Chapter 92: Happy to find my place
The sharp sound froze her in place.
She turned her head slowly, her eyes narrowing. Daniel stood there, cool and unhurried, his hand still on the lock he’d just slid into place.
Her pulse spiked. "What are you doing?" she demanded, her voice low, sharp.
Daniel’s gaze held hers—steady, unflinching, unreadable.
"Are you angry?" he asked, his voice dipping into that dangerously calm register that always sent shivers down her spine.
This wasn’t the reaction he had expected from her. But watching her rise, dismiss him so easily, as if he were nothing more than an obstacle in her path—it ignited something in him. He couldn’t let her walk away, not when she had this uncanny ability to shake his composure every time.
Anna, meanwhile, let her eyes linger across his face. The concern etched faintly in his expression was impossible to ignore. And yet, instead of fueling her fury, it tugged something unbidden at her chest.
So she did what she did best—masked it.
Her lips curved into a small, almost mocking smile. "Why would I be angry," she whispered, "when we’re both benefitting from this arrangement? Don’t forget—my goal is still the same."
Her eyes hardened, locking on his. "To divorce you."
"..."
’Did he just dig his own grave by giving her opportunity’
***
Anna slipped into the car, a triumphant smile tugging at her lips. Shutting Daniel up—even briefly—always felt like a small victory. One that gave her the chance to breathe, to escape his suffocating presence.
A sigh of relief washed over her as she pulled out her phone. A notification blinked across the screen.
Kevin.
Of course.
"Hello Anna, this is Kevin."
Her new manager had sent her a list of basic rules and guidelines to follow now that she was officially signed under Starlight. Most were simple—schedule updates, media training reminders, etiquette. But one item snagged her attention:
Social media presence—mandatory.
Anna frowned. She hadn’t thought being active online would matter so much, but the reasoning was clear. It wasn’t just about work—it was about visibility. Connection. Recognition.
Memories flickered. In her past life, she had briefly maintained an account—only to delete it after marrying Daniel, suffocated by the scrutiny. But this time... things were different.
"It’s just a page. Nothing to worry about," she murmured to herself.
With a quick tap, Anna created a new account. Her fingers glided over the screen as she drafted her first post, simple yet symbolic:
A picture of the Starlight Entertainment logo, captioned—
"Happy to find my place."
She hit upload.
Within minutes, notifications flooded in. Likes stacked rapidly, comments piling one after another, most begging her to reveal her face. Anna scrolled through them silently, her expression unreadable, knowing the right time would come. But not yet.
Meanwhile, inside Fiona’s pristine condo, her phone buzzed relentlessly. With an annoyed sigh, she grabbed it—only for her irritation to melt into sharp focus when she saw the source of the noise.
Her fan club group chat was blowing up.
Scrolling, Fiona’s eyes narrowed. The chatter wasn’t about her. It was about Anna.
User1: She’s with Starlight Entertainment! No wonder Director Wilsmith thought she was worth the role.
User2: Wow, Starlight? That’s huge. She’s already set for success.
User3: Guys, Anna finally posted on her official account!
A prickle of unease crept up Fiona’s spine. She quickly searched for the account and found it—Anna’s first post glowing with thousands of likes.
The caption read, "Happy to find my place."
Her lips curled, twitching with something between disbelief and disdain. Starlight. Of course. With their name behind her, Anna’s career would bloom overnight.
But Fiona wasn’t about to let that happen unchecked.
Switching seamlessly, she logged into her dummy account—Florest109. It was her secret window into her fandom, where she could both bask in their praises and subtly steer their opinions.
Her fingers flew across the keyboard.
Florest109:Don’t you think it’s suspicious how she landed Starlight so easily? Maybe someone powerful is backing her...
She hit send.
Almost immediately, the group began speculating. Questions. Doubts. Whispers. Exactly the seed she wanted to plant.
Watching the conversation spiral, Fiona leaned back against her sofa, satisfaction curling her lips into a sly smile.
"Let’s see how long you keep yourself hidden, Anna," she whispered to herself, her eyes gleaming with venomous curiosity.
***
By the time Anna returned home, she had already skimmed through the speculation swirling online about her identity. Rumors, questions, half-baked theories—none of it mattered. She shut her phone off, deciding she wouldn’t waste her energy feeding into whispers.
Stepping out of the car, she entered the house, only to freeze when a familiar voice called her name.
"Anna?"
Her eyes widened in disbelief. Standing there, poised and smiling, was her mother.
"Mom? What brings you here?" Anna asked cautiously, approaching with confusion etched across her face.
Roseline rarely visited. In fact, it was unusual for her to even acknowledge Anna unless there was something she wanted. That alone made Anna’s stomach knot.
Before she could ask further, Kira entered, carrying a tray with a tall glass of fresh juice.
"Miss, your juice," Kira said sweetly, presenting it to Roseline.
Anna’s eyes narrowed. Kira’s expression was all feigned innocence, her smile just a shade too polished.
"I hope you enjoy it," Kira added before quickly retreating, leaving mother and daughter alone.
Anna immediately reached for Roseline’s hand, her brows knitting tighter. "Mom, what are you doing here?" she pressed, her tone sharper now.
Roseline’s smile widened, her eyes crinkling into half-moons, a picture of warmth that only made Anna’s stomach churn harder.
"I’m here to give you this."
From her purse, Roseline pulled out a small glass bottle and pressed it into Anna’s hand.
Anna frowned, turning it over in her palm. The liquid inside glinted oddly under the light. "What is this?"
"A potion for stamina," Roseline explained lightly, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "You just need to mix it with food and give it to your husband."
"..."