At 10 p. m. New York time, Aurora finally stepped out of theb after finishing her perfumery work for the day. Asher was already waving at her excitedly.


    "Come quick, the show''s about to start," he said, his face brimming with enthusiasm.


    "What is it this time? Another Western movie?" Aurora asked, puzzled. It always struck her as odd that Asher, who''d never even set foot in the West, was so obsessed with Westerns.


    "Nope! Way better than a Western. Come here-it''s live!" Asher urged, practically shouting.


    Aurora couldn''t resist his impatience. "Alright, alright, I''ming."


    "I even got popcorn ready for you," Asher said, patting the seat beside him.


    "Is that Susan?" Aurora asked, perplexed. Lately, Asher seemed to have an inexplicable fixation on Susan. He''d even ditched his beloved movies to watch her livestreams. That alone was proof of how entertaining Susan''s streams were.


    Denis Vukic had just removed his gloves and washed his hands after leaving theb. Walking into the living room, he saw the two of them huddled together on the couch. Over the past few days, he had grown ustomed to their dynamic.


    "What are you watching?" he asked.


    "Come join us," Aurora beckoned. She had noticed that Denis wasn''t as cold and distant as he first seemed. Around them, his demeanor had softened considerably.


    Denis sat down next to them and nced at the screen. "A press conference? What''s so interesting about that?"


    "Just wait until you see the main character," Asher said with a sly grin.


    Right on cue, Susan appeared on the screen, looking utterly exhausted, alongside Hayden. Once a couple who exuded affection in the public eye, they now stood in stark contrast, the intimacy between them noticeably absent.


    Susan wore a simple ck trench coat, a far cry from her usual morous outfits. Her makeup was minimal, giving her a haggard appearance.


    Below the stage, rows of reporters were seated, their cameras shing incessantly as Susan and Hayden made their entrance.


    "What do you think Susan''s going to do today?" Asher asked, munching on chips.


    Denis frowned at the incessant sound of crunching. "Were you a squirrel in your past life?"


    Asher scoffed. "If I was a squirrel, then you must''ve been a block of ice."


    "Alright, Ashy, cut it out. We''re watching," Aurora interjected. She knew all too well how these two could bicker endlessly, their arguments growing increasingly childish as they went on.


    "I bet two dors Susan''s going to announce her divorce from Hayden," Asher said, striking a know-it-all pose.


    The word "divorce" sent a shiver through Aurora. She recalled the lengths Susan had gone to in order to marry Hayden. Would she really give it all up?


    "Do you think so? If she announces a divorce publicly, there''s no going back. If she ever tries to reconcile with Hayden, she''ll be the subject of endless criticism," Aurora said softly.


    Aurora understood how much Hayden meant to Susan. Marriage, to her, was tied to pride and dignity. And Susan, someone who valued her pride above all else, would surely struggle to let go.


    "She doesn''t have a choice," Asher said. "That''s the price of being a public figure. Everyone knows how morous it is to be a celebrity-easy fame, easy money. A single blockbuster movie can earn them millions, and a TV series even more. Everywhere they go, they''re surrounded by fans. People would kill for that kind of life.


    "But the world is fair. For all the praise and adoration, they have to endure just as much gossip and scrutiny. How many celebrities have been driven to depression? This industry is a deep, murky pool. Nothing is as perfect as it seems.


    "And now that she''s caught in a scandal, she has no way out. That video wasn''t just a blurry photo-it''s solid evidence. She can''t deny it. And between you and me, I think Susan really did cheat. Hayden''s been neglecting her for years. This wasn''t an ident; it was her choice. She just got unlucky and got caught."


    Though the situation had nothing to do with her, Aurora couldn''t help but feel a pang of sympathy. "Do you think Susan would''ve made the same choices if she''d known it would lead to this?"


    "Who knows?" Asher shrugged. "You only get one shot at each decision. Right or wrong, you have to live with the consequences. If you could turn back time, would you wish she''d done things differently?"


    Asher''s question caught Aurora off guard. If Susan hadn''t interfered all those years ago, perhaps she would''ve been left in the dark.


    Julian once told her that on the very day Hayden was nning to propose to her, Susan had intervened. Julian had intended to step aside after hering-of-age celebration. If Hayden had proposed back then, Aurora would''ve said yes.


    If she''d epted Hayden''s proposal, none of the events that followed would''ve happened. She might''ve even ended up calling Julian "Uncle Julian."


    Fate was strange that way. One misstep could set off a chain of events, each more unpredictable than thest.


    Denis watched Aurora closely as she pondered, waiting for her answer. Finally, Aurora spoke. Her voice was calm yet resolute.


    "Four years ago, I might''ve med Susan for everything. But today, I feel differently. I think I should thank her.


    "I should thank her for making me realize Julian''s feelings. I should thank her for showing me how wonderful Ashy is. I should thank her for giving me the chance to meet Denis. And most importantly, I should thank her for shaping the person I''ve be today."


    Aurora smiled, content with the life she now had. Though the past four years had been grueling-filled with pain and hardship-they had also molded her into who she was.


    Sometimes, when we''re going through trials, it''s easy to feel like the world is unfair. But life isn''t about smooth sailing for everyone. Some taste sweetness first, then bitterness. Others endure the bitterness first, only to savor the sweetnesster.


    Once you push through theyers of darkness, the storms eventually clear, leaving behind a rainbow in the sky.


    In the end, those struggles be the most unforgettable memories of your life. And when you look back, they don''t seem so bad after all.


    "Sweet talker," Asher teased with augh.


    Meanwhile, on the screen, Susan and Hayden had taken their seats. The moment they sat down, the reporters erupted into a barrage of questions. Susan''s agent rushed to restore order.


    "Please, everyone, settle down. It''s not time for the Q&A yet. Let Susan speak first."


    The room finally quieted. Susan adjusted the microphone, her eyes red-rimmed. Standing up, she bowed deeply to the crowd before sitting back down.


    She took a deep breath and began, "Regarding the recent news, I feel it''s necessary to rify something. I deeply regret having hidden the truth for so long."