Rise To Stardom: My Villainess

"Well… if it isn't the almighty Film Emperor."

Ember steps out from the shadows as she reveals her stunning presence to the young man before him. Though the smile seems gentle and kind; but catching a glimpse of her golden eyes reveal the scorn and ridicule behind her beautiful, angelic mask.

Caiden spitefully glares at her, knowing that she's anything but an angel. Clenching his hand tighter than it already is, he bites his lips to refrain himself from saying anything that he might regret. Formerly feeling deeply heartbroken by the woman he truly loves, Caiden now feels a bit of shame and anger being spotted by this two-faced witch uncharacteristically bawling his tears out while crouching on the floor. He quickly stands up as he replaces his distraught expression with confidence.

Ember can't help but snicker by his sudden change of personality. People say that he's kind, but all the interactions she has with him show otherwise. Two-faced maybe— like this s.l.u.t he's in love with? Or maybe he's just good at pretending. Well, acting is all he's good at, so it won't be shocking to know that he's a different person in reality.

"Oh, where's the kind and gentle Caiden Liu I heard so much about?" She smirks as her expression screams mockery.

"I'm sure the great Muse of Beauty can live without me worshipping her every move," he venomously retorts back with a smile that doesn't exactly reach his eyes. The disdain on his face is seen as he doesn't bother to conceal it from the beauty in front of him. Well, did she really expect that she'll receive a word and gesture of respect from him?

Indeed she's beautiful, but her personality is not even half as good as her looks. 'She even has the guts to shame my Lily-jie.' Caiden gradually looks away as he starts to trail away from his initial thoughts; his heart is slightly throbbing from the faint memory of her rejecting him.

"Why don't you make a deal with me?"

Caiden snaps out of his momentary trance as he is brought back to reality by her voice. Blinking his eyes, he sees this amber-haired woman smiling at him in a playful manner while her molten-lava-like eyes intensify its shade by the borrowed light of the moon. She's truly beautiful, but her beauty

... is such a waste.

"Is that how you talk to your senior? And what in the world are you even talking about?" Caiden gets a bit annoyed as he begins to yell at her. The media's portrayal of him is his true nature; the actor has always been a kind and gentle person, albeit hot-headed; but he has never been quick-tempered in his whole life until this woman starts to show up.

"Oh, Senior Brother seems to be angry with this humble junior. I'm soo sorry," she accentuates her insincere apology. Though the playful expression over her face fades, the tone of mockery is still evident in her voice. "You—" Caiden tries to speak, but Ember interrupts him without missing a beat. She clasps her hands together as she suggestively smiles at him, "—Oh, come on, let's be serious here. Don't you want that Lien girl all to yourself?"

He stops, making him think for a second; then he speaks again as he looks at Ember with a troubled expression. "... You know her name," he whispers, almost inaudible to her ears; but she hears it since she's in a close distance.

"Of course, Caiden. Of course, I know her name." She scoffs as she coldly glares at him like he's foolish and a dumbass. "I made someone investigate her. I mean— anyone would want to know who the third party is, and what in the world their intentions are that they dared to interfere with someone who's in a relationship?! So don't you dare give me that look! It's just fair since she decided to enter my life first."

She presses her lips, squeezing her eyes tight, as she tries to compose herself from the anger sizzling within her system. When finally cool-headed, Ember puts on a smile again. "Now back to what I was saying… do you want that girl all to yourself?"

Caiden exhales.

Of course. What kind of question is that? Of course, he wants her all for himself; but why is she asking this to him. Is she planning something? Is she— "What do you get in return?" he asks; his mind is slightly hazy from the thoughts and feelings that have controlled him a few minutes earlier. Because of the initial rejection, he is quite slow in realizing Ember's main intention.

Raising her brows confusion, Ember deeply sighs as she slowly makes her way closer to the man in front of her. Though she's smaller in height, her confidence and poise don't make her insignificant to the man in front of her.

Gold clashes with blue hues as they gaze into each other's eyes. She pokes her index finger to his c.h.e.s.t as she smiles quite coldly. "Which woman would be benevolent enough to allow her fiancé and his mistress to live happily ever after, huh?"

"And hurt Lily-jie in the process? Good luck with that, but I'll never work with you." Caiden humorlessly laughs as he grabs her finger and forces it to stop moving. He may be hurt by her refusal, but that doesn't mean that he'll love his Lily-jie any less. Isn't that how love is? Love is both enduring and unreasonable.

He sadly smiles. "If she's happy with that fiancé of yours, then I can do nothing but support her." Caiden may sound so heartless right now— supporting a mistress rather than the woman breaking because of her fiancé's infidelity, but can love really be a hundred percent rational?

Every person would rather see an acquaintance get hurt than the ones they live for. And if they aren't really fated to be, then let it be. Ember's pretty… surely she'll find someone quickly while he… he'll just continue loving Lily-jie in the sidelines.

"Seeing her happy…it's enough to make me happy."

'Love really does make people crazy.' Chuckling to himself, he doesn't perceive the pain that flashes in Ember's eyes, which instantly morphs back in a playful glimmer. Caiden's electric blue eyes blink when he strangely feels a hand on his cheek, gently brushing a tear with her thumb that has accidentally escaped from the corner of his eye.

Ember rolls her golden eyes, mischievously smiling.

"So this is what happy looks like, huh?" Dazed by the unexpected contact, Caiden just stares at her. Ember quickly takes that opportunity to put on her confidence aura again while she smirks at him. "Aren't you such a martyr?"

'Martyr.'

She internally scoffs. Unlike him, she would never be a martyr for them. Ember casually brushes off the wetness of her thumb with her silver gown. But she wouldn't still mind Caiden joining her for her revenge; it's not like Caiden won't change his mind. He's still human after all.

So turning to him, she declares to him that her invitation is still open for a few days with a sweet smile. "But do tell me if you change your mind. Don't make me wait too long though. A Wang isn't known to be patient." Turning around, she flicks her hair in the process as she finally leaves the man alone, confidently strutting her way out of the garden and into the glamorous hall to socialize with the other guests and celebrities.

It has been quite a few minutes, but Caiden Liu still keeps his eyes on the spot where the magnificent woman has earlier stood. Unbeknownst to him, a man stands a few feet away from them.

Surprise— surprise, it's Alessio Xu.

Though with the distance he has away from them, he can't hear the conversation the two were able to have but he saw the interactions made throughout. With unreadable jade-green eyes, he sends one last look to the young man before trailing after his fiancée's headed direction.