Chapter 4


    While filming, Simone rarely initiated contact with the Gray Family and Leon. However, he would still


    visit her every month, taking care of her as before and denying any connection with Jodie.


    Nevertheless, the variety show and his affection for another woman left a deep pain in her heart. After


    few days after her movie was released, it unexpectedly became a hit, and she even received a


    nomination for the Best Actress award at a domestic film festival.


    The director mentioned that she had a good chance of winning the award, but before she could attend


    the award ceremony, she and Jodie were kidnapped at the film festival. On that day, the Grays and


    Leon found them. During the negotiation, the kidnappers demanded that they choose who would be


    released first while the other would be left behind. Like the Gray Family, Leon chose to rescue Jodie.


    The family’s decision did not surprise her, but Leon’s choice deeply devastated her; it was truly


    unexpected. In that moment, she was shocked. Her boyfriend, who had been by her side since


    childhood, had given up on her for the sake of Jodie. She had only one thought—if she survived, she


    would sever ties with the Grays and Leon. Unfortunately, just as she was about to take matters into her


    own hands to save herself, one of the kidnappers, driven to madness, fired a shot at her. As she fell,


    she heard the Grays and Leon shouting her name, but her heart had already turned cold. Now, with a


    fresh start, she had cut ties with the Gray Family and naturally had to bid farewell to Leon as well. He


    did not expect Simone to mention Jodie and make such statements, furrowing his brows. “Nonsense. I


    don’t have a lover.” Just as he was about to continue speaking, he heard her voice in his ear. “Leon,


    let’s break up.” He was stunned, thinking he had misheard. “What did you say?” How could she


    suggest a breakup on her own? She repeated, “I said, let’s break up.” His expression changed slightly.


    “Take back those words, and I’ll pretend I never heard them.” She rolled her eyes and said, “I’m not


    seeking your opinion; I’m informing you. We’re breaking up. We’ll have no connection in the future.”


    Upon hearing her resolute tone, he asked in confusion, “Why?” She did not mince her words. “Leon, go


    pursue Jodie if you like her.” She scoffed again. “You were dating me, yet you asked me to give up my


    ce for her and secretly cared for her. You honestly make me sick.” If Leon had been honest with her


    from the beginning and expressed his feelings for Jodie or admitted that there was something special


    between them, perhaps the situation would be different. Even if she cared about him, she would not


    stay with him, let alone cling desperately. However, he had betrayed her before her death, so she


    genuinely felt repulsed. “Don’t contact me anymore.” After saying this, she hung up the phone. Then,


    she blocked and deleted all of Leon’s contact information. Meanwhile, Leon only regained his senses


    upon hearing the busy signal on his phone. He had not expected her to know about his dealings with


    Jodie behind her back, making the sudden breakup difficult for him to ept. He couldn’t resist it, so


    he called back, but all he received was a continuous busy signal, indicating that he had been blocked.


    He was about to video call Simone when he discovered that he was no longer her friend; she had


    deleted him. At that moment, he couldn’t believe it and felt an inexplicable sense of emptiness. So, he


    called Jodie to inquire. When he learned that Simone had chosen to sever ties with the Gray Family


    because she refused to give up her ce for Jodie and had left directly, he was even more shocked.


    On the other side, Simone was organizing the belongings she had brought from the Gray Residence


    and took out her household register. After her master adopted her, he calcted her fate.


    Then, through connections, she managed to be listed in the household register of a deceased family,


    ensuring that there would be no troubleter on. As a result, her household registration only showed


    herself now. When she returned to the Gray Family, they did not transfer her registration or change her


    family name on the household register. She traced her fingertip over the household register while


    revealing a relieved expression. Her master probably foresaw that there was no true kinship in her life,


    even though she had blood rtives. This so-called family was more harmful than beneficial. In that


    case, she would start over and continue to be an orphan with no living rtives, as stated on her


    household register. After Simone finished packing, she received a call from a friend in the


    entertainment circle, informing her that she had been cklisted from the industry. The president of


    Gray Entertainment and a top agent had spread the word, warning everyone not to sign her. Simone


    was unsurprised by the actions of her two scumbag brothers, who were attempting to force her to


    apologize and return by cutting off her opportunities. She felt speechless; even though they were blood


    rtives, they treated her so ruthlessly for an outsider. Fortunately, she had long abandoned any


    expectations of them. Her affection for them hadpletely worn away in her previous life, so she was


    not hurt or saddened this time. Simone first called the director to confirm her guest spot, and he gave


    her a positive response. Then, she searched online for information on how to register an artist studio.


    Gray Entertainment was one of the top three entertainmentpanies in the country. With Reuben and


    Titus aiming to boycott her and in the absence of any benefits, other entertainmentpanies and


    agents would indeed be reluctant to sign her due to their influence. However, Simone had already


    nned for this. If others refused to pick her up, she could simply establish her own studio. Not only


    could she act as her own agent, but she could also sign and nurture other artists. This way, the artists


    she signed would be more popr, and she could convert their loyalty into her life force. She


    called awyer she knew for advice. Over the next week, she sessfully registered her artist studio,


    although she had not yet found a location or hired staff. She nned to do those things after finishing


    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    the variety show. Next, she went to the production team to sign the contract. As she stepped out, she


    saw Titus and Aaron, apanied by Jodie, walking towards her. The three of them were chatting and


    smiling and greeting her. “Simone, are you here to sign the contract too?” When Simone heard this,


    she understood the implication of Jodie’s friendly greeting and raised an eyebrow.


    “You too?” Jodie nodded. “Yeah. I genuinely love this variety show, so Titus and the director discussed


    it and decided to have Aaron bring me along. The director agreed.” Titus regarded Simone with an air


    of superiority. “Even if you refuse to give up your spot, we have ways to fulfill Jo’s wish.” She looked at


    him with a faint smile. “So, you could have taken the spot, but you insist on pressuring me to give it up.


    I must say, you’re quite the family.” The Gray brothers were prominent figures in the entertainment


    industry. Reuben served as the president of Gray Entertainment; Titus was a well-known top agent in


    the industry; Luca was a popr and influential singer; Andrew was a renowned emerging genius


    director, while Aaron was a highly sought-after young male actor. As an A-lister, Aaron took the


    initiative to join this variety show. Not only would it boost the show’s poprity, but it would also earn


    him a favor from the Grays. Naturally, the director did not refuse. Previously, the Gray brothers had not


    taken this approach as they wanted to find their significance through Simone and have her give up the


    spot aspensation for Jodie. Of course, Jodie had hinted and encouraged them to do so. Although


    Jodie had taken away Simone’s identity, family, and life, the Gray Family believed that Simone’s return


    meant she was the legitimate youngdy of the Gray Family, and that Jodie was merely an adopted


    daughter. In terms of identity, Jodie had lost out, and Simone had topensate for it. However, ever


    since Simone returned to the family, most people in high society were aware of her existence, but the


    Grays did not publicly confirm her identity.


    In their eyes, Jodie remained their beloved little princess. As a result, people outside the family only


    recognized Jodie as the pampered youngdy of the Gray Family. Therefore, Simone couldn’t


    understand why the Grays believed she owed Jodie something. Now, faced with the brothers’


    displeasure beneath their restrained smiles, Simone’s eyes showed a touch of disgust as she added,


    “Fortunately, I’ve already cut ties with all of you. Otherwise, I would have vomited right here.” Titus was


    taken aback by her words, but Aaron sternly warned, “Simone, you’re going too far.” Her words grew


    harsher. She nced at him and said, “I don’t know who’s going too far. I used to be a part of your


    family for over a year, and now that I reflect on it, it utterly disgusts me.” She couldn’t be bothered with


    them and walked away, leaving behind the two scowling brothers and the secretly pleased Jodie.