Randy was amazed. "It hasn''t even been a few days. Debra''s n works fast."


    "It''s a mind game. They were nobodies, and in less than a month, they rose to stardom. Naturally, their egos are inted. With all that pressure, it''s no surprise they''d lose control of their emotions," Debra exined, hooking her arm around Marion''s and leaning her head on his shoulder. "Marion taught me all this. Pretty impressive, right?"


    Both Erica and Randy were speechless.


    Gand came downstairs and greeted them. "What''s the asion today? You''ve prepared so much food."


    Erica replied, "We''re celebrating our first victory. Buchan Group is going down."


    "Really?" Gand raised an eyebrow.


    Debra smiled, "It''s just the start. There''s more fun ahead."


    Far away at the Buchan Group Headquarters, Robert reported, "Today, the 17th advertiser has pulled out. Even the previous endorsers are terminating their contracts with Lester. We can afford the penalties, but it means all the money we made before is going down the drain."


    Theda frowned at the stack of documents requestingpensation.


    "Where''s Lester?"


    "He''s been controlled. Would you like to see him?"


    "Bring him here."


    Robert made a quick phone call. Soon, a manager led Lester into the office.


    Theda stared at him, demanding, "Lester, have I treated you badly?"


    Lester lowered his head and said nothing.


    "Do you even know what you''ve done at the airport? Do you realize how muchpensation we have to pay because of you?"


    "I''ll pay thepensation."


    "Can you?"


    Theda tossed a breach-of-contract document in front of him.


    Lester wiped his tears and raised his head. "Ms. Buchan, I''m grateful for everything you''ve done for me, but I''m human, not a tool. I''ve had


    enough of this."


    "Had enough?" Theda sneered. "You wanted to be famous. Now you''re telling me you''ve had enough? Have you forgotten what I told you from the start? Working with the Buchan Group means you give it your all. You can only rise if you push yourself to the limit. And now you want to just quit? You''re letting Jonas down like this."


    Lester''s voice went cold. "You want to mention Jonas now? You forced me to hide my sexuality. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have broken up with me ormitted suicide for my career He spent three years with me,


    watching me struggle every dan


    I


    finally got my chance at fame, and he sacrificed himself to help me. But what about you? A month ago, Jonas died, and you just want me to work myself to death. I''m a human being, not a machine. All I wanted was to dance, not to please fans. And I never thought there was anything shameful about my sexuality."


    He stood up and dered, "You know what? I''m done. I''ll pay you back, no matter what."