Surprise Marriage to a Billionaire
Chapter 297: Sacrifice Anyone

Chapter 297: Sacrifice Anyone

Carla’s movie had become a global sensation, cementing her place as a superstar. The accolades poured in, her fan base skyrocketed, and the industry buzzed with her name. Yet, despite the glittering success, an emptiness lingered beneath her polished facade.

Renzo, her ever-observant manager, studied her as they settled into the comfort of her private car after a whirlwind mall tour and autograph signing. "What’s with the face? Isn’t this everything you’ve ever wanted? The fame, the recognition?" he asked pointedly.

"I’m happy, Renzo," Carla replied, her tone flat.

Renzo raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Now you suck at acting," he quipped, leaning back in his seat. Carla didn’t respond, releasing a long, weary sigh instead. Weeks had passed since her return, and the impatience gnawed at her. Everything was in place, but one key piece was still out of reach.

Her phone buzzed, and Renzo’s gaze flickered to the screen. "An unregistered number?" he noted with suspicion. Carla ignored his comment and answered the call.

"It’s me. They’ll move tomorrow," the voice on the other end stated coldly before the line went dead.

A slow, satisfied smile spread across Carla’s lips.

"Who was that?" Renzo asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Just spam. I blocked it," she replied with a casual smirk, swiftly tapping her phone as if to emphasize the point.

Renzo eyed her warily. "Tomorrow, we’re scheduled for the Atrium Mall event with the cast. If you’re not feeling up for it, we can cancel."

"Cancel?" Carla echoed, her tone suddenly upbeat. "Absolutely not. Tomorrow’s a big day, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world. In fact, I want to do something special for my fans. Get some giveaways ready... make it big."

Renzo nodded but kept his doubts to himself. Carla’s sudden cheerfulness felt out of place, but he knew better than to press.

As Carla gazed out of the window, her grin widened. Tomorrow, her carefully laid plans would begin to unfold. That woman would finally be out of the picture, and soon, Alexander would be crawling back to her...exactly where he belonged.

"Do you know where Mom is right now?" Carla suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

Renzo glanced at her, startled by the abrupt question. "Let me call her and-"

"Never mind," she interrupted, already dialing her mother’s number.

She waited briefly, then asked, "Can I see you now? Where are you?" A pause followed before she said flatly, "Alright, I’ll drop by now," and ended the call.

Her gaze shifted toward the window, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she exhaled deeply and said, "Let’s head straight to Haven Orphanage. I want to see my mom."

Renzo’s brow furrowed in surprise. "Are you sure about that?" he asked cautiously. She hadn’t set foot in that orphanage for years, not since the fire that changed everything.

"Yes," Carla replied firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

When they arrived at the orphanage, Carla hesitated for a moment, her hand gripping the strap of her bag tightly. She scanned the surroundings, noticing how much had changed since she last visited. The once-familiar place was now almost unrecognizable. Yet, the memories, the worst ones, clung to her like shadows.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the car and began to walk. Her eyes were drawn to the conservatory, now fully restored. She stopped in her tracks, staring at the structure that had once been reduced to ashes in the fire that haunted her childhood.

Without realizing it, her feet carried her toward it. The closer she got, the more vivid the memories, the crackling of flames, the suffocating smoke, the screams echoing in the chaos. Her steps faltered for a moment, but she pressed on, her expression unreadable as she approached the doors.

Carla’s fists clenched tighter as the haunting words echoed in her mind: "You must follow everything I say for you to live because the moment you fail, it will be the end of you..."

Those words had scarred her since she was eight, marking the day her life was ripped apart.

The fire wasn’t just a tragedy; it was the day everything she knew was destroyed. She met someone who reshaped her world into a nightmare, crushing her dreams and forcing her into a reality she never asked for.

Carla bit her lower lip and closed her eyes. That fire had started because of her. Her parents hadn’t made a fuss or pushed for a full investigation at the time, as, fortunately, no one had died.

"Hey, why are you standing there?" Her mother’s gentle voice cut through her thoughts, drawing Carla back to the present. Warm hands wrapped around hers, grounding her. She turned to see her mother’s soft smile, the lines of age and experience etched on her face.

"Are you thinking about that accident again?" her mother asked, her tone kind but firm. "It’s all in the past now, Carla. Don’t let it define who you are today. Everyone makes mistakes, but what matters is that we learn from them and strive to do better for ourselves and for the future."

She gave a faint smile and simply nodded. "Let’s go inside," she said, and the two of them walked in.

"Oh my... Carla, you’ve grown into such a beautiful young lady!"

As expected, she was famous, and everyone asked for photos with her, along with autographs. She kept her sweet smile for everyone, just as she always did.

But then, she noticed a particular boy quietly observing her from head to toe. She approached him and asked, "Do you also want a photo with me?"

He shook his head plainly. "My pretty sis is still the prettiest of all," he proudly remarked.

Carla’s eyebrows raised as she unknowingly scoffed. "Pretty sis?"

"Oh, hell yeah. She’s a prosecutor too! Prosecutor Rain Lancaster is our Pretty Sis, and she’s the best!"

"Philip! Come here and stop spouting nonsense!" Manager Wilma quickly approached.

"What nonsense? I’m just telling the truth! And I’m sure you agree that the prettiest of all is Pretty Sis Rain!" Philip reiterated.

Carla tried to compose herself, forcing a poker smile, especially since her mother was watching her closely. "It’s fine, Manager Wilma. He’s entitled to his own opinion," she said with a kind smile.

It was good she was a superb actress, capable of masking her irritation so effortlessly in front of others. Internally, however, she was seething. Pretty Sis Rain? The very name left a bitter taste in her mouth.

But Carla knew better than to let her feelings slip. Maintaining her image was crucial, and she had perfected the art of hiding her true emotions behind a flawless facade.

"Shall we, Mother?" Carla said sweetly, turning toward her mother and gesturing to move along. Her mother gave her an approving nod, clearly pleased with how Carla handled the situation.

As they walked away, Carla’s smile faded slightly, her nails digging into her palm. Rain Lancaster... Enjoy the spotlight while it lasts. Soon, you’ll see who truly deserves to shine.

Inside her mother’s office, Carla walked to the pantry and said, "I’ll prepare your favorite tea, Mom."

Her mother nodded and sat on her chair to look at some of the documents. "Your father will arrive soon to pick me up. He’ll be glad to see you. How about we three have dinner outside later?" her mother asked.

"That’s good for me," she simply answered as she prepared the tea. But before serving it, Carla grabbed the small bottle inside her pocket and put a drop into the tea.

That man promised her mother wouldn’t die from it, only become a bit sick, and assured her he had the antidote. It would only make her sick temporarily, as long as Carla continued administering the drops occasionally. She stared at the tea for a few seconds and bit her lower lip. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. In the end, she stirred it and then served it to her mother.

Carla’s hands trembled slightly as she set the cup down, but she quickly masked it with a serene smile. "Enjoy your tea, Mom," she said sweetly, stepping back to observe as her mother took the first sip.

Her mother gave an approving nod. "Perfect as always, Carla. You know exactly how I like it."

Carla forced a chuckle. "Of course, I do. It’s the least I can do." As her mother sipped leisurely, Carla clasped her hands behind her back, her mind racing. ’I had no choice. I can’t lose Alexander. It’s temporary.’

Her mother glanced up, her expression soft. "You’ve been such a blessing, Carla. Your poise, your talent everyone admires you. I’m proud to call you my daughter."

The words hit Carla harder than she expected, and for a brief moment, guilt threatened to surface. She pushed it down, reminding herself of her goal. This is bigger than guilt... or pride.

She had to keep what she bargained for. This was what she agreed to as soon as Rain would be out of the picture in Alexander’s life. She was willing to do anything and sacrifice anyone...