared an acceptance speech.

39:07I'm about to go on stage,

39:08but I'm still memorizing it.

39:09Well, I do have a terrible memory.

39:11It's only a few lines,

39:11but they just won't stick.

39:13Next, let's welcome our award presenter,

39:15Griffin Wood Group CEO,

39:16Mr. Jacob Griffin Wood.

39:17The host beams at the crowd

39:18and the audience erupts in surprise.

39:19My smile freezes on my face.

39:21Sure, it's now the era

39:22of influencer economics

39:22and every influencer here

39:23easily makes tens of millions a year.

39:25But why would Jacob?

39:25I stand there and follow the host's line of sight.

39:28Under the spotlight,

39:29Jacob walks toward me

39:29with all eyes on him.

39:30He still looks exactly the way I remember.

39:32He's lofty, untouchable,

39:33and immaculate.

39:33Congratulations.

39:34He takes the trophy

39:35and passes it to me with both hands.

39:36Thanks, I say in a small voice.

39:38You've done very well.

39:39Better than I expected.

39:40He shakes my hand

39:41and we stand shoulder to shoulder

39:42facing the audience.

39:43I've never imagined a day like this

39:45when I can openly stand by Jacob's side

39:47accepting applause from an audience.

39:49Georgia, Jacob calls my name.

39:50Yeah?

39:51Do you want to be with me?

39:52I don't answer.

39:53This time,

39:54you have every right

39:54to stand by me openly

39:56as my fiancée.

39:57Jacob Griffin Wood

39:57first met Georgia Lodge

39:59at an ordinary cocktail party.

40:00Many people were eager

40:01to curry favor with him,

40:01but not everyone was qualified to do so.

40:03Everyone else respectfully

40:04dressed him as Mr. Griffin Wood.

40:05Only Georgia,

40:06like an uneducated brute,

40:07had called him Mr. Wood

40:08because he rarely heard

40:09that form of address.

40:10He'd given her a second glance.

40:11When someone held power,

40:12even a single look from them

40:13would be endlessly dissected

40:14and analyzed

40:15by the people below.

40:15He only looked at Georgia

40:16one extra time,

40:17but someone decided

40:17he must have taken a liking to her.

40:19And so,

40:19in no time at all,

40:20Georgia was delivered to his side,

40:20along with a full background check

40:22and a medical report.

40:23Coincidentally,

40:24he didn't have a companion then.

40:25Georgia stood in front of him,

40:26smiling stiffly.

40:27She hid it well,

40:28but he still caught the flicker

40:29of resentment

40:30and disgust in her eyes.

40:30The women sent to him

40:31were always thoroughly trained

40:32in advance.

40:33He was a little curious

40:33how long someone like Georgia

40:34could survive

40:35in this world of power and profit.

40:37Unfortunately,

40:37she turned out to be terribly boring.

40:39Jacob later realized that

40:39whatever emotions

40:40Georgia had felt that day

40:41would never have any real impact

40:42on his life.

40:43He could tell

40:44that she was trying her best

40:45to blend into his circle.

40:46She fawn,

40:47acted cute,

40:48and bowed and scraped.

40:49To keep herself attracted to men,

40:50she spent a fortune

40:51on cosmetic procedures,

40:51even going in for those

40:52so-called miraculous

40:53tightening packages

40:53that sounded magical

40:53but didn't even have

40:54basic safety guaranteed.

40:55That was the only time

40:56he'd ever lost control.

40:57It wasn't because

40:57the tightening treatment

40:58did anything.

40:59Jacob just happened

40:59to pass by that day

41:00and saw Georgia

41:01limping out of the spa,

41:02dressed to the nines,

41:03but with her face

41:03twisted in pain.

41:04She looked so gaudy.

41:05People around her

41:05threw her strange looks,

41:06but she seemed oblivious.

41:08But when she turned the corner,

41:09Jacob saw her

41:10with her arms around her knees

41:11and her head buried between them.

41:12She crouched there

41:13for a long time.

41:13She had a thin figure

41:14and she looked so lonely

41:15from the back.

41:15Jacob had seen

41:16way too many women

41:17like Georgia.

41:17Whether they made a fortune

41:18or not,

41:19their stories always seemed

41:19to end in tragedy.

41:20Almost none got a happy ending.

41:21In that instant,

41:22Jacob suddenly had a thought.

41:23It wasn't impossible

41:24to keep Georgia

41:24by his side forever.

41:25He could just treat her

41:26like a pampered pet

41:27and a distraction.

41:28Not that he'd ever

41:28told her about it.

41:29As the last day

41:30of their contract

41:30crept closer,

41:31Jacob watched as Georgia

41:32found it harder and harder

41:33to quiet her growing anxiety.

41:34He kept wondering

41:34when she would come to him

41:35and ask to renew the contract.

41:37Unfortunately,

41:37she was just too well behaved,

41:38so much so

41:39that she never overstepped,

41:40not even a little,

41:40even when he openly

41:45perfection.

41:45Jacob saw the mockery

41:46in Georgia's eyes.

41:46When the newcomer

41:47told her sob story,

41:48he also saw the despair

41:49in her eyes.

41:50When the golf ball

41:51came crashing down on him,

41:52at the time,

41:52he wondered why.

41:53He was being so harsh

41:53with some illiterate nobody.

41:54Since he was somewhat

41:55invested in her,

41:56he would just keep her

41:56by his side.

41:57What Georgia really thought

41:58didn't matter much.

41:59As long as he himself

41:59felt satisfied,

42:00that was good enough.

42:01After getting back together,

42:02Jacob would sometimes

42:03spend the night

42:03in Georgia's room,

42:04seeing her so sleepy

42:05that she could barely

42:05keep her eyes open

42:06and kept nodding off

42:07while swearing

42:08that she wasn't tired.

42:09It was pretty cute

42:09in his eyes.

42:09He'd never seriously

42:10considered what exactly

42:11Georgia meant to him.

42:12In any case,

42:13as long as he wanted her,

42:14she would never be able

42:15to leave him.

42:15Later, he realized

42:16he was wrong.

42:17Georgia could leave.

42:18After all,

42:18in this world,

42:19no one could bridge

42:19the distance

42:20between life and death.

42:21At first,

42:21when Jacob heard that

42:22Georgia had been kidnapped,

42:23he didn't panic.

42:24Kidnapping was always

42:25about profit,

42:25and Georgia had always known

42:26when to bend

42:27and when to stand tall.

42:27They had an intimate

42:28relationship,

42:28and she knew a thing

42:29or two about his affairs.

42:30As long as she told

42:31them what she knew,

42:32that would be enough

42:32to keep her alive.

42:33And with her skills,

42:34she could easily find

42:35another sugar daddy.

42:36So when Jacob's subordinates

42:37reported the news

42:38of Georgia's kidnapping,

42:39he hadn't even paused

42:39his meeting.

42:40She was just a pet

42:40he kept in a gilded cage.

42:41If a bag went missing,

42:42he would have the maids

42:43look for it.

42:43If it couldn't be found,

42:44he would simply buy another one.

42:46Things changed

42:46when his subordinates

42:47reported that Georgia

42:47had been found.

42:48They didn't know

42:48if she was alive or dead,

42:49and her face was so swollen,

42:50they couldn't even tell

42:51what she used to look like.

42:52If anything,

42:52she should be thankful.

42:52She only had cosmetic treatments

42:53and not plastic surgery.

42:54Otherwise,

42:55the implants alone

42:55would have been driven

42:55straight into her skull.

42:56She had several broken ribs,

42:57some organ damage,

42:58and her limbs abused

42:59to the point of being

43:00twisted out of shape.

43:01When a video of the scene

43:01was sent back,

43:02Jacob took one look

43:03and tossed his phone aside.

43:04Then,

43:04he headed straight to the hospital.

43:05Georgia was in the operating room

43:06for a full nine hours

43:07from nightfall until dawn.

43:09When she was finally wheeled out,

43:10she had tubes everywhere

43:11in her body.

43:11Jacob was busy,

43:12busy putting out fires

43:13at the company

43:13and busy dealing

43:14with his competitors' attacks.

43:15Once Georgia was transferred

43:16to the ICU,

43:16visits were limited

43:17to specific hours,

43:18so staying at the hospital

43:18wasn't of much use.

43:19Still,

43:20Jacob chose to follow

43:20what his heart told him to do

43:21and remained at the hospital.

43:23The accommodations there

43:24were of course

43:25far from comfortable.

43:25Even someone as tireless as Jacob

43:26couldn't help looking worn out.

43:28Yet the rate at which

43:28he grew haggard

43:29was nothing compared to Georgia.

43:31She just lay there silently

43:31on that hospital bed

43:32and grew weaker

43:33with each passing day.

43:34The doctors said

43:34her will to live

43:35wasn't strong enough,

43:35which was why

43:36she still hadn't woken up.

43:37Jacob secretly mocked them

43:38for being liars.

43:39If she really didn't want to live,

43:40why would she have fought so hard

43:41to cling to that last breath

43:42and hold on until he could save her?

43:43Jacob had never bothered

43:44to figure out

43:44what exactly he felt for Georgia.

43:46But in that moment,

43:47he suddenly started to understand

43:47his own heart.

43:48The fact that deep down,

43:49he'd allowed Georgia

43:50to trade his secrets

43:51in exchange for her own life

43:52already meant he'd fallen for her.

43:53With Georgia,

43:54Jacob did indeed experience

43:55many emotions

43:56that were useless

43:57yet novel to him.

43:58For instance,

43:58the sheer joy and agitation he'd felt

43:59the moment Georgia

44:00finally woke up.

44:01For instance,

44:01the heartache he felt

44:02when she gritted her teeth

44:03through rehab

44:03and pretended to be fine,

44:04even forcing herself

44:05to smile at him.

44:06He patiently nursed Georgia

44:06back to health,

44:07throwing the best medical resources

44:08at her to rebuild her body

44:09and he assigned bodyguards

44:10to make sure she was always safe.

44:11Only he knew the genuine emotions

44:12he'd poured into all of that.

44:14To him,

44:15love was useless.

44:16Small doses of it

44:16were a fun distraction,

44:17but too much of it

44:18would only drag down his efficiency.

44:19And so,

44:20after thinking it through,

44:21Jacob ultimately decided

44:22to end the relationship,

44:23he knew he'd fallen for her

44:24and he knew

44:24Georgia had also fallen for him.

44:26But this is what the world

44:27was often like.

44:27Pure interests

44:28could keep a relationship going

44:29and sometimes even make it unbreakable.

44:30But when feelings got tangled up in it,

44:32the whole thing became fragile.

44:33Cutting their losses early

44:34was the best choice

44:35for both him and her.

44:36Georgia left without hesitation.

44:38She was never the type to cling

44:39and she vanished entirely from his life.

44:40She was too self-aware

44:41to do anything else.

44:42The first few days,

44:42Jacob hadn't been used to it.

44:43But as work piled up,

44:44he no longer had the time

44:45or space for romance.

44:47The traps he laid for so long

44:47were finally starting to play their role.

44:48For his plan,

44:49news of his bankruptcy

44:50spread across the entire country.

44:52After that,

44:52he got a call from Georgia.

44:53He didn't answer it,

44:54so she sent him a message and said,

44:55sounding as she always did,

44:56with her familiar flattery,

44:57afraid of saying anything

44:58that might upset him.

44:59Jacob had his secretary reply for him,

45:00but not long after,

45:01he'd still received a bank card.

45:02The amount on it

45:03was higher than he'd expected.

45:04Perhaps Georgia had asked

45:05her friends for help.

45:06They all had their own sugar daddies,

45:07so even if they didn't have too much money,

45:08it was still a sizable sum

45:09when put together.

45:10Still, Georgia had promised him

45:11she would quit that line of work.

45:12If she'd borrowed so much money,

45:13how was she planning on paying it back?

45:15Jacob later had his answer.

45:15She'd gone into doing online content

45:17and had gotten somewhat popular.

45:18Per your instructions,

45:19I staged an encounter

45:19with Miss Lodge yesterday.

45:20His assistant reported,

45:21she seems to be in pretty good spirits.

45:23She said her career's on track now.

45:25She has lots of fans who like her,

45:26and she's making good money.

45:27Is that so?

45:27But as far as Jacob knew,

45:29every single one of her videos

45:30had hate comments.

45:30People called her ugly

45:31and attention-seeking,

45:32and just a few days ago,

45:33someone had exposed her past

45:34and how she used to have

45:35rich sugar daddies.

45:36The internet was flooded with her haters.

45:37If not for that,

45:38Jacob wouldn't have gone out of his way

45:39to arrange the chance encounter.

45:40He was afraid Georgia would hurt herself,

45:41because that was what she was like.

45:42Whenever it came to her own pain,

45:43she always brushed it off

45:44like it was nothing.

45:45Maybe it was because she knew

45:45no one really cared about her,

45:46and that looking sad

45:47wouldn't change anything.

45:48But he knew perfectly well

45:49there was a bottle of pills

45:50hidden in her cabinet.

45:51The pills had been saved up

45:52one by one,

45:53and over a long time,

45:54but Georgia had never taken them.

45:55When the contract had expired,

45:56Jacob had brought her back,

45:57because he was afraid

45:58she would pop the pills.

45:59Later, he'd let her go,

46:00because he was afraid

46:01she'd grow more attached.

46:02If he couldn't give her

46:02what she wanted,

46:03she might ultimately still end up

46:04taking those pills.

46:05And after that,

46:06when Georgia had mailed her card to him,

46:07he hadn't returned it,

46:08because he wanted something

46:08tying her to this world.

46:09If she remembered

46:10that she owed her friends,

46:10she wouldn't give up on herself.

46:12She needed to be left

46:12with a little bit of hope,

46:13so she had a reason to keep living.

46:14Don't clean up.

46:15The mess online too perfectly.

46:16Jacob said,

46:17Georgia is smart.

46:18Overwhelmingly positive comments

46:19will only make her suspicious.

46:20Understood, sir.

46:21Jacob knew then that in the end,

46:22he really did treat Georgia differently,

46:23different enough that he was willing

46:23to break his own rules for her

46:25and pay attention to these details.

46:27He was willing to give Georgia time

46:28and wait for her to be remade.

46:29She had to open her eyes

46:30and look at the world again.

46:31There would be good and bad,

46:31but the good would always outnumber the bad.

46:32At the end of the year,

46:33Jacob received word that Georgia

46:35had agreed to attend

46:35the awards ceremony.

46:36He owned shares in the streaming platform,

46:38but it was just

46:39one of many assets under his name.

46:40It wasn't particularly important.

46:41Even so,

46:41Jacob showed up in full format attire.

46:43He did it

46:43so he could appear before Georgia again

46:45and give her an opening.

46:46This time,

46:46he wanted her

46:47to have the courage to speak up

46:48and keep hold of what she truly wanted.

Until Fate Gave Us a Second Chance - All Episodes

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