Chapter 9
The next few days, I turned myself into an ostrich, burying my head deep in the sand of work, trying to shut out the world that had been turned upside down by the exposure of Adrian's identity.
I blocked all social media notifications, refused to engage in any discussions with Maya about "that couple," and just painted like a madwoman. Even Maria under my brush seemed to sense my escape, wandering lost through the streets of Los Angeles.
But I knew it was all self-deception.
Occasionally, on my way back from the studio restroom, I'd catch snippets of hushed conversations from other artists:
"…Did they really break up? So soon?"
"…I heard it was pretty messy…"
"…That Berenice is still going crazy online, apparently…"
My heart would clench violently, and I'd quicken my pace, forcing myself not to listen, not to ask.
This has nothing to do with me, I repeated to myself. Adrian must be in pain right now. I absolutely cannot show up at a time like this. What would that be if not taking advantage of his vulnerability? I can't make another mistake.
But a voice that had just awoken deep within me protested weakly: Is it really just "taking advantage"?
That afternoon, I was staring blankly at my canvas when Maya walked over, phone in hand, a complicated look on her face.
"Candice… I think you might need to see this." Her tone was cautious, laced with concern. "Adrian Mitchell… He seems to have made an official response."
My heart felt like it was being squeezed. I turned my head stiffly.
On the screen was a succinct, icy official statement posted on the Mitchell Entertainment official account:
[Regarding the recent malicious rumors involving our producer, Mr. Adrian Mitchell, this is an official statement: Mr. Adrian Mitchell and Ms. Berenice Harrison have terminated all relations. Verification has confirmed that Ms. Harrison engaged in severe misrepresentation and malicious deception during the course of their association. Colleagues in the industry are hereby reminded to exercise caution in any dealings with this individual to avoid unnecessary losses. — Mitchell Entertainment Legal Department]
Beneath the statement was a link to an audio file.
My hands began to tremble uncontrollably. A sense of overwhelming foreboding nearly choked me. Under Maya's encouraging gaze, I tapped the link with ice-cold fingers.
After a brief burst of static, Berenice's clear, agitated voice came through, the background suggesting a quiet restaurant corner:
"…I knew who you were all along! Adrian Mitchell! I knew from the very beginning! That's why I put up with those boring galleries and shitty movies! That's why I pretended to like all that crap art!"
"I'm not going to let you go foolishly like I did before! I came back for your money and status! This time, I will absolutely not let go!"
"Not going to let you go foolishly like I did before"…
"Came back"…
Those words were like the sharpest blades, instantly slicing through the last of my confusion and hesitation.
My phone slipped from my hand again, the screen cracking on impact, just like my heart in that moment.
She really… had known everything from the very first day of her rebirth. All her acting, all her "love," all those things she said to me—it was all a complete, calculated fraud!
And I… I was the fool, living in a self-constructed dream of atonement, almost personally pushing Adrian into this meticulously designed trap!
"Candice? Candice! Are you okay?" Maya shook my shoulders firmly. "You look like you're about to pass out!"
"I…" My mouth opened, but no sound came out, only tears streaming down my face silently and uncontrollably.
I had thought I was doing the right thing, "correcting" the mistakes of the past life.
But only now did I realize:
There was never any mistake in the past life that needed my correction!
The real mistake was Berenice's heart, consumed by greed, and my own accomplice-like "atonement"!
For the next few days, I locked myself彻底ly in the inner room of the studio, rejecting all social contact.
I painted like a woman possessed, as if only the constantly extending lines under my brush could keep me from thinking about the devastating truth.
New chapters of The Dream Chaser were born from my hands, but this time, there was a burning anger and pain in every character's eyes that I dared not voice aloud.
I painted a girl suffocating surrounded by gorgeous lies.
I painted a fool stabbing herself repeatedly for a false sense of "justice."
I painted a soul finally seeing the truth but torn apart by guilt and rage.
Every stroke was blood, every line was a tear.
On the third day, Maya had had enough. She barged into my "cell," snatched the brush I was nearly gripping to the point of breaking.
"Enough! Candice! What's the point of torturing yourself like this? None of this is your fault!"
"It is my fault!" I finally erupted, pent-up emotions surging out like a volcano, my voice hoarse. "I'm a complete and utter blind fool! I thought I was doing good, but instead I helped a liar hurt a good person! I even… I even felt ashamed because he recognized my art! That's the most despicable part!"
"Then what now?" Maya gripped my shoulders tightly, her eyes burning into me. "Now that you know the truth, what are you going to do? Keep punishing yourself here? Or do something?"
"What can I do?" I looked at her blankly, my vision blurred by tears.
"Go find him? Right after he's just experienced a public, humiliating deception, go up to him and say, ‘Hey, actually I'm the one you got along with online, and my sister is a fraud'? Maya, what would he think of me? He'd think I'm a petty person kicking him while he's down, trying to take advantage! He'd think I'm another Harrison with an agenda!"
I could almost imagine Adrian's eyes, looking at me with how much icy coldness.
"Candice!" Maya shook me hard, trying to jolt me out of my self-pity. "Get a grip! You're not taking advantage! You're correcting a mistake! You're telling him the truth! And!" She emphasized her words, "And he's seen your art! What he recognized was your talent and your heart! That's completely different from Berenice's schemes!"
But I was like a rabbit, scared beyond reason,只想 retreating back into its hole.
"No… I can't… I can't do it… I'm scared…" I was afraid of seeing doubt, afraid of rejection, afraid of this newly rebuilt world collapsing again.
Just as I was almost completely swallowed by my inner fear, my email notification chimed again.
Ding—
The sound was like a sliver of light, piercing through my thick wall of fear.
Trembling, I clicked open my laptop.
[Sender: Organizing Committee of the Independent Comic Convention]
[Subject: Final Convention Schedule & Meeting Confirmation]
The email body detailed the convention schedule. In the "Important Collaboration Meetings" section, it clearly stated:
[Time: October 16th, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM]
[Location: Meeting Room 12, Zone A]
[Meeting With: Representative from Mitchell Entertainment Project Development Department]
[Agenda: Discussion on potential collaboration for a social welfare project based on the The Dream Chaser IP.]
Below was a line in bold:
[Mr. Mitchell himself has expressed high interest in this project and may personally attend the meeting.]
Mr. Mitchell himself… may personally attend…
My breath hitched.
Would he go? As Hollywood's youngest golden boy producer, he doesn't usually involve himself personally in these preliminary convention meetings.
But if he does… This wouldn't just be a business meeting anymore.
If I don't go, I might miss the most important opportunity of my life, not just for my career, but for… the truth.
I sat before the computer, the cursor hovering between "Confirm Attendance" and "Request Online Participation."
I closed my eyes. Images flashed in my mind: Adrian's focused profile as he watched the films at the exhibition, the sincere light in his eyes when he talked about art, the disappointment and loneliness he must feel after being deceived by Berenice…
Finally, I opened my eyes and took a deep breath.
My fingertips stopped trembling. Slowly but firmly, I moved the mouse and selected—
[Confirm offline attendance for this meeting.]
Then, I pressed the "Send" button.