Love Amidst Divorce Woes

The door to the private suite wasn’t fully closed, and as a group of people passed by, I thought I caught a glimpse of my dad. Pretending I wanted to play hide and seek with Sylas, I waited for him to close his eyes, then quietly slipped away.

Trailing the group, I found my way back to the suite where Mom and the others were. I hid in a corner, watching my dad and a few young men line up in the center of the room. The agent, with a face full of fawning smiles, was addressing the people seated on the sofas, "Joanna, Mr. Duncan, all of you esteemed executives, I heard you’re launching a major new production. These are my newly signed artists—they’ve got the looks and the physique. If they get a role, they’re bound to become stars."

He especially highlighted my dad: "Especially this one—does he look familiar? Yusuf Ross, who shot to fame five years ago with his debut film 'The Alps.' Unfortunately, he stepped away for a few years, but now he's making a comeback. The talent is still there, execs, give him a chance!"

"Yusuf Ross?" Mr. Duncan pondered for a moment, then slapped his thigh in realization. "Ah, I remember. Back then, he was quite the sensation, trending everywhere on social media, called 'the eternal heartthrob' and 'boy wonder.' But time waits for no one, and now the boy’s turned middle-aged."

The men burst into laughter.

"Come on, that’s not fair," the agent responded awkwardly but still smiled ingratiatingly. "He was just 20 then, and now he’s only 25, the perfect age for an actor."

"The perfect age? With 18- and 19-year-olds popping up all the time, who cares about those past their prime?" Mr. Duncan turned to my mom with a flattering smile, "I think Sylas from Joanna's agency would be great for the second male lead. What do you think?"

My mom didn’t answer. She just lifted her head and stared coolly at my dad. Under such an intense gaze, my dad’s face turned beet red, unsure of where to put his hands and feet.

The agent, sensing an opportunity, doubled down on his sales pitch: "Joanna, why not have him stick around tonight, keep you company? Yusuf here is nothing if not obedient and reliable…"

"Enough."

I couldn’t hold back any longer. Jumping out from my hiding spot, I pointed a finger at the agent, "You’re a jerk!" I then pointed to Mr. Duncan and the rest of the men on the sofa, "Jerks! You’re all jerks! You can’t push my dad around!"

My outburst stunned the room, and everyone looked as if their eyes might pop out. They glanced back and forth between me, my dad, and my mom, taking a while to piece together the connection.

Seeing me, my dad’s eyes widened, fury overcoming his fear of my mom, as he shouted, "Carolina, did you seriously bring our daughter to a club?!"