Chapter 540

Chapter 540

"That's great," Larry gasped softly, his voice barely there, "I thought... I'd never... see you again..."

He paused, each breath bringing pain, but he stubbornly continued, every word seeming to be painfully pulled from his chest, "Aline, I... like you. A long time... ago... that little fishing village... that kiss... do you... remember?"

Aline's head shot up, her fingertips going numb.

That kiss.

The smell of the sea breeze.

That night, she knew they'd both gotten lost in the evening wind, and neither had been willing to leave that moment behind.

She couldn't hold it together anymore. Her shoulders shook violently, and broken sobs spilled from her throat.

"I remember... of course I remember..."

She choked out, barely able to form sentences, "I'm sorry, Larry, this is all my fault... if it wasn't for me... if I hadn't been so disrespectful to Mrs. Borgia... they wouldn't have... wouldn't have beaten you like this..."

Larry's chest felt tight. He wanted to say something, but her crying stopped him. He struggled to lift his other hand, trembling, and gently placed it on top of her head.

"Silly girl," his voice was soft, but each word struck her heart, "I'm the one who failed to protect you."

His fingers had no strength, resting on her head as light as a feather.

"If you keep crying... you won't look pretty anymore," Larry's voice was still weak, but carried a hint of forced lightheartedness, "I waited so hard for you to come."

Aline roughly wiped her face, but the tears wouldn't stop. His words only made them flow harder.

"At a time like this, you're still joking!" She was both angry and heartbroken, her voice still choked with tears.

Larry looked at her, and on his pale face, he actually managed a faint smile.

He thought, as long as he could see her, it was all worth it.

Aline had been determined to take some time off and stay by his side, but her phone started vibrating frantically in her pocket.

She wanted to hang up right away, but seeing it was her studio assistant calling, she frowned and answered.

"Ms. Taylor! Something's wrong! Jacob... he went and signed a contract with that reality show on his own."

The assistant's anxious voice came through the phone like a bucket of cold water dumped over Aline's head.

"What did you say?" She jumped to her feet, her voice rising.

Larry was startled by her sudden movement and looked at her questioningly.

Aline shook her head at him in a forced attempt at reassurance, then lowered her voice to scold into the phone, "Who let him go? Didn't I say no?"

"He said... he said it was a rare opportunity and didn't want to miss it..."

"Where is he now?"

"He just finished signing and came back to the studio."

The fire in Aline's chest made her temples throb.

She hung up and took several deep breaths before forcing a smile for Larry. "Larry, I... I have something urgent to deal with. I'll be right back."

Larry saw her expression and weakly moved his wrist.

"Go ahead, I'm fine."

Aline bent down and gently tucked the blanket around him. When she turned to leave, her steps were swift, her coat sweeping behind her in a determined arc.

At the studio, Jacob was sitting on the couch with his legs crossed, humming a tune, his face showing undisguised excitement and pride, clearly still basking in the joy of signing the popular variety show.

The moment Aline pushed through the door, he stood up.

"Ms. Taylor, let me explain..."

A stack of documents was slammed down hard on the coffee table in front of him, papers scattering with a harsh sound.

"Jacob, who gave you the nerve?" Aline's voice was ice cold. "Did you not hear a single word I said before? Why didn't you discuss this with me before signing? Do you even respect the studio, or me, at all?"

Jacob's expression froze. He stuck his neck out stubbornly.

"Ms. Taylor, I was doing this for the studio! What matters most right now? Buzz! Traffic! I need money, I want to be famous! I don't want to live like I used to, broke! I want everyone singing my songs! Is that wrong?"

"So you just ignored everything I said?" Aline laughed bitterly. "How many times have I told you, your foundation is your singing, your work! Running off to some chaotic reality show will only burn through your reputation and mystique! You think that's a shortcut? That's pushing yourself into a pit! You think everyone who goes on variety shows gets famous? How many people have their image collapse? Their careers ruined? Jacob, you're not a kid anymore. Can you take responsibility for your own future?"

"But that's how everyone else gets famous!" Jacob shot back defiantly.

"That's other people!" Aline pointed at his nose, her hand shaking with anger. "Do you know how hard I worked to pull you out of the mud? Was it so you could trash yourself like this?"

They parted on bad terms, and Jacob stormed out.

Elsie had just finished dealing with the reporters blocking the hospital entrance and walked in to witness the scene.

She glanced at Jacob's angry retreating figure, her voice flat.

"Aline treasures you like a phoenix feather, and here you are, plucking them out one by one to trade for candy. Too stupid."

Jacob's steps stopped abruptly. He turned around, his eyes full of stubbornness and resentment.

"Easy for you to say! You have no idea how much I need this opportunity!"

He yelled, then ran off without looking back.

...

That night at the bar, heavy bass pounded against eardrums.

Jacob sat alone in a corner booth, downing one shot after another.

He felt wronged. Aline didn't understand him, and even Elsie had said those things.

A faint scent of perfume drifted closer, and a slender figure sat down across from him.

"Drinking alone?" Missy's voice was gentle and caring, her face showing just the right amount of concern. "Something bothering you?"

Jacob lifted his bleary, drunk eyes and recognized her.

"It's nothing," he said sullenly.

"Because of Aline, right?" Missy sighed, bringing it up as if casually. "I heard today too, that she wouldn't let you take that reality show. She means well, but... she's been in the industry a long time. Sometimes her thinking just can't keep up with us young people. Plus, you're not her only client. How could she possibly consider everything perfectly for you? Jacob, you don't know about her past, do you?"

"She's from a small fishing village, had a gambling addict as a father, so what she loves most is money. You think she really wants to make you famous? All she wants is money. With money, she can marry the man she loves."