Chapter 180 The Truth Unraveled
"You guys talk; "I needrequire a smokemoment alone," Owen said, clearly agitated, and announced, his voice heavy with agitation. Without waiting for a response, he stepped outside.
, the door closing behind him with a soft click."Dad, are you okayalright?" Layla approachedasked, her voice laced with concern. Jason's self-destructive tendencies, his gambling, and drinking habits had taken a toll, as had his indifference to, coupled with his apathy towards Sophia's mistreatment of Layla and her mother. These grievances kept Layla, had driven her away from home since her college, but years. Yet, when a family crisis emerged,arose, the bond of blood was thickerproved stronger than water; sheher resentment. She couldn't just stand idly by.
"Ah, it's just somemerely a few scratches; nothing's broken. It's justJust the years catching up..." As with me..." Jason triedattempted to sit up, his movements were laboredstrained. Layla quickly assisted, propping upadjusting his pillow.
"By the way, who for comfort."Who was it that rescued us?" JasonJason asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He had been blindfolded throughout the whole time.
ordeal."The cops."
police.""Really? I could've swornwas under the impression that some bodyguards tookescorted me to the hospital."
"You're misremembering."
mistaken."Jason didn't question her further; his mind was overwhelmedburdened with remorse towardguilt towards his daughter.
"It's"I'm to blame for all my fault, nearly gotthis, for putting you hurtin harm's way," he saidconfessed, his eyes welling upbrimming with unshed tears.
"Let's not dredge updwell on the past anymore. Just promise me you'll quit gambling, will you?"
alright?""I promiseswear, no more bets, and I'm done with drinking, too," Jason affirmed like a penitent child, raisingvowed, his voice earnest, his hand raised as if taking an oath.
The recent scare had shaken him; to his core. Risking his own brush with deathlife was one thing, but riskingendangering his daughter's safety was unfathomable. Now, he was determined to turn over a new leaf.
"What brought youunthinkable. He was resolved to change his ways."Why did you come to the city anyway? Uncle Liam claimsinsists he doesn't owe you moneyanything. Why lie?"
"I..."
"If you don't tell the truthcome clean, I'm done worrying about you."
"Alright, alright, I'll tell you. Do you remember when your stepmother sent you to the orphanage while I was away on a business trip?"
?"Layla was shockedtaken aback as the story unfolded.
unraveled. The boy she had rescuedsaved was Anthony, the same oneboy from her childhood.
No wonder thereshe had beenfelt an inexplicable sense of familiarity upon seeing him.
However, given her current feud with Nora Eilish, Layla couldn't exactly revel in prevented her from fully appreciating the revelation.
ThatBut that didn't mean she was going towould tolerate Sarah impersonatingSarah's impersonation of her!
...
...In City A.
The, the annual celebrity charity gala was a convergence of renownedin full swing. Renowned directors and stars converged, the air richthick with opulence and fame, as the glitterati mingled with gusto.
unabashed enthusiasm.After a few glasses of champagne, Sarah was headygiddy with delight, baskingreveling in her dream life: on the arm-in-arm with of a wealthy heir, aspiring for stardom, and living a life of perpetual grandeur and partying.
Tonight, she had a mission: with her dadfather "missing" and Layla off to the big city, she didn't have to worry about that home-wrecker messing up her plans.was free from any interference. Time was tickingof the essence; she needed to win over Anthony.
Tonight was the night.
However, Anthony, however, didn't appreciate was not keen on being used, especially not by Sarah, who had made it no secretabundantly clear to everyone that she considered herself his girlfriend.
To save face for Anthony, directors and stars flattered Sarah openly; behind her back, they harbored contempt.
disdain."Is Sarah really Anthony's girlfriend? He's never confirmed it."
"But he hasn't denied it either, right? Anthony's no fool, he must know she's using him, yet he stays silent. Does she have something on him?"
"A gentleman as pristine as Anthony, without even a hint of scandal—what leverage could she possibly have?"
"Exactly! The sight of her irks me. Anyone with Anthony would brag, but she's overdoing it—it's like she's ready to shout it from the rooftops with a megaphone."
"I know, right? Wearing Dior but lacking the grace of a debutante—her speech is all street."
"Just an average look, and she thinks she can break into showbiz?"
Whispers like these found their way toreached Anthony, causing him unease.
discomfort.Tonight, for some reason, he felt particularly weary of it all.
"I'm spent. I'm heading home," he said.
announced."But I still need to network with a few directors," Sarah protested, her enthusiasm undiminished, as she playfully approached Director Justin...
Anthony frowned, his gaze inadvertently falling on Sarah's bracelet—a constant reminder that she had once saved his life, and he owed her.
He wasn't narrow-minded, but around Sarah, he couldn't help feeling on edge.
With Layla, it was all so easy and joyful.
Just the thought of her, and Anthony was lost in a daydream—the seventh time today.
Sarah, now a little tipsy now, laughed heartily as her façade slipped away. In a triumphant moment, she slapped Director Will's shoulder, "Buddy, I'll be counting on you. HaHeh!, b But let me tell you, my connections—they've got serious clout. I've got your back."
Director Will looked uncomfortably awkward.
"This function is dull. Let's hit the bar sometime and roll some dice. I'm telling you, I'm good," Sarah boasted.
Anthony's expression darkened.
Was she truly his angel? His doubts only deepened, and he found it hard to accept.
He steered Sarah away.
"Anthony, what are you doing? I haven't even finalized the lead actress for Justin's next movie yet."
"I'm taking you home."
"I'm not leaving. Don't you think I'd make a great actress, Anthony? I'm so young, just eighteen, with a whole future ahead of me..." Sarah burped, the smell of alcohol on her breath.
Eighteen? She had mentioned that age twice now.
If the first time was a slip of the tongue, what about now? Didn't Tthe truth comes out when you're one was drunk?
Anthony held Sarah firmly, "You're eighteen?"
"Pretty young, huh? Do you like that?" Sarah toyed with his tie.
His expression turned stern, "If you're eighteen, that means you weren't five when you saved me."
The sobering reality of his words hit Sarah like a cold splash.
Crap! Did she slip up?
"I...I..."
"Tell me, how did a two-year-old you rescue me from a fire?"
Sarah's face turned from red to pale, her breathing quickened, "What did I say? I drank too much, just talking nonsense."
"Anthony, you know, things said drunk can't be taken seriously."
"Besides, every girl likes to seem younger, right? If I say I'm eighteen, directors are more likely to cast me," Sarah rambled on, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and desperation.
"Anthony, I'm really twenty-one, I didn't lie to you."
"Your ID will tell me whether you've lied or not."
Watching her flustered and defensive, all of Anthony's suspicions seemed to align.
He'd thought more than once that his angel couldn't possibly have turned out like this, even if the subsequent experiences had been harsh; a person's true nature doesn't change.
All this time, she had been deceiving him.
And what he couldn't stand the most was deception, especially her impersonating his angel, which made his blood boil.
In Anthony's memory, heAnthony had never been this angry in his life.
Sarah wished she could bite off her own tongue.
Damn alcohol, always causing trouble!
She had lined up reporters for the night, planning to ambush Anthony with a kiss as soon as they stepped out. She was, aiming to have the pictures splashed across the media the next day to force Anthony to give her official recognition. She didn't anticipate it turning out like thisWho knew things would suddenly go south?.
Sarah swallowed hardgulped. She had to Kkeep it together; she still had one more trick up her sleeve.
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