After speaking, Isadora turned and ran off, tears streaming down her face.


    She had to leave; if she stayed another moment, she''d break down right in front of them.


    Isadora still remembered how her wrist was supposed to heal in a week, but after that collision, it was fractured and took two full months to mend.


    In the end, it was Richard who took her to apologize to Magnus.


    Back then, her love for Magnus was so all-consuming that she had no self-respect left-she''d humbled herself to the point of utter submission.


    Even though Magnus''s distrust and usations had left her heartbroken, what she feared most was that Magnus would get angry and abandon her.


    So, when Richard offered to take her to Magnus to smooth things over, to give them both a way out, Isadora agreed without hesitation. Naively, she followed Richard, trailing behind him like a lost child.


    Richard did most of the talking, apologizing on her behalf, painting her as the immature one, and asking Magnus to forgive her little outburst.


    Magnus shot a nce at Isadora, who stood silently by the side.


    His face betrayed nothing. "Come here," he said.


    At those words, Isadora''s eyes filled with tears again as she slowly walked over. Magnus pulled her into his arms, his hand tight around her slender waist.


    "From now on, behave yourself. No more tantrums. I don''t like women who get spoiled and arrogant, Isadora. I only feel responsible for Elise-it''s not what you think. Stop getting jealous and picking on her for no reason."


    Thinking back on all of this, Isadora felt like her past self must have been hit by a truck.


    How could she have let love blind her sopletely, convinced that Magnus was her cure that she''d die if she ever left him?


    Yet here she was, still alive, still standing in this world.


    Isadora forced herself to shake off the memories.


    Right now, her top priority was to find Victor and discuss the investment project.


    She thought for a moment, then decided to call Nte, a superstar whose connections spanned the entire entertainment industry.


    Nte had been her closest friend for years.


    Their friendship was probably born from shared misfortune; both had difficult childhoods and broken families.


    Nte grew up in a home where boys were favored over girls. Her mother would often beat and berate her.


    But it wasn''t just shouting and ps her mother once dragged Nte out onto the street, stripped her down, and beat her in front of a crowd.


    She even tried to marry Nte off to a seventy-year-old man just to get a dowry for Nte''s brother''s wedding.


    Nte refused, ran away, and never looked back.


    By chance, she was discovered by a talent scout and found her way into show business.


    She''d even tried to bring Isadora along, convinced that with her looks, Isadora could make it big too.


    Isadora remembered how Nte, jaw clenched, once told her, "As soon as I be famous, I''ll have money. No one will ever look down on me again. Isadora, we''re going to be the masters of our own lives. I swear, the day I have power and money, if anyone daresy a finger on me, I''ll be the first to hit back."


    But at that time, Isadora had just reconnected with the Vaughan family-there was no way they''d let her be a public figure.


    Yet, in just three years, Nte had risen from bit parts to starring roles.


    Maybe that''s just how it is for people who''ve had to w their way up from nothing. If you''re given a chance and can keep your wits about you, you''ll eventually be the hero of your own story.


    But Isadora hadn''t.


    Instead, she was often the butt of Nte''s jokes.


    As Nte once put it, "Isadora, you''re nothing like me. You still believe in love and family. Me? I gave up on all that a long time ago. That''s why I''m ruthless- and you''re not."


    When she called, Nte''s assistant answered first, asking Isadora to hold on for a moment.


    A few minutester, a lively, flirtatious voice came on the line.


    "I just wrapped shooting, Isa! Dinner tonight? I haven''t seen you in ages-I''ve missed you!"


    Isadora couldn''t help butugh. Nte was strikingly beautiful, notorious for ying the viiness before she rose to stardom.


    "Let''s wait until I''m less busy, Nte. If I go out with you now, I''d have to cover my face just to avoid the crowds."


    "Please," Nte scoffed, "that just means I''m wildly popr."