When the Sugar Baby Shut Her Heart Away
My sugar daddy, however, was Rupert Sterling, the man who could make or break careers in the city with a single phone call.
In my past life, Id been a desperate, dramatic fool. Hired as a stand-in, Id tried to scheme my way into the leading role, to push out the woman I was meant to imitate.
Id even faked a pregnancy and stormed the Sterling mansion to demand a title, earning his ultimate disgust and losing the shield of his protection.
In the end, hunted by my rivals, I met a cold, watery grave in the unforgiving ocean.
When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn on the exact day Id tried to force Rupert into a proposal.
The very day his affection had first curdled into contempt.
"Mr. Sterling, when are we going to..."
Ruperts brow furrowed slightly as he glanced at me.
"Going to what?"
"Go... go our separate ways! I meant, when are we over?"
1
Rupert said nothing.
But the icy mask of his expression seemed to mock me, a silent reminder that I had no right to make that decision.
A man born into power, he was used to being in control.
Even if he didn't love me, this relationship was supposed to end on his terms, and his alone.
Sensing the dangerous shift in the air, I scrambled to recover.
"Kelly Lister is back in town, isn't she? Id hate for her to be unhappy seeing someone else by your side."
I was Kelly Listers double. In the tabloids, they called me "Little Kelly."
It was this face, a near-perfect copy of hers, that had caught Rupert's eye all those years ago.
Now, the original was back. There was still time to fix things.
I would never again fight for his attention or try to sideline the real star.
And I would certainly never again be foolish enough to dream of becoming Mrs. Sterling.
My new strategy was simple: play the part of the considerate mistress, end things amicably for my benefactor's sake, and walk away.
Who knew? Maybe Rupert, pleased with my good sense, would toss a mansion my way as a parting gift.
I looked at him, my eyes wide with manufactured hope.
But at the mention of Kellys name, Ruperts expression darkened. "Don't mention her to me," he said, his voice laced with ice.
Oh, right. At this point in time, Kelly had just returned but hadn't bothered to contact him.
He was simmering with a quiet rage.
And I had just walked straight into the line of fire.
I quickly bowed my head. "I'm sorry, Mr. Sterling. I overstepped."
His deep, unreadable eyes studied me for a long moment.
Seeing my performance of a docile little thing, he let out a short, sharp scoff. "Behave yourself," he said. "I won't mistreat you."
Behave yourself was a clear warning: Don't go near Kelly Lister.
As for not mistreating me... that was the truth.
Rupert was incredibly generous. He showered me with jewelry and cash without a second thought. Any acting role I wanted, he delivered on a silver platter.
The gossip blogs always say, where the money flows, so does the love.
Thats why, in my last life, Id naively believed there was a place for me in his heart.
Id become arrogant, entitled, making enemies everywhere and creating drama at every turn.
It all culminated in me showing up at his family's estate waving a forged pregnancy test.
At the time, Rupert was in the middle of a vicious power struggle with his illegitimate half-siblings, and my stunt became a public relations nightmare for him.
With that single act, I had exhausted the last shred of his patience.
Hed cast me aside completely, revoking his protection.
The memory of the bone-chilling water filling my lungs, the suffocating darkness... a violent shiver ran through me.
I instinctively burrowed deeper into the solid warmth of Rupert's chest.
"I'll be good, Mr. Sterling. I promise."
And faking it was easy.
If I just locked my heart away and treated him as my boss, what was the difference between this and a regular job?
The seven-figure monthly allowance was my salary.
The jewelry and designer bags on holidays were my corporate bonuses.
His handsome face was just a perk of the work environment.
The blockbuster TV shows he funded for me were like company-sponsored MBAs, designed to boost my skills and public profile.
And when the day came that Rupert grew tired of me...
He was a man of his word. He wouldn't treat a woman who'd been with him poorly.
The breakup fee would be my generous severance package.
What a great company! What a great boss!
2
"What are you smiling about?"
Ruperts voice jolted me from my reverie.
I realized Id been grinning like an idiot and quickly schooled my features. "Nothing... I wasn't smiling."
He gently pushed me away, straightening the collar of his shirt Id wrinkled. "I'm taking you to a party tonight," he said. "Dress nicely."
In my past life, this was the night of my first face-to-face battle with Kelly.
I had worn a couture gown Rupert had gifted me, only to find Kelly in the exact same one.
Her friends had swarmed me, calling me a cheap imitation, a knock-off.
Id lost my temper and started a fight.
In the chaos, Id even pushed Kelly over when she tried to intervene.
Rupert had been genuinely furious. Hed given me the silent treatment for a whole month, a month Id spent in lovesick agony, begging for his forgiveness.
This time, I wouldn't go anywhere near Kelly.
It wasnt that I feared his cold shoulder.
It was mostly... that I was afraid hed cut off my allowance for a month, just like last time.
As I was getting ready, I stood before my closet, picking out a dress.
That white gown that had caused all the trouble was definitely out.
But just as I was about to put it aside, a low voice came from behind me.
"Wear that one."
Rupert was standing in the doorway of the walk-in closet.
His tone left no room for argument. I had no choice but to obey.
When I came out, dressed in the gown, his gaze lingered on me for an unusually long moment. "You look good in white," he complimented.
It just made me look more like Kelly.
Hah. Men.
The moment we arrived at the party, Rupert was mobbed by a crowd of admirers, leaving me to fend for myself.
Bored, I looked for a quiet corner to hide in.
But Kellys friends found me first.
"You have some nerve, wearing the same dress as Kelly. Who do you think you are?"
I scratched my ear, pretending I hadnt heard them.
Kelly, however, approached with a gentle smile. "You must be the woman with Rupert, right? This dress is one of only two in the world. Its priceless. Did he give it to you? He must really like you."
Then she lowered her head, her eyes suddenly welling with tears.
If Rupert was my boss, Kelly was the untouchable boss's wife.
Besides, I had no reason to make enemies and repeat my tragic fate.
I smiled back. "Ms. Lister, don't misunderstand. Mr. Sterling specifically told me to wear this dress tonight. I think he brought me here to make you jealous."
Rupert never took me to these events.
For him to do so on the very night Kelly was back in town... it was obviously a power play meant to provoke her.
I didn't mind being the pawn that pleased both sides.
"Stop with the innocent act!"
One of Kelly's friends shoved me hard. I stumbled backward, crashing into a waiter carrying a tray of drinks.
I didn't fall, but red wine splashed all over my white dress.
A good amount of it splattered onto Kelly as well.
The scene was ugly.
Only now did I realize just how mortifying it had been to get into a public brawl in my past life.
Rupert arrived just in time to see the aftermath.
The women were huddled around Kelly, comforting her while eagerly throwing me under the bus.
"Kelly just happened to be wearing the same dress! Did you have to ruin hers over it?"
3
Rupert shot me a glacial look, then his eyes softened as they landed on Kelly.
Her eyes were red and puffy, and she looked utterly fragile. "Rupert, don't blame her," she whispered pitifully.
What a massive accusation. I wasn't about to take the fall for this.
"The waitstaff must have seen everything," I said, my voice steady. "They pushed me first. I didn't start this. And besides..."
I pointed toward a security camera mounted on the ceiling. "The camera will have the truth."
"Well... it was your fault for showing off the dress Mr. Sterling bought you! You were trying to provoke Kelly!"
So, no matter what, it was my fault.
All eyes turned to Rupert, waiting for the king to pass judgment.
He took off his suit jacket and draped it over Kellys shoulders.
"Wear this for now," he said gently. "I'll have someone take you to get changed. I'm sorry."
Of course. The scales of affection always tip one way.
Even if I proved my innocence, he would always protect his darling.
But that didn't matter to me anymore.
Ruperts face was a mask of thunder as he dragged me to the car.
The second the door slammed shut, he yanked at his tie. "Stay the hell away from her," he hissed, his voice dangerously low.
In my past life, this scene had played out countless times. And what did I do?
I cried. I played the victim.
But now, I just said calmly, "Mr. Sterling, it shouldn't be hard for you to see that I was the one who was bullied tonight."
He was clearly stunned by my rational, emotionless response. He stared at me for a moment before replying, "I know, but Kellys family was there. I had to protect..."
"I understand," I cut in, a serene smile on my face. "But I can't be humiliated for nothing, can I? As compensation, how about you give me that S-plus blockbuster script?"
In my previous life, Kelly had skyrocketed to fame with that very role. I had been sick with envy.
I had begged Rupert for it, but he had refused, saying my acting skills weren't strong enough for a major production.
Please. Was Kelly's acting really that much better? The woman could barely hide her triumphant smirk when he gave her his jacket.
Ruperts lips thinned into a hard line. After a long moment of consideration, he finally said, "Fine."
I pressed my advantage, pointing to the wine stain on my dress.
"And you owe me a new dress. Cash would be preferable."
Rupert might not have been a good partner, but he was certainly a considerate boss.
He agreed without hesitation.
But his gaze remained on me, sharp and probing, for a long time.
The drive home was silent.
Normally, I would be chattering away, annoying him until he snapped at me to shut up.
But now, I was happily scrolling through diet-food videos on my phone.
I completely ignored the daggers he was shooting at me from the driver's seat, and the pointed, attention-seeking clearing of his throat.
Hehehe. This was bliss.
After a long day at "work," I was exhausted.
The moment we got home, I abandoned Rupert and dove into the bathroom for a long, fragrant shower. I snuggled into my blankets, humming with contentment.
I didn't get his slippers. I didn't run his bath.
Rupert's expression grew even darker than it had been at the party.
He started making a racket, slamming his phone on the nightstand, leaving the bathroom door open while he showered, the sound of rushing water filling the room.
It was so distracting that I finally put on my headphones to watch my show in peace.
When he was done, he climbed into bed and, out of habit, stretched his arm out towards me.
Oh, right. That was my fault. I used to shamelessly use his arm as a pillow, and now it was a reflex for him.
I just rolled over, pretending I hadn't seen a thing.
Click.
As the breathing beside me grew heavier, the lamp was slammed off.
Three seconds later.
Click.
The light was on again.
Rupert shot up in bed, his jaw clenched. "Ava Reed," he ground out through his teeth. "What in the hell are you so angry about?"
4
Huh? I was being blamed again?
I scrambled to sit up, putting on my best customer-service smile for the boss. "Angry? Why would I be angry? You gave me a major role and a pile of cash. I couldn't be happier!"
"You..."
He seemed genuinely furious now. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me close until our faces were inches apart. "You're happy about this?"
So being angry was wrong, and being happy was also wrong?
This boss was impossible to please.
I quickly laid on the charm. "With a boss as generous as you, Mr. Sterling, of course I'm happy!"
Rupert narrowed his eyes, his grip on my wrist tightening.
"What did you just call me?"
"Boss..."
That was it. He was officially furious. His eyes were like chips of ice.
He stared into my eyes for a long, tense moment, as if searching for something he couldn't find.
I started to feel a prickle of fear under his intense gaze and quickly looked down.
Suddenly, a hand clamped around my waist. In one swift motion, he pulled me down, and I was lying flat on my back again.
He rolled on top of me, his lips brushing against my ear. His voice was like poison. "Fine," he whispered. "Then you can work some overtime tonight."
I didn't know what possessed Rupert that night.
All I remembered was a desperate, almost punishing passion.
The next morning, I woke up with every muscle in my body aching.
I could barely focus on my script, yawning through every line.
Filming started in three months; I had to be ready. I couldn't let this blockbuster IP, the one that had made Kelly a superstar in my past life, fail in my hands.
Even during breaks on a commercial shoot, I was studying my character's psychology and memorizing lines.
My agent, Catherine, came over to me. "Ava," she said, "you've been different lately."
"Different how?"
"Well... a lot nicer."
I hated Hollywood. It had destroyed the starry-eyed girl who had once dreamed of being an actress.
So, in my past life, I had loathed my job.
When a director with a short fuse yelled at me, Id use Rupert's name to storm off set, letting the whole production crash and burn.
When the paparazzi ambushed me, Id charge them, smash their expensive cameras to pieces, and have my lawyer follow up.
When a young co-star tried to give Rupert a cake during a set visit, Id have her fired immediately and then publicly call her out on social media.
Everyone knew I was a nobody with an ego the size of a planet. My reputation was in the gutter.
When you fall from grace, even the dogs will bite. In the end, I never even found out which of my many enemies had me killed.
But in this life, I wasn't making enemies.
The director yells at me? I put my hands together and bow. "I'm so sorry, director. Can we please do one more take?"
The paparazzi snap my picture? I bring them coffee. "Working hard, guys? Make sure you get my good side, okay?"
A young actress brings a cake? I give her pointers. "Mr. Sterling prefers lime-flavored. Just a tip for next time."
My public image was soaring.
Gleefully, I opened up my social media to bask in the trending topics about myself.
But the first thing I saw was a headline that made my blood run cold: Ava Reed Steals Role.
The entire feed was a flood of outrage from Kelly Lister's fans.
My carefully rebuilt reputation crumbled in an instant.
Before filming had even begun, the comments were already filled with calls to boycott the new show.
As the online firestorm grew, I rushed to Rupert's office.
His secretary, who remembered my old diva antics, didn't dare stop me. She just stammered, "Ms. Reed, Ms. Lister is still in there."
Is she? Then I have even more reason to go in.
5
If Kelly Lister shed a single tear, Rupert would snatch this role away from me without a second thought.
I couldn't let that happen.
Kelly turned around as I entered. She was wearing heavy sunglasses, and her face was pale.
She pointed a slender, accusing finger at me. "Rupert, are you really going to take this from me for her?" she said, her voice trembling. "I know I hurt you back then, but isn't this revenge a little too cruel?"
My gaze went past Kelly to Rupert, who was sitting at his desk, his expression impassive.
The moment his eyes met mine, a flicker of indecision crossed his face.
It was over. He was going to give the role to Kelly.
I saw her sunglasses start to slip, revealing eyes already red-rimmed, a tear about to fall.
I had to act first. I captured Rupert's attention, my voice firm. "Mr. Sterling, you promised me this."
He tugged at the corner of his lip, annoyed. "You don't even like acting. This can't be that important to you."
"Of course it's important."
I held his gaze, refusing to back down. "Honestly, I understand you're in a difficult position. I never expected fairness from you. But this was your promise, and I have stayed up every night for the past month studying this script. You've seen how hard I've worked."
I had been reading until dawn every night. Not wanting to disturb Rupert, I had started sleeping in the guest room.
He'd put up with it for a few days, but after a week, he couldn't stand it anymore.
He had stormed into the guest room, snatched the script from my hands, and thrown it onto the bed in the master suite.
"You'll read it under my watch," he had grumbled. "I'd like to see what's in this thin little booklet that requires a week of your time."
Rupert despised incompetence. He had mocked my slow pace, but he had also coached me, pointing out where my understanding of the character's psychology was lacking.
He had witnessed my effort.
And it worked. The hesitation in his eyes began to fade, replaced by a look of deep curiosity.
He didn't say a word. He just buzzed his secretary and asked her to escort Kelly home.
Once we were alone in the office, he rubbed his temples. "You're not yourself lately," he said.
He was right. I didn't cling to him anymore.
In bed, I was passive, a silent partner offering neither initiation nor rejection, and certainly no emotional validation.
When Kelly called him, I would quietly excuse myself, closing the door behind me.
When he came home late, I was already sound asleep, getting my beauty rest instead of waiting up for him.
I couldn't help it. My days were packed: reading scripts, taking acting classes, managing my small investments.
And now, here I was, reasoning with him like a business partner, devoid of any emotion.
I smiled, and as a small reward, I leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "I'm busy, but I'm still obedient, aren't I? Boss."
Ruperts face soured. He waved a dismissive hand, telling me to leave.
But I knew him. After two years, I knew that look. The role was mine.
And sure enough, the trending topic vanished from social media.
The show's official account announced me as the female lead.
Mission accomplished. Nothing else mattered.
First, search for and download the MotoNovel app from Google. Then, open the app and use the code "301293" to read the entire book.
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