Viper Strikes Back

Soon, it was evening.

From the live broadcast shown on my television, Samantha was the one who was awarded the best female leading actress even though she was absent from the event. The MC announced that someone else would accept her prize in her stead. These words caused a stir in the audience, and everyone knew what the significance of that would be.

Everyone in the industry knew that Samantha was Zephyr's first love, which he couldn't get since they were in school.

The very first artist Zephyr had signed under his entertainment label was Samantha, and he'd been protecting her ever since.

Meanwhile, I was seen as the villainess who got into his bed using any means she could, tearing the fairytale couple apart.

However, Zephyr's attitude was the only thing I cared about. He had promised me that he and Samantha were only colleagues, and that he wouldn't overstep any boundaries with her. Samantha could've let her assistant take the award in her stead, after all.

The next second, I saw a handsome and tall man stand up from his seat. He smoothed out the wrinkles in his coat and walked towards the stage under everyone's gazes, accepting the prize. With his deep voice, he said, "A big thank you to everyone, and for Samantha's fans for always being so supportive of her. In my heart, she'll always be the best!"

He didn't care how people were going to mock me after this. At that very moment, all he cared about was Samantha.

The sky was dark outside, and only starlight came in through the windows. It was only August, but it felt like winter was right at my doorstep.

Suddenly, Daphne dashed out of her room and grabbed her phone, completely ignoring me. She didn't spare another glance at the table filled with delicious food and cake, dragging along a ribbon with her foot before leaving it by the rubbish bin.

Then, she made her way to the front door and stepped on my favorite white shoes as hard as she could, before leaving. She knew those shoes were my favorite, and this was a clear signal from her that she wanted to destroy everything I loved, and for me to see how terribly she hated me.

I grabbed my phone, and there still wasn't a single message. Everyone had forgotten that today was my birthday.

I couldn't help but recall my birthday last year, when Zephyr excused himself for work and Daphne locked herself in her room, leaving me to eat an eight-inch cake all by myself.

I carefully planned their birthdays, but when it came to me, it was like I was a laughable jester playing a monologue. At that moment, I felt like I was just a joke.

Standing up, I tore all the balloons down from where they landed, throwing the forks and knives into the rubbish bin and flushing the food down the toilet.

After everything was done, I heard a notification from my phone. It was Zephyr, saying that he'd come home later because he had a meeting at the company. I was going to reply, before I saw a post from Samantha on social media.

Her caption?

"After everything is said and done, and no matter how much time passes, the people you love will still be there."

By her side lay a beautifully decorated box, and I didn't even need to zoom in to know that it was the one I had told Zephyr about the day before.

After that, my timeline refreshed, and I saw a post from my daughter.

"My idol's the best leading actress! Gosh, if only she were my mom instead… Look at these pictures. Don't we look like one happy family?"

Attached to her post were four of her selfies. In one of those selfies, Zephyr and Samantha was holding each other close, and there was a four-tier cake in front of them along with employees and staff.

Oh, so that's what he meant when he said he had a meeting at the company.

I couldn't help but laugh as I looked at the pictures of Samantha, feeling the pain in my heart.

She was three years younger me, and in the period of life where she was the most attractive. Her allure showed clearly in her features and her devilish figure, and it wasn't difficult to see why so many were attracted to her.

I was reminded of one of my past birthdays, when she had posted on social media talking about how it was a day suitable for getting drunk. As if on cue, Zephyr made a random excuse and left in a hurry. It was a stormy day, so I followed after him later to give him an umbrella, only to see him coming out with Samantha from a bar. The rain completely drenched his shoulders, but he used his jacket to protect her instead.

That moment, I could only mock myself as I saw my reflection in the car window. If it were me, he probably wouldn't have been able to wrap his jacket around half of me.

I used to be one of the most beautiful artists in the industry, suiting any style and outfit there was, while my figure was rare even by the industry's standards. I was even asked by modeling companies to model for them, paying me unimaginable amounts to walk on the catwalk.

However, everything changed after I gave birth to my daughter. My body inflated like a balloon, and no amount of exercise worked as I continued to become fatter and fatter.

I could feel Zephyr's attitude towards me change by the day. He used to try to satisfy my every need, but now he seemed to be completely ignorant of me, and even seemed to hate me.

He hadn't even touched me for more than a year by now, but I continued to serve this house earnestly. It seemed, however, that what I did was taken for granted.

Perhaps it was only after one obtained true love that they'd realize it was slipping from their fingers.

I gave both the posts I saw a like, before sending the screenshot of it to my husband.

"What a waste. You could have gotten an 20% discount if you bought the whole set."

After that, I switched off my phone and started packing my luggage.