Ste suddenly became famous again on a clear, sunny day.


    She went to buy flowers as usual, having barely looked at her phone these years due to constant private message attacks.


    Today, she couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone on the street was staring at her-whether it was her imagination or not. It reminded her of those initial years of cyberbullying when she felt like everyone harbored ill will toward her.


    Her heart began beating uneasily, and she practically fled back to Emily’s ce.


    “1…”


    Before she could finish speaking, Ste saw Emily’s red-rimmed eyes and her hasty movement to hide her phone upon seeing Ste return.


    “Are people attacking me online again?”


    Ste forced a smile, pretending nothing was wrong, but her trembling hands betrayed her inner anxiety.


    “Gabriel Sterling just confessed to you publicly across all social media tforms!”


    Ste had thought she and Gabriel would never cross paths again in this lifetime. She never expected they’d meet again so soon.


    In just over two months, Gabriel had lost significant weight and looked much more haggard.


    For a moment, Ste felt aplex mix of emotions.


    Honestly, she had suffered for a long time over the question of whether Gabriel truly loved her. If this had been the old her watching that video, she might have been moved, but now she felt nothing-no ripples in her heart. The only feeling was probably annoyance.


    “Should I go talk to him?” Emily suggested.


    It’s fine. This is a good opportunity to make things clear with him.”


    Gabriel sat in the small courtyard downstairs, which was filled with various flowers that looked vibrant and full of life-much more lived-in than his vi.


    Ste, I…” Seeing Stee downstairs, Gabriel immediately stood up,pletely flustered.


    Ste, you can hit me or scream at me–I won’t resist. I know I’ve hurt you, and I know nothing can make up for it, but I really just wanted to protect you.”


    I had no idea Lily would manipte things so much behind the scenes. I really didn’t know you’d suffer so much harm under my protection. Ste, I won’t let you get hurt anymore. Come home with me, okay? Can we start over?”


    Ste rarely saw Gabriel cry. Even after his parents died, he had only sat silently on a bridge all night, holding a bottle of alcohol. By all rights, he was a victim <ol><li></li></ol>


    Ste handed Gabriel a tissue. At this moment, this man she thought would never cry had tears brimming in his eyes.


    Wipe your face. I don’t resent you!”


    Gabriel’s eyes immediately lit up at her words.


    “But we… it’s impossible now!”


    “Why? WHY? Ste, what did I do wrong? Tell me, I can change.”


    Gabriel suddenly stood up and grabbed Ste’s hand, his grip so tight it nearly crushed her bones.


    “My parents are dead, Ste. In this world, you’re the closest person to me. I’m begging you, please don’t leave me alone. Ste, it’s all my fault. You can hit me or yell at me, just don’t abandon me!”


    As he spoke, Gabriel grabbed Ste’s hand and tried to make her p his own face.


    “Don’t do this, Gabriel, stop it!” Ste refused, but he waspletely lost in his emotions and couldn’t hear her.


    Smack-a powerful force struck, and Gabriel was kicked to the ground.


    Ryan immediately pulled Ste behind him.


    “She’s rejecting you. Can’t you hear that?”


    “She’s my girlfriend. What business is it of yours when I talk to my girlfriend?” Gabriel scrambled up from the ground and threw a punch at Ryan’s face. The Two men immediately started fighting in the courtyard, both looking like they wanted to kill each other.


    “Stop it! Stop fighting!”


    Neither man would yield to the other, and despite Ste shouting several times, no one paid attention.


    “Both of you fucking stop! If you want to fight, get out of here!”


    ste grabbed a ss vase from the table and smashed it on the ground. The loud crash finally brought the two frenzied men back to their senses. Ryan mmediately rushed to Ste.


    Ste, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”


    Ste, stay away from those ss shards. I’ll clean them up-be careful not to cut yourself!” Gabriel had already crouched down and thoughtfully pulled out a


    andkerchief from his suit pocket, carefully wrapping up all the ss fragments.


    Ste, I’ll do whatever you ask me to do from now on. Just don’t leave me, okay?” Gabriel grabbed one of her arms as she tried to leave.


    I made some different vored flower cakes today. Would you like to try them?” Ryan grabbed her other arm.


    te was almost amused by these two men.


    How had she never noticed before that she was such a hotmodity, with so many people fighting over her?


    Leave, Gabriel. I’ve made myself very clear-there’s no possibility between us anymore.”


    With that, she pulled Ryan upstairs with her.


    Ste?” Just around the stair corner, where Gabriel couldn’t see them, Ste let go of Ryan’s hand.


    Ryan, I don’t know if I’m being presumptuous, but if I am, just pretend I’m talking nonsense. If you have designs on me, I advise you to give up right now. I’m


    ot in the mood to consider these things, I’m not the right person for you, and it’s impossible for us to be together.”


    After saying this, Ste turned and left without waiting for Ryan’s response. What she feared most now was dealing with emotional matters-one wrong move


    nd she’d end up like today.


    So you don’t want either of them?” Emily teased Ste.


    Do you only want to be with me?”


    Exactly, Emily. You understand me best-I only want to be with you.” After they yed around for a bit, Emily suddenly cupped Ste’s face.


    Don’t worry about me. Leave if you want to. I know your dreams aren’t about staying here with me tending flowers, but my door will always be open for you.”


    Having one true friend in life was enough.


    Ste didn’t know what to say. She did have ns to leave-Gabriel’s arrival had just elerated those ns. The world was so big, and she wanted to see it, to ulfill the dreams she’d abandoned all those years ago. <fnc404> Get full chapters from Find~Novel</fnc404>


    Besides, too many people here recognized her. Sometimes she’d walk just a few steps and encounter people iming to be her fans, asking when she’d return to acting. There were also some Gabriel-Ste shippers who would defend Gabriel when they met her.


    She couldn’t learn how to talk to people-if she said something wrong, it would end up online again.


    The entertainment industry was a ce she never wanted to set foot in again for the rest of her life.