Get Out of the Cage

Suddenly, Jennifer slapped Melanie hard across the face.

Through her tears, Jennifer cried, "You know how unbearable it is to soak in cold water in this weather, so why did you deliberately give my stand-in expired milk tea? You made her sick, and now, she couldn't come to work! You did this to force me into the water, didn't you?"

Melanie touched her swollen cheek. Feeling wronged, she tried to explain, "I didn't! I don't even know who your stand-in is!"

The next second, Ken snarled, "Shut up! If you didn't do it, are you saying Jennifer is lying?"

A chorus of voices from the crowd chimed in to accuse Melanie.

"The stand-in isn't here, and Melanie happens to be the only one with the height, body type, and resemblance to Ms. Knowles who can be her substitute. What's her excuse for refusing?"

"Melanie made the mistake, and now everyone has to clean up her mess. How annoying!"

"She's so shameless! Ms. Knowles' stand-in didn't even press charges against her. That's more than generous. How does she have the nerve to refuse to take the stand-in's place?"

Ken shot Melanie a cold glare. "We could've wrapped up with filming today, but you're holding up the entire production."

Although Melanie hadn't done anything, she had been turned into everyone's scapegoat. She tried explaining several times, but no one would listen. They all continued berating her.

In the end, Melanie was forced to go into the water. The production couldn't finish shooting smoothly otherwise, and she didn't want to delay her departure.

Before stepping into the water after she dressed for the scene, Melanie looked at Ken.

"Forcing your girlfriend who just had a miscarriage into icy water. Do you even have a conscience, Ken?"

"Stop pretending! I've always taken precautions. You couldn't have been pregnant! Be good and cooperate. Once we wrap up filming, I'll take you to meet my parents."

"No, Ken. I'm leaving."

In four days, she'd be gone—they would never meet again.

Melanie was telling the truth, but Ken didn't take her seriously.

"Leaving?" he snorted. "Throwing a tantrum and going back to your family for a couple of days, only to come crawling back? Grow up and stop playing childish games!"

Growing impatient with Melanie's reluctance, he pushed her into the water.

The icy chill seeped through Melanie's body, bone-deep, making her shiver uncontrollably. The cold wind biting at her wet skin caused every cell in her body to tremble.

After multiple retakes due to errors, Melanie remained in the freezing water for far too long. Her limbs grew weak, her forehead burned with fever, and her vision blurred. Before losing consciousness, she caught a glimpse of Ken and Jennifer kissing each other affectionately beneath a sycamore tree.

How ironic.

Melanie was hospitalized with a high fever and passed out, remaining there from the 27th to the 29th.

For three days, Ken didn't visit her at all—not even once.

Her social media, however, buzzed non-stop with news about him and Jennifer.

[Ken spent 30 million to buy a 100-carat pink diamond ring for Jennifer, sparking engagement rumors.]

[Ken and Jennifer spotted on a romantic dinner date at a fine-dining restaurant.]

[Ken admits in an interview that he only shares intimate scenes with Jennifer on-screen.]

When Melanie was discharged and returned to her apartment, she crossed the 29th off her calendar.

That was when Ken showed up.

He pulled out a bracelet and hugged her from behind, his tone intimate as he tried to fasten it onto her wrist.

"I've been busy these past few days and couldn't get away to visit you at the hospital. I got you a gift. I got it just for you, so don't be upset anymore."

Melanie had seen the bracelet on social media. It was a freebie that came with the jewelry set he had gifted Jennifer.

Without a flicker of emotion, she pulled away. "Such a precious gift would be wasted on me. Why don't you just give it to Jennifer?"

"Are you jealous? Jennifer and I are just playing up our relationship for publicity. It's all work! You're my real girlfriend. I haven't seen you in days. Did you miss me?"

Ken smirked at her, as though everything was the same as always. Whenever they fought, he'd return like this as if nothing had happened.

He reached out to hug her, placing a mask over her face. When he looked at her again, his gaze carried the same tender affection he reserved for Jennifer.

"Baby, I love you so much. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you. Please stop being distant and make me sad, okay? My heart hurts so much!"

Ken looked at her—Melanie couldn't tell if he was speaking to her, or gazing past her while declaring his love for someone else.