The new event was gasoline poured on fire. The flame was spreading wildly. Some even stopped going to their daily work and came out to the street to make the whole world know about Viviana's crime.
And hundreds banked up at the gate of the Han Entertainment to protest their silence and for even bringing out Vivi into the industry. And then people followed the flow… The issue even made it to the prime time news.
An Mey saw that Viviana was visibly affected this time. The girl had not touched her phone or said a word despite her long questioning. She just either nodded or shook her head to her inquiry.
"The company's arranging a press conference." Manager An informed.
"…"
"They want you to apologize to Lyra about the incident…" An Mey could not hold back the abhorrence she felt as she hissed that out. "They're not hiding their intentions now…"
Viviana just nodded silently.
"Why are you so quiet? Don't tell me you'll follow their instruction like you used to."
"…" Viviana just remained quiet.
This immediately alarmed An Mey. The manager would not have the actress follow the beat set by the company anymore.
"Viviana. I'm warning. If you follow what they say this time, your career in this industry will be done. Over."
"I know."
For the first time since she entered the apartment today, Vivi made a sound.
"Good that you know." The alarmed manager calmed down a little. She knew that Viviana was not as usual so she offered some comfort and assurance.
"I've collected enough evidence to sue the company now. I didn't bring them with me as I came in a hurry today. I'll show you next time."
"hmm…" Vivi hummed in response.
"As for middle school, I've contacted an insider. We'll have some proof that this Viviana is not you. Don't think too much about it. Okay. Let me take care of this…"
"What about the conference?" Vivi asked.
'That's a problem. Just pretend that you're following the company's instructions. It's in the evening the day after tomorrow. Their aim is to let the public be enraged by you taking such a long time. But we'll use this time to get the proof."
"Okay…"
An Mey did not know that the girl was holding on the single hope provided her assurance. What she did not know was that the girl would be struck hard by a particular phone call she received that night.
[Madam] was the caller id.
Instantly as soon as she saw the id, Vivi felt heavy. While she was debating on whether she should pick up the call or not with herself, the ringing stopped. And she felt relief that it had ended.
But the little peace did not last long as the phone started to ring again. She ignored it once again. And twice more. But the caller was persistent and kept on calling her. Until she could not ignore it anymore.
"Hello…" She answered with not much emotion.
"Vivi."
And immediately hearing the condescending tone, she regretted not being strong enough to ignore the call.
"Yeah…"
"What's this going on on the internet?" the voice asked.
"You know it's nonsense. I did not even go to that school to begin with."
"That is why I told you not to enter the industry. Look what good has come out ever since you entered."
"…"
Viviana knew this was coming. And that it would only get worse.
"I told you before to not enter the arts academy. But you never listen to me. You act like you're smarter and know better than your elders."
"…"
"Look what your smartness has led you to become. A dirt that anyone can step on..."
Viviana let her continue until she heard something. Something that she cannot ignore.
"If you had entered the business class like I told you, you'd have been a manager by now in your Uncle Graham's company."
"That's his company. What does his company have to do with me? Even if I had not entered the industry, I would never get into a place where I don't belong."
"What do you mean by where you don't belong? Clearly the company belongs to your uncle. You_"
"Exactly. The company belongs to him. Not you. Why should I go there? I don't even like business. Why do you keep forcing me to do this?" Viviana increased her tone a little.
"Vivi!!"
The scream from the other side of the phone immediately silenced Viviana.
"All I want is for you to have a stable path for your future. I let you do your thing for three years and this is where it led you to. Now you have to follow what I say."
"…"
The young lady listened to the woman on the other side without making a single noise until she was asked.
"What is your company saying?"
"They want me to apologize in the press conference." Viviana revealed.
"Then do it."
"…"
Viviana couldn't be more stunned. She was being asked to apologize for something she had never even done.
"What do you mean by do it? I… I didn't even do it, why should I do it." Vivi felt her eyes begin to burn.
"Well, you did slap that Lyra girl, didn't you? It's caught in the video."
"But… the company wants to bury me. If I just apologize, I'd be blamed for being a bully. And the thing about middle school too… I'm being called a bully, a crime which I have never committed. If I just apologize, it'll be the same as admitting to that crime. You know that right?" Her voice almost begged for the person on the other side of the call.
"Your contract has only a few months left. I never wanted you to go into there to begin. Just apologize and get out of the company first. As for the rumor about the middle school incident, I'll help you clear that up when you come out."
"…"
Viviana could not stop the tear from falling down.
"Mother…. Mom… I. Your daughter is the real victim here. And you're asking me to apologize? Did you know that the person you're asking me to apologize almost fractured my shoulder that day. Why don't you ask her to apologize to me first? Why… Why do you never take my side? Why…."
"…"
"I never asked for your help before when I was trapped with scandals. But why do I have to make me do this? Why?"
It turned out that Viviana did feel unfair that she was subject all the time. It was just that she never complained. But like a broken dam, the unfairness she felt was pouring out at this moment.
But the response she got made her feel foolish for even crying out to the person she called her mother.
"I did not help you because that was what we agreed when you signed the contact without my knowledge."
"…"
"I've told you this before Vivi. You're not suited for the industry. Your horrible personality and your uncaring attitude. None belongs there. Even people who frame himself or herself with meticulous care stubble in front of those with power in the industry."
"…"
"I've warned you before that there is nothing dirtier than politics and the entertainment industry. Yet you never listened."
"…"
"I'm your mother, Vivi. I'd never hope for anything that would harm you. Just solve the situation first and get out of there."
"But that'll make me a bully in everyone's eyes."
"I promise you that nobody will even remember this after a few months."
Viviana scoffed at the comment.
"You're wrong, mother. Nobody will forget. It's the age of the internet. Even if the people's memories could not hold it, the internet will."
"If you're worried about that, I'll ask your uncle to clear everything about you off the internet. Provided that you get out of the industry first."
"…"
Viviana could not judge over what she should be more sorrowful of. The curses of the public, that she, at the end, had to let those hateful people win or that her own mother was on her side and rather let her take the blame to make sure that she didn't remain in the industry.
They say that no mother ever hates their children. But here was the difference. On one hand was a mother who even ten years yearned to bring justice to her daughter. While on the other side was her mother, who readily asked her daughter to walk into the trap so she could never run back to this industry again and then she would be left with no choice to go to the company that she so desperately wanted her to go to.
Viviana knew she should not have picked up the call. Her mother had never been on her side. And she was the reason why she signed with Han Entertainment.
Her rebellious heart knew that her mother hated her entering the industry so when she was approached by the Han Entertainment casting agent, the company which her mother deemed was first-rate on the exterior but rotten inside, she signed those papers.
'Let her experience the darkest side of the entertainment industry.' She still remembered those words that came out of her mother's mouth.
She had been fighting against all the odds for three years. But she was tired now… Now... Viviana no longer had the will to fight… Not after her own mother wanted her to jump into flame.