Reborn as Mr.CEO’s Fat Wife
Chapter 895: He Hasn’t Forgotten Her, But Not Because of Love

Chapter 895: Chapter 895: He Hasn’t Forgotten Her, But Not Because of Love

Mary Scott stepped out of the studio to find herself summoned to the agent’s office by a phone call.

"How do you intend to handle this?" Miss Spencer asked bluntly as soon as Mary walked in.

Though labeled Mary’s agent, Miss Spencer had almost never managed her affairs, recalling she had someone like Mary only after Mary’s marriage to Director Locke caused her popularity to soar. It was only then she started arranging work for her, aiming solely at extracting Mary’s current value, taking whatever offered more money.

The slightly better quality gigs Mary had were ones Mary secured herself through her fame or were handed to her by brands giving face to Director Locke. A good example was today’s LG women’s wear ad shoot.

Now, suddenly summoned to the office by Agent Spencer, Mary Scott almost didn’t have to guess why she’d been called. Hearing the straightforward question, she frowned slightly, "What does Miss Spencer want me to do?"

"Naturally, clarify the rumors," Jocelyn Spencer said, looking at Mary. She never liked Mary, even less so now, but she cared about interests more than letting her slip into obscurity.

Thinking about the resources Mary had brought to Starlight on her own, plus the doubled commission, Jocelyn really didn’t want Mary to crash and burn so soon. If she could, she’d like Mary to cling to Director Locke as long as possible, wringing out all remaining value over the remaining months of the contract.

Hearing Jocelyn’s words, Mary said nothing. Clarify? How? There was no way she could clarify!

Seeing Mary’s silence, Jocelyn, recalling Charlotte’s words, had a fair idea that the rumors outside were mostly true. In other words, Mary and Director Locke’s divorce was real. A look of disdain flashed in her eyes. She thought Mary might have improved, but it seemed she was still useless, marrying the man only to let such a big fish slip away, how foolish!

"Now, the company offers you two solutions. First, get Director Locke to clarify personally; second, pay to remove the news and hire ghostwriters to distract public attention; which do you think is feasible?"

Mary, upon hearing this, felt having David Locke clarify for her was impossible. The first option was a non-starter, leaving only the second one. Though unlikely, she still probed, "Is the company paying for this?"

"Ha." Jocelyn seemed to have heard a colossal joke and chuckled lightly, "What do you think?"

Mary forced a smile, then there was no choice at all.

Seeing Mary’s reaction, Jocelyn silently cursed her for being poor, then handed over a notice, "Attend this variety show the day after tomorrow. Don’t say I didn’t look after you."

Taking the contract, Mary’s brows furrowed. She indeed had work the day after tomorrow, but it was not this unheard-of "Detectives and Wilderness"; it was "Detectives and the Secret Room". Though the names sounded similar, the latter was a currently popular show. She got the invite, albeit just as a guest, due to her marriage to David Locke, which was nothing this unheard-of show could compare.

"Miss Spencer, isn’t this inappropriate? I’m scheduled to record ’Detectives and the Secret Room’ the day after tomorrow; there’s a schedule conflict." Mary looked directly at Jocelyn.

Jocelyn glanced at her, "Oh, that ’Secret Room’? You don’t need to go; the company has other plans."

"But..."

"The scandal has not been without its toll on the company, you should be grateful for any gigs you get. Don’t be so ungrateful." Jocelyn was certain Mary had a falling out with Director Locke, and without power or connections, a small-time actress had no choice but to be under her thumb.

Mary turned pale and gripped the contract tightly, hearing Jocelyn casually add, "This variety show is a six-episode deal. You’d better prepare; someone will contact you soon."

Ignoring Mary henceforth, signaling her to leave, she dismissed her.

Teeth clenched, Mary left the office, glanced briefly at the contract which mentioned six episodes for thirty thousand each, but a breach penalty of three hundred thousand.

It meant even if she didn’t want to, she had to accept.

The pay was less than a newbie’s starting rate.

Mia Anderson looked at the contract and was shocked, "Mary, this is bullying!"

Mary said nothing. She’d encountered similar situations before, but with the contract still active, she could do nothing but endure.

Shortly after they left, Charlotte Leigh emerged from the lounge in Jocelyn’s office, and Jocelyn handed over the "Detectives and the Secret Room" contract originally meant for Mary, to Charlotte.

Charlotte took it excitedly, hugged Jocelyn’s arm, and playfully said, "You’re the best, Miss Spencer!"

"Glad you know, don’t mess up with Mr. Lamb tonight." Jocelyn reminded.

Charlotte quickly agreed, then asked, "And with Director Maltz..."

"Don’t worry. One commercial can’t be dictated by a single director. I’ll make sure you’re the sole female lead." Jocelyn assured confidently, she knew how to make it happen.

Charlotte, satisfied, flirted with Jocelyn a bit more, securing promised future resources before leaving the office. As she stepped out, Charlotte’s expression changed, especially thinking about the repulsive, overweight Mr. Lamb. Her stomach turned, but for the resources she wanted, she endured.

It fueled her animosity against Mary; how could a poor wretch carry such airs? Then and now. Lucky for her to snag Director Locke, but in the end, she was tossed aside. Thinking about "Detectives and Wilderness" and the upcoming audiovisual scene, Charlotte had a malicious smile; now she wanted to see how proud Mary could remain.

...

Mary left the company at nine in the evening, the world outside painted in a blanket of white snow; she hadn’t realized it was snowing, too focused on the shoot.

Stepping out, a gust of north wind greeted her, sending a cold shiver through her, making her stomp her feet on the ground, warming her breath, then turned to tell Mia, "I’m leaving now, you should head home early too."

"Mary, I just checked that ’Wilderness Explorer’ show; it’s a nobody cares knockoff, and the director has a terrible reputation. There were even reports of accidents. Maybe you should just apologize to Director Locke..."

"Mia, go home early." Mary knew what Mia was hinting at, but he had outright told her last night he didn’t want to see her again. Wouldn’t seeking him out for an apology now be humiliating herself?

And, after yelling at him over the phone this morning, it’s a wonder he hadn’t blacklisted her, let alone helped her. How could he possibly?

She knew better than anyone that David’s marriage proposal was all about taking revenge on her.

Mia sighed helplessly, turned to catch her ride. The agency was very pragmatic; as soon as Mary’s news of divorce dropped, they didn’t even send a car. Mia saw Charlotte ride in the company van this morning.

But thinking about Mary’s current situation, Mia could only let it be.

Mary moved towards the bus stop. Tonight she planned to return to her brother’s place, as it was still relatively early.

Three months ago, Alfred Scott’s surgery had been a success, and he was discharged after a month in the hospital. Mary rented a two-bedroom apartment near his school, also hired a cook to take care of him, finding a temporary resting place for them both.

Due to multiple prior experiences with landlords evicting her, she made sure to sign a five-year lease when securing the apartment, and coupled with the expenditure on help for her brother, it exhausted all her earnings from recent gigs.

No matter what, Mary had to have work coming in; otherwise, she and her brother would face financial difficulties again.

As she walked to the bus stop, Mary contemplated her future steps. She somewhat regretted; had she known her marriage with David Locke would crumble so quickly, she wouldn’t have worried about owing him and would’ve asked him to pay that million in breach penalties, sign with the Best Actor Studio, slowly repay him, much better than being puppeted by Starlight into random variety shows.

Mary realized anything involving David Locke made her lose clarity.

Well, now she faced an uncertain future.

Mary opened her bank app, one-thousand-three-hundred left. After paying Mia this month’s salary, seven hundred would remain, paying off three thousand in credit, and she would have four hundred left.

Her latest advertisement fee’s arrival was still unknown; walking, Mary sighed heavily, unaware of the car trailing her until it honked impatiently several times. Turning, she saw the familiar car.

Mary froze, puzzled as to why David Locke was there. She stepped aside, wishing to avoid the car. Yet, the car window suddenly rolled down to reveal a face she both loved and hated.

Taking a deep breath, Mary looked at the man in the car, unclear of his intentions. It was nearly ten o’clock, the civil affairs office was closed, no chance for a divorce.

"Get in the car," David Locke commanded coldly, eyeing Mary’s thin coat and her shabby shoulder bag.

Mary didn’t move.

"I’ll say it once more, get in." He’d come to the Starlight lot planning to reshoot some film scenes, only to find the lack of actors and settings, seizing the opportunity with a strained expression, afraid of another rejection from the woman before him.

His greatest humiliation may well have been persistently coming back to her only to be repeatedly spurned, yet unable to stop himself.

Mary couldn’t understand why David was there, his intentions to make her get in. Given last night’s remarks and his cold resolve, she stood there unmoving.

But her lack of motion equaled his, causing blocked vehicles behind to honk with impatience, forcing her eventually, glaring at him, to comply, unwillingly getting into the car, yet the back door wouldn’t budge, and she heard his deep voice, "Front seat."

Exhaling, Mary moved to the front, opening the passenger side.

The moment she got in, Mary felt the warmth inside, the chill-turning-numb body waking under the heat, causing a shiver as she tried to distance herself as much from David as possible.

David sensed Mary’s aversion, his expression softened, starting the car, hearing her give an address beside him.

Taken as merely a chauffeur, Director Locke was speechless, "..."

Ignoring her instructions, he drove toward Rose Valley, causing Mary to panic, "I told Alfred I’d be home tonight."

His hand faltered, knowing about her younger brother. Back in high school they hardly met since Alfred was in middle school, until Mary abruptly wanted a breakup, claiming affections for another suitor. In youthful passion, David, disbelieving of such a sudden shift after their happy times, had until he witnessed firsthand.

Upon their breakup, she left for overseas, supposedly alongside that guy, vanishing until spotted on a R Nation film set later.

Recalling their encounters thereafter didn’t lift David’s mood, he assumed her departure for the better life, yet found her downfall years hence disheartening.

He was aware of Alfred at Swallow University, diagnosed with a brain tumor half a year ago. Her marriage acceptance had been about money.

With a deep breath, David changed course toward her given address.

Mary visibly relaxed, then his sudden question startled her, "Do you regret it?"

Living together over that time, countless times David wanted to ask but had considered it too brutal. This moment he couldn’t help himself, did she regret leaving him for that man? Was it regret for how dismally things went over the years?

Mary never imagined David would ask now; frankly, since their reunion she anticipated it, but when he hadn’t, she assumed the question was buried. She even internally asked herself, regretting during many harsh external winters, but what use was that?

It was the only choice she had then.

Mary remained quiet, the silence stretched only broken by the heating’s hum, until finally, she replied, "If saying I regret can make you hate me less, then indeed, I’ve regretted."

The regret was genuine, enduring those hard times supported by memories of them, with thoughts of returning to explain her side when she survived.

Returning as she did, life was consumed by survivability matters; love seemed too abstract in face of harsh reality, later catching wind of him transforming from celebrated campus heartthrob to revered director wanting countless suitors, her status downgraded to a low-tier actress, facing survival battles.

Attempts to reconnect went unrealized, who wasn’t aware of Director Locke’s notorious talent and romance, replacing women as often as clothes, tangled in rumors with every cast. Who was she? He’d forgotten her very name.

Where, then, could seek her chance?

Never again dared she hope, until their renewed crossing revealed his hatred still burned.

He remembered her not out of love, but bitter enmity.

Subsequent events felt dreamlike at times, marrying on unspoken terms harboring tender deceptive ends yet fostering in time forbidden desires, until those desires soured under ubiquitous rumors; it’s done now.

No more torture for each other.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.