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.

at him, worried. "What about you? Are your

me, cupping my face in his

"Solid."

the fact that you're willing to

kissed my hair, and said hoarsely, "A woman feeling insecure is a

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

again, I found myself unable to pull away

argument that followed

she was about to hit her goal, but it was

but it was

you mess up because you're young

having pieced everything together, couldn't stay

mean, you'll sell out for money, huh? Ethan's been so good to you, and Emily kindly took you in. How can you be so

pressure, Faye bit her lip in grievance and started to

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

but she wasn't there.

cigarette, took out a card from his suit,

account, then focus on prepping for

need. Her

lightly fell

sarcasm in my words was

looking

then, her phone buzzed. She glanced at it but

Victor checking in since

this is your last shot. If you

really saw Faye as his

long pause,

my hand,

need to go practice driving with

giving Faye

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

my hand tightly, walking steadily step

couldn't help but turn to look at him. His rugged and mature handsome face seemed even more charming at this moment, making

he was my inescapable

the restaurant, Bella tactfully said she had something to do and

not too late to hit the driving school now, is it?" he asked after

shook my head.

a bit, he suddenly reached over and pulled me

and he smiled,

ahead. "Watch

me, but the smile on his lips

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

about our

glanced at him;

the text he sent after

replied: [Same to

play, and

both put our true feelings into it. We used

looked at

"Yeah, every time you care about Faye, I get

said, "That means you really love

"And you?"

it, fearing the question would make things awkward and

added, "Do you really

A man's job is to make his

was slick, almost like