She admitted with a smile, "Of course, I’ve always been confident in my own abilities, but I won’t deny that Liam has done a lot for me. And I completely deserve his devotion."
Her poised and self-assured response earned the admiration of the crowd.
Someone asked, "Could you share a story about how you and Liam supported each other during tough times?"

Linda's smile suddenly froze.
A strange silence filled the air, stretching time thin.
After a long pause, Liam let out a soft chuckle and took the microphone.
"There’s nothing to talk about. Our memories are just for the two of us."
A sharp sting rose in my heart.
I tightened my grip on the pen, lowering my head in a flustered attempt to hide my emotions.

The moment I closed my eyes, the past came rushing back.
Back when we were younger, Liam’s rebellious nature made him plenty of enemies.
After he fell from grace, some of them came looking for trouble.
I tried to shield him and was shoved down the steps, landing hard, covered in scrapes and blood.

The sight must have rattled them, because they quickly scattered in a panic.
I gritted my teeth, forced myself up, and pretended nothing had happened as I walked back to him.
"Come on, let’s go home."
But Liam suddenly grabbed my hand.
"You’re hurt. We’re going to the hospital."
"I’m not…"
"I can smell blood!"
His voice suddenly rose, and tears slipped from his clouded eyes, like fallen stars covered in dust.
With arms that weren’t particularly strong, he pulled me into a tight embrace.
But the name he called out wasn’t mine.
"Linda, when I recover, I’ll give you the grandest wedding in the world."
…
By the time the interview ended, the sky had darkened.
Outside the venue, rain fell in a fine, steady curtain.
Wade patted his pocket before turning to me again.
"Chloe, I left the memory card inside. Go grab it."
I stepped onto the damp pavement and jogged back.
The elevator display counted down to the first floor and when the slid open, I came face to face with the two people inside.
Linda stood slightly turned, chatting with Liam about some trivial on-set matters.
Though his expression was indifferent, he listened patiently.
The closeness between them was undeniable.
The moment Linda saw me, her face twisted into an ugly scowl.
"Sorry."
Mumbling an apology, I turned away and headed for the stairs instead.
Liam's voice rang out behind me.
"Hold on."
I froze.
"Aren’t you taking the elevator? Go ahead."
I slowly turned back, deliberately lowering my voice. "Thank you, Mr. Hughes."
He told me to take the elevator, yet he didn’t move aside.
Instead, he just stared at me.
"You’re one of the reporters covering today’s interview? Why didn’t I hear you ask any questions?"
I lowered my gaze. "I just graduated and recently returned from studying abroad. I’m only an intern—I don’t have the qualifications to ask questions."
"I see."
His response was flat, as if he were lost in thought.
Beside him, Linda shot me a sharp glare before speaking up.
"We should go, Liam. We’re meeting with Mr. Reed tonight."
At last, Liam looked away.
"Let’s go."
…
I stood alone in the ascending elevator, staring blankly ahead.
After my parents' divorce, my father took Linda with him and married into the Dawson family, securing his place in the Dawson family through the marriage.
For as long as I could remember, I had never seen Linda until five years ago, when she suddenly came looking for me.
"I’ll give you one hundred thousand dollars. Take my place and look after someone for me."
At the time, my mother had passed away from illness, leaving behind a mountain of debt.
I had no other choice but to agree.
It wasn’t until I met him that I realized the person she wanted me to care for was Liam.
He was the Hughes family's heir and Linda’s fiancé.
They just got engaged before tragedy struck.
"Who would be willing to take care of a blind man, who was abandoned by his own family.”