My Billionaire Built An Empire For Me Then Broke My Face For Her Chapter 03

My Billionaire Built An Empire For Me Then Broke My Face For Her Chapter 03

On the other end of the line, a cool, crisp voice spoke up.

“Miss Sterling, have you made your decision?”

“Yes. I’ve made my choice.”

“Good. Let me know when you’re ready, and I will come to Los Angeles to pick you up.”

Strangely enough, I could hear a faint trace of anticipation in Mr. Dupont’s otherwise composed tone.

Hanging up the phone, my thoughts drifted back three years.

I was the only daughter of the Sterling family. My parents had arranged an engagement with the Dupont family to secure my future inheritance of our estate. But I refused to marry a stranger, even though I knew he was a man of impeccable character and one of the few elites in high society who kept his hands clean.

So, I ran off to Los Angeles alone to break into Hollywood.

Without my family’s backing, however, making it in the entertainment industry was nearly impossible. I was relegated to playing background extras, nameless characters without a single line of dialogue.

During one audition, I narrowly escaped being sexually assaulted by a producer. Julian Black was the one who saved me.

Not only did he ensure the harassing producer was sent to prison, but he also landed me my first role—even if it was just a supporting part.

When Julian decided to step down and become my personal manager himself, the entire industry was shocked. Everyone assumed he was just experiencing a fleeting infatuation and would get bored eventually.

Yet, he stuck around for three years. He took full charge of my wardrobe, meals, housing, and travel. Every endorsement deal and script offer was personally vetted and hand-delivered to me by him. Whenever I started a new production, he would clear his entire schedule to be by my side.

Originally, I had planned to reveal my true identity to Julian after we wrapped this current film. I never expected things to take such a dark turn…

Since I had already decided to return home and honor the arranged marriage, I chose to retire from acting. I opened my laptop and drafted a retirement statement. I hadn’t hit send yet; I wanted to finish shooting this last movie before leaving.

The swelling on my face hadn’t completely gone down. The moment I stepped onto the soundstage, all eyes fell upon me. Their gazes were filled with mockery, pity, and mostly, gleeful schadenfreude. Keeping my head down, I quickened my pace toward the dressing rooms.

“Ms. Sterling.”

I stopped. A set dresser blocked my path, wearing a stiff, professional fake smile.

“The main dressing room has been reassigned per Mr. Black’s orders. It is now reserved exclusively for Miss Chloe. You will use that one instead.”

He pointed to the side. Following his finger, I saw a dilapidated door half-open next to a pile of junk. Inside were dusty prop boxes and discarded lighting rigs.

Ultimately, I said nothing and walked inside.

But after waiting a long time, as the call time for the next scene approached, my makeup artist still hadn’t shown up. I stood up to look for her, only to find her hovering beside Chloe, touching up her makeup.

I froze for a second. Spotting me, Chloe acted as if she’d just remembered something, covering her mouth with a snicker.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Ms. Sterling. I forgot to tell you. Julian gave your makeup artist to me. She’s my exclusive stylist now. He said my face is too precious, so I deserve the best makeup artist and the best products.”

She tilted her head, glancing to the side. Immediately, someone tossed several cardboard boxes at my feet. Cheap foundation tubes and low-grade eyeshadow palettes spilled out across the floor.

“Julian also mentioned that since you’re getting older, Ms. Sterling, we can just make do with whatever is available.”

Chloe stared at me, her eyes dripping with malicious intent.

I looked down at the pile of cheap cosmetics. Julian knew my skin was highly sensitive and required specific hypoallergenic brands. In the past, he wouldn’t even let me switch to a different brand without having the ingredients tested first.

I stood up and walked straight toward the soundstage.

“Ms. Sterling, you haven’t done your makeup yet!” someone called out behind me.

Without looking back, I replied coldly, “I don’t need it.”

Whispers immediately rippled through the crew.

“What diva behavior.”

“She’s in this state and still acting entitled? No wonder Mr. Black dumped her.”

Chloe’s smile didn’t falter. “It’s fine. Once she sees the new script, she won’t be so arrogant anymore.”

I stepped into the soundstage. The next scene was supposed to be a romantic confrontation between my character and the male lead. Settling my mind, I reviewed the script, but the actor playing the male lead was nowhere to be found.

Just as I was about to ask someone where he was, the director stormed over to me, furious.

“Evelyn!”

He grabbed my wrist and began dragging me outside. “What are you doing slacking off here?! How many times have I yelled for you? Are you deaf?!”

“Director, isn’t the next scene my dialogue with the male lead?”

With an impatient wave of his hand, he snapped, “Those scenes have been entirely cut. The next scene you’re shooting is the drowning sequence.”