Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 122 I Don't Mind Being Cheesy

In the private room, it was just Ethan and Faye.

Ethan glanced up and locked eyes with me. Neither of us was shocked to see the other.

"Ethan, I'm outta here."

Faye was all jittery and hadn't even noticed me walk in. I'd already set the tray on the table, and she hadn't looked up, probably thinking I was just some waiter.

I poured a glass of wine and slid it over to her, saying coolly, "Bailing already? What's the hurry?"

Faye's head snapped up, eyes wide with shock. "Why is it you?"

"So, this Mr. Windsor ain't Victor!"

Bella suddenly got it, pulled out a chair, and plopped down, ready for the drama.

Faye glanced between Ethan and me, piecing things together, her eyes darting around, looking kinda guilty.

I didn't bother pouring Ethan any wine, just handed him a glass of warm water. Then I took a seat next to him.

On the burgundy tablecloth, there was a stack of papers.

Ethan drummed his fingers on the documents and gave a faint smile.

"Faye, I was planning a surprise for you, and you showed up right on cue."

Of course, I knew this wasn't just a random thing.

And when Faye walked into the restaurant, she had no clue that the so-called Mr. Windsor wasn't Victor, the guy she was supposed to meet, but Ethan.

Ethan spoke softly, "The director we met earlier is a straight shooter. This is the contract for the lead role in his new movie. He thinks you're perfect for the part. Faye, this is your shot. I promised to help you chase your dream, and I'm sticking to it. But there's one catch."

But Faye still looked super uneasy.

"What catch?"

"Cut ties with Victor."

Faye was stunned, but being the pro actress she was, she quickly pulled herself together.

"Ethan, I have no idea what you're talking about."

Ethan pulled out a cigarette and lit it, a faint smile on his face.

"Faye, how old are you, and how old am I? Those extra years I have count for something."

Faye probably never thought that just this morning, she was strutting her stuff in front of me at the villa, and now the tables had totally turned.

But the story kicked off last night.

Ethan and I were out looking for Scruffy. When it seemed like a lost cause, he parked the car by the roadside.

"Emily, I dug into what you told me about Faye. It's Victor," he said.

I'd already gotten the scoop from Faris, so I wasn't surprised.

Ethan leaned back in his seat, rubbing his temples, looking beat.

I could totally feel the sadness in his heart right then. If the investigation had just shown Faye was with some rich dude, that'd be one thing. But finding out Victor was scheming against him? That was a whole different ball game. "It's like a tree. If outside forces try to yank it out and the roots don't hold firm, it'll get pulled out easily."

He spoke slowly, each word dripping with helplessness.

him, worried. "What about

looked at me, cupping my face in his

"Solid."

gave him a bitter smile. "You know, the fact that you're

over, hugged me, kissed my hair, and said hoarsely,

him, I always felt weak. He could always stir my

again, I found myself unable to

that followed was

about to hit

never harsh, but it was firm. Faye couldn't

you mess up because you're young and can't resist temptation. But don't

pieced everything together,

huh? Ethan's been so good to you, and Emily kindly took you

bit her lip in grievance and

after I left the TV station, they forcibly took me away. Victor wanted me to drive a wedge between you two. I initially refused, but they beat

up Faye, but she wasn't there. The next morning, she did have bruises on her hands, which

card from his suit, and pushed it in front of

on prepping for this

blurted out, "No need. Her acting is already

lightly fell

in my words was

looking kinda

phone buzzed. She glanced at it but didn't

to be Victor checking

voice dropping even lower. "Faye, this is your last shot. If you

Faye

her head, and after a long pause, she

my hand,

to go

up with him, and Bella, giving Faye a

the door, Ethan stopped and turned back. "Faye, no matter what others have promised you, whether it's money or a

hand tightly, walking steadily

mature handsome

was

she had something to do and left.

the driving school now, is

my head. "Not too

and pulled me by the neck, planting a soft kiss on my

and he smiled,

I pointed ahead. "Watch the

but the smile on

so different from the way he did when we argued last night, like a rainbow hanging in the sky after a storm,

serious about our argument last night,"

glanced at him; he

he sent after leaving

[Same to

and a play

it. We used that big argument to express our

looked at me.

every time you

faintly and said, "That

"And you?"

fearing the question would make things awkward and that

you really feel

exhausting. A man's job is to make his woman

answer was slick, almost