Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

After hearing James's revelation, Esther couldn't hide the awkwardness in her eyes. "So, after that..."

"I spent two years finishing all my university classes, then took over my dad's business," James explained. "I wanted to help you lose weight, but when I found out you already had and had become an actress, bought all the magazines featuring you in your debut year. I played a big part in your rise to fame, about 80% of it."

Esther was dumbfounded by the unexpected confession. The more she thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed.

"Why didn't you ever make yourself known?" she asked, intrigued by the presence of such a big financier supporting her without ever having heard of him.

"I wasn't planning to, especially after I found out you had fallen for Mobius," James admitted.

Esther's mind wandered back to memories of Mobius, who had been a significant presence in her past. She was young, and it would be difficult for her to forget him, who had stood up for her and occupied a huge part of her youth. So much so, that James, who had been secretly supporting her, never once appeared before her.

give up on me once you knew I liked

a good life, why wouldn't he drop everything and cut ties with her? sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters

considered it. I planned to stop once you became an A-lister. But even then, I couldn't

punched

chuckled, noticing how different Esther looked now. "I meant I accidentally fell for

underestimate my intelligence. I'm

playfully pinched her nose. "I told you

do you

"You might not understand, but just trust me.