Edward's POV
The day the Carringtons went bankrupt, Liana Carrington handed me a black card.
“This is all I have left,” she said. “Don’t suffer with me. Take it and chase your dream.”
But I tore up my Harvard admission letter right in front of her and boldly said, “If you’re going down, I’m going down with you.”
From that day on, the spoiled boy who used to spend tens of thousands on a single meal took off his luxury brands and haggled with market vendors for hours over a few cents.
Later, when Liana rebuilt her family’s fortune, the very first thing she wanted was to marry me. I was nervous but happy until I saw it.
At the door of a private dining room, I froze as I saw a rising young star, Samuel Reid, sliding the custom wedding ring I had made for her onto her finger.
“Miss Carrington, you said this was meant for Edward’s wedding. If you just give it to Samuel, won’t he be furious?” someone asked.
Liana didn’t pull her hand away. She let Samuel hold her slender fingers and simply smiled. “When we couldn’t even afford food, he dared to tear up his Harvard admission letter just to suffer with me. What can’t he accept after that? If he really has the guts to break up with me, I’ll think even more highly of him.”
I stood there, stiff, my chest tightening. Then I gave a bitter laugh.
Fine. Then we were done.
——
“What’s this supposed to mean, throwing money at me?” Samuel’s sharp voice cut through the room as he tossed a black card at Liana’s feet. His brows were drawn tight with anger. “Liana, I’m not some boy toy you can buy!”
The card skimmed past her cheek before falling to the floor.
The room went silent, tension heavy in the air.
But she only smiled, watching him with a teasing glint. She reached for his hand, thumb brushing the diamond ring on her own finger. “Alright, alright, my fault. I shouldn’t have treated you like some model I could just pay for.”
Still displeased, Samuel yanked his hand away. “I told you from the start, I’m with you because I like you. Whether you’re rich or broke doesn’t matter to me. If you don’t get that, then we’re done!”
“Baby, don’t say that.” She tried to grab his hand again, but he shoved her off.
The almighty Miss Carrington was helpless before this man.
“Please, I’m sorry, baby.”
“Get off me!” Samuel barked.
But she ignored his resistance and clung to him anyway, pressing herself against his chest. “Alright, alright, it’s my fault. How about I make it up to you? The Best Actor award this weekend, I’ll make sure it goes to you.”
Only then did Samuel’s expression soften.
But my fists clenched.
Then, someone hesitated before speaking up. “Miss Carrington, wasn’t that title already promised to Edward?”
She just smirked and settled herself onto Samuel’s lap. “Samuel’s worked hard. His acting’s good enough. Besides, the list hasn’t been announced yet, so I can still change it.”
Before her men could move, I kicked the door open.
Liana quickly pushed Samuel aside. “Edward?”
My side ached, but I forced myself to stand straight, glaring at her. “Tell me. Who are you giving that award to?”
Her eyes dropped.
She knew. She knew everything I had done. Refusing stunt doubles, doing dangerous high-altitude shots myself.
The day I fell and shattered my waist, I had eighteen metal pins hammered into me, and yet I still dragged myself back to finish filming.
She was there. She held me when I collapsed in pain, sweating through every breath.
But now, she wouldn’t even look at me.
“Samuel’s a newcomer. It wasn’t easy for him to make it this far. You’re his senior, just give him a chance.”
“Not a chance!” I roared, then jabbed a finger at Samuel. “If he were actually better than me, fine. But when I’m memorizing lines, he’s filling them in with one-two-three-four-five. When I insist on doing my own stunts, he uses eight doubles for one scene! You want to hand over an award that takes real actors’ years of blood and sweat to win just to a pretty face?!”
