Chapter 55


    Chapter 55 The Offer to Stay


    After their confrontation, Cy aivo


    abruptly realized Sylvia might truly be penniless since her and even after their divorce, she hadn’t


    asked for a single penny from him. In fact, his family’s near brawl over thepensation they


    assumed they owed to Sylvia wasughable, considering she had left empty–handed, taking


    nothing with her. Compared to his family’s behavior, it seemed almost ridiculous, and Cyril didn’t


    know how to face Sylvia anymore, knowing he might not have done anything wrong.


    time


    on


    me, maybe


    “You can’t even articte a response,” Sylvia sneered, “Stop talking and just stay home, will you?


    There’s nothing between us anymore. Instead of wasting your me, you should figure out your own


    issues.”


    “Instead of bothering me, why not help Katrina? I hear she’s practically crawling to get on Bulk’s


    concert lineup. After all she’s done for you, you’re wasting energy hassling me? Seems a bit


    heartless, doesn’t it?” Sylvia’sments caught Cyril off guard. He wasn’t aware that news of


    Bulk’s concert had reached her.


    Cyril, who didn’t know Mike or his rtionship with Bulk, mistakenly thought Sylvia had gotten the


    scoop from Katrina herself. He’d inadvertently discovered the messages Katrina kept sending to


    Sylvia over the years, and the photos led him to believe there was something more between them,


    though there wasn’t. Frustrated and unable to stand the situation any longer, Cyril walked away, and


    Jonathan hastily followed, without uttering a word and leaving much unsaid.


    As Sylvia and Mike sat back in the peacefulness of the restaurant, Mike mused about something


    he’d heard: Katrina was nning to move abroad. “This must be Cyril’s way of giving her an out.


    Perhaps he’ll use this opportunity to negotiate terms with her. She’s staying put, after all. It sounds


    to me like she’s burned too many bridges domestically and her agency’s ready to drop her.”


    Mike thought about Katrina’s infamy and how the agency had a notorious reputation for pressuring


    their talent into unsavory acts. Mike dared not share this with Sylvia for fear of how Bulk might react.


    “That’s interesting,” Sylvia mused. “If she wants to stick around, let them be together. They can stay


    out of other people’s business.‘


    Once Sylvia returned home, she found Bulk lounging, far from his superstar persona. As she


    dropped her bag and faced him, Bulk, avoiding eye contact, turned his back to her, signalling his


    desire to remain silent.


    Sylviaughed, frustrated. “Hey, listen, you don’t get to just ignore me. If you have


    Chapter 55 The Offer to Stay


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    something to do with me, why send Mike? Why can’t you speak to me yourself?”


    2/2


    Bulk, visibly annoyed, finally turned around. “And you, who do you think you are? After your


    marriage, you cut ties with me. What makes you think you’re important enough to talk to me now?”


    The tense atmosphere took them back to the argument they had three years prior, making Sylvia


    nearly lose it.


    “Still hung up on that, are you? Yes, I messed up, but do you really have to keep bringing it up? It’s


    making me think my decision back then was incredibly foolish.” Her expressions shifted, eliciting a


    chuckle from Bulk.


    –


    “Oh, now even you can’t stand the things you did back then. Look, I’m not holding it against you I’ll


    pin it all on Katrina. At the concert, make sure you perform well. Don’t just go off with any man who


    sweet–talks you. Remember, you’re the youngest daughter and the heir to the Ivans. Don’t act


    foolish and get lost in ttery, alright?”


    Struggling with her pride, Sylvia had to admit she was in no position to argue, not with the actions of


    the past years under scrutiny.


    “I was wrong, okay?” Sylvia said, exasperated, knowing Bulk wouldn’t let her off the hook easily


    once he returned.


    “Sure, admitting your fault is a start. Just follow my arrangement at the concert, and I’ll forgive you.


    You’ll join me for a song. If you don’t show up, all bets are off.”


    Sylvia’s heart sank hearing Bulk’s proposition. Singing on stage with Bulk? She’d never survive


    being swamped by his fans.