Chapter 9
I sat back down and opened the video again.
This time, I kept it running as I made dinner, hoping I wouldn’t see that stupid ad again. And I didn’t.
Instead, the top story was about how the brand ended its contract and replaced its ambassador.
Jennifer was kicked out of the company.
The company had paid a hefty penalty just to cut her loose. They even scrambled to pull down all her promotional photos.
The reason? Oh, they claimed it was a “scheduling conflict.”
They even held a press conference to clear up any rumors.
But what “schedule conflicts” could someone like Jennifer have?
100% 18:19
1/7
Chapter 9
An actress barely hanging on to her career would kill for a luxury brand endorsement like that. No way she’d turn it down unless she had no choice.
And through all of it? She stayed completely quiet, not even trying to defend herself.
Meanwhile, the same person who was kissing her ass a week ago? He was now turning on her.
He brought up her boyfriend and went frank, leaving a sarcastic comment: [Aww, your boyfriend dumped you already, girl? Guess he had his fun, eh?]
If this were the Jennifer I used to know, she’d have definitely clapped back. Probably even dragged Heather’s name into it to prove a point.
But this time? Nothing. Her entire comment section was a warzone.
And she didn’t say a word.
100% 18:19
2/7
I started to get a sinking feeling in my gut.
I closed the app, forcing myself to stop thinking about the past.
I needed rest.
But in the middle of the night, my phone. buzzed a few more times. I was too tired to check and finally drifted off.
When I finally looked in the morning, I saw the notifications. They were all about him.
Some paparazzi had caught him walking into a police station.
The photos were everywhere, and
speculation was wild.
[Is he under investigation?]
[Oh no, his company’s in trouble!]
Usually, his PR team is all over those kinds
of rumors, but this time?
Dead silent. Not a single statement, no explanations.
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3/7
Then, as if to fuel the fire, news broke that he was putting parts of his company up for sale.
Nobody could figure out why.
But I knew. He was trying to keep that dumb promise he’d made years ago.
When his business was just taking off, he’d told me, “Everything I do, I do for you.” he
“And if you ever leave me…”
“I’ll give it all up–everything–to win you back.”
He knows I’m seeing the news.
And that trip to the police station? He probably reported me missing.
But it’s too late.
The version of me he loved–Shannon- died the moment he cheated on me.
I finished my little sad sandwich and headed out to look for work again.
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4/7
Chapter 9
This time, I expanded my search, covering half the city.
Finally, I stopped at a small café, feeling completely drained.
The owner was kind enough to offer me a one–month trial period.
I thanked him in my embarrassingly bad Italian.
He just laughed, tilting his head, and spoke in my language.
“You’re very pretty. They say pretty girls bring good luck. Maybe you’ll bring some to my café.”
I tried to smile, but honestly, it probably looked more like a grimace.
I mean, it was a nice thing to say, but we both knew it wasn’t true.
The owner wasted no time pairing me up with a coworker to teach me how to make coffee.
100% 18:19
5/7
Chapter 9
I had zero experience. All I could do was watch, clumsy fingers jotting down notes.
When my coworker got busy, I kept practicing on my own, over and over again.
By the end of my shift, I’d finally managed to make something that actually looked like coffee.
But there was no one to share that small victory with.
At nine in the evening, I locked up the café after finishing my own cup of coffee.
My phone was dead, so I couldn’t even use the flashlight for the dark streets.
Back at my apartment, I plugged it in and waited for it to power back up. The moment it turned on, a flood of messages poured in.
One after another, so fast I could barely keep up.
The algorithm is really unreal.
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6/7
Chapter 9
It still connects me back to my old life,
although I’ve cut ties with my past.
