The whispers felt like a curse, buzzing relentlessly in her ears, stabbing her heart with unbearable pain.
After becoming Tiffany, Hannah had basked in glory, adoration, and praise.
When had she ever faced such humiliation?
When had she ever been so ruthlessly scorned by the very fans who once worshipped her?
All her efforts had co to nothing!
Hannah’s anger boiled over uncontrollably. She suddenly lifted her head and glared at the group of won gossiping about her. With sharp, purposeful steps, she stord toward them.
The two bodyguards exchanged tense glances. It was clear she was about to cause trouble.
Noticing Hannah’s approach, the won quickly stood up, their eyes wary of the furious woman wearing oversized sunglasses, her face contorted with rage.
"You have such great manners, don’t you? Sitting here gossiping about others! Let tell you, people like you are no better than . Jealous, aren’t you? Jealous because I’m an award-winning actress! Sour grapes!"
In her agitation, Hannah lost control of her words, her chaotic mind spilling her unfiltered thoughts.
"Jealous of you?" one of the won scoffed. "Who would be jealous of soone who clawed her way up with lies and n?"
The previous day, news of Hannah’s relationship with Matthew had broken, fueling rumors that she’d used unsavory ans to win her Golden River Award.
"Exactly! Sleeping around and voila—a Golden River Award in her hands!"
"Let’s get out of here. No need to waste ti with her. We’re just nobodies; she’s the ’big star,’" one woman muttered sarcastically to the others.
Hannah, trembling with rage, snapped, "Stop them!"
The bodyguards hesitated for a mont, glancing at each other. But the lure of money prevailed, and they moved to block the four young won.
A fiery woman in a red dress stepped forward, her temper flaring. "Oh, so you dare block us? Where does your ssed-up face get the courage? Move, or I’ll call the police, and your reputation will stink even more!"
Hannah sneered coldly. "Get their nas! I’ll send each of you a lawyer’s letter. You pack of dogs think you’re so important, don’t you?"
She had clearly picked up this tactic from Eric, but her execution was reckless.
The bodyguards exchanged grim looks. Hannah had truly lost it—her words made no sense at all.
The won burst into laughter, their fury turning to derision.
"Great! Sue us! We’ll wait for it. Do you think you’re still a star? Who would dare hire you now? An actress who sars and attacks pregnant won—no one wants anything to do with you!"
"Exactly! Go ahead and hit , Hannah! You called us brainless fans, didn’t you?"
"And now you call us dogs? You’ve gone too far! Get out of the entertainnt industry, Hannah! Stop polluting our sight!"
Hannah’s breathing grew ragged. The sight of the won’s moving lips and the venom of their words stabbed at her soul. The buzzing in her head intensified, driving her to the brink.
It felt as though the entire world was mocking her, looking down on her with contempt.
She imagined them all laughing, ridiculing her disgrace and downfall.
"Enough! Shut up, you bitches! Shut up—all of you, shut up!"
Hannah’s scream pierced the air as the dark voices in her head surged, drowning her in fury. Her vision distorted, and she saw the won’s faces twist into snarling demons, their long fangs ready to devour her whole.
"Ahhh! I’ll kill you! Don’t co near ! I’ll kill you all!"
Losing control, Hannah lunged at them, only to be restrained by her bodyguards.
"Miss, please, calm down! Miss, are you alright?" they pleaded, struggling to hold her back.
A once-glorious Best Actress, now reduced to trading insults with her fans—how could it co to this? While it wasn’t unheard of for celebrities in the entertainnt industry to argue or even fight with their fans, it usually involved minor stars who lacked fa but reveled in arrogance.
But Hannah? She was a Best Actress!
The two bodyguards, realizing the situation was spiraling out of control, desperately restrained her, risking termination to hold her back. But Hannah’s screams only drew more onlookers, and soon, a crowd gathered to witness the spectacle.
The hotel manager rushed over, hoping to calm the situation. However, Hannah’s outbursts grew even more hysterical, and she began lashing out at her bodyguards. She was utterly unhinged.
Left with no choice, the manager called the police. Hannah’s ntal state was clearly unstable, and this was the only way to protect the hotel from further loss.
After all, Hannah had already fallen from grace. Even involving the police would no longer risk offending anyone of significance.
In the end, the police escorted Hannah away.
She was sent to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation. When the report ca out, the public reacted with a collective sigh of pity.
Hannah had gone mad again.
This ti, her condition was far worse. She was never lucid, not even for brief monts.
The news reached Ella on the third morning after the incident. She had just finished breakfast and was sitting in a wicker chair on the front porch of her villa, reading the paper.
The day before, she had visited Grandma Davis, who was gravely ill. Despite being hospitalized, her condition showed no signs of improvent.
Grandma Davis’s advanced age had taken its toll—her stomach no longer functioned well, and her heart was failing. The doctors said she didn’t have much ti left.
Still, Grandma Davis was overjoyed to see Ella. She even tried to give her heirlooms like her bracelet, though Ella politely declined. The elderly woman didn’t insist and instead remained cheerful throughout the visit.
Back at ho, Ella’s emotions lingered, unsettled by the encounter.
Now, reading about Hannah’s ntal breakdown only deepened her reflection.
Life was so short—just a few decades. If one, like Hannah or Brianna, spent it scheming and calculating, only to end up like this, what was the point?
Or take soone like Grandma Davis. Though her life had been ordinary, she approached its end with a clear conscience. Such people, Ella thought, were far greater than the likes of Hannah or Brianna.
Even though Grandma Davis hadn’t been particularly kind to Ella in her youth, Ella could only feel a bittersweet lancholy now.
"What are you reading?" Eric’s voice brought her back to the present. "Tomorrow is the ultrasound—are you nervous?" he asked, slipping an arm around her shoulders with a smile.
Ella raised an eyebrow. "Not at all. I’m confident that our baby will be perfectly fine!"
Her warm smile, paired with the golden light in her eyes, was so radiant that it made Eric’s heart swell with happiness.
Early winter had arrived, with more than two weeks left until January 1st.
Eric had already taken care of all the wedding arrangents.
Ella had chosen her ring, and given her pregnancy, they had decided on a simple ceremony—sothing she didn’t see as a regret.
"Yes, the baby will be fine," Eric said gently. "How about a walk?"
Ella stood with a graceful nod, linking arms with him as they strolled toward the small plaza outside.
The trees on either side shed their golden leaves, which swirled gently in the crisp air under a sky of brilliant blue.
Hand in hand, they walked, their occasional laughter ringing out like the sweet chi of silver bells.
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