As Emily walked past, Sabina stopped right in front of her. She looked like an absolute mess, glaring at Emily with so much anger it practically burned. “You must feel pretty proud of yourself, huh?”
Emily just looked at her, like she was watching someone totally lose it. She didn’t even bother to reply.
Sabina’s hands were clenched. “Just you wait. I’m going to get back up. You can’t defeat me that easily.”
“You won’t get the chance,” Kenneth interrupted smoothly. His tone was cold as he threw a look in Emily’s direction. “From now on, there’s no space for you in this industry.”
No space for her? Sabina’s mind blanked. What did he mean?
“Let’s go, Sabina.” Her manager’s face said it all. She tugged at Sabina’s arm and let out a weary sigh. “You’ve been blacklisted.”
Blacklisted? That couldn’t be possible.
“It’s real,” her manager croaked, voice raw. “Every single one of your accounts has been banned, everywhere.”
Sabina could barely breathe. She wanted Emily to crash and burn, but she’d ended up losing everything herself.
She grabbed her manager’s phone and checked. It was true—her social media was gone, wiped clean as if she’d never existed.
Sabina stared at the phone, hands shaking, eyes rimmed red. She really was finished.
This was it. It was all over.
Her phone slipped through her fingers and hit the floor. The room tilted, fading out. Sabina crumpled, passing out in front of everyone.
The chaos died down a bit after that. With Sabina out cold, the red carpet regained its usual glamor.
Later, after signing her name for the press, Emily followed Kenneth back to the lounge, her steps a little unsteady.
Kenneth handed her a cup of warm water. “Here. Drink this.”
Emily felt her breath catch. Kenneth’s eyes had darkened, suddenly dangerous, and she felt her heart speeding up. She tried to break the tension. “I’m… I’m just going to use the restroom. You stay here, okay?”
She started to get up but barely made it before Kenneth caught her by the wrist.
A gentle but firm pull brought her right back, landing her squarely in his lap. The way they sat together—way too close, way too intimate.
“You…” Emily’s lashes fluttered, her voice small and rough in her throat.
Kenneth didn’t let her move. He locked his hands gently at her waist, his face more serious than she’d ever seen before.
“Emily,” he said softly.
She felt a funny little shiver run through her.
Kenneth leaned in. His breath was warm on her skin, his voice low and deep. “Have you thought about letting go of that jerk, and maybe… giving someone else a chance?”

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