Cut You Off

My movie star girlfriend found fame, and the first thing she did was buy back the rights to my book to turn it into a TV series.

To make the show a hit, my girlfriend, who never engaged with the public, lowered herself to create a fake romance with a popular young idol.

The night filming wrapped, my book finally hit the trending list.

But it was followed by the idols name.

Matthew Sterling posted late at night:

Ive been touched by this book countless times. I never expected that, in the end, this book would belong to me. Thank you, Cathy, for helping me fulfill a dream!

Attached was the copyright transfer contract for The Runaway Raven.

The comments section erupted in teasing:

Matthew is exactly like the stubborn and passionate male lead in the book.

I bet Selene saw that in him too, which is why she gave him the book rights, right? So much love! Cathy and Matthew, lock them down tight!

Selene Blackwood quietly liked this comment.

It instantly went viral again.

I stared at the screen, trembling, my entire body collapsing to the floor.

Seven years of waiting, in this moment, finally released by my own hand.

Midnight struck, and Selene missed my birthday again.

Half an hour later, the sound of keys turning in the lock came from outside. Selene was back.

My gaze involuntarily drifted to the door. She casually tossed her coat onto the hanger in the entryway. Her eyes scanned the cake on the table, and her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

I was very busy today. Birthdays come every year; its fine to miss one.

Selene impatiently pulled out her phone and tapped a few times.

Ive transferred five thousand. Buy yourself whatever you want.

A pang of bitterness spread, my eyes growing hot.

It was always that same line.

But yesterdays entertainment news headline still readSelene lost a million-dollar endorsement just to make time to have dinner with Matthew Sterling.

In the past, I would have thrown a fit.

My tone was cold. Celebrating my birthday really isnt necessary. The book rights arent necessary either. And theres no need for us to be together anymore.

Selene froze for half a second, as if she hadnt registered it, and instinctively asked,

Just because of that book?

You wrote it when you were eighteen, the writing is so amateurish. What do you regret?

Forget it. If you insist on causing a scene, go ahead. Dont expect me to come looking for you this time.

A bitter laugh twisted in my heart. When had she ever swallowed her pride first?

Every time we argued because of Matthew, I was the one who always gave in.

But not this time.

I stood up, casually tossing the cake into the trash, and turned to go back to my room.

From outside, I heard a loud crash, like a glass smashing on the floor.

My steps didnt falter.

Hailing a cab, booking a hotel, checking in, arranging everything, it was already afternoon.

My phone vibrated. It was a message from the director.

Tonight was the celebration banquet for the show reaching the top of the ratings, and he had invited me to attend as the original author.

He was a good friend of my fathers, so I couldnt refuse.

As soon as I reached the private room door, a chorus of cheers came from inside:

Cathy and Matthew were together in college, they were each others first loves!

My hand, reaching to push open the door, paused. Selenes college boyfriend was Matthew Sterling?

Selene and I met at the orphanage.

When I was seventeen, Dad brought me home.

When I re-encountered Selene, all I knew was that she had an unrequited love from college.

Matthew Sterling feigned displeasure:

You guys shouldnt spread rumors. Cathy has a boyfriend, what if he misunderstands?

The words had barely left his lips before the room erupted in laughter:

Cathy doesnt have a boyfriend! Weve all seen it clearly these past six months, her heart only beats for you!

I also heard that Cathy specifically requested Matthew to be the male lead for this show!

I froze, my heart feeling like it was being squeezed tightly by something.

When Dad gave the director my novel, he immediately decided to film it.

As for Matthew, he clearly didn't fit the male lead's character profile at all. I had always assumed it was the director's decision.

It was Selene.

I looked at her. She was gazing at Matthew with a doting expression, a silent confirmation.

Matthews gaze swept around the room, then suddenly landed on me:

Oh, whos standing at the door? I thought it was some beggar, you scared me.

Seeing me, Selene frowned slightly, hesitating for a few seconds before looking at Matthew next to her.

An old acquaintance. He probably passed by, saw me, and came over to say hello.

Matthews lips slowly curled into a meaningful smile. He intentionally raised his voice:

Oh, I remember him. I saw him that day.

Cathy specifically went across half the city to buy me bubble tea, and he was standing in the shade of a tree diagonally opposite the tea shop, staring at us for a long time.

His eyes were red like a rabbits, almost crying.

What? You like Cathy?

A female assistant with her hair in a bun suddenly spoke up:

I remember now!

That was the day Matthew misunderstood and had a little spat with Cathy. Cathy later explained that he was a boy whose father threw him into an orphanage when he was little, and he even tried to seduce his teacher in middle school.

Another production assistant looked at me, shaking his head in disgust:

I never would have thought he looked so innocent, but secretly hes so promiscuous? Clearly someone without proper upbringing.

No wonder he dared to show up here, trying to use the same old tricks to cling to Cathy again?

At those words, the surroundings fell silent for a few seconds, their gazes at me filled with unconcealed contempt.

I stood frozen, my thoughts drifting uncontrollably back to that year in eighth grade.

My homeroom teacher, under the guise of tutoring, tricked me into coming to her house.

It was Selene who sensed something was wrong, kicked open the door, and rescued me.

But from then on, rumors spread rapidly, saying I had actively seduced the teacher, that I was indecent.

I stared at Selene in disbelief.

She had clearly seen me crying, trembling uncontrollably, curled up in a corner, unable to move.

She abruptly averted her gaze, her eyes darting away, utterly unwilling to meet mine.

Matthew Sterling quietly walked beside me, feigning to put a hand on my shoulder, his voice with a false tenderness:

Dont blame Cathy. I misunderstood your relationship with her back then, and she only mentioned a few things to me. I didnt expect others to overhear and spread it.

Cathy is always like that; she cant bear for me to be upset.

I subtly pulled my hand away, suppressing the emotions deep inside. My eyes just werent feeling well that day; I looked a bit longer.

Selene and I are just casual acquaintances. You dont need to worry about it.

Hearing my words, Selenes mouth moved, as if to protest.

But Matthew quickly grabbed her wrist, pulling her back to their seats.

The celebration banquet wasnt over, but I quickly left.

Hasty footsteps sounded behind me; it was Selene, chasing after me.

Seeing my reddened eyes, a flicker of pain crossed her gaze.

I already told you, this is just for work right now. Otherwise, I would have announced us already.

That day, if you hadnt kept staring at me, and everyone misunderstood, why would I have said anything?

I gave a self-deprecating laugh. She must have forgotten long ago.

Actually, I had messaged her that day too, saying I wanted that bubble tea shops tea, but she never replied.

When I arrived, I saw her, smiling, handing a cup of bubble tea to Matthew.

I messaged her again, and she quickly looked down and replied, no time.

I no longer wanted to argue with her, and I continued walking out.

Selene instinctively tried to catch up with me, but her phone rang in her pocket.

She answered, her voice instantly softening:

Matthew, dont be scared, Im coming right away.

With that, she hesitated for a few seconds, looking in my direction, but ultimately turned and hurried away.

The next morning, a news headline Selene Blackwoods Boyfriend Identity Exposed, Its Not Matthew Sterling! shot to the top of trending topics.

The accompanying image was a photo from a few years ago, of me and a newly debuted Selene eating street barbecue.

Immediately after, a second headline followed: Matthew Sterling Allegedly Drowns His Sorrows Late at Night, Claims He Doesnt Want to Disturb Anyone!

I tapped my phone screen, and over a hundred missed calls from Selene popped up.

The moment I answered, her furious shouts blasted through the receiver:

Adrian Hollander! Are you insane? Do you really want me to announce us so badly? Do you have to make it public knowledge?!

Now the company is threatening to cut all ties between me and Matthew. Are you satisfied now?

I gripped the phone, my heart sinking bit by bit, and simply hung up.

I really didnt want to explain to her anymore. When it came to Matthew, she never believed me.

But the next second, Selenes clarifying statement once again rocketed to the top of trending topics.

Mr. Adrian Hollander and I are merely casual acquaintances. In the past, seeing his unfortunate circumstances, I occasionally offered assistance. I never expected him to relentlessly pursue me recently.

I am currently seriously pursuing Matthew Sterling, so all my actions are voluntary and have nothing to do with Adrian. I hope everyone will not involve him.

The comments section was instantly flooded with blessings for them and insults for me:

Waaah, Cathys favoritism is only for Matthew! Please, some people, stop being so delusional and trying to butt in!

Adrian Hollander? I know him, he was already trouble in middle school, tried to seduce his homeroom teacher, and now he wants to climb the social ladder by clinging to Selene?

The insults that followed grew increasingly vile.

Someone had leaked my phone number, and I received countless abusive texts.

Just then, I heard a commotion of footsteps and voices outside the door:

Checked the records, Adrian Hollander is right here!

The next second, with a loud BANG, the door was violently smashed open.

A group of enraged fan-shippers rushed in like mad. I tried to explain, but they kicked me to the ground.

Thats what you get for interfering with Cathy and Matthews relationship! The unloved one is the homewrecker!

Cathy loves Matthew so much, do you think shed compromise? Dream on!

Fists and feet rained down on me like hail. I curled up on the ground, muttering,

The video wasnt from me

It wasnt until the police arrived that I was dragged out of the crowd and taken to the hospital.

As the doctor examined me, he whispered,

Isnt this the guy who bought trending topics to force the movie star to marry him? She directly slapped him down with a statement, and now hes beaten like this by fans, he deserves it!

What a shame, just a few superficial wounds, no broken bones.

I endured the pain to complete the paperwork, my mask pulled tightly, walking on the street, afraid to look up.

A stretched limousine suddenly stopped in front of me.

Selene stepped out, her voice as cold as ice:

You need to apologize to Matthew!

I looked up, my voice carrying an undeniable weariness:

I told you, I didnt do it!

She chuckled, as if certain I was lying, then pulled out her phone. A suggestive gasp instantly exploded into the air.

Matthew Sterlings voice came from behind her, with an exaggerated surprise:

Oh my! Who knew you played so rough? Do you like having several women at once?

My face instantly went ashen. She clearly said she had deleted it!

A year ago, just as Selene was gaining some fame, my dad, getting wind of it from somewhere, suddenly broke into my home. He knocked me out, forced me to take an aphrodisiac, and threw me into a buyers room.

When Selene found me, I was lying on the floor, naked.

My dad threatened her with the video, and she spent a million dollars to suppress the incident.

And now, Selenes finger hovered over the post button, saying lightly:

Adrian Hollander, do you know your mistake now?

I trembled all over, only able to lower my head:

Its all my fault. I shouldnt have been jealous. I was wrong.

Matthew Sterling looked up at me, a sneer on his lips.

Such an insincere apology?

I looked at them, then slowly knelt.

Im sorry

The words had barely left my lips when Matthew suddenly snatched the phone, his finger pressing the post button:

Oops, my bad, I accidentally tapped it.

Selene instinctively glanced at me, a flicker of imperceptible pain in her eyes, but she merely said lightly:

Matthew didnt mean it.

Seeing me silent, she frowned, her face darkening.

Anyway, everyone already knows about you seducing your teacher in middle school. One more thing isnt a big deal.

Matthew immediately linked his arm through hers, pouting.

I dont care. You have to make it up to me. Take me to Singapore, please.

Selene dotingly ruffled his hair.

Alright, lets go now.

She put her arm around Matthew and turned, dropping a parting remark:

Move your things back from the hotel yourself. And be a good boy and stay home for now.

Hearing me being told to move back, Matthews face visibly stiffened, but quickly reverted to a smile. He bounced into the car.

In a place Selene couldnt see, he looked back at me, flashing a victors smile.

The next day, on my way to the airport, I received a call from Mom:

Ive already dealt with the video for you. Will you be coming home today?

I watched the rapidly receding scenery outside the window, my voice calm:

Already on my way.

A clear sigh of relief came from the other end.

I hung up and unhesitatingly threw my phone into the trash.

From this moment on, Selene and I were completely, irrevocably done.