The night air was chilly as Rina walked away from the imposing three-story mansion that stood as a proof to her past generosity. She had once held the keys to that house, and had been welcomed with open arms as the beloved daughter-in-law of the family. But now, she was nothing more than an outcast.
Her footsteps echoed in the silence of the empty street, each one a painful reminder of the life she had lost. She clutched the divorce papers in her hand, the inked signature a stark symbol of her shattered dreams. The tears that had dried on her cheeks left a trail of salt in their wake.
As Rina walked further from the mansion, she couldn't help but replay the scene in her mind. She had arrived at her in-laws' home, her last hope for a place to stay, and had mustered the courage to explain her situation. The divorce, the betrayal, the plea for shelter.
But instead of compassion or understanding, what she had received was cold indifference. Her in-laws, the people who had once smiled upon her, had rejected her. Their eyes had held no sympathy, no love, only disdain.
It was as if the Rina who had once been their beloved daughter-in-law had never existed. In her place stood a woman they no longer recognized, a woman they were all too eager to cast out.
She smiled. The Smith's were all the same. Callous and wicked. Rina regretted being a part of them.
She smiled again, a sad smile. Everyone she had trusted had used and played her. But this was her saying goodbye.
Goodbye to Finn.
Goodbye to his family.
And Goodbye to Rina Smith. She was coming back as Rina Power.
From this moment on, the innocent and kind hearted Rina was dead.
And the new Rina was only for Revenge!
Rina returned to her old home.
At the time her first scandal broke two years ago, the compensation for breach of contract had deflated her entire savings. The remnants of the property under her name had been used to pay off debts.
The only things she had was this small cottage she had gotten the year she married. And to think that she had almost sold it last year when Finn's family had a financial setback last year.
After cleaning up, it was already evening. The news that she had been kicked out of her husband's home was still widely being discussed all over the internet.
She sat on the sofa and took out her phone to check the internet.
The topic, "Rina Power's divorce and miscarriage had become the number one hot search with almost a billion views and almost a million interactions.
She scrolled through the hurtful comments, each one more hurtful than the former. After more than an hour of scrolling through comments, she sighed, exited the webpage and opened her contacts, finding a number she hadn't used in two years.
Her agent, George Stone.
"Rina?!"
A voice on the other end sounded uncertain, clearly surprised that Rina was suddenly contacting him.
"It's me." Rina's voice was calm, without any emotion.
I want to make a comeback, can you help me arrange it" Rina replied, her resolve audible even via phone call.
"What?!
George Stone jumped out of bed, stunned. This had to be the most shocking thing he had ever heard! It was like hearing an unbelievable utterance.
Was Rina crazy or something? How could she suddenly say she wanted to make a comeback after five years of absence from the industry, plus the previous scandal and now, the trending news of her divorce, miscarriage, and infidelity. How did she plan to make a comeback with no resources at all?
"Rina!" George Stone stuttered. "Making a comeback after five years… that's impossible." George didn't believe it was possible. Not with the whole buzz currently going on in the internet.
With her current reputation being dragged through the mud by netizens, she still wanted to make a comeback?
Surviving the onslaught of public opinion was already a miracle!
"I know." George paced around the room barefoot, feeling anxious.
"You need to calm down first. Your situation is clear, and it's not realistic for you to make a comeback."
It was more than unrealistic, it was a fantasy!
Two years ago, the assaulting of upcoming male leads incident had caused a stir on the
internet, and Rina had become the first celebrity to be blacklisted by the entire network.
She was also the first artist to be so heavily criticized that she was forced out of the entertainment industry.
Back then, she had left in disgrace, her reputation in tatters, and her company had banned her.
Now, she was entangled in a scandal of infidelity, and she had been kicked out of a family she made. Could someone like her really make a comeback?
"We will make it possible, George." Rina's tired voice replied.
'We?' George Stone couldn't help but wonder. He had been Rina's agent back when she was still the queen of the entertainment industry.
She was the first artist he had worked with. Rina was the only reason he had gotten a chance in the Entertainment industry. With no backing and zero experience, Rina had chosen him out of the many experienced agents who begged to work with her. He owed his success story to her. But, what she was asking for was just too much and impossible.
"Rina, it's not that I don't want to help you, but you've been blacklisted from the entertainment industry and backlashes severely online. You know that. And with the current situation, there's really nothing I can do to help."
"You can, George. You can help me speak to the higher ups to lift my ban. I will be very grateful to you."
"That's impossible, Rina." George countered. "Three years ago, you caused serious damage to the company and its reputation. Lifting the ban is an impossible thing."
"George, please. I don't need to be promoted, just help me speak to them." Rina begged.
"I'm your former agent, what power do I have to speak on your behalf to the higher ups?"
"George, please!"
George felt irritable. Did she necessarily have to return to the entertainment world? With her talent and versatility, there were over a million other things she could do, and over a hundred other ways he could help her.
Like, he could assist her financially to start a business somewhere far away from country A. She didn't have to return. There was no salvation left for her there.
"I can't speak to the higher ups for you, Rina." He really couldn't, even though he was one of the biggest Agents in the country. "But, I can help you talk to a few producers. With your current reputation, I can't assure you of a role, but I can at least help you get an audience with some producers."
"No problem." Rina replied. She knew it wasn't going to be easy making a comeback, but she trusted in her skills. All she needed was an audience, she was going to take care of the rest herself. "Thank you, George, I'll repay this kindness."
"Don't bother repaying me. I owe you too much as is." With that, he hung up.
Not long after, Rina's phone rang with a call from an unknown number. She picked it up.
"Hello, Mrs Rina Powers, I am Charles Lukeson, Mr Finn's Attorney. I'm calling to finalize the divorce agreement. Please, be at the City hall by 10 AM tomorrow for the legalization of the agreement."
"Hearing this, Rina's heart constricted. Although she had signed the divorce agreement and decided to let go, it still hurt deep down.
"Miss Powers, are you there?" The Attorney's voice dragged her back to reality.
Rina pushed back the pain in her heart, and emotionlessly said, "mm! I'll be there." After that, she hung up and bowed her head. Her heart felt heavy and her soul felt hurt.
So Finn was really going through with the divorce!
She let out a harsh exhale and lay on the bed.
That night, before Rina went to bed, she got a message from George Stone.
Three producers had agreed to meet with her tomorrow. He sent her the location. Two had agreed to meet at a hotel, while the last was busy and would meet on the set of his ongoing film.
Seeing the meeting place of the first two, Rina's face changed to one of displease. But then, she had no choice.
It was she who needed help.