No Trace of Love and Hate

When the car accident happened, my CEO brother and my actor fiancé instinctively shielded Alessia Bellucci, the delicate, beautiful flower they nurtured.

I was sent flying hundreds of meters. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day before my debut press conference.

In my past life, the moment I took a step closer to Nicholas Dumont, he immediately distanced himself, making a show of avoiding suspicion while publicly mocking me. I had never intended to use his fame to my advantage.

Even my own brother looked down on me, dismissing me as someone who relied solely on family wealth, unworthy of competing with Alessia Bellucci, who had risen without any backing.

And yet, now, they stood beside Alessia. One stood firm on the left and the other on the right, supporting her.

With the CEO’s influence and the actor’s endorsement, she soared to instant stardom.

I gave up completely. I booked a plane ticket and left, determined to start a new life abroad.

Three years later, Alessia swept the Best Actress Awards. At the ceremony, by coincidence, I was seated next to Nicholas.

He sneered at me.

"Even if you lost me, you shouldn’t have let yourself go. No man will ever take you seriously like this."

My brother regarded me with disappointment and shook his head.

"You had the nerve to leave back then. Why come crawling back now?"

But when I stepped onto the stage as the organizer’s future wife, the two of them froze.

——

"Alessia is only 21 and has already won three major awards. She’s the brightest star in the industry. Her future is limitless."

"I heard that she is engaged to the Best Actor, Nicholas Dumont. A handsome man and a beautiful woman. They are clearly a match made in heaven!"

"Not so fast! Matteo Vasquez from the Vasquez Group has booked every helicopter in the city to pull off the grandest confession for Alessia. We still don’t know who she’ll choose!"

The awards ceremony venue buzzed with excitement.

Just as I found my seat, I turned and caught sight of the cold and imposing Nicholas.

When he saw me sitting down, a flicker of surprise crossed his face. But the moment he realized what I was doing, his expression twisted into pure disdain.

"Don't sit here."

I frowned in confusion.

"Why?"

Nicholas lifted his head arrogantly, his tone laced with irritation.

"I'm confessing to the woman I love today. If you sit next to me, she might get the wrong idea."

"Why come back now?"

I glanced down at the invitation in my hand, about to answer, but before I could speak, a reporter beside me cut in.

"Mr. Dumont, there are rumors that you're proposing to Miss Bellucci today! Is it true? Can you confirm?"

A swarm of reporters surrounded us, their cameras flashing relentlessly. Nicholas’s voice carried a teasing edge.

"That’s a secret."

His ambiguous response instantly sent the press into a frenzy.

Amidst the commotion, a few sharp-eyed reporters turned their focus to me.

A young woman in a red hat blurted out, "Isn't this the Vasquez Family’s daughter who used to chase after Nicholas Dumont? I heard she insisted on debuting alongside him in pursuit of love and even spent a fortune to be his co-star. Then she vanished without a trace. Why is she suddenly back now?"

"Could it be that she heard Mr. Dumont is confessing today and refuses to give up? Is she here to chase after him again?"

The moment she finished speaking, every camera lens and pair of eyes zeroed in on me.

Under the harsh glare of the cameras, I simply smiled and waved.

"You’re mistaken. I have nothing to do with any of that. I was merely invited to attend the event."

Beside me, Nicholas let out a cold scoff.

"Drop the act. You deliberately arranged to sit next to me. Who knows what you're up to?"

He turned to face me fully, his voice laced with warning.

"I'm telling you now. If you dare do anything to hurt her, I won’t show you any mercy."