Rise To Stardom: My Villainess

*After Audition*

Ember hums under her breath as she feels unusually happy with what just happened. She feels a swell of pride at the performance she gave; she knows that she was able to please the judges so well, just like she has already expected.

Setting foot outside the building after long hours of restlessness, Ember seems to skip in every step she takes as she leaves the venue. Humming an upbeat tone of a song from an album of her former group, the EVENTIDE, she fails to perceive the expensive car that is just quietly parked by the sidewalk, specifically waiting for her arrival.

'Baby, let's rule the world and see─'

Ember's happy tone falters when a matte black sports car suddenly moves and stops right in front of her. Her brows furrow, confused since she asked her parents for her car to drive back home. This isn't her car, not at all.

Slightly bending her body, she tries to look through the dark tinted window but, just as expected, fails to see no one. A curse though leaves her lips when the window suddenly lowers, revealing the handsome young man that she is currently despising in her heart.

"Zio-ge?!"

She yelps, completely shocked, as she momentarily forgets to not use the pet name she has for him due to the sudden turn of events. Her happy demeanor diminishes; she tightly presses her lips as she retreats a little further from the car.

Alessio gives her an indifferent look as he urges his fiancé to come inside. When Ember remains in her place, unresponsive to his words, the young man gets a little bit annoyed. Cars are already honking at him, and Alessio utterly hates noise and chaos.

"Get in already! You're wasting everyone's time!" he angrily says, which immediately breaks the beauty from her temporary stupor.

Being a stubborn lady, Ember wants to resist for a while; but the other cars behind Alessio's are starting to get impatient in every second that passes by, she can only scoff as she unwillingly enters his car. She shuts the door with a loud bang as she glares at the road before them.

*Bang*

Alessio raises a brow at her, who is occupied staring at everything but him.

Starting the car, he will, at times, sneak a glimpse of his fiancée beside him. How she looks so beautiful right now; Alessio already knows the fact that she is a beauty, but how she can be so much more beautiful than her usual looks makes him feel tingly in his c.h.e.s.t. Despite wearing a simple dress, she can still look so stunning. The mysterious air surrounding her makes it all the more mesmerizing. He has no disagreement with the whole nation deeming her the label "Muse of Beauty."

His gazes are all so intent, causing Ember to turn to him.

He is immediately startled by the unexpected eye contact. His jade eyes widen a little when their eyes meet. His heart almost bursts out from his c.h.e.s.t; he quickly averts his gaze. His jaw clenches as his grip on the steering wheel tightens. He tries to forget his initial thoughts about her.

Sure she is beautiful, and so what?! 'She has always been beautiful….' Alessio exhales, a bit mentally frustrated with himself.

"How did your audition go?"

His voice is slightly low and hesitant as he attempts to clear out the tension within them. Though concern can be also slightly hinted in his baritone voice. Looking at Ember with his peripheral vision, Alessio quickly averts his gaze again after a split second when noticing that her eyes are still on him.

Fortunately for him, the road is free of traffic.

This stiff atmosphere is too much for him to bear— correction, for them to bear. Ember too isn't too happy with the idea of them being together in such a small space.

Ember mindlessly switches the direction of her gaze to the outside as she gets bored staring at the rather cold ice block and a damn bastard. "Everything went well; they'll contact me to let me know of the result soon," she indifferently replies. Exhaustion from earlier events was evident as she didn't even appear to notice that her answer is more than what she should have said. She sighs, just hoping that this torturous moment will be finally over.

"Hmm… that's good," Alessio whisper, nodding to himself.

He has already expected that kind of reply since Ember has always been great in everything that she does. Subtle happiness slips through his cold tone, but the amber-haired woman is far too occupied with her thoughts, wishing to stay away from this cheater of a bastard.

Ember blinks her aurous eyes, slowly losing her patience as this time with Alessio goes on.

Why did Alessio even bother to pick her up?! She knows that he hates being with her too. She knows that he would rather stay with that Lily bitch than his fiancée in name only. She clenches her hands as she coldly stares at him.

"Our parents forced you to pick me up again, didn't they?" she asks.

A small hope in her heart lingers— though that immediately is crushed by her. Alessio can't simply love her; he loves some other bitch. He has already said it himself, directly spat at to her face. She hardens her heart.

The gentleness in his jade eyes instantly vanishes. "I wouldn't be here otherwise if they didn't, right?" Alessio says with his gaze, stern and void of any gentle emotions.

He was a bit offended by her words, but it was the truth nonetheless. He wouldn't be here if not for his parents. He was a man that is filially obedient to his parents' wishes. That's why even though he had the urge to break off his engagement with Ember, he couldn't do so because of his parents. He owes them his life, so he shouldn't act so impulsive. That's why he was hoping if Ember can break it off herself; but despite the revelation, she chose not to.

'What are you truly planning, Ember?'

He frowns. "You also sued my secretary."

The question turned into a statement by the tone of his voice. That worker was just recently hired. Although she seemed to be a great worker, she didn't last a week due to Ember's legal proceedings. What the secretary must have done to Ember— Alessio has no knowledge of, but it must be something serious.

Ember narrows her eyes. "Secretary? So that woman is your new secretary, huh? Have you considered requiring personality assessment tests for a job application? Profile inspection? Or you just simply don't care about hiring a person that totally hates your fiancée's guts."

She doesn't dare to hide her disdain from him. Alessio tries to speak, but she cuts him off before he can even state his defense. The venom in her tone is made sure to be conspicuous as she lets out a scornful laugh.

"Oh, right."

She rolls her eyes. "You wouldn't care because you hate me too."

Alessio doesn't say anything to that at all, making Ember coldly smiles at herself. 'So, it's the truth huh… He hates me. If he didn't want to be engaged with me at all, then why did he pretend? Why did he not say anything?' She intently stares at him, wanting some answers; but of course, there is none. Alessio has already placed his entire focus on the wide, cemented road before him, paying no heed to her at all.

The woman calmly sets her gaze outside the car's window as she, shrugging her shoulders, begins to speak again, "I wouldn't have sued your secretary if she had not deserved it. Unfortunately, she did." To anyone, slandering them might just be a simple matter. But Ember is a big celebrity. In addition, she's also vengeful. She wouldn't let them get away no matter who they are. Be it a random person, her fiancé's secretary, or even someone who was once close to her heart.

She will make them pay… whoever.

The matte black sports car finally arrives at Ember's residence. Alessio has already turned off the car's engine; but despite so, he made no other moves other than gazing at the amber haired woman with indiscernible emotions. Ember has no time to ogle, and she definitely doesn't want to stay with him a little longer. She tries to push the door open, but it's unfortunately locked.

Ember reverts her attention to him, glowering.

"Unlock the door, Alessio!"

The man's consciousness doesn't seem to be in place right now as he just continues to stare at her. Thoughts, flying to somewhere else. She's the only woman who can treat him this way. Fiancée or not...

Alessio blinks his jade eyes, forcing himself to forget those solemn thoughts, and sighs. "You should be thankful that you're my fiancée. You wouldn't have the right to do it otherwise."

Ember scoffs.

Raising her brow in irritation at him, she gives off a smile of ridicule. "Well, since I'm unlucky enough to be the great Alessio Xu's fiance— Hey!"

Her smile falters and her aurous eyes widen when the young man suddenly and slowly leans forward. Dangerously drawing closer to invading her personal space, Ember's heart involuntarily races as she sees him intensely gazing at her lips.

Leaning closer and closer…

Alessio stops upon seeing a shiny object dangling on Ember's neck. Distracted by what he saw, the woman breaks out of her momentary stupor and takes that as the opportunity to unlock the door for herself. She pushes open the door and hurries to leave. Her heart, beating against its ribcage, while her beautiful face is flushed red from the unwanted moment. She doesn't bother to bid farewell.

She doesn't dare to, not wanting to experience that again.

On the other hand, Alessio is still frozen in his place.

That necklace… He leans himself against the driver's seat. Raising his arm, he covers his eyes while exhaling out an exhausted sigh. His thoughts, flying back to the object that he saw a few minutes earlier. The design; he can still vividly remember it. That necklace has their engagement ring in it. But— Alessio has a puzzled expression on his handsome features, not understanding why she decided to keep it.

Why?

Heaving out a profound sigh, Alessio shakes his head to himself. It's not for him to dwell on, not when he doesn't want to be engaged with her anymore. It takes him a few minutes before he snaps out of his troubled thoughts. The engine of his matte black car finally roars back to life; he eventually leaves Ember Wang's residence