Patrick glanced over and saw that the text message Jane received was from an unknown number, with a simple message stating that they had some photos of Maria and Osborn. The purpose was to get Star Entertainment to pay a high price for the photos, which was an unspoken rule in the entertainment industry.
Jane propped her cheek up and lightly tapped her finger on the table, with a smile on her lips. Soon she found the journalist’s account, with his latest tweet indicating that he would come down hard on them. All of the comments below were about Maria.
Seeing this, Jane felt somewhat helpless. She really didn’t know what these two people were thinking at that time. Although later Maria and Osborn explained it was because of the script plot, anyone who heard it would find it unreliable. Plus, Maria had just announced her relationship.
Jane rubbed her temples and felt somewhat troublesome.
“Do we need to hold a press conference?” Patrick asked when he saw Jane’s expression.
“Holding a press conference won’t do any good if they don’t get the money; those journalists will still say whatever they want.” Jane stretched lazily and fell into Patrick’s arms before closing her eyes comfortably.
“I’ve already instructed to handle this matter. As for the journalist, if he dares to say anything again, he’ll be facing legal action.”
Jane tilted her head back, catching sight of Patrick’s jawline, and pouted, “Can’t even have a proper vacation.”
Patrick lowered his gaze and planted a kiss on Jane’s lips.
…
Meanwhile, Maria, who was currently at the center of public attention, sat in the hotel with her serious-faced agent in front of her.
She pursed her lips, intending to speak, but after some consideration, she chose to remain silent.
“You two… Every time I think about it, it gives me a headache.” Although the incident from the previous days had passed, the renewed online discussions were causing her agent a persistent headache.
“Didn’t we discuss it already… Both of us felt that the scene wasn’t quite right, but the atmosphere was suitable at that time.” Maria bit her tongue, and after that night, she felt completely bewildered.
Osborn… truly seemed to be her jinx.
“Do you think anyone would believe such an excuse if we told them? Huh?” Her agent gave Maria a disdainful look, finding this lame excuse utterly absurd.
Tongue lightly pressed against the palate, Maria puffed her cheeks and refrained from speaking.
“The company has sent a production team to shoot the scene in the bar and edit it into the trailer.” The agent pushed the revised script in front of Maria.
“After shooting the ad in the afternoon, you’ll go directly to the bar.”
Maria couldn’t say anything. She looked at the script on the desk, her ten fingers tightening on her lap.
“Maria, tell me the truth. Do you really like Dr. Ragsdill?” Suddenly, her agent looked at Maria and asked seriously.
The hand holding the cup jerked, and Maria looked up to see her agent’s intense gaze, feeling a bit guilty.
“Well… If I don’t like him, why would I be in a relationship with him?” Maria chuckled awkwardly, taking a sip of water.
The agent stared at Maria for a while, then sighed, “This Kim, confessing during the kickoff ceremony, you’re in a rising period now, and revealing your relationship has a significant impact on you. What’s he thinking?”
“Forget about him,” Maria couldn’t help but interject.
“Just defending him as always. You two…” As soon as the agent finished speaking, Maria’s phone chimed, and looking at the screen, the agent sneered.
“Is he coming to pick you up again?”
“Lilian!” Maria felt a bit embarrassed by the agent’s teasing. She pouted and replied to Kim’s message.
“Alright, you two take your time. I’ll come to pick you up later,” the agent said as she got up and left.
Kim, who received the message, promptly called Maria back. Maria stared at her phone screen and, after a while, answered the call.
“Hello?”
“Are you busy? Did I disturb you?” Kim’s voice was gentle.
“No, just going through the script. I’m sorry; I can’t join you for dinner today. The crew added some scenes last minute,” Maria apologized with regret in her voice.
“It’s okay. Take care and don’t overwork yourself.”
Maria hesitated for a moment. She lowered her head, lightly rubbing her clothes’ hem with her fingers. After a while, she softly spoke, “Kim.”
“Yes?” Kim responded on the other end of the line.
“I want to see you,” Maria whispered, “right now.”
Kim’s movements on the phone came to a sudden halt. “Alright.”
Maria stood by the hotel window, looking down at the street below, her expression shadowed and unclear.
After a while, Kim’s car came into Maria’s view, and she turned around, rushing out of the room.
As Kim entered the hotel, he saw Maria running towards him. He immediately opened his arms, embracing Maria.
Resting her face on Kim’s neck, Maria didn’t say anything, just quietly holding him.
“What’s wrong?” Kim reached out to touch Maria’s long hair, speaking in a gentle tone.
Apart from the film crew, there were other guests in the hotel’s lobby. Seeing the two embracing figures, onlookers stopped to watch.
Kim’s gaze swept across, noticing someone pulling out a phone, and he shielded Maria’s face with his hand.
Despite the awareness of the surrounding glances, Maria paid no attention. She tiptoed and kissed Kim.
Unexpectedly, Maria made such a move. Kim’s body stiffened, his eyes flashed with a hint of light, but he didn’t react.
After the kiss, the two returned to the room. Kim’s fingertips brushed Maria’s cheek, gently pressing down. “Upset?”
Sitting on the bed, Maria shook her head and didn’t say anything.
Seeing this, Kim half-knelt in front of the bed, looking up at Maria. His eyes were deep and seemed to penetrate into her soul, making Maria’s heart slightly ache.
Maria’s gaze trembled. She lowered her head, wanting to kiss Kim again, but this time, Kim tilted his head to avoid it.
“Doing this makes me sad too, Maria. I want to be your support, not helplessly watching you be sad here.”
Kim cradled Maria’s cheeks, looking at her earnestly.
He liked Maria, but now Maria had closed herself off within a hard shell, giving him no chance to reach her innermost feelings.
“Why…”
Suddenly, Maria threw herself into Kim’s arms, her voice muffled.
“Why are you so good to me?”