Rise To Stardom: My Villainess

After the couple retreated to the garden, Caiden right now is trying to comfort the girl in his arms. Sobs slowly escaping from her lips now and then. Her body, trembling from fear and shame she has gone through earlier. His heart quivers as if also feeling the pain she is going through. I mean— who would be happy to see the one they love hurting. Caiden gently holds her by the arms, trying to shake her out of her crying state.

"Lily-jie, I told you! He wasn't good for you! You saw that, right?! He has a fiancee!" He exasperatedly exclaims at her. His voice, angry, also carries a hint of sadness as he gazes at her.

"He has a fiancee," he repeats, emphasizing that point very deeply. When he sees that she isn't listening to him, he places a hand on her face and makes her look up. His own electric blue eyes are a bit glassy itself as he tries to suppress the emotions he is feeling.

"Not only that. That fiancée of his isn't just any woman," He softly whispers, looking at her so affectionately, "That woman can destroy you."

An underlying meaning left unsaid.

Although Caiden knows that he'll protect Lily no matter what, he isn't that blind to not see that Ember is a dangerous rival. It would be really difficult for him to protect her if Ember seriously tries to do anything to hurt her. Caiden wanted Lily to let go of Alessio— not for his sake but for her sake. The thought of Lily getting hurt is not even something he wants to think about. He really loves her too much...

Lily just stares back at him with puffy honey doe eyes. Softly breathing. Tears, streaming. Hope is stirred up by the gaze she sends to him. Caiden c.a.r.e.s.ses her cheek, hoping that she'll finally get the idea and return to his side again.

In the end, his attempts are futile.

Lily stubbornly refuses to listen to his words. She strongly shakes her head as she pushes him away. "No… Lessio-ge would surely protect me from her!" Her honey doe eyes beautifully glimmer with fierce determination as she stares at him.

Caiden Liu is taken aback by her outburst, almost bewitched by her bearing; but then he recalls why she has that expression on her face. Of course, it's because of "him," not him himself. Instead of surrendering, he continues to insist his point, "Did you seriously think he could protect you if that crazy woman took this seriously?! Lily, they're f.u.c.k.i.n.g engaged for goodness' sake"

The newly-dyed black-haired man waves his hands in the air as he speaks; frustration is evident by his movements and tone of voice. "What makes it worse is that he's from the prestigious Xu Family?! Certainly, if they ever learned of your affairs with him, they won't let you two get away with it. If Ember involves them… If Ember…" Caiden is on the brink of exploding, but the woman's tears soften his raging heart.

He shakily exhales.

His electrifying blue eyes soften its gaze. "Lily-jie, Ember isn't just any woman. Aside from being the precious gem of the Wang family, she's a celebrity. A god-tier in the entertainment industry. People are already calling her a national treasure that even one word from her, a wave of fans would instantly jump just to please her." His brows twine as his voice is gentle yet firm with his standpoint.

Lily doesn't seem to get a clue as she looks at him with an innocent-like expression. "But—" She tilts her head. "— aren't you the Film Emperor? You're famous too? While she— isn't she just an upcoming actress? You have more power over her now."

Caiden sighs.

Indeed, at this current moment, he has way more power and connection in the acting industry; but… "Lily-jie, I'm an actor. She's an artist. You know how obsessed a singer's fanbase can be with their idols, right? She might be unknown in the world of acting, but a singer's fanbase is loyal. Unless she's terrible in acting, they'll still support her." He massages his temples as a migraine slowly develops from all the stress he's experiencing.

"I'm the best in this territory— that's for sure, and I'll protect you when the time comes; but Ember has millions upon millions of fans, can you survive that?" Caiden drops his hand from his temple as he deeply stares at her honey doe eyes. She can't seem to gaze back at him as she shamefully averts her eyes to the ground. "Millions of people ridiculing you just for some man. I can protect you from physical harm, but do you how sharp and malicious words can be from people?"

Caiden starts to step forward again. His expression's etched with sadness. "Lily-jie, you have seen it earlier. She didn't even need to open her mouth. People were already taking her side!" Lily knew that; of course, she witnessed it herself. She has already thought of all these things he is saying to her. But she has come so far, how could she give up now.

"I love him, and he loves me."

'Love? But I love you too, and I thought... you also thought the same way.' Caiden clenches his fist. "Why can't you just pick me?! I wouldn't let you suffer like this if you did." The pain in his electric blue eyes is reflected by the gentle beams of the moon. He holds her arms again as he wearily rests his head on her shoulder. The pain of hearing the woman he loves being in love with someone else hurts more than what he had originally expected.

Lily already knows his feelings, but it's not what she needs right now. She pushes him as gently as she could while replying in a very soft voice, "Caiden, I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry, but I just don't feel the same way for you…" She bites her lip, almost drawing out blood. Her glassy eyes are filled with even more unshed tears from the pain as she quickly turns around to run and leave the depressing situation.

Both of them are clueless about the concealed silhouette of someone gazing at them for a very long time. Ember thoughtfully nods as she observes the scene before her. She sees Caiden solemnly look down at his hand before clenching it. His blue eyes, swollen with tears streaming down. The usual strong handsome image that he carries reduces into a broken look.

It really appears that the whore earlier mercilessly crushed his heart into bits.