Before the scandals erupted, Susan had been a beloved icon-a pure and flawless goddess in the hearts of the public. The TV shows and movies she starred in were adored by audiences ranging from elderly grandparents to young schoolchildren.
Even the waitress serving the dishes once held Susan in high regard. In the past, if she had seen Susan, she would have been thrilled. But now, as she watched Susan leaning into the arms of a man who was most definitely not her husband, all she felt was disgust.
The waitress had initially thought the rumors were exaggerated. But seeing Susan now, it was clear the news hadn’t overstated anything; if anything, they had understated the truth. After delivering the dishes, the waitress left the room, and the story quickly spread among the other staff.
“Guess who’s in the private room?” the waitress asked, brimming with gossip.
“Who? Tell us!” The others leaned in eagerly.
“It’s Susan! You know, the one from all those scandals recently.”
“Her? I just saw a man go in there too. He didn’t look like her husband.”
“Exactly! I’d recognize Mr. Alvarez’s face anywhere. And Susan? She’s just shameless. When I went in, she was snuggled up in his arms. She just got married recently too! These celebrities are all the same-putting on a show for the public while living a completely different life in private. Actors, huh? No wonder.”
“Maybe it’s all a misunderstanding. What if they’re discussing a contract or something? That man didn’t look ordinary either.”
“Please. Who discusses contracts in someone’s arms? If I’d gone in a few minutes later, they’d probably be kissing. I used to think those tabloid magazines were full of lies, but now I see they were right. The entertainment industry is so messy-those so-called goddesses? Just disgusting.”
“Hey, I heard you can make money selling gossip to paparazzi. Should we sell this story?” one of them suggested.
“What if they find out and complain about us?”
“Come on. If you don’t say anything and I don’t say anything, how would they know? Besides, paparazzi are always snooping around anyway.”
“Alright then. Let’s expose her so people can see what this ‘goddess’ is really like. She’s a disgrace.”
Meanwhile, Susan had already straightened up from Marcos’s arms. Marcos was asking her about Hayden.
Out in public, Susan had always hidden her pain, putting on a brave front. She didn’t want people to know how miserable her life truly was. She was everyone’s goddess, admired for her status and family background. If anyone found out how unhappy her marriage was, they’d mock her.
So, she often leaked stories to the media, portraying Hayden as romantic and their relationship as blissful. Sometimes, it was for publicity, but the stories also boosted her fame and made others envy her supposed happiness.
Even Marcos, living abroad, had often seen reports of their sweet moments. That was why he had never confessed his feelings for her.
“You’re saying you planned all of this? You deliberately let the media capture those moments?” Marcos asked, incredulous.
“Yes,” Susan admitted. “I didn’t want people to know my marriage was a failure. But now, I can’t keep up the act anymore. He doesn’t love me. No matter what I do, it’s all pointless.” She downed glass after glass of wine.
“You’re being foolish. You know he doesn’t care about you, yet you still do so much for him? Are you crazy?” Marcos couldn’t believe how deeply Susan had fallen for Hayden.
“I’m not crazy or foolish. I just love him too much. I’ve never dared to say these things to anyone else. I was afraid…”
“Afraid of what?”
“Afraid they’d laugh at me. I pretend to be happier than anyone else, even though I’m miserable. I don’t even dare tell my mom much, for fear she’ll worry about me. Marcos, I’m so, so tired.” Her face, flushed from the alcohol, was streaked with tears.
“Susan, let me arrange a meeting with him. I’ll talk to him for you. I can’t stand seeing you like this,” Marcos said, his heart aching for her.
“It’s useless, Marcos. He doesn’t have me in his heart. Even if I died right in front of him, he wouldn’t feel sad.” Susan’s voice was heavy with despair.
She knew Hayden too well. On the surface, he seemed gentle and refined, but his heart was cold and unyielding. His dislike for her was as deep and unwavering as his love for Aurora.
It was all her fault. She should never have drugged him back then, leaving such a terrible impression.
“Marcos, just leave me alone. Tonight, I’m not going home until I’m completely drunk.” Susan finished an entire bottle of red wine, her cheeks now glowing with a rosy hue.
“Stop drinking. You’re drunk,” Marcos said, noticing the untouched steak on her plate. “At least eat something.”
“I’m too upset to eat,” Susan replied. Just thinking of Hayden’s cold, indifferent expression made her heart ache.
As the night grew late, Marcos suggested they leave. When they went to settle the bill, the waitress cast suspicious glances at them.
Marcos helped Susan into the car. “Where’s your house? I’ll take you home.”
“Marcos, I don’t want to go home. That house is so cold. Do you know, on our wedding night, he’d rather get drunk at a bar than come home? Even when he’s home, he ignores me,” Susan said, her voice breaking as tears came again.
“If you don’t go home, then what? You can’t stay in the car all night,” Marcos said, trying to reason with her.
“Just take me to a nearby hotel. I really don’t want to stay in that house. A house without family isn’t a home. Going back would only make me feel colder.”
Hearing her words, Marcos sighed. He couldn’t just leave her like this. If he took her back to Hayden, it would only worsen their already strained relationship.
Marcos made a decision. Instead of taking her to a hotel, he brought her to his villa. When they arrived, Susan had already fallen asleep in the passenger seat.
He got out of the car and gently carried her inside. Seeing the tear stains on her cheeks, he couldn’t help but give a small, helpless smile. She was still the same girl who cried so easily.
“Prepare a guest room,” he told the housekeeper, who looked shocked.
“Yes, sir. I’ll get it ready right away,” she replied, rushing upstairs.
Marcos placed Susan on the guest room bed. Just as he was about to let go, he realized she was clutching the front of his shirt tightly.
At some point, she had woken up. Her tear-filled eyes stared at him, hazy with emotion.
“Susan, you’re safe now. You’re in my home. It won’t be cold here,” Marcos said, adjusting the room’s temperature to make it more comfortable.
“Marcos, I was wrong,” Susan whispered before suddenly leaning into his arms.
“Why are you crying again?” he asked softly.
“Marcos, you’re the one who’s always been the best to me. I only just realized it now.” She looked up at him, her tear-streaked face close to his, and before he could react, her lips pressed against his.