《Please behave My Lord》 Chapter 1: Last Night He Got Drunk Chapter 1: Last Night He Got Drunk Chapter 1: Last night he got drunk It was alreadyte at night. In the detached vi on the outskirts of the capital, asional faint knocking noises are hearding from the master bedroom. -Slowly... *** -Oh! Mariana Ortiz frowned ufortably and rubbed her temples hard, trying to relieve the pain. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. -Sir, ma''am, breakfast is ready," the voice of the old servant Mrs. Sana came from outside the door. -Wait a moment, I''lle down right away.... Just as he moved, she felt a burning pain between her legs and turned around, her long legs naturally stretched forward. "What, did I push against something hard?" Mariana opened her eyes in a daze and, at a nce, saw that handsome face still oozing sweat. Although he slept with his eyes closed, the coldness between his brows was still terrifying. Remembering "sir, ma''am" that Se?ora Sana had just said, Mariana''s pupils suddenly narrowed and she screamed: -Ah! The woman''s scream broke the silence of the early morning. Although Leopoldo Dur¨¢n was very tired, he woke up at that moment. Her beautiful eyebrows raised and her eyes widened slightly, her cold gaze swept around the bedroom before finally settling on the woman by the pillow, -Why are you here? Did we have sexst night? Mariana''s face suddenly turned red and she clutched at the sheets in embarrassment: -I''m going to the bathroom! Not daring to look at the man again, Mariana rushed into the bathroom in a panic and mmed the door shut, causing a loud noise. The frosted ss door vaguely reflected Mariana''s delicate figure, Leopoldo frowned and got out of bed. The quilt fell from her body, exposing the conspicuous red bloodstain on the sheet. Leopold''s attention was immediately drawn and his eyes suddenly became suddenly deep. "She..." "Are you having sex for the first time?" *** Ten minutester, Mariana slowly finished showering, changed her clothes and came downstairs. Just as she reached the staircase, she saw Leopoldo sitting at the dining room table and eating, with an elegant bearing. He was wearing a ck shirt. Seeing this, the man pursed his lips and put down his knife and fork, as if he had already eaten enough. He got up and took the jacket the maid handed him and put it on. -Hey... Mariana stood ufortably, not knowing what to say. Leopoldo was looking down and fixing the buttons, when he heard her voice, the movement of his hands stopped and he looked up with a frown. This look made Mariana increasingly guilty, clutching her hands unnaturally, -I think what happenedst night was an ident... let''s... As soon as she said this, the person below interrupted her: -What happenedst night," Leopoldo''s deep voice echoed in the great hall, his gaze rested precisely on her, "I drank too muchst night and something out of the contract happened. I contacted the He continued to stare at her: -If you need anything else, you can say so now. -It''s just that... Mariana did not expect him to mention the pre-nuptial agreement, nor that his attitude would be so calm when he said those words. Chapter 2: No Intention To Have Children Chapter 2: No Intention To Have Children Chapter 2: No intention to have children Mariana was stunned for a moment and did not know what to say. She looked down and didn''t even have the strength to take a step. After a moment of silence, she too merely reached up to grasp the diamond ring on her ring finger, and struggled to speak: -No, I have nothing to add. -Leopoldo seemed satisfied with his answer. I have things to attend to, I''ll go first. His tone was calm, as if he didn''t see the expression of the woman who wanted to say something, and he headed straight for the entrance. But just as he had just put his hand on the doorknob and was about to open the door, he looked back: -Hey, there''s one more thing. This sudden movement of hers startled Mariana, -What is it? Leopold''s gaze swept over her panicked face and fixed on the woman''s t belly, his eyes narrowed: -I don''t want you to be pregnant with my child, you must understand what I mean. After saying that, without waiting for her to respond, he turned around and pushed open the door. The sound of the door came to her ears, Mariana came to her senses and stomped her foot in disgust, "I haven''t finished the sentence yet!" A burning sensation between her legs sadly reminded her that she had be Leopold''s wife. *** Mariana gathered her things and left with her car, looking for a pharmacy on the way. She went in and bought a box of birth control pills, took another bottle of mineral water and took the pills. The water was slightly cold in her mouth and she couldn''t help but get distracted and think again about what happenedst night. "Leopoldo was drunk, but I wasn''t..." "In fact, I allow myself to have sex with that man while I''m sober." "I''m crazy!" Mariana screwed the cap back on the bottle in shame and anger, forced herself to adjust her emotions, restarted the car and headed straight to the clothingpany where she worked. -Mariana, why are you here so early today? As soon as she opened the ss door, her busy colleague greeted her with a smile. -Nothing, I''m just a little early. Mariana''s face then turned into a bright smile, unable to see the slightest difference. Wearing her beige high heels, she walked casually toward the design department office. She pulled the office chair over and sat down, then Mariana leaned over to turn on theputer, her beautiful hand freshly on the mouse, when her shoulder was suddenly bumped from behind. He turned his head and saw an elegantly dressed woman approaching with a sobbing face, crying: -Mariana, you''re finally here! It was not a stranger, it was her best friend and colleague: Ana Lopez. -What''s the matter? Have you fallen out of love again? -She was no longer surprised by her friend''s expression. Mariana joked and, at the same time, moved the mouse and clicked on the sketch that was still in the design, intending to continue drawing. N?velDrama.Org content rights. Herpany mainly designed wedding dresses and was very famous both inside and outside the industry, considered one of the leadingpanies. -Dumbass, can''t you say something nice? Do you know that saying that will hurt my heart? Marianaughed and ignored it, controlling the mouse and seriously modifying the design. -You are a woman without a conscience! -Ana growled and changed her face, "The boss told me a moment ago that I will design all of Andrea Solis'' clothes for the fashion show next month. Chapter 3: The Actress Who Had A Rumor With Him Chapter 3: The Actress Who Had A Rumor With Him Chapter 3: The actress who had a rumor with him -Andrea Solis? Mariana turned around in surprise: -The popr actress? -Yes! When talking about this, Ana wanted to scream on the spot: -Who doesn''t know that Andrea has a bad temper! I can hardly imagine how miserable I''m going to be afterwards. Hearing her best friend''s miserableints, Mariana rested her chin, deep in thought. The only reason I knew this popr actress was because she was now full of advertisements and promotions for Andrea. In addition, this actress was the only woman who had been rumored to be with Leopoldo, and at the same time, she was also a female artist in the Los Dur¨¢n Entertainment group. It had so manyyers of connections that it was hard for Mariana not to remember it. *** After the lunch break, Mariana returned to her office and continued working, printing the design that had taken her several days to draw and making some more detailed changes. When it was time to leave work, the manager called her out of the blue and asked her toe in. The director was a woman in her forties, fair-skinned and delicate and elegantly dressed, she could not tell her real age at all. -Mariana, this time it''s the meaning of the headquarters side, and that''s exactly what I mean. -I''m afraid Ana alone cannotplete this task, so take her with you to take over Andrea''s wardrobe design for a week. All expenses during that time will be on thepany. -If you have any other needs now, you can talk to me now and I''ll pass them on to the boss for you. The director said, pushing a document in front of her: -If there are no questions, sign. The director had always been clear and decisive, and never procrastinated. But this did not give her the opportunity to refuse at all. If she could refuse, Ana wouldn''t have had to suddenly let her take over Andrea''s clothes. -Director, if it''s arranged like this, I don''t have time for my previous design.... -Don''t worry about that one, I will arrange for another designer to take over, there will be no dy. N?velDrama.Org content. With just one sentence, he left her speechless! -Okay, I know. Mariana did not have the opportunity to evade further, she took the pen and carefully signed her name on the document. The director nodded in satisfaction, -Mariana, I hope you remember that Andrea is the promoter that thepany has hired with great difficulty, you must take care of her clothing properly, no problems can ur, make sure she is satisfied. -Understood. Andrea''s parade was in a week, and thepany had booked her and Ana''s tickets three days in advance, so they could go early and prepare. Mariana took a vacation and spent some time at home to get to know Andrea better and to pack all her luggage. "Jacket, shoes, cosmetics..." "What else do I need to bring?" He looked around the bedroom and his eyes inadvertently caught the photo album ced on the bedside table. The photo showed Mariana, who was a bit more childlike than she is now, leaning slightly sideways on a young man''s shoulder. Naturally, this man was not Leopoldo. Chapter 4: The Most Precious Person Chapter 4: The Most Precious Person Chapter 4: The Most Precious Person He wore a military uniform, his features were handsome, his thin lips were pursed in straight lines and his expression was serious and overpowering. Mariana carefully lifted the photo album and her fingertips gently traced the silhouette of the man on the other side of the ss, as she fell into deep thought. She repressed her emotions with difficulty and tucked the album into her suitcase, cautiously guarding her most important treasure. For the next week, she did not meet Leopoldo again. To be precise, it should be that after the two had sex, Leopoldo never returned. Three dayster, Mariana boarded a ne to a foreign destination and left the capital temporarily. After a flight of more than ten hours, the ne finally arrived. Thepany arranged for staff toe and pick them up and help them carry their luggage. Ana, looking tired, hugged Mariana''s shoulders, tapped her waist weakly and moaned: -I''m exhausted! It''s been such a long flight, oh my God! I can hardly stand it. Mariana patted him on the shoulder: -This is only the beginning, the most exhausting work is yet toe, can''t you hold on so soon? -I almost died! -Annamented. The hotel thepany had arranged for them was close to the presentation venue, and as soon as they entered the suite, Ana couldn''t wait to copse on the bed to rest. Mariana rubbed her sore neck and pulled her clothes out of the suitcase before going into the shower. After more than ten hours of flying, she was already exhausted. Just after taking a shower, she couldn''t beat sleep before she put on her pajamas and crawled into bed to go to sleep. Two dayster, Andrea''s team arrived on time, and Mariana and Ana''s work officially began. It was the first time I had seen Andrea in reality, and it was much more realistic than in magazines and advertisements. Andrea was wearing a long dress with blue bodice, revealing her sensual shoulders, and her skin was delicate. Her long ck hair curled softly, she wore a pair of blue earrings in her ears, looking as pure and gentle as the girl. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. But it was this nice woman who made both of them unable to sleep well at night these days. -What do you think? Let me wear this ne? -You don''t even know how much diamonds weigh! No, I will never wear this ne! -Miss Solis, could you try this suit? Mariana immediately found another set of clothes for her that had already been matched and handed it to her. The smile between Andrea''s lips was evident, -Okay, I''ll try this one. Soon, the locker room door was pushed open again. Andrea''s hands tugged at the fabric of his chest, frowning, still dissatisfied: -Miss Ortiz, don''t you think this outfit is too exposed? If I were filmed, wouldn''t it ruin my image in front of the public? -I''m sorry, Miss, it was my bad consideration. How about trying this one on again? Ana stared the whole time and couldn''t help but roll her eyes frequently. However, Mariana acted as if nothing was wrong, preparing one set of clothes after another for Andrea. -This dress is good, I like it a lot, but the tail at the back seems to be a little too long, so I can only wear high heels.... Then let''s go with these high heels, Miss Ortiz, what do you think? Andrea put on her high heels, posed in front of the mirror for a nce and looked at Mariana with the corners of her lips slightly raised. It seemed that she was finally satisfied. Chapter 5: Leopoldo Came To Pick Her Up Chapter 5: Leopoldo Came To Pick Her Up Chapter 5: Leopoldo came to pick her up -All right, Miss Solis, I''ll re-cut the tail at the back of the dress to fit your shoes, what do you think? -Please," Andrea nodded, "you''re a professional designer, the idea you came up with is great. It''s just that I have one more thing I hope you can help with. Her cheeks reddened slightly and her beautiful eyes contained a delicate look, -I have an appointmentter, can I trouble you to help me choose another dress? This was out of her job. Mariana was a little disgruntled in her heart, but still nodded her head and responded: -Of course. Just after he said the words, he hadn''t even left the clothes in his hands when the door to the study was pushed open. Several bodyguards in ck suits were the first to enter and, after a cautious nce around, they consciously positioned themselves on either side. -Mr. Dur¨¢n. The man in the expensive suit stepped forward, his figure was steely, his eyebrows had an overwhelming coldness and his aura was extremely strong. -Mr. Dur¨¢n. Seeing this man approaching, Andrea''s face immediately revealed a smile of joy, taking the hem and ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. walking quickly,pletely ignoring Mariana who was still standing in front of her. Mr. Dur¨¢n? What Mr. Dur¨¢n? Mariana turned around in astonishment, saw the man from afar and was instantly shocked. This man who had suddenly appeared was her nominal husband, Leopoldo. The man''s cold gaze shifted slightly before he saw the silhouette standing next to him, eyes slightly narrowed. But he soon averted his eyes again and walked calmly towards Andrea, as if Mariana were a mere stranger to him. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, did youe to pick me up on purpose? Andrea approached him, smiling delicately with her head tilted upward. -Yes. Leopold nodded indifferently, his dull gaze roaming over the fluffy pale blue evening gown on her body, and said: -How much more time do you need? I''ll wait for you. -Good. Andrea smiled. As soon as she turned around, she ordered again: -Miss Ortiz, please. -Of course, wait. Mariana repressed her emotions and went to the rack to make a selection, quickly choosing a long dark purple dress, shoes and essories, and handing them to him together. -Miss, what do you think? -Okay, thank you. Andrea reached out to grab them and headed for the locker room in high spirits. Mariana waited outside, arranging the clothes she tried on. During this time, she could clearly feel a very oppressive gaze behind her, making her feel very ufortable. But Mariana showed nothing, her face still had the same expression of concentration, only her fingertips, slightly trembling, revealed the emotions. The studio was silent for a while, even Ana, who had been whispering earlier, closed her mouth and helped her. After a while, the dressing room door opened again, and Andrea, wearing a long dress that fit her well, approached Leopoldo with a sweet smile: -Mr. Dur¨¢n, I am ready. Saying this, she turned around again with pleasure and smiled at him: -Do I look good dressed like this? Chapter 6: Leopoldo Is Already Married Chapter 6: Leopoldo Is Already Married Chapter 6: Leopoldo is already married Mariana could feel the gaze that had been behind her turn away at this moment, and just as her nerves rxed, she heard Leopoldo''s indifferent voice, -Not bad. It was the first time in his memory that Leopold praised a person, a woman. There was also an imperceptible tenderness in his tone..... Andrea really deserved to be the only woman who had had rumors with him so far, their rtionship was not simple. A smirk appeared on Mariana''s face, and the strength of her fingertips couldn''t help but increase a little. -I also think this set looks good. Andrea smiled like a flower and reached over and took Leopoldo''s arm: -Sir, let''s go, if we dy any longer, we will bete. -Okay. Leopoldo nodded and, out of the corner of his eye, casually nced at the woman standing there silently, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. He then turned away and left the studio with Andrea. The bodyguards waiting on either side followed them, not forgetting to close the door behind them. -Oh, you scared me! Ana finally breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest with lingering fears: -I was really surprised at this moment! Mr. Duran''s aura is really scary, I didn''t even dare to speak when he came! -But, Mariana, I really didn''t expect Mr. Dur¨¢n to actuallye to Andrea in person, aren''t they afraid of being seen by journalists? The surrounding staff heard her and couldn''t help bute over to gossip: -Maybe they are nning to go public? -Yes, this rumor has been around for a long time, besides, there are many female artists under Grupo Dur¨¢n, but Se?or Dur¨¢n is the only one who treats Andrea differently, and never gives exnations, who in this industry doesn''t know about their rtionship? *** These tidbits are always able to arouse the interest of passers-by. Ana felt bored after listening for a while, she leaned over and pulled Mariana, who was still lost in thought: -Mariana, what are you thinking about? Let''s eat! -Yesterday I asked someone, there is a famous restaurant near here, do you want to go? You''re on me. Mariana came to her senses and hid her hand without a trace, trying to hide the marks of the nails that dug between her palms. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. -Well, let''s go. They packed their bags and headed for the restaurant Ana had mentioned. The interior of the restaurant was elegantly decorated and very exotic. We each ordered a menu of the day and ended up ordering a bottle of red wine. -The foie gras here is so delicious! Take a bite and be filled with happiness! -Health. Mariana raised the ss next to her hand, with the delicious wine swirling gently in the ss. -Health. Ana smiled brightly and picked up the wine ss to clink with it. Mariana took a sip and picked up the knife and fork. -Hey, Mariana, look, there really are more and more rumors of all kinds in the entertainment industry these days, I don''t even know who I should believe. Anne was of such an active nature that she simply could not remain quiet, and began to gossip again about the day''s events after a few mouthfuls. As he still had something in his mouth, his words could not be heard well: -But, Mariana... actually I have heard the gossip before, in fact, Mr. Dur¨¢n.... She cautiously looked around and approached for fear of being overheard: -Actually, Mr. Dur¨¢n got married a long time ago, he just doesn''t know who the bride is at all. Mariana paused in her meal, a strange excitement crossed her eyes, then she quickly calmed down again, -Really? In the past, when Ana talked to her about this gossip, she was not very interested, only her response this time made Ana more energetic and mysteriously approached: -Mariana, you have to believe me! Chapter 7: Mrs. Durè°©n Chapter 7: Mrs. Dur¨¢n Chapter 7: Mrs. Dur¨¢n -This news of mine is not without credibility, think about it, if this had not happened, why is everyone talking about it? Just like Andrea. -She is apparently an artist of the Dur¨¢n Group, but everyone knows that she has an unusual rtionship with Mr. Dur¨¢n, so naturally the rumor gets out. -By the way! I''ve also heard before that Se?or Dur¨¢n once got a designer to spend almost ten million dors to design a set of jewelry, how generous! -Could that woman be Andrea? Ah! No, the timing doesn''t match at all. Mariana listened to her in silence and, upon hearing thest sentence, could not help but frown slightly, even the food in her mouth was tasteless. She looked at her friend who was chatting happily and tried to stop it, but Ana was still sighing, -Hey, the more I talk about it, the more I feel that Mr. Dur¨¢n''s wife is really miserable, her husband seduces women outside, but she, the one who is officially married to him, doesn''t even have a name, it''s really pitiful. Marianaughed silently to herself, picked up the red wine and took a light sip, asking amused: -Well, Ana, these are other people''s business, how do you know how he is? She brought a handkerchief to wipe her hands and got up to grab the coat hanging on the coat rack: -I''m full, are you finished? -Yes, yes! Ana hurried to swallow what was in her mouth, still eager to continue chatting about gossip, -Mariana, what kind of rtionship do you think Andrea has with Se?or Dur¨¢n? No wonder Andrea''s temperament is so strong, so there is a big boss behind her! -I don''t think Mr. Dur¨¢n is a good man either, actually.... After all, they were talking about gossip, so Ana was especially careful, looking around from time to time for fear of being overheard. -Fuck! Ana hid fiercely behind her, watching something with a surprised look on her face. -What''s wrong? She couldn''t help but follow her friend''s gaze, only to see that there were two peopleing out that way just in time. The man in front of her was wearing a suit, he had his ck jacket in his hand, his handsome face was free of expression, elegant and noble. The waiter following him said respectfully: -Mr. Dur¨¢n, Miss Sol¨ªs, see you. -Mother of God! Mariana, it''s true that you can''t say bad things behind people''s backs. Ana hid behind her. Mariana''s delicate lips pursed and her heart beat a little faster. She hurried to look at the man and N?velDrama.Org content rights. suddenly tugged Ana''s hand and hurried out. -Ana, I suddenly remembered that there are some things we haven''t taken care of yet, let''s hurry back! -Hmm? Okay, okay. Ana, with a dumbfounded face without reacting at all. Before they left the restaurant, the two here had already alerted Leopoldo. He looked back and casually saw Mariana running away, the expression on his face changed slightly and he stopped his pace. Chapter 8: Are They That Close Already? Chapter 8: Are They That Close Already? Chapter 8: Are they that close already? -Leo, what is it? Andrea noticed something and looked up to see her expression, followed her gaze and soon saw Mariana still standing in the doorway. -Mariana? The female voice behind her caught her attention, Mariana had to stop her step and turned around, not expecting to meet the man''s cold and deep gaze. His whole body froze, he just felt that this was simply fate. Leopoldo''s gaze rested on her, Mariana''s back shivered for a moment, and she stared at the man for a few seconds before realizing she had to withdraw her gaze. But this scene, Andrea already saw clearly, her delicate face lost its smile, but she soon raised her red lips again, -Miss Ortiz, is that really you? So you like this restaurant too. -It turns out that Leopoldo and I like this ce too. Andrea smiled wider and leaned her delicate body against Leopoldo: -The owner here is a wine lover and has a collection of excellent red wines, but the owner only serves them to VIPs. His words revealed a feeling of superiority. Mariana ignored him, and with aplicated nce at the delicate ring on her hand, forced a smile: N?velDrama.Org content. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, Miss Sol¨ªs, what a coincidence. -Miss Ortiz, are you leaving? Andrea feigned enthusiasm, smiling: -Leo and I are leaving too, why don''t we send you back by the way? After finishing, he pouted and tugged on Leopoldo''s hand: -Leo, just for the sake of Miss helped me a lot today, okay? "Leo?" "Is it really that close between them?" Mariana lowered her eyes, silently pulled her best friend, who was obviously already angry, and calmly turned Andrea away: -Thank you Miss, we still want to go for a walk around, so we won''t disturb you. He said and they were about to leave, but just as they pushed open the restaurant door, a cool breeze came in with a fine rain that stopped them. As soon as she saw this, Andrea couldn''t help but smile, elegantly and proudly lifting her hair from her ears: -Miss, it is really unfortunate that it is raining outside. There is no need to insist any further. Mariana frowned, she really didn''t know why this woman had to show off in front of her. -This rain is not going to stop for a while, you can''t get a cab, so it''s better to go back together - Leopoldo said suddenly as if he was tired of waiting, with a tone as cold as always, only his deep gaze was still on Mariana. Without waiting for her to respond, he headed straight for the door. Mariana bit her lip, but she could do nothing but follow him. And Ana followed him from behind with a slightly shadowed face. Andrea, who had stayed behind, squeezed her hand and watched Mariana''s back with a chilling look, her heart pounding with anger. "Why is Leo taking the initiative to send this woman back?" "What kind of rtionship do you have?" Andrea suppressed her emotions and took a step. Chapter 9: Helping You Design Your Wedding Dress Chapter 9: Helping You Design Your Wedding Dress Chapter 9: Helping You Design Your Wedding Dress The ck Maybach sedan drove smoothly through the rain, which was getting thicker and thicker, sttering the windows and blurring the view. Mariana sat in the back seat, looking out the window in a trance, she really didn''t expect to sit in the same car with Leopoldo and the others. As I was thinking seriously, the sound of Andrea talking to Leopoldo came from the front. -Leo, I will also be on stage on the day of the parade, will youe to see me? -Good. Leopoldo was driving, his tone was t and I didn''t know if he was seriously listening to Andrea. Andrea smiled shyly and looked towards the back seat, as she saw Mariana looking out the window, her expression worsened a little, then she put her hand on the back of Leopoldo''s hand, -Leo, although the dresses designed by Miss Ortiz for me are not as nice as the ones you gave me, but I heard that the wedding dresses designed by her are all beautiful, so maybe we can wear them in the future. These words were truly significant. Leopoldo said nothing, he watched Mariana''s lips sharply in mockery, and his beautiful eyebrows could not help but arch. Andrea didn''t wait for the imagined answer, she twisted her head to look at the back seat, -Miss Ortiz, what do you think? Only then did Mariana stop looking outside and smile quietly: -If you are willing to give me the wedding dress, it is an honor for me. Andrea grimaced in dissatisfaction, leaning sideways toward Leopoldo in what seemed like a very intimate way. Sitting in the back seat, Ana rolled her eyes and said silently to Mariana in disgust, -A mistress who wants to be his real wife, what a dream! Marianaughed and could say no more. The road was smooth all the way, and soon arrived at the hotel. -Sir, Miss, thank you for sending us back. Mariana took the lead and pushed open the car door, turning to thank the two people in the car, behaving politely and appropriately as a passing stranger, -It''s still raining, so we''ll go back first. Ana also hurried out of the car and thanked him. Mariana advanced a few steps and suddenly realized that Ana had not followed her, so she turned and saw a scene inside the carriage. The lights were still on inside the carriage and the window wiper was still working, so he could clearly see Andrea lean over and give Leopoldo a delicate kiss on the cheek. Mariana froze, but soon, she forced herself to calm down again and took Ana''s hand, -Come on, Ana. He did not turn around again, fearing to see the two again. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. But it was also because she didn''t turn around that she missed Leopold''s deep-set eyes looking at her. Seeing that the woman had already left, she pushed Andrea, in an angry voice: -I don''t want to see something like that a second time! When she pouted, it scared Andrea so much that she didn''t dare to reply at all. Her face was pale and she managed to sketch a smile: -Leo, be careful. Leopoldo paid no attention to him, his gaze swept over the silhouette that had already arrived at the hotel entrance. A momentter, he closed the car door and drove away. When the carpletely disappeared down the road, Andrea just turned around and quickly caught up with Mariana and Ana. Chapter 10: Andrea Looking For A Fight Chapter 10: Andrea Looking For A Fight Chapter 10: Andrea looking for a fight Ana looked behind her as she walked away and muttered under her breath: -Mari, what do you think that Andrea is trying to do again? Mariana shrugged her shoulders helplessly: -It looks like our work will be even more annoying. -What do you mean? -Anna was even more confused. Mariana said nothing more and the two returned to their room. After an exhausting day and freshly showered, Mariana went to bed and fell asleep. *** Before the fashionunch, Mariana and the others worked for four days and nights to finally get the clothes Andrea wanted. -Ana, we''re rehearsing tonight, right? -Yes. Ana stretched her back, pping her aching back, and looked at the wall clock: -We still have three hours left before our turn, Mari, do you want to go and rest first? We haven''t had much rest thesest few days, if we stay awake any longer, I''m afraid we won''t have the energy to face theunch. -It''s okay, I can still hold on. N?velDrama.Org content rights. Mariana pressed her temples and stood up when she suddenly felt dizzy. Fortunately, she held on to the chair in time to avoid falling. He did his best to stabilize his equilibrium and pretended to be fine: -Come on, let''s go first. Half an hourter, they arrived at theunch site. At this time, many people were rehearsing, and security guards were watching the ce, and a cordon was set up to prevent outsiders from entering and leaving. This fashion show was an international event and the main venue had to be treated with care. Until now, all those allowed in and out of the venue were well-known designers and guest models, with bosses and staff from various international brands approaching. The two passed through the security checkpoint without any problems and arrived at the main site. -Miss Ortiz, you are also here. The staff already knew them and, upon seeing them arrive, took the initiative to approach them and greet them. -Hello. Mariana also answered one by one and followed Ana aside to get ready. They had almost finished their prep work before Andrea arrivedte with her assistant and agent, without saying much, she took the clothes prepared by Mariana directly, her red lips turned up slightly in a cocky smile. -Miss Ortiz, is this the dress I will wear on stage tomorrow? -Don''t say I''m too straightforward, the design is really ordinary, and these essories are also very -I''d like you to change this set of jewelry, and these shoes are too cheesy, aren''t they? I don''t usually wear shoes like that either. After a few brief nces, Andrea said all the points on which she could put down, and Mariana''s hard work in thest few days as useless. Mariana''s face was a bit ugly. Theunch was tomorrow, and it was simply toote to match again at this time. Besides, she felt that Andrea was looking for a fight! In this situation, no matter how hard she worked, Andrea would not be satisfied anyway. -Miss, why don''t you try it on first, and I''ll see what needs to be improved. Due to time constraints, Mariana could only contain her temper for the moment, enduring the provocative smile: -I have designed this dress ording to your figure, please trust my skill. Andreaughed out loud, her eyes full of mockery: -I really don''t know if you have the ability, but I think this outfit doesn''t look right! -You want me to wear such an ugly dress, you''re really dreaming! Chapter 11: DonT Talk If You DonT Understand It Chapter 11: Don''T Talk If You Don''T Understand It Chapter 11: Don''t talk if you don''t understand it Mariana frowned, not expecting the other party to speak so frankly. She directed a nce at Ana with an indication not to be angry, then stepped forward to pick up the dress that had taken so many days to make and shook it gently. -Miss Solis, whatever the time of year, a long dress has a unique charm on the catwalk, it is a fashion that does not go away. And this dress perfectly suits your temperament, both in terms of design and fabric. -I can understand her feelings, after all, she is not a professional designer, she can only evaluate a garment from the point of view of its beauty or ugliness. But such a one-sided assessment is neither fair nor wise for a dress. Mariana''s speech was objective enough, without any private emotion, but also direct and strong. What I wanted to say was just one thing: You''re not a designer, so don''t talk at all if you don''t understand. Naturally, Andrea could also understand what these words referred to. Her pretty face tightened and she sneered, holding her neck up and looking condescendingly at the person in front of her, -All right, Mariana, we''ll see! "How dare you talk to me like that?" "Who does this woman think she is?" "I have to show you what will happen if you offend me!" Andrea stormed off with her assistant. The high heels caused a discordant sound on the floor, which showed the hatred in her heart. -Wow, Mari, that was amazing! As soon as they walked away, Ana approached excitedly with shining eyes. -You are so eloquent that Andrea couldn''t even get a word out, bravo! -But, Mari," Ana frowned with concern, "you said it so bluntly, do you think Andrea is going to deliberately terminate her contract with thepany and put all the me on you? -I don''t think so. Mariana squatted down and cleaned up the mess on the floor, -Tomorrow is theunch, it is toote for you to cancel your contract even if you want to. What''s more, Los Dur¨¢n Entertainment cannot allow you to do anything foolish. As long as she survived theunch, she would have peace. -You are right. Ana nodded her head. *** Tomorrow the opening of theunch would be inaugurated and the girls did not leave until while they worked until midnight to avoid any unforeseen events. Lying on the bed, Mariana fell asleep in a daze, and it was Ana who finally prepared the hot water and reminded her to take a shower. The next morning, Mariana put on her long-ready clothes and set off for the scene in her high heels. As soon as he arrived, he found many journalists had already arrived around the hall and surrounded the ce with a lot of people. Inside the cordon also remained several bodyguards in ck suits, who guarded their surroundings. Guests were guided by staff through a long red carpet into the main hall, while reporters rushed to take photos on both sides, making for a lively scene. Mariana and Ana entered directly through the staff channel. Despite the presence of several models and designers, the backstage was unusually quiet with an oppressive atmosphere. Everyone was preparing intensively. Today''sunch was only allowed to seed, not fail. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Mariana arrived at the dressing table set up for them in the living room and looked around, but did not see Andrea, -Why hasn''t Miss Solise yet? Chapter 12: Clothes Were Torn By Cuts Chapter 12: Clothes Were Torn By Cuts Chapter 12: Clothes were torn by cuts -Miss Solis is here! Before Mariana could finish her words, the staff next to her interrupted her. When she turned to look, Andrea, with her representative, came striding in surrounded by her assistants and bodyguards. Her exquisite makeup, fresh dress and between her red lips a soft smile, were a far cry from her acrimony of the night before. Mariana secretly sighed with relief. "Fortunately, this woman hasn''t caused any trouble." He hid his emotions and greeted her with a smile: -Miss Solis, your clothes are ready, you can change whenever you want. Although it was still early, Andrea had left in a hurry with her angerst night and hadn''t rehearsed anything, so she could save some time by changing clothes and doing her makeup in advance. Andrea nced at him and her smile became more evident, -All right, you bring her to me. Suddenly he became so benevolent that Mariana could not help but be surprised, but it was not convenient for her to say anything more at this moment. N?velDrama.Org content rights. -Well, Miss Solis, please wait a moment. Soon, he had the staff bring in the clothes rack. Mariana opened the smock and asked Ana to bring the box from the jewelry box, not noticing Andrea raising her lips in a smile to the side. The dust cover zipper was unzipped. When Mariana looked at him, her pupils contracted sharply and her expression changed drastically, -God... why did this happen? All the clothes that should have been hanging on the racks were gone, only a pile of messy and misceneous pieces of fabric remained, and to the naked eye, they had been maliciously cut and torn by someone! -Mari, what''s wrong? Ana hurried to check and her face paled then: -Ah! Who did all this? This shout rmed the people around and they all gathered here. Ana squatted down to check the messy fabrics on the floor and the hands that held them trembled, -We''ve been preparing these clothes for so long! Who the hell was bad enough to cut up all the clothes? Cut to this state, there was nothing that could be done to even attempt to repair it. -Our turn ising, what are we going to do? -It''s over, how are we going to exin this to the boss? Everyone in the group panicked, scratching their hair with desperate expressions. Ana was so anxious that she stomped her foot, -Mari, how about I go to the person in charge of the room. We left the clothes here, but they didn''t put them away properly. -Yes, they have a responsibility too! Miss Lopez, I''ll go with you. -Anita, wait! Mariana tried to stop them, but it was toote. The most important thing now was not who was responsible, but what to do to solve the problem. Andrea sat next to them watching what was going on, propping her chin up with a rueful face and mockingly saying with fake excitement: -Miss Ortiz, what do you think should be done now? -At first I just thought your aesthetics weren''t very good, but who knew that your ability is also like that? It was originally a good parade, but you''ve ruined it. -I will be on stage in a short time, tell me, what should I bring? Speaking, he randomly picked up a piece of cloth, -You wouldn''t want me to wear this crap to the show, would you? Mariana rubbed her forehead, desperately trying to calm down and find the best solution as soon as possible. But the people next to him were talking all the time, which prevented him from calming down. "What should I do now?" If I didn''t fix things immediately, the consequences would be unthinkable! Chapter 13: The Greatest Embarrassment In Show Business Chapter 13: The Greatest Embarrassment In Show Business Chapter 13: The Greatest Embarrassment in Show Business It was just at this moment that the person in charge of the room was brought in by Ana. As a responsible person, as soon as he arrived he attracted the attention of curious onlookers, several of whom left with surprise what they were doing and came up behind him to watch. The surroundings immediately became noisier. Raven Santander, now over forty years old and responsible for many great fashionunches, knelt down to examine the shreds of fabric on the floor and her face instantly turned ugly. This matter was more serious than I had imagined. It looked like maybe someone had done it on purpose! -Pleased to meet you, Mr. Raven. Andrea greeted him as he stepped forward gracefully. Her mocking gaze turned to Mariana, she smiled and said, helplessly and contemptuously: -I have looked at the time and soon it will be my turn. But the clothes are all ruined, I also do not allow myself to temporarily find an ordinary dress to rece it. -Miss Ortiz is a designer, but she couldn''t even handle the safety of her own clothes. Such a designer can be considered the biggest disgrace in show business! What a serious crime! The spectators murmured. Although this matter was not entirely Mariana''s responsibility, all they needed was fun and they didn''t care about the rest at all. And soon after, more and more people gathered around her and all kinds of disturbing nces fell upon her. -It''s bad enough that something like this happened before theunch. -This time he has really offended everyone. If you can''t finish the show sessfully, not to mention the models and thepany, even the organizers will have to be ashamed along with them. -It''s like this, look at Mr. Raven''s face.... The audience was so enthusiastic in theirmunication that they didn''t even notice the backstage door opening again. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, it is an honor to have you here in person. Here we are in our backstage area, where the models and designers get ready before going on stage. You can take a tour and then decide if you''re going to sign with us. The foreign man walking in front wore his hair slicked back with his hands behind his back in a ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. confident, leisurely manner. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, our brand is quite famous internationally. I am sure you will be satisfied with today''s show. -Good. Leopoldo replied calmly. A pure ck suit outlined his athletic figure, his stern gaze swept the backstage and he took steps trying to walk to where the crowd was. -Miss Ortiz, if you really have no other solution, then I will have to follow the rules. A somewhat resounding voice came from there and Leopoldo stopped in his tracks. Those words, "Se?orita Ortiz," caught his attention. He fixed his gaze in that direction, which fell across the crowd and precisely on the pretty figure in the middle of it. Compared to the crowd, this figure looked very slim and at the same time very striking. -What''s going on? The cooperative also saw the crowd there, but did not take it seriously. Quickly raising his smile again, he said cautiously: -Mr. Dur¨¢n, we had better continue with what we were talking about before. -Mr. Pedro, please wait. Leopoldo interrupted the words he was about to say and looked at the other partners around him, a touch of annoyance running through his eyes as he said in a cold voice: -I would like to wait until I finish watching this parade before I make a decision about cooperating with yourpany. His words seemed casual, but his tone was irrefutable. After the people next to him nodded in surprise, he left the backstage area with quick steps. Pedro and the other coborators were a bit confused and had no idea what was going on with him. Chapter 14: Your Talent Chapter 14: Your Talent Chapter 14: Your Talent In the meantime. Mariana bit her lips slightly. Naturally she could understand what the person in charge, Mr. Raven, said. It was simply that the responsibility would not fall on her, but also that thisunch would no longer have anything to do with her. -It should indeed be the case. Miss Ortiz, you are not allowed to attend theunch since your clothes are not even ready," someone said. "Can''t I attend theunch?" "Does that mean I should leave?" Mariana took a deep breath, straightened up amidst the numerous malicious nces and opened her mouth: -Mr. Raven, please give me a little time. After that, he turned his head and said to Ana: -Anita, go get me the tools, and all the remaining fabrics together. -Good. Ana and the rest of the team were very frightened and, upon hearing her words, could only go and do it unconsciously. Mariana looked around and finally found a semi-finished product that had been discarded. She examined it carefully, put the dress on the table, took the tools passed by Ana and began to make it immediately. She neatly cut off all the excess trimmings from the dress, which soon became more elegant and generous. -What are you trying to do? You wouldn''t want to try to improvise a dress, would you? -I think you''re overthinking it. Even if you really could do it, what good design could youe up with on such short notice? -Oh, it must be just a desperate attempt, since he doesn''t want to give up such a rare opportunity. None of the spectators were optimistic about it. Andrea sat on the sofa looking at her with irony and an exquisitely made-up face full of contempt. She didn''t think Mariana could design an outfit in such a short time. *** The man, standing in the corner, silently retracted the feet he was about to lift. He fixed on Mariana the calm, sharp gaze, which wandered over her andnded atst on that pair of white, slender hands of hers. After he contemted her for a few minutes, a few smiles appeared on his cold face. The woman surrounded by the crowd always kept her head down, the hair falling out of her ears did not catch her attention in the least. Her gaze merely focused on the dress in her hand, giving off a confident and calm aura, powerful yet elegant. She was so beautiful that it was impossible to take his eyes off her. For a moment, Leopold''s eyes became deep, under which a strange emotion shone. No matter what the people next to her were talking about, she behaved as if she hadn''t heard anything and all her attention was on her dress. As time went by, the dress that was originally semi-finished was taking shape. Arge number of the people around her were designers and perhaps they detected what was going on, they stopped their sarcasticments, amazed and surprised, they came closer to watch while exchanging words in low voices from time to time. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. -It''s finally finished. Mariana put down the tools in her hands and shed a bright smile. -Miss Solis, let me try it on first and you will see how this dress fits you. -Well, go ahead. Andrea raised her eyebrows. "I''d like to see what kind of dress this woman could design in in sight." Taking the article of clothing, she confidently entered the fitting room and put on the dress she had just designed. Soon, when the dressing room door opened again and she appeared in front of the audience, everyone instantly opened their eyes in awe and let out admiration in a low voice. Chapter 15: Attending The Fashion Show In Place Of The Model Chapter 15: Attending The Fashion Show In ce Of The Model Chapter 15: Attending the fashion show in ce of the model The semi-finished dress was gold in color, Mariana preserved the original tone and cut off all additional embellishments, better revealing its exquisite design and outlining more perfectly the beautiful figure of the woman. Even when she was standing still, she had a bright and striking nobility. After a few seconds of silence from those present, someone took the initiative to exim: -My God, how impressive this dress is! N?velDrama.Org content. -In such a short time, it''s incredible! Not only were the spectators amazed, but even the person in charge of the room, Mr. Raven, also nodded repeatedly with appreciation, and his gaze could not help but turn to Mariana. He had realized from the beginning that this designer was not only superbly talented, but that her looks and figure were hardly less impressive than those of the models present. The standing man watching from a distance stubbed out his cigarette and intently observed the situation there, surprise still present in his expression. It was as if I was meeting this woman for real for the first time. *** As the voices of admiration around her reached her ears, Andrea clenched her fists only to feel a burning pain in her face; and noticing that all eyes stopped on Mariana, she became even more indignant inside. -This outfit is really nice, but I think that... She barely managed to suppress her discontent and had to find some ws in the dress. "I must not allow myself to let Mariana get away with this!" -I think it''s very good, it doesn''t need any further modification. Before she could finish herment, Mr. Raven interrupted her first, directly approving of the dress andpletely ignoring Andrea who became suddenly obnoxious. -Well, thank you Mr. Raven. Mariana was immediately relieved and went back to the dressing room trying to take it off. But at the moment, someone rushed up to Mr. Raven from outside and said in a panicked, urgent voice: -Mr. Raven, something went wrong, the model, Judy, has identally fallen. She has been taken to the hospital in time, but it will definitely affect the show. -What? Mr. Raven''s expression changed and he said calmly and decisively: -Fix the recement immediately and find another model to take over! -It is impossible, Mr. Raven. Theunch will start soon and the other models will not be able to arrive at this time. It was only ten minutes before theunch, and with all the guests out and the roads full of cars, it would be toote despite getting a model to attend. Mr. Raven rubbed his brow in annoyance, not expecting such a thing to suddenly happen at thest moment. Just as the matter was at a standstill, he turned his head and saw Mariana''s back as she was carrying her skirt towards the changing room and suddenly something urred to him. -Miss Ortiz, one second please. -Mr. Raven, is there anything else? Mariana stopped her step in confusion. He walked before her, examined her calmly and, soon after, a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes. -Mr. Raven, what is it? Mariana felt a little ufortable at the sight of him. -Nothing. Raven smiled, with a certain helplessness in her expression. -I was just told that there is a model who can''te because of an ident, so I would love Miss Ortiz to help us with this fashion show. Chapter 16: She Who Was Dazzling Chapter 16: She Who Was Dazzling Chapter 16: She Who Was Dazzling -Me? Mariana''s eyes opened wide, she had not expected this situation. The position she had always held was that of a designer, so she had no runway experience. Moreover, it was a parade on an international scale, the guests were all big shots who had some influence and there were even journalists from several countries. Did you ask him to participate in the show? If she made a mistake in her actions, not only would she herself lose prestige, but thepany could also be disgraced. Raven was perceptive enough to spot his hesitation at a nce and told him with a consoling smile: -Miss Ortiz, there are somemercial parades at thisunch and I will put you there. As for them, only the promoters of several brands have been invited, who are not professional models, and this is something that the guests know, so you don''t have to worry. -Well... Mariana hesitated. She wanted to refuse, but once she met his sincere gaze, she could only nod her head: -Thank you for your appreciation, I will certainly do my best to finish this parade. -Thank you very much, Miss Ortiz! -Raven smiled enthusiastically and hurried to ask the staff to make preparations. He had an inexplicable feeling that she would surprise him. The staff came over and took her to get ready. From afar they could still hear the people around them exim frequently, even Ana felt proud and followed her excitedly. Andrea stood by the couch clenching her hands and ring angrily at the woman. "Why should I let a woman like that steal my attention?" -Mr. Dur¨¢n, theunch is ready to begin. The assistant dressed in a professional suit approached and gently reminded him. -I can see that. Leopoldo threw away the cigarette he had already extinguished in his hand, wiped the hidden smile from his eyes and calmly straightened his suit jacket as he walked away. *** Theunch soon officially began. The decorated catwalk was filled with bright lights and, in the middle of the venue, she became the most attractive presence, fully exposed to the media cameras. N?velDrama.Org content rights. All around him was surrounded by guests, all dressed to the nines, all celebrity guests from various circles. As theunch began, the models slowly appeared on the catwalk in their carefully prepared outfits, which immediately caused a stir under the stage. Many of the media lingering at the back of the room couldn''t help but get up and take pictures once they saw the top models. But if the next model was a little less impressive, they sat back in their chairs with little interest, what looked like a straightforward and cruel attitude. At the moment when the audience was actively discussing, another model appeared on the catwalk. The press looked up to look, casually, and their eyes showed surprise. The model wore a white dress with stripes of a unique design. When the hem of the dress swung, the woman''s white ankles were vaguely revealed. With each step, the high heels made a crisp, tantalizing sound on the stage. -Oh my God... The media, in their trance, stood up and, when they recovered, immediately raised their cameras in their hands and eagerly chased the figure on stage to take pictures of him. The guests in the front rows also left the brochures in their hands and looked at the woman on stage with shock or esteem. It smoked for an instant when Mariana could feel several sights converging on her and she was instantly filled with pressure. Chapter 17: Who Is This Woman To Be Above Her? Chapter 17: Who Is This Woman To Be Above Her? Chapter 17: Who is this woman to be above her? Her heart was beating fast and she could barely resist the urge to avoid those eyes, but the next second, she remembered what Mr. Raven had taught her about essentials, took a deep breath, and struggled to keep herposure. Her natural and generous steps made the hem of the dress move, and it was then that the crowd found with surprise the silver crystal chain she wore tied around her ankle, a beautiful image against her white skin. This long white dress with stripes not only had a high-end design, but also gave off an elegant aura. Mariana wore this dress and perfectly highlighted its advantages. ck! ck! The press rushed to get a good shot with the fear of missing any of the wonderful images. The sound of the shutter could be heard constantly, all of which seemed to confirm Mariana''s sess. The guests below were also nodding in agreement. -This model is quite good. -Yes, he walks the runway steadily and has a good temperament. Naturally, she could hear thements from the stage, but she tried to remain calm, and no one had seen the slight stiffness of her arm hanging at her side. Without daring to show it, ording to Mr. Raven''s instructions, she followed Andrea, who was posing in front of her, at a steady pace. They stood side by side for a few seconds. The stage was not far from the guests'' seats, so the models could also see what was going on below. Although not a professional model, Andrea had been invited to several fashion shows. She was posing elegantly when the corner of her eye identally caught a glimpse of the person next to her, who was actually Mariana! Her face darkened and she quickly forced herself to calm down again, but her eyes filled with zeal. He really didn''t understand why aywoman like Mariana was qualified to stand beside him, "How ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ridiculous." With so many people watching, Andrea certainly wouldn''t be stupid enough to give Mariana a hard time right now, but her terrible gaze darted the other way a few times. When they crossed paths, Andrea lifted her delicate chin and walked on stage proudly on her heels in an attempt to stifle Mariana''s light. Of course, Mariana could feel these strangenesses and her heart was filled only with helplessness. She didn''t know if it was a coincidence that she attended the parade with Andrea or a deliberate arrangement by Raven. She just lowered her eyes with a smile at these maneuvers of Andrea''s without caring too much. All she wanted to do was to seriously finish her show and strive to show off the beauty of this dress she wore in the best possible way. -This model is really perfect for this dress. -I don''t think so. I think she is able to tame it without taking away from her beauty. If she had worn the long dress of the model next to her, she would have looked even more stunning! -Yes! As a model, you must be able toplement any style of clothing, that''s what makes a great model! The dress Andrea wore was as if it were covered in gold, extremely luxurious, but it could not steal any of the attention gathered on Mariana. The guests below the stage seemed not to have seen her, all their astonishment and approval were given to Mariana without disappearing for a long period of time. The man sitting in the center of the front row rested his chin, with a pair of eyes of mild derision, -Ha, what a contrast. Chapter 18: Interested In This Model Chapter 18: Interested In This Model Chapter 18: Interested in this model He deliberately did not lower his voice when he spoke, so people around him could hear him clearly, even Mariana and Andrea on stage as well. Mariana only nced at it and didn''t give it any importance because she was afraid she would be distracted. Andrea''s face, for her part, became a little uglier. She tried desperately to keep a smile on her face without realizing that her expression had already twisted a bit. When he heard all the people downstairs echoing that man, an evil gleamed in his eyes. "It''s Mariana again!" "Are these people blind? How am I inferior to them?" By the way, this man was someone Mariana knew. To be precise, there must have been only a few people present who did not know him. He was Xavier B?o. A famous and legendary actor in the country, equally recognized in the internationalmunity. As well as his fame, his romances were also well known. Someone had once made statistics of the women with whom he had scandals and discovered that they did not fit on a whole sheet of paper. He was known in his circle as a loose cannon and didn''t care what the outside world thought, and from time to time he even scolded journalists until they were mute. -What''s the matter, are you interested in this model? -Technically, she''s not a model, but a designer, and quite famous in the industry. -Ah? Xavier raised his eyebrows. It was rare to hear his ever-demanding agent praise someone, so he was curious, -What is it about? -Before the start of theunch, the dress she had prepared was maliciously torn, and she simply improvised another set of clothes. Such a decisive means is not something that ordinary people can do. But I didn''t expect that she was not only talented, but even had such calm manners on stage. I''ve been thinking that I might find an opportunity for her to join our studio, such a talent is rare. -Is that so? Xavier smiled yfully andzily shifted his sitting position. Hisughing eyes were fixed on the woman on the catwalk without hiding his interest in her in any way. When Mariana turned around and looked over, she happened to see Xavier blinking at her. Herplexion changed and she almost lost her rhythm. She hurried to calm herself and when she looked up again, her gaze identally met the deep, cold one of a certain man and a shiver ran down her spine. It was Leopoldo. Was sheing to see Andrea? Mariana raised her head, repressed the surge of doubt in her heart and took steps to prepare to return. But Andrea, who had hostility against her at her side, noticed this momentary strange action, immediately looked along her sight and saw that Leopold was there, and her eyes instantly lit up. Then she noticed him and found that his gaze did not seem to focus on her at all. From memory, this man always seemed so cool and level-headed, but at this moment the warmth in his eyes was unlike anything she had ever seen before. There even seemed to be a tinge of wonder and ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. recognition in this warmth. And from beginning to end, his gaze remained solely on Mariana who stood by his side. The corners of her lips that were about to rise instantly turned downward. A coldness shone in Andrea''s eyes! -Wee the next group of models to show us D&K''s new season designs. The host appeared on cue and smilingly said: -Once again, I want to thank the two excellent models for bringing us a feast of perspectives! s, s! A great apuse sounded! The guests below reacted clearly more enthusiastically than before. Media cameras followed closely behind the two and from time to time sounds of admiration and affirmation could be heard. Mariana sighed in relief, finally able to rx. Chapter 19: AndreaS Trap Chapter 19: Andrea''S Trap Chapter 19: Andrea''s Trap Andrea, who was walking next to her, had a shadow on her face because she knew better than anyone that all thosepliments were for Mariana instead of for her. Even if someone were willing to mention it asionally, they would only say that the dress she wore was beautifully designed and wonder which designer it came from. -Mr. Dur¨¢n. Pedro, who had spoken to Leopoldo earlier about the contract, approached through the crowd and was about to open his mouth when he noticed Leopoldo gazing intently at the stage. -Mr. Dur¨¢n... -Mr. Pedro, I don''t want to talk about the contract right now," came a few cold words from his thin lips. Mr. Pedro was a little surprised, but also discreetly closed his mouth. Leopold narrowed his eyes and his deep gaze was fixed on the woman''s perfect back until she slowly moved away. His wife seemed different from anything he had known before. It seemed that it was necessary for him to examine her again. By now, Mariana was about to walk to the end of the stage, while Andrea had fallen behind her at some point. And just in the nick of time, thetter suddenly quickened her pace and walked straight past Mariana, the long hems of their dresses intertwined behind them. Mariana looked back in shock without noticing the difference under her feetpletely. The next second, an ident suddenly urred! She stepped on the hem of Andrea''s skirt, causing Andrea to fall to the floor with an exmation. In the panic, Mariana only felt a forcee upon her and the image in front of her inverted and then fell weightlessly to the ground. With a "Boom", she felt a dense pain in her forehead. It all happened so suddenly that by the time everyone reacted, Andrea was already sitting on the floor with a pained face covering her ankle. Mariana, on the other hand, had copsed on the floor. -What''s going on? The staff and models who were making preparations at the exit were startled into immediate chaos. Amidst the shouting, no one paid attention to the parade on stage anymore and everyone got up and headed for the stairs. -Mr. Dur¨¢n... Peter looked to his side in surprise and was about to exin that it was just an ident and would not affect his cooperation, but who knew that the man next to him was already gone. Theunch originally with an excellent atmosphere turned into chaos, and even Mr. Raven was rmed. Amidst the disturbance, an upright figure avoided the onlookers around him and bent down to pick up Mariana. -I''ll take her to the hospital! He left in a hurry a sentence and left with quick steps on his long legs. -Leo! -Andrea called out to him painfully as she noticed that the situation was not going her way. Leopoldo did not turn around and his face darkened even more. -I sprained my foot, can you take me to the hospital? I''m in a lot of pain. Andrea sat on the floor with red eyes and pitifully stretched out her hand to him. Such a tender and weak gesture, any man would hesitate to see it. Leopoldo, however, did not stop at all and, seeing that Mariana''s face was getting paler and paler, he quickened his pace! Andrea''s raised hand dropped helplessly. She watched with frozen body the man walk away as the mocking gazes around hernded on her indiscriminately. Numerous people began to whisper in front of her. -What the hell is going on here! Wasn''t that Mr. Dur¨¢n from Grupo Dur¨¢n? -It''s him, but... I''ve always heard that he has an ambiguous rtionship with Andrea, why did he take Mariana without looking back? This... they shouldn''t be in that kind of rtionship too, right? -Who knows? There are always many stories in this business. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. At this point, Andrea just felt like a loser who had been stripped naked. Clutching her skirt tightly, she fixed her eyes full of resentment in the direction in which Leopold had gone, her lips almost bitten. Mariana! It was her again! Chapter 20: He Left Hugging Her Chapter 20: He Left Hugging Her Chapter 20: He left hugging her Not far from there, Xavier had his hands in his pockets and watched Andrea''s expression before looking with a meaningful smile where Leopoldo had left off, thinking that the matter was getting more and more interesting. This woman, in fact, could make Leopoldo take the initiative to embrace her. *** After some time had passed, the smell of disinfectant appeared in the air. Mariana opened her eyes with a headache and glimpsed the snow-white ceiling. The unfamiliar surroundings confused her for a few seconds. -Mari, don''t move! She was about to get up when suddenly someone rushed over from the side and grabbed her shoulders to pin her down. He looked around with a permanent difort in his head. -Anita? -Mari, you''re finally awake! Ana hurried to ce the pillow for him to lean on, nervously watching his face. N?velDrama.Org content rights. -How are you feeling, are you nauseous and want to vomit? You scared me! The doctor said you hit your head and will probably have a concussion. -Me? I''m fine, don''t worry. -Don''t try to lie to me," Ana''s eyes turned red and she sobbed. The doctor told me that you fainted not only because you hit your head, but also because you''ve been working too hardtely and couldn''t take much more! Why else would you have been unconscious for so long? You''ve been in aa all night! -All night? Mariana made a slight cough and, weakly, said aforting joke: -I''m really fine. You know, I''m made of iron. -How dare you joke! You know you almost scared me to death! -I was wrong, uh... Mariana squeezed her temples and pretended to be ufortable. -Anita, I may have really hit my head.... Leave me alone, I''ll be fine after I rest. Naturally, he had an awareness of his own health. It was true that he had been enduring thesest few days, but he was perfectly capable of holding out until theunch was over. However, who would have known that Andrea had set him up? She could be sure it was Andrea who had pushed her! At the thought of that woman, she couldn''t help but let out a coldugh. When Ana saw that she had something wrong with her expression, she couldn''t help but curse: -It''s all Andrea''s fault! If that woman hadn''t insisted on getting you into trouble, you wouldn''t have been so exhausted for so many days. You fainted because of her! Exhausted? Mariana sped her hands, forcing herself not to say anything about it. At that moment when his catwalk was about to end, the lights by the back of the stage were quite dim and Andrea was very close to her when he attacked her, so no one would have noticed his actions. I had no proof at hand, even if I said it out loud, no one would believe it, and I might even be ndered by Andrea in turn. -But, Mari, Mr. Dur¨¢n was so greatst night! Ana smiled with joy. -You don''t know! When Mr. Dur¨¢n hugged youst night, how ugly Andrea''s face was! She even sat on the floor with an innocent face and asked him not to leave, but he didn''t even look at her, he left hugging you. I was so happy to see him. He told the story while waving his hands. Just with that exaggerated imitation of his, Mariana seemed to be watching that good scandalst night. -Mr. Dur¨¢n? Mariana had a moment of distraction and Leopoldo''s handsome and indifferent face came to her mind. Him? How was that possible? He wasn''t with Andrea... Before she had time to think about it any more, she felt a slight pain in her head and reached out her index finger to gently massage her temples. This time it was real, because she still couldn''t understand why Leopoldo had helped her. -Yes, Mr. Dur¨¢n. Wow, he is so handsome, especially the moment he picked you up, like a prince embracing his princess, it''s as wonderful as a fairy tale.... Ana sped her hands together and narrowed her eyes in adoration. -Enough, don''t exaggerate. Mariana was used to this manner of his, but she could not help but mock it. -I meant it. Andrea must not have expected Mr. Dur¨¢n to leave her behind ande out with you in his arms. She deserved it... Do you think he''s already interested in you, Mari? Ana joked with augh, blinked and raised her eyebrows as she looked at her. -How is it possible, don''t talk nonsense. Images of that night''s madness shed through her mind and her cheeks were instantly tinged with a sh of blush. -Wow, Mari, you''re shy. I didn''t expect you to blush too. Is Mr. Dur¨¢n''s hug very warm? Hahaha... -Ana Lopez, don''t talk like that! Chapter 21: The Brightest Queen On The Catwalk Chapter 21: The Brightest Queen On The Catwalk Chapter 21: The brightest queen on the catwalk The next day, this bombshell news went viral on socialworks. Andrea sat in her office, shaking as she read all thements. She deliberately wanted to get everyone''s attention, so she had her agent mosaic Mariana''s photo, and even spent a lot of money to block the news of Leopoldo''s appearance the night before, so she would still be the most dazzling beauty on the catwalk. But the result did not satisfy him. Thements from Inte users barely mentioned her, and most of them admired the elegance and beauty of Mariana, who had been mosaicked. Everyone said: -This mysterious model is so perfect. -She and the clothes she wears are dazzling. -Who is this girl? She is as beautiful as a fairy in children''s fairy tales. *** "Why is it like this, why?!" It was obvious that she herself, Andrea Solis, was the most outstanding person, the most perfect. Why was everyone praising this Mariana? And the most hateful thing for Andrea was: Who the hell was this Mariana for Leopoldo? Last night, Andrea saw clearly in Leopoldo''s face the panic she had never seen before. Leopoldo did not like to be touched, but he took the initiative to take Mariana in his arms to the hospital, what did this mean? Atst Andrea understood why Leopoldo was impatient with her all these days, it was all because of this bitch Mariana! This indifferent man, this quiet and calm man, for a woman even... Andrea did not dare to think about it anymore, because the result would be unbearable for her. *** -Mari, you have be famous! Ana ran to Mariana''s side with her cell phone and showed her the screen in front of her. -What''s wrong? Seeing her friend so excited, Mariana was very curious, so she picked up her phone and, with one ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. nce, saw the eye-catching headline: The brightest queen on the catwalk: A mysterious model impressed everyone present. There were some photos attached under this headline. In the photos Andrea was smiling in a golden dress, while the woman next to her was put in mosaic, only her beautiful and slim figure was vaguely visible. Mariana felt a little surprised, thinking: "Who made this headline, so exaggerated? And these mosaics..." -Look at this beauty next to him, isn''t that you? Ana was so excited that she naturally did not notice those mosaics. In her mind, those mosaics could not cover Mariana''s beauty at all. Mariana didn''t think much about it, maybe the fashion magazine had its own ideas. She lightly slid the screen with her delicate fingers to thements section. I was quite interested in thements. -Andrea is my goddess! -Who is this woman next to Andrea? Why did they put mosaics on her? -After watching yesterday''s live broadcast, I think she is a very professional model. -She is probably not famous in the country, but internationally. -Look at her figure, it''s so perfect, and the clothes she''s wearing are very nice, too, as if they were tailor-made for her. Mariana shook her head, thinking that thesepliments were too exaggerated. She was just a designer, not mysterious at all. -Anita -Mariana gave the phone back to Ana and took her hand-, since they have put mosaics on my photos, I guess the brand doesn''t want to reveal my identity, so don''t spread this news in the office, huh? Mariana said with a smile, and a hint of imperceptible nervousness shone in her eyes. Last night she had pissed Andrea off, but the work had to continue but, fortunately, this project was finally over. -Why? You''re obviously much better than that Andrea. Really, I didn''t even notice that. Why did they put mosaics on your beautiful face? Let me ask them! -Besides,st night when Leopoldo took you to the hospital was not even written in the news, this must have been that Andrea''s idea! -This woman is so disgusting, I really hate her. Ana had always been an outspoken person who said whatever she wanted, and she couldn''t see that her best friend felt wronged. Last night Andrea had gone too far. If she saw this news today, she must have been very happy. -There''s no need to get angry, I''m fine. Maybe I''ll spend my life with theputer working. Mariana stopped Ana and told her to sit down, then handed her a cup of coffee to calm her down. She was just a designer, not a professional model, what happened yesterday was just an ident, that''s why she believed there was no need to get angry with Andrea about this matter. -But... -Ana still wanted to express her dissatisfaction, but Mariana shoved a small piece of cake in her mouth, preventing her from speaking further. -Stop it, it''s all right, you''ll be in a better mood after eating something, it''s not worth getting angry over such a trivial thing. Mariana was a workaholic and didn''t want to bother with these petty issues. The person in question is calm and rxed, while the one who has nothing to do with the matter is very worried. The project was finally over and the results were not bad, so Mariana could finally rx a little. In the afternoon, Mariana finished all her work and returned home. Leopoldo had not been home for the past few days, so Mariana was d to be alone. To avoid embarrassment, she didn''t want to run into Leopoldo, but the man had done her a favor that night and Mariana felt she should thank him. "I''m going to thank you when I get back." After parking the car properly, Mariana took the keys and went to the door, thinking about what she would have for dinner in the evening, but the next second, the exquisite door suddenly opened before her eyes. -Oh! He unconsciously let out a low cry and stepped back a little. Leopoldo''s handsome face reflected in Mariana''s eyes without warning. She became so nervous that her heart pounded at the sight of the man. The man looked at her and turned to go inside. Mariana came to her senses and followed him. "Why is he back all of a sudden, shouldn''t he be with Andrea now?" Chapter 22: She Is So Beautiful Chapter 22: She Is So Beautiful Chapter 22: She is So Beautiful -Change your clothes ande with me. Leopoldo sat on the sofa and crossed his legs. His eyes were as deep and dark as obsidian, and the soft, warm light reflected off his face, making his features more pronounced. N?velDrama.Org content. -Where to? Mariana looked at him in confusion and stood still in the same ce. The man seemed to have sensed her confusion. The woman moved her head slightly to one side and hastily lowered her head. -To the family dinner. Leopoldo responded tersely. His tone was so cold that she was unable to see what emotion he had. Indeed, this man was still as indifferent as before. Mariana''s cheeks reddened slightly and she said: -I''m sorry. After saying that, she turned and ran up the stairs. Indeed, she had forgotten that the Dur¨¢n family dined together once a month, and although she was only Leopoldo''s nominal wife, she represented the Seeing Mariana''s rushing back, Leopoldo instantly remembered the beautiful figure on the catwalk that night, and his eyes grew deeper and deeper. "Which image is the real her?" A few minutester, Mariana got off. As a designer, she had very good taste in dress. She was now wearing a short purple jacket and a knee-length white skirt, which fitted her delicate figure perfectly. Her long ck hair curled behind her head, giving a hint of elegance. -I am very sorry for the dy. Mariana nodded slightly and smiled apologetically, her hands slightly clenched. -It''s all right. Leopoldo looked at her, with a hint of surprise in his eyes, he was rarely at home and so it was difficult to see a Mariana so well dressed. "It has to be said that she was really beautiful." But just for a moment, her soft eyes instantly turned cold. On the way, Mariana looked out the car window and thought about what she should say at dinner tonight. The music in the car sounded very soft and pleasant, and the man didn''t say a word as he concentrated on driving. Mariana turned her head slightly to the side and caught a glimpse of the man''s stern, perfect face and her breath hitched for a moment. With his high nose, thin red lips, long thick eyshes and, above all, those attractive eyes, it was hard for any woman not to be attracted to him. Mariana looked away and saw the Dur¨¢n family vi well illuminated from afar. Very quickly they arrived at the vi. -Mrs. Mariana, Mr. Leopoldo, wee, Mr. and Mrs. have been waiting for you inside for a long time. The butler greeted them respectfully. Leopoldo nodded slightly without saying anything, Mariana smiled at the butler saying: -Good evening Ramon, thank you very much for tonight. -Mrs. Mariana, it is my honor. Mariana had a very good impression of this old butler, a very kind old man. Leopold looked over at her and casually saw her kind smile, his originally stern look momentarily softening. The two were led by the servants to the dining room, where Leopold''s father and the others were already seated. -Hi dad, hi ma''am, how are you? Mariana greeted them warmly. Leopoldo had told her that he could not call this woman "mom". Leopoldo''s father nodded and motioned for them to sit at the table. Juan Dur¨¢n was about fifty years old, but he looked young and vigorous at his age, and Leopoldo looked simr to him, with the same cold eyes. The woman sitting next to Juan was not Leopoldo''s mother, but his stepmother, so Leopoldo never called her "mother". Although Pe Beatriz was already in her forties, she still had a very good figure, but she wore very overdone makeup that did not correspond to her age and looked a bit pretentious. Mariana did not like this woman who was not what she seemed. -How is work going these days, Mari? -asked Juan. Hearing Juan''s question, Mariana put her fork in her hand on her te and answered with a smile: -Everything is going well. This was a regr question and answer at every monthly meeting, Mariana could not understand what the meaning of such a formal dinner was.... -Well, what about you, Leopoldo? -All the same. Leopoldo responded indifferently, without the slightest intention of chatting with him, and the father gave him a disgruntled look. -Leo, your father is old, although thepany has been transferred to you, but you should at least talk to your father about how thepany works. Pe said with a smile, but did not hide the dissatisfaction in her words in the least. It had been a long time since she had gotten along with this guy. This guy always showed her an indifferent face, without the slightest politeness. But in front of his father, he couldn''tin too much. Mariana looked at the man next to her, she discovered that he narrowed his eyes slightly, giving her stepmother a cold look, as if he was looking at a funny clown. -Look, Juan, he won''t even listen to me. Pe had no choice but to turn to the father at her side to conceal her embarrassment. -Leopoldo, with what attitude do you talk to your mother? Leopoldo''s father was naturally on his wife''s side and rebuked his son mercilessly. Mariana had already noticed the ufortable atmosphere in the dining room. This father and son always quarreled when they met. So this once-a-month dinner was just a dispute. Mariana could feel the murderous auraing off the man next to her, she took a deep breath and gently grabbed the man''s clenched fist under the table. Chapter 23: DonT Forget Your Identity Chapter 23: Don''T Forget Your Identity Chapter 23: Don''t forget your identity Leopold''s body stiffened slightly, and the hostility under his eyes gradually dissipated. He looked at the hand the woman was holding tightly, as if thinking about something. Mariana gave him a slight smile, and then said without panic: -Dad, Leo has done quite well in thepany. -Ugh, I was just kidding, don''t take it seriously, Mari. Without waiting for Leo''s father to respond, Pe hurried to say, barely keeping a smile on her face. Juan had a good impression of his daughter-inw, and Pe was not stupid enough to provoke Mariana. -Leo, you shoulde home more often when you are free, your father and I miss you, and I also want to do my duty as a mother," said Pe with feigned sympathy. Leopold looked up slightly, and stared indifferently at Pe, but had no intention of speaking to her. -Pearl is talking to you, are you deaf or what? -asked Juan, angry, when he saw how indifferent N?velDrama.Org content. Leopoldo was. -Yes. Leopoldo nodded his head, without changing his expression. You couldn''t see the good or bad in his mood. It was Mariana who was a little anxious. She looked at the serene and stern man beside her and hurried to say: -Dad, Leo is not feeling well today. As expected, after hearing Mariana''s words, Leo''s father said nothing more. She sighed in secret relief, picked up the ss she had on hand and handed it to Leopoldo: -Drink some water, you are already very tired today. Leopoldo looked at her and you could tell that a glint of imperceptible emotion shone in his eyes. Mariana looked up and met those deep, cold eyes. He hurriedly averted his eyes, his heart beating slightly faster. Leopoldo took the ss of water from his hand and took a few sips, and his depressed mood seemed to have calmed down a bit. -Juan, don''t get angry. Leo''s character is like that, you don''t need to get so upset. I''m used to it. Pe stood up and stopped Leopoldo''s father, who wanted to lecture Leopoldo, but her words were like adding fuel to the fire. Mariana couldn''t help but grimace inwardly, thinking that this Pearl was really as sly as a slut. Pe clearly knew that Leopoldo had lost his mother, but she still liked to mention his mother in front of him, wasn''t this an intentional provocation? -Ma''am, there are many things to do in thepany, Leo is usually in thepany working, and even he doesn''t have much time to be with me. It''s really not that I don''t want to visit them," Mariana said in a tender voice. Without waiting for Pe to respond, he spoke again: -Grupo Duran is a bigpany after all, Leo is busy every day for work. We just got off work and rushed toe, please madam, understand Leo a little bit. Mariana didn''t back down at all, for some reason she didn''t want others to speak ill of Leopoldo, especially such a tant provocation as Pe''s. -It''s just that... Pe was instantly speechless, she had never argued with Mariana, although she didn''t like the girl. Mariana had never contradicted her either, and this sudden situation made her speechless. -Let''s eat. Leopoldo said indifferently, he really didn''t want to listen to this woman, he just wanted to finish this dinner, he had tried not to embarrass her as much as possible, if she insisted on bothering him, he would show her no mercy. -Well, let''s eat. Pe was quick to say, not expecting Leopoldo to take the initiative to get her out of this embarrassing situation, which was something that had never happened. At the table, each of the four had something on their minds, and after half an hour, the awkward scene finally ended. On the way back, Mariana looked out the car window, another unhappy reunion. He looked at the man next to him, but since it was night, he could not see Leopold''s face clearly and did not know his expression at that moment. -It''s just that... -Don''t forget your identity. The air seemed to freeze instantly, Mariana looked at him in confusion, only to see the man park the car in front of the vi, fingers tapping the steering wheel. -Mariana, do you think I will thank you? -Leopoldo asked coldly. -I didn''t want to... Mariana clenched her hands and lowered her head, only then did she understand what Leopoldo was referring to. I just wanted to thank her, because it was Leopoldo who helped her that night. Mariana is a grateful person, and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank him, but I didn''t expect him to misinterpret it... -I didn''t want your thanks.... "I just want to thank you..." But thest half of this sentence was swallowed by Mariana, because she suddenly did not want to exin. For Leopold, she was always the cunning and ill-intentioned woman, and even if they had a marriage contract, and even if they had slept together, he would still not want to look at her in a positive light. Even if she was sincere in defending him, he was worthless in her eyes. A feeling of humiliation invaded her heart and Mariana bit her lips hard, her face pale. Looking into his helpless eyes, the man was instantly annoyed. -Remember your identity, you are not the realdy of the Dur¨¢n family, don''t say things you shouldn''t, don''t get involved in things that don''t call you," Leopoldo warned her coldly. Mariana bit her pale lips, struggled to hold back tears, steadied her breathing, nodded, opened the car door and got out, melting into the dark night. Leopoldo sat in the car, watching his back from afar. Chapter 24: She Must Be Crazy Chapter 24: She Must Be Crazy Chapter 24: She Must Be Crazy Mariana was small and looked very thin in the cool night. Looking at her back the man felt a little sorry for her for once. He unconsciously clenched his hands, remembering the scene at dinner when the woman gently held his hand. At that moment, without knowing why, he was already irritated, but when he touched Mariana''s soft palm, he calmed down instantly. Leopoldo shook his head, thinking that he must be too tired and needed to rest some more. When she got home, Mariana buried herself under the nket. Her mind was filled with Leopoldo''s determined and cold eyes, and the words "remember your identity" echoed in her ears. "Mariana, what''s wrong with you?" "Yes, I''m just Leopoldo''s fianc¨¦e wife, how can I be in a position to discuss his family matters at the family dinner today? Crazy, I must be crazy..." But Mariana still felt aggrieved. A tear fell without warning andnded in the palm of her hand. She stared at the crystal tears. None of this was what she wanted: the marriage contract, the husband, the Dur¨¢n family.... They were not what she wanted. She had had illusions about this man, but she was doing her best to restrain herself. How could Leopoldo misunderstand her? The intermittent sobs of the woman sounded in the room, and gradually silence returned. The next morning, Mariana still showed up at thepany as if nothing had happened, her face energetic. -My God, Mariana, you were really beautiful that day! -a colleague from thepany approached her and said with a smile. -What? -Mariana was puzzled and did not understand what her colleague said. -On the catwalk that day, you were super beautiful! Only then did he react and waved his hands in denial: -It''s just that there was an emergency that day, I just did what I could do. Mariana wondered how they knew. "Didn''t they put a mosaic on my face?" After casually chatting with her colleague, Mariana headed for the design department with a brisk, brisk pace. Just as he pushed open the ss door, he heard Ana''s voice echoing in the design department office. -You didn''t see it, that day, Mari just stood on the catwalk! The whole audience was apuding her - that warm apuse was really very thunderous! N?velDrama.Org content. -The dress that day also fit Mari very well, I think that dress was custom made just for her. -Mari has never worked as a model, but when she walked the runway she didn''t have the slightest stage fright. Her performance in the passageway was better than that Andrea''s! Ana went around the office with enthusiasm and talked incessantly with other colleagues in the office. -And then... -Mari, when did youe? Ana had just turned around when she saw Mariana, who was leaning against the ss door, and Mariana was also looking at her with interest. -What are you doing? -Mariana stepped forward, lightly squeezed her friend''s hand and asked with a smile. Ana scratched her head and gave Mariana a cheeky smile: -Oops, I''ll share with you all the facts of that night! -All right, but that''s enough, hurry up and get to work. Mariana smiled, sat down in her chair, turned on theputer and started working. News of his "great achievements" soon spread throughout thepany. As usual, Mariana kept a modest and serious profile, doing what she had to do and telling Ana, by the way, not to exaggerate the facts too much. At that moment, the phone rang on her desk, Mariana answered the call and the crisp voice of the director came out the other end: -Mariana,e to my office, please. -Okay, I''ll be right there. He hung up the phone and got up to put on his jacket. Ana blinked her big eyes and looked at her suspiciously and asked: -Who is calling? -The director has asked me toe to the office, she thinks I''ve been too proud and arroganttely and wants to have a serious talk with me. Mariana spoke with an attitude of feigned seriousness, Ana was stunned and asked: -What?! Unconsciously he stood up and said: -But this matter has nothing to do with you, it was me who spread the news in the office. Why does the director want to talk to you? Seeing that Ana had fallen into the trap, Mariana could not help butugh out loud. Herughter was pleasant and charming. -What are youughing at? -Come on, I''ll go with you. It''s not your fault. Ana pulled Mariana''s hand to head for the door. -All right, all right, I was joking with you, silly girl. Mariana reached up and gently pinched his round face, showing a sweet and mischievous smile. When Ana came to, Mariana had already pushed open the ss door of the director''s office. -Mariana, please have a seat. The director was still as elegant as ever, in a white suit, giving a serious and sexy impression. -They tell me you did wellst time. Your improvisation skills were very good and protected the The director smiled and handed him a ss of water in passing. Mariana nodded her head in thanks and took the ss in both hands: -Director, it is my honor to be able to do something for our team, and this is attributed to your good leadership. Anyone was happy to be praised, and when the director heard this, the smile at the corners of her mouth became more noticeable. And she, too, was more resolute in her choice. -You have good skills, now I have a project and I want to assign it to you. The director handed her a document, Mariana took it with distrust and asked: -Me? -Yes, to be precise, I want to hand you over to a group, and you will be responsible for the team. Mariana opened the folder and, after ncing at it, looked at the director in confusion: -Holy Empress, is this it? Chapter 25: ILl Try To Do A Good Job Chapter 25: I''Ll Try To Do A Good Job Chapter 25: I''ll try to do a good job -It''s about an 18th century film that will start shooting soon. In view of your excellent behaviorst time, I am giving you this task. You can designate your own group, and you will lead your group and be Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. responsible for all costume and make-up designs for this film. The director described the job in detail with her sweet and tender voice. When she looked up, she met Mariana''s gaze. In the director''s gaze, she could see the admiration and praise for Mariana. But Mariana was far from calm. An 18th century film? He had never designed such costumes, and almost all of his designs were modern dresses. This task was both a recognition and a great challenge for her. She was quite confident in her designs for modern clothing, but the old costumes were a little difficult for her. -You can sign here. Naturally, the director did not give him a chance to refuse and picked up a pen and handed it to her. Mariana picked up the pen and hesitated a little. -What''s wrong? -You have any questions? -Director, it''s just that I''ve never studied the old costumes, so... -Then go and study it, there is nothing difficult. You don''t need to think about other things in the Just like thest time, Mariana understood that the director was not arguing with her but giving an order. -Well, I''ll try to do a good job. After signing her name on the document, Mariana thanked him and left the office. When she returned to the design department, Mariana exined the situation to her colleagues in the department and they were very surprised. Everyone knew that "Empress Santa" would be a big hit when it premiered, and it was said that all the participants starring in it were famous actors. Therefore, the costume design for this film would be a task not to be underestimated. Now, thepany had given this project to Mariana, which showed that thepany had great confidence in her. But thepany not only trusted her, but also believed in Mariana''s ability, so she dly agreed. Mariana was even more confident in aplishing this task as she gained the support of her peers, and immediately sought out various materials on 18th century clothing to study and expand her knowledge. There was no telling how much time passed. Mariana looked at her wristwatch and realized it was time to leave work. Mariana drove back home. The vige, which was located in the suburbs, seemed especially quiet in the twilight. "It''s toote, he''s not back yet?" A trace of loss appeared in Mariana''s eyes. -Lady, you''re back. When the maid saw her enter, she hurried over and said hello with concern. She nodded in response, and appeared to be slightly exhausted. -Do you want something? -Prepare me a sandwich, please, send it to the small studio, then you can go to rest, it''s gettingte. After saying this, Mariana turned around and went upstairs. The studio was small, clean and tidy, and filled with various books on design. Actually, Leopold had always treated her well. The man had sent someone to organize this little studio for her. Although he had never mentioned it to her, Mariana remembered it clearly in her mind. I did not hate Leopoldo, although that night the words he had said were unkind, I did not hate him. "Why do I have such contradictory thoughts?" Mariana shook her head to get those cluttered thoughts out of her mind and concentrated on her design work. Outside the door, the man''s deep-set eyes looked out into the endless night. Leopoldo looked at the time. At this hour it was not yet bedtime and she should be in her bedroom. But from where I was looking, the bedroom was dark. "She''s not back, is she still mad about that night?" Leopoldo looked a bit annoyed, with the fingers of his right hand tapping on the steering wheel, his left hand resting on his chin and his eyes fixed on that bedroom window, as if he was waiting for something. A quarter of an hourter, he got out of the car. She turned on the crystal chandelier in the living room, the soft light reflected on her face, enhancing the coolness in her gaze and her attractive beauty. These days she had not returned, but she always remembered the disappointed look on the woman''s face that night. Leopoldo did not know how to describe his feelings, but he felt very ufortable as if there was a knot in his heart. Recalling how Mariana had spoken for him at the family dinner table, Leopoldo could find no trace of her pretense. He originally wanted to go rx today, but for some reason he drove his car back here. Normally he was so cold and indifferent, there was no telling why he would hesitate over such a trivial matter. "Could it be that he went to sleep early today?" He couldn''t help but walk upstairs, thinking about seeing her soon. But when he reached the second floor, he saw a faint light in a small corner. It was her small studio. Leopoldo followed the light and went to the door, which was notpletely closed. He raised his hand and knocked on the door, but no one answered for quite a while. "What''s wrong with him?" Leopoldo unconsciously pushed the door, feeling a little nervous. But the scene before him left him slightly dazed. Mariana was lying on the table, her head down, theputer was on next to her and a cold sandwich was on the te on the table. Leopoldo approached and saw that she was already asleep. The dim light shone on her beautiful face, making her delicate face look even more beautiful. I had to admit she was beautiful, with pretty eyes, and although her eyes were closed, it didn''t detract from her beauty at all. Leopoldo dimmed the studio lights and, perhaps sensing the change in light, Mariana''s eyelids twitched slightly. He looked at her, and softened when he remembered the way she had defended him that night. Leopoldo lifted her gently, Mariana frowned with dissatisfaction and moved in his arms, but did not wake up. Chapter 26: Xavier Bola?o Chapter 26: Xavier B?o Chapter 26: Xavier B?o Leopoldo went to her room, ced her on the bed, covered her with the nket, turned off the light and closed the door. His movements were very smooth. The next day, Mariana woke up after the rm clock went off. He looked around and strained to rememberst night''s scene. "Why am I in bed, wasn''t I in the little study?" "Was it...?" In her dream, it seemed that someone was gently carrying her to her room. The person tucked her in, turned off the light and closed the door, and what happened next she did not remember. "Leopoldo has been here! Leopoldo came backst night!" Finally, Mariana came to this conclusion. She froze in bed, not knowing what to do for a moment. The unique fragrance of her body still seemed to linger in the room. Mariana was puzzled. "Why is he back all of a sudden, and why is he gone again?" This man was truly inscrutable. Mariana shook her head helplessly, she didn''t want to think anymore, and it seemed there was no need to think anymore. Maybe he just went back to look for something and in the process took her back to the room. After getting all dressed up, she hurried to the office. He still had that energetic expression and immediately began his busy day once he arrived at the office. -Mari, don''t you feel tired? Ana took a piece of chocte and gave it to Mariana, who was reading a book about design. These days, she had been reading these thick books all day long and was always the first to arrive and thest person to leave thepany. Ana was really worried that she wouldn''t be able to handle so much work. -I''m not tired. I suddenly find these antique costumes very interesting," Mariana chewed the chocte in her mouth and answered lightly. -Is that so? But I think these books are difficult to understand. Ana rested a hand on the table, leaned her body slightly, and murmured in dissatisfaction. "What kind of person is this Mari really? She thinks this boring content is interesting!" Mariana just nced at him without saying anything else and returned to the work in hand. *** A weekter, Mariana arrived on set with her group well prepared. -Mari, who is this person? I''m familiar with his figure. Following Ana''s line of sight, Mariana then noticed that, not far away, a long-haired woman had her back to them and was talking about something with set employees. "Andrea Solis?" Mariana frowned slightly, naturally she recognized this silhouette. Wasn''t this the woman who had given her a hard time, Andrea Solis? "Why are you here?" After what happenedst time, she had a very bad impression of Andrea, thinking that she only had an angelic and beautiful appearance, but that she was actually evil and vicious inside. -The protagonist of the film is Andrea Sol¨ªs and the main protagonist is Xavier B?o. Mariana, don''t you know? "Andrea Solis? Xavier B?o?" Mariana was familiar with the name Xavier B?o, the country''s most famous movie star, and had met him at thest presentation. He would work as the male lead in the film, so one could imagine the poprity of this film. Shortly after the film''s director spoke, Xavier appeared. -Hello, are you the designer Mariana Ortiz? Nice to meet you, I''m Xavier B?o. Xavier smiled as he approached to greet Mariana. He was dressed in a formal suit, elegant and very sexy. He had a handsome face and a pair of affectionate eyes that made a very good impression on people. Xavier had a very attractive smile on his lips and wore a blue earring in his left ear, exuding an elegant aura that made women look inferior in front of him. -Yes, it is also a pleasure to meet you, Mr. B?o. Mariana nodded politely in response. With mocking eyes Xavier looked her up and down and curved the corners of his lips into a gentle smile saying: -As expected of a designer, Miss Ortiz, you have very good taste in clothes. Thepliment was blunt, but did not imply ttery in the least. In response to his sudden praise, Mariana also smiled politely back. She usually didn''t talk much to people. Xavier just casually chatted with her some more, and left. The director gave Mariana some advice on the job, which she quietly wrote down in her notebook, and then went to the set''s dressing room with her crew. -Wow, Mari, Xavier is so handsome! -He''s even more beautiful than a woman. Gee, I''m embarrassed when he looks at me. When Ana entered the locker room, she went back to being a nymphomaniac and kept talking about Xavier''s handsome face with Mariana. But Mariana did not feel like thinking about these things. N?velDrama.Org content. The main protagonist of the film turned out to be Andrea Solis, which gave her a bit of difort. She had angered Andrea with thest incident, what kind of conflict would there be afterwards on the set? -Miss Ortiz. Hearing someone calling her name, Mariana hurried to regain her senses and was a little surprised to see the person approaching her. Speaking of the king of Rome, through the door he peeps. Andrea was beautiful. Her ck hair fell over her shoulders, her big eyes were very soulful and her lips were tender and seductive. But it was this angelic face that made Mariana ufortable, but she still greeted him politely: -Hello, Miss Solis. "Why did youe all of a sudden? How do you want to make a fool of me this time? Cut out my design drawings? Or push me down the stairs?" Countless thoughts were going through Mariana''s mind, while what Andrea said left her perplexed. -Miss Ortiz, thank you for the clothes you prepared for mest time," Andrea said sincerely. "Huh? What do you mean by those words?" Mariana was very confused. -Miss Solis, so you know the designer Mariana," the staff next door said. -Yes, more than knowing each other, we are very close friends. Mariana is a very talented designer. Andrea took Mariana''s hand and chatted with the crew members, doing nothing but bragging about Mariana''s professional skills. He looked at Andrea''s beautiful face, but his heart grew increasingly restless. e This didn''t seem normal. After a short chat, Andrea left and the team immediately approached Mariana. -Mariana, you seem to have a very good rtionship with her. -I''ve heard that she''s not very nice and that she has a lot of demands, but you two have such a good rtionship that it seems that our work will be easier in the future. -Well, it seems that he is not such a demanding and fussy person. Listening to their discussions, Mariana remained silent, because she really didn''t understand what exactly Andrea wanted. Chapter 27: Will I Give Up? Chapter 27: Will I Give Up? Chapter 27: Will I give up? -Look at this crappy design, so cheesy and inferior. Is your professional ability so mediocre? -And this design is already outdated. Do you know it or not? -This dress appeared in another movie, do I have to wear it again for my job? On the set, the director''s angry voice came from time to time from the dressing room. Mariana looked at the clothes scattered on the floor and didn''t know what to say for a moment. He had worked tirelessly, night and day, to design these dresses, but the director was not satisfied, saying that the design of these clothes was too old-fashioned. "What is the key problem?" -What about this dress? What do you think? Mariana pulled out another dress, but the director didn''t even look at it and threw it on the floor. -I paid you so much money and your team gives me such a mediocre design? With such a tight schedule for shooting the film, can you afford to waste so much of my time? If you''re not up to the job, get off the set as soon as possible. The director cursed, without giving Mariana any opportunity to refute in the slightest. The whole set instantly fell silent. Everyone was looking at Mariana. So many people were staring at her, she felt very embarrassed. She clenched her hands and trembled slightly, trying to suppress the emotion of wanting to be angry. -Director, don''t get angry. Please give Miss Ortiz another chance. At that moment, Andrea said with mock concern, but a sh of pleasure shone in her eyes, which disappeared in an instant. -After all, Ms. Ortiz was appointed directly by thepany, and her superiors probably don''t know much about her strengths. Andrea murmured quietly in the director''s ear. Mariana couldn''t hear what they were talking about, but it couldn''t be good. -Mariana, don''t think I''m going to be afraid of you just because thepany backs you. I''m warning you that if you dy the shoot, I can still kick you off the set! The director''s meaning was quite clear: Mariana had some protection in thepany that helped her to work on the set. -Ugh, I thought this Mariana was an expert in design, but it seems she''s not. Turns out she relies on the -When she first showed up on the set, Ms. Solis said she was very professional, but now it seems it''s all a lie. -I''ve never heard of her before, turns out she''s just a clown who relies on her personal contacts. -That''s right, look at these dresses she has designed, with a very cheesy style. She has dyed us for a long time and we haven''t even started the test shoot yet. Crew personnel were talking outside the door. With so muchmotion inside, anyone could sense the seriousness of the matter. In the room. Mariana lowered her head and said nothing. His body was shaking and he didn''t know what to do. He admitted that his work was not very creative, but at least it was not as bad as this director had said. Did she rely on her contacts to get on the set? Only she knew that she herself had nothing and nothing. "Should I give up?" Mariana asked herself. "No, I can''t give up that easily. At this point, there''s no way I can give up. I have to prove to all those people that I''m a professional in the costume design field and that I haven''t taken advantage of any rtionships to work on set." -I don''t have any backing in thepany, I''m just an ordinary designer. Director, I''m sorry for wasting a lot of the team''s time this time. -Can you give me another chance? Give me a few more days and I will give you a satisfactory answer. Mariana took a deep breath, slowly raised her head and met the director''s eyes, saying firmly and iparably. -I''ve given you enough time. The director did not want to ept his request: -Maybe I can look for a more professional designer. Hearing these words, Mariana did not give up and continued to insist: -Mr. Director, please give me another chance. In three days, I will give you a satisfactory answer. Please believe me. "I can''t let this opportunity slip away." Andrea secretly rolled her eyes, finally seeing Mariana''s miserable side. "Look at his poor appearance. He was really humble." A sh of cruelty shed through Andrea''s eyes. "Why didn''t I use all my strength to push her thest time? It would have been better to let her stay in the hospital for six months." After a while, the director nodded. Shooting would start very soon and he didn''t have time to find N?velDrama.Org content rights. another professional designer, so he decided to give her another chance. -Three days, I only give you three days, if your design is still as mediocre as it is now, you will leave the set immediately! -The director waved his hand, turned around and left. -Mari, you can definitely do it, I believe in you," Ana held her best friend''s hand tightly and encouraged her. -This director has gone too far, and that Andrea was just spouting nonsense. In my opinion, she''s the one taking advantage of the endorsement to get the lead role! Thinking about Andrea''s smug and arrogant look a moment ago, Ana became even angrier. Wasn''t what she said to the director like adding fuel to the fire! -It''s okay, maybe my work is still not creative enough," Mariana said wearily. Her pale face had not a trace of blood on it, and she really wanted to get some rest. Off to the side, Andrea clenched her fists tightly, she was very unhappy that she had not managed to kick Mariana off the set today. "But that''s okay - as long as she stays on the set one day, I''ll have ways of ruining that bitch Mariana''s reputation!" In the evening, Mariana returned home tired. She returned to the small studio. These days she spent almost every night in this small room, and Leopoldo did not return. In three days she would have to deliver a satisfactory paper to the director, which was a great challenge for her. Mariana lightly squeezed her temples and closed her eyes to rest for a while. A momentter, he opened his eyes, reopened the book, and resumed his design work. Inspiration always came at night, but for her it was not easy. Chapter 28: It Really Was Him Chapter 28: It Really Was Him Chapter 28: It Really Was Him Inside the office of Grupo Dur¨¢n''s president. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, there was chaos in the crew of Emperatriz Santa today," the assistant stood in front of the The man raised his eyelids slightly and asked: -Tell me? -The director wants to change the general designer and she got very angry and said a lot of swear words. -I know. -The general designer is ... Mrs.... The assistant had just learned of this matter and hurried to tell Leopoldo. -I can see that," Leopold stiffened slightly, but then adjusted his mood, and responded with an unapproachable expression. -Sir, do you want me to go talk to the director? "Miss Ortiz is Mr. Dur¨¢n''s wife, won''t he help her?" -It''s not necessary," Leopoldo said coldly, his eyes never leaving theputer screen for a moment. -But... -You can leave now. "Who knows what he''s thinking?" The assistant didn''t dare ask any more questions, after all, that was what the boss wanted, and he had no right to interfere in his private affairs. The chief only told him to pay attention to Ms. Ortiz, but did not ask him to help her. -Yes, sir," the attendant went out and gently closed the door. Midnight. A ck Maybach limousine parked silently in front of the vi. The man sitting inside and his features were stern, which seemed extraordinarily mysterious in the night. He seemed to be thinking about something, his eyes fixed on the dimly lit room on the second floor of the vi. "Is she still awake?" Leopoldo got out of the car and entered the vi. When he reached the living room, he saw that the maid was carrying a bowl of chicken soup in her hand and wanted to go up to the second floor. Seeing him, the nanny was quick to ask: -Sir, have you eaten yet? Leopoldo nodded his head and his eyes fell on the chicken soup still steaming in the maid''s hands. The nanny exined: -Sir, thedy has been locked up in the study for two days and has note out, and she has eaten very little. She seems to have lost a lot of weight. -Why don''t you want to eat? Leopold frowned slightly, and his words revealed a hint of dissatisfaction. -Thedy says she still has no inspiration for this work, so she has no appetite for food. The nanny shook her head and said helplessly: -I made him this chicken soup today and was just about to take it to him. N?velDrama.Org content rights. -Well, I''ll take it. Leopoldo took the te from the nanny''s hands, turned around and went up to the second floor. The maid looked at her master''s back and shook her head vigorously. "Am I dazzled or what? The gentleman to personally bring the soup to thedy?" When he arrived at the small studio, just likest time, the door was half closed, with a glimmer of light Leopoldo knocked on the door and Mariana''s tired voice came from inside the room: -I''m very well, I have no appetite for food right now, thank you. She was learning all that boring old costume knowledge and didn''t want anyone to interrupt her. But she had been working day and night for the past two days and learning about costume design, now she was feeling a little overwhelmed. By this midnight, she was so tired she didn''t even want to talk. I was very sleepy and wanted to sleep very much.... But the nanny was concerned about her health and wanted to prepare a delicious meal for her, so she unconsciously thought that the person outside the studio was the maid. He didn''t raise his head and said softly toward the door that he didn''t want to eat now. But the person who came did not speak, and the sound of leather shoes cking against the floor seemed very evident in the small studio. The maid used to wear slippers, so where did the sound of leather shoese from? Mariana looked up from her book and her eyes suddenly dted, full of disbelief. "Am I too sleepy? Am I hallucinating? Is the person outside Leopoldo?" Mariana rubbed her dry eyes and fixed her gaze. She really hadn''t made a mistake. The person who came was really him. Chapter 29: It Must Be Him! Chapter 29: It Must Be Him! Chapter 29: It must be him! -Why did youe back all of a sudden? She stood up, and the book on the table unexpectedly fell to the floor. Instantly her heartbeat elerated greatly. -Drink the soup. Leopoldo put the bowl in his hand on the table, bent down and picked up the book that had fallen on the floor and flipped through it nonchntly, then put it back on the table. Mariana still did not recover from this shock and remained stunned in her seat. -You can finish your soup before you read your book. No need to be in such a hurry," the man''s voice sounded from beside her. Mariana sat obediently and took the spoon to drink the soup in a mute manner. The aroma of the chicken soup, and the man''s unique fragrance, wafted through the modest studio, and Mariana suddenly felt the exhaustion that was almost crushing her disappear, and felt some excitement inside. -Where are you going? Seeing the man heading for the door, Mariana unconsciously stood up and asked. The man turned around with aplicated look on his face. -Well... I''m so sorry. I shouldn''t be... Mariana then realized she shouldn''t ask and hurriedly covered her mouth. It was enough that he came to bring her soup, how could she still want to interfere in his private life? -I''m going to sleep. To her surprise, the man did not get angry, but merely responded indifferently, and then left; soon after, the sound of the door closing came from the next bedroom. Mariana let out a deep sigh and slowly sat up. Looking at the chicken soup that was still steaming in front of her, instantly the urge to sleep went away. The racing heartbeat was a constant reminder that what had just happened was real. Leopoldo had arrived, had brought him this chicken soup, and the book had also picked up for him. "Why are you doing all this?" Mariana was bing more and more confused with this man, but, naturally, she would not be so naive as to think that this was because he liked her. In the next bedroom. Leopoldo was lying on the bed, and Mariana''s pale face came to his mind from time to time. Indeed, she was very tired and looked like she had been working a lottely. He picked up the cell phone at his side and dialed his assistant''s number. It was already veryte and the assistant had long since gone to bed, but seeing that it was his boss who called him, he jumped out of bed to answer: -Mr. Dur¨¢n, how can I help you? -Send me the script of Holy Empress as well as the original novel for the film and put them in the studio downstairs. It was rare for Leopoldo to say so much, and the assistant listened with extraordinary attention as he hurried to respond: N?velDrama.Org content. -Yes, I''m going to do it right now. Naturally, he was able to guess the boss''s intention. -Besides," Leopoldo''s voice rang again over the phone, "send the disc of Rafael Sanchez''s film. Upon hearing this, the assistant on the other end of the phone was a bit surprised, because the disc of Rafael S¨¢nchez''s film was out of print and the only one avable was in Mr. Dur¨¢n''s possession. "Mr. Dur¨¢n is truly generous for the sake of his wife." "Truly this gentleman has a very strange character, either he doesn''t help, or when he does, he sure is very generous!" -Understood, I''ll do it right away! The assistant hung up the phone and immediately got up and went to do his job. The morning of the next day. Mariana woke up very hungry. Last night''s chicken soup had given her an appetite. As she passed Leopold''s bedroom, she looked toward the closed door, it seemed that he had not yet woken up. Mariana went downstairs, went to the kitchen and prepared breakfast. Soon after, she emerged from the kitchen with a sandwich in her mouth. As she passed through the living room, she remembered that her purse still seemed to be on the couch. Mariana walked over to the couch and was about to grab her purse when she saw a bunch of things wrapped in kraft paper lying next to her bag. "What is this?" she was a little puzzled, and picked up that package. He unwrapped the package and discovered that inside were several books, and a disk. The script of Emperatriz Santa and a novel... I had never seen them before. "Where did theye from?" Mariana froze in ce. "My God, isn''t this what I need now? Did Leopoldo bring them? It must be him!" Mariana didn''t have time to think about it and excitedly climbed the stairs with the pile of stuff. Her intuition told her that these things should be able to help her a lot in the design. When he reached the second floor, he ran into the man who had juste out of his bedroom. Leopold was dressed in ck pajamas, so he was a bit nicer than usual, and his tousled hair rested gently on his forehead, making him seem a bit more approachable. However, his eyes were slightly narrowed, with a certain indifference and detachment. Mariana took two steps back and saluted him: -Good morning! Leopoldo said nothing, looking at her in silence. Only then did Mariana remember the things she held in her arms, and held them in front of Leopoldo as if she were showing a treasure by asking: -These things are yours, aren''t they? The set of "Emperatriz Santa" was a team from Grupo Dur¨¢n''s entertainmentpany. She was so excited that she had forgotten about it. It was only after meeting Leopoldo that he remembered this key point. "It is quite possible that it is Leopoldo who brought me these materials about the film." Leopoldo nced at the things she held in her hand, responded indifferently and passed by her without another word. Mariana stood still to one side. "What do you mean by that, you don''t want these things anymore?" Although I didn''t know this man very well, if he didn''t reject something outright, it was basically tacit approval. Mariana was overjoyed, turned around and said "Thank you" to Leopoldo''s back as he slowly walked away. The man didn''t turn around, and Mariana didn''t wait for his answer either. In any case, she was still very grateful to this man. Back in her small studio, Mariana seemed revitalized and spent most of the day re-reading the script, the original book and watching Rafael Sanchez''s film. At the same time, his inspiration, like a spring, kept flowing, one after another. I had never seen the film before, but what I did know was that Rafael Sanchez was a master in this field, and that all the films directed by him were very ssic and popr. When Mariana felt sorry for the disgruntled rtionship between the protagonists in the film, she instantly banged on the table and shouted excitedly: -I already have the idea! He immediately turned on hisputer and designed six sets of vintage costumes, three each for the male and female leads, which also included headdresses.... After all this, Mariana arrived at the set with herputer in her arms full of confidence. Mariana spoke briefly with those present about her ideas in designing these costumes, and the team members eximed: -These costumes and headdresses are so beautiful, so exquisite. Mariana immediately led the people in her group and made these clothes during a single night. When she saw the well-made costumes, Mariana smiled with satisfaction. -Mari, these clothes, they are so beautiful, especially this formal dress of the Empress, it is both majestic and elegant. I am absolutely sure it will fit very well with the personality of the Empress in the movie. Ana gently caressed the beautiful suit and eximed with great joy. The magnificent costume had the main color yellow, iid with emeralds, which was a symbol of superior dignity and solemnity, and the cor was adorned with white pearls. The other dress was a knee-length skirt, violet in color and the cor was in white, trimmed with gold silk, which was very elegant and splendid. Thest one is a long blue dress with a white shirt, tied at the waist with gold and silver threads and embroidered with peonies on the pinkpel. The emperor''s formal dress was also very impressive and matched the empress''s dress. -Yes, this is what I want to express," Mariana rubbed her chin and circled these clothes, smiling in satisfaction. Chapter 30: Impressive Designs Chapter 30: Impressive Designs Chapter 30: Impressive designs -Actually, the emperor''s dress is not very difficult to design, the main point is to highlight the emperor''s powerful aura, but the empress''s dress, it has to highlight the aura but it should also enhance some tenderness and elegance - of the queen, so it is a bit difficult. Thanks to that album, where else would Mariana have found the inspiration? -The director will definitely be satisfied this time, Mari, you''re really great. Ana gave Mariana a thumbs up and praised her. The rest of the group also cast an admiring nce at Mariana, what had been worrying them for the past few days had finally paid off, and they all had Mariana to thank for it! The next day. After the crew, director and actors were all in ce, Mariana brought out the sets of dresses. -Oh, my God! It''s so pretty. The clothes are really awesome. -Yes, we can let the actors try them out and take some pictures. -It''s so impressive! Although they had seen the design drawing yesterday, when they saw the well-made dresses today, they were all very impressed. The director was also very satisfied and immediately instructed the photographer to get ready to take some final shots. When Andrea next door saw these clothes, she could only secretly curse inwardly. "They''re such pieces of rags - do these people have to go so overboard?" She saw nothing special in these dresses and it seemed to her that they were no different from the ones she used to wear in other movies. But even though she was very upset, Andrea kept saying hypocrite: -These dresses are beautiful. Mariana smiled, and nodded her head slightly. Although others couldn''t see it, she herself could sense that Andrea was faking it, and maybe she was secretly scolding her. But now that Mariana''s work waspletely finished, the next step was for the set and the actors, and she could take a break for a while. While they were taking thest pictures trying on the dresses, Mariana sat in the break room, her elbows resting on the table holding her chin lightly. Her blonde face was slightly haggard, and you could see the faint dark circles under her eyes, as she was not wearing makeup today. Now Mariana just wanted to get a good night''s sleep. She had worked a lot these days, and she just wanted to go back to bed and lie down for a while. -Thanks for your hard work, the design is very impressive. Just as he wanted to lean against the table and take a nap, the door was pushed open. Mariana unconsciously followed the sound of a man''s low, pleasant voice and saw Xavier leaning against the door frame, looking at her with smiling eyes. -May Ie in? -Xavier bowed his head and winked. -Of course, pleasee in. Mariana hurried to her feet, shing that formal smile, and you could see the dimples in her cheeks. Xavier walked right in and poured himself a ss of water and sat down across from her. -Miss Ortiz, you are truly an expert in design. There was a hint of coquetry in Xavier''s words, but it didn''t offend her at all. His sparkling Xavier eyes seemed to have countless stars in them, and could easily capture the hearts of innocent girls. But Mariana was no longer a naive young girl, so even before Xavier''s face, which was even more beautiful than a woman''s, she was not very moved. -Thank you for yourpliments, Mr. B?o. The cooperation this time is very nice," Mariana nodded and smiled. Xavier''s mouth twisted a little, seeing how formal and attentive he looked, and instantly lost interest in chatting further. After so many years, she still hadn''t changed, and she was still so serious and prudent at work. -Yes, it''s very nice. Se?orita Ortiz is not only beautiful, her design is also exceptional. Mariana could tell that this man was very good at pleasing people. No wonder so many young girls liked him. Just a smile from him could charm a woman, not to mention that he was so good at talking to please people, that his every sentence could make a naive young girl excited for a long time. However, she was not a girl so she easily trusted the affectionate words of men, and even believed that she liked men. -Mr. B?o, shouldn''t you be trying on dresses and taking final photos now? Then she remembered that the actors were now trying on dresses. "Why did this guy show up here all of a sudden?" -I''m done. Those guys are so boring, going on and on about nonsense. I don''t think I need to listen to those instructions from them at all," Xavier shrugged, disdain in his eyes. These directors were all old-fashioned, who educated the actors even before the shooting. And he least liked those ritualistic and boring things. -So the director doesn''tin about you? Mariana admired the capriciousness of this famous movie actor, but in reality he had the qualities to be capricious. -No, because he doesn''t dare. Xavier raised his eyebrows slightly, pulled out the script and recited the lines, not intending to talk to Mariana any further. "Huh?" Mariana was slightly stunned. "Is that the end of the talk so abruptly?" But seeing "this best actor in the movies" so serious and so focused on the script, she felt a lot of admiration for him. Sess does note out of nowhere, it is all due to the relentless effort you put in. Xavier was young and talented, but his every achievement was the result of his hard work every day. Mariana was really too sleepy, if Xavier hadn''te in, she would have fallen asleep on the table. A quarter of an hourter, Xavier raised his head in silence and the sweetness in his beautiful eyes disappeared, reced by a mysterious look. He looked at the sleeping girl on the table with a mysterious smile. No one knew what I was thinking. Photos from the set of "Empress Santa" then appeared on all major socialworks and even became the most searched hashtag, making the film the most anticipated movie in the entertainment world. -Caramba! The main protagonist is Andrea Solis and the main actor is Xavier B?o, both are the most famous actors right now. -The clothes are very nice and Xavier looks even more handsome in the dress! -Andrea is so beautiful, and these outfits look great too. -I''m really looking forward to seeing this film - the details are well done! Countlessizensmented under the photos, all hoping the movie would be released soon. The film, which was based on an online novel, had not gained much recognition early on, and fans of the book were very concerned that the actors were not able to express the ideas of the original novel. However, after seeing the final photos of the main characters, fans discovered that the details were not too different from those in the novel, so they were relieved to look forward to the premiere of this work. The film, little expected at first, overnight became the most popr in the film industry. That day, the director invited the entire set to a big dinner to celebrate. -This time, our film has received the approval of many investors and the set has received much more funding, all this is the result of your joint efforts, I would like to toast to all of you with this ss! -Cheers! All set members apuded enthusiastically. -This ss, I drink to Miss Ortiz. At the sound of his name, Mariana hurried to get up, raised the ss of wine in front of her and returned the toast to the director. -Before, because of my impulsiveness, I said some bad words to you, Miss Ortiz, I apologize," the director showed an expression of guilt and smiled embarrassed. -Director, it''s okay. It was because my working condition was not good and I dyed the set work a lot, I am very sorry too. Mariana had never med the director. She was such a person, if she didn''t do a good job, she never made excuses for herself.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. The only reason would be, "It''s me who hasn''t done well enough." -This ss of wine, I also toast to Miss Ortiz. At the same moment, Xavier stood up, raising his eyebrows and smiling. Mariana met that kind look and was somewhat moved. Of course, handsome men always fascinate people. -I also drink a toast to Miss Ortiz... -I''m going to do the same... Chapter 31: The Boss Seems To Be Smiling! Chapter 31: The Boss Seems To Be Smiling! Chapter 31: The boss seems to be smiling! When Xavier stood up, all the crew members followed his example and stood up, toasting Mariana. And when Andrea, who hadn''t said a word from the beginning, saw that everyone was getting up, she gritted her teeth and reluctantly got up. Looking at Mariana, who was not far from her, hatred rose in her eyes instantly. "Why does she always have such good luck? Why can this woman always curry favor with so many people?" "It''s not fair!" Obviously, she was the lead actress in the film, and should be the focus of attention. "Why do these people only pay attention to this slut Mariana, just because of those shabby clothes?" Andrea''s hand holding the wine ss was secretly clenched tightly, and her knuckles turned pale from the force. She looked at the smiling woman in front of her with deep hatred. "Mariana, I won''t leave you alone!" Inside the office of Grupo Dur¨¢n''s president. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, the film Emperatriz Santa has already gained the recognition of the film and television industry, and the costumes designed by thedy have earned the praise of the entire industry. The assistant reported exactly what he had just learned. Leopoldo looked up and looked at the assistant, somewhat distantly. -I know. The assistant turned and left after receiving his response. When he left, Leopoldo put down the documents in his hands, picked up the car keys on the table and his jacket and left the office. When Leopoldo passed through the staff area, almost all the female employees looked at him sideways. -Why is the boss leaving so early today? -How strange! It''s the first time I''ve seen the boss leave work so early. -The boss is so handsome, even the way he walks is so attractive.... -Did you see him? The boss looks like he''s smiling! -Am I wrong or what? The boss is really smiling! The female employees in the office whispered warmly. Their boss hardly smiled at all. If he wasn''t so handsome, they would have thought he was facially paralyzed. But today he had really smiled! Besides, the boss, the workaholic, had left work early today! Was there anything stranger than that? After dinner, some rmended going to karaoke to entertain themselves a little more. The director was in a good mood and agreed. Mariana had no choice but to follow the crowd to the next location. In the karaoke room, Andrea was singing an extremely lyrical song, and her sweet voice was slightly muffled, it sounded to everyone''s ears, which was quite pleasant. The crowd on the couch was looking at her with a more or less envious gleam in their eyes, which made Andrea''s look at Mariana even more reckless and even a bit provocative. Raising the ss of wine in front of her, she took a sip, blocking Andrea''s ufortable gaze, Mariana smiled bitterly, somewhat helplessly. Next to her, Ana, naturally, was not used to seeing Andrea''s provocative gaze, so she leaned close to her friend and lowered her voice toin: -Mari, did you see how Andrea is looking at you up there? Really, those who don''t know would think she was a famous actresspeting with her on the catwalk! How funny! After saying that, Ana still felt very angry and pushed the fruit te in front of her fiercely, as if this poor fruit te was that annoying Andrea! Hearing these words, Mariana shook her head and let out a soft sigh. She really didn''t want to be the imaginary enemy of this Andrea. Thinking about this, she raised the cup in front of her again and took a sip. The director felt that the many femalepanions had already drunk too much wine at dinner, so he ordered some fruity cocktails for them that were not too strong and rtively sweet. When Mariana realized that she was a little dizzy, the cup in front of her was already empty. He gently set the cup down and couldn''t help but reach out to massage his temples a bit. On stage, Andrea saw the woman who had her eyes slightly narrowed, her eyes revealing a glint of cruelty and malice that soon disappeared. Andrea gave a sly smile, narrowed her eyes and tilted her head to finish her red wine in the ss in one gulp. When she saw that Xavier was already seated next to Mariana, Andrea snorted a lowugh and nonchntly handed the microphone in her hand to the man next to her who was looking at her excitedly. She then quietly stepped down from the stage, smiled shyly, picked up her bag and left the room. At the sink, Andrea pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number, frowned gently and spoke somewhat delicately: -Leo, are you still in the office? -Our set is meeting now. I''ve had some wine, and my head is a little dizzy, can youe take me home? By this time, Leopoldo had arrived home, but the woman''s upstairs bedroom was dark and silent. The nanny spoke softly behind him: -Sir, thedy is not back yet. -I know. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Without an affirmative answer, Andrea, pursed her lips and joked with a seemingly carefreeugh: -Leo, don''t you know that this party is for Mariana, those costumes are really well designed, even I think they are very nice! Mariana is really great! -She''s the star of the party tonight, and a lot of people are toasting to her, I think she''s had quite a lot to drink. I''ve only had a few drinks and I''m a bit tipsy already! Her voice was sweet and inviting, with something sexy about it. "Mariana, you are not qualified topete with me! If Leo sees you being in the other man''s embrace, let''s see if he''s still paying attention to you or not!" The woman''s eyes in front of the mirror became fierce and full of anger. There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds before a deep voice said slowly: -Send me the address. Leopold turned to look at the nanny behind him, and his thin lips parted: -Give me some medicine that can relieve the hangover. -Yes, sir. After saying this, the man picked up the keys and left with big steps. At that moment, Mariana, in the private room, already realized that she had had too much to drink, and was hesitating whether to leave earlier, when a light masculine fragrance came from her side. This aroma? It was Xavier B?o. Indeed, the next moment the male voice rang in his ears. -Se?orita Ortiz, you really are an interesting person. Andrea is singing up there, and the people on the set tter her superficially, but Miss Ortiz sits off to the side and keeps her head down. The unmistakable masculine scent enveloped Mariana''s nose, making her body seem even hotter and more restless, with a thin sweat pouring down her forehead. In fact, the air conditioning temperature in the private room was set very low, so you should not feel hot. After not receiving an answer for a long time, Xavier looked at the top of the woman''s head with a smile and shook his head gently. "This woman is really reserved and discreet." He was about to get up and leave when a gentle hand reached out and grabbed his sleeve, gripping it tightly with no intention of letting go. The mysterious smile on Xavier''s face slowly tightened and, after a pause, did not go away after all. -Take me," the woman''s voice came out a blur, and wasn''t very noticeable under the loud music in the room, but Xavier still heard her clearly, which made him furrow both eyebrows. Mariana''s body was getting hotter and hotter, and she knew she must have eaten something by mistake. Or was it the fault of the cocktail she had just drunk...? That feeling was kind of strange, but it made her panic even more. Chapter 32: Shameless Woman! Chapter 32: Shameless Woman! Chapter 32: Shameless woman! Xavier at her side seemed to be her only help. Now his whole body was now so weak that he didn''t even have the strength to get up, so she had no choice but to pull him up in panic. -Miss Ortiz, you insist so much, how can I refuse? -Xavier said these words, waggling his eyebrows. Mariana bit her lower lip hard, trying in vain to use the pain to keep herself awake. Although the man next to her had misunderstood something at the moment, she could no longer worry about so much at the moment. Bending down slightly, Xavier wrapped his arms around Mariana''s slender waist and the woman leaned against him. Thus the two bodies were tightly pressed together. The woman in his arms was flushed. Her forehead was covered with beads of sweat, her eyes were slightly squinted, and her lower lip was already pale from the bite. But still she did not let go. Such a pitiful look would let any man feel sorry for her. But the two of them in that affectionate position caused those present to be surprised and even shocked. Even Ana, who was already a little drunk, couldn''t help but stand up and point her finger at the two of N?velDrama.Org content. them, with a puzzled expression but with a touch of excitement, asking: -You? Mariana lowered her eyes and her delicate body could not help but tremble. The environment was getting noisier and noisier. -What''s going on here! Has Xavier fallen in love with designer Ortiz? -Last time I heard Ms. Solis say that Mariana has backing in thepany, could it be that her backing is Mr. B?o! -Mariana is really an expert in love. After only meeting Xavier a couple of times, she''s hooked up with him! What a tactic! -Or maybe Mr. B?o is not picky in his choice of women! Look at the scandals Mr. B?o has been involved in over the years. I don''t think that''s unusual. *** -Come on - Xavier lowered his eyes and looked at the woman in his arms, who had closed her eyes as if she had fallen asleep, but the slightly trembling eyelids had already revealed the deepest emotions inside her. The cool evening breeze blew against her flushed cheeks, and the coolness made Mariana''s consciousness a little clearer. -What are you doing? -Mariana shuddered and raised her head to see a cold and somber man in front of her. It was Leopoldo. The man wore gray casual clothes, which hid his cold and oppressive aura, but the look was even more indifferent than usual, making it icy to the touch. He walked withrge steps, Leopold slightly lowered his eyes, looking at the blushing woman. Her eyes first filled with anger, then turned cold. Mariana was a little hesitant as she moved gently in Xavier''s arms, trying to get out of his embrace. That look from Leopoldo made her uneasy, even panicked. In the eyes of the outside world, they were not "husband and wife," and even had no rtionship. Xavier, who was holding Mariana in his embrace, noticed the woman''s struggling, and narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the man in front of him yfully. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, what a coincidence to find you here. The flirtatious tone made Leopold''s eyebrows furrow even more. The next second, Leopoldo spoke slowly, but the words that came out were very harsh. -I didn''t expect Miss Ortiz to be such a person," the man paused, revealing a smirk, and continued, "So embarrassed? Mariana''s cheeks, which were flushed, became very pale. Mariana closed her eyes helplessly, but her mind was filled with memories of that day at the hotel entrance, when Andrea, in the car, gently kissed Leopoldo''s face. Seemingly unable to take any more, Mariana''s slender body swayed. -The truth is not like what you saw. His words seemed unconvincing to Leopoldo. -Leo, are you here already? -A sweet and delicate voice came from behind her, and only then Mariana understood that he hade to pick up Andrea. He wanted tough coldly, but felt an unexpected pain in his lips, and it turned out that his lower lip had been injured by her bite. "It seems that when you have bad luck, everything goes wrong for you." Andrea approached Leopoldo and, naturally, took him by the arm. And she pretended to finish seeing Mariana and Xavier, and asked in surprise: -You? Then she took half a step forward and looked at Mariana with concern, pretending to ask: -Mariana, what''s up? Are you going to the hotel now? After saying that, he even blinked mischievously at Mariana. -Leo, it turns out that Mariana and Xavier have such a rtionship, I didn''t even know it before," said Andrea with an innocent look, pretending to be nice in front of everyone. Hearing this, Leopoldo fixed Mariana with an even more indifferent look of slight displeasure, which made Mariana''s already pale face even more frustrated. Mariana lowered her eyes slightly, wanting to exin something, but she felt that her throat was blocked by a lump and she could not utter a word. -Miss Solis, if you don''t know the situation well, please don''t talk nonsense. ying tricks is not a good quality, huh? Xavier didn''t care about the gossip, but looking at the woman who looked even weaker in his arms, he decided to refute. -What are you talking about! -That''s enough," Andrea quieted down at the sound of Leopoldo''s voice. Averting his gaze, Leopoldo took onest look at the woman in front of him. -Let''s go," Leopoldo said, but the words he spoke were extremely harsh. Andrea took Leopoldo''s arm and walked away with him, lifting the corners of her lips and ncing at the blushing woman with disdain. Mariana raised her head uprehendingly and looked at the man who had turned away, but felt a burst of pain strike her heart. "Yet he still wasn''t willing to take me home - was it because he was afraid Andrea would misunderstand something?" "Forget it, we''re not a real couple anyway." The pain made Mariana narrow her eyes slightly, and she drew a bitter smile with a touch of sarcasm. -Don''t look, they''re gone," Xavier''s voice reached her ears, a little against the grain. Leopold''s icy pressure on her suddenly disappeared and a wave of heat swept over her, without the cool night breeze being able to relieve her one bit. -I want to go home," the voice had a lovely vor, and the words she spoke seemed to be wrapped in a smoldering warmth. -Then you have to tell me where your house is," said Xavier with some helplessness. The burning body of the woman next to him was close to his, and her body heat transferred to his body along the tight clothing, making him a little ufortable and annoyed. At that moment, a man dressed in a formal suit walked quickly past him, and nced at Xavier before turning his gaze to Mariana. -Mr. B?o, my master asked me toe and take his drunken wife home. -Please, leave theter. I will bring her safely to her husband''s side. Xavier cast a yful nce at the woman moving in his arms. "Your husband?" At that moment, Mariana raised her head slightly, looked at the man in front of her and nodded: -Please. After handing the woman in his embrace to the man who had just arrived, Xavier curved the corners of his mouth in a mysterious smile. "Things seem to be getting interesting." Leopoldo looked at the woman on the bed, with a few buttons of her shirt already undone, exposing the light pink underwear she wore inside. The woman''s body writhed haphazardly on the bed, and the sheets were ruffled by the woman''s movements. "Was she like this in the man''s arms?" Chapter 33: What Will You Think Of Me? Chapter 33: What Will You Think Of Me? Chapter 33: What will you think of me? Instantly, the man''s gaze became serious, and was suffused with unfathomable anger. "Did he cheat on me?" Mariana felt very hot, as if she were in the extreme summer, but the next moment she seemed to be in the coldest winter, vaciting between two seasons. Maybe she noticed the man''s indifferent gaze. Mariana searched for coolness and pressed her whole body against Leopoldo''s. A sensation of coolness invaded her and let her avoid a pleasant moan. Leopoldo raised his eyebrows, not knowing if someone had given her the drug or if she had taken it on her own. The woman''s soft, smooth hands kept sliding up and down his body, warm and urgent. Finally, aroused by the woman''s lust, Leopoldo roughly pushed Mariana onto the bed and pressed himself against her. Whoever did such a thing, she would still have nothing. The moon was quietly hiding behind the clouds, as if it was so shy that it could not observe the excited passion in bed, and so the night sky became darker. The next day, streaks of sunlight secretly streamed in from the window and spread throughout the room, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere. On the bedy Mariana, with the thinforter loosely covering her body, revealing her slender arms covered with red kiss marks, and her straight hair was spread across the clean white pillow. After a good while, the woman groaned and woke up quietly, looking up at the ceiling in confusion, with a slightly dazed expression. The bent legs stretched unconsciously, and in an instant, a pain hit him, causing Mariana to frown fiercely. Such a familiar feeling... She remembered again the day when Leopoldo was drunk and she woke up in her bed feeling the same way. "Last night..." Mariana ignored the pain and sat up immediately, examining the purple spots that crisscrossed almost her entire body. She was very clear about what this represented. He looked down, and smiled a bitter, somewhat helpless smile. Now that she thought about it, she supposed there must be something wrong with the cocktails at the karaoke bar. "But who did such a thing to me?" Of all those present, only Andrea held a grudge. "Did you deliberately dredge me so that Leopoldo would see me making out with another man?" Mariana lifted the corners of her mouth in a mocking smile, fearing that this result would disappoint her. Although her consciousness was blurry at the end, Mariana knew exactly who the man she was with It was Leopoldo. "But like this, what will you think of me?" Mariana smiled bitterly and bowed her head, while burying her cheeks in her hands. She did not want to face reality. In the office of the president of Grupo Dur¨¢n. The assistant was diligently reporting on the boss''s schedule for the day, but when he looked up, he discovered that the boss was unconsciously fiddling with the delicate pen in his hand, and was looking He hesitated a bit, not knowing whether to stop and remind the boss or keep reading. "Since when did this workaholic like Mr. Dur¨¢n have such an expression, not caring about his job?" Such a discovery made the assistant a little surprised. -Why don''t you keep reading? Leopoldo looked at the assistant with raised eyebrows, a bit impatient. -I''m sorry," the assistant ducked his head respectfully and tried to soften his voice as he continued to report on his work schedule. The twist-action pen slipped from his slender fingers and fell to the desk. Leopoldo looked at his own hand, as if he could still feel the soft touch of the woman from the night before. And he sharply remembered the delicate appearance of Mariana lying on the soft white sheet, very different from the innocent and quiet one she used to be. Leopoldo reached up and rubbed his temples. His eyes became a little more serious. "Why do I remember these things?" -At three o''clock in the afternoon, the heads of all departments are called together for a meeting.... The assistant was still reporting on Leopoldo''s tedious work, but was interrupted by his cold voice. -Go and investigate if anything unusual, such as drugging, urred at the dinner organized by the Holy Empress set. Hearing those words, the assistant''s expression became serious and he hurried to respond: -Yes, I understand. The assistant then stepped forward, ced the folder in his hand on the table and turned around to go do what his boss had assigned him to do. Leopold''s gaze rested on the expensive pen and the corners of his lips curved into a mysterious, sly smile. Some things he had to investigate deeply. When Mariana arrived on set, other colleagues were already in ce. Seeing her arrival, they all stood still for a moment before continuing with their task. The strange looks from the crowd made Mariana, who had never been overly mboyant, a little ufortable. -He''s sote today! This is not like your usual punctuality. -Hey, you don''t know this, do you? Yesterday, she went to the hotel with Xavier, that best movie actor! She''s dating Xavier, so of course she doesn''t care about our humble crew. -Yes, you''re right! Well, with her rtionship with Mr. B?o, she may even find someone else to help her draw her own costume design! -Hey, do you think she drew that draft herself or not? -Who knows! The chattering of others reached Mariana''s ears unhindered, but apparently they didn''t care if she heard them. At this point, she just felt a little funny. "When you have a new identity, it''s as if all the efforts you''ve made before are for nothing." How ridiculous! Mariana had a calm look on her face and did not pretend to pay attention to these discussions. As she was about to turn around to look for Ana, someone called out to her the next second. -Mariana! The sweet voice had a slight charm and affection. It was Andrea who called her. -Miss Solis, hello," a slight and elegant smile appeared on Mariana''s face as she looked at those people who approached her. She smiled nodding her head, very demure and elegant, as if the N?velDrama.Org content. protagonist those people were talking about was not her. However, hands that were invisible to onlookers were already tightly sped by her. -I don''t know how I can help, Miss Solis? -Mariana asked kindly. Andrea casually arranged her hair around her ears. Today she wore a wig, and her makeup was very exquisite, like that of a fairy out of children''s fairy tales. -They say you left with Xavierst night, Mariana. Is this true? -Andrea asked with bad intentions. The originally noisy environment suddenly quieted down, the crowd seemingly carrying on with what they were doing, but in reality everyone was listening intently and secretly to what was going on. Gossip always gets people excited. -Yesterday I was drunk, and Mr. B?o only helped me out to get some fresh air and nothing else," Mariana pursed her lips slightly and exined in a soft voice. -Is that so? Showing a vicious smile, Andrea stared at Mariana and asked her, not intending to easily leave this good asion to humiliate her. Suddenly, his gaze fell on Mariana''s neck. It was cooler today, but not cool enough to wear a dress with a high cor, so Andrea guessed that Mariana seemed to be covering up something with this outfit. After a moment of secret close observation, Andrea found red marks the size of fingernails on Mariana''s neck around her ears. Chapter 34: Their Marriage Uncovered Chapter 34: Their Marriage Uncovered Chapter 34: Their Marriage Uncovered Andrea''s eyes were full of contempt and mockery, and even her expression became involuntarily vicious. "This bitch is really shameless - she''s only met Xavier a couple of times and she''s already slept with him!" -It''s not too cold today, why are you still wearing a turtleneck sweater? -Andrea asked on purpose. Right afterunching this question, she actually heard people around her start to gossip, and all kinds of evil looks fell on Mariana instantly, making her feel slightly oppressed. -Look, Mariana, what is this on your neck? Mariana was startled, but in an instant she felt a slight coolness: Andrea had already lowered her high cor. She heard scandalous voices all around her, and Mariana instantly felt very humiliated. Last night, Leopoldo had acted too roughly and left hickeys on many parts of her body, so she had thought about wearing her cor high to cover the red marks in the morning, but she didn''t expect to be exposed in front of everyone now. The gazes of the crowd fell on his neck, covered with hickeys. The red hickeys on the originally fair skin also showed how violent the passion movement in bed the night before was. Several men in the crew could not help but whistle at the sight of such a scene, which was somewhat humiliating for Mariana. -What are you doing? -a delicate voice suddenly sounded. Hearing the voice, the agitated Mariana calmed down a little and felt a bit of excitement at the same time. It was the voice of Ana, her best friend in thepany. Ana fiercely pushed Andrea''s hand, stepped forward and stood in front of Mariana to protect her. Ana crossed her arms, looked fiercely at Andrea and ironized with coldness and sarcasm: -What kind of education have you received, Miss Sol¨ªs? Why do you treat Mari so rudely? They say that Miss Sol¨ªs Ana''s words were sarcastic. Mariana lowered her head slightly and smiled, very excited about her friend''s help. To have someone stand in front of her, speak up for her and defend her, she was very moved. Hearing these words, Andrea''s originally smug face froze slightly, and her eyes widened as if she was about to lose control at any moment. But in the next second, he revealed a false smile and said: -You''re the one being irrational, aren''t you? I was talking to Mariana and you''re the one interrupting me and scolding me recklessly. I think you''re the one who''s being rude! After a pause, Andrea nonchntly pushed Ana, who was in front of Mariana, aside and looked angrily at Mariana, speaking with disdain: -Speaking of education, does this woman who seduces others have nobility? Look at those hickeys on her neck, that''s the best proof of her shameless seduction! Andrea''s harsh words were full of mockery and contempt, which made Mariana speechless, not knowing how to reply for a moment. -It has nothing to do with you! Mari is still single, of course she can do whatever she wants! Or do you mean...? Before Ana could finish her words, she felt her sleeve being gently tugged, she turned around. Seeing Mariana''s pitiful appearance, her anger subsided slightly. After Ana calmed downpletely and saw Andrea''s smug look, she suddenly understood that those words she had just said were like indirectly confirming those scandalous rumors between Mariana and Xavier! At the thought of this, Ana could not help biting her lower lip and turned to look at Mariana with some trepidation, her eyes full of apologies. Seeing his pitiful appearance, Mariana patted his hand, telling him not to me himself. She turned around and the sweetness in her eyes disappeared, giving off a cold aura that made people shiver. Seeing her like this, Andrea couldn''t help but recoil a little. At that instant, the Mariana in front of him seemed to have be that cold and severe man, because that cold seriousness seemed somewhat familiar. Thinking about this, Andrea became even angrier, staring fiercely at Mariana. Anger made her raise her hand high with the intention of pping the cheek of the woman in front of her! The audience could not help but hold their breath at the sight of this farce. Andrea''s temperament was well known to everyone on the set: she was reckless and easily angered, but she was not that kind of violent person anyway. The director was still inside, giving directions to the crew and preparing scenes for today''s shoot, and was unaware of what was going on outside. For a moment, viewers could not help but feel sorry for Mariana, thinking that she would have to suffer this p today. But in the next second the situation changed abruptly! Andrea''s wrist was held tightly and she could not move. When Mariana looked up, she saw Xavier. -This is not the ce where you can indulge as you please! Xavier''s eyes were full of coldness, making even his handsome features be a little stiffer. He pulled Andrea''s hand mercilessly, looked around and said with a smile: -Last night, I was just helping Miss Ortiz to get some air, and then Miss Ortiz was also picked up by the N?velDrama.Org content rights. person sent by her husband. I really don''t know how this caused such a misunderstanding.... Xavier''s low voice reached everyone''s ears, and caused a bigger uproar in the crowd. -Is Mariana already married? -Don''t tell me! So young he''s married? Then those hickeys on his neck...? -Her husband must have left them! Mariana is so pretty and has such a good figure, her husband must love her very much! Mariana naturally heard thesements from her colleagues, lowered her head slightly embarrassed, and unconsciously fingered the delicate ring on her ring finger, with a slightly dazed expression. "Is my rtionship with him finally revealed?" Hearing this, Ana, who had been looking admiringly at Xavier to the side, turned her head in disbelief to look at her best friend, but not hearing her rebuttal, and then looking at the movements of her fingers, Ana already believed Xavier''s words. -Mari, you''re already married! Why didn''t you ever tell me? -You''ve been wearing this ring, and I thought you just really liked it, but I didn''t expect it to be your wedding ring! Mari, you should have told me! -Anna grumbled as she pretended to be angry. -Anita, I''m so sorry. I really didn''t mean to hide it from you - after saying that, Mariana lowered her head again, with a slightly bitter look on her face. Seeing her like this, Ana also fell silent withoutining any more. "Does she feel unhappy in the marriage?" Outside the office of Grupo Dur¨¢n''s president. The assistant hung up the phone and looked at the closed door, hesitating whether or not to enter. Finally, he pushed open the door and entered. -Mr. Dur¨¢, thedy has been misunderstood and that Xavier B?o.... -There was a pause before the assistant continued- -The fact that thedy is married has been exposed. After saying this, the assistant raised his head and looked carefully at the boss behind his desk. This morning the assistant was investigating the drug issue as instructed by his boss, but he had never expected toe across something so scandalous on the set and now he had to report this to his serious and indifferent boss. What bad luck he had today! -What happened? Hearing this, the assistant hurried to recap everything that had happened at the scene for Leopold. After these words were spoken, the office fell into a long silence. The man sitting behind the desk put the pen down in his hand and leaned back slightly, tapping his knuckles rhythmically against the wooden desk. The sound of his knuckles rapping on the desk adding a touch of tension to the already slightly dull atmosphere. A hint of dissimtion crossed the man''s dark eyes, and Leopold coolly ordered: -There is no need to investigate further about drugging at the meeting. Chapter 35: Out Of Your Control Chapter 35: Out Of Your Control Chapter 35: Out of your control -Mr. Dur¨¢n, if there is nothing else, I will leave first," the assistant looked carefully at the boss''s expression and said respectfully. -Good. Hearing this, the assistant turned and left the office. The man rose from his office chair and walked to the brightly lit windows, with the endless flow of traffic beneath the building. Leopoldo looked at the crowded traffic below for a while, and calmed down a bit. However, at this moment, it was as if something had spread from his heart and out of his control. On set. Ana held Mariana''s hands with tearful eyes, which were full ofpassion and sorrow. She bit her lower lip slightly, and wanted to say something tofort her best friend, but in the end she could not utter a single word. -Don''t worry. That p didn''t hit me, and I''m just fine. Mariana paused and said with some helplessness: -But I am very sorry for having caused Mr. B?o any inconvenience. He turned his head to look at Xavier, who was rehearsing a scene with Andrea, with gratitude and some concern on his face. Because of him, maybe Andrea would get along badly with Xavier. Maybe on the surface she wouldn''t dare to do anything to him, but ording to her spoiled character, she surely wouldn''t easily pass up any opportunity that could ridicule Xavier. -Mari, don''t worry. Xavier B?o is at least the best actor on this set, that Andrea wouldn''t dare do anything to him! You''d better worry about yourself first, now you''ve had a fight with her, and she''s the lead actress in this movie! Ouch! At the mention of this, Ana furrowed her eyebrows a little, and sighed heavily, as if she hade across a big puzzle. -Well, don''t think about it so much, there will always be a solution," Mariana leaned forward and gently brushed the tip of Ana''s nose, showing a slight smile. Suddenly, there was a piercing sound of the fabric tearing, followed by an anxious scream: -Mariana! Come here right now. Raising her head, Mariana looked in the direction of the voice, but was met with a smug look. At that moment, Andrea was looking at her with her arms closed over her chest, her eyes full of contempt and mockery. Sighing quietly, Mariana stood up, patted Ana''s shoulder, who was pulling her quietly, smiled and walked slowly towards Andrea. -What''s wrong? But Andrea only gave a derisive snort, and with her slender hand Andrea pinched a corner of the hem of her own dress. Her movement was full of contempt. -The dress looks good, but the quality is so bad! Howe the dress split when I just took a big step? Mariana frowned slightly and ignored Mariana''s provocation, lifted a corner of the dress and checked it briefly before saying: -Miss Solis, I don''t think this fabric can be torn so easily, can it? For the first time, Mariana''s gaze towards Andrea carried some uncontroble distaste, and Mariana stared directly at her without any intention of dodging. Predictably, that look pierced Andrea''s lofty self-esteem, and she narrowed her eyes slightly and clenched her hands to resist the fury. -You mean I ndered you?! -Andrea asked angrily. Hearing this, Mariana smiled slightly and did not argue with her, bending down slightly to pick up the piece of cloth that had been torn on the floor. Mariana''s calm posture made Andrea seem even more irrational and uneducated. Xavier, who had said nothing, watched the discussion between the two women with interest, but his nce at Andrea contained some mockery. -The cracks in this fabric are neat, not that it has cracked due to quality problems. It is more likely to have been cut with a knife. This statement came as a great surprise to the crowd. The people of the being could not help but stare at the shredded fabric in amazement, and the scene was silent for a moment. The director''s gaze wandered back and forth between Mariana and Andrea, finally he sighed softly, reached over to take the tattered cloth from Mariana''s hand and said aloud: -If everyone doesn''t stop arguing about it, we won''t be able to continue filming! The director''s voice was loud and clear, and everyone present heard it. Andrea''s face, which had been somewhat rigid, quickly returned to normal, and she shot a fierce look at Mariana, letting out a coldugh as she turned and walked away disdainfully. "And what if the others guess that I''m the one doing the dirty ploy? I''m the lead actress! Would the director offend me for a petty costume designer?" "How ridiculous!" Looking at Andrea''s haughty back, the director sighed secretly and looked at Mariana with some apology in his eyes, but finally ordered in a deep voice: -This matter is over, I''ll have someone send you the clothester, and you take care of the repair. Mariana nodded her head. -Mari, it''s clearly that Andrea.... Mariana interrupted her before she could finish her sentence. -Well, that''s enough. Even if she knew the truth, what could she do? Mariana returned to the dressing room with heavy steps and began to think about how to modify the dress that had been vandalized. However, the matter did not end so easily. Since then, Andrea would pick on her, intentionally or not, whether it was because her dress was torn, her hair was covering her eyes or she had lost the hairpin that matched her dress. Every day, Mariana walked the set, working tirelessly to satisfy Andrea''s inordinate requests, as if she didn''t feel the fatigue. Finally, one day, the hard work brought her down. -Mari, that Andrea is really hateful, he really thinks of all kinds of ways to create different difficulties for you every day. I really don''t know... -Anained to the side. Before she could finish her sentence, Mariana, who was still cutting the clothes, suddenly fell towards her. The terrified Ana rushed to hold Mariana, who was already leaning on her, and asked terrified: -Mari, are you all right? The woman lying in his arms was pale and breathing heavily, looking very ufortable. Ana reached out to touch his forehead and discovered that his forehead was very warm. -Mari, you have a fever! I''m taking you to the hospital right away. Ana was about to move when she was gently pulled. The very nervous Ana stopped suddenly, not daring to move. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. -These days the progress of the team was already dyed because of the suit problem, what will happen to the next job if I go to the hospital at this time? Mariana exhaled with a hot breath as she spoke, but with a firm attitude, and her body was even more like a burning, smoking furnace from the fever. -What nonsense are you talking? Now you have a high fever. -I can take some pills to reduce the fever and I''ll lie down for a while. I''m fine," Mariana paused, licked her slightly dry lips and directed the words weakly. Help me get some rest on the side. Ana could do nothing and had to hold her to the side to rest. She was well aware of this woman''s stubbornness. Chapter 36: I Am Married Chapter 36: I Am Married Chapter 36: I am married In the meeting room of Grupo Dur¨¢n. -The Entertainment Department is positively supporting the promotion of Empress Santa. The response was mediocre at first, but as soon as the costumes were shown, it garnered a lot of positivements on social media, this can be considered a major setback. The movie has already be popr before it was even released! The person who stood up was Lucio Cabrera, the general director of the Entertainment Department, who was the organizer of the "Holy Empress" project, and the poprity of the film was something he had not expected at first, which made him feel much more confident in his speech. Leopoldo, who was sitting quietly listening to the report, looked at Lucio in silence. The assistant then stepped forward at the appropriate time and added: -I heard that this time it was a designer named Mariana Ortiz who is in charge of the wardrobe. She seems to be very professional After saying that, the assistant nced at his boss and sat back in his seat. -Yes, yes, yes, I have heard that this designer named Mariana Ortiz seems to be quite famous in the design field. -These six sets of dresses are really good, eye-catching and atmospheric, and the workmanship is extremely fine, so it seems that this designer is very skilled in design. -Mr. Cabrera, if we have this kind of cooperation in the future I think we can work with this designer more often. Hearing this, Lucio also nodded his head repeatedly. The man who had been sitting at the end of the long table lowered his long crossed legs and bowed slightly, hands sped together, and looked in Lucius'' direction before speaking in a deep voice: -The meeting is adjourned. With those words, Leopoldo got up and walked away. Those present in the meeting room looked at each other in disbelief, not really understanding how nice the boss was today. The assistant followed Leopoldo into his office and gave him a brief briefing on his uing agenda before saying apparently casually: -Mr. Cabrera says that the film''s shooting progress has stalledtely, so he is a bit worried that it might not be released on schedule. Leopoldo raised his eyes to look at his assistant and asked coolly: -What''s wrong? -It seems that due to the recent overwhelming workload, thedy, who is the wardrobe manager for the production, has fallen ill. After saying this, the assistant clenched her fist with some nervousness and exhaled secretly. -I see," a cold, indifferent voice replied. He calmly raised his head to nce at the boss, only to see that he had already lowered his head to the paperwork at hand, not reacting much to what he had just said. He was still as expressionless as usual. The assistant sighed inwardly, turned around and calmly walked out of the office. The next day, when Mariana opened her eyes, she felt a little dizzy and could not help massaging her temples. When he arrived at the crew after getting well groomed, he found that they were all gathered together with excited faces, mysteriously discussing something. Somewhat puzzled, she approached Ana''s side, quietly pointed to the surroundings and asked in a whisper: -What''s going on here? -Mari! You are here. He stepped forward and gave her a tight hug before Ana looked at the confused Mariana with clear eyes: -Mari! The boss is here to visit the crew! -The Chief? -he frowned slightly, wondering about this name. N?velDrama.Org content rights. -Oh, that''s Mr. Dur¨¢n! Mr. Dur¨¢n took the first flight to visit our crew first thing in the morning. At that moment, an employee walked by, looking at the excited Ana, and couldn''t help but scoff: -What a visit to our set! It''s obviously a visit to Miss Solis! Now Mr. Dur¨¢n is already with Miss Sol¨ªs. "Leopoldo? Is he here?" Mariana''s heart was a little restless and she slightly lowered her head, hiding some strange emotions on her face. Since that night of passion, she had been at work and had never seen Leopoldo. "I didn''t expect you toe here - do you miss Andrea?" A tinge of bitterness spread from the bottom of his heart, and his eyes suddenly clouded a little. His body shuddered slightly. "What''s wrong with me?" The woman who was teasing a moment ago saw Leopoldo and Andrea walking arm in arm, and hastily tugged at Ana''s sleeve, eximing: -Look! Mr. Dur¨¢n and Miss Sol¨ªs are together! Hearing these words, Mariana blinked and adjusted her emotions before raising her head to look straight ahead. The petite and charming Andrea held him intimately by the arm, asionally tiptoeing up to the man''s ear and whispering something to him, looking very sweet and affectionate. Naturally, Andrea noticed Mariana''s look, and curved her mouth more proudly, her eyes full of mockery. He wanted Mariana to know to whom Leopoldo really belonged. -Leo, I''m so d you came to visit me so early," said Andrea shyly, looking at Leopoldo with loving eyes, swinging the man''s arm. -Mr. Dur¨¢n and Miss Sol¨ªs make such a good couple! -Yes, yes, Mr. Dur¨¢n took the ne early toe to the set just to please Miss Sol¨ªs, didn''t he? -When do I get such a handsome and considerate man? I really envy Miss Solis. Withdrawing her gaze, Mariana closed her eyes and turned around to head for the dressing room. The woman''s slightly lethargic figure rested in the man''s cold, stern eyes, and Leopoldon felt some distress, but it was fleeting. "He seems to have lost weight." Mariana was about to open the door, but someone blocked her. When she looked up, she met Xavier''s gentle, divine eyes. He smiled at her and asked: -What? You''re not happy? The tone of his voice contained some mockery. -I have work to do. May I pleasee in? Lowering her head and avoiding Xavier''s gaze, Mariana said in the calmest possible voice. -Why do you have to be so formal with me? At least I helped you, you can call me Xavier. Xavier''s slightly gravelly voice rang in his ears. -Mr. B?o, you should know that I am already married," Mariana raised her slender hand and he saw the silver ring on her ring finger. After a moment of silence, Xavier gave way and said politely: -Well, that''s a pity. Ignoring these words, Mariana opened the door openly and entered, then closed the door behind her. After a long while, he leaned gently against the back of the door, and his cold eyes were now filled with confusion and helplessness. The heart in his chest was beating more and more furiously, as if it was about to jump out of his throat at the next moment. With mixed emotions, I no longer knew where I was at that moment, nor did I know which way to turn. Until her emotions calmed down, Mariana exhaled slightly and let out a few bitterughs. Leaving the door to which he had glued himself as if it were the door his only support, he slowly made his way toward his ce of work. Since he had offended Andrea, he had endless work to do. There was a sudden, sharp, urgent knock on the door behind her. A trace of doubt appeared in her eyes and she pursed her lips slightly. Mariana raised her right hand and gently covered her left breast; her heartbeat seemed to have be irregr again. He made an effort to calm his voice as he spoke: -Please go ahead. Chapter 37: Rules Of The Game Chapter 37: Rules Of The Game Chapter 37: Rules of the game The door opened slowly and Mariana did her best to calm down. Then, she looked up to look at the person outside the door. He was Leopoldo''s assistant. Obviously, sensing the strange emotions of the woman in the room, the assistant gave a professional smile and walked quickly to the front of Mariana, presenting the thermos in her hand. -This is the tonic soup that Mr. Duran asked me to bring to you. She has been overworked on the set recently and is ill. -Therefore, Mr. Dur¨¢n speciallymissioned the maid to simmer the soup for thedy, which is very nourishing. You should drink it to get better soon. The assistant spoke quickly, as if afraid of being interrupted. Hearing these words, Mariana was a little taken aback, her eyes full of surprise and joy. And then her clear cheeks that became flushed with shyness. He nced slightly down at the ck thermos his assistant was opening, and his heart seemed to start beating violently again. It was the nourishing soup Leopoldo had prepared for her. -Do you know that I am sick? Mariana took the tonic soup from the assistant''s hand, stirred it gently with a spoon and casually repeated the question. -Mr. Dur¨¢n is actually very worried about you," the assistant answered seriously. The tonic soup had a bright color, with a slightyer of fat floating on top, but it didn''t seem very greasy, but rather appetizing. Mariana picked up the spoon and took a few sips. It was delicious. It was chicken soup with mushrooms. After finishing the soup, Mariana felt a warm sensation in her stomach and her mood improved a little. A happy smile that had been missing for a long time appeared naturally at the corners of her mouth. He handed the thermos back to the assistant with a slight smile on his face. -Please thank him for me. -Of course," after saying this, the assistant turned and left with the thermos. Sitting in a daze, with the taste of the soup she had just eaten slowly spreading through her mouth, Mariana smiled happily. In the afternoon, due to the arrival of the chief, the crew finished their work early and went to a meeting. The attendant had set up a private room and everyone was seated at the table upon arrival. Naturally, Andrea sat down next to Leopoldo. Mariana nced at him, then faintly withdrew her gaze and sat a little away from the two of them. As soon as he sat down, Ana sat in the chair on his left, while the one who sat on his right was unexpectedly Xavier. He smiled a sweet and kind smile. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Mariana only gave him a nce, then lowered her head and stopped looking at him, as if deliberately avoiding his eyes. Such an action caused Xavier to chuckle yfully, and his low chuckle rang deep in his ears. After a while, everyone was almost full, but it was still early, so Andrea proposed a game, and Leopoldo didn''t say anything, so naturally everyone epted. Ana whispered in Mariana''s ear and moaned softly: -Look, she must want to take advantage of the game to have something with Mr. Dur¨¢n! She really thinks everyone is stupid like her. Shaking her head helplessly, Mariana reached out and gently pinched her friend''s palm: -Don''t say too much in front of so many people. But she was still a little uneasy in her heart. -Since everyone is fine with it, then I''ll tell you the rules of the game now," Andrea stood up quietly and gave Leopoldo a delicate smile before speaking. -Let''s go, let''s go! Hearing this, Andrea first nced at Leopoldo, then looked at the crowd, blinking yfully saying: -Here is a poker deck, I will draw the same number of cards as the number of people present. Among the cards there is a king, and the person who draws the king will stand up and say what he wants the participants to do, then he will call out two cards at random. And the people who have these two cards will have to stand up andplete the task meticulously! When she finished speaking, the crowd became very excited, looking at the poker cards in Andrea''s hands. Everyone was showing great interest in this game. -Well, now I''ve pulled the cards, which turns out to be the total number of people in the room. The poker ced in Andrea''s hand had obviously thinned a bit, and with her long, slender fingers, Andrea casually held the ck cards, creating a strong contrast that made her fair skin stand out. Andrea then dealt everyone in the room a card. Each held a poker card in their hand, and everyone moved around looking at each person, unconsciously turning away when they were about to touch each other''s gaze, creating a slightly nervous atmosphere in the room. Leopoldo cast his stern gaze towards a corner of the room where the woman was idly resting her chin with her hand, ratherzily, apparently uninterested in this exciting game. He had his head down, hiding all his emotions. But the man standing next to her at the time surprised the woman by reaching out his arm and gently bumping into her. -What is your letter? -asked Xavier with great interest. At the sight of this scene, a touch of fierceness shed through Leopold''s eyes, mixed with a touch of jealousy. He slowly raised the ss in front of him and swirled the red liquid for a moment before drinking it in one gulp. -Who has the King card? -That, who has the King''s letter? Howe no one has said anything yet? -Could it be Mr. Dur¨¢n? While the crowd was talking, Mariana looked at her number 4 card in her hand and felt a little bored. A meeting like this really didn''t suit her. Finally, a girl timidly stood up, held up the poker card in her hand and showed it to the audience. He was the king of poker cards. The room, which had been somewhat noisy a moment ago, was silent in an instant. The girl cautiously nced towards the ce where Andrea was standing, and found that Andrea was staring at her viciously. Involuntarily she trembled slightly and tried to open her mouth several times before saying in as soft a voice as possible: -Then, let the person who gets the number 9 card and the person who gets the number 4 kiss each other. With these words, the girl sat back and breathed a sigh of relief, as if she had aplished something very difficult. After looking fiercely at the girl with his head down, Andrea threw the letter of his that was in his hand on the table and frowned a little annoyed. That girl was his assistant. He had nned for the girl to name Leopold and her directly, on the condition that the two kissed, but to his surprise, the girl had erred in the instructions she had given him, making him miss this good opportunity for nothing. How could this not make Andrea angry! He raised his eyes and looked at the audience, because he wanted to know who had ruined his n! When she heard "number 4," Mariana felt vaguely uneasy. I didn''t expect the condition to be kissing in front of everyone! The first thing Mariana did was to look at the indifferent man, and she became very anxious. -Which of you have the number 9 and the number 4? -That''s right, these two people who were drawn quickly introduce themselves, I still want to start the next round as soon as possible! -Kissing! Sounds exciting. *** Hearing these excited voices, Mariana felt annoyed, but she picked up her letter on the table and got up with some resistance. He showed his letter to everyone and said in a weak voice. Chapter 38: The Man Was Jealous Chapter 38: The Man Was Jealous Chapter 38: The Man Was Jealous -My letter has the number 4 on it! Andrea''s face suddenly turned ugly as she red at Mariana in anger. "It''s her again!" "It''s always this woman who ruined my ns!" -It turns out you have the number 4 card! -the casual male voice came from next to Mariana. Then, Mariana felt a light cool breeze blowing next to her. As she suddenly turned around, Xavier was already standing next to her, and the poker card in his hand was: number 9! Mariana''s pupils suddenly shrank, and she was very surprised. She did not expect that the person holding the number 9 card would be Xavier B?o. And the two needed to kiss in front of everyone. Moreover, she could clearly perceive a cold and domineering gaze falling on her body, making her whole body freeze. The letter in her hand had been crumpled and deformed by the grip, but Mariana remained oblivious, and just stared at Xavier nkly, not knowing what to do. The next moment, the crumpled letter fluttered onto the table, and Mariana could not help but take a step back, full of resistance and reluctance. -Since you are participating in this game, you naturally have to abide by the rules of the game. Mariana, you and Xavier make a great couple! Andrea spoke, a hint of smugness shining in her eyes, then winked secretly toward the girl. -Yes, the request made by the person holding the King''s letter must imperatively bepleted," the girl said these words in a low voice and did not speak again. Seeing how cowardly the girl was, Andrea gave her another evil look. Luckily, all the boys around them were thrilled to encounter such a scene, and in the next instant they shouted: -Kiss her! Amidst the screams, Mariana''s cheeks reddened with embarrassment, like a ripe, somewhat tempting apple. Xavier''s eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke in jest: -Well, well, beauty is shy. I kiss her right now! -Wow! -Well done! Amidst the exmations, Xavier leaned in slightly, holding the woman''s slender shoulders with both hands, pulling her head closer. Mariana felt Leopoldo''s stern gaze be even more prating, and she stiffened even more. She opened her teary eyes wide unconsciously at Xavier''s approach. Leopoldo gripped the ss firmly causing the wine in the ss could not help but swirl gently. There was an unpredictable gleam in his indifferent eyes, like an eerie calm on the eve of an impending storm. Leopoldo looked at the two who were getting closer and closer, he drew a mocking smile. A smile like that made people cold and scared. Just as she was about to touch Xavier''s lips, Mariana closed her eyes and turned her head, so his kiss The thin, slightly cool lips pressed against the warm cheeks. The man''s kiss was very strong. Mariana only felt her cheeks re even more. Then Xavier gently released Mariana and said to the crowd: -Everyone is satisfied, right? Then, his eyes were fixed on the woman next to him who still had her eyes closed tightly, with a bit of tenderness and love. -Leo, don''t you know that Mariana and Xavier get along so well that even I misunderstood their rtionship after thest party. -And Xavier is really gentle and considerate with her. It''s really the first time I''ve seen such a caring Xavier! Gently taking the man next to her by the arms, Andrea leaned on Leopoldo and added fuel to the fire as she exined the rtionship between Xavier and Mariana. Mariana''s cheeks were still red, like the red sunset in the distance. The shynessing off of her enveloped the whole room, very striking. Xavier looked at the woman very concentrated, as if Mariana was the only girl in the whole room. Leopoldo''s face was somber as he abruptly removed his arm from Andrea''s hand and picked up the red wine in front of him and gulped it down, hiding the various mixed emotions in his eyes. "You''ve done a good job. Mariana, you''ve done very well to piss me off." In the end, the dinner ended early due to Leopoldo''s sudden departure. Mariana was finally able to return home. During this period of time, due to Andrea''s annoying demands, she almost took the locker room as her own home. She even spent several nights in the wardrobe room for working overtime. Rubbing her sore neck, Mariana passed through the living room, but happened to see Leopoldo. For a moment, he stopped in his tracks and stared at the man sitting cross-legged on the couch. As she looked at Leopoldo, he also looked up to look at her. But the piercing coldness in his gaze left her instantly paralyzed, as if she was petrified and couldn''t move a bit. Leopoldo stood up and took long strides towards the woman who remained frozen in ce, looking at her indifferently. As the man came closer, Mariana moved backwards, so little by little Leopoldo forced the woman The man in front of her looked at her coldly, and she froze against the wall, unable to move an inch. She could do nothing in the face of this strong man. The man in front of her just stared at her as if he wanted to devour her at any moment. N?velDrama.Org content. Somewhat at a loss, she looked away so as not to see the man''s grim face, and only then did she rx a little. His dry throat seemed to be blocked, and it took him several attempts to utter a sound. -What are you doing? The woman was trembling, a little panicked. The woman kept her head low, showing her thin neck. Actually her poor and weak appearance was very attractive to the man. The man''s eyes grew increasingly somber as he looked at her. -This is the kind of posture you use to seduce another man, isn''t it? When Leopoldo addressed these mean words to her, the woman looked up abruptly with wide eyes. Leopold roughly lifted the woman''s slender light wrist. Lifting the woman''s hand towards him, he gently caressed the silver ring with his fingers. In the man''s gaze, in addition to the coldness, there was something threatening and pressuring about it Leopold caressed the ring for a moment and squeezed it tightly. Suddenly, an unexpected pain came to Mariana. Mariana couldn''t help but furrow her eyebrows, looking at the hand that squeezed the ring with fierce force. And tears were already welling up in her eyes out of control. -You have to remember that as my wife you must learn to be faithful and cannot seduce other men. The corners of the man''s mouth curved slightly into a sneer. -What nonsense are you talking, I don''t do it! -Mariana struggled hard, trying to free herself from the man, but in front of this strong man, her strength was worthless. Feeling deeply helpless, Mairana could not help biting her lower lip to hold back her tears. Chapter 39: Betrayal Chapter 39: Betrayal Chapter 39: Betrayal He looked at Leopold stubbornly, but his trembling shoulders still betrayed his deep nervousness. When she saw the shadowy face in front of her getting closer and closer, she closed her eyes in a bit of panic, but the next moment, a soft, slightly cold touch with a faint smell of tobo lidded her lips. Her eyes suddenly opened and Leopoldo had already straightened up, looking at her coolly as he asked: -So, how do you exin tonight''s meeting? Suddenly remembering the kiss that Xavier had imprinted on her face, Mariana understood everything instantly. But... Mariana touched the lips she had just kissed, a little in a trance. Leopoldo coldly hooked the corners of his mouth and spoke with disdain: -Even though we are in a contract marriage, I don''t want to see my wife doing such things and openly cheating on me. After a pause, he continued his cruel and direct humiliation: Are you a shameless woman? A woman who has no self-respect? A shiver ran through her body and Mariana looked incredulously into the man''s indifferent eyes, with a strong feeling of humiliation. I didn''t expect him to look at her like that! The soft touch on her lips had just a little while ago seemed like a distant thing from thest century. "So you''re testing me with that kiss? You''re kissing me just to confirm that I''m a brazen woman?" "Or have you already identified me in your mind as a slut at first?" -I''m not like that! N?velDrama.Org content rights. But his words were not persuasive at all. Immediately afterwards, as if remembering something, Mariana closed her eyes in despair and her lips curved slightly as she let out a coldugh. -Since you know so clearly that we are married under the contract and you and Andrea can make out! Why can''t Xavier and I be together? The woman, in a full rage, spoke sarcastically,pletely ignoring the man''s instantly grim face. But the tears could no longer stop, Mariana hastily lowered her head, pushed away Leopoldo who was standing in front of her, turned around and ran away. She opened the door and ran out of the vi. She did not stop running until she felt exhausted. His heart was beating violently and restlessly, and the beat was especially clear in the quiet darkness of the night, as if it were about to leap from his throat in the next second. Feeling a sharp pain in her heart, Mariana couldn''t help but crouch down, her right hand covering her left breast, and her face turned slightly pale. The corners of his mouth couldn''t help but hook faintly as he let out a bitter smile. Couldn''t even God see her like this, so miserable? But he really thought she was such a woman? Tears flowed relentlessly, sliding down her cheeks and falling to the floor. "It must be because of the pain in the heart." The next moment, a warm hand unexpectedly covered her head, and Mariana looked up overwhelmed. Her blurred vision fixed on the person''s face, and after careful discernment, Mariana finally saw the person clearly. It was Xavier B?o. Disguising her disappointment and bitterness, she slowly took the in white handkerchief the man handed her, quickly wiped away her tears and stood up. -Why are you here? -Her voice was hoarse from crying. -It is probably by God''s will. Mariana looked at Xavier with teary eyes. Seeing her look so pitiful, Xavier didn''t want to joke with her anymore, he hurriedly opened his mouth to exin: -It''s a coincidence, I had something to do and I stopped by. Mariana looked around and couldn''t help but frown. She was already in a residential area close to the vi, no wonder she was meeting Xavier. -Do you want to sit there chatting for a while? Looking in the direction the man pointed, she discovered that there was a square with several fitness facilities, and there were two swings there. After hesitating for a few seconds, Mariana epted. It was already veryte and he had just had a fight with Leopoldo, so for a while, he didn''t really know where to go. Setting theptop down on the coffee table in front of her, Leopoldo couldn''t help but reach out and lightly rub his forehead. It was dark and quiet outside, and the night always hid many things from view. "This woman!" The ss clinked softly against the mahogany producing a crisp noise, and Leopold withdrew his cold, stern gaze. The nanny put down the ss of water in her hand, looked at the man sitting on the couch with his legs bent, and sighed slightly. Actually, she knew everything that had just happened between the two of them, and seeing the deep concern hidden under the gentleman''s icy face, the nanny said: -Sir, watching television yesterday, I saw a news item about a woman who went outte at night and was followed by a strange man and was dragged into a bush.... Noticing the piercing icy stare that hung over her, the nanny immediately shut up. The next moment, a gust of wind lifted her hair around her ears, the nanny couldn''t help blinking, and when she opened them again, her master was no longer there. A crisp snapping sound rang in her ears, and she was left alone in the vi. She couldn''t help but shake her head and headed to the kitchen with a smile on her face, ready to prepare some food for her mistress, as she would be hungry when she returnedter. Mariana had run off in slippers, so the maid supposed she should not have run very far. Leopoldo ran looking around the vi area and finally spotted Mariana in a white dress behind a residential building. However, she was not alone. Xavier was at his side. His running footsteps stopped, and Leopoldo stood some distance away with his hands in his pockets, his eyes slightly narrowed as he looked at the two people sitting on swings,ughing and talking. The woman''s face bore no trace of the pale appearance it had before, and her smiling, happy face dazzled in the dim streetlight. With a soft snort, Leopoldo deftly opened his cigarette case, took out a cigarette and lit it. In the swirling smoke he exhaled, their figures became blurred. After a long while, Leopoldo extinguished the cigarette in his hand and threw it into the wastebasket next to him, turning abruptly to leave. "She really is shameless woman!" The next day, the set started working and Mariana returned to the set early to work. However, to everyone''s surprise, Mr. Dur¨¢n was still there. Anne looked at the woman working with her head down, and her desire to share gossip with her was instantly extinguished. He pulled Mariana with one hand, holding her shoulders tightly with both hands, and couldn''t help but exim: -Mari, what''s wrong with you! At that moment, the woman in front of me was pale, but under her eyes there were heavy dark circles under her eyes. She looked like she was very tired. -How is it that after one night, you have be in this state? Mariana looked at her friend''s exaggerated facial expressions and couldn''t help but open her mouth to retort: -Even though I look bad, you don''t have to exaggerate so much, okay? After saying this, she shot a nce at Ana, pulled her hand away and went to continue with her remaining work. But the next second he was interrupted by Anne again, who took the charcoal pencil from his hand, and said: -The work is never finished. You''d better take a break first, I''ll do this for you. Ana took her aside and let her sit in the chair. Ana ordered her: -All right, take a nap first, and I''ll wake you up after I finish this. Chapter 40: Pressure Chapter 40: Pressure Chapter 40: Pressure Ana then looked at her with feigned seriousness until she closed her eyes, before turning to the ce where Mariana was a moment ago and continuing with what she had just done. Her closed eyes opened again. Mariana watched her friend''s busy back and a thrill rose in her heart. Last night she didn''t sleep, Xavier sat with her for a long time, and at dawn, the two arrived on set together. It was good to have someone she could count on. After a short break, Mariana got up and had the suits checked, folded them neatly and took them to the break room where Andrea was. However, when she opened the door and raised her head, she saw the man standing next to Andrea, Leopoldo. In an instant, the man''s cold gaze rested on her, giving her an ufortable pressure. Mariana kept herposure, holding the wardrobe in her hand and cing it on the table, she sketched a soft and gentle smile, looking directly at Andrea and saying: -The dress is already well repaired, it has been altered, Miss Solis, you can take a look. He paid no attention to the man''s somber eyes. Andrea looked at Leopoldo beside her, whose eyes were on Mariana, focused and serious, charged withplex emotions that she could not understand. Instantly resentment washed over him. She curved the corners of her mouth in a disdainful smile, lightly picked up the suit on the table, ncing at it casually, then couldn''t help but frown. -Isn''t this modification too hard? Is that what I told youst time? Critical words were directed mercilessly from Andrea''s tender lips. A trace of dissimtion shone in Andrea''s eyes, which soon disappeared. -Or is it that Miss Ortiz thinks that with Xavier''s backing, you don''t even bother to do your job properly? This sarcasm was really spicy. The next moment, the man withdrew his gaze from Mariana, and began to y with the expensive cufflinks encrusted with expensive emeralds. His movements were casual, but implied his only indifference. A trace ofcency shed in Andrea''s eyes as she cast a sidelong nce at Mariana and smiled coldly: -Well, Miss Ortiz doesn''t want to work on the set anymore, does she? Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. As long as Mariana was not in charge of the wardrobe work, she would no longer have the opportunity to see Leopoldo. With this thought, Andrea looked at Mariana with a smile full ofcency. -If Miss Ortiz does not want to continue with this work, I can help you talk to the director. I think with my help the director will agree. Andrea''s tone was very condescending, as if Mariana were a beggar. Mariana frowned slightly, looking disdainfully at Andrea, and spoke indifferently: -Thank you, but it''s not necessary. Miss Solis, I''ll leave this dress here. After a pause, he drew a smile and continued casually: -If Miss Solis is not satisfied with the dress you can go and talk to the director. If the director asks me to continue revising the dress ording to your wishes, of course I won''t refuse! After saying that, Marianapletely ignored Andrea''s angry face and turned to leave. -A crazy woman! Andrea pointed at Mariana''s back cursing, but received no response. The next second, she turned around and pouted at the man in a sweet tone: -Leo, look! He''s bullying me like this! Help me, please... Mariana mmed the door behind her. At that moment, the world seemed to be much calmer without the obnoxious voice of that Andrea. That day passed quietly as well, Mariana shook her head, a bit helpless at her fussy mentality at the moment with Andrea. "Since when did I be like this?" After picking up her things, Mariana took her bag and left the office. She had just arrived at the entrance, a car pulled up next to her. The car window rolled down and a handsome face peered out, and the corners of Xavier''s mouth curved upward, looking very friendly. -Why are you here? Hearing these words, Mariana could not help but burst outughing. Last night he asked the same question when he met Xavier on the street. Thinking of thefort Xavier had given herst night, Mariana felt a little thrill in her heart, so she raised her head and gave Xavier a gentle smile. -Get in, I''ll take you back. Hearing this, she frowned slightly and raised her head to look at Xavier, whose face still held a polite smile as before. -Thank you, but it''s really not necessary, I want to go back alone -after saying that, without waiting for Xavier to say anything else, she directly turned around and left at a fast pace, as if some demon was chasing her from behind. Xavier felt a little helpless, thinking that this woman was really special, but in the end, he didn''t reach out to her out of respect. Xavier watched the slender back fade away before putting his sunsses back on and leaving. Actually, this scene of the two of them had already been seen by that indifferent and vtile-tempered man. Leopoldo stubbed out the cigarette in his hand and threw it into the garbage pipe, somewhat intimidatingly. Leopoldo climbed into the car, leaning back in the leather seat with his eyes closed as he ordered: -Let''s go. The assistant looked in the rearview mirror at his boss''s expression and hurried to start the car and drive away. "How I alwayse across this kind of thing! How unlucky I am!" It was alreadyte when she arrived home, Mariana climbed the stairs silently in the dark. Soft slippers creaked against the floor, very evident in the quiet night. As she passed by the man''s bedroom, Mariana couldn''t help but stop her step. There was a faint light filtering under the door, spreading across the floor like a scythe cutting through the darkness. That light also left her feeling a little nervous. "He''s still awake." ncing at the watch on her wrist through the dim light, she discovered that it was already half past eleven midnight. Suddenly, the door opened from the inside and white light spilled everywhere, enveloping Mariana''s body. The sudden bright light made her eyes squint slightly in annoyance. Mariana slightly lowered her eyes, hiding all her emotions. -What are you doing here? An icy voice sounded above her head, as if it were whispers from the demons in hell, making her shiver a little. -I just got back," Mariana said after a while, slightly nervous. There was silence all around him, and the only sound in his ears was his own breathing and heartbeat. After a long silence, Mariana raised her eyes, looked at Leopoldo and said indifferently: -I''m going to bed, good night. After saying that, Mariana left. -You can consider Andrea''s proposal. Mariana stopped her hand on the doorknob suddenly, and then couldn''t help but squeeze it hard. She turned around, Mariana looked directly at the man, whose figure was stretched far and wide by the light at her back. Against the light, the man seemed more stern, inessible and indifferent. Chapter 41锛歎nexpected Arrival Chapter 41£ºUnexpected Arrival Chapter 41 Unexpected Arrival -What do you mean? Mariana''s voice was a little hoarse and when Leopoldo heard her words he frowned slightly and the next moment his face darkened. -You don''t want it? -The man''s eyes were cold, like infinite darkness, and they conveyed no emotion. Hearing this, Mariana was a little stunned, but in an instant she let out augh, with a hint of sarcasm, -What if I say yes? Such a direct and forceful attitude was something Leopoldo had never encountered before, very different from the Mariana before, who used to be gentle to the point of being even a little shy in front of him. -Why should I be willing to leave the set? Thepany has given me this job, so I will be responsible for it until the end. Apparently feeling that there was no point in saying anything more, she did not speak again, with a helpless smile, turned the doorknob and entered the room. When the figure of the woman disappeared in front of him, Leopold was still standing in the light, his thin lips slightly pursed. The ck shadow grew long, stretching on and on. The man''s mind was repressed in his heart, difficult to decipher. "What if I say yes? " The next day, Mariana arrived early on set, prepared the dress and sat behind the director with Ana, watching Andrea and Xavier pair up for the scene. Today was the climactic scene of Emperatriz Santa, and since the director and scriptwriter had not yet worked out how they wanted to present the performance, they did not ask Mariana to prepare a series of elements such as costumes and props beforehand. And the director simply let the two main characters act ording to the form they had already discussed, leaving Mariana and the others to design the appropriate costumes ording to the actors'' performance. Also, this part was not described much in the original Empress Santa novel, so it was not promoted much in the initial stage, and was arguably one of the most appealing segments to audiences after the premiere. Andrea and Xavier, still in their white suits and hoods on, were absorbed in the stage and performed without physical objects in front of the green cloth. Once he had watched the performance in its entirety, the director stood up and approached Mariana''s side, gently tapping her shoulder, his gaze full of appreciation, -Design with courage. I believe in you. N?velDrama.Org content. Xavier, who had finished his scene, took the ss of water handed to him by his assistant and took a sip, walked over to Mariana''s side and sat down, looking at the director''s back, his pretty eyes slightly narrowed, revealing a hint of curiosity. -Is the director praising you? Mariana, who had just immersed herself in the drama, looked directly at him lightly after hearing this. However, her mood had rxed a lot. Compared to this, she was more inclined to work on costume design backstage, but now, no one seemed to care how she thought. -What are you going to design? As she spoke, Xavier saw two people walking in front of her, talking andughing, looking very close, they were Leopoldo and Andrea. -If there is anything you need help with, juste to me, after all no one can refuse the help of his beloved beauty, right? Hearing Xavier''s flirtatious words, Mariana stopped looking at him, but did not reply. Leopoldo''s cold eyes swept over Xavier and Mariana, his face darkened, there was anger in his eyes. Andrea, who had been looking intently at the man next to her, naturally sensed this and gritted her teeth hard, ring hatefully at Mariana with resentment. "What''s so good about that bitch? Why is it that when I''m standing next to Leo, his gaze always falls on that woman?" -Leo,st time my cousin told me something that I don''t understand a little, can you help me? Andrea looked at Leopoldo with a delicate smile, a smugness shone in her eyes extremely fast. "See if you still look at that woman this time?" In fact, cold eyes turned to look at Andrea. When Mariana looked up again, the man standing in that ce not far away had disappeared, like a stranger. He had a bitter smile on his face. "Yes, originally we are... strangers." Days went by as usual, but sudden changes used to appear out of nowhere in the next second, and you didn''t even know if it was a surprise or bad luck. -Mariana, someone is waiting for you outside. Mariana raised her head and stopped picking through the various fabrics piled up like a small mountain, blinking her sore eyes, with a doubt in her mind. "Who could be looking for me at this hour?" It was only a moment before Mariana nodded to the iing person and exited the clothing room, walking outside. But as soon as he stood up, the space that had been brightly lit suddenly went dark, and he couldn''t see his fingers. She couldn''t help but feel a twinge of nervousness in her heart and stood in ce in a slight panic, unable to move a single muscle. All those lost memories came back to his mind immediately. The little girl locked in the dark room, eyes wide and tears running uncontrobly down her cheeks, washing away the dirt to reveal a delicate little face. Hands iling against the thick iron door with a loud bang, the girlpletely ignored the pain in her hands. -Dad! Dad! Let me out! -Dad! I want to go out! -I don''t want to be in the darkroom! *** -Happy birthday to you ... With this voice, a faint light slowly appeared in front of her, and Mariana fixed her eyes on it before realizing it was the glow of a candle. The light grewrger andrger, bringing her out of her boundless fear and into warmth. Taking a deep breath, Mariana felt as if she was about to drown and had been given a new lease on life. Then she was a bit stunned, she had been so busy these days that even she had forgotten that today was her birthday. After the birthday song, the crowd had already moved to her side. In the dim light, Mariana looked at the familiar people in front of her, one by one, feeling a warm current float up from deep in her heart, causing her eyes to fill with tears. -Mari! Quickly make a wish. Ana gently pushed Mariana, reminding her. Just as I was about to close my eyes, someone suddenly turned on the light and shouted at Mariana. -Mariana, there is someone outside looking for you. Looking at the candle in front of her, Mariana could not help but feel sorry that she had not yet had a chance to say her wish. Anne shot him a look and couldn''t help but give him a gentle nudge, deliberately reaching out to protect the candles. -I''ll protect the candles for you and you''ll still be making wishes when you get back. With a soft smile in her eyes, Mariana nodded slightly and turned to leave. Sometimes losing was just a matter of moments. Just after turning the corner, Mariana couldn''t help but frown and could no longer lift her feet, unable to move a bit. "How can I be him?" Chapter 42: Appearances Can Be Deceiving Chapter 42: Appearances Can Be Deceiving Chapter 42: Appearances can be deceiving Although they had been separated for many years, this person was deeply ingrained in her mind, and was Mariana''s greatest fearte at night. Mariana stood silently in ce, watching that back. The man paced anxiously back and forth, the smoke from his lit cigarette enveloped his face, but even so, Mariana recognized him instantly. It was his nightmare, also a bond he could not let go of for the rest of his life. The peace and quiet he had experienced for some time had almost made him forget where he had reallye from. However, to that ce she never wanted to return. In the blink of an eye, the visitor had turned around and was looking at her standing in the distance, and his eyes lit up instantly. He walked quickly in front of Mariana, extended his hand and said bluntly and cruelly, -Give me money! Lowering her head slightly, Mariana looked at the palm of the hand held out in front of her, the fingertips yellowed from years of smoking, rough and dirty. "Is it such a pair of hands, the one that pushes me into the abyss step by step? Then why did it still give birth to me in the first ce?" -I have no money," the bitterness melted on her tongue, like the taste of a white pill swallowed hard when she was sick as a child. -How can you be broke! I raised you! But you don''t want to give me a penny," the tone was full of fury. -Stop this nonsense and give me the money quickly! -he said, looking fiercely at Mariana and waved his hand, telling her to quickly take out the money. A feeling of helplessness instantly invaded her whole body, she closed her eyes slightly and spoke in a cold voice: -I really don''t have any money, don''te looking for me here again. After saying that, Mariana was about to turn around and leave. But the next second, she was dragged away by the man. The rough touch made Mariana shudder uncontrobly, she violently shook off the man''s hand and quickly backed up a big step, looking at him in panic. It was a kind of fearful disgust to the depths of her soul, so strong that it was impossible to ignore. The man furrowed his rough eyebrows fiercely and stepped forward to firmly grasp Mariana''s slender wrist. -What? You hate me now? The wrist held tightly in therge palm was so thin and weak that it looked like it would break in the next second. -Look how afraid you are, and what if it bothers you! I''m still your daddy! You wouldn''t be here without your father," after saying that, he fiercely shook the thin white wrist he was clutching in his hand. Give me the money now! You don''t want me to make a scene at your workce either. Mariana felt a deep sense of helplessness, closed her eyes and, when she opened them again, she had regained her usual calm, -I have no money. "Where do I get the money?" -Mari, what''s going on? At the sound of the voice, Mariana turned around and saw Ana, looking worried, and her set mates, who were helping her celebrate her birthday. "My wishes!" Mariana let out a bitter smile, she still had no wishes this year. -You are her colleague, right? Do you have money? I am her father, lend me some money first, my daughter will pay you backter, I urgently need it! -At the end of his sentence, his voice was just a little hoarse and frantic. Ana was so startled that she took half a step back and her hands clutched Mariana''s arm in surprise and disbelief, -Mari, what''s going on? Is he... really your father? Mariana wanted to keep smiling, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t, as if her whole body didn''t have even the slightest bit of strength. -You''re his buddies too, aren''t you? Do you have any money on you? Just give it to me and I''ll give it backter," looking behind him, the man said in a stern tone. -Is this designer Ortiz''s father? Why is he asking for money from the beginning? -Yes, why does he have a father like that? I thought he''sing today for Mariana''s birthday. -Mariana dresses exquisitely every day, she looks at her father, so downcast, hey, appearances are really deceiving.... All kinds ofments without the slightest hindrance burst into Mariana''s ears, and from deep within her being appeared a humiliation that pounced on her with ferocity. -I don''t have any money, if you want to make a scene, do it. After saying that, Mariana no longer worried about the various strange looks behind her, she turned around and walked away from the man with quick steps. -Mariana! -Ungrateful! Where are you going... N?velDrama.Org content. She didn''t know how long she ran, but the angry roar behind her faded, and finally she couldn''t hear the voice that terrified her. She no longer cared what kind of trouble she would bring to the set after her departure. At that moment, she only had the thought of leaving quickly. Taking a few deep breaths, the fresh air finally prated her lungs and cleared her mind. "Fortunately, I finally escaped from there." He walked to the side of the road and took a cab. Mariana hesitated for a moment, but gave the address she remembered. In the Office of the President of Grupo Dur¨¢n. Leopoldo''s assistant, Lionel, stood in the doorway, hesitated for a few seconds, but finally frowned and called the chief''s office. The man lowered his head, his slender fingers held the tip of a ck pen and as he ran it across the paper he left an inky signature. -How? Hearing this question, Lione''s brows became more twisted, and several struggles and tangles passed through her eyes before she finally gritted her teeth and spoke. -It''s about Mrs. Ortiz -after a pause- thedy''s father went to the set and made a fuss, thedy seems to be in a bad mood and has now left the set, but her father is still there. Lionel struggled to say it. He did not realize that Mrs. Ortiz''s family was in this situation. He didn''t think she was suitable as the boss''s wife. The sound of the pen tip brushing the white paper continued, and Lionel looked at the floor, waiting. "Would the boss take care of this or not? It always seems to me that the boss is in a bad moodtely, and if it weren''t for his wife, I wouldn''t want to bother him! Hey, it''s hard to be an assistant!" He sighed slightly inwardly, but his face showed no sign of it, Lionel continued to keep his brows furrowed and his head bowed. -Have the secretarye and send these documents to all departments, youe out with me. -Yes. Leopoldo got up, picked up the jacket on one side, put it on and walked out with big steps. Soon, Mariana got out of the car and stood stunned in front of this small house. "It''s been a long timeing. " Raising his hand, he wiped the mark of the tears that had been slowly drying in the wind outside the car window. Mariana pushed open the door, walked in and, as soon as she turned the corner, saw the woman sitting at the table. Chapter 43: Covers Chapter 43: Covers Chapter 43: Covers She was only in her forties or fifties, half of her hair had turned white, looking vitiated and aged. His back was slightly hunched, he was picking vegetables from the pot at the moment, both eyebrows were always furrowed. As if sensing something strange, the woman looked back, slightly dazed, and the next second she was in great joy, standing up and walking quickly towards Mariana, -Mari, why did youe back today? Have you eaten? If not, I''ll go and prepare it for you now. Hearing these words, Mariana''s vision became a little blurry. He stepped forward, hugged the woman in front of him tightly, his voice trembling, and finally said: -Mom. This person was none other than his mother, ra Moreno. -Hey, it''s been a long time since you''ve been back to the house, thest time you came back was.... The words stopped suddenly and ra''s surprised face froze for a moment, then her face turned ugly. He pushed his daughter away, and his eyes were full of disgust and coldness as he said the sarcastic words: -What are you doing back? You didn''t even care about my life back then, so what are you doing here now! Aren''t you the great designer now? Each harsh word hit Mariana hard, causing her face to suddenly turn pale. Her body shuddered almost uncontrobly, and her eyes widened somewhat incredulously as she looked at her mother, -You told Dad the news that I was on the set, didn''t you? -So what if? Mariana''s heart broke, -Mom, you know very well the person he is, and yet.... Before Mariana could finish her sentence, she was immediately interrupted by ra: -Who is it? Isn''t it your dad? Mariana shook her head repeatedly and couldn''t help but take a step back. -Do you dislike him for being a yer? Or are you upset that he lost face for you? You''re an adult now! You don''t even think you have a father and mother anymore, do you? The only thing that remained in front of her eyes were the thick lips that opened and closed. Mariana turned and ran away, the next second, tears spilled from her eyes. Hot tears crossed her cheeks, and the sarcastic voices behind her continued. When I looked up again, there was a simple tavern on the side of the road. The owner, an old woman with gray hair, was preparing the food expertly. A faint fragrance hung in the air and Mariana''s stomach couldn''t help a sound. She hadn''t eaten so far, and her long run had left her exhausted. Walking toward the tavern, Mariana found a small table and sat down, saying to the old woman: -Olddy, beer and tapas. -Okay. The owner''s voice put Mariana in a much more rxed mood. Soon after, a beer and tapas were brought in that looked very appetizing. Tears filled her eyes. She thought back to that birthday cake with three candles in the decoration, and in the end she had missed that chance to make a wish. "It turns out it''s very easy to lose. It''s been a long time since I''ve had a birthday." She was always alone on her birthday every year. The little girl, who had been sad, upset and even angry when birthdays were not celebrated, had N?velDrama.Org content. disappeared. Now her birthday was no different from any other day. The food could destroy the bad mood and looking at the tapas eating less and less on his te. "I should have gotten used to being alone a long time ago. This is good, isn''t it?" However, when she tried to smile as usual in the next second, she failed. The breeze brushed her cheeks and blew her hair away from her ears, spreading it in a messy, slightly tingling fashion. A figure sat down abruptly next to Mariana, and cold, familiar words came: -A beer and tapas. -Okay, right away! Mariana raised her head and looked up in surprise. "Leopoldo!" The man was dressed in a decent ck suit, which emphasized his slender body, but he didn''t mind the roadside tavern either, and crossed his long legs. -What are you doing here? The hoarse voice with a choked sob reached Leopoldo''s ears with the sound of the wind, and Leopoldo''s eyebrows furrowed as he looked at her, -If something like that happens in the future, you can look for me. The cold, hard words fell on her ears at first, like a storm, making Mariana''s heart jump violently. Her heart rate also shot up. In an instant, remembering something, Mariana''s eyes were full of mockery and she spoke indifferently: -Don''t you think I''m the kind of woman who loves money? Actually you are right, I am indeed such a person. -Ma''am, you are mistaken about Mr. Dur¨¢n. As soon as Mr. Dur¨¢n heard that something had happened to her on the set, he left his job and went to look for her. Lionel had just arrived after parking the car and heard what Mariana had said. At that moment, seeing the boss''s less than cheerful expression, he couldn''t help but speak up and exin for him. If the two of them were like that, there was no telling when these misunderstandings might be resolved. "The boss should let his wife know what he has done for her, so that she will be grateful!" Lionel looked at the boss, who seemed not to have heard what he had said, his face was the same as always. While Mariana was stunned, with a glint of doubt in her eyes, -My father ... Some words could only stop at the edge of his mouth, unable to speak. -He has already left the set. Hearing this, Lionel''s heart grew even more apprehensive, and even today he was still shocked by what the boss had just done. By the time the boss arrived on set, Mariana''s father was still making a fuss. Some couldn''t stand him and wanted to just take him money and let him go like that, but in their hearts they already hated Mariana, after all, the one making a fuss was her own father! She hurried to leave, but who would sort out the mess next? Everyone frowned as they watched the man unceremoniously take the money from the set. Suddenly, one person noticed that Leopoldo was here and could not help but exim. The crowd heard the voice and looked over, and when they saw the visitor, they were all surprised as well, and the sound of conversations immediately filled Leopold''s ears. Chapter 44: Newlywed Couple Chapter 44: Newlywed Couple Chapter 44: Newlywed Couple -Why is Mr. Dur¨¢n here? Is it because of Se?orita Sol¨ªs? -I think so! Who else could Se?or Dur¨¢n go to if he did note to see Se?orita Sol¨ªs? -But, I didn''t expect Mr. Dur¨¢n toe across this kind of thing, I think, after her father made such a mess, Mariana will not be able to stay on the set, Mr. Dur¨¢n always dislikes such meddlesome people, he will definitely fire her! Lionel, who was standing behind Leopoldo, could not help but burst outughing. "Each and every one of them has thought wrong!" In the next instant, what happened in front of them took the crowd by surprise. They saw a dozen stout men, dressed in shades of ck, suddenly emerge behind the chief, striding neatly and noisily, distributing themselves in two rows and cing themselves behind Leopoldo. The crowd was taken aback, somewhat overwhelmed by the sudden change. The man stretched out his slender fingers and pointed to Mariana''s father, who was standing in ce looking surprised and suspicious, -Stop it. Mariana''s father stuffed the money in his hand into his pocket as he stared in panic at the men in ck running towards him. He stepped back in fear, his legs shaking. -What are you going to do? In the next instant, Mariana''s father was lifted and held. Both hands tried to grasp at something, but he could only cling to the air in vain. This strong feeling of fear made him scream in terror. -What are you doing? What right do you have to keep me? My daughter is from here! Tell her toe out! Leopoldo looked with disgust at the struggling man and said in a cold voice: -Gag the mouth. In the next second, the world fell silent. -This is a Grupo Dur¨¢n project, no provocation from anyone is tolerated, whoever this man may be. After a pause, Leopold''s eyes scanned the crowd one by one before he spoke coldly and sternly: -Hand this guy over to the police and tell him not to go out again these days. Lionel answered yes in a low voice. "This means that you will be charged at random, so you can be in jail for these days and you won''t be able to go out and bother Mrs. Ortiz, right?" -Return the money. After exining this, Leopoldo just turned to leave. *** On this side, Mariana''s cell phone suddenly rang, the ringing interrupted her bewilderment. It was Ana''s. She looked at Leopoldo, who was enjoying the beer, and asked in a soft voice: -What''s wrong? -Mari! After you left, Mr. Duran came here! He let a dozen people get rid of your father, it''s really unbelievable! Then, Ana told everything that Leopoldo had done on the set. Mariana couldn''t help but look at the man again as excited and curious voices rang in her ears. At that moment he looked up, their eyes met, Mariana''s heart skipped a beat and her cheeks flushed. -Good. -I think that since the boss has already taken him away, you... that person shouldn''te looking for you in the near future, don''t worry. Anaforted Mariana with slightly hesitant words on the other end of the phone. She didn''t really know how to console her for such a matter. -Then Happy Birthday, Mari.... -Thank you, Anita. During her long gray period, Ana, who was her best friend, was simply like a dazzling light that shone on her and kept her from sinking deeper into the mire. Hanging up the phone, Mariana turned her head to look at Leopoldo. Lionel, who was behind him, had long since disappeared, leaving Mariana and Leopoldo alone at the table. A quiet, gentle atmosphere existed between the two, and Mariana was a little reluctant to interrupt such a peaceful harmony for a while. The corners of her mouth curved into a slight smile as she too ducked her head in silence. The food she had at that moment was delicious,forting her hunger and the heart that had been growing cold little by little. When she had swallowed thest mouthful of food, Mariana put down her fork with satisfaction and smiled kindly at the old woman who hade to clean up her things. Leopoldo had finished eating some time ago and was now looking at her. When she saw his deep eyes, Mariana was slightly stunned, then turned her head and looked away. However, her beautiful cheeks were already slightly flushed. -Just now, when you ran in here alone crying, you were really pitiful, your tears fell on the te when you were eating! The old woman looked again at the man next to her, a few wrinkles on his face did not give her the slightest sense of vicissitude, but a sense of kindness. -Once this man arrived, everything was different again. -You must have a good rtionship? Are you the newlywed couple? The old woman looked at Leopoldo and asked affectionately. Hearing this, Mariana''s heart trembled, a little worried, and she was about to speak, when the man said from the other side of the table. -Yes. The sound fell softly in her ears with the wind, as if her whole body wasforted and the air was cooler at that moment. This was something she had not expected. "He really recognizes their marriage, such a marriage." After the old woman left, Mariana''s turbulent mind still hadn''t calmed down, and after a long while, she only said one word: -Thank you. It was as if he didn''t know what else to say besides this word. -I heard that today is your birthday. The words came from his thin lips, which made Mariana freeze for a moment before reacting: -Yes, my colleagues were going to celebrate my birthday, I... -Happy Birthday. His words were abruptly interrupted, an emotion very different from the coldness and harshness of the past contained, giving a surprise. She raised her head and looked at the man who was also looking at her. His eyes were full of affection. Mariana did not expect to receive a birthday wish from Leopoldo here and now. Her heart instantly filled with warmth, she couldn''t help but give him a smile. -Thank you," the voice was soft and gentle, and Mariana''s eyes held infinite gratitude and appreciation for this man. It was as if the ice between the two had melted. *** Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Standing at the entrance to the room, Mariana looked at the man with a smile, and there was affection in her eyes. Chapter 45: ItS Really You Chapter 45: It''S Really You Chapter 45: It''s Really You -Good evening. After returning from the tavern, Mariana had been in a trance. Too much had happened today, and she had also asked for leave and had not gone to the set afterwards. It was Lionel who had driven the two of them back home. It was alreadyte at night. The man stood in the doorway, turned his head slightly to look at Mariana, his thin lips parted softly and he spoke in a light voice: -Good evening. Saying this, he entered his own room. Mariana reached out to cover her throbbing breast. Lying on the bed, Mariana looked at the ceiling and said quietly to herself. -Mariana, happy birthday. *** The next day, Mariana came to the set as usual, her face as nondescript as if nothing had ever happened. -Look at her, what a scoundrel, acting as if nothing had happened, she even came to the set with a big swagger, shameless! -Yes, if it weren''t for Mr. Dur¨¢n, I''m afraid the director would have had no choice but to fire her even if he liked her designs! -This one has a good life! Howe I can''t receive attention from Mr. Dur¨¢n. One chatter after another rang in his ears, masking all kinds of emotions. Mariana pretended she hadn''t heard them and walked past the crowd, back to the wardrobe room. She had never thought she would be the center of attention since she arrived on the set. At the thought of this, Mariana couldn''t help butugh and shook her head helplessly. Pulling out the designs she had not finished sifting yesterday, Mariana began a new day''s work. Since thest time he saw the climax of Xavier and Andrea''s performance, the director continued filming thest episodes. So the whole set was waiting for her toe up with a suitable costume. The pressure on her multiplied and the task became more difficult one by one. But Mariana did not give up, every difficult step was a valuable experience, the challenge was a stepping stone. "As long as hardship doesn''t kill me, I will be stronger." With this conviction, Mariana reviewed the canvases one by one, looked up some rted films and then read the original novel and script from cover to cover. Only now did Mariana have more confidence in herself. After adjusting her mind and sitting down at theputer, Mariana began to work on her drawings. It was then that a sharp knock sounded on the door from outside. Without raising her head, Mariana screamed: -Go ahead. -Hello. The husky voice contained a slight significant tone and said with a slight coquetry. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Mariana turned and saw Xavier leaning against the door, arms crossed, his beautiful eyes were striking. -It''ste at night. It''s dark all around, but the lights are still on here, I thought you should be here. Xavier took a step towards Mariana, and only when he was close did he smile and say: -It''s really you. The words contained deep meaning. -Why haven''t you left yet? Without raising her head, Mariana kept moving the mouse in her hand rapidly, and lines of various colors immediately appeared on theputer screen. Since that night on the swing, the two had be friends, and Mariana had spoken to Xavier more casually. -Neither do you. Then darkness hovered over her, the man approached. -Are you still designing the suit? A vague minty fragrance reached Mariana''s nose, and a sensual, husky voice reached her ears. Mariana frowned slightly, got up and walked over to the dispenser and poured herself two cups of water, then walked over to the couch and sat down, one of the cups was ced on the small table in front of her, only then did she pick up her own cup and drink it all. Sometimes, when she was busy, she would forget to eat and drink water. He went to sit across from Mariana, picked up the ss of water and took a sip. -When are you leaving? Hearing this, Mariana looked again at theputer screen, which was still illuminated. The lines that appeared on it were jumbled, -I''m probably going to sleep here tonight. Mariana said frankly. In the past, when she was catching up on design, she used to workte at the was anything wrong with that. On the contrary, Xavier''s eyes were filled with disapproval, -Although the set is on duty here, it is not very safe at night, especially a woman alone. The words showed the man''s concern, which made Mariana look surprised and she couldn''t help but give him a smile. -You''re right, then I''ll pack my things ande back. She remembered that there were still some videos at home, so this time she could take a look at them again and possibly find new inspiration. *** Xavier stopped the car and looked around, the vi was not small in size, with garden and pond, and it was the only one of its kind within a few miles, so he could imagine it was worth a lot of money. He looked at Mariana, who was unbuckling her seat belt next to him and preparing to get out of the car. In an instant, Xavier remembered what had happened yesterday on the set and thought that everything was getting very interesting. Standing next to the car, Mariana held her things and waved to Xavier in thanks, -Thank you. -Oh, I forgot to tell you, happy birthday. Xavier blinked at Mariana, his beautiful eyes could not be hidden even in the dark night. -Thank you," Mariana smiled. It seemed that he had thanked, many times in thest two days, different people. The interaction between the two, however, was seen by the cold eyes upstairs, fingertips twitching slightly, stubbing out the cigarette in his hand. Leopoldo was looking in the direction of the departing car and felt disappointment. "He''s not listening to me at all." When Leopoldo opened the door and went downstairs, he saw Marianaing in with something in her arms, and met his gaze when she raised her head. -What are you doing up? -looking at Leopoldo, whose figure was in the shadows, Mariana asked in a soft voice. It was impossible to see the man''s expression clearly. Frowning slightly, a trace of doubt appeared in her eyes, Mariana didn''t know what this man was thinking. -Why? Am I interrupting your appointment? A cold, hard voice came out, piercing the darkness and attacking Mariana. Immediately after, Leopoldo walked towards her, and she finally got a good look at the man''s face. Chapter 46: Your Relationship With Him Chapter 46: Your Rtionship With Him Chapter 46: Your Rtionship with Him The face was still cold, no different than usual, but his eyes showed his anger. -What are you talking about? The woman''s voice was shaky. She remembered Xavier, who had just sent her back. "Did you just see it? " -The set still has to design onest costume, and I was workingte. But then he bumped into me and took me back. Mariana lowered her eyes and exined in a soft voice. -Is that so? I hope you won''t be fooled next time, too. The coldness pierced the darkness and stabbed straight into Mariana''s soft heart, making her shiver involuntarily, her feet heavy, unable to take a single step. The man gave off a faint odor of tobo as he passed. Mariana took a moment to calm herself before climbing the stairs. Leopold was standing behind her, holding a ss in his hand, dangerous and calm, like a devil in the dark. -Mariana. He muttered under his breath, craning his slender neck and finishing the ss of ice water. Mariana sat down in her small study and turned on herputer. What had just happened kept reying over and over in her mind, making it impossible for her to calm down and think. She couldn''t help but shake her head and then lightly rub her forehead. Something seemed to have gone astray, leaving her unable toprehend, and she could only move forward in a futile daze. His eyes unfocused on theputer screen in front of him, and suddenly the clutter in his mind cleared for a moment, and a spark burst into his mind, which saw it and caught it. It looked like she got a clue. With a quick swipe of the mouse in his hand, smooth, clear lines immediately appeared on the Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. The long, straight, soft, thin skirt was covered with white chiffon, the hem of which was iid with a myriad of begonias in bloom, the tops of the white petals tinged with a little red. Seeing the heroine''s costume already designed on the screen, Mariana couldn''t help but lean back, her face stunned. "The design of the dress was inspired by... her rtionship with him." Mariana shook her head fiercely, pushing away the various stray thoughts in her head one by one, and continued to start the design in her hands. "The most important thing now is to get the suit design." The next day, Mariana arrived early to the set, put down the bag, took out theputer inside and ced it on the table, then started to pick up the fabrics she had sorted yesterday, selected the most suitable ones and started cutting them out. The silky white fabric was spread out on the table, and the light folds of it ttened before Mariana began to take the scissors and trim it. In a few moments, the fabric was already showing its shape. The faint sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the busy figure of the woman, whose slender body cast mottled ck shadows on the white fabric. When the garment was picked up and unfolded, the threads fell to the floor and the design on the After gently stroking the delicate hem of the begonia, Mariana''s face revealed a faint smile and she breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn''t until midnight when Mariana finally finished making the two suits for men and women, gently cing a transparent protective cover over the suits and then hanging them on hangers. Mariana examined them carefully for a long time before calming down. "When I show these two pieces to the director tomorrow, my overall work on the production will be Mariana leaned back and leaned gently against the back of the seat, looking extremely calm. After enjoying a moment of peace, Mariana got up and covered the two outfits with a ck cloth, wrapping them well before closing the door and leaving. Since this episode was not known to the world and was kept secret. Therefore, these costumes could not be shown. What he didn''t know, however, was that after she left, a furtive figure had sneaked into the costume room and removed the ck cloth covering the outside, exposing the male and female costumes inside. Even in the dark, the suits looked bright and dazzling, like a bit of starlight in a dark sky. This person had a look of astonishment on his face, and the next moment he took the camera in his hand and took some pictures of the costumes in great detail, without missing a single detail. After doing so, he calmly left again. *** Back home, surrounded by darkness, Mariana groped her way to the kitchen to find some food and simply ate something to fill her stomach before going up to her room. The soft knock on the door seemed very clear, even in the silent night. Standing in front of the window, Leopoldo forced himself to be quiet, hung his head and extinguished the cigarette in his hand, tossing it into the ashtray to the side, his movements natural. The next day. Mariana took Ana to the director''s room, but she did not expect to see the producer also in the room, with a heavy face. The atmosphere in the room was a bit tense. Frowning slightly, Mariana felt ufortable. Nevertheless, she showed the director and producer the costumes she had designed. She gently ced the hanger on the floor, the ck fabric was still on the outside of the costume and had not yet been removed. Mariana''s face had a smile on it. She and Ana stood to the left and right of the hanger, nodding their heads in greeting, -Director, these are the costumes I have designed for this scene. After saying this, he reached out and unhooked the ck cloth, and the two suits in white and ck appeared. They were shy and dazzling. -How beautiful! A gasp sounded from beside her, with a hint of admiration. Ana spared no praise. -Mari, these two pieces are too beautiful! Last night, Mariana had only made the finished products, so Ana had not yet had a chance to see them. Now she couldn''t help but be impressed by Mariana''s talent. Hearing this, Mariana smiled and a red appeared on her face. However, the director and producer looked at the two costumes and did not even change their faces a little, which were still so grim. Mariana felt a little bad. "Could it be that my designs don''t satisfy them?" -Director, producer, if you are not satisfied, I can redesign again, this... Before Mariana could finish, the director interrupted her with a frown, -Mariana, I''ve actually seen your designs before you came. As he said this, the director held out his cell phone to her, Mariana was a little stunned and looked at the phone without moving. Chapter 47锛欴iario De Mariana Chapter 47£ºDiario De Mariana Chapter 47 Diario de Mariana In contrast, Ana, who was on the other end, stepped forward apprehensively, picked up the phone and N?velDrama.Org content rights. looked at it. Her eyes instantly widened round, her face was full of disbelief. Such a sudden change made Mariana''s heart flutter even more. She bit her lower lip lightly, a slight stinging pain made her consciousness clear. He took a few quick steps to Ana''s side and picked up the phone, looking at it, he couldn''t help but frown. There was a picture on the phone screen, and the design of this picture was exactly the same as these two suits! Exactly the same. -Mari, what happened here? A trembling voice came out, with a sense of panic, and deep concern. On the page, nine perfectly ordered images appeared on the phone. Although the light was a bit dim, you could still see the exquisite elegance of the begonia print on them, and indeed they were the outfits she had designed and made herself! "But why?" Scrolling up, I saw the name of the Facebook page: Diario de Mariana. "Mariana''s diary?" Quickly, he turned the page, the previous publications were also mostly his work, even the details of the clothes he had designed for the cast this time. Mariana opened a randomment. -This designer is amazing! Is her name Mariana Ortiz? She''s the one who designed the costumes for the set of Emperatriz Santa, right? -Yes, Mrs. Designer so awesome can see Xavier and Andrea on set every day, my goodness! I don''t even dare to think about it. -Yes, yes, yes, Miss, can you take more pictures of the details of the clothes you''ve designed for us to see! We love talented and good looking youngdies. Thesements abounded. Mariana''s face instantly turned pale. -Mariana, I know that every designer is proud and honored by his work. The satisfaction thates from designing an excellent piece of work is no less than if you had made an award-winning production. The director stood up and looked deeply into Mariana''s eyes, but the obvious disappointment hit Mariana''s face mercilessly like a fierce storm. -But all work has to be done with a certain professional ethic, doesn''t it? You should know that the costumes you were asked to wear this time were for an unpublished repertory scene, and I think you know exactly what that means, and yet, I didn''t expect you to do it.... Before the disappointed and angry director could finish his sentence, the producer who was there merely interrupted him with mild impatience: -The most important thing now is that the dresses have been seen by manyizens and can no longer be used. And someizens have even spected that the set is shooting something new. After a pause, the producer looked at Mariana again, his eyes full of impatience and even anger. -This incident has had a big impact on the set, and also on the film. The big surprise that had been prepared on purpose was suddenly over. The further the words progressed, the more vicious they became. Mariana closed her eyes slightly. I could actually understand the producer. The producer himself was responsible for the money, and all these issues of attracting investment and sponsorship depended on the production. And it was thanks to the leaked costumes that people started specting about the new development of the Empress Santa episode, which undoubtedly spoiled the surprise prepared for the public, thus losing hundreds of millions in profits. Her body trembled heavily, and when Anne, at her side, saw her, she busied herself with reaching over and holding her, her eyes full of concern, -Mari, are you all right? -I''m fine. Gently shaking her head, Mariana''s face was pale as she tried to remain calm. -Director, producer, I am good friends with Mari, I know her very well. It''s not like that at all. Ana looked at the two men and frowned. -Mari is a very discreet person who is extremely reluctant to show herself, this can''t be her Facebook at all, someone else must have done this! Ana finished. Her eyes containing a plea, looking at the director and producer, waiting for their answers. However, the director''s and producer''s faces were still as somber. Their eyes were full of disappointment, looking at Mariana who had been ducking her head, and their attitudes did not change in the least because of Ana''s words. This made Ana more discouraged and feel more guilty. She turned her head to look at Mariana''s pale face, and her concern increased. -Designer Ortiz, what do you think? -At that moment, the silent producer spoke again in a deep voice. In fact, everyone knew that now was no longer the time to be thinking about whether that Facebook was hers or not. The more urgent task was to minimize the damage of the film. Whether the person was her or not no longer mattered. Even if it wasn''t her, she was the only one who knew the details of the suit''s design, so Mariana was still responsible. Mariana''s eyes were slightly downcast as she looked at the bright begonia blooming on her white dress, the top of which was a deep red but with a slight tinge of sadness, just like her at the moment. The tears in her eyes were so full that they were about to spill over, but once again they were fiercely repressed by her. "What can I do?" He took a deep breath and then another. When he looked up, his eyes were full of determination, stubbornness and calm, and the panic he had just felt was gone. But her pale cheeks still showed how tumultuous her emotions had been earlier. -Director, producer, excuse me. I will handle this matter carefully and properly, and give you a satisfactory answer, if not.... At that moment, Mariana paused and her eyes shone with sadness. "But if it won''t work out, what can I do?" "I''m just an ordinary little designer, and those hundreds of millions in interest simply weren''t something I could make up for." The smile that had just appeared disappeared again, with an indescribable helplessness. It was as if she had been trapped for money, unable to even free herself, she could only watch and see how she was gradually devoured by it. Unconsciously clenching his fists, his sharp nails dug into the soft palm of his hand, causing a slight stinging pain. -Director, producer, please give me a chance. The light in his eyes was clear, like a light of hope. "I don''t want it." "I don''t want to be stuck like this again." Outside the salon, the sun was shining brightly outside. But she didn''t feel warm, she just felt like she wanted it to be warmer, warmer, to warm her cold heart. Ana looked at Mariana, who had her eyes closed, raising her head to receive the sunlight, -Mari, what are you going to do? Hearing this, Mariana looked at the worried Ana, unable to help but chuckle slightly. -You''re stillughing! Ana patted him on the shoulder. She felt a little annoyed, but her nervous mood had also rxed a little. -I still don''t have an idea. Coming across these things that had caught her off guard so early, the sudden change had already stunned her a bit. Mariana''s hand hanging at her side was taken by someone, and then came a heat more intense than that of the sun. Chapter 48: Planned For The Long Term Chapter 48: nned For The Long Term Chapter 48: nned for the long term -Mari, I will always be on your side," Anna said firmly. Stroking Ana''s hand, Mariana smiled, -I know. "I''ve always known that." At the Office of the President of Grupo Dur¨¢n. Lionel stood in front of the door, hesitant. It seemed that as soon as he came across the matter of Mrs. Ortiz, he just had to hesitate in front of the door whether he should go in and tell the boss or not. "Lately, the boss hasn''t been in a good mood, and since he found Mrs. Ortiz at the tavern, he''s been in a good mood." "But I have not thought that, after a single day, he would be back to his cold, unfeeling self, with eyes so cold that they gave him the shivers." Thinking about what had happened to him this time, Lionel couldn''t help but look sad. "But with only Ms. Ortiz''s own skills, there was no telling whether the matter could be sessfully resolved." Finally, after much deliberation, Lionel gritted his teeth and pushed open the office door and entered. He looked warily at the boss behind the desk and said: -Mr. Dur¨¢n, Mrs. Dur¨¢n recently... -There is no need to inform me about your affairs from now on. Before he could finish his words he was interrupted by Leopold coldly, in an instant it was as if the temperature in the office had dropped several degrees. Lionel couldn''t help a shiver, looking sad, hesitating in his ce, still he couldn''t help trying to speak again: -Mr. Dur¨¢n, this time, Mrs.... The man threw on the table, with evident impatience. Not daring to linger any longer, Lionel spoke quickly: -Then I''ll leave first. The room returned to calm and silence. *** The first thing that came to Mariana''s mind was to go find the Facebook ount that leaked the costume in person. "If I can find him and ask him to dere on Facebook that he is not the costume designer on the set, then everything will be solved, right? But where do I find this person?" Mariana went to the security room and looked at the surveince, but everything waspletely ck, so she couldn''t see anything at all, while the detail photos taken on Facebook were well lit. So, obviously, surveince was reced. "This method does not work." After a day with no results, Mariana returned home exhausted, slumped on the couch. "The mystery person wasing for me?" The soft sound of slippers on the wooden floor echoed in her ears. Mariana reached up and rubbed her forehead. "It''s Leopoldo!" In the next instant, Mariana sat upright, knees together, hands on her knees, sitting upright. -Sir, ma''am, it''s time to eat. Hearing this, Leopoldo turned around and went to sit at the table. After a while, Mariana got up and came over, taking a seat next to him. After serving thest dish, the nanny looked at Mariana, unable to help but frown slightly, a little worried. -Ma''am, you don''t look well today, shall I fix you something light? N?velDrama.Org content rights. Leopoldo looked at the woman next to him without moving and they lowered their heads again. -Don''t bother, I''ll be fine after a break. Mariana smiled at the nanny. With no choice, the nanny could only nod and walk away. After dinner, Mariana did not rest, but returned to her small study and continued to study the information rted to the Holy Empress. One of the measures to reduce the damage to the film would probably be to redesign apletely different costume that would still fit the plot. "This has to go against myst idea. It''s going to be very difficult." Mariana began to draw, leaving several strokes, which were erased the next moment. With her eyebrows furrowed in annoyance as she looked at everything in front of her, Mariana felt a deep sense of frustration overwhelm her. Burying her face in his arm, the emotions that had been deep inside all day just exploded into silence. "It''s temporary, everything will be fine." And at that moment, in the next room, Leopoldo was holding his phone, listening intently to Lionel''s report. -Thedy has assured the set that she will give them an exnation, but the situation is not very promising. The images are spreading rapidly on the Inte and are having a great impact. Lionel felt helpless on this end of the phone. When he had reported to the boss during the day, he had said he would not report on his wife''s affairs, but after a few hours, he called him. And the fact that the change was made by someone as decisive as the boss left him heartbroken. Naturally, Lionel did not darein to his boss about these words. -Find out who is the owner of the Facebook ount. Leopoldo ordered in a serious tone. -Yes. When he hung up the phone, the long figure was still standing in front of the window, his eyes as deep and dark as the night outside. The cigarette in Leopoldo''s hand had burned out, leaving the smell of tobo in the air. After a sleepless night, Mariana''s wrists ached. He put the design away, walked out of the small studio, went to the kitchen, poured himself a ss of water and drank it all, before regaining some sanity. After the incident, the director did not allow her to return to the set. Mariana, naturally, had no problem with that. After all, almost all Inte users are following this story. At first, the dresses made Empress Santa a trend all over the Inte, but now all this fervor has made it impossible to shoot the drama, also because of the costume design. The one-night effort did not go very well and these designs were really mediocre. If these could not reach a splendid level, it would have been better to use conventional dresses. Sitting on the couch in dismay, Mariana had no idea. In the Office of the President of Grupo Dur¨¢n. Lionel put the stack of information in his hand in front of the boss and said: -These are some details about the Facebook blogger Diario de Mariana, this ount used to belong to a clothing designer and has been registered for a long time, so, rtively, the public finds it very credible. After a pause, he continued: -But it was only recently that she started posting frequently about the Holy Empress set, so you can imagine that everything was nned for the long term. "And, obviously, not for the sake of the set, but solely for.... Mariana." ncing at the information on the table, Leopoldo folded his hands and leaned slightly on the back of the chair. If someone on the set had such an ability and was in conflict with Mariana, then this person would be the most suspicious. -Block the hot search first," Leopoldo ordered. Lionel nodded his head. "If they let things go on like this, there''s no telling what will happen next! " After Lionel left, Leopold looked at the papers in front of him, his cold face frightening. "You can''t let more people know about this issue." Chapter 49: Bitterness Chapter 49: Bitterness Chapter 49: Bitterness That day, Mariana was looking through the various video discs and rted books in her small studio, hoping to get some inspiration from them, but it didn''t work out as she had hoped. Just as she was getting worried, her cell phone rang abruptly in the quiet room, causing Mariana to startle. Giving up searching, he slowly walked over to the desk, picked up his cell phone and frowned slightly, looking at the unfamiliar number shing on the screen. After a bit of silence, he finally opted to answer it, -Yes? Tell me. A smile came from the other side, with a slight sense of familiarity, causing an image to appear in Mariana''s mind, and at this moment, it was as if a pair of beautiful eyes emerged. -Xavier. -It''s me. A quick affirmative word came from the other end of the phone, he was slightly surprised. -I really didn''t think you were already so familiar with my voice that you could urately guess who I am with just a littleugh.... It''s a real honor for me. The flirtatious voice entered her ears clearly, Mariana frowned. After a brief silence, it was Xavier who took the initiative to speak, with a tentative sense: -Are you all right? The greeting was like a stone thrown into a calmke, sending ripples. Hearing it, Mariana shuddered a little and subconsciously bit her lips. "It must be that Xavier has already known about such things." It was also true that this issue had made it to the top of the search engines and the headlines of all the major websites, so everyone on the set already knew about it. She was the only one still fooling herself and others. Mariana gave a bitter smile. But the next words on the other end of the phone startled her. -The hot search has already been withdrawn. -Although there are a lot of people on the Inte, Inte users have a limited memory, and it won''t be long before everyone forgets this. The tone that had been yful inexplicably brought aforting meaning, soft and warm, like a seed that could not help but sprout deep in her heart and grow a gigantic tree. A few thoughts suddenly shed through Mariana''s mind, so quickly and fleetingly that she couldn''t catch them in time. But in the next instant, he was surprised. Her delicate fingers gripped the phone tightly, her knuckles even whitening slightly from the force. The hot search had been withdrawn. "Who has helped me eliminate this hot quest, could it be..... Xavier?" The moment this thought arose, it made Mariana''s heart flutter. "I don''t want to be beholden to anyone else." I was about to hesitate to ask this question when Xavier, on the other end of the phone, spoke again in a low voice, proposing: -I heard that the museum recently held an antique costume exhibition, with all kinds of antique costume designs, and several nationally renowned masters also have their works on disy. -Would you like to go take a look? Doubts aside, Mariana was about to refuse, but then she saw the discarded designs in disarray on the table. At the end, he nodded his head and spoke lightly: -Okay. During this period of time, I had wanted to design costumes that would fit the plot of the y as soon as possible. But since the design concepts of the two previous suits had always been in his mind and lingered. His Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. future designs were still more or less influenced by the design concepts of those two suits, and he could not get rid of them. Therefore, there were not many different and original details in the current design, which made Mariana feel very distressed. "Now that I have the opportunity to see the extraordinary designs of other masters of antique costume, it may help me create the costumester." "The set is now facing a difficult situation, so I have to rise to the asion and solve the costume problem as soon as possible to live up to everyone''s expectations." After hanging up the phone, the two agreed to meet at the entrance of the art museum. When Mariana arrived, she could not help but be surprised by the scene before her. At that time, there was still more than half an hour before the opening, but there was a long queue, which showed therge number of people. Seeing such arge number of visitors, Mariana was uneasy. After all, Xavier was the nationally renowned Best Actor with a huge fan base, so if he suddenly appeared in public like this, it would definitely cause chaos on the scene. While Mariana was thinking about it, her left shoulder was suddenly touched by someone. She turned around and saw a heavily covered face. A ck cap, big ck sunsses, a ck mask and even a ck jacket with ck jeans underneath. Looking at Xavier, who was dressed like that, Mariana was very surprised and gave him a smile. She couldn''t help but tease: -I''m afraid your appearance is more striking now. Xavier''s long fingers gently removed the sunsses, revealing those lovely eyes. -Normally, one dressed like this might be a star, but it didn''t look much different in an art gallery like this, after all, we are visiting a costume exhibition, and there will be all kinds of fancy dress. Okay, time to queue up and go inside. It was alreadyte when they left the art museum. The streetmps had been silently lit. A gentle breeze stirred the broken hair around Mariana''s ears. She unconsciously reached out and sped his hair behind his ear. Xavier was fascinated by this woman. Chapter 50: Xavier Chapter 50: Xavier Chapter 50: Xavier Looking at Mariana, Xavier smiled. The smell of the breeze made Mariana take a deep breath and her mood suddenly improved. The stress of the past few days seemed to have suddenly dissipated, and even her heart no longer seemed to feel depressed. The two walked freely down the street. After a brief silence, it was Mariana who finally spoke, and with gratitude, she said seriously: -Thank you, Mr. B?o. "Thank you for withdrawing this hot pursuit. Whether you did it for the sake of the set or for me, I am Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. equally grateful." Mariana had already seen the Facebook, and sure enough, the hot search had disappeared, and no one mentioned it anymore, as if nothing had ever happened. But Mariana knew that whatever had happened, at least Mariana''s Diary still existed. After hearing Mariana call him by hisst name, Xavier smiled, -Before this, I thought we were already friends. In Mariana''s eyes there was doubt and she looked at Xavier, who was also looking at her at this moment, as if he wanted to see what she wanted to say, but she could not feel the seriousness in this man''s eyes. -We are already friends," although she knew what he meant, Mariana answered frankly. -Do friends still address each other as sir? Mariana was surprised and could not help butugh, -You are right. After a moment of silence, Mariana frowned, hesitating. -Then, in that case, call me Xavier instead of Sir. The man had already helped him find an answer. Mariana answered him immediately: -Xavier. The soft word that came from the pink cherry lips of the woman in front of him fell lightly on Xavier''s ears, and the next moment it reached his heart, making it tremble fiercely. "Xavier, Xavier." Xavier looked at the woman in a sincere manner, -Then I will call you Mariana from now on. The four eyes met and they couldn''t help but smile at each other. A ck Maybach was parked not far from the two of them at that moment, and it pulled up silently at the same time as the two of them stopped their footsteps. The entire interaction between the two in front of them was watched by a pair of cold, stern and deep eyes, the already cold gaze was even colder, like a cold air from the depths of hell, making people feel intimidated. The image of the two of them smiling at each other was like sharp needles stabbing into his heart, causing a slight pain that he found impossible to ignore. Leopold''s face darkened and the atmosphere in the car became tense for a moment. Lionel nced calmly in the rearview mirror at the boss sitting in the back row, cross-legged, and then frowned at the man and woman walking side by side. "What a coincidence!" The chief made him stop suddenly and move forward at an extremely slow speed, and at that moment he felt very puzzled, but his bewilderment abruptly disappeared when he saw the youngdy walking with a man. "If I''m not mistaken, the man who is well wrapped up with the sses is Xavier B?o, the Best Actor." The air conditioner inside the car was still blowing cold air, which had been a bit stifling earlier, but now Lionel couldn''t help but crick his neck and felt a shiver run through his body. Ahead of them, the two came to a bus stop and stopped. Soon after, amidst joking andughter, a bus pulled up and the woman smiled and waved to the man, then turned around, got on the bus and drove off. It was at that moment that Lionel breathed a sigh of relief, -Mr. Dur¨¢n, the next agenda is to go to the Stefford Hotel, where there is now an internal cocktail party, the top management of thepany, and some politicians will all be there, now.... Before Lionel could finish his sentence, he was interrupted directly by Leopoldo. The harsh words seemed to carry a touch of coldness, adding to the icy chill in the air. Lionel could not help a slight shiver in his body. -Home. -Yes," Lionel replied, started the car and drove off in the direction of the bus. Leopold opened the door and looked around, there was only one floormp in the room, the light was dim, but it dispelled some of the coldness in his eyes. This was the light she had left on for him. Leopoldo looked up and saw the small studio on the second floor, which was illuminated. Shoes scuffed the smooth floor, emitting a faint sound that appeared in the quiet darkness of the night, giving people an uneasy feeling. His footsteps stopped and his eyes lowered to look at the dim light cascading through the door. The next moment, the image of those two peopleughing and joking, walking side by side, seemed to Frowning furiously, before Leopoldo regained consciousness, he had already turned the doorknob and opened the door. When Mariana, who was working hard on herputer, heard the sound, she looked up and saw Leopoldo, who was standing in the doorway, with a sullen and slightly angry face. The mouse in her hand fell out of her hand and hit the desk, the sound of the impact shook Mariana''s heart. -What''s wrong? The words were guarded, as if he were talking to an important stranger. That tone made Leopoldo even angrier, and he stepped forward to enter the room, then mmed the door shut. Mariana stood up confused, looking at Leopoldo, who was extremely different from his usual manner, and a slight panic shone in her eyes. -It seems that what I told you before, you didn''t take it seriously. The indifferent words struck hard at Mariana''s heart, causing her to tremble. Frowning doubtfully, Mariana approached him, who was standing by the door, raised her head and said: -What did you say? Their eyes met, but in the end it was Mariana who lost the battle. -It''s veryte, if there''s anything we''d better talk about tomorrow. You''re tired from working all day, I''d better... get an early rest. -What? Are you afraid of me? The words were cold, with a strong sense of mockery. Chapter 51: Strangers Chapter 51: Strangers Chapter 51: Strangers The man in front of her was abnormal. Mariana was concerned, she approached him and reached out her hand to touch the man''s forehead and feel the temperature. "He doesn''t have a fever." Then she sniffed him. "There is also no smell of alcohol." "So, what happened to him?" -Mr. Dur¨¢n, it''ste and I still have work to do. If you have nothing to do... The words were not finished. When Mariana reacted, the man had already pressed her against the door. The pain in her back made Mariana realize what was happening. -Se?or Dur¨¢n? Why are you calling me Se?or Dur¨¢n now? You don''t call me that in bed. His words were full of contempt and mockery. Mariana''s heart trembled slightly. She didn''t know what Leopoldo wanted to do at this hour, -Although we have married by contract, we have done what a married couple should do. So, Mr. Dur¨¢n, what do you want? N?velDrama.Org content. However, the man in front of him frowned, and his words were full of mockery and at the same time extremely childish. Leopoldo cared deeply about this deal. But she had always called Leopoldo that before, except at the family banquet, she called him Leo, the rest of the time she always called him Se?or Dur¨¢n. Mariana stiffened her body, standing up with difficulty between the man''s strong arms, she could feel the man''s breath. The breath exhaled by the man made her face turn red and so she was very attractive now. Being so close to the man, Mariana''s heartbeat quickened, and the strong pounding of her heart made Mariana feel as if she were naked in front of Leopoldo at that moment. The thought made Mariana slightly embarrassed. In the next instant, Mariana''s warm cheek felt a soft touch. The man suddenly came closer and closed his eyes. At this moment, the man was no longer as cold as before, and one could not help but want to be close to him. As if to punish her for her infidelity, Leopoldo bit Mariana lightly. Mariana''s jaw dropped and her heart pounded. She pushed away Leopoldo who was pressing on her with a fierce push. Then she raised her hand to cover her face and looked at Leopoldo in disbelief. The man staggered slightly at Mariana''s thrust and took half a step back. Then he stared at her. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, what are you doing? The man slightly raised his thumb and wiped his lips so hard it was as if he wanted to erase the contact with her. Mariana''s face paled instantly, until it looked slightly transparent in the dim light. She lowered her hands, her pink face with the teeth marks more attractive. Leopoldo looked at her with aversion, she noticed it, but she could do nothing that left that aversion stabbed into her heart like a dagger. -Nothing special. His words were full of mockery, like the axe pressing down on a condemned prisoner. She could not help crying, she felt sad. Mariana didn''t know, what had she done to offend him, why did he treat her like that? -Even though we are contractually married, we are married now. I don''t want to betray you. Hearing these words, Mariana furrowed her eyebrows. This time, she did not choose to withdraw or hold back as before. She said with a cold expression, -I don''t know why you are saying this, but since I have signed the agreement, I will abide by it, and if I vite the provisions of the agreement, you can make me pay for the breach of contract. The cold words severed all rtions between the two in an instant, leaving only an agreement between them. Leopoldo said cruel words: -Pay for breach of contract? That''s why money is what matters most to you. Finally, the man gave Mariana a cold look and left. Only when the footsteps disappearedpletely did Mariana put her arms around herself and squatted on the floor. Suddenly she burst into tears. That night, Mariana stayed up all night, sitting in front of her desk, drawing all night. Whether it was the inspiration from the antique costume design exhibit or something else, her drawings came out beautifully. At dawn, light shone through the window, falling on Mariana''s body. Her cheeks were white and her lips were dry. After a huge emotional upheaval and the rapid functioning of her brain all night, she now only felt dizzy. After a brief pause, Mariana opened her eyes, and now the blood in her eyes had greatly faded. She put theputer in the backpack, Mariana opened the door, washed briefly, changed her clothes. She was about to leave when, unexpectedly, she ran into Leopoldo again. She lowered her head and kept quiet, as if she did not see the person walking towards her. As she stood there, the man passed by her without looking away. The slight breeze blowing in Mariana''s hair made her itch slightly, causing a slight tremor in her heart. It looked like he didn''t see her at all. The two were like strangers. Chapter 52: Like A Dream Chapter 52: Like A Dream Chapter 52: Like a Dream Mariana''s heart was flooded with various emotions, she didn''t know exactly what she was thinking. The rtionship between them seemed to have gone back to the way it was at the beginning, or worse than it was at the beginning. Shaking her head vigorously, wanting to push these thoughts out of her mind, Mariana adjusted her backpack on her back and walked out onto the set. During this period of time, due to rumors on the Inte, she did not return to the set and entrusted all the work to Ana. When she came here again, Mariana felt as if she was dreaming, everything was unreal. -Look, he has caused so much trouble to thepany, and he has the face toe back. What a scoundrel! -She has backing, although she caused great losses to the set, they did not fire her. They are still waiting for her to return. -Yes, we have to take her as a queen, we dare not offend her. Although she heard thesements, Mariana did not stop. The loud discussion quickly brought her back to reality, the sense of unreality she had just felt quickly disappearing. Soon, Mariana arrived at the director''s and producer''s room, knocked on the door and entered. With a smile on her face, she greeted the director and producer. Then she quickly opened herputer to show them the photos. This time, Mariana did not borate her design as a finished product. After all, everything was incognito. Besides,st time, she was the only one who knew about it, that''s why no one helped her. The producer crossed his legs nonchntly and cut his nails with nail clippers. He had a mocking gesture on his face and did not look at Mariana. The director next to him smiled when he saw this scene. After seeing the design, his eyes were full of admiration. Since the six suitsst time, he always felt that Mariana was really a talented and intelligent person. This time she proved her thought. Nodding his head repeatedly, the director could not help but apud. He looked at Mariana with appreciation, -The design this time fits the storyline even better than the previous one. The design uses exaggerated and bold rendering techniques that is appropriate for the dramatic conflict. The director''sments were elevated. Hearing this, the producer, who was sitting on the sofa, also straightened up slightly and looked at the design on theputer. Although he said nothing, by the disdain that had disappeared from his face and the expression that had be dignified, he could see that the producer was also pleased with Mariana''s design. Hearing the director''s words, Mariana felt relieved and happy, -Then I will send you the design, you just need to find a studio to develop the final product. The director frowned and looked at Mariana in confusion and asked her: -What do you mean? The trend on the Inte has gradually gone down, and now there are new designs, so we just have to look for the person of Diario de Mariana, we can minimize the loss. The words that were intended tofort Mariana made her feel moved. She did not expect that in the end, it would be the director who had lost so much that woulde back tofort her, the Holy Empress was important to the director. -This thing started for me, so I have to finish it. After a while, Mariana continued to say in a low voice: -The fault is mine, so now I am not qualified to be the head of the Empress Santa''s theatrical costume design team. The nail clippers fell to the floor and caused a sound, and the producer raised his head, looking at Mariana with some surprise. If Mariana quit her job at that time, all the me could naturally fall on her, and then the loss would be minimized. But for Mariana, the damage was enormous, and it would even affect her design career. That determination and courage were impressive. Stubbornly, Mariana stood up, looked seriously at the director and producer and bowed to them, -I am going to resign my position as head of the design team and look for the person behind Diario de Mariana as soon as possible so that I can make a rification as soon as possible. The bitterness in his heart made Mariana''s heart tremble slightly, and her voice also trembled slightly. -Thank you for taking care of me during this period of time. Mariana''s words were decent. The director and the producer, sitting on the sofa, looked at each other and were very surprised. They did not expect this result. The woman in front of them had a serious expression on her face, she was like a bird of unbridled freedom that was about to spread her wings and fly at the next moment. She was determined and resolute. As Mariana left the rest room, she was relieved. The guilt and anxiety that had gued her for so long had vanished into thin air. It was a decision she had made while designing all night. With light steps, he reached the door to the changing room, leaned against the door, looked at Ana who was busy at that moment, smiled and shouted at her: -Anita. When she heard the familiar voice, Ana turned quickly and saw Mariana. During this period of time, Ana had been busy with work on the set''s wardrobe crew, and had only consoled Mariana by phone, after which the two had not been in touch again. The two looked at each other as if they would not meet for a long time, this feeling was absurd but one N?velDrama.Org content rights. that made them want to cry. -Mari, you''re back atst. Ana took a big step forward and hugged Mariana tightly, her voice filled with obvious sobbing. Chapter 53: Encountered A Hazard Chapter 53: Encountered A Hazard Chapter 53: Encountered a hazard -It turns out that these jobs you do every day are soplicated that I can''t finish at all by myself, now that you''re finally back, how nice! Although Ana wasining, her tone was full of relief. Mariana looked at Ana andughed. Then she felt sad and lost, -Anita, I''m afraid I have to disappoint you this time, I have to find the person behind Diario de Mariana, that''s why I can''t help you at work. N?velDrama.Org content rights. She already resigned her position on the set and wanted to see Ana before she left. But she didn''t want Ana to know about it. Ana frowned and felt sad. But in the end, she gave Mariana a smile, -Go do your business, I''ll manage the wardrobe group for you. Ana''s words were full of confidence. As she left the set, Mariana was walking down the street. Although she had made a promise to the director and producer, she did not know how to find the person behind Diario de Mariana. That feeling was bad. Suddenly, Mariana stopped, looking at the neon lights shing in front of her, and a thought suddenly popped into her mind. On the home page of that ount, an address appeared, and although it was not exact and was located in the center of the city, in the image there was a colorful neon. Just like what was in front of her. It was a bar. Mariana''s eyes lit up, she already had an idea. He headed towards the bar, looking at the men and women standing in front of the door Mariana frowned feeling ufortable. The women were dressed very sexy and looked very seductive in the light. The men''s hands asionally touched the back of one of the women. It was a chaotic and noisy scene. This was Mariana''s first impression of this bar. Clenching her fists, Mariana took a deep breath and entered with the determination to die. Sitting at a corner table, Mariana ordered a cocktail. The pink liquid swirled gently in the tall ss. She looked one by one at the people who were present. Mariana was looking for the person behind Mariana''s Diary. Obviously, that ount had been updated with clothing designs before, and although those designs had not been published yet, that''s why Mariana was sure that the person was a designer like her. The designs were bold, the clothes were sexy, the fabrics were luxurious and impractical, even many exaggerated essories were used to attract attention. It should be a woman, who longed for freedom and money, who wanted to attract people''s intentions and be the center of the world. So there weren''t many people in the room who fit this profile. At that moment, a woman dancing in the middle of the dance floor attracted Mariana''s attention. Dressed in designer clothes. Her exposed cleavage was very tempting, her skirt was short and her snow-white thighs were exposed, attracting many intentions. With elegant posture and long hair, she was like a seductive mermaid in the dark night. Even the dress she wore was eye-catching, and the makeup on her face looked stunning under the light. Mariana fixed her gaze on the woman, quietly watching her as she danced in front of different men and flirted with them. She was like a queen of the midnight dance floor. Finally, the woman seemed to be tired and pushed the men around her aside and headed towards the bar. Mariana was about to approach, but did not expect to be stopped by a man. He was a robust man who had short hair and a lot of muscles. He had a lot of male hormones. -Miss, can you drink with me? The man raised the ss and handed it to Mariana with a smile on his face. Mariana did not expect to find this kind of thing. -Sorry, I still have things to do. After saying that, Mariana was about to walk away, but arge, strong hand grabbed her shoulder, making her unable to move. Mariana raised her head and realized that the woman had disappeared. She felt a little anxious and impatient. As he struggled, he searched for the woman. Suddenly, the man put his hand on Mariana''s waist and, with force, pulled her in front of him. The beard was the first thing that caught Mariana''s attention, then she looked at the man''s slightly rugged face, which made her feel ufortable. Frowning, Mariana began to struggle. She was already in the man''s arms. The man was tall and the woman was petite, they like a beauty and a monster. Mariana felt very scared and her heart was beating fast. Feeling the man''s breath close by, Mariana''s heart felt even more panicked. -What are you doing? Chapter 54: Find This Woman Chapter 54: Find This Woman Chapter 54: Find this woman Leopold''s mind was still thinking about the image he had just seen, and he felt fear in his heart. When he raised his head again, his eyes were already very cold and severe, he was calm, like the calm that precedes the storm, revealing signs that made people fear. People were surprised by this scene. The crowd in the bar surrounded Leopoldo and Mariana, whispering something. The bar, which had just been noisy, was already very quiet. The crowd waited with bated breath for what was about to happen, but no one dared to approach. Leopold looked at the Lionel behind him, then looked at the man andmanded cruelly: -Give him a lesson. Hearing thatmand, Lionel began to beat the man fiercely. Mariana was already out of Leopoldo''s arms and standing to the side. Staring at the man on the ground, Mariana was indifferent as Leopoldo at this moment. However, no one knew that at this moment Mariana was clenching her fists, causing pain. She averted her gaze and looked at Leopoldo, who was beside her. Mariana now hadplicated feelings, but she was grateful to Leopoldo. If it weren''t for him, he didn''t dare to think what would have happened next. When the two men stopped, the man on the ground was already in agony, lying on the ground moaning, his body covered with bruises. At that moment the bar owner arrived, but was stopped by Lionel, who gave him a business card. When he saw the name Leopoldo Dur¨¢n, his legs trembled slightly and he was about to say something when he was rudely interrupted by Lionel, -My boss is just here for a drink, please don''t make a scene. After saying this, he took a check out of his pocket and handed it to the bar owner. The boss looked at the numbers on the check, his eyes lit up and he couldn''t help but swallow as he N?velDrama.Org content. reached out and carefully took the check. -Do as you wish. After saying that, he left, not caring about what had just happened. Lionel approached Leopoldo and said in a respectful voice: -Sir, the matter is resolved, do you want to go back now? Right after saying this, Mariana said anxiously: -I''m looking for a woman wearing a short ck skirt, she had long ck curly hair. She is wearing a make-up, she is very important! He said as he tugged on Leopoldo''s sleeve. Leopoldo looked at his sleeve pulled by Mariana and hadplicated feelings. Finally, he looked at Lionel and ordered: -Find this woman. Without even asking Mariana the cause. Lionel bowed his head and answered yes, then had his inferiors block the door and lined up the women inside to meet the woman. Mariana remained silent next to Leopoldo, the stillness between the two made her feel a little ufortable. Biting the corner of her mouth, Mariana looked at Leopoldo and took the initiative to ask: -Why are you here? Leopoldo responded indifferently. -After a pause, he continued, "Did youe to look for the woman? His tone had a sense of oppression. Mariana nodded her head and responded with sincerity: -I was walking down the road and I looked at the neon lights here and they looked familiar, so I came here. Leopoldo looked at the men and women in the bar. His eyes were full of coldness. There were many bad people here. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, why are you here? Leopoldo looked at Mariana and said nothing. At that moment, Lionel approached and listened to Mariana''s question. He looked at Leopoldo and sighed lightly in his heart. He then turned to Mariana, with a smile on his face, and said: -Madam, Mr. Dur¨¢n asked me to investigate the person behind Diario de Mariana in private. I received the news today, but I did not expect to find you here. After a pause, he added: -It seems that Mr. and Mrs. think alike. Mariana did not expect it to be for this reason. She looked at Leopoldo, even in the atmosphere of darkness, one could appreciate the noble and cold aura. His heart was pounding as if he was expressing his affection. -I can do these things myself, after all, I am the culprit. She lowered her head, her snow-white, thin neck exposed. She felt depressed. Leopoldo noticed her sadness and his heart trembled slightly. After all, everything that had happened was because of her. It seemed that no one who was rted to her was going to be lucky. At that moment, he found it hard to smile. -Mrs. Ortiz, how can this be your business? Your business is Mr. Dur¨¢n''s business. A few days ago, Mr. Dur¨¢n even ordered me to prevent the disclosure on Facebook of this matter. Hearing this, Mariana looked at the man in front of her in surprise, feeling incredulous. -Didn''t he...? She didn''t finish saying the words. "Yes, Xavier also didn''t say that the business of withdrawing the hot search was done by him, did he?" Chapter 55: She DidnT Understand. Chapter 55: She Didn''T Understand. Chapter 55: She didn''t understand. He instinctively thought that Xavier, who was the protagonist of Holy Empress and was also his friend, had perhaps done something to minimize the impact after learning of this affair. Lionel was slightly stunned, but reacted quickly and looked at the Leopold who had no expression on his face, feeling strange in his heart. "Sir, you haven''t told her anything?" Noticing this, Lionel was quick to tell Mariana: -Lady, when that hot search came out on the first day, the Lord told me to take it back. After a pause, Lionel looked at Leopoldo and continued to say boldly: -Now it seems that the gentleman has not told you these things. After saying this, he turned around directly and walked quickly into the crowd. He could already do this, the rest would be up to the two of them. Themotion in Mariana''s heart could not be calmed for long. The man next to him stood here, as if he were to be a part of the darkness. "What does he look like?" When he was in front of and behind her, this man had two aspects. After a long time, Mariana asked with difficulty: -Why? The man looked at Mariana with indifference, he said nothing. -Why are you helping me? She did not understand. -There is no reason. The cold words, like the wind in the night, hit Mariana''s face, making her close her eyes. "Impossible." -But this matter is very important to me, it can be a small thing for you. Your help can make me not to lose my job. It was at this moment that Mariana understood the enormous difference between them. She was so insignificant, incapable of attracting anyone''s attention. Hearing these words from Mariana, Leopoldo''s expression changed slightly. Then he spoke: -We are married by agreement. This is what you deserve. Hearing these words, Mariana had aplicated feeling, her heart was as if it had received a strong blow. "Just because of the agreement?" Lionel looked at them with a serious face as he approached the two of them. Seeing the expressions of the two of them, Lionel felt surprised. "It can''t be like that, I just said what sir has done. So she should be very moved by now. But why did they have that expression?" Although puzzled, Lionel then informed them. -Sir, that woman has been found. Mariana looked at Lionel and asked eagerly: -Where is it? -Ma''am, please follow me. Saying this, he turned and walked around a corner. By that time, the men that Leopoldo had brought had already emptied the bar, and at that point, only they and the woman in the bar were left. At that moment, the woman was looking at the men next to her with slightly narrowed eyes and a drunken expression on her face. When she saw Leopoldo, she whistled and smiled coquettishly. This woman, who was leaning against the wall, got up unhurriedly and headed towards Leopoldo. -How handsome, I haven''t seen you before, new here? As he said this, he reached out to touch Leopoldo''s chest, but was stopped by Lionel as he was about to pull Leopoldo''s ck tie. -You''d better not move," Lionel threatened. But, to his surprise, instantly Mariana who had been standing beside her master stepped forward and Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. stood in front of the man. Leopoldo looked at Mariana in front of him, and his expression changed. She was not tall enough to block the unknown woman''s gaze. After a pause, Mariana stepped forward and looked at the woman, -You are the person behind Diario de Mariana, yes? When the woman heard the words, the smile on her face immediately disappeared, her eyes were filled with panic. -Who are you? -he said in a trembling, frightened voice. -Who am I? I am the real Mariana. Marianaughed and looked at the woman coldly, her eyes full of anger. As if hearing something startling, the woman shook her head in panic, shaking her hands repeatedly in denial, -I don''t know anything about Mariana''s diary, you''re probably wrong, I have something to do, I''m leaving. After saying that, he was about to leave, but was stopped by Leopoldo''s inferiors. He struggled violently to escape, but ultimately failed. He screamed in panic and fear and slid to the ground. -How did you find me? -This ount is not mine now, I sold it to someone else at a high price. I don''t know what happened next, it''s useless to find me. Hearing this, Mariana felt a little dejected. In fact, she had already thought about this possibility, now she had to ept it. Now, she could only give up. Chapter 56: Tops The List Of Popular Searches. Chapter 56: Tops The List Of Popr Searches. Chapter 56: Tops the list of popr searches. She lowered her head, Mariana was sad. Leopoldo looked at Mariana, then ordered Lionel: -Find a hacker to hack that ount and send a rification. -Yes. Hearing these words, Mariana looked at the man behind her, who was also looking at her. They looked at each other, but said nothing. Mariana opened her mouth slightly, wanting to say something, but at that moment the man had already turned around and left. The man was about to leave, but he didn''t hear the woman following him, so he turned and asked: -You''re not leaving yet? Mariana''s eyes suddenly lit up and she ran happily to Leopoldo''s side. They left the bar. The cold night breeze made Mariana shiver. The next moment, Leopoldo put his cigar-scented jacket over Mariana''s body, wrapping it tightly around her. Mariana''s heart trembled and her face suddenly turned red. The two walked together in the silent night. -Although it was because of the agreement that you helped me, I got the benefit in the end, so thank you. Mariana''s voice was slightly hoarse. When it reached Leopoldo''s ears, his heart trembled. -But next time, if it''s still about the agreement, you won''t have to help me. After a pause, he lightly bit the corner of his lips and she continued: -I can mind my own business. If it was about the deal, I didn''t want his help. The man next to her kept walking and did not respond to Mariana, which made her feel a little ufortable. She knew that what she said was annoying, as if she was a person who didn''t know how to be grateful. But he really didn''t like this kind of help, it made him feel that she was inferior and had a gap between them. And yet, he could not say what he really thought. In silence, they walked to the car and got in. They did not speak the whole way. Mariana stepped onto the wooden floor and caused a noise. After ncing at the man in the living room, Mariana turned around and went upstairs. It seemed that they were always silent. Just as she climbed a step, Leopoldo''s cold voice appeared behind her, -I remember what you told me. After being frozen for a while, Mariana nodded her head softly and went upstairs. In the middle of the night, Mariana could not sleep and opened her eyes. Seeing the darkness, she felt annoyed. She had been tossing and turning in bed for a long time. She was thinking about Leopoldo''s actions and words. She stood up immediately and grabbed her hair in anguish. He didn''t know what was wrong with him. Many thoughts ran through his mind, but he dared not dwell on them. At that moment, she felt hungry. Mariana realized that she had not eaten since she and Xavier had separated, that is, she had not eaten for twelve hours. Attributing her irritation to hunger, Mariana put on her slippers and went to the kitchen. There were plenty of ingredients in the fridge and, after searching for quite a while, she found a bag of noodles and a few eggs. After cooking, Mariana took a bowl of noodles to the dining table and had just pulled out a chair to sit on when she heard footsteps. Mariana looked up and saw Leopoldoing down the stairs. He was wearing a gray suit and one of his hands was in his pocket. He walked over to the fridge, opened it and took out a bottle of water, then looked at her. For a moment, Mariana felt a little embarrassed, holding the bowl of noodles in her hand, she lowered her head and said: -I was hungry. After a while, he raised his head and looked at Leopoldo, who was still standing in front of the refrigerator after drinking water, and asked him politely: -Do you want something? -Yes. Mariana was very surprised, she looked at Leopoldo dumbfounded. She just wanted to relieve the embarrassment and did not expect him to ept. After a pause, Mariana got up and headed for the kitchen: -Then wait a while, I''ll prepare it, it will be ready soon. A few minutester, he brought Leopoldo a bowl of noodles that provoked an appetite. There was a fried egg in the noodles and some green vegetables, which looked delicious. Leopoldo remembered the noodles he had with Marianast time, which were simr to this. He began to eat and was very peaceful at this point. The food was tasty. Leopoldo looked at Mariana, who was eating the noodles quickly, but without looking indecent. -Do you cook a lot? -Leopoldo asked. Mariana looked at Leopoldo and said yes. Then she lowered her head again, thought of something and added: -I only know how to cook a few simple meals, I haven''t cooked after I married you. Leopoldo asked no more questions, just lowered his head and ate the noodles. Mariana smiled, feeling relieved. The two finished eating in silence, then returned to their rooms. The next day, Empress Santa again topped the list of popr searches. This film, which had only recently started shooting, was already on the popr search list continuously, making a lot of people talk about it. She had such a great heat that many people in the circle were jealous. Mariana had just taken out her cell phone, then it rang, it was Ana''s call. Mariana smiled and picked up the phone. Before she could say anything, Ana''s excited voice came from the other end of the phone: Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. -Mariana, you know? Mariana''s Diary made a statement today that she is not Mariana. And she did such a thing just because she was jealous of you. Hearing Ana''s words, Mariana remembered Leopoldo''s words from the night before, and was moved. -Mari, how amazing that you found that person so quickly and resolved the issue. Marianaughed and spoke in a light tone: -You are exaggerating. -No, Mari, in my opinion, you are the best. You don''t know how beautiful that newly designed suit of yours is, and even the director praised it many times. Then Ana said dejectedly: -Since the problem has been solved, you should get back to work, shouldn''t you? I''m really not capable of being the head of the wardrobe team, Mari, stir it up as soon as possible. Chapter 57: It Really Was Her Chapter 57: It Really Was Her Chapter 57: It really was her Mariana gently shook her head, feeling a little helpless for a moment. -Anita, I didn''t want to tell you, but now I can''t hide it anymore, when I went to the setst time, the head of the wardrobe group resigned, so I can''te to help you. At that, Mariana felt even sadder and more helpless. -Mari... Before Ana could say anything, Mariana interrupted and continued: -I think you are capable of leading the wardrobe group. I trust you and look forward to seeing you in the After hanging up the phone, Mariana sat on the bed, looking at the sunlighting through the window, and a smile reappeared on her face. At that moment, the phone rang again. It was the director''s call, Mariana felt puzzled. After a pause, he finally answered. -Mariana, you havepleted the matter very well, now the negative news has also disappeared, the matter has been solved, so you''d better keeping to work on the set tomorrow. Mariana was surprised, while the director continued: -The new costume you designedst time was very good, you also treated the team''s work diligently before, and Anna also sought me out many times and told me that you were important to the costume team. The director''s words were full of emotion and some constion. They reached Mariana''s ears and moved her. -Director, what happenedst time... Mariana''s words were interrupted. -It has been resolved, we have to look forward, don''t we? Shocked, Mariana lowered her head and had someplicated feelings in her mind, -Thank you, director. Tomorrow I''m going to the set to work. There was excitement and joy in his words. It was like finding a way out of a desperate situation. He didn''t expect the director to hold her back, and the director was affirming her value by saying she was important to the wardrobe team. It felt great to be valued. The sunlight fell on Mariana''s body, warming her body and her heart. The next day, Mariana got up early, cleaned up briefly, put on her bag and went to the set. She felt a joy she had never felt before. On the way to the dressing room, she met many colleagues, Mariana greeted them with a friendly and cordial smile. They were all surprised. It seemed that after that ident, she had changed drastically from the inside out. -I heard that Mariana''s endorsement helped him withdraw the popr search, make the statement and even inform the director to keep his position. -Really? How do you know? Really, she has an endorsement that is very powerful? -Yes, otherwise I could no longer be the head of the wardrobe team. People were arguing, and their words were full of usatory intent. "Has someone reported to the director, so I can continue to work here?" With her eyebrows furrowed, Mariana was thinking about these words that broke the tranquility in her heart. "Is it him?" There was some conjecture in his mind. But Mariana''s expression did not change. He was about to look for the director, but someone stopped him. He looked up and saw Andrea. He felt helpless, he didn''t expect to run into her right after returning to the set. Still, he looked at Andrea with a smile on his face and asked in a soft voice: -Miss Solis, what do you want? -I don''t expect you to have so much means. After this affair, you can still be the head of the wardrobe team, how amazing! Andreaughed sarcastically and red at Mariana.N?velDrama.Org content. -If you say you don''t have a backing behind you, no one will believe you. How powerful your backing! Andrea''s mockery was relentless. Mariana narrowed her eyes slightly and became quiet, -I don''t know what you''re talking about, I have to go find the director, so I''m leaving. After saying that, she prepared to leave, but was prevented once again by Andrea. -Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Am I no longer worthy to talk to you? You''re begging for it. Andrea said angrily. She stared at Mariana, the smile on her face was terrifying. But Mariana continued to remain silent in front of her. Such a calm and even indifferent attitude made Andrea even more enraged. -If people didn''t know, they would have thought I would have a sexual rtionship with the director. Andrea stepped forward and spoke close to Mariana''s ear. These words made Mariana feel a little ufortable. Mariana''s eyes looked coldly at Andrea''s lips. The lips were blood red and Andrea was like a poisonous snake. Chapter 58: After The Danger Chapter 58: After The Danger Chapter 58: After the danger -Why do you treat me like this? Just because you don''t like me? Looking doubtfully at Andrea, Mariana asked with a stoic face. -Mariana, don''t pretend, you know exactly why, you know it in your heart! Some people are not for you to touch, if you touch them, I will destroy your whole being! His words were full of resentment. Mariana looked into Andrea''s eyes that were full of feelings, as if she wanted to kill her right now. At that moment, a cheerful voice sounded behind her, -Mari, you''re back atst. I told you you woulde back. After saying this, Ana gave Mariana a hug with infinite warmth. At this moment, Ana saw Andrea and felt surprised and then asked in confusion: -Miss Solis, the director is looking for you, it seems he has some questions about the script to talk to you, aren''t you going? Ana said it with a serious expression and not as if she was telling a lie. Andrea''s assistant immediately stepped forward, pulled Andrea and said in a low voice: -Since the director is rushing us, we''d better leave quickly, you''ve forgotten that thepany.... Before the assistant could finish speaking, Andrea turned her head and gave her a look to get her assistant to shut up. Then she left. Looking at the backs of the two, Ana let out a sigh, -Luckily, there is still someone on the set that Andrea is afraid of. If not, how can we let him out. Mariana looked at Ana with a smile and said: -Thank you, Anita. Laughing, Ana looked around and pulling Mariana to one side, she said in her ear: -Mari, after I called you today, I went to find the director thinking I could convince him to let youe back. Hearing this, Mariana was moved. -But you can continue to work here because of Mr. Dur¨¢n''s help. Hearing these words, Mariana was surprised, but felt joy at the same time. She moved her lips, but could not say anything. "It''s really him." Even after she said something like that, he helped her in his own way again. Her heart felt warm, making her cheeks burn slightly. -Mari, what is your rtionship with Mr. Dur¨¢n? He even helped you. In addition, Ana remembered that thest time Mariana''s father came, it was also Leopoldo who appeared to resolve this matter. Leopoldo had helped Mariana many times. Ana said with a mischievous smile: -Do you have a love rtionship? Hearing this, Mariana came to her senses, waved her hands and hurriedly exined: -What are you thinking about? It''s not like that. The determination in his words made Ana feel a little lost, -I thought you had a love affair with Se?or Dur¨¢n. After all, who doesn''t like a man like Se?or Dur¨¢n? Suddenly, Ana was stunned, she reached out her hand and pulled Mariana in surprise. Mariana noticed the pain and could not help but frown, her eyes looked at Ana with confusion, -What''s wrong? Ana stammered: -Mr. Dur¨¢n! Mariana turned and saw Leopoldo, who was surrounded by the crowd. At this point, he had a cold face, which made the temperature around him drop a few degrees. Mariana averted her gaze, her heart trembling slightly. "You can''t have heard what I just said?" But she remained calm, suppressing the agitation in her heart. N?velDrama.Org content rights. A gust of wind blew past Mariana, stirring her hair and making her feel itchy. She didn''t know what to do at that moment. Leopoldo passed by her, leaving a cigarette smell in the air. Ana pushed Mariana back half a step. A group of people passed by the two women, turned the corner and disappeared. Mariana''s elerated heartbeat returned to calm. -Mari, it seems that Mr. Dur¨¢n doesn''t treat you any differently, so why did he ask the director to reserve your position? Ana''s question reached Mariana''s ears. Mariana raised her eyes, looked towards the corner and frowned. She was also puzzled. Since Leopoldo hade to the set, the director and producer were supposed to be with him at that moment, so Mariana and Ana went back to the dressing room. Just as she opened the door, a loud noise sounded: -Wee to Mariana. Everyone''s tone was cheerful, which made Mariana feel satisfied. Someone was waiting for her return, and that was enough. -It has been a hard time for everyone, from now on I will take my job more seriously, I will work with everyone so that we can finish our jobs and get back to thepany as soon as possible. In front of all the people, Mariana said with a firm expression. -Mariana, you''re back atst. -Yes, Mariana, you don''t know how much I''ve missed you! -Mariana, you don''t know how strict Ana has been with us during this period of time when you were not here. Off to the side, Ana heard this and stepped forward putting on jugs and said: -When Mariana returns, you startining, I''m going to teach you a lesson. With that, Ana stepped forward to grab the boy, and the two chased each other which drewughter from the crowd. Seeing this scene, a warm current flowed through Mariana''s heart, she smiled. The time on the set thus passed in joy. Chapter 59: Bottomless Hole Chapter 59: Bottomless Hole Chapter 59: Bottomless Hole Despite Andrea looking for trouble for Mariana from time to time and the rumors, Mariana lived a very satisfying life. However, there were still people who were not willing to leave her alone. One day, Mariana had just arrived on set and was about to turn on herputer to review the design drawings, but to her surprise, Ana came rushing through the door. She was panting as she spoke: -Mari, your father ising again. At these words, the mouse in Mariana''s hand fell to the ground. Ana''s gaze toward Mariana was full of sympathy, but she felt helpless. "Last time Leopoldo had sent Mariana''s father to jail, so he shouldn''t havee back for Mariana so soon." But Ana could not say such doubts, they were no longer important now. Mariana ran out and saw the man who scared her forever, she felt helpless and lost. -Why are you here? -asked Mariana coldly. This question made the man look at her, -Why can''t Ie? Stop talking nonsense and give me the money quickly. If you don''t want me to The man''s words were cruel and aggressive. It was as if what was in front of him was not his own daughter, but an emotionless ATM machine. -I told youst time, I don''t have any money.... Mariana felt helpless. Before she could finish, she was interrupted again. -Don''t you have any money? This film has made a lot of investments. You are the head of the wardrobe team, you say you have no money, I don''t trust you at all. With more and more people gathering around her, Mariana felt embarrassed and blushed. -Look, his father ising again, this time he''sing for the money too, isn''t he? -Mariana has caused great loss, and now her father still dares toe here, do they think this is their home or what? -I have never seen such a brazen family. The discussion of the others continued, while Mariana lowered her head to hide her emotions at that moment. "A family?" Mariana felt ironic and smiled, not raising her head. The man''s hand moved toward her again, -Hurry up. You think it''s okay to find someone to take me to the police station? But someone bailed me out! You''re such an ungrateful daughter to do this to your father! The man''s hand came forward again, the man said impatiently: -Hurry up. Mariana took out a ck leather wallet, before she could open it, it was snatched by the man in front of her, he took out the little money inside and the only bank card, then threw the wallet to the ground. -Just this? And you don''t want to give it to me? -Shame on you! Next time prepare more for me, otherwise you know the consequences. As he said, he looked at Mariana as if he were looking at an enemy. After saying this, he left. Mariana squatted down and picked up the wallet, wiping away the dust. The wallet was already empty, and her mind was nk. "Where am I going to find money?" At that moment, Ana, who had been standing behind her, stepped forward and took Mariana''s hand with some concern, speaking nervously: -Mari, what are you going to do? If hees back next time... He could not tell the consequences. The bad effects caused by Mariana''s father the next time were still notpletely gone. After so few days, he came again. And Mariana suddenly understood that someone had taken her father out of jail. It was as if there was a big invisible hand covering her, and as soon as she rxed a little, that big hand suddenly tightened. -Anita, if you know of a way to get money fast, remember to tell me. Hearing these words, Ana was quick to nod: -Yes. Mariana put her purse away, ignoring the stares of the people around her, and returned to the dressing room. Sitting in the chair, her mind was a mess. Her father was a bottomless hole, she could not fill it. She could escape for once, she could not escape forever. She stood up and rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache. At that moment, the door to the dressing room was suddenly opened from the outside, Mariana raised her head and looked at Ana. -Mari, you know, I found a job for you. I just found out about a high-paying design job. Hearing this, Mariana''s eyes lit up, she looked at Ana with some expectation. -There is a bar called Color Bar in the bar street, clothing shows are often held there, this time, the person in charge wants to change the style to attract more people and improve the performance of the bar, and the remuneration given is very high. N?velDrama.Org content. As she said this, Ana extended a hand. Mariana asked: -Five thousand? -No, it''s fifty thousand. Mariana was surprised. -He also said that if we do a good job this time, we can cooperate more in the future. Mariana wanted this job. It was no small amount. "If I get this job, I''ll have money for my father. I have to hold out until I finish the job on the set before I go to face my father." "I can''t give the set any more trouble." Mariana raised her head and felt happy. -Anita, thank you for being so attentive to my affairs. Ana waved her hand and hooked Mariana''s shoulder: -We are friends, you don''t tell me this. After work, Mariana said goodbye to her employees and headed straight to the Color Bar. Chapter 60: I Had No Other Choice Chapter 60: I Had No Other Choice Chapter 60: I had no other choice It was the second time she hade to a bar. Frowning, she still felt ufortable. Watching the men and womening and going, Mariana walked carefully and arrived inside the bar. When she looked up, she was stunned. This bar was different from others, there was a big U-shaped tform in the middle. They were holding a fashion show at this time, many women in sexy clothes were walking on the tform. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Mariana felt ufortable and her expression was unnatural, it seemed that she did not belong here. After staying in the same ce for a while watching the show, Mariana already knew what the bar needed. Mariana made a decision. She felt she could change them. He headed inside, Mariana ordered a less than intoxicating cocktail, and then began to ask questions: -I hear you''re looking for designers, right? The waiter looked her up and down for a few moments and nodded, -Please follow me. That said, he walked to a corner. As she approached, Mariana noticed a man sitting on the couch, wearing a suit and with long hair that was shining under the colored lights. She had deep eyes and red lips, she was like a vampire in the night. Mariana stopped and felt afraid. But at that moment, the horrible face of her father, who was extending his hand towards her, came to her mind. In an instant, Mariana made up her mind. She was in front of the man. After making a brief introduction, the waiter left, leaving Mariana and the man alone in this corner. -You''ve seen the show, haven''t you? What do you think? The words came out of the man''s mouth and reached Mariana''s ears, which made her frown softly. Obviously, from the moment she entered this bar, she was already being spied on, and that feeling was bad. Mariana made an effort to suppress the difort and irritation in her heart and looked at the man. At this point, he wouldn''t even let her sit down. -From the expressions of the spectators, it can be deduced that this show is not very sessful, although the models are sexy, they cannot attract the public''s attention -said Mariana bluntly. The man was stunned and straightened up, then looked at Mariana, -Please sit down. Mariana sat a little away from the man. Seeing Mariana''s careful and cautious behavior, as if he was a monster, the manughed mockingly and said nothing. He appreciated this unassuming woman as she entered the bar. After all, a woman who came here dressed like this was either trying to be a model or she hade to drink, but she hade to the wrong ce. He didn''t care why she came here, he thought she was not the type of person he was looking for. However, what this woman had said changed the man''s impression of her. But that was all. -Designer? The man shook the ss in his hand, the wine still swaying, as did Mariana, who was sitting uneasily at that moment. -Yes, I hear you are recruiting designers. She looked at the man steadily, ignoring the noises around her. The man ced the cup in his hand on the small table in front of him. With his hands folded and resting -You can call me Carlos, I''m in charge of this show, and as you just noticed, the show is no longer attracting people, the bar''s customers are decreasing day by day. -And what you have to do is to change the style of this show so that it will attract the public again, and thus improve the profit of this bar. Mariana understood the importance of this show for the bar. One could say that the particrity of this bar depended on this show that was to attract customers with beauty. -If you can trust me with theplete design of the models'' clothes, I can try. She had always designed high-end dresses or theater costumes, but this was the first time she had encountered such a costume design. But she had no choice, she had to do this. After hearing these words, Carlos said with a mocking smile: -It is natural. After a while, he continued: -But this bar is different from the others. Here, the models have the right to choose their own clothes, and it''s not me who decides this, it''s them. The man pointed his finger in one direction. Mariana saw the models who were surrounded by men. "Are they the models?" -Are you confident or not? After a moment of silence, Mariana thought hard in her head. Then she looked at the man and said: -I want to try. You might be able to change them instead of changing clothes, right? -Okay. Eric stood up, his tall body was oppressive, he smiled and said to Mariana: -Follow me. Arriving in the dressing room, the man called a waiter and ordered him: -Let the models in so the designer can take a look at them. The words were flippant, and the attitude was like picking out meat in a supermarket. And Mariana frowned. Soon some women dressed in tempting clothes came in, they had expressions of discontent on their faces. -Carlos, after the show, we are free, there are still customers waiting for us. -Yes, Carlos, why are you calling us here? The bar doesn''t have many customers anymore and I''m not going to let anyone escape. -I''m about to go out with a man, Carlos, what do you want? Chapter 61: I Think You DonT Know What You Are Saying Chapter 61: I Think You Don''T Know What You Are Saying Chapter 61: I think you don''t know what you are saying Theints rang in Mariana''s ears, making her frown more, she felt confused and ufortable. Carlos looked at Mariana''s expression and smiled. Then he looked at the models, -This is the new designer, she will take your measurements, you are worried about the customers of the bar, I am too. However, nothing of concern could be seen on his face. The models looked at Mariana and she let them watch, then said: -Since time is precious, let''s hurry to take measurements. After saying this, she took out the soft ruler she carried with her from her bag. When it was all over, Mariana put the notebook and ruler in her purse, and sighed with relief. Arge white hand with long fingers suddenly stretched out in front of her, and when Mariana raised her eyes, she looked at Carlos. -So, Designer Ortiz, may we have a happy cooperation! Mariana stretched out her hand and responded with a smile: -I think the same. However, Carlos did not let go of her hand, he pulled her hand tightly and Mariana threw herself on the man''s broad chest. The two were so close that it could cause misunderstanding to others. Angry, Mariana asked in a cold voice: -Carlos, what are you doing? Let go of me! The manughed derisively and looked at the woman in his arms, as if he was going to eat her in the next moment. -We have a rule. If you want to work here, naturally, you have to obey it. She frowned and rested her hands on his chest. -You can say it directly, but why do these things? As he said that, he was trying very hard. Suddenly, the man let go of her hand and Mariana could not help but fall backwards, taking several steps backwards before she could stabilize herself. At that moment, Mariana''s heart was pounding. -What is the rule? -Mariana just wanted to get out of here quickly, so she asked directly. -Don''t be in a hurry,e with me. Frowning, Mariana looked at Carlos, who was smiling, and felt ufortable, but finally gritted her teeth and followed him. The two returned to the couch where they were sitting earlier. Carlos apuded, then someone approached and respectfully handed him a ss. Carlos raised the ss and poured the red wine. The man brought the cup close to Mariana''s face, the red liquid was so full that it was about to overflow. -After this ss of wine, we will be partners. The man leaned back gently on the sofa, looking at Mariana and waiting. She didn''t know much about drinking. After drinking thisyer of wine, she wouldn''t know how to go home. Y... Mariana raised her head and looked at the men and women in the bar, she was afraid. She was in the middle of such a chaotic and unpleasant bar. Her hands unconsciously sped together, rubbing lightly, revealing the tension and anxiety in her heart. But she thought of the problems she had recently brought to the set and of her father, who hade to ask her for money, Mariana closed her eyes slightly, and when she opened them again, her eyes were full of determination. He reached out to lift the ss of red wine in front of him, his fingertips were slightly white from the force he had exerted, and even the blood vessels on the back of his hand were visible. After looking at the man in front of her, Mariana gulped down the red wine. Some of the red liquid ran down the corner of her mouth, across her slender neck. After drinking, Mariana ced the ss on the table. Looking at Carlos with indifference, she asked: -And now? His voice became hoarse from the wine he had drunk. Carlos sat upright and pped his hands. At that moment, Mariana only felt her vision blurred. -You''re a good drinker. The man stood up and walked towards Mariana. The obvious sinking into the couch made Mariana''s body stiffen slightly. She shook her head dizzily, forcing herself to stay awake, but she was more dizzy. And even everything in front of her began to shake. In the next instant, the man reached out and took her in his arms. -What are you doing? Let go of me! Mariana struggled, but such a violent movement made her head even more dizzy. -Miss Ortiz, as I exined to you a moment ago, this ce has its rules, doesn''t it? And now, I am telling you what it is. Carlos tightly confined the woman in his arms, with a smile on his face, bent down and slowly approached Mariana. He liked this cat and mouse game. The next moment, the man''s body was thrown by someone and fell uncontrobly to one side, while N?velDrama.Org content. the woman in his arms had fallen back into the arms of another person. Looking at the blushing woman in his arms, Leopold felt very angry. -Who are you? -Carlos stood up and looked at Leopoldo with an annoyed expression. -A man you dare not offend," said Leopoldo calmly, like a moment of peace before the storm. -With which hand did you touch it? Embracing the woman, Leopoldo unloaded on the man in front of him all the anger he could not unload on her. Surprised by the ferocity of the man''s eyes, Carlos froze for a moment and then said: -So what? What do you dare to do? -I don''t think you know what you''re saying. The cold words fell on Carlos'' ears. Chapter 62: The White Light Of The Moon Chapter 62: The White Light Of The Moon Chapter 62: The White Light of the Moon Leopoldo ced Mariana gently on the sofa. Looking at her sleeping, his anger faded a little. He stood up, took a big step forward and kicked Carlos violently, then directly broke both of his arms, Carlos was left on the ground, his body twisted and looking a bit strange. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. He was screaming. At that moment, the bar, which had been noisy, quieted instantly. The crowd nced around the corner. The bartender at the bar approached and tried to stop Leopoldo, but when he came into contact with his eyes, he withdrew his hand in fright and walked back to the bar. Bending down to pick up the woman from the sofa, Leopoldo left the bar. Arriving at his car, he threw Mariana into the back seat. The violent movement made Mariana frown slightly and give a moan. This moan was extremely seductive to Leopoldo and stung his heart. -How imprudent! Leopoldo drove the car and soon they arrived home. Leopoldo ced Mariana gently on the bed and was about to leave when his neck was embraced by Mariana, he couldn''t help but fall towards the bed and finally pressed himself against Mariana''s body. The woman beneath him was still fidgeting, pressed down by the heavy, writhing body. Leopoldo looked at the woman beneath him, something changed in his body. He lowered his head, kissed the woman, ready to make the woman beneath him unable to hold on any longer as he did. The hands around her neck tightened. Leopold felt the woman begin to respond to his kiss that made her body warm. Leopold''s movements became jerky instantly, kissing the woman''s lips and body forcefully. The night was long and the white moonlight shone on the man and woman together in bed. The next day, Mariana reached out her hand to cover her eyes, blocking the light from the outside, Mariana stirred slightly and was suddenly taken aback. Her body felt as if it had been pressed, her back ached, especially her legs ached even more. This feeling was not unknown to Mariana. The drowsiness dissipated immediately, Mariana woke up and saw bruises on her body, it was obvious that something happenedst night. Looking around, she saw that she was in the man''s room, and Mariana felt a little relieved. But the next moment, she felt nervous again. "Did I have sexual intercourse with Leopoldost night?" She couldn''t help scratching her hair with both hands, her mind was a mess. "Last night, I was at the Color Bar to talk about a coboration, I got drunk, and afterwards, I was hugged by Carlos, then Leopoldo came..." Mariana did not know what happened next. Sitting on the bed with her nket, Mariana''s expression was unnatural. He suddenly thought of the cooperation he had negotiated yesterday at the Color Bar, but he didn''t get it. At this point, Mariana felt so helpless that she could not breathe. She had not found a job, and she even found herself in danger. Mariana furrowed her eyebrows. Upon arriving at the set, after greeting her colleagues, Mariana began to draw. In the office of the president of Grupo Dur¨¢n. -Mr. Dur¨¢n. Lionel stood respectfully in front of Leopoldo and could not help but nce silently at Leopoldo out of curiosity. After telling Leopoldo the information he had obtained yesterday, Leopoldo left alone. At that moment, Leopoldo''s deep, cold face gave Lionel a chill, sensing that something bad was going to happen. -Investigate the Color Bar and why Mariana''s father left the prison so quickly, I need an exnation. Hearing these cold words from Leopold, Lionel''s heart trembled. "I''m wanted so early by the boss, definitely, something bad has happened." Lionel answered yes. In fact, he also wanted to know who made Mariana''s father paroled and the purpose of this person. -Besides... Lionel who was about to leave turned quickly again and stood in front of the chief, calmly awaiting further instructions. -Nothing else,e out. In the end, however, Leopoldo said nothing. Lionel blinked and felt confused, but still responded with a voucher and left. After the room fell silent, the man sitting in the chair threw the pen in his hand on the table, got up and walked to the window. Leaning over, he looked down at the traffic below, and everything became very small. Yesterday''s touch still seemed to linger in his fingertips. He was aware... But in the end, everything still happened. Leopoldo lit a cigarette and the smoke clouded his expression. On this day, Mariana left the set, but she did not expect to be stopped by a woman. She discovered that she was the owner of Mariana''s Diary ount. However, at that point he found out that she had already sold her ount, and what happened next had nothing to do with her, so he let her go. But I never thought I would find her here again. Frowning, Mariana nced at the sharply dressed woman, who had long ck hair flowing down her back. -Help me, help me. With that, the woman knelt down in front of her, Mariana was surprised. -What are you doing? Get up and talk. But the woman on the ground did not want to get up: -I will get up if you grant my request. Mariana was stunned, but finally nodded: -If I can do it, I will grant it. Looking at the colleaguesing and going around her, Mariana pointed to a coffee shop not far away and proposed: -Let''s go over there and talk. -Okay," the woman readily agreed. After ordering two cups of coffee, Mariana looked seriously at the person in front of her and, after the introduction a moment ago, she knew that this woman''s name was Amelia Fernandez. An inappropriate name for her. -You don''t think this name suits me either, do you? I think so too, but this is the only thing my parents have left me. The voice was mute. After hearing these words, Mariana''s eyes were full of sympathy. Chapter 63: Dismissal Chapter 63: Dismissal Chapter 63: Dismissal -You don''t have to look at me like that. There was a look of bitterness on his face, but his head was still erect, like a proud peacock. -Why did youe looking for me? If it''s something I can do, I''ll definitely help you. Mariana looked at the woman in front of her and spoke. -The man who came to the bar with you that day, is he Leopoldo, the president of Grupo Dur¨¢n? Amelia''s words made Mariana frown. -What''s wrong? Amelia gave a bitter smile, lowered her head. Her hands gently rubbed the coffee cup in front of her, -You know I was originally a designer, the reason my Facebook ount was bought at a high price was because I had updated a lot of design information. I know that''s all they cared about, this ount has a lot of design stuff. Mariana avoided Amelia''s gaze, her self-deprecation and self-deprecation made Mariana sympathize with her. Not all designers could seed, there were more people like them who were still on the road and constantly struggling. Sometimes, a design career ispletely ruined by a small setback. This is normal in this industry. -I''m sorry, but I need the money, I didn''t know that those people had bought my ount to do such a thing, I only understood it after seeing the popr search. Amelia looked at Mariana, her eyes had the desire to be forgiven. -You can tell Mr. Dur¨¢n to forgive me. Now I just make a living at the bar. Ameliaughed, but her face was calm and unperturbed. Mariana frowned, looked at Amelia in disbelief. -What? -Mariana''s voice trembled. -You probably still don''t know that it was Mr. Dur¨¢n who made my boss fire me, and now I have no money, no ce to live and no job, I have no choice but toe looking for you. Mariana was surprised. This situation was something she had not expected, -Are you sure all this was done by Se?or Dur¨¢n? He didn''t make trouble for you that day. The smile on Amelia''s face was bright, like a fire that wanted to do everything it could to show itsst light before paying off. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. This was the deepest feeling Amelia gave Mariana at this moment. It was as if an invisible palm was squeezing her throat and making it difficult for her to even breathe. Mariana''splexion was bad. With trembling hands, Mariana gently lifted the cup of coffee in front of her, took a sip. When she raised her head again, she had regained her usual calm andposure, and looked at Amelia, -Is everything you said real? After thest incident, Mariana already knew Leopoldo''s way of handling things. If he wanted to destroy someone, he definitely did not take anyone''s thoughts into ount, even if it was her. He could have ordered these things in front of her, but he didn''t.... Amelia lowered her head to hide herplicated feeling. After a while, she raised her head and looked at Mariana, -What are you saying? Do you think I''m lying to you? -the tone was slightly elevated. -It''s possible he was bribed by someone. After all, you have done those things. Mariana looked at Amelia with indifference. In fact, she wasn''t sure, she was just feeling Amelia out. It was possible that she wanted to cause misunderstanding between her and Leopoldo and that the person behind it was Andrea. Amelia got up and bumped into the table. Coffee sloshed across the table. -I shouldn''t havee to beg you, I didn''t expect such an oue. I thought you were different when I saw you that day, but it''s true that upper-ss people like you don''t understand the misery of lower- ss people. After saying that, Amelia picked up the bag and left in a huff. Mariana was thinking in the same ce. The white tablecloth was stained by coffee. "But if Leopoldo really did it?" With a great agitation in her heart, Mariana got up, took out her cell phone, found Leopoldo''s number, but did not call him. "What am I going to say?" Yesterday she had been saved by him, but today she was going to question him like that, and evenst time he had appeared in time to save her, hadn''t he? Each time, it was Leopoldo who saved her. After leaving the cafeteria, Mariana returned to the set somewhat frustrated. She spent the afternoon confused and went home immediately after work. As he entered, he saw Leopoldo sitting on the living room couch, legszily crossed, sipping his coffee and staring at theptop in front of him. -The food is ready, Mr. Dur¨¢n returned a while ago and is waiting for me toe back for dinner. Ma''am, go upstairs and change your clothes, I''m going to serve the dishes. Mariana smiled and nodded her head. She went upstairs to change clothes and when she came down, Leopoldo was already sitting at the dining room table. She was wearing home clothes and he looked much softer, but his cold expression still made people still afraid. At this moment, Mariana remembered Amelia''s words. Chapter 64: Quitting The Job Chapter 64: Quitting The Job Chapter 64: Quitting the job Shaking her head, Mariana''s expression returned to normal as she made her way to the dining room table and sat down. -Last night... His words were interrupted by Leopoldo before he could finish. -I will do as stipted in the prenuptial agreement. In Leopoldo''s eyes, something strange could be seen, but it disappeared the next second, -If you have any other request, and I will satisfy you. The cold words stuck in Mariana''s heart like a knife. Mariana felt a little ufortable, but her expression did not change, -Okay. Her head was in chaos, Mariana unconsciously opened her mouth and the words she had been hiding in her heart came out. -After that day, did you ask the bar owner to fire Amelia? The owner of the Mariana''s Diary ount. Hearing these words, Leopold frowned and looked indifferently at the woman in front of him. He felt anger in his heart, but the others could not easily detect it. -Is that what you think? Mariana was stunned, not knowing what to say for a moment. She had been encouraged by Leopoldo''s words, that''s why she said this. However, seeing that Leopoldo did not deny it, Mariana felt sad. "Did he really?" -Did you really order the bar owner to fire Amelia? You know that everything that happened afterwards had nothing to do with her. After a pause, Mariana said these words without thinking: -And Andrea told me herself that she was the one who bought Amelia''s ount and asked someone to take those pictures, just so I would lose my job and get away from.... Mariana did not finish her sentence, the word choked making her feel very ufortable. That word she didn''t finish saying was "ti". She felt bitter and thought she herself was ridiculous. With what identity did she interrogate Leopoldo? His wife? Or a stranger who had had sex with him? -Whether he did or not, what are you going to do? -Leopoldo asked, expressionless. After saying these words with a difference, Leopoldo got up and went upstairs. "Andrea?" At this thought, Leopold''s gaze was fiercer. Mariana gaped dumbfounded sitting next to the table, Leopoldo''s tone and expression scared her, she was confused, "did he do it or not?" He picked up the cutlery and prepared to eat, but just as he put the food in his mouth he felt it was tasteless. Then she put down the cutlery and covered her face with her hands. Her slender body looked even smaller in the light, she was like a lonely ship on the aimless sea. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. *** Andrea had just hung up the phone and felt angry. She shook the ss, the burgundy liquid sloshing gently. Andrea raised her head and drank the red wine from the ss in one gulp. In the next second, there was a sudden noise in the room. She threw the ss down hard on the floor, and in an instant the floor was covered with shards of ss. I didn''t expect Mariana not to fall into the trap. At this moment, her phone rang, she tidied her hair to reveal a delicate face suppressing her anger. He walked over to the table, picked up his cell phone and saw that it was Leopoldo calling, his mood suddenly changed for the better and he hurried to pick up the phone with a smile on his face, -Leo, why are you calling me at such ate hour? Do you want to go out with me? -Andrea''s voice was full of joy. -You were the one who made thest suit incident leaked on Facebook. It was not a question, it was a statement of fact. Hearing Leopoldo''s words, the smile on Andrea''s face immediately disappeared and she felt angry. -Mariana told you this? Without waiting for Leopoldo to respond, Andrea continued: -Leo, you believe her and not me. Don''t you know what I''m like? Leopoldo let out a cold smile that gave Andrea a shiver, -I don''t care what grudges you have against her, you must be clear that this Holy Empress you are starring in is a project invested by the Dur¨¢n Group. At those words, Andrea was stunned for a moment, then smiled again. -Leo, if this is what you''re thinking, you should tell me first. Since you''ve asked, then I won''t tease you. And I promise to make the Empress Santa finish perfectly. After saying that, he added: -Leo, I hear there''s a good bar, shall we go there together? -No, I still have work to do," Leopoldo hung up the phone. Leopoldo got up and looked out the window, the lights outside were bright. But his eyes were filled with cold. The next day, when Mariana arrived on the set, she met Ana, who approached her and took her by the arm, talking to her enthusiastically: -Mari, how did the interview go? Did you get the job? Hearing this, Mariana frowned, with a slightly bitter expression. -No. Ana felt very surprised and confused, -How can you not? You''re such a good designer. It''s just a clothing show in a bar, did they even turn you down? His words were full of anger. Looking at Ana, who had such a lively expression, Mariana smiled as she gently caressed her hand and said: -It''s probably because my designs don''t match their aesthetics. However, Ana was still in disbelief: -I can believe it if it''s someone else.... -Anita, what do you say? The voice was low, Mariana did not hear his words clearly. Chapter 65: Why Have You Done This? Chapter 65: Why Have You Done This? Chapter 65: Why have you done this? N?velDrama.Org content rights. -Nothing. Yesterday someone told me a gossip, but it didn''t end. Last night, I couldn''t sleep all night thinking about this gossip. That''s why I have to look for it. After saying this, Mariana let go of Mariana''s arm and left. Looking at Ana''s back, Mariana shook her head helplessly. Suddenly remembering what happened yesterday, she felt bitter and frowned. Mariana was looking for another job on the Inte when the door to the dressing room was opened from the outside. -Mariana, Anita is fighting with someone else. Mariana stood up, asking with some concern: -What''s wrong? -Anita said that the person deliberately presented her with a bad job, and that''s why they fought. With a shudder in her heart, Mariana vaguely sensed something, and for a moment she felt worried and helpless. Quite a few people had already gathered around, all looking at the two who had been separated. Ana''s hair was in disarray and her clothes were puckered, and her hands were being pulled, but she kept trying to move forward and hit the woman. Naturally, the other woman was not much better, -I only said there was such a job, I didn''t force you to do it. Now you found danger and med it on me. I was kind enough to introduce you to the job, but you are so ungrateful. The woman who was fighting with Ana was also pushed aside, and yet she continued to scold Ana. -If you were nice, you wouldn''t have told me about this job from the beginning. I told myself it was a well-paying job. If I hadn''t listened to you, I wouldn''t be telling Mari about this job. You are so shameless. Why did you do this? Seeing that Ana was struggling strongly, Mariana rushed closer and said: -Anita. Hearing Mariana''s voice, Ana stopped, but in an instant, her original anger turned to guilt. She wanted to say something, but in the end she said nothing. -This one has nothing to do with you and I have not suffered any harm," staring at Ana, Mariana consoled her. -Mari, I''m sorry. I really didn''t know it was like that. Hearing Ana''s words, Mariana hugged her and gently patted her back to ease her agitation of the moment. Mariana''s heart ached for her and at the same time she felt moved, -It''s okay, it''s all right.... Suddenly, a mockery was heard that caused them difort. -The friendship between you is so deep. Something serious hasn''t happened, and you behave like this. Mariana patted Ana''s back again and then released her and took the handkerchief someone had handed her to help her wipe her tears. -Are you even fighting here? Are you making the set your home? Not only have you damaged public property, but you have also annoyed me. If I forget all the lines I just memorized, are you going to take responsibility? Saying that, Andrea was already in front of Mariana, she looked at Ana who was crying with red eyes, she gave a cold smile. Then she looked at Mariana. -Miss Solis, this matter is my fault, I will pay for the loss, if you can''t remember the words, it''s your fault. You may not have tried hard enough to rememberst night -Mariana mocked Andrea. All the people present were silent, they looked at each other and did not dare to move. Naturally, they did not dare to offend the protagonist Andrea, while Mariana also had a powerful backing, but they did not expect these two to face each other today. Hearing this, Andrea became furious and her body trembled slightly, -Mariana, I have only warned you to protect public property, and you talk to me like that? You are really just like your father. If not, why are you making a fuss on the set? Andrea said smugly, looking at Mariana as if she were looking at a little ant that could trample her at any moment. -Andrea, you... -When she saw that Andrea was talking about Mariana like that, Ana could not help but go forward to scold Andrea, but she was stopped by Mariana. Ana frowned and looked at Mariana''s pale face with some concern: -Mariana, she talks to you like this, you... -Anita, don''t say anything. Then, Mariana raised her head and looked at Andrea. -Miss Solis, I am sorry about my father, this will not happen again. When Mariana said this, she felt sad. -What if it happens again? What are you going to do? Are you still going to apologize and that''s it? Andrea looked at Mariana andughed disdainfully, but her eyes were full of fierceness. -If it happens again, I will resign from my position," Mariana looked directly at Andrea and said. She knew this was the answer Andrea wanted. If she didn''t give her a satisfactory answer today, she would definitely look for trouble from Ana. She didn''t want Ana to have any problems. -You are frank. If everyone has heard, this matter is settled. After saying these words, Andrea left with a smile. Chapter 66: With Fear Chapter 66: With Fear Chapter 66: With fear -Mari, I''m sorry, if it weren''t for me, you wouldn''t be making this decision. Ana reached out and tugged on Mariana''s sleeve, looking at her. Her heart was filled with guilt. At first she wanted to help Mariana, but she ruined everything in the end. This made her feel more and more guilty and sad. Hiding her various emotions, Mariana turned her head, gently caressed Ana''s hand and sighed. N?velDrama.Org content rights. Looking at her, she consoled him: -It''s not your fault, she''s always wanted to get me in trouble, thinking about how to kick me off the set. Don''t worry, I''m fine. However, after saying these words, Mariana felt uneasy. If her father had been bribed by Andrea, then it was only a matter of time before she lost this job. But these... Mariana looked at Ana, whose eyes were full of tears, and said no more. It was better that she did not find out about these things. Mariana lived the next few days in fear, but nothing happened. During this period of time, her father did not appear again, so she felt disconcerted but also relieved. That day, Mariana came to the set, left the bag in her hand, and then went to work. Suddenly the phone rang, Mariana was a little confused. Holding the scissors in one hand, the other hand went for the phone, but her eyes were still looking at the clothes on the table and thinking. However, her hand was identally cut by the scissors. Blood slowly seeped out, causing pain to her. She hurriedly grabbed the handkerchief and pressed it over the wound. Her cell phone was still dreaming, Mariana impatiently picked up the phone, -I am Mariana. Her eyes kept looking at her wound, the blood soaking into the tablecloth. -You are Mariana, yes? I''m Lina from Patio Feliz. I''m sorry to bother you. Zoraida is sick and there''s no one to take care of her. I didn''t have time either, so I found your phone number in her phone. The person spoke in an embarrassed voice, obviously not wanting to upset Mariana, but he had no choice. Mariana''s body trembled and the handkerchief covering the wound fell to the floor, the wound was still bleeding. Mariana was a little worried when she heard Lina''s words. He was holding the phone between his head and shoulder, and was caught by his injured hand as the phone was about to fall to the ground. As the action was too big, the wound continued to bleed. Mariana asked anxiously: -Are you in the Happy Courtyard now? I''ll be right back. -Yes, then I''ll wait for you here," Lina said in a cheerful voice. After gathering her things, Mariana did not have time to ask permission from the director, she hurried to take a cab to the Patio Feliz. Her heart was beating violently, her lips were white and trembling, now she felt panic and worry. He didn''t want anything to happen to the old woman who had given him so much warmth in his childhood. When she got out of the car, looked up and saw a rusty sign that read Happy Courtyard, Mariana felt a little sad, but also a little happy. Remembering, Mariana quickly ran to Zoraida''s house. She was about to knock on the door when it opened from the inside. The person who opened the door was a woman in her forties. She had some wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, was cleanly and inly dressed, and had a smile on her face. It was Lina, Zoraida''s neighbor who had just called her. Mariana smiled and extended her hand in a very friendly way and asked: -You''re Lina, aren''t you? I''m Mariana, is Zoraida inside now? Is she okay? Lina happily extended her hand to shake Mariana''s and nodded with a smile: -The girl has be a woman. He then went on to say sadly: -During this period of time, Zoraida''s state of health is unstable. She says she is fine and does not want to go to the doctor. Now she is seriously ill. As you know, Zoraida has no rtives and no money to go to the hospital, so she can only lie in bed. -A few days ago, I realized that I had not seen her out for a walk for a long time. That is why, I came here, but I did not expect that her illness aggravated. With a fierce tremor in her heart, Mariana entered Zoraida''s house with Lina. There was a thin old woman lying on the bed, her hair was white, some of it was even knotted, and it looked a bit dirty and disheveled. She was lying on the bed with her eyes closed, not realizing that someone hade in. Seeing this scene, Mariana''s heart trembled. Tears wet Mariana''s eyes, then flowed out of her eyes and down her cheeks, slowly. She approached Zoraida''s bedside and reached out her trembling hand to gently caress her face. She felt bitter. When she was a child, her parents beat her, she left home and walked alone. Eventually she came to this courtyard. This little girl looked at the word Happy and got angry. She picked up a rock, and threw it at the sign. As I vented my anger, a kind and gentle voice rang in my ears. -Girl, why are you doing this? Do you know that this sign can feel pain too? If you treat it like this, it will cry at night. The old woman gave a sigh, her tone was soft. Chapter 67: SheS Tired Chapter 67: She''S Tired Chapter 67: She''s Tired -Girl, you should know that it''s not good to cry, you have to cry because you feel wronged, do you want others to suffer as much as you do when you feel wronged? That''s not what a good girl should do. Little Mariana threw the stone on the ground, turned around and saw a kindly old woman. It was Zoraida. Later, I always used to run here after being wronged. Here, Zoraidaforted her and gave her candy; there were other neighbors who gave her food so she wouldn''t go hungry; there were other people who gave her extra toys from their children; there were even people who brought her old clothes for her.... I had many memories of the Happy Courtyard. The Happy Courtyard was the only light she had in those dark days and it still warmed her heart today. She was forever grateful for the people she met here. Looking at Zoraida in front of her, Mariana cried a lot. After taking a deep breath, Mariana''s emotions calmed down. She stood up and turned around, wiped the tears from her face with her hand and looked at Lina with some embarrassment, -Lina, if you have things to do at home, you can go, I''ll take care of Zoraida here, don''t worry. Lina sighed, took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from Mariana''s face and said: -You''re a girl we''ve watched grow up, so of course I have no worries. Looking at Mariana crying in front of her, Lina felt bitter and at the same time relieved. -Since Zoraida has you to take care of her, I''m leaving, my husband who can''t walk is still waiting for me at home. Hearing this, Marina felt very sorry for Lina and said with a smile, -I am here. Although it was called Patio Feliz, life was not happy for everyone who lived here. But people helped each other, and their days were filled withughter. Standing in the same ce, looking at Lina''s back and her somewhat white hair in the wind, Mariana felt bitter. Turning around, she returned to Zoraida''s side. She covered her with the nket and watched her for a while, then went to the kitchen to boil water. She took the towel and returned to Zoraida''s bed. Mariana wet the towel and began to wipe Zoraida''s cheeks and hands. Finally, he helped her wash her hair. After Mariana settled things, Zoraida woke up. When she saw Mariana, she was surprised. Seeing this familiar appearance, it was like going back to the little girl who was throwing a stone. -Mariana? Zoraida''s voice was hoarse and full of excitement. Hearing Zoraida''s voice, Mariana cried again, -Yes, Zoraida, it''s Mariana, I''m back to see you. Her voice was hoarse and her vision blurred, Mariana reached out and took the old hand that Zoraida raised shakily to touch her cheek. In her memory Zoraida''s hands had always been soft and strong, as if they had infinite energy. They N?velDrama.Org content. held her through many hardships and gave her many happy ones. However, to her surprise, these hands had be so skinny. -You are a good girl... -Zoraida said weakly. -Stop talking, rest well, I''m going to get the doctor. Mariana waited for Zoraida to fall asleep again, then went out to find a doctor. After an examination, the doctor frowned and said: -The old woman is tired and cannot maintain nutrition, after many years, her body is already very weak, now let her rest well. "Has he be this way just because he has a weak body?" The doctor prescribed some medication and left. After ncing at Zoraida, who was unconscious on the bed, Mariana went to the side and called Ana. -Anita, can you lend me some money? -Mariana found it difficult to say these words, but she had no choice. She had given all her money to her father and had just spent thest of her savings on buying medicine, now she could only borrow money from Ana. -Mari, have you encountered any problems? I still have money, I will transfer it to you right away. After saying this, she hung up the phone. When she saw the information about the arrival of the money from the bank, Mariana was in aplicated mood. In the following days, Mariana was taking care of Zoraida in the Patio Feliz. One day she returned to Leopoldo''s vi and took some clothes with her. Under her care, although Zoraida was still very weak, her body slowly began to improve. Mariana stood up and suddenly felt dizzy. She hurried to hold the chair next to her standing in the same ce for a long time. She sat on the chair and rubbed her forehead with her hand, she felt pain all over her body and her temples were throbbing. At that moment the phone rang, Mariana took a deep breath and saw that it was Ana''s call. -What is it? -asked Mariana. -Mari, did you leave the set without talking to the director? Mariana was shocked to realize that she had not said anything to the director when she left the set. -Mari, you know that employees are not allowed to leave the set in private during working hours, and you didn''t even give anything to the director. You will have to pay for the breach of contract," Ana said with concern. However, Anita looked again at Zoraida who was sleeping weakly on the bed and said: -Anita, I can''t go back to the set right now. Chapter 68: Husband Chapter 68: Husband Chapter 68: Husband There was a pause before she continued: -I will find another way to pay for the breach of contract. Pay more attention to the work of the wardrobe team. I have something to do, I''m hanging up. After saying this, he hung up the phone. Mariana approached Zoraida''s bed, looked at her and asked: -Zoraida, are you hungry or thirsty? I''m going to pour you a ss of water. Mariana poured a ss of water and carefully lifted Zoraida and gave her a drink. -Zoraida, how are you? Are you all right? He put the ss aside, Mariana sat next to him. -Well, I feel fine," Zoraida''s hoarse voice made Mariana''s heart ache. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Mariana was disconcerted and covered Zoraida with a nket. Then she got up and opened the door. Opening the door, however, she froze. "Why is heing?" The man in front of her was tall and stood in the doorway blocking the light, his shadow enveloping Mariana. It was Leopoldo. She still remembered the difort of thest time the two of them had caused. These days she was here to take care of Zoraida and, in fact, she was also avoiding Leopoldo. Because I didn''t want to see him yet and didn''t know how to deal with him. -Why did youe? -asked Mariana in a hoarse voice, while her heart was pounding. Mariana looked at him and could not see the expression on his face because of the light. She lowered her head to hide the panic she felt. -This ce is small and not so clean, better note in, if youe for the set.... However, before Mariana could finish, Leopoldo interrupted her: -Ie here not because of the set. He then passed by her and entered the house. Mariana froze for a moment, then followed him. Leopoldo looked at the old woman lying on the bed and his expression changed slightly, -Mariana, who is it? Zoraida stood up with difficulty and looked at Mariana who was behind Leopoldo asking confused questions. Hearing this, Mariana went to Zoraida''s side and gently lifted her up and helped her lean against the wall. However, Mariana did not know how to introduce Leopoldo. Leopoldo looked at Zoraida and then looked at Mariana and said: -I am Leopoldo Dur¨¢n, Mariana''s husband. "Husband?" Hearing these words, Mariana froze for a moment. -Leopoldo,e closer and let me see you. With that, he beckoned Leopoldo toe closer. Mariana hid her excitement and grabbed Zoraida''s hand. -Zoraida... However, the next moment, Leopoldo went to the bed and was next to Mariana. -Zoraida. Zoraida ced Leopoldo''s hand over Mariana''s hand. Looking at the folded hands, Mariana was stunned. She had not expected such a cold person to have such warm hands. -Since you are married, you must live together for the rest of your lives, your hands must never be Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. separated. Suddenly, Leopoldo squeezed Mariana''s hand. She looked at him in surprise. For a moment, Mariana also forgot to take her hand away from Leopoldo''s. -That''s good. Zoraida nodded in satisfaction, but her hand dropped weakly, as if she were very tired. Mariana hastily removed her hand from Leopoldo''s and gently lowered Zoraida onto the bed. -Zoraida, rest, I am going to prepare meals. The two left the room, Mariana closed the door. Then she went to the kitchen and Leopoldo followed her. When she reached the kitchen door, Mariana frowned and felt annoyed. She wanted to say something to Leopoldo and turned around, but bumped into the man''s hard chest and fell backwards. Mariana shouted. The next moment, a warm palm caught her, the warmth of the hand prated her skin, and gradually spread to all parts of her body, and her cheeks flushed. At that moment, sunlight poured down on them. Mariana looked at Leopoldo with her mouth open. There was an elegance in his gaze that she had never had before. Leopoldo exerted some force to pull Mariana closer to him. Feeling that strength, Mariana hurried to move away from Leopoldo. After standing up, she was a little nervous and dazed. -Thank you. However, Mariana''s words made Leopoldo''s heart flutter. Mariana turned around, walked into the kitchen and started cooking. She was busy cooking, but she could still feel Leopoldo''s burning gaze. Thinking about what had happened, Mariana felt more tense. Mariana prepared two simple dishes. She went into the room and fed Zoraida. Then she came out and sat down next to the table. She did not dare to look at Leopoldo directly and said: -Let''s eat, there aren''t many ingredients here, so suck it up. By this time, the only sound left in the room was the sound of eating, making the atmosphere between them seem even stranger. After finishing the meal in silence, Mariana took the dishes to the kitchen to clean them. When she came out, she did not expect to see Leopoldo in the courtyard, raising his head to look at the stars in the sky. His face was peaceful and different from the usual. Mariana felt joyful. She untied her apron and approached the man, also raising her head to look at the sky. -The stars tonight are beautiful. It seemed like a long time since he had seen a sky full of stars. Chapter 69: A Miserable Childhood Chapter 69: A Miserable Childhood Chapter 69: A miserable childhood Life in the city is very fast and no one has time to stop and look at the beautiful night sky. -I only know that your parents are the only rtives you have now. Hearing Leopoldo''s words, Mariana froze for a moment. Mariana felt a little sad. But her expression was hidden by the darkness of night. -Yes, I don''t have a grandmother, but Zoraida is like my family. The man looked at Mariana and said nothing. -When I was little, I would alwayse to Zoraida''s house and we would watch the night sky together. That feeling was really beautiful, we are like rtives. Mariana smiled, the good memories made her happy. Her tears filled her eyes again, so she saw that the stars in the sky became many. -You should know that my father is a gambler. He can sell everything for the game, even me, my mother. Mariana''s words were emotionless. Leopold suddenly remembered his father, who hade to the set to look for trouble that day. -Once upon a time, he wanted to sell me to pay me back because he owed a lot of money, but in the end my mother stopped him. -However, that was not the end of it. My mother begged my father to let me go. That night I stayed, but my mother, knowing that she herself might have angered my father and would be abandoned by him, or perhaps out of fear, beat me severely. Hearing her words, Leopoldo shuddered slightly and his expression changed. He was still looking directly at Mariana. -Actually, I was confused, not knowing if my mother loved me or not. She could be smiling at me asking me what I want to eat today, and the next second she threw all the prepared food on the floor and forced me to squat down to eat. Mariana smiled sadly. -I ran out of my house crying the night she hit me and stopped here. Then I met Zoraida. A person who had almost changed his miserable childhood. -Then he brought me home, washed me, cooked me and let me sleep curled up in his arms. At this, Mariana smiled happily. -I used to run here when I felt sad. The people here were very kind to me, and you could say that this was my secret childhood paradise. My parents didn''t know here because I used to go out of my house secretly. But I went out every day, if they cared about me, how could they not know? -They just didn''t care about me. The woman smiled, but with a strong sense of helplessness that he didn''t want her to have. -I lived a short happy life here. It was the only light of his miserable childhood, so he didn''t want to let go of it, he tried to hold on with all his might, but in the end, it was gone. The words echoed in the star-filled night sky and dissipated in the cold wind. However, the coldness entered the heart. Leopoldo looked at the woman next to him and felt a special emotion. -The stars in the sky tonight are really beautiful," Leopoldo spoke softly, his words without the usual coldness, he wasforting Mariana. -Yes," Mariana answered unconsciously. Instantly, Leopoldo took off his jacket and covered Mariana''s body. The clothes gave off a familiar smell of tobo that lingered in Mariana''s nose, making her body shudder. Mariana lowered her head and looked at Leopoldo''s ck suit, which still carried the body heat of the man beside her. His heart, which had been gradually growing colder, seemed to be infused with a warm current at that moment, and Mariana couldn''t help but reach out and grab the suit on his body. -The night does notst forever, at dawn, the sun will rise, no one can change that. Leopoldo''s voice rang in her ears, his words were soft. -Yes, I''ve probably already touched the light. Mariana smiled. It was as if the cold winter had passed and spring had arrived. The next day. Mariana got up early, helped Zoraida wash and then went to prepare breakfast. Mariana was perplexed when she opened the door, the room where Leopoldo livedst night was empty and the bed was made and no longer had a temperature. She frowned slightly and felt a little sad. After apanying Zoraida to breakfast, Mariana took out theputer she had with her. He also couldn''t forgetst night''s scenes. He wanted to draw these scenes. At that moment, footsteps sounded outside the door. Mariana got up and went to the door. Just as she opened the door, she looked at Lina carrying fruit. Behind her, there was a short, fat woman with a smile on her face, carrying a te. The two approached Mariana and handed her what they had in their hands. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Lina took an initiative to speak: -Mariana, I brought some fruits and washed them. Let Zoraida also eat some fruit to replenish her vitamins. -Mariana, this is the dish I cooked by myself, try it, if you like it, I''ll bring it to you next time. Mariana looked at them, feeling a little perplexed, and asked: -What is all this? Chapter 70: ItS Me YouRe Drawing. Chapter 70: It''S Me You''Re Drawing. Chapter 70: It''s me you''re drawing. -Mariana, when you were a child, we gave you food and drink, but those things weren''t worth anything, and we don''t want you to pay us. When Lina finished speaking, Cecilia added with a smile: -Yes, Mariana, you don''t have to be like that, you even asked Leopoldo to send us so many things, saying it''s to thank us. There is no need to do that. "Leopoldo?" In an instant, Mariana understood what had happened. It is true that I had not expected that, after hearing his words yesterday, Leopoldo would prepare so many things to thank the neighbors of Patio Feliz. Mariana''s difort disappeared and now she was moved. Mariana smiled and said: -These things are to thank you for the care you gave me in my childhood, ept it. At these words, Cecilia and Lina looked at each other and sighed again. -When you were a child, every time I came here, you had bruises on your body, but you didn''t cry. You were just standing next to Zoraida holding her hand which provoked sympathy to us. Hearing these words, the smile on Mariana''s face gradually faded. -It is already the past. When the two noticed Mariana''s sadness, they looked at her with sympathy. But in an instant they reced it with a smile. -But it''s good now, you have a good husband by your side, you won''t suffer any more in the future. Mariana froze for a moment. The words made her get slightly lost in her thoughts. At that moment, Mariana suddenly heard moans. Mariana took the fruits and te that were in Lina and Cecilia''s hands and said: -It is possible that Zoraida is awake, I can''t keep chatting with you. Hearing this, Lina and Cecilia became a little worried and asked Mariana toe in quickly. -Zoraida is the most important thing,e in, and we will leave. After saying goodbye to Lina and Cecilia, Mariana returned to Zoraida''s bed. Zoraida had already woken up and was looking at Mariana. -Zoraida, how are you? -Mariana, is there another person in the house? The voice was hoarse, but it was much better than before. -Yes, Lina and Cecilia brought some food. We chatted for a while and now they are gone. She felt sadness, Zoraida''s eyes were full of sympathy: -Life is not easy for them either. Yes, all the people in the Happy Yard were good, but everyone''s life was not easy. Leopoldo came in the night. Mariana put the fruit and the te on the table. She cooked some eggs that the neighbors had brought in the afternoon and prepared the soup for dinner. Sitting at the table, Mariana secretly nced at Leopoldo. Although he was under the dim light, her nobility could be appreciated. -These are the ones the neighbors brought today, all to thank you. After thinking for a long time, Mariana said to Leopoldo: -Thank you. After saying that, she shook her head smiling, she had thanked Leopold many times in this period of time. Leopoldo was slowly chewing his food. Seeing this scene, Mariana felt relieved. At first, she thought that Leopoldo would not eat these dishes, but she did not expect him not to mind at all, which made Mariana feelforted. -You don''t have to worry about your job. The director is a reasonable person, just stay here and take care of Zoraida. Hearing these words, Mariana''s actions stopped and she answered yes. After a long while, she asked: -Why are you helping me? This question was on Mariana''s mind and had puzzled her for a long time, but she could not find an answer. They were married by agreement, and were not a real marriage, so why did Leopoldo help her many times? -There is no reason. Mariana didn''t believe it, and raised her head to look directly at the man next to her. Leopoldo smiled sarcastically and deep eyes looked at Mariana, -Do you think there is something in you that I covet? These words pierced Mariana''s soft heart like a needle, making her feel pain. She felt sad to hear these words. In the next instant, she panicked and looked away. Her body trembled slightly. It was she herself who caused that humiliation. "Of course, the president of the Duran Group can''t covet anything in me." The two finished their dinner in silence. After washing the dishes, Mariana was a little tired and felt very ufortable. But when he entered the room, he found Leopoldo sitting in front of hisptop, staring at the screen. Mariana quickly stepped forward, closed theputer and hugged him. She panicked. -It''s me you''re drawing," Leopoldo spoke confidently. He stood up and put his hands in his pants pockets, looking at Mariana''s white face. With theputer in her hand, Mariana did not know what to answer. N?velDrama.Org content. In the photo, they were stargazing in the courtyard like the night before. He did not close hisputer out of negligence, he did not expect Leopoldo to see this photo. -You should know that we are married only because of the agreement. I don''t want to have any rumors with you to affect the Dur¨¢n Group. Indeed, the marriage between them has been kept secret because it was not going tost for long. The cold words stabbed straight into Mariana''s soft heart like a dagger, instantly turning her face white. After saying that, Leopoldo left. Seeing her back gradually disappear, Mariana felt sad. "Don''t you want any scandal with me?" "And the one with Andrea is what you want, isn''t it?" Mariana''s body only felt cold. Chapter 71: I Will Die Young Chapter 71: I Will Die Young Chapter 71: I Will Die Young Zoraida''s illness improved day by day thanks to Mariana''s care. Only since that day, Leopoldo had note again, but Lionel who always brought everything. -Madam, these are the mattresses and quilts that Mr. Dur¨¢n ordered me to buy for you. During this period of time, Lionel came often, not only the air conditioner was installed in Zoraida''s house, but also a TV, a refrigerator and all the other appliances were bought. Lionel would say every time that it was Mr. Duran''s request, but Mr. Duran never showed up. -Hey, Lionel, are youing again? A soft, slightly hoarse voice came from the room and out came an elderly grandmother on crutches who gave him a smile. Lionel nced at Mariana, did not proceed to hint at her further, and stepped forward eagerly to take Zoraida''s hand. -Yes, Mr. Dur¨¢n asked me to bring him something. -Leopoldo is really considerate. Lionel nodded his head and said aloud: -Yes, Mr. Dur¨¢n has a lot of things to do and cannote in person. I don''t know what''s going on, but there''s a lot going on in thepanytely. With a slightly agitated heart, Mariana remained standing in the same ce, she looked at the quilt on the floor. -Maybe Mr. Dur¨¢n is so busy at thepany, he can''t even eat properly. I always feel that he has lost weight during this period of time. It will be fine if someone prepares food for him. When Zoraida heard his words, she couldn''t help but look at Lionel. Lionel could do nothing and continued to secretly watch Mariana''s face. During this period of time, the boss''s bad mood was really increasing day by day, it was hard for him, the person who had to work by his side day by day. In the end, Mariana''s face remained expressionless and Lionel felt helpless, -Well, since the things have been delivered, I''ll go first. Madam, goodbye. Lionel dismissed them and left. Zoraida''s kind voice sounded and Mariana looked at the old woman. -Lionel is always here these days. The fridge is full to the brim, you should make some soup and take it to Leopoldo. It''s not easy for Leopoldo, he''s very busy with work and he keeps thinking about how you are around here," After a pause, Zoraida continued, "Do you think these things are really for me? It''s because he''s afraid you won''t get used to living here! You''ve been taking care of me for many days, but I haven''t seen you take the initiative to visit Leopoldo! There was a certain anxiety in his tone. Mariana turned her eyes and looked at what Lionel brought. "Is that so?" In the end, under Zoraida''s insistence, Mariana set out to personally prepare some dishes for Leopoldo. In any case, she should thank him in person for all the things he had bought for Zoraida''s house. In the afternoon, after carefully cing the food in the lunch box, Mariana was apanied by Zoraida to the door with a face full of joy. Then, Mariana stood bewildered under the Grupo Dur¨¢n building, looking up, the sun no longer blinding and exerting itsst glow. We are just an arranged couple... Leopoldo''s cold words of that day still echoed in her ears. Finally, Mariana sighed lightly and pulled out her cell phone to dial a number. Soon, Lionel appeared in front of her, with anxiety on his face, -Ma''am, what is it? Seeing the lunch box in Mariana''s hand, her eyes lit up and she couldn''t help but smile, -Is it for... Mr. Dur¨¢n? Mariana finally tried to remain as calm as possible. -Yes, please, and also thank him for me. Lionel''s face changed instead of picking up the lunch box, -Madam, you always ask me to take a thank you to Se?or Dur¨¢n, but now that you are here in person, why don''t you go upstairs and tell Se?or Dur¨¢n in person? Mariana looked at the flowerbed not far away. At that moment, although the weather was still a bit cold, the flowers that had been carefully cultivated by the gardener were still in full bloom, as if they didn''t know they shouldn''t exist in this season. -It doesn''t matter, I''m not going upstairs, after all marriage is something that... we have to keep it a secret. Mariana didn''t stay any longer and turned around to leave with quick steps. However, in the blink of an eye, when she turned around, Marina''s smile disappeared. Lionel exited the elevator with the lunch box and stopped in front of the boss''s office. The secretary who was about to hand over the documents on the side saw him and looked at the ck lunch box, -Why are you carrying the lunch box here? Something urred to the secretary and she approached the assistant with a smile. -Is it Miss Solis''? However, Lionel handed the lunch box to the secretary and pleaded with her: "I can''t stand the boss anymore. If this keeps up, I''ll die young!" -Pa, please take him for me! Just say it''s from home and the boss will understand, I have other Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. things to do! After saying that, without waiting for Pa to say anything else, he turned and quickly left. -What''s wrong? Pa''s face filled with confusion and she looked down at the lunch box in her hand. The office door was nearby. Helplessly, she still entered with the lunch box. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, these papers are from the film and television department this month, and your signature is required. cing the folder on the desk, Pa stood still and paused for a few seconds before cing the lunch box on the table. -This is the house soup for you, if there is nothing else, then I will leave first. Just as he turned to leave, she heard a voice of impatience. -Where is the person? Confused, Pa couldn''t help but ask. -Who are you talking about? The chief''s eyes grew colder and colder and his face darkened. At that moment, Pa was cursing Lionel in her mind. -This is what Lionel told me to bring you, just this thermos, and the person, probably gone. Huge doubts arose in Pa''s head. "The personing is definitely a woman, but other than Andrea, I also don''t know who else is close to the boss." -It''s okay, you can go. Closing the lid of the pen and tossing it on the table, Leopoldo gently opened the lunch box, and a rich aroma wafted to his nose. The conversation they had that night came to mind, and his lips curved into a not-very-distinctive smile. Chapter 72: Bitterness Chapter 72: Bitterness Chapter 72: Bitterness But in the end, Leopoldo drank it and it was good. As she left the office, Pa cursed Lionel in her mind. Suddenly, the office door opened and Leopoldo came striding out. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, what is it? Pa was quick to ask: -I have something to do, I''ll go first. After saying this, Leopoldo left with a firm step, without pausing for a moment. Pa was very surprised to see her boss''s back. -When did the boss leave work early? -Yes, the boss is very strange today. -The boss acts like he''s in a hurry to see his wife again. But he''s single, does he have a wife? There was a lot of loud chatter. *** Just as Leopoldo arrived at the entrance of the Patio Feliz carrying the empty lunch box, he heard -Mariana, you take good care of Zoraida. Look, now her face is much rosier, and she walks briskly. -Yes, Mariana, you also bought so many things for Zoraida, you spent a lot of money, didn''t you? -These days you always see that assistanting to deliver things. Leopoldo treats you very well, you should appreciate it. Mariana only responded with a smile: -It''s nothing. -Hey, howe it''s nothing? There are so few people like Leopoldo. Mariana, listen to me, you must appreciate it. -Well, I can see that, Lina," said Mariana in a quiet voice. -What are you talking about! She doesn''t need your opinion! Mariana knows very well how to do it. Zoraida pretended to be angry, but her words showed that she noticed Mariana''s difort. It was then that Leopold entered the room, standing in the doorway, blocking the sunlight from outside, which made the room seem dark all of a sudden. The crowd looked at him in surprise. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. -Leopoldo? You haven''t been here for a few days, have you? Your face doesn''t look too good, is there a lot to do at thepany? Lina was the first to get up and asked him with concern. -No, Lina. The indifferent voice came from the thin lips, but it was also mixed with a bit of softness. Mariana, who was next to him, immediately stood up and looked at Leopoldo with surprise. -This young couple hasn''t seen each other for days, we should go first, let the two of them talk. Zoraida, do you want to go to my house? -Good, good. Zoraida epted it immediately. After saying this, Lina, Zoraida and other neighbors left. In an instant, the room was instantly filled with the two people, Leopoldo and Mariana. An atmosphere of silence pervaded the room. In the end, it was Mariana who took the lead: -Thank you... For buying so many household items for Zoraida. Leopoldo looked at Mariana but said nothing. Beforeing, Leopoldo had already asked Lionel about what had happened. It was that Mariana sent the lunch box to thepany building and left. "Are you avoiding me? Then why did she bring me soup?" -Trying to pique my interest? -What? Mariana looked at Leopoldo in a daze. -I said that our rtionship cannot be exposed, but yet you went to the entrance of thepany, but in the end, you didn''t go upstairs, but had Lionel do it, isn''t that an attempt to get my attention? Mariana could not believe what she was hearing. Her heart suddenly jolted with pain. -Is that how you consider me? -asked Mariana harshly. -So, how do you want it? Wasn''t that your answer when the neighbor asked you a moment ago? Mariana could not help but clench her hands into fists. The fingers dug into her palm and the pain made her calm down more and more. -If you want to think so, so be it. The atmosphere in the room became more tense. Leopoldo looked at her coldly. Mariana no longer wanted to respond to Leopoldo. She didn''t understand why he made his assistant buy so many things, but he always said hurtful words to make her recognize herself. "Is it me who doesn''t do as he says, or is it him?" Mariana raised her eyes and looked out the window. A feeling of helplessness invaded her body. The sun was slowly setting, the bright yellow light was reced by orange and red, and the temperature had dropped so low that you couldn''t feel the slightest warmth. -Have youe to tell me this so that I will know my identity? If so, I will remember it. "Again and again, I should have remembered. " -Today is the day to go to Dur¨¢n''s mansion," the hard, cold words came out,nding in Mariana''s ears. Mariana could not help but feel bitter. This period of time was so busy that Mariana had already forgotten about this monthly family reunion day of the Dur¨¢n family. "I can''t forget the terrible thing that happenedst time." After calming down, Mariana spoke softly: -Then I''m going to change my clothes. When they arrived at Dur¨¢n''s mansion, Pe, wearing a false smile on her face, had alreadye to the door to greet them. Chapter 73: Professional Chapter 73: Professional Chapter 73: Professional -Leo, Mari! The tone was active and cordial, which caused a hint of uneasiness in Mariana''s heart. -Good evening, Pe. The four of them sat at the long table, which was filled with delicious dishes. -Mari, you must be tired from working all this time, right? Look at you, you''ve lost weight, this dish is specially prepared for you. Saying this, Pe put the te in front of Mariana. Leopoldo gave her a cold, stern look and then nced at the te ced in front of her before looking away. Mariana had no interest in the food in front of her, but since Pe kept looking at her, she could only eat it. -Very tasty. Hearing this, Pe smiled feignedly and spoke to Juan: -Juan, didn''t you say you had something to say to Leo and Mari? -Oh, yes! Thank you for reminding me. Juan pulled a golden invitation from the side. It was exquisite and the flower patterns on it were vivid. cing the invitation on the table, Juan pushed it over to Leopoldo: -This is an invitation to the reception hosted by Mrs. Perez, the president of Good Luck Jewelry, so you guys are going to the cocktail party then. Looking at Juan''s actions, Pe couldn''t help but smile. After turning thepany over to Leopoldo, Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Juan lived a life of indifference to the world, managing only a charitable foundation, but under Pe''s persuasion, he turned it over to her. Juan knew nothing of Leopoldo and Mariana''s recent life, but Pe did. As far as she knew, the two had recently had some conflicts and the marriage had not been announced to the outside world. It was a hidden marriage. So when Juan asked Leopoldo to take Mariana to Mrs. Perez''s party, where all the high society celebrities were present, it would be tantamount to revealing the rtionship between the two. She had always been very upset about what happenedst time, so if she could make Leopoldo and Mariana separate and upset Juan even more, Pe would be very happy. -Impossible. A loud voice was heard in the room, the sound of a fork hitting the floor. Juan was furious as he looked at Leopoldo with a somber face. -What do you mean by that? Would I do anything to hurt you? This party is a celebrity gathering, it''s good to take Mari to meet celebrities. Mariana looked at Leopoldo, whose face was still as cold as ever, and a slight worry passed through her heart. -Don''t even try to tell me what to do. Hearing this, Juan was so angry that he could not say a word. -Juan, why are you getting angry with your son? Don''t worry, Leo will always understand you. Pe looked at Juan''s face before speaking, reaching out and gently stroking Juan''s back to soothe his anger. -Leo, you probably don''t know who this Mrs. Perez is, do you? Good thing so many years have passed, my sister has passed away, and the Dur¨¢n Family and the P¨¦rez Family are not as close as they used to be, so you don''t know," Pe''s tone was full of irony. Mariana slightly lowered her gaze, not letting her emotions show in front of everyone, but there was still a feeling of coldness building up in her heart. The sister Pe was talking about was obviously Leopoldo''s mother. -My mother has no sister," the depths of Leopoldo''s eyes were full of coldness. However, Pe didn''t mind and smiled: -Mrs. Perez is a good friend of Leo''s mother, and they are very close. Juan''s intention is for Leo to take Mari to meet Mrs. Perez, and this means that your mother also knows Mari. The words were as if they were for Leopoldo''s sake. Mariana''s hands clenched until her white hands were already red, but she didn''t realize it. She knew that Leopoldo''s mother was a thorn in her heart and a knot between Leopoldo and Juan that could not be untied. Normally, when they returned to dinner with the Dur¨¢n Family, the four of them avoided talking about Leopoldo''s mother, but she didn''t expect that today Pe would mention her in a very sarcastic way. -Leo, your mother and Mrs. Perez have been friends for many years, so when I see Mari is when your mother sees her. Juan had always wanted to improve the rtionship with Leopoldo, and after Pe made him this offer, he thought twice and epted it. Since everything was a problem with Leopoldo''s mother, it was natural to start solving it from here as well. -You are not worthy of mentioning my mother! -Leopoldo looked at Juan and answered angrily. -Leo, your mother probably wants to meet Mari too. With a deep sigh, Juan seemed to have aged a lot in an instant, his face was tinged with a certain sadness, he said in a hoarse, low voice. Mariana gently reached out and touched Leopoldo''s hand on her thigh, wanting to take it, but in a moment she thought about what happenedst time and tensed slightly, but in the next instant, she suddenly grabbed it tightly. The warmth of his palm was melting its coldness. Leopoldo raised his eyes and looked at Mariana, and no light was visible in his eyes, as if they were covered by a huge ck cloth. After a moment of silence, Leopoldo no longer refused. Pe smiled and returned to her seat cing a piece of fish on Juan''s te. -Juan, I told you Leo would understand, hasn''t he epted this? Juan felt relief as he ate the fish. -Mari, I have one more thing, when you go this time, take Mrs. Perez''s measurements and make her a dress as a present for her. It will be the first time you meet, you must prepare a gift for Mrs. Perez. Mariana was surprised and did not know how to respond to Pe. Leopoldo let go of Mariana''s hand and said in a cold voice: -You can get a more professional designer for these things. Mariana lowered her gaze and said nothing. "So I''m an unprofessional designer?" -Leo, you are going to meet your mother''s best friend, naturally you should bring a gift with you. Mari should also prepare it personally, I just think that Mari is a designer, so wouldn''t it be nice to make a dress for Mrs. Perez? Chapter 74: A Blow Chapter 74: A Blow Chapter 74: A Blow Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. After a pause, Pe continued. -Besides, Mrs. Perez has a reputation in the high ss. If she wears the dress designed by Mari, more people will be able to admire Mar''s design. I''m also doing it for Mari''s sake. Pe looked at Mariana gently, as if expressing intimate goodwill. -Mari, since Pe has said so, then you should agree," Juan spoke at the right moment. Helpless, Mariana could only ept it. Now, the smile on Pe''s face grew even thicker. *** As she parked the car at the entrance to the Patio Feliz, Mariana was about to open the door when cold words came from behind her. -The invitation is for you, I will go in alone. Mariana turned around in a daze and looked at Leopoldo, who didn''t want to give her a single nce from behind, but finally she took the golden invitation. "He''s not willing to go with me. I should have thought this through." With a slight sigh, Mariana held up the invitation and walked step by step to the front without looking back. The next day. Mariana looked at the clothes scattered on the bed. She couldn''t find a dress for dinner and didn''t know what to do. At that moment, she heard the talk between Zoraida and Lionel. Then Mariana already left the room. -Why did youe? Hearing this, Lionel handed arge box in his hand to Mariana and said with a smile: -Naturally, Mr. Dur¨¢n has prepared a dress especially for you. Zoraidaughed: -Leopoldo is so attentive and so good to Mari. After saying that, he even nodded his head. Mariana bit down gently on her lower lip, but hesitantly extended her hand to ept it. Lionel looked at her in surprise, very puzzled. -Madam, this is the dress for today''s party, it is in your size. Mariana''s face turned red and she spoke softly: -Thank you, and also thank Leopoldo. -Then, since the dress has been delivered, I''ll leave first. Miss, you can call me when you leave. Lionel dismissed Zoraida and left. *** In the evening, Mariana arrived alone at the party and saw Leopoldo in the middle of the crowd, but there was a woman standing next to him, it was Andrea. Mariana stopped smiling, but her eyes were fixed on those two. She did not expect Andrea toe with Leopoldo. "So Leopoldo wants to take Andrea here, to introduce her mother''s old friend to the person he likes, right?" Such a thought was like a thorn stuck hard in Mariana''s heart, making her also breathe sharply at once. After repressing the emotions in her heart, Mariana averted her eyes and walked calmly to a corner. However, Mariana did not realize that Leopoldo was looking at her and he hid the many emotions in his eyes. Next to him, Andrea was hugging Leopoldo intimately, smiling and looking at him, her face was charming and touching. -Leo, I have long wanted to meet a legendary woman like Mrs. Perez, I never thought that today you are helping me to make my wishe true. But Leopoldo said nothing, he didn''t even look at Andrea, not in the least moved by the lovely woman next to him. However, Andrea was not discouraged, she kept smiling and leaned against Leopoldo''s side, but a sinister intention quickly urred to her. Her eyes had been fixed on Leopoldo and, naturally, she had noticed that he had slightly diverted his gaze, in that direction, towards a woman who had just entered. Mariana. Although Andrea was surprised that Mariana had been invited to such a party, what infuriated her even more was the attention Leopoldo paid to that slut. "I''m Leopoldo''s only woman!" Andrea''s slender white fingers holding the cup tightened, but she remained calm and gentle. After walking through the banquet, Mariana lost interest. Men and women in high-ss dresses held tall sses in their hands,ing and going,ughing and joking with the newly acquainted, very animated. "But this kind of happiness does not belong to me." Mariana approached the buffet, simply grabbed some food and walked to the corner, tasting it slowly. Mariana wore a long red dress, highlighting her perfect figure, her long inky ck hair was slightly curled and hung over her shoulders, making her shoulders look slimmer and her neck slender. The beautiful scene caught the attention of a man, whose eyes were instantly eager and he took a big step towards Mariana. Suddenly, Mariana felt someone sit next to her and smelled a masculine tobo odor. The smell made her feel very ufortable. At that moment, Mariana could not frown, now she knew how good Leo''s body smelled. It was very different from the others. -Miss, why are you here alone? Mariana turned away silently, without answering. The man was not discouraged and again moved insistently to Mariana''s side, whereupon the ufortable smell reappeared. -Miss, may I have the honor of asking you to dance? When the man spoke, his body could not help but lean forward knowingly, and his disgusting breath seemed to fall on Mariana''s ears. -Sir, I don''t know how to dance," Mariana rejected him outright. -How is it possible that a woman as beautiful as you don''t know how to dance? You must be lying, you probably don''t know who I am. The next moment, the man gave Mariana a business card: -My name is Alejandro Torres, the CEO of the Torres Group, you must have heard about this. Mariana looked at the business card quickly, and the words Alejandro Torres were printed in front of her eyes. Of course, Mariana had heard this, the Torres Group produced mainly steel, the business was very big, but its CEO was a yboy. She had not expected to meet him here today, and Mariana furrowed her eyebrows slightly, she did not want to meet such a person. -So, can you dance now? the words were full of self-congrattion, as well as the contempt that lurked in the background. -I''m sorry, Mr. Torres, I don''t know how to dance. Mariana turned him down again and the cold tone did not change because of who the man was. The man looked at Mariana''s back with a cruel coldness, like a viper watching its prey in the shadows, waiting for the opportunity to strike a blow that would kill her, even to death. He had never been rejected by a woman. Chapter 75: Finding A Rich Man As A Husband At The Party Chapter 75: Finding A Rich Man As A Husband At The Party Chapter 75: Finding a Rich Man as a Husband at the Party -Miss, you make me feel very disappointed. I asked you to dance, how dare you refuse me? -said the man, extending his hand over Mariana''s slim and narrow shoulders, trying to take her in his arms. Before Mariana angrily rebuked, she heard a sharp female voice so prating that Mariana couldn''t help but furrow her eyebrows. -Bitch! How dare you seduce my boyfriend? Suddenly, the angry woman poured all the red wine in her ss over Mariana, and Mariana could almost smell a strong red wine odor. -You shameless bitch! For a moment, Mariana could hear nothing but sarcastic curses. The people around did not expect such a scene to happen at the party, so everyone stopped talking and their eyes fell on the three of them in different ways. Mariana gently caressed the red dress on her body, with a trace of sorrow in her eyes. In the eyes of a N?velDrama.Org content rights. designer, the destruction of a dress was probably the most uneptable thing. Mariana looked at the crazy woman next to her, and said to her in a cold voice: -Miss, I don''t know what you are talking about, rather you threw a ss of wine at me without understanding anything. Such rude and discourteous behavior should not be allowed on such a formal asion. After speaking, Mariana quickly lifted a ss of wine from beside her and poured it violently over the woman''s exquisitely made-up face. The action was so fast that it could not be dodged in time. -Ah!" the woman could only let out a scream. Mariana ced the ss on the long table in front of her andughed sarcastically, as if the swift and merciless action had note from her. Then, the furious woman pointed her finger at Mariana, and then instantlynded on Alejandro, her fingers trembling with anger. At that moment, Alejandro stood up and approached the woman, his face full of apologies, and he endeavored to speak: -Honey, you must believe me, it was this woman who seduced me! In a nutshell, the man brushed off everything that had happened before, and even put all the me on Mariana. Mariana scoffed in her heart. "This ugly face is really disgusting." -I don''t expect this pretty young girl to do this kind of thing. It seems she wants toe to this party to find a rich man for a husband. -What''s this about finding a rich husband? -She''s really trying to be a third for someone else! I tend to hate bitches. -Yes, this society is all about money nowadays. Young girls think about getting something for nothing and taking shortcuts just to be a little pretty. Several unkind whispers kept reaching Mariana''s ears, making her heart grow even colder. -What else do you have to say now? What a shameless thing to say, it''s a banquet of Mrs. Perez! The woman looked at Mariana with hatred in her eyes and anger. -If you don''t apologize today, I''ll teach you a lesson and let you know that bitches can''t do anything! I think by then, even if Mrs. Perez finds out, I''m sure she won''t say anything, after all, I''m not the one who did such nasty things at her party! With that, the woman took a step forward, her tone was cold, and her eyes shed with a look of malice and vileness. However, amidst murmurs, a person entered from outside the circle of people and quickly approached Mariana with a respectful attitude. He said to Mariana in a clear voice: -Madam, why are you here? Mrs. Perez is looking for you! The crowd stared at the man with surprised eyes and then turned their eyes to Mariana with a questioning look. Mariana, with her eyebrows slightly furrowed, looked at the person in front of her. She did not know this person. -Madam, it was the gentleman who asked me toe and get you, there was too much noise around here, so I came straight over, I didn''t expect you to actually be here. Mariana was surprised and could not help but look away, searching for a few moments before seeing Leopoldo. Only then did Mariana realize, probably all the drama of now had fallen in her eyes. Next to Leopoldo, there was Andrea, who was also looking at Mariana at that moment, with a fake smile. Andrea didn''t expect that, just now, Leopoldo had found a security guard at the party and asked him to go get Andrea. "How is it possible that you are looking for Mrs. Perez to her? Mrs. Perez doesn''t even know that someone like her exists!" Andrea felt increasingly uneasy, such a perception had gone beyond his control. Hatred surged in his heart. Mariana avoided that angry look and nodded softly to the guard: -Since Mrs. Perez is looking for me, then please lead the way. Not a single extra nce from Mariana was directed at Alejandro and the woman next to him. The crowd spontaneously gave way to Mariana, and the scene, which was still very chaotic, was now silent, with an eerie hush all around, all resting involuntarily on Mariana. Following the security guard into an unupied hallway, Mariana stopped and spoke lightly: -Thank you for bailing me out, now you can go. The guard looked at Mariana, who had a nondescript face and was not the least bit angry or embarrassed by the dejected situation in which she found herself. For a moment, some hints of gratitude arose in her heart. -Mrs. Dur¨¢n asked me to help you, but Mrs. Perez also wants to see you. After hearing these words, Mariana was a little surprised and could not help but ask again: -Mrs. Perez wants to see me? -Yes, you are Mr. Dur¨¢n''s wife, Mrs. P¨¦rez definitely wants to meet you. She is waiting for you in the room now, please follow me. After saying this, he continued to lead the way. Mariana stood silently in the same spot for a moment and followed him again. "Couldn''t it be that Leopoldo brought Andrea here to introduce her to Mrs. Perez?" Arriving at a room and stopping, the security guard let Mariana enter alone and turned to leave. After some hesitation, Mariana entered. Mariana saw a woman in a thin dark purple dress, her legszily crossed, her slender fingers holding a tall ss, her elbows lightly resting on her knees, lightly shaking her soft wrist, and the burgundy liquid swaying uncontrobly. The makeup on her face is extremely delicate and she only looked to be in her early thirties. -Mariana? Chapter 76: He Treats Me Very Well Chapter 76: He Treats Me Very Well Chapter 76: He treats me very well The woman had already put down the tall ss in her hand and leaned over to the couch behind her. -Come and sit down. Mariana nodded, walked over and sat down on one side, her eyes looking straight ahead and not Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. looking at Mrs. Perez. Augh rang in his ears, soft and affectionate: -Rx, I''m not a tiger," he continued after a pause, "look at you, Leopoldo doesn''t treat you well, does he? In an instant, she remembered what Leopoldo had done a moment ago, and Mariana spoke in a soft voice: -It''s not like that, he treats me very well. -You don''t have to exin it to me, I know exactly what he looks like. Mariana kept silent and did not speak. -I am relieved to see you today. Mrs. Perez looked at Mariana, who was calm, and felt relieved. Since it all happened at the banquet that she celebrated, thedy knew exactly what had happened and she liked Mariana''s reaction very much. Mariana already knew what Mrs. Perez was talking about, but she didn''t say anything, she didn''t know anything about her nominal mother-inw who was long gone, so she didn''t know what to say. However, something urred to her. The reason thisdy wanted to see her was only to take care of her old friend''s son, but Mariana was not really Leopoldo''s wife, they were only married by agreement. -Leopoldo''s mother was a very kind person, so in the end.... Leopoldo, though he may seem cold and heartless, is naturally just like his mother, and will be someone to trust. -I know, Mr. Dur¨¢n has helped me a lot. At these words, Mrs. Perez nodded in satisfaction. The two chatted some more, Mariana suddenly remembered what Pe had ordered her to do, and said: -Mrs. Perez, I am a designer, if you are willing, I can design a dress for you as a gift from me. These words were spoken as if she were showing off her skills, not as the words of someone like Mariana. Mrs. Perez gently raised the tall ss on the table in front of her: -This wasn''t your idea, was it? If I''m not mistaken, it must have been Mrs. Dur¨¢n''s idea, right? The word Mrs. Dur¨¢n was emphasized with a strange emotion. Mariana nodded her head slightly, her eyes sparkling with a hint of embarrassment, -Indeed. As Mrs. Perez was an old friend of Leopoldo''s mother, she was naturally familiar with the Duran family affairs. -You, girl, you are really innocent, do you really believe that Mrs. Dur¨¢n is asking you to make clothes for me? How is it possible? It''s just a matter of fundraising. Mariana did not understand what Mrs. Perez had said. -What does this mean? -Since Juan retired, he made a charitable foundation, and now that charitable fund has fallen into Pe''s hands, but with a fool like Pe, how can she manage it well? So now the foundation''s funding chain is having some problems, she''s probably hiding it from Juan and is secretly looking for someone to invest. Mrs. Perez gently waved the cup in her hand like an elegant and wise queen in charge of everything. At this point, Mariana couldn''t help but be a little more curious about the person who might be an old friend of Mrs. Perez. -Do you mean to say that Mrs. Dur¨¢n deliberately asked me to make clothes for you, and she will be able to get more investment? Mrs. Perez looked appreciatively at Mariana andughed. -But her wishes are going toe to nothing, no matter what, I''m not going to do business with someone like her. Mrs. Perez''s voice became more and more serious. Mariana understood that all those feelings that Mrs. Perez had for Pe probably had their origin in Leopoldo''s mother. -However, I still have to ept this dress that you design for me. As she said this, Mrs. Perez stood up, stretched her arms slightly and looked at Mariana. -Seeing me in these clothes, you should also have noticed that I like dresses. After a slight start, Mariana stood up and began to measure Mrs. Perez''s body. Even so, Mrs. Perez still wanted to help Mariana increase her fame so she could enter the upper ss social circle. For a moment, Mariana felt moved. When she left Mrs. Perez''s room, Mariana did not want to stay any longer. Mariana stood at the hotel entrance waiting for Leopoldo''s car, but she couldn''t help but feel slightly lost. "If Leopoldo has gone to see Mrs. Perez and what have the two of them talked about?" Mariana respected a woman like Mrs. Perez very much, she was like a bird that only soared in the sky, free and unrestricted, and there was nothing that could imprison her. Mariana wanted to be her, but sighed slightly at the thought of her current situation. Mariana shook her head slightly. "But I can''t, and I can''t do it." Suddenly, a ck Maybach pulled up in front of her, the rear window rolled down, revealing a face as cold as a Greek fresco in a church. -Enter. Mariana didn''t say anything, she just got into the car. Mrs. Perez had already given Mariana a skirt to take off her dirty and wet dress. This skirt was more sensual. Leopoldo looked at her out of the corner of his eye and his face darkened slightly: -If you wear this suit to the banquet, there will be more than one man who will approach you. When Mariana heard the words with some mockery, Mariana''s face paled for a moment, her lower lip bitten with a deep mark. -That man, I don''t really know her, and I don''t... Mariana tried to exin herself, but before she could finish, she was abruptly interrupted. Chapter 77: No Need To Explain It To Me Chapter 77: No Need To Exin It To Me Chapter 77: No need to exin it to me -You don''t need to exin it to me. Mariana''s body trembled slightly at the cold, harsh words. She bit her lower lip again and said nothing. Leopoldo''s eyes, which had been looking straight ahead, shifted slightly and rested silently on the woman next to him who could not hide her low mood. The words that Mrs. Perez had said suddenly shed through Leopoldo''s mind. -I think Mariana is very good, dignified and decent, not arrogant. I like her very much. Although nowadays you and I are not very close, I also consider you as the one I have seen grow up. Me and Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. your mother are in the same state of mind, I also hope you are well. The voice became increasingly indistinct and unsupportive, with a faint hint of a sigh, and in the background a hint of exhortation. -Appreciate it. "Appreciate Mariana?" Several thoughts urred to Leopoldo, and finally he returned to calm. -Don''t interfere in Pe''s business. Give the clothes to Mrs. Perez when you finish, she knows how to do it. Leopoldo told Mariana with a dark note of caution. Mariana nodded. They understood all these things, only she didn''t see it for a moment and they almost took advantage of Pe. -Good. Nodding slightly, the coldness in Mariana''s heart dispersed a little, her hands unconsciously rubbed a little. -Since Mrs. Perez likes you, you can socialize more with her, it''s good to meet celebrities," Leopoldo said with a sigh. The sigh made Mariana''s heart flutter fiercely, remembering Leopoldo''s mother. She looked at the man in the darkness beside her, and a trace of imperceptible anguish passed through Mariana''s eyes. She couldn''t help but reach out and ce her hand on the back of the man''s broad hand, and the coldness that immediately entered her skin made her heart shudder more. Leopoldo looked at Mariana, who had pursed her lips, but did not let go of Mariana''s hand. Clearly, Leopoldo felt warmthing in, warming his heart a little through the touching skin, warming everything. It turns out that the palm of a person''s hand can be so warm. The two looked at each other like that, hands sped, neither of them speaking, a slightly sweet ambiguity flowing in the air. Lionel looked at those two in the rearview mirror, and smiled secretly. "Now, I won''t have to put up with the boss''s anger anymore, it was just awful! " During this period of time when she was taking care of Zoraida, Mariana had finished the dress for Mrs. Perez. It was also a dark purple dress, but it was no longer short, with an overflowing floral pattern hidden in the hem, and when the hem was slightly fluttered, it revealed a changing pattern, very bright and lovely. The dress was packed and Mariana was going to send it there in a few days. Zoraida was much better. Her face was rosy, which made her feel even more benevolent when I looked at her. That day, Mariana said goodbye to her neighbors, and began to gather her things. Looking at the busy Mariana, Zoraida''s eyes could not help but moisten with an indescribable astringency that made people feel sad and relieved at the same time. -Mari, thank you for this period of time. You leave your job to take care of me, it is really hard for you. With a soft sigh, Zoraida approached Mariana''s side, her wrinkled old palms unconsciously rubbing the crutches she held, her voice also slightly trembling with emotion. -Mari, the only thing that worries me now is you. I think Leopoldo is a good man, he treats you well and respects you. Mariana stepped forward to take Zoraida''s hands and spoke with a soft smile on her face gently: -I know. "Both Mrs. Perez and Grandma Zoraida have told me to take the happiness in front of her, but is Leopoldo really my happiness?" As Mariana pushed her suitcase outside, she saw Lionel standing by the car waiting for her, and Leopoldo sitting in the back row. Lionel took the suitcase from Mariana''s hand and put it behind her. And Leopoldo also got out of the car and waved softly: -Madam. -Well, Leo, Mari is like my own granddaughter. Don''t bully her! Mariana''s heart was filled with emotion. The old woman''s serious threat with a joke was not offensive at all, and yet it was the sweetest thing Zoraida wanted to do for Mariana. -I won''t," Leopoldo still nodded his head. -Good, very good. *** Therge trees beside the road sped past, leaving only a green shadow behind them. Mariana, sitting in the car, remembering Zoraida''s expression as she was leaving. The old woman did her best to keep smiling, Mariana''s heart filled with a sad feeling. -Take me to the theater set," Mariana spoke softly. -Listen to my wife. Leopoldo said indifferently, but the words caused ayer of indescribable affection to rise in Mariana''s heart. The word Esposa was like a surprise, but it still made her notice a slight tinge of tenderness, which seemed somewhat affectionate. "Why do I feel so happy to hear it?" Suddenly, Mariana turned her gaze back to the window, but this time, the scenery outside did not enter her eyes. Mariana raised her hand and ced it gently on her left breast, where she was trembling violently and tirelessly. "The word can be so pleasing to the ear. " Soon it was time to get to the set. Lionel put the suitcase on the floor and stood waiting, a few steps away, Mariana and Leopoldo stood facing each other. -I''m going to leave. However, despite saying this, Mariana''s feet did not move in the slightest, remaining in ce and looking at Leopoldo. -I have already spoken to the director, no one will make things difficult for you. Mariana''s eyes were fixed on Leopoldo, with tender feelings hidden deep in her eyes. Chapter 78: Are You Trying To Protect Her? Chapter 78: Are You Trying To Protect Her? Chapter 78: Are you trying to protect her? Only this tenderness was not even perceived by herself. -I always bother you. So, I''m leaving. This time, however, Mariana did not thank Leopoldo. -Good. Turning around, Mariana was about to leave, but she didn''t know what she was stepping on, suddenly slipping, her body fell backwards uncontrobly, Mariana was shocked for a moment and couldn''t help but scream. In the next instant, Mariana fell into Leopoldo''s wide embrace. And the smell of tobo made Mariana feel a little shy. The slender, soft body snuggled tightly into the man''s embrace. The dazed, wide open eyes and red lips were a beautiful sight in Leopold''s eyes. He was fascinated by this woman and hugged her tighter. Mariana''s face got redder as she noticed the man''s movement. After two seconds of silence, an angry voice suddenly sounded not far away. -What are you doing! Mariana suddenly reacted and hurriedly got up from the embrace, tidying the hair around her ears to cover her increasingly flushed cheeks. Leopoldo looked at the angry woman in front of him, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, but said nothing. Seeing the blush on Mariana''s cheeks, Andrea couldn''t help but reach out and raise her palm up to p her, but this didn''t happen as she expected and she saw her wrist being grabbed by a strong hand. Chest heaving with anger, Andrea looked at the person next to her: -Leo, what are you doing? Are you trying to protect her? These words were really uncalled for. "Protect me? Have I made some kind of mistake? It doesn''t seem so." Marianaughed, but in Andrea''s eyes, she was teasing. -What are youughing at? Andrea stepped forward and stood in front of Mariana, speaking angrily. -What are you doing? This is none of your business. The cold, hard words came out of Leopoldo andnded in Andrea''s ears, as if it were a bolt from the blue, making her body tremble fiercely. -Is it none of my business? Have you forgotten? Or have you already fallen in love with this woman? Andrea spoke without scruple, stepping forward and blocking Mariana in front of her. At this moment, Andrea had no trace of her previous charming and adorable intentions in front of Leopoldo, her face was full of anger although she had done her best to hide it. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. However, Leopoldo did not give her another chance to speak. He turned around and looked at Mariana: -Since you have arrived, you may enter first. Mariana knew that Leopoldo''s act was to let her leave in a hurry. After looking at the furious Andrea, Mariana nodded slightly and left with her suitcase without asking too many questions. When she returned to the set, Mariana heard a lot ofments from people and, naturally, there was a lot of talk about her. -Look! This kind of person left the set without saying anything and didn''t even tell the director, so he just took sick leave to take care of his grandmother? -If you also have a big boss as a sponsor, you can also leave andpletely ignore the agreement signed by the crew, and you won''t have to paypensation. -Those who are beautiful and have a good figure can easily climb into the bed of the rich and have more treatment and opportunities! Mariana''s slender fingers holding the luggage could not help but clench tightly, her fingertips were slightly white from the force, and the veins on her back could not help but show. However, Mariana''s face remained calm, seemingly unconcerned by thements. When Mariana entered the office, someone gave her a tight hug. The familiar smell made Mariana give her a smile. -Mari, you''re back atst, if you don''te back, I''ll have toe and get you. Mariana heard Ana''sint, but only felt very affectionate at that moment. -Well, I''m back, aren''t I? It''s been a difficult time for you. I always encounter difficulties and I always ask you to help me.... Before Mariana could finish, Ana let go and spoke: -Mari, don''t say that, since we are good friends, of course we should help each other! Besides, if you don''te back, this costume group won''t know any leader named Mariana, it will be me, Ana Lopez, who will be the team leader! You will be the one who loses out. At these words, Mariana''s smile was even brighter, and she reached out to gently pinch the tip of Ana''s nose. -Then, when the timees, I will give you this position, and I will be a little employee for you. Hearing these words, Ana waved her hand repeatedly with a regretful expression: -It is not possible, no. The daily work was soplicated and trivial for Ana. If it went on like this, she felt her hair would fall out. At these words, the two could not help but look at each other andugh. -You''re back, have you gone to greet the director and the producer? Gently shaking his head, Mariana''s eyes glinted with a hint of concern, looking a little uneasy. Although Leopoldo said he had already said so with the director, the truth was that she had vited the treaty by leaving the set without saying anything. -I''ll leave my things here and go look for the director. -I''ll keep it for you, you go ande back quickly. Ana took the suitcase from Mariana''s hand, she knew that this was an important matter and she could not dy. Standing in front of the director''s room, Mariana hesitated for a long time, still not entering. Several times he reached out his hand to knock on the door, but did not do so. Suddenly, a familiar dark male voice sounded behind her. Chapter 79: News About That Woman Chapter 79: News About That Woman Chapter 79: News about that woman -Mariana? Are you here to see me? Have you finished with your business? When Mariana turned around, she looked at the director who was standing behind her looking at her with surprise. -Why do you want to see me? There was no trace of anger, not even a hint of displeasure, which made Mariana think of that man. Mariana sat down in front of the director, holding with both hands the coffee he was handing her, and after a pause, she said: -Director, sorry, because of my grandmother''s illness, I left the set, it''s my fault for causing trouble to the director. The director waved his hand nonchntly, smiled and looked at Mariana: -Mr. Dur¨¢n has already told me about this, your grandmother is very ill and there is no one to take care of her, am I not clear about the importance of the matter? Mariana shook her head in fright and blushed: -Of course not. -In this case, you can go back now, probably because grandma''s condition has also stabilized. You still have to pay more attention to the theater costume set, work hard, okay? -Yes. Mariana nodded seriously. After leaving the director''s room, Mariana felt relieved and her pace on the road was much lighter. The person she should thank most was Leopoldo, he had helped her a lot, whether it was for her, for the set or for Zoraida. After work, Mariana went to the supermarket and bought a lot of meat and vegetables. She wanted to prepare a big meal to thank Leopoldo. She had always received help from him during this period of time, so Mariana had to thank him. When she returned home, Mariana looked at the nanny next to her and smiled: -I''ll cook tonight. If you have nothing to do, go home early. At these words, the nanny was stunned for a moment, but then a satisfied smile appeared on her face and she hastened to nod her head: -Well, it''s weird that madam wants to cook for sir yourself, so I''m not going to disturb your world, so I''ll go home. The words "the world of you" shed through Mariana''s mind, causing her cheeks to flush slightly. After more than an hour of preparation, Mariana took off her apron and looked with satisfaction at the six dishes on the table. Mariana didn''t know what Leopoldo liked to eat, so she prepared a few dishes that she was better at, so that if Leopoldo liked them, she could make them for him next time. Mariana sat at the table and looked at the clock hanging on the wall, it was already after nine o''clock. "Leopoldo should be back soon. " From time to time, Mariana nced at the wall clock, but the light in Mariana''s eyes was fading. The food on the table was already cold, and the hand of the clock was already pointing up, it was already midnight. Leopoldo had not yet returned. A slight worry ran through her heart, Mariana picked up her cell phone, hesitated for a moment and dialed. Soon, the phone was picked up and Mariana said cheerfully at once: -Why aren''t you back sote yet? However, in the next moment, Mariana''s smile came to an abrupt end. The light in Mariana''s eyes also went outpletely, like the food in front of her, cold and untouched. -Who is it? Mariana bit her lower lip hard and did not respond. It was Andrea who answered her. There was a moment of silence there too, and then the voice came out: -Mariana? How did you get Leo''s cell phone number? Calling at such ate hour is really shameless. Then Andreaughed at Mariana: -Leo is not here right now, he has gone to take a shower and won''t be out for a while, Miss Ortiz, do you want to keep waiting? Or if there is something important to say, I can pass it on for you. The words were full of provocation, with a deep sense of sarcasm, but containing a slight trace of anger. "Right now, he and Andrea are together. " This knowledge made Mariana''s heart strings snap all at once, those first tender feelings of maintenance disappeared in an instant, as if they had never existed. -I''m sorry, I have the wrong number. Mariana hung up the phone. Staring at the cold food in front of her, Mariana picked up a fork and stuck it in her mouth, chewing it carefully before swallowing with difficulty. N?velDrama.Org content rights. "Yes, Andrea was the one who has been following him around and making scandals with him." "Even when he went to Mrs. Perez''s house, Leopoldo took her with him. Andrea is the one he approved of in his heart. I, on the other hand, am just a woman with whom he has an agreed marriage contract, and from the beginning it''s... for money. " Mariana could not tolerate the empty room and went upstairs. Her back was helpless, like a worn and damaged rag doll that had been unceremoniously abandoned in a corner. And at that moment, Leopoldo was indeed at Andrea''s house. Leopoldo picked up the cell phone on the table and nced at the time on it before a hint of impatience crossed his eyes. -Tell me. Hearing this, Andrea handed one of the two tall sses she was holding to Leopoldo, she said in a flirtatious and innocent voice: -Leo, since you''re here, why do you have to leave so early? Have another ss of wine. Andrea''s body leaned forward, from the wide open cor you could clearly see her beautiful body, Andrea was wrapped in a white robe, without any extra decoration, wet hair hanging over her shoulders, full of seductive intent. Coldly averting his gaze, Leopold''s face remained as normal, unmoved by the beauty. -News about that woman. The cold, hard words fell on Andrea''s ears, not wanting to say another word. With a quick sh of impatience in her eyes, and with a cold brutality hidden inside, Andrea sat upright and leaned back slightly, sinking into the plush couch. -Leo, that woman has been gone for a long time, and you''re still.... There was a pause, feeling some difficulty in her throat, and Andrea couldn''t help taking a sip of wine: -He''s living the good life abroad. Leo, and he doesn''t need you. It was a cruel and cold sentence. Leopold shivered imperceptibly, his eyes a dark stream before returning to calm: -Is that all you have to tell me today? Chapter 80 : Acknowledgment Chapter 80 : Acknowledgment Chapter 80 : Acknowledgment People always had a shameful conflict, not allowing themselves to be more humble and at the same time uncontrobly wishing to know about that person. With a tremor in her heart, Andrea knew that Leopoldo was angry. Andrea shed a bright smile as she walked gracefully and slowly to Leopoldo''s side and sat down next to him. -Leo, I''m here. She said, wanting to reach out and touch the man''srge palm on her knee, the next instant, the handsome body beside her abruptly pulled away and stood a short distance away, his eyes slightly narrowed as he looked down at her from above. -You''d better not y any tricks on me," the man bowed slightly and his gaze was cold and stern, "you should know that I''m not a patient person. His words fell with a thousand-pound weight, and they seemed to carry a chilling coldness that made Andrea shudder uncontrobly: -Leo... However, Leopoldo had already left, and his figure disappeared in an instant. Andrea''s hand holding the ss of red wine tensed, and veins peeked out from the back of her white hand. "It''s all Mariana''s fault! If not for this bitch, how could Leopoldo treat me badly!" "Mariana Ortiz!" *** The next day, Mariana woke up with a slight headache, she stretched and rubbed her temples, her mind was in a state of anguish. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Last night, Mariana had tossed and turned in bed and had not slept well all night, her mind kept flickering with various fragmented images that kept disturbing her, making her tired but unable to sleep. With difficulty getting up, Mariana left the room, washed up and sat down at the dining room table for breakfast. Suddenly, she heard the sound of soft footsteps, apparently aware of something, Mariana raised her eyes, but the next moment she couldn''t help but be stunned. He saw Leopold in a smart ck suiting down the stairs, his face as cold as ever, with a sense of depth and inscrutability that made people cool to the touch. "Why are you here at this time?" An enormous suspicion seized Mariana''s heart, provoking the slightest surprise. Leopoldo took big steps to sit down in front of Mariana, and the nanny served him breakfast. However, the nanny did not turn around and go downstairs, but remained standing next to him and spoke in a low voice. -Madam, you cooked a nice tablest night. I was thinking you two wouldn''t be up early this morning, so I just made something simple to eat. Ma''am, sir, please enjoy. The words revealed a hint of embarrassment. Mariana looked down in a daze, staring at the breakfast in front of her, unconsciously picking at it with her knife and fork. Leopoldo''s strong gaze from across the table startled Mariana, causing her hand to prod the ham in front of her to stop, her heart trembling. Noticing the strange atmosphere between the two, the nanny frowned and finally withdrew quietly. -Did you cook yesterday? Leopoldo''s questionnded in Mariana''s ears, who felt her head, which still ached slightly, hurt even more. After a long silence, Mariana in a low voice with a slightly dejected sense: -Yes, but I didn''t expect you to have a datest night, the dinner would have been to thank you for the help you have given me during this time. -Last night... Leopoldo wanted to exin, but Mariana interrupted him: -Since things have already happened, then stop talking about it, thank you? After a pause, he continued again: -If you need my help for anything in the future, just say the word, I''m sure I''ll help you. There was a moment of silence when Mariana finished speaking. "What does Leopoldo need my help for?" Mariana''s temples throbbed and the pain seemed to have intensified. Right now I didn''t even want to hear Leopoldo''s own words that he was indeed with Andrea the night before. After quickly finishing the breakfast in front of her, Mariana went out. Looking at the empty seats in front of Leopoldo, he felt a little nervous, but soon became calm again. When she arrived on the set, Mariana only felt an intense headache, as if there were worms wriggling in her mind, which irritated her, but she could do nothing about it. -Mari, if you''re not feeling well, why don''t you say goodbye ande back sooner? I''m here, it''s okay. Ana looked at Mariana with some concern. Mariana''s face was pale and her eyebrows were furrowed, it was obvious that she had not slept well the night before. Rubbing her temples, Mariana spoke: -I''m fine. -Then pay attention to rest today, if you really can''t stand it, you have to tell me. I''m not too busy today, I can also do a good job alone, it''s better toe back, otherwise.... Ana''s worried voice rang in her ears, Mariana raised her eyes and said helplessly: -Well, Anita, let me be calm, I know. Ana said no more. She had just silenced Ana, Mariana wanted to rest, but she didn''t expect someone toe in from outside: -Mariana, Miss Solis said she has lost weight recently, her outfit doesn''t look good on her, and it doesn''t look good on camera either, so she asked you to change her outfit. -Now? -Yes, that is what Miss Solis said. Mariana looked at Ana, who was standing next to her with a worried face, reached over and pinched the tip of her nose: -It''s okay, don''t be so sad. It''s just to change his suit, it''s no big deal. After saying this, Mariana headed to the shooting location. He saw only Andrea lyingfortably in a chair with her eyes closed, and the assistant next to her carrying a te of fruit in one hand and holding the script in the other. -Miss Solis, I hear your suit doesn''t fit, let me take a look. At that moment, Andrea opened her eyes: -Yes, I don''t know what''s wrong. Is it because I''ve worked too hard this time? Leo even said yesterday that I''ve lost weight all over my body. There was an obvious smugness in her words, Andrea looked at Mariana provocatively. -Then Miss Solis, take off your suit, I will take it to you and change it, it will be ready soon. Lowering her gaze slightly, Mariana spoke calmly. Chapter 81: Holy Empress Chapter 81: Holy Empress Chapter 81: Holy Empress -Mariana, I have specially dyed this scene until the evening to look good on screen, so you have to finish the clothes quickly. An order was heard that carried a condescending tone. Mariana remained cold as she said: -I understand. He picked up the clothes and a doubt crossed his mind. Today Andrea had merelyughed at her with a few words, and then stopped making things difficult for her. She shook her head. The corners of her mouth curved into a helpless smile. "Is it bad enough that Andrea doesn''t want to make things difficult for me?" Before she could leave, footsteps sounded behind her and someone caught up with her immediately after: -By the look on your face, is there something you''re hiding without saying? yful words reached her ears. As soon as Mariana turned her head, she saw a pair of bright, enchanting eyes and was momentarily stunned. -Xavier, what brings you here? Don''t you have to keep filming? Empress Santa was a drama that focused on the main characters, so the two main actors, Xavier and Andrea, naturally had many scenes, often shooting until midnight and working all day before calling it a day. -Today''s scene was supposed to be a show between the protagonists. Now Andrea''s dress needs to be altered, of course I have nothing to do. The sarcastic words were heard by Mariana, making her turn her head involuntarily and look at the man next to her. It was the first time she had heard a hint of discontent towards Andrea in his words. In an instant, he already understood that Xavier, as a professional actor, naturally had his own quest for drama. Meanwhile, Andrea''sck of seriousness in her approach would therefore displease him. -So you mean I''m the one dying your work? In that case, as a small designer, I''ll have to get the clothes altered quickly so as not to dy your shoot. -I realized today that you are also a joker. The coldness around her faded and gradually a gentler air emerged. Xavier looked away from the woman beside him, but his heart could not help but flutter. Separated from him on the way, Mariana took the dress to the costume shop and finished its alteration when it was almost dark. The orange sunlighting through the window fell lightly on the clothes on the table, casting a warm yellow glow on them. She folded the dress in her hands and sent it to the resting ce for Andrea. When she opened the door, she saw Andrea sitting in front of the dressing mirror and stepped forward to show her the dress. -Miss Solis, I''ve had the suit altered, would you like to try it on? Andrea looked at the dress and said looking like she couldn''t care less: -Miss Ortiz''s clothes are naturally good. Well, leave it there. Frowning, Mariana said nothing more and put the clothes aside: -Since there''s nothing else, I''ll go back first. He didn''t want to linger here a second longer. Andrea, however, did not want her to get her way: -You''ve been mending my clothes all afternoon, you should be tired too. I have here a bottle of wine that Mr. Soler gave me, just in time to give Miss Ortiz a taste. You''re not going to deny me, are you? Looking at Mariana, he continued: -I''m afraid my outfit would not have been as impressive if Miss Ortiz hadn''t been in charge of the wardrobe department this time, so don''t hesitate any longer. Mariana frowned, pursed her lips without saying anything. She didn''t understand why Andrea was keeping her at this moment. It definitely wasn''t to thank her. "Could it be because of Leopoldo?" -I didn''t expect Miss Ortiz to call Leost night. From what I heard, it sounded like you were so close that you were able to meet at night. "That''s right." Mariana lowered her eyes and sped her hands. Then she looked up and forced her voice as calm and indifferent as possible: -I have no rtionship with Se?or Dur¨¢n, except that I have recently received some favors from him and I have nothing to return, so I thought I would prepare a meal to thank him. Don''t let Miss Solis misunderstand me. His voice was husky with an imperceptible bitterness and sadness. She gently lifted the bottle in front of her and, with a flick of her wrist, the burgundy liquid poured into a ss, which looked even more appetizing in the light of the incandescentmps in the room. However, after the wine flooded half of the ss, Andrea did not stop and the liquid continued to flow downhill. In the blink of an eye, the ss was filled to the brim. It was a full ss. A sneer appeared on his mouth as Andrea approached him with the cup in her hand and handed it to him: -Miss Ortiz, if you can drink this ss whole, I will naturally ept your apology and there will be no misunderstanding. Even this inconvenience, which you want to thank Leo for, I can handle it for you, you don''t need to thank him in person. Arrogant mockery was revealed in his words, as well as contempt and disdain as if he were treating an ant. Mariana was a little frightened contemting the full ss of wine in front of her, and even her breath hitched a little. He took the ss in Andrea''s hand. Their movements caused some of the red wine to spill. But when she stopped shaking off the wine, a full ss was still visible. With her head up, Mariana closed her eyes. Soon she forced herself to finish the ss of red wine in one gulp. There was a little wine running down the corners of her mouth to her neck and making her already white skin even lighter. Andrea''s eyes shed with a glint of cruelty. A fleeting thought made her smile. -What a nice drink! Since this misunderstanding has been cleared up, we no longer have any hard feelings. Not long ago I got a dress with a nice design that I''ve been thinking of giving you, now I finally Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. have the chance. With that, she went to the side and pulled out a dress. Feeling a little dizzy, Mariana couldn''t help but grab the table next to her to support her body. But to her surprise, her body was warming up next and seemed to need something cold to cool her down. Handing her the dress in her hand, Andrea looked into her gradually blurring eyes and a sh of pleasure passed inside. -Mariana, if you can ept this gift from me, I''m sure you would like to be my friend again. I have a fitting room right here, but it''s a little dirty because the assistant hasn''t been able to clean it yet. After a pause, Andrea gave a strange smile: -If you don''t mind, I''ll leave first and you can change here. Let me know when you''re done. With that, she tucked the dress into Mariana''s arms as quickly as she could and turned to leave quietly. Chapter 82: A Poor Lie Revealed A Truth Chapter 82: A Poor Lie Revealed A Truth Chapter 82: A Poor Lie Revealed a Truth When she turned to look at the woman shaking her head, Andrea''s eyes filled with proud emotion, but it was immediately reced by resentment. All the words that had been buzzing, but which she could not quite make out, were already dissipated. Mariana couldn''t help but shake her head harder, but she couldn''t stop the dizziness. Her body had be even hotter as a result of what she had just done. This dry heat made her panic and the urge to want a cool hand on her slender waist let her generate a little fear. Suddenly, the living room door opened. -I wonder what Miss Solis wanted to see me about? I still have to memorize some necessary lines, maybe I don''t have much time to chat with you. Yes... Before he finished the words, however, there was an abrupt pause as he saw who the person inside was. Xavier stepped forward quickly and arrived in front of Mariana who was flushed, limp and had to lean on the table to stand up. He expressed a look of concern in his eyes and asked her: -Mariana, what''s wrong? At the sound of his voice, Mariana raised her eyes, which were full of enchantment: -Xavier, why are you here? Her voice was husky and there was a hint of femininity that made someone look spellbound. Reaching out to touch his forehead, Xavier''s heart trembled slightly. The touch was very warm. He was about to withdraw his hand when Mariana grabbed it and pressed it firmly against his face. In such a way, a moan escaped her lips and hit Xavier''s eardrums. By now, Mariana was already unconscious without realizing what she was doing. With confusion shing through his eyes, Xavier looked around and already noticed that something was wrong. Mariana must have been drugged. This was Andrea''s living room and the reason he came here was that she had called him. It was clear that they had both fallen into her trap. As he pondered, he did not expect that the skin under his hands was getting softer and softer. With a shudder in his heart, Xavier lowered his eyes and saw arge area of white skin. The blushing woman could only be seen to have unbuttoned the cor of her shirt, exposing a wide expanse of smooth skin and even some of the pinkce of her bra, which enveloped her soft breasts. This knowledge caused him to tense up a bit, not to mention that Mariana kept pulling his hand relentlessly against the skin of her breasts to mitigate their heat. -Mariana, wake up, it''s Xavier! However, the woman did not answer him, continuing to unbutton. His eyes fell on the slender hands and Xavier frowned as he watched their movements and the skin that kept showing. Suddenly, noisy footsteps were heard outside. The next moment the door was opened from the outside. The scene inside was presented in such a way to the crowd outside. Andrea who was in front smiled wickedly, like a snake with its tongue out, and the look she gave the two people had a strange gleam in her eyes. -Ah! What''s that about? Is that Xavier and Mariana? -I''ve always believed that the two of them had an unusual rtionship, I was really right. I never thought they could do something like that on set. -I didn''t expect the sponsor behind Mariana to be Xavier. God, or did she hook up with several people at once? The crowd was watching the spectacle before them and was amazed andmenting. The woman''s soft body resting on the man''s broad chest, the shirt over her almost removed to reveal the light pink bra inside, in which her wrapped bosom fluttered; while the man''srge slender palm was ced on the white skin of her breast. The woman had a flushed face and slightly narrowed eyes, but you could still see her eyes full of desire, a clear sign that she was in pleasure with a man. And the man holding her had dark eyes and hands ced firmly on her slender waist. The whole room was immersed in an ambiguous atmosphere. Anyone watching that scene woulde to the misunderstanding. -Xavier, what are you doing? Is it Mariana? You two... He stopped abruptly at this point and an expression of total surprise appeared on his face. Andrea reached out to cover her lips, wide-eyed at the sight of the two embracing. However, it was clear that a poor lie revealed a truth. At this moment, the director stepped forward and nced with a frown at Xavier and Mariana. As if thinking of something, he quickly turned around to turn his back to the two but face the crowd and said: -Come on, get out there, something has happened here. Everybody go away. He then looked at the attendants on either side of him, who nodded and urged the crowd outward. Xavier was a nationally acimed actor with tens of millions of fans; if that news got out, let alone the bacsh to himself, it would be a huge blow to the crew. They had already suffered through thest leaked dress crisis and couldn''t afford another scandal like this. And because Xavier had many female fans who treated him as a boyfriend, if they knew that he and Mariana were having an affair, his fans would investigate all information about her and even abuse her. In an instant, everyone in the room left, leaving only the director, Andrea, Xavier and Mariana. At this point, Mariana, her face red and her eyes unfocused, still didn''t understand what was happening and just squirmed ufortably in Xavier''s arms. -What the hell is going on here? With a nce at Mariana who seemed not to have heard him, the director sensed a huge anger in his heart and his eyebrows furrowed with a very unfriendly expression. -Director, are you still not aware? It''s obvious that Xavier and Mariana fall in love. They are already doing something like that, they are in their love bubble for sure. With dark eyes and a sullen face, the director remained fixed on Mariana. His gaze shifted to Andrea who was standing off to the side. Xavier frowned: -What? Don''t you know why this situation has arisen, Miss Solis? Without giving her a chance to reply, Xavier quickly continued: -This is your living room, why am I here and why is Mariana here too? You really don''t know? The aggressive words with a slight condemnation left his lips,nding coldly in Andrea''s ears. She hitched a sarcastic smile. Shezily crossed her arms and a mixture of contempt and disdain appeared in her eyes: -Yes, this is my living room, but what if you had deliberatelye to my living room to do such a thing if you wanted to divert attention or frame me? -Besides, there hasn''t been anyone in this room before, is it possible they were trying to find an empty space to do such brazen things? Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. After a pause, Andrea looked at the director looking as if she had suffered injustice: -Director, after all, I am also the lead actress in this drama, naturally the salon is not avable to just anyone, right? The director narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips tightly. His face darkened and he had some recognition of Andrea''s words. The woman in his arms continued to writhe as her soft body constantly tempted the man. Chapter 83: Being Mutual Chapter 83: Being Mutual Chapter 83: Being Mutual It was not a good time to argue with them, since, clearly, Mariana could not take it anymore. Holding the woman tightly in his arms, Xavier finally cast a cold nce at Andrea before apologizing frankly to the director: -Director, Mariana is not feeling well, I will take her to the room first and exin it to herter. Then, without waiting for the director to say anything else, he walked away hugging her. With her gaze riveted on the backs of the two men, Andrea''s eyes sparkled with smug mischief and the corners of her red mouth turned up in a smile. Xavier looked down at the girl in his arms and had no choice but to carry her into his living room and Watching the woman, her face flushed, squirming on the bed, Xavier stood to the side, frowning with indecision. The desire I had just felt had faded under the embarrassment of being seen by so many people, but unexpectedly, it came back when I saw Mariana in that state. Hands clenched uncertainly, Xavier reached to the side and poured a ss of water, gently lifting the woman from the bed and bringing it to her lips, coaxing her to drink it in an attempt to relieve her heat. The ss was quickly emptied and, just as he was about to leave her back to bed, the next thing out of his imagination was that she hugged him. The soft, warm, delicate body writhing over his back and the subtle moan that escaped his lips caused Xavier''s Adam''s apple to twitch uncontrobly and his eyes to darken. He turned quickly and his hands held the woman''s shoulders tightly. For the moment, her eyes were tinged with a growing desire and became redder and redder. Finally, he spoke through gritted teeth, unable to resist any longer: -Mariana! With that, he suddenly lowered his head. But finally the kiss onlynded softly on Mariana''s forehead, pausing for a good while before slowly drifting away. His gaze deepened. Xavier contemted the lips that remained just inches away, so delicate, like a summer flower in bloom that was waiting to be picked by him. As ifpelled, he unconsciously lowered his head and slowly approached the temptation. He almost managed to kiss her when a loud bang sounded in his ears. In an instant, loud, anxious footsteps came from far away. When Xavier looked up, the arrival was already in front of him. It was Leopoldo. The man''s face was cold and his eyes were filled with raging emotions, like a burning anger or an icy abyss, an actual mixture of fire and water that made him even more terrifying. Leopoldo stepped forward and grabbed him, then punched him hard in the face, which broke the otherwise lovely face and made the corners of his lips stain with blood. Reluctant to give her so much as a nce, Leopoldo went straight to Mariana and took her in his arms. The anger in his eyes intensified as he looked at her bare white skin. Removing his suit jacket, he wrapped it tightly around the woman in his arms and lifted her up, then his cold gaze fell on Xavier who was standing propping up the table. It was as if he was looking at a dying man. Laughing to himself, Xavier looked lovingly at Mariana whoy unconscious in the other man''s arms: -I didn''t expect Mr. Dur¨¢n to arrive suddenly. I wonder what his rtionship with Mariana is? And why did he hit me? After all... you have to be mutual to do such a thing, don''t you? Instantly, in Leopold''s eyes burst a great anger rolling in a furious and agitated manner; at the same time, it was as if the boundless grass was burning with a zing fire and the heat wave was still hitting Xavier. Four eyes met. Their gazes intertwined, collided and brushed against each other in the air, even bursting into sparks that fell to their surroundings. But neither of them noticed that and kept grappling with each other. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. The icy words spoken by Leopoldo were shrouded in a thickly dominant aura. -Get away from her. Each letter was as strong as lightning. With these words, Leopoldo did not look at him again and left with giant strides. Looking at his back, Xavier slowly stood up and reached out to wipe the blood at the corner of his mouth. The red blood on his fingertips looked a little gruesome, but in his eyes there was some doubt. "What is Mariana''s rtionship with Leopoldo?" *** After he threw the woman in his arms into the back seat, the anger in Leopold''s eyes remained. In a deep voice, he indicated to the assistant in front of him: -Drive. The attendant cautiously nced in the rearview mirror at those two people sitting in the back. The woman had been roughly pulled into the car by the man and was leaning ufortably against the door; the man had an icy stare and hands in hisp, but did nothing about the woman who was still writhing. The assistant sighed softly in his heart. "The boss is so unromantic." As the car sped down the road, Leopoldo''s eyes were still darkly fixed on the woman wrapped in a wide ck suit and still squirming. The jacket over her to cover herself hade off, exposing a wide patch of white skin at the neckline, causing Leopold''s eyes to darken and his anger to re up again. The color of his eyes became darker and darker, like a ck curtain, so hermetic and not letting in any light. But the next moment, the man reached out and wrapped his hands around the woman to pull her into his arms. The ample ck suit still rested on her body, wrapped tightly around her without revealing anything. He secretly nced back again, the assistant finally relieved. You could see that the hair of the woman whose face was well red was tousled to hide half of her face, but that made the other half even whiter and more attractive. At this point, she was writhing constantly in his arms, but was held by the man through her clothes and secured with a strong position. Although he looked extremely cold, the movements of his hands were gentle. Soon they arrived home. Without saying a word, Leopoldo went upstairs hugging Mariana silently. He went straight to the bathroom and threw her forcefully into the bathtub. The next moment, he grabbed the shower, turned on the faucet and held it against his head. Leopoldo looked at the woman in the tub who was slowly starting to wake up due to the cold water, struggling and writhing violently at this point. The emotions that lurked in his eyes rolled like waves, wrapped in fierce anger. Since she had been so disobedient and had repeatedly defied her boundaries and put herself in danger, it was time to teach her something. After a while, the woman in front of her finally regained some consciousness. She raised her head in a daze and saw the man standing to the side. With a grim face, like a demon from hell, he stood looking down on her from above. The coldness emanating from him made her shiver slightly. It was then that Leopoldo turned off the tap: -Are you awake yet? A sneer appeared at the corners of his mouth and his eyes were full of irony. -I... What happened to me? Mariana looked down at the wrinkled and messy clothes on her body and frowned, not understanding what exactly had happened. She tried to recall, but all she could remember was that Andrea had given her a dress and asked her to wear it, but she had no idea what happened next. -What happened to you? It''s probably that... you tried to betray me and I caught you red-handed. Her eyes suddenly widened as her pupils contracted. Mariana looked at the man in disbelief. "How could I do something like that?" Suddenly, in his mind passed some debris of images. It appeared that Xavier had arrived after she got drunk and was unable to stand. What about him? Without looking at Mariana''s stunned face, Leopoldo turned abruptly and left the ce. Chapter 84: Coma Chapter 84: Coma Chapter 84: Coma Mariana stood shivering in the cold water of the bathtub, still confused by what was happening. She had just changed and was lying in bed when her cell phone rang, disturbing the tranquility. With some helplessness, Mariana answered him and spoke in a low voice: -Hello... But before she could finish her sentence, she was rudely interrupted: -Mari, Mari, it''s me! Do you know what happened to you today on the set? Not long after I left, I didn''t expect such a thing to happen to you. You can''t have sex on set even though you like Xavier so much, right? And you were in Andrea''s living room. I don''t believe it though, what the hell were you thinking? An immense doubt instantly invaded her eyes. Mariana unconsciously clutched the phone in her hand with her fingertips slightly pale from the force, and a violent shiver ran through her heart. -Anita, tell me, what really happened? Out of nowhere, his voice trembled again as he remembered the words Leopoldo had spoken. -Hey? -Don''t you remember? Even though the director said the news couldn''t get out, now it''s everywhere. Everyone on the set says it was you who was romancing Xavier and then having sex in Andrea''s living room.... The voice became lower and lower and finally became as faint as a fly, but Mariana could still pick it up precisely. -Also, I don''t know what happened with everyone, but at that time they went to Andrea''s living room. Supposedly she invited them to do something, then she found you and Xavier there. In the end, Ana''s tone also became a little strange. -It was also said that Xavier took you to his break room afterwards. Her eyes darken and snippets of memory suddenly intrude into her mind. Mariana already understood exactly what had happened. -Hey? Mari, what''s wrong? What the hell is wrong with you? Say something... On the other end of the line, Ana was still asking questions, but she could no longer hear what she was saying. Mariana''s eyes fixed on the ceiling above her and her heart swelled with anger. Her hands subconsciously clenched into fists. The sharp nails dug into the soft palm of her hand, causing a slight pain to shoot through her body, but she was unaware of it. It was Andrea! Andrea had forced her to stay in her living room to drink that full ss of wine. Now that she thought about it, some vile drug must have been contained in this one as well. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. And Xavier was also called by her. Even the director and set staff had been brought in by her. Marianaughed. Her eyes grew colder and her lips paled from the ice water she had just used, giving her an even more impassive look. It was Andrea! -How are things going? With the phone in his hand, while Leopoldo looked at the assistant, his eyes were cold. -Sir, this matter should be the work of... -Miss Solis. Miss Solis. After a pause, the assistant did not speak again. However, because he received no response, he reluctantly had to continue: -She drugged the ss of wine that thedy drank. We have taken it for analysis and found the ingredients. And Xavier was also invited by her to her salon. A deep voice came from the other end of the call and Leopoldo''s eyes grew more frigid. After a long pause, he said: -I understand. The next day, Leopold came downstairs only to see the nanny going back and forth by the dining room table in a state of confusion, with a slight look of panic and deep concern on her face. A hint of confusion crossed his eyes and he took steps to approach, sitting down in his seat before asking disinterestedly: -What''s wrong? -Sir, I just went to thedy for breakfast. I have been knocking on the door, but no one answered, so I went in to see and found that she had a high fever and is still unconscious now. Leopoldo was surprised and felt an inevitable tremor in his heart. He lowered his eyes and hid the emotion in them. -I have given him medicine, but he is not getting better at all. But... but today I have a family matter and I have already asked thedy for permission in advance. What am I going to do now? As he said this, his tone became a bit panicked and shaky. The hand he was cutting the ham stopped and returned to normal in an instant. He said calmly: -I''ll take her to the hospitalter. At these words, the nanny was overjoyed and a little relieved, -Well, sir, thank you for your understanding. Attentive to things at home, the nanny hurriedly untied her apron around her waist and left after grabbing her bag. Only when he heard the door close behind him did Leopoldo leave the silverware, get up and go upstairs. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Mariana in bed in aa. Her face was still flushed, her eyes were closed and her lips, slightly wrinkled fromck of water, were slightly open and moaning. After remaining a few moments in silence by the bed, Leopoldo took his hand out of his pocket to lift the nkets over Mariana and lifted her up. The body in his arms was trembling slightly and curled up, looking small and lovely. To his surprise, it was as light as a feather that he couldn''t feel a single weight. Leopold blinked involuntarily and his heart fluttered as if something had struck him. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he looked at Mariana who was still sleeping. By now she had been given the injection and her fever was gradually dropping. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, here are all thepany''s papers for today. The assistant came by car to this private hospital and first looked at Mariana lying on the hospital bed before cing the stack of papers in her hand on the table next to her. He had not expected his boss to be willing to stay here with the sick woman. He was a man who had always taken his jobs very seriously, even asking him to send the papers to the hospital. This was not Mr. Dur¨¢n''s usual style. With a slight nod, Leopoldo looked at the unconscious Mariana, walked over to the sofa and sat down to start going through the papers. The assistant then quietly withdrew. When she opened her eyes, what she received first was a white ceiling. Mariana, confused, couldn''t help but frown after looking around where it was still the color white. But the next second, her gaze fell on the man with his head down, working on his papers. It was almost dusk. Thest rays of the sun were shining through the window, falling unceremoniously on the man, covering him with a warm yellow glow to dispel much of his usual aura of coldness. He held a ck pen and face with slender fingers as he scribbled rapidly on a white sheet of paper. Such a Leopoldo in a working state was like nothing Mariana had ever seen before. She stood stunned looking at him in a trance. And the man, who had been working with his head down, suddenly noticed a burning gaze upon him and raised his eyes instinctively. Their eyes met, but for a moment neither spoke. One was sitting and the other lying down, so they looked at each other in silence. The orange sun wandered over the two of them, creating a somewhat warm atmosphere. He stood up and walked with his slender legs towards Mariana on the bed. -How do you feel? The woman opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her throat felt dry and sore. Chapter 85: Being Discharged Chapter 85: Being Discharged Chapter 85: Being discharged Leopoldo, standing beside her, poured her a ss of water and gently lifted her up. After finishing everything, Mariana finally recovered. She opened her mouth softly, but her voice was still hoarse: -Better. Thank you for bringing me to the hospital. After thinking about it, she added: -And for staying here to take care of me. With a quick nce at the various papers on the table, Mariana understood. Leopoldo turned and, with his icy and stern gaze reaching the other ce, he frowned without saying anything else. It was his mistake to put Mariana whose body was burning hot in ice water, which had given her a high fever during the night. -It was Andrea who did itst night. In the midst of the quiet and peaceful atmosphere, a hoarse voice rang out abruptly and diffused to both their ears. Mariana''s heart fluttered slightly. Nor did she expect him to suddenly... pour out hisints to her. She smiled bitterly and a thousand despairs rose in her eyes. She had not thought that one day she would tell Leopoldo about Andrea''s harassment of her. Such a realization caused an inexplicable emotion to well up in his heart, like a warm and a cold current, which intertwined and poured into his atrium, finally converging into an indescribable feeling. Hearing what he said, the man raised his eyes, which were so dark that it was difficult to distinguish the hidden emotions. However, she was reluctant to take back what she had just said. As if she could not bear the depth of his gaze, Mariana, stunned, lowered her eyes. The tears that had juste almost from the bottom of her eyes disappeared in an instant and calmed down. -I knew that. At these words, Mariana abruptly raised her head to look at him in a dazed, slightly incredulous bewilderment. -Did you already know? Then... But as we talked about it, she paused. I wanted to ask her what she was going to do. But it was impossible for him to say it. The two remained silent for some time, and finally it was Mariana who took the floor with difficulty: -I feel much better. I still have a lot to do on the set, I... better be discharged. With that, he tried to get off the bed. The man standing next to her had his deep eyes fixed on the woman. His face looked a little somber. -What are you doing? The fall of the cold words in her ears made Mariana''s movements involuntarily stop, but then she returned to normal. A husky voice with a hint of suppressed emotion came out of his mouth in a whisper: -I want to go back to the set. For a moment, a quietness reigned in the room again. After a moment, the indifferent gaze turned away from the woman before he said coolly: -I''ll take you back. And so the conversation broke off on bad terms. Mariana''s eyes narrowed slightly as she watched the fading scenery outside. Her lips were slightly dry and wrinkled from the fever, less delicate than usual. The breeze outside the car window gently brushed the strands of hair on her cheeks, causing a stinging sensation, something that even went to her heart and caused a slightly peculiar fluttering in her mind. The silence in the room seemed tost until the car. The man had thin lips pursed and eyes fixed straight ahead, apparently unwilling to give any nce at the woman beside him. Soon they arrived at the set. Mariana got out of the car and spoke in a daze after a hesitation: -Thank you... for bringing me here. So saying, she quickly walked away without waiting for Leopoldo to answer her. Just as she opened the door, she saw Ana and, naturally, she saw her too. -Mari, I heard that you have been sick, why didn''t you stay longer in the hospital ande back so soon? Your health is the essence of the battle! Without good health, how can you fight those people? The words had taken on a slight tone of resentment at their end. Clearly, this incident had made Ana even more furious with Andrea. With a look of helplessness at the anger on Anita''s face, Mariana couldn''t help but shake her head and gently reassured her: -Enough is enough. -How can it be enough? You don''t know how treacherousst night was. I was so scared when I heard our group say it. Some doubt passed through her eyes as she leaned closer to Mariana and lowered her voice to a whispered question: -By the way! Mari, I haven''t asked you yet, how did you leave the set yesterday? Why was Xavier still here at the end and you disappeared? Speaking of which, Anne nced intently at the crew personnel around her going back and forth and spoke mysteriously: -Mari, when he came out of his living roomst night, he hurt his face! The corners of his mouth were injured, it looks like someone hit him in the face. Do you remember what happenedst night? He opened his eyes wide and Mariana''s heart skipped a beat. Had Leopoldo beaten Xavier? There was the slightest hint of confusion shining in her eyes. She couldn''t help but bite her lower lip and was silent for a moment. After a few moments, he suddenly stood up, he hastened to say before leaving: -I have to go out for a while. Mariana left Ana sitting in the same ce with her eyes wide open in confusion. She walked fast. As she passed by the crew, different gazes turned to her, causing her breath to almost freeze, but her face to be even calmer. -Is he really still here? After what happened yesterday, the director won''t let us talk about it, he''s suffocating me! -Yes, I really don''t know why Mr. B?o is interested in her. It''s horrible that someone like him would be wasted on a woman like her. -And don''t you think it''s also a disservice to his fans? How unexpected. Despite the scandals about him everywhere, he''s messing with the staff in private. It''s true that people in the entertainment industry have more ways to have fun. The incessant noise of chatter filled Mariana''s surroundings, which left her involuntarily quickening her steps. He gripped the phone tightly in his hand. His fingertips were slightly white from the effort and the veins on the back of his hand showed on his pale skin, looking slightly fierce. Passing around a corner, Mariana crossed a hallway at a brisk pace. When she stopped again, there were not many people around. On the door of the room to her left in front of her it said Rehearsal Room and only then did Mariana realize it. It turned out that, unbeknownst to him, he had arrived in Andrea''s "living room". He couldn''t help but express a satirical smile. This was the room that Andrea usually took over. Although it was a rehearsal room, inside almost all of her things were ced and it had obviously be her other break room. With a sh of cold rancor in her eyes, Mariana went to the side. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Standing in front of the window, he looked at the illuminated screen of his cell phone in his hand and his slender fingers moved over it, finally stopping on the name "Xavier." She knew Xavier had protected her in yesterday''s incident. Andst night''s discussion between him and Leopoldo left her unable to avoid feeling a little worried. As she hesitated, sudden noises were heard in the rehearsal room behind her. Mariana stiffened in her seat, holding her breath, not daring to move. Then, a loud bang fell on his ears. -Leo, what do you mean by that? Are you going to do this to me for that woman? This high-pitched voice and the word "Leo" made her shudder. A momentter, his feet seemed to be out of his control and moving toward the door of the rehearsal room. There was probably such a rush that the door was not properly closed, leaving a gap so that discussions inside could be clearly heard. Chapter 86: And Only Me Chapter 86: And Only Me Chapter 86: And only me -You should know exactly what you have done. These things are not your usual amusements, but crimes! The cold words let loose with a slight threat from her mouth. As soon as she heard them, Mariana couldn''t help but clutch the phone in her hand tighter, as if it were her support. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. -Leo, I exined to you what happenedst night. I didn''t organize it and I didn''t know it, you can''t rece my protagonist just because you suspect me. Besides, how could you treat me like that? With a tinge of anger and sadness in her tone, Andrea looked at the icy man in front of her. At this moment, a long figure was standing in front of the window. Leopoldo put his hands in his pockets and gazed at therge tree outside. He gave off a stern, icy aura and did not look at Andrea behind him. Andrea felt very aggrieved and was about to cry. -Leo, I''ll exin it to you again. Last night I called Mariana to my room because I wanted to be her friend for your sake. But I didn''t expect something like this to happen, and the others... I don''t even know why they came... Before she could finish, the man in front with his back to her had coldly interrupted her. His icy words made Andrea''s heart flutter slightly: -Just this once? In an instant, he could not help but open his eyes wide and clenched his hands tightly together. -Thest time Mariana''s father left the set, I had told my assistant to put a felony on him beforehand; he should have dutifully stayed in jail, but instead he returned to the set to cause trouble. The deep voice turned cold, as if it came from hell and carried a monstrous rage. -You released him on bail, didn''t you? Andrea couldn''t help but take a few steps back as she unconsciously shook her head in impotent denial. -And thest time Mariana got the job at the bar, you asked someone to leak it to her on purpose. The man''s words were as impassive and emotionless, as if the calm before the storm was approaching. Andrea took a few deep breaths and tried her best to calm down. She hadn''t imagined that Leopoldo already knew everything. He wouldn''t believe her no matter how hard she tried to exin it. She narrowed her eyes. A way out had already urred to her. She looked very aggrieved and kept tears in her eyes, with a look that inspired a desire to protect her. -So, because I''ve hurt her, you''re going to take the paper away from me? The voice was bitter and revealing of despair. However, Leopoldo did not turn around. For a moment, a smile appeared on Andrea''s face. Her eyes filled with cruelty and swelled with hatred for Mariana inside her. He had not thought that one day his career would be ruined in Mariana''s hands! "That woman?" "That woman who must always be at my feet like an ant?" This was uneptable to her, a proud woman. How could she be willing? -I will exin this matter to the director, you will leave the set today. Andrea''s fate was sealed with these insensitive words. He didn''t even want to wait a moment. Something reluctant appeared in her eyes. Andrea stepped forward and said word for word: -What you''re doing won''t disappoint... my cousin? She asked you to take care of me before she left, and this is how you take care of me? Hurt her sister for someone else''s woman? The figure that had been standing erect could not help but shudder at what the muer said and stiffened slightly. Leopold suddenly turned and turned directly to Andrea his somber gaze, which contained several emotions like churning currents. A smile of satisfaction came over her face, but it was short-lived. By now, the anger and sadness in Andrea''s heart had quietly disappeared. Her eyes were clear and filled with firm impetus. But, even so, a gloomy feeling was brewing deep inside him. There had never been anyone but that woman in Leopold''s heart. Neither her nor Mariana! -Leo, don''t you want her back? You should know that she is always in contact with me. With somber eyes, Leopold looked cruel to the core. After a long silence, he finally blurted out cold words from his mouth: -What are you trying to say? For the moment, Andrea had lost the panicked look she had just had. She slowly approached him, stood slightly on her tiptoes and looked up. The two of them were so close that even their breaths were intertwined. Flirtatiously, she lifted her slender fingers and circled them gently over Leopoldo''s chest, with a slight hint of temptation. Andrea raised her lips like a seductress: -Do you think he''ll still want toe back if he finds out everything you''ve been doing with Mariana? Tomorrow will be the day my cousin and I make our routine phone calls, if.... At this point, she deliberately prolonged her voice and did not speak for a long time. Leopoldo stared at the woman in front of him. Her deep eyes looked like a huge container where a variety of emotions were hidden, either bright or dark, which finally returned to a darkness with a deste silence. -What do you want? Hearing this, Andrea lowered her eyes and blinked, slyly hiding smugness under them. -Nothing special, except that the protagonist of this Holy Empress has to be me, and only me! The quiet words fell on the man''s ears and, at the same time, bombarded Mariana''s mind, making her heart pound. -Okay. -Thank you Leo. Tomorrow when my cousin asks me how you''ve been, I''ll be sure to say you''ve been good and stayed by my side without other women by your side. A slyugh shone in her charming eyes. Andrea smiled indulgently, as bright and dazzling as the spring sun. -Boom! The door behind them was suddenly pushed open. The two men standing together looked back and saw Mariana whose face was full of fury. -Why are you here? The high-pitched voice emitted from Andrea and reached Mariana''s ear. But she ignored her directly and instead looked at the cold man. Step by step, slowly but surely, she approached him. Mariana gazed at him with her head raised. -What are you doing here? The man blurted out the almost identical words, causing Mariana to snag a smirk. -Why am I here? What am I doing here? With a softugh, she continued: -Am I not allowed to be here? Or are you talking about something that I can''t be allowed to know? But everything I just heard is about me! Words with a hint of destion floated softly around the ears of the three. -This is my ssroom, please leave, Miss Ortiz. Andrea took a step forward and stepped forcefully between Mariana and Leopoldo looking provocatively at the woman in front of her. A mischievous smile appeared on her mouth and her eyes abounded with sarcasm and contempt. -Miss Solis'' salon? Last night''s salon is yours, isn''t it? Thisment made Andrea turn around in fright. Her face, with her back to Leopoldo, was slightly twisted with anger and hatred that looked quite horrible. She and Leopoldo had just argued endlessly about this very thing, and now Mariana had deliberately brought it up again. Chapter 87: Only That Person Exists Chapter 87: Only That Person Exists Chapter 87: Only that person exists -Miss Ortiz, you are very eloquent! Leo and I need to talk, so please leave us alone. The word "let us", which she deliberately said in a low voice while also entuating, had a tinge of smugness and smugness. However, Mariana ignored him and turned to the man: -At the hospital, I told you it was Andrea who did this and I heard what you just talked about. Everything that happened to me is her doing! Why do you keep defending her? The somewhat humble words came directly to Leopold''s ears, causing his eyes to widen slightly. Then Andrea''sughter was heard and her words were also extremely sarcastic. -Who the hell are you toment on Leo''s decision? As if he had not heard her, Mariana looked at Leopoldo waiting for his answer and his eyes were resolute. He and she seemed to be the only ones in the room. -It''s none of your business. You are only the head of the wardrobe team on the set, it will never be up to you to decide whether Andrea is named as the protagonist of this drama. The unceremonious arrival of the harsh words to Mariana''s ears let her heart flutter wildly. Unable to contain herself, Mariana took a few steps back before she could stop her body from trembling. -Why? Bitter words sprang from already pale lips. Leopold frowned as a hint of impatience crept across his face. Hands in his pockets, he simply ignored the woman and turned to leave. For a moment, seeming as if her body had suddenly emptied of blood, Mariana became weak. She slowly bent down and clutched her knees helplessly. She was as vulnerable as if she were a newborn and abandoned in the blink of an eye. -Why? You still don''t get it? The provocativement burst into Mariana''s ears word for word, leaving her unable to ignore it. However deep the wounds in his heart, which were already bloody, he wanted to know exactly why. "Why did you treat me like that?" -Do you know a woman? A woman named Diana Solis. The voice with a mixture of satisfaction and contempt sounded at his side, but in the end it was uncontrobly tinged with faint frustration. Andrea looked down on Mariana with disdain in her eyes, as if she were looking at an ant that she could crush with her bare hands. -Leo is not someone you can get, you must know who you are. How can you be worthy of someone as noble as him? -Besides, the most important thing is that his heart already has an owner. No matter how hard you try, appearing in front of him all the time and bothering him, he still doesn''t see you. There is only that person in his heart, he was, is and always will be! The words began with a sarcastic tone, yet the closer they came to the end, the more despondent they became, wrapped in a faint sense of sadness and destion; what sounded like a lost child, unable to find the way forward. Andrea looked through the window at the bright sunlight, which was as if it wasn''t reaching her, not even Mariana who was on the floor. Because they were the same type. I had been doing the same thing for a long time before Mariana came along, but the result was nothing more than that, was it? In any case, it could notpare with the name Diana. Without paying any more attention to Mariana, Andrea closed her eyes, hiding the different emotions in them and turned around to leave. With her head erect, Andrea looked like a haughty princess whose face had a smug look on it; the corners of her lips were curved happily as if she didn''t know what it was like to be sad. As the temperature in the room was dropping and the sun was fading into darkness, Mariana crouched on the floor in a daze sobbing for a long time. Her eyes were so ufortable that they could not shed any more tears. He struggled to get to his feet, but his legs were numb from the long crouch and he almost fell to the ground. It took her a long time to regain consciousness. Raising her eyes, Mariana cast a nce at the night sky outside. That ckness looked like Leopoldo''s eyes, as if trying to invade her heart to swallow the By the time she returned to the dressing room team, the others had finished their work, leaving behind only Ana who was anxious and pacing constantly. Seeing her enter, he pounced on Mariana and pulled her by the hand. He looked her up and down before speaking with concern: -Mari, where the hell have you been? I''ve been calling you, but you didn''t answer the phone and I thought something had happened to you. Mariana looked down and opened the phone she had been unconsciously clutching in her hand, which showed dozens of missed calls, some from Ana and some from Xavier. Mariana froze and only then remembered that she had left earlier to call Xavier. He couldn''t help but smirk bitterly and shook his head. Ana had never seen Mariana like this; the calm, peaceful and cool woman she used to be was so unlike this somewhat disheveled and depressed person in front of her. Ana felt anguished and hugged her, asking in a cracked, hoarse voice: -Mari, something happened to you, didn''t it? Did someone bully you? Is it Andrea? His words showed thick concern. Mariana''s originally cold body gradually warmed up, as if there was a warm current flowing slowly to her heart. She could not help but reach out and embrace the source of the warmth. At this moment, the door behind them opened loudly and mmed against the wall with a bang. The two embraced, astonished, turned to look to find Xavier standing in the doorway. For now, on his face hung a few sweats. He seemed very anxious as if he was looking for something. The next moment, his gaze fell on Mariana and only then Xavier calmed down a little. Mariana approached him and asked with some concern: -Xavier, what''s wrong? As soon as she finished the sentence, she was forcibly pulled into a broad chest. Panting sounded around her ears, blowing the hair around her ears and generating a slight tingle, which made her shiver slightly. She was held rigidly in the man''s arms, wide-eyed and with no idea how to react. Behind her, Ana raised her hand in surprise and covered her mouth to prevent the exmation from sounding to avoid disturbing the two who seemed affectionate. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. But surprise had taken up all his heart. "So Mari and Xavier are really in love!" It was a long time before Mariana gently pushed Xavier away. She looked up at him and asked in a low voice: -Xavier, seriously, what''s wrong with you? Xavier blinked and, looking at Ana standing behind them, paused in what he was about to say. After a long while, he spoke with a smile: -Mariana, can you go for a walk with me? At this moment, Anne, standing on her back, hurriedly waved her hand and urged: -Go ahead, go ahead, don''t worry about me. Only then did Mariana nod her head in eptance. But after leaving the set, Xavier told Mariana to get in the car and the two drove to a small, dpidated building on the outskirts. Just as they were about to go upstairs, a greeting sounded behind them. Chapter 88: Secret Base Chapter 88: Secret Base Chapter 88: Secret Base -Xavier. What brings you here today? I didn''t have time to clean the room today, why don''t you... With a slight gentle smile on his face, Xavier looked at the older woman in front of him with a kindly attitude. -Vera, it''s okay. It was me who came in today without telling you. Go about your business, I''ll just take my friend upstairs for a chat. At that, Vera Echave nced at Mariana standing behind him, only to see that this woman''s eyes were slightly red and puffy, but remained unable to hide her fair skin and delicate, very impressive looking features. Vera winked meaningfully. She looked at Xavier and spoke in a whisper: -Xavier, is she your girlfriend? How pretty! And he froze and, for some reason, did not refute her in the first ce. After a brief pause, he smiled without saying anything, as if he had tacitly agreed. Vera''s eyes couldn''t stop moving between the two of them as she nodded in satisfaction before leaving. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Mariana, who was behind them, naturally, had not heard Vera''s question. The two opened the door and entered the room. But what was before her made her pause a little. The room was furnished in a somewhat old-fashioned but clean manner. An old, obsolete television was set up on the table and in front of it were Dalbergia armchairs, with smooth but somewhat faded arms. When he looked up, he noticed some candlesticks on the table, of an antique style that looked like objects of yesteryear. Even the color scheme of the room design was vintage, where antique touches expanded. Mariana suddenly realized that it was probably a ce where the elderly lived. He turned his head to look at Xavier whose appearance was somewhat mncholy and guessed approximately who had lived here. Xavier turned around and slowly walked over to one of Dalbergia''s armchairs and sat down, telling her to sit next to him as well. -You have to wonder whose residence a ce like this really is. Nodding softly, Mariana continued to look at the various antique ornaments in the room. At this moment, however, a t voice rang in his ears: -Early in the morning, my parents were busy with work and didn''t trust the nanny to take good care of me, so they sent me to my grandparents and asked them to take care of me. Mariana''s heart tightened as she looked at the man whose eyes were in front of her. Such Xavier was a look she had not seen before. -For a long time, my childhood was spent here. I had a very happy and carefree life. His voice fell on Mariana''s ears, interspersed with a bit of warmughter. Unconsciously, she tilted her head and her eyes followed Xavier''s to the small television set in front of her, still carefully covered with a red and white patterned cover, just enough to show the seriousness the elders had put into her life. She had not expected Xavier to have such a memory. That man of many young girls'' dreams, the one who always wore a bohemian expression and yed all kinds of other people''s lives on the screen, turned out to have a dim light in his own life. The story in his ears continued: -Then the disease took my grandparents. Yearster, I bought the ce and redecorated it, restoring it as it was. At this point, Xavier stopped narrating and turned his eyes to look at her. -Nobody knows that this is my secret base. I alwayse here when I feel bad, so I feel that someone is waiting for me, someone to stay with me to spend the not-so-good times together. The light in the eyes of the man in front of her seemed to spread over her, as fiery as if it would burn her. -Xavier... -Mariana spoke hesitantly. But he interrupted her. -Mariana, you can take here as your secret base too. If there is something you are not happy about, I am here and you can talk to me. Xavier looked at her with a very serious face, leaving aside his usual mischievousness. In the time he had been away from Mariana, he had perceived, one after another, many malicious words in the words of those around him: jealousy, or disgust, or mockery.... Such things abounded everywhere. Blinking hard, she struggled to hide the tears in her eyes. Mariana watched the small television with some bewilderment. -How do you think people''s choices really are? If not being elected means being left behind, right? The words drifted softly into Xavier''s ears, a little hoarse like shards of broken ss that had fallen to the floor. -Xavier, you know what? Once again, I was not chosen. Speaking, Mariana turned her head to stare at him with a trembling gaze brimming with tears, as fragile as if she would break on contact. -Mariana, some things are not your fault and not being elected is not your cause, don''t think like that. A small, bitter smile expressed itself on her face as Mariana looked at the man, with a faint broken light in her eyes. -It''s not my fault? Like a child who had done something wrong and was desperate for an affirmative response. It wasn''t about someone telling her she was doing the right thing, but hoping someone couldfort her. There was a moment of silence before Xavier quietly took the floor: -As long as one lives in this world, one has to make choices. He will choose what he considers important, and he will inevitably renounce what he does not consider important. At these words, Mariana hugged her knees tightly. She epassed in a nce the vulnerability all over her body and her slender shoulders trembled in a heartbreaking way. -There is no necessary corrtion between choosing and being chosen, abandoning and being abandoned. Because the choice is made by others, but the abandonment is what one thinks one can only call abandonment. His gaze went through the window andnded on the loose, worn swing in the yard. -You probably don''t know that I had those same thoughts when my parents sent me to my grandparents. I felt abandoned, that they had chosen their careers and abandoned me. -But then, it was my grandparents who cured me, and they were also the ones who told me that truth. Xavier stood up and walked to Mariana''s side. After a hesitation, he ced his palm on her soft hair and stroked it tenderly, with a touch of affection. -If a person is resentful because they were not elected, then there are too many unforgivable things in this world, aren''t there? After a long while, he spoke in a soft voice: -Just follow your heart. He had been cured here once, and now in the same ce he was trying to warm up the woman in front of him. The man''s hoarse voice rang in Mariana''s ears, rushing into her cochlea and causing a booming impact. Chapter 89: Getting Rid Of Me Chapter 89: Getting Rid Of Me Chapter 89: Getting rid of me Looking at the affection in Xavier''s eyes, Mariana burst into tears in an instant. Tears welled up in his eyes with overwhelming determination, as if to wash away all the injustices he had suffered. Xavier froze. The look in this Mariana''s eyes caused a sharp tremor to his heart and then a slight pain spread through his body. He leaned forward and gently embraced the woman, an embrace that was no longer of the teasing and flirtatious nature of the past, but a more real and incredibly tender warmth. It took Mariana a long time to regain herposure. She raised her eyes with a slight sob and looked at Xavier. Her face turned red and she whispered in a hoarse voice: -Thank you. "Thank you for making me feel like I''m not an outcast." Finding herself again, Mariana returned the determination in her eyes. No matter what the future held for her, she would have to be strong to cope. Only she hadn''t been chosen yet, not that she ever would be! The hope that arose in his eyes in an instant burned violently, like the grass that, after a bitter winter wind, sprouted tenaciously from the snow and one day would grow and spread throughout thend. The two returned to the set. -Are you all right? Not far from the set, Xavier stood looking at the staff walking back and forth. His tone was a bit mocking and the corners of his mouth turned up yfully. A calm answer from Mariana rang in his ears: -Yes. The next moment, however, she turned to look at him. -I''d better go first, right? And youe backter. After all, you know I have a bad reputation on the set, if you stay with me, I''m afraid.... He could not help but lower his gaze and did not speak again. With a smile, Xavier reached out with a hand around his shoulders and approached him with a sneer: -What, are you trying to get rid of me? I didn''t know Miss Ortiz was like that. His words revealed a strong joke. With that, he advanced with his arm around her, as if unaware of the stir his actions would actually cause. Mariana''s breath caught and she turned her head to look at him stunned with wide eyes, so wide that he seemed the only one in the world. It turned out that it was only she who had been shy and weak, who had always paid attention to how others saw her. Finally, she finished sorting out her emotions and once again sketched a slight smile. All she felt was a warmth all over her body. Reaching out, she pulled Xavier''s hand away from her shoulders and said: -Even so, you can''t take advantage of me either. After some mutual banter, Mariana shed a bright smile and took the lead to walk to the set. Xavier was stunned and then a chuckle escaped him. He shook his head a little helplessly before following her. The two just walked side by side through the crowd and thus led to a great sensation. -Mariana is too shameless. After what she''s been through, she still dares to stay with Mr. B?o so openly. Does she want to get him in trouble too? -Yes, do you think he is trying to discredit Mr. B?o''s reputation? If this matter is known by his tens of millions of fans? Oh my God! I don''t even want to think about it! -But don''t you think that the kind and affectionate look with which Mr. B?o smiles at Mariana is very beautiful? It''s like a romance novel between a famous actor and an unknown designer! All kinds of chatter filled her ears, but Mariana ignored it. She walked slowly through the crowd toward the dressing room to say goodbye to Xavier. -Thank you anyway. The sincere voice in his ears let Xavier''s eyes instantly turn bright. He leaned toward Mariana and spoke with a smile: -There''s no need to thank me again. If you really want to, buy me dinner sometime. Mariana smiled and nodded, -So, let Mr. B?o give me this pleasureter. -I wouldn''t dare turn you down. The two joked for a few more moments before Mariana returned to the locker room. As soon as she entered, she looked at Ana sitting in a chair deep in thought, her expression one of stupefaction. -What is it, Anita? At the sound of his voice, Ana, who had been in a trance, stood up abruptly and looked at her with the desire to cry. In the blink of an eye, tears came to her eyes. -Mari, what should I do? Andrea''s assistant just brought in her dress saying it''s scuffed in one ce. -I thought it was unnecessary to bother you, I... repaired it. But I didn''t expect it, soon after I sent it to her, that assistant said that it could no longer be used, that it is badly repaired, Andrea broke it in a fit of pique! Saying Ana, aggrieved and angry at the same time, took the clothes on the table and handed them to Mariana with an anxious expression. -Look at him, Mari! Frowning, Mariana unfolded the clothes in her hands to see before sighing involuntarily. Her hem in front of her was originally embroidered with an intricate floral design, which was now torn and scattered. What was worse, there were severalrge holes around it, one of which had been carefully patched, but that was still difficult to hide the poor condition. As a designer, she naturally had a deep knowledge of sewing and line direction. She could see at a nce that the suit had been damaged with malicious intent. The tedious lines of the pattern had been forcibly trimmed to make it look so mangled and unrecognizable. -Mari, what should we do now? Andrea said she had a scene early in the morning. It''s already in the afternoon, it''s impossible to repeat a dress as demanding as this one. After a pause, Ana continued: -And he said... he said that, if I couldn''t do it, he was going to fire me. Tears filled her eyes and Ana, anxious and nervous, could not help but sob. Looking at her with some sorrow, Mariana stepped forward and hugged her gently, reassuring her in a tender voice: -It''s all right, Anita, I''m here, I''ll help you. She knew that Andrea had done this to Ana because of her. Suddenly Leopoldo''s cold face burst back into her mind. It was certain that the reason why Andrea treated her and those around her more harshly was nothing more than that she had the support of that man and so could act without any scruples. For a moment, he was more curious about this Diana that Andrea had mentioned. -Mari, what do you think we do? This suit is already so seriously damaged, how can we remedy it? At that, Mariana wanted tough and she really did. Intimately, he pinched her red, swollen nose from crying and sighed. -Look at you, you''re crying so much that your makeup has run. Then the constion continued: -I designed this dress, can''t I modify it even if it breaks like this? Don''t worry, tomorrow morning I will deliver a perfect and qualified dress for you to take to Andrea. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. -Really, Mari? Ana was surprised. Her face was still a bit skeptical, tears still hung from her long eyshes, but the corners of her lips were already rising uncontrobly. She stepped forward and hugged Mariana, wrapping her arms around her neck tightly and bouncing up and down. -Mari, thank you! You are the best. Chapter 90: A Cold Face But A Warm Heart. Chapter 90: A Cold Face But A Warm Heart. Chapter 90: A cold face but a warm heart. That total confidence seemed to confirm the two words "to be chosen". Mariana''s heart warmed as she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Ana. She would be elected again. After reassuring her, Mariana began to tackle the torn dress. The only way was to cover the holes since they were already impossible to fix perfectly. Andrea had been used in this dress for filming for a long time and the director would never agree to any obvious alterations. Ana, who had not left, stood next to Mariana with coffee, apanying her silently and trying to help her. Suddenly, an idea came to her mind and Mariana remembered the two outfits she had designed that had been photographed and posted on Facebook. In fact, the dress designed this time was not the same as those of the previous one at first nce, but its details were somewhat simr. Regarding the hemlines of both, she opted for borate floral designs as a way of highlighting the heroine''s noble elegance from the inside out. Her mind made up, Mariana went to the corner, lifted the ck cloth on top and carefully pulled out the two forgotten outfits underneath. Lowering his eyes, he couldn''t help but sigh softly. If they could be used in such a way, it wouldn''t be a waste for them, better than having them in a corner without attracting any attention after all. -Mari, what are you doing? Ana, seeing the series of his movements, was startled and could not help but ask. -They are earlier dresses, although the pattern is not exactly the same as this one, but if you don''t look closely, you won''t be able to tell. In that case, I''ll swap the two skirts and sew them together, won''t it be done? With that, he took the scissors and began to cut mercilessly. -But Mari, it''s your work..... -whispered Ana, looking with suspension at Mariana''s clean movements. In fact, he knew that the two designs, which had been despised by the entire crew, were the ones Mariana loved the most. So, even though they brought back bad memories, she had put them in a corner with a cloth on top. -Okay, I''m afraid they won''t be able to realize their value unless they are used in this way. Then I will sew the seams together in the shape of petals so that no one will notice. Without even raising her head, Mariana said as if she didn''t care at all. For a moment, Ana''s eyes filled with tears. She couldn''t help but clench the cup in her hand and was deeply moved inside. People always said that Mariana was an arrogant and even a little indifferent person, that such a person had no heart, much less gave anything. But Ana didn''t buy it and, rather, he liked her very much. He took it upon himself to approach her and befriend her. In fact, it was Mariana who had been taking care of her for the most part. Only his face was cold but his heart was warm. She blinked hard to wipe away the tears in her eyes. He put down the ss and approached Mariana, speaking softly: -Mari, I''ll help you cut the hem of this dress, okay? -Of course. Mariana straightened her back with difficulty and stretched her sore arms, blinked and looked outside the window. The faintly white light that was let in through the window illuminated everything in the room with a cool chill that inevitably lifted the mood. Mariana turned her stiff neck and, looking at Ana who was already asleep on the table, a serene smile appeared on her face. At this moment, it was as if all his fatigue had suddenly been swept away, reced by an indescribable sense of relief. He stepped forward and gave her a gentle push: -Anita, wake up, it''s dawn. The sleeping Anne struggled to raise her head and opened her eyes sleepily, looking at her with a puzzled expression. -Anita, I''ve had the dress altered. Get it to Andrea quickly or she''ll make things difficult for you again if her morning scene is dyed. Hearing those words, Ana''s drowsiness dissipated instantly. She stood up abruptly and looked at the clothes Mariana was holding in her hands. He unfolded it and took a look at it. It was so perfect that it didn''t look like an articted costume, but rather as if it had always been that way. Admiration instantly filled her eyes. Ana went forward and embraced her, saying gratefully: -Mari, thank you! And with that, she carefully carried the suit and ran out to Andrea''s living room. With her eyes fixed on that cheerful figure, Mariana felt tired only then. She shook her head smiling, then moved to the armchair and closed her eyes. The prolonged mood swings and heavy workload had left her physically and mentally exhausted. A few moments after that, his steady breathing began to echo through the silent locker room. Little did anyone know that Mariana, who was asleep for now, had snuck into the Patio Feliz of her childhood. In front of the door of her grandmother''s house,ughter flooded in and she ended up Mariana was awakened by an anxious sound of urging: -Miss Ortiz, Miss Ortiz! Wake up! Miss Solis said she wanted to ask you about the dress and asked you toe quickly. The whole team is waiting for you. He reached out and rubbed his forehead wearily, feeling his temples bursting. Mariana stood up and spoke in a hoarse voice to the staff who hade to call her: -Let''s go. When he arrived on the scene, the director, Xavier and everyone from the team were present and the director looked somewhat angry. Mariana froze with a slight uneasiness going through her mind, but without pausing, she arrived in front of Andrea in no time. At this moment, thetter was standing with a cushion under her feet, looking slightly sad with teary eyes, as if she was angry and aggrieved. -Miss Solis, what is it? At that, a huge rancor shone in his eyes, then he looked at Mariana in an extremely arrogant and irritated way. -Don''t you know what happened? -Didn''t you design this dress? You should have altered itst night N?velDrama.Org content rights. too, shouldn''t you? A little confused, she looked at the untouched dress Andrea was wearing and asked: -Is there something wrong with this dress? His voice was kept as calm as possible. -Something wrong? You have the nerve to ask me what''s wrong with it? This dress is obviously much longer than thest one. I''ve got an action scene today, but I can''t even stretch! What do you think? Then, as he turned to look at the various members of the team with ears wide open for gossip and the impatient director not far away, under his eyes a smile of amusement quickly jumped out, which was short-lived. -Miss Ortiz, now that you''ve altered the dress like this, how do you expect me to keep filming? With a sigh, Mariana nced at the clothes Andrea was wearing. Yesterday she had measured it meticulously and it was not very different from the original. Only the hem would be slightlyrger, but which would not affect the cinematography action. I didn''t expect Andrea to have picked up on this slight distinction and take advantage of it to make things difficult for her. -Today''s scene is very important, and the crew has rented this space for a long time, so there is no time to waste. But now I can''t even move, how will I continue filming? His voice was indulgent andmanding and came through loud and clear to everyone''s ears. Chapter 91: The Red Spot Chapter 91: The Red Spot Chapter 91: The Red Spot The director, who was next door, frowned, looked next to Mariana and Andrea, turned around and walked in, rather as if he didn''t want to look this way again. Mariana knew that the director had be impatient with her since what happened between her and Xavier in the break room. After all, when it came to the costumes, it was possible to pretend nothing had happened thanks to his design talent. But if she was involved with the actor, that was something the director would not tolerate. Hiding the emotions in her eyes, Mariana spoke as calmly as possible: -Miss Solis, take off your dress and give me ten minutes, I will help you change it, what do you think? Andrea raised her eyebrows and looked at Mariana in front of her with a high-flown, mischievous smile, -Can you change it in 10 minutes? I heard from Ana that it took you all night to get this dress altered like this. Mariana''s eyes narrowed slightly as she became enraged. Her aura became even colder, -Don''t worry, Miss Solis, with 10 minutes, they can also be changed, it won''t dy your shooting schedule. -Then, Miss Ortiz, you must hurry. With these words, Andrea went to her living room and took off her suit. Taking the suit, Mariana began to change it, and did not choose to cut it again, but instead slightly folded the hem, trying to raise it a little when sewing. Andrea did not move away, but sat down next to her, looking disdainfully at the sudden movements of Mariana''s hands. -What a good servant! But then her aide came up behind her, her voice a joy, and she spoke excitedly: -Miss Andrea, Mr. Dur¨¢n hase! Stunned by the words, Andrea turned her head, -What did you say? Is Leo here? As if she couldn''t believe it, Andrea repeated it again, and her assistant, hearing it, nodded her head repeatedly. The scissors in his hand cutting the threads stopped for a moment, brushing his slender fingers with extreme speed, the de sharp and already leaving a trail of crimson blood. Mariana''s eyes shed with panic and she withdrew her hand, but was surprised when the red drops of blood fell on her white suit, like white snow and red flowers. . Even though Mariana had made such a serious mistake, Andrea didn''t bother with her and looked in the mirror to fix her makeup before leaving the salon to meet Leopoldo. Dropping her hands helplessly, Mariana looked at the red drops of blood on a white cloth. Andrea had barely taken a few steps out of the room when the man entered. His cold, icy gaze shifted to the slender figure with his back to the door. She was covered with a strong sense of dejection, her shoulders were thin and her fragility was overflowing around her. With an indescribable emotion spreading through him, Leopoldo looked away. At that moment, Andrea''s luscious body pressed against his side, head up and smiling, eyes full of surprise, -Leo, why did you think ofing to visit me today? Lionel couldn''t help but sigh as he raised his eyes and looked at the figure he had turned his back on. It was obvious that the boss hade to visit thedy today, but it was obvious that she didn''t care! As Lionel was lost in thought, the chief''s cold words reached his ears, -I''m not busy with work today, so I came. The low, harsh voice fell on her ears, but the momentary pang of helplessness in Mariana''s heart dissipated, only to be instantly overwhelmed. She struggled to keep her emotions under control and gripped the ruler tightly in her hand. It was Leopoldo. At that moment I was behind her, and next to her was Andrea. -But I''ve had a busy day, I could have finished early. Andrea looked up angrily in Mariana''s direction before continuing, -But my clothes were so ruined that I couldn''t start my work, otherwise I could have gone for a walk with you, Leo. A meaningful, aggrieved voice rang out and Andrea''s eyes shed with a hint of coldness. She had been aware that Leopoldo''s eyes had rested on Mariana when she had first entered. Resentment was growing, as if she could not get into Leopoldo''s eyes. -It doesn''t matter, it''s better to sit here. As he said that, Leopoldo walked over to the couch to sit down and looked at the somewhat stiff figure. The couch was located not far from Mariana, so he could clearly see the movements of her hands and even the expression on her face. Andrea''s face still wore a flirtatious smile as she affectionately approached Leopoldo and sat down next to him. -Leo, you are the best. Hearing this soft voice, Mariana could not help but stop her hands from moving. The bleeding from the wound had stopped, no more blood wasing out, but thecerations were a clear indication of the violent emotions he had just felt. He closed his eyes and tried to suppress his emotions. She had only ten minutes to finish the dress as quickly as possible, and she could not allow herself to Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. be distracted by outside thoughts. Her fingers twitched as needle and thread ran over the snow-white dress, and soon the excess hem was carefully shrunk and hidden under an outeryer. Then he looked at the drops of blood, but paused, hesitating for a moment. -Ah! What is it? Miss Ortiz, why is there a color of red here? A surprised voice with a shout of surprisended loudly in Mariana''s ears, and Andrea was already getting up and approaching the table, looking at the spot of red, her words full of provocation. -Miss Solis, I''m sorry, this is a drop of blood that I identally wounded on my hand before staining it, and I... However, before Mariana could finish her sentence, Andrea interrupted her again: -So what? When do you n to do it, Miss Ortiz? You are a designer, so you must know that this suit is made of precious silk and cannot be washed, so how will this striking red color be removed? Mariana lowered her eyes, unable to resist biting her lower lip. However, as time went on, he couldn''t think of a better way to cover the red spot. Chapter 92: Showing Off Skills Chapter 92: Showing Off Skills Chapter 92: Showing off skills -Miss Ortiz, it''s just a dress change for you, do you hate me so much that you want to ruin my dress? The relentless voice was still echoing in her ears, and Mariana was unable to think calmly. At that moment, a cold voice broke in on him, -Since you have nothing else to do,e out for a walk with me. After saying this, Leopoldo stood up and Andrea''s anger disappeared and she approached him, hugging him gently. -If you don''t want to stay here any longer, let''s go. By now Mariana was the only one left in the room. Leaving the ruler in her hand, she looked at the dress not knowing what to do, still trying to think of a way. As she pondered, the door to the living room behind her was pushed open again. Turning her eyes in a daze, Mariana saw Lionel, who had returned. Lionel, who was an important person to Leopoldo, did not usually appear in front of her in public or show any familiarity with her. Her rtionship with Leopoldo had not been exposed, and it was clear that Leopoldo did not want her to publish it. Lionel walked over to Mariana, pulled out his phone, handed it to her and nodded slightly, motioning for her to look at it. A look of confusion still swirled in her eyes, but Mariana picked up the phone anyway. It was a video of internationally renowned designer Alicia, or a video of her showing off her skills. In one of the world designpetitions, Alicia had the children paint the hem of a white dress with various brushes, five or six of them working together, and within seconds the dress was colorful and bright. The dress turned back to white in an instant with an Alice needle. The video was admired by many designers and, naturally, it was also studied and forwarded by all. There was a deep respect for Alicia''s ability and, naturally, so was Mariana. -Mr. Dur¨¢n said to show you the video, that you would understand. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. -Did... Mr. Dur¨¢n ask you to bring that? -Exactly. -Thank you. -I will give Mr. Dur¨¢n your thanks. With that, Lionel nodded and turned to leave. Time was passing, even if Andrea could not attend her for a moment due to Leopoldo''s arrival. But if Andrea knew she was in a situation where she had a ready opportunity to make things difficult for him, she didn''t think Andrea would be willing to pass it up. Mariana returned to work. Remembering the technique he had just seen Alice use, he began to draw and became more and more skilled. The dots flip and swirl quickly over the suit, leaving a white trail that hides the red drops of blood. Finally, Mariana put down the needle and thread and looked at the new white suit in front of her with an uncontroble smile. All designers would probably be proud of the final product, and so would she. At that moment, Andrea also returned with a bad face. -Why have you stopped, Miss Ortiz? Is it already done? The threatening words fell on Mariana''s ears, showing that she was not in a very good mood. Without seeing Leopoldo, Mariana understood why. His face was still cold and calm, Mariana looked at Andrea and spoke indifferently: -The suit has been made, look, please. After saying this, he unfolded the suit and ced it in front of Andrea. The drops of red blood were already covered and none were visible. Andrea stepped forward and picked up the suit. After examining the fabric with her hands, the white stitching on the surface remained intact and the red drops of blood on the inside were not visible at all. It was well hidden. Putting down the cloth, she said: -Don''t get so cocky, you must do it to make up for your earlier mistake! At these words, a hint of coldness shone in Mariana''s eyes as her face remained calm. Her tone was so indifferent that she didn''t even bother to argue: -Since it''s done, I''ll go first. After saying that, without waiting for Andrea''s response, he left. Andrea''s eyes burned with anger as she looked behind her back, making her delicate face look a little fierce. His assistant approached with the suit and spoke cautiously: -Miss, the director is already pressing, let''s quickly put on the suit and go. However, to his surprise, the next moment he was struck with bad luck. -f! With a loud sound, a hard pnded on his assistant''s face, and in an instant, the red marks of five fingers appeared on his white skin. -Get on with your business! Taking the suit from his hand, Andrea went to change. Andrea was agitated with hatred and anger at this point. A short while ago, she had just left the room, said a few words to her assistant and Leopoldo left, leaving her in vain. It was as if he had note to see her, but to see Mariana. This perception made Andrea return to the salon furious after Leopoldo had left. She thought that if Mariana couldn''t fix the drop of blood, she was going to teach him a lesson and even get the director to throw her off the set. But, he saw that she had fixed the suit perfectly. Chapter 93: Sadness Chapter 93: Sadness Chapter 93: Sadness Not being able to unburden herself made her hate Mariana even more. As Andrea dressed, she was calm again and her assistant, who had been out of the room, dared not say anything, her eyes brimming with tears, the p marks on her face were hidden by make-up, they were barely visible. Andrea stopped looking at this girl and walked to the set with pride. And so, it all ended unnoticed. As Mariana left Andrea''s room, she was exhausted, but Lionel''s words remained in her mind. "Mr. Dur¨¢n said that if he saw it, he would know what to do." He did, and he did. Mariana dropped straight onto the couch, and only came to her senses. The name, Diana Solis, that had been on her mind for so long came back to her. Mariana took out her cell phone and called Lionel, biting her lip. -Ma''am? Do you have something you want to tell me? After a moment of silence, Mariana''s eyes were full of doubt. She didn''t know what the name Diana Solis meant and she didn''t know if she should go looking for an answer or not. -Ma''am? After a long silence, Lionel asked again. -I want to know something about a woman. She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, Mariana had made a decision. She looked into the mirror that reflected all of her, and there was no ce to hide even the emotion in the depths of her eyes. It was the yearning. For a moment, however, Lionel said nothing. He hadn''t expected Mariana to call at that hour to ask something like that. -Madam, it is better not to know. -What if I need to know? It was the first time Mariana showed him strength, and although Lionel could not see her face at the time, he felt it fully in the words. -I don''t know anything about that one, but the only thing I can say is that the reason why Mr. Dur¨¢n is so tolerant with Miss Sol¨ªs is because she is the cousin of that one. There was a sudden pain in the heart. Andrea had done so much damage, but Leopoldo could still forgive her, even tolerate her, all because of Diana. If you treated Andrea this way, what would happen to Diana? Closing his eyes tightly, forcing himself not to think about it anymore. -Well, I can see that. With that, the call had been hung up. He leaned back weakly, sinking into the soft couch. The woman in the mirror looked somber and sad, her hands sped on her knees, her eyes dazed, lightless. There was absolute silence in the room. Putting his phone away, Lionel looked at the office of the president of Grupo Dur¨¢n, hesitated, but entered with the folder in his hand, -Sir, this is the cooperation agreement with the Sanda Group, it has just been drafted, please review it. With that, the folder was ced on the table, but did note out. -What? -Anything else? Lionel looked a little embarrassed, not knowing how to hint to his boss, -Sir, I don''t know if I should say it. -If you know it''s inappropriate, don''t say it. Lionel was still gritting his teeth in a persuasive mood: -Mr. Dur¨¢n, since some people can go away for so many years and nevere back, why don''t you get along with the person in front of you? Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. -Bang! A heavy blow fell to the ground. Lionel couldn''t help a shudder and fell silent. His death would be for talking too much! For a moment, the atmosphere in the room became tense to the max. After a nce at his boss''s face, Lionel dared not linger any longer and hastened to say: -I''ll go first. The assistant left very neatly. The office door closed firmly again and the room fell silent. Fingers gripped the expensive ck pen again and it seemed that the coldness that had just fallen on him, with anger. The person in front of you? *** The day went by and, despite asional difficulties on Andrea''s set, Mariana thought no more of Leopoldo. When they returned home, they had not spoken to each other since that day on the set. Mariana felt the rxation, but also a deep sense of helplessness and a sense of disappointment. That day, Mariana soon packed up her things and left the set to return to her vi in the suburbs. When she opened the door, she was naturally greeted alone by her nanny. -Are you back so early today, ma''am? I haven''t made dinner yet, so it may take a while to wait. With a smile on her face, Mariana waved her hand at the nanny and said softly: -All right, I''ll go upstairs and change my clothes, I''m not very hungry now either. And with that, he went upstairs. Leopoldo was still noting when she finished eating. After a quick wash, Mariana went to her room and went to bed. But he was about to fall asleep when the door of his room opened violently, and the dim white light from outside fell into the darkness of the room, illuminating the woman lying on the bed. Startled, she looked toward the door to see a tall figure with an unknowable expression. Mariana was about to ask a question when the door mmed shut again, but he turned toward the woman on the bed. The smell of alcohol reached his nose, had he been drinking? Chapter 94: All Is Well Chapter 94: All Is Well Chapter 94: All is Well -Mr. Dur¨¢n, this is my room, you''re in the wrong ce, let me take you back.... Before she could say more, Leopoldo, who had been standing next to the bed looking at her, suddenly fell towards the bed, right on top of Mariana''s body, and the smell of alcohol tightened around Mariana for a moment, making her slightly drunk as well. The next moment, her slender, soft body stiffened, there was a warm, moist heat on her neck, and it was his kisses. These kissesnded heavily on the skin with an indescribable charm, making the body turn with heat, while the temperature of the contact there became hotter and clearer. Mariana struggled as she noticed the man''s growing lust, strong nibbling and sucking with deep intent. However, the woman''s strength was no match for the man''s, and even with all her strength, she could not move him at all. The man''s movements became more and more unrestrained, a slight pain became present and Mariana gave up the fight. Staring into the darkness, she felt momentarily confused. The man on top of her was Leopoldo, she knew it, but what was he doing, did he know it himself? And what was worse, she knew it and was unable to stop him, letting him do what he wanted. As the heat continued to burn her body, Mariana closed her eyes and the tears fell, disappearing into the ck hair and were never to be found again. The next day, Mariana woke up and moved slightly, feeling a pain in her whole body, but she also felt that Leopoldo was next to her. He was still asleep with his eyes closed. Always the man had the coldness in his gaze but now it had been hidden, and his face was much more tender than usual. Unconsciously, she reached out and gently stroked him, from his eyebrows and eyes, to his nose and lips, to his throat, everywhere, gently. It was the first time I had looked at him so closely, the God was so partial to him, and this man had to be molded with great care and energy. It seemed that the man was about to wake up, Mariana withdrew her hand, closing her eyes and pretending to sleep. Leopold looked up at the white ceiling above him, and for a moment he couldn''t tell where he was. His eyes lowered slightly and he saw the woman lying in his arms who was calm, her cheeks flushed and her eyes, closed. Only then did Leopoldo remember what had happened yesterday. The coldness returned to his eyes, Leopoldo got up, got out of bed, picked up the clothes from the floor and put them on, and went out. Everything went quickly and without a moment''s hesitation. When silence returned to the room, Mariana opened her eyes slightly. Unconsciously, he reached out and touched the empty spot where the warmth still lingered, but there was no longer a strong figure beside him, and his heart seemed to feel empty as that empty spot. What had it really been for him the night before? He put on his clothes and looked at the cell phone on the table, his heart thudding. The neck was covered with bruises and bruises, so you could tell at a nce what had happened the night before. With those mixed feelings, Mariana didn''t want to go to the set today and didn''t want to see Andrea, so she called the director saying she wasn''t feeling well and took some time off. The moment she hung up the phone, Mariana felt a little more rxed and, after a moment, got up to wash herself. Since she had nothing to do today, she wanted to see her grandmother. After buying some fruit, Mariana went to Grandma''s house. To her surprise, the person who opened the door was ra Moreno, her mother. -Mom. After ncing at the fruit in Mariana''s hand, ra took it with a sullen face and spoke unkindly: -Come in, Mrs. Dur¨¢n. The words were full of mockery, especially the word "Mrs. Dur¨¢n". He felt something blocking his heart, making him unable to breathe. -Mom... -Since you''vee to visit Grandma,e in quickly. After saying that, he turned around and left without looking at Mariana for a second. Mariana''s heart ached and her face turned slightly white. ra had never wanted him toe to Leopoldo''s grandmother''s house; if he had note, they would still have a superficial mother-daughter rtionship, but Mariana was already here, she did not treat him kindly. Mariana hid all the emotions from her eyes and, with a smile on her face, walked through the door and Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. saw the old woman lying on a lounger on the balcony, sunbathing. As she approached, the warmth of the sun illuminated her and seemed to dispel the coldness in her heart. -Grandma. At the sound of the voice, Grandma turned her eyes with a look of surprise. -Mari! With that, he was about to get up from the couch, and Mariana took it upon herself to step forward. At that moment, the grandmother reached out her hand, full of joy, and took Mariana by the hand, pulling her close and looking at her carefully before caressing her hand with satisfaction. -It seems that Leopoldo takes good care of you, at least he hasn''t lost weight, but your face, why does it look a bit bad? -Mari, tell me, is Leo treating you badly? That bastard! If he treats you badly, tell me, I''ll teach him a lesson for you! Mariana felt warmth in her heart and a smile appeared on her face. -Grandma... I''ve been working too much and probably haven''t had a good rest.... don''t worry about me. Then, she changed the subject, -Grandma, how are you feeling these days? -Don''t worry, everything is fine. Mariana wanted her grandmother, who was so good to her, to stay with her as long as she could. At lunchtime, Mariana sat with Grandma,ughing and joking for a long time, and Grandma ate more than usual. After the two had eaten, the grandmother took Mariana to the study. Every time she came, grandma would take her to the studio and take those pictures of Leopoldo as a little boy and show them to her. I knew that grandma had a bad memory, but I loved her very much. Chapter 95: Bitterness Chapter 95: Bitterness Chapter 95: Bitterness So, every time Mariana pretended to see these photos for the first time so that grandma would have joy. The two were sitting in the studio, flipping through an album of photos of Leopold as a child, suddenly, their eyes fell on thest photo in the album. In the photo, Leopoldo was young and looking at the smiling woman next to him, as if they were in love. With fingers trembling, trying to repress the various emotions, Mariana spoke in a mute voice: -Grandma, who is this girl? Hearing this, Grandma''s face, which had been smiling, darkened, and her friendliness faded, a little unnaturally. -This is one of Leo''s childhood ssmates. The voice was weak, as if he didn''t want to mention it. However, Mariana sensed something in her grandmother''s tone: -Grandma, is your name Diana Solis? Surprised, the grandmother looked at her with surprise and said unconsciously: -How do you know it? It was really her. So the two of them had known each other for a long time? -Grandma, she... She was going to ask again, but Grandma had already closed the album. -Mari, this is all in the past, isn''t Leo with you now? You are already a couple, so the most important thing is to give grandma a great-grandchild. -Grandma... -This is myst wish, to see you happy. The words fell on Mariana''s ears with an expectation. She looked at her grandmother and couldn''t help but fall gently into her grandmother''s arms: Property ? N?velDrama.Org. -We will, Grandma, we will. The promise she wasn''t sure if it was a promise to her grandmother or to herself. In the room, it was warm and cozy, but the person at the door was terrified, her hands trembling as she held the tray. It was ra. The grandmother asked her to bring some refreshments, but when she approached the door she heard the words "Diana Solis", which made her startled. ra turned around with her tray and went downstairs, a little disoriented. It was as if she had received a blow. It was alreadyte when she left her grandmother''s house. Mariana looked silently at the night sky, as if remembering thest time she was in Zoraida''s courtyard with Leopoldo. The memory was so distant that it seemed like a long time ago. He saw ra, whose face was as somber as tonight. -Are you looking for me? Mariana didn''t think ra was here to see her off. -You just talked about someone named Diana Solis, who is she? Mariana did not understand why she had that question. -Do you know her? How could ra know Diana? ording to what the grandmother said, the two families knew each other, so they must be business partners. The Dur¨¢n family did not have frequent dealings with ordinary families. -How can I know her? If you don''t want to tell me, then nothing, why test me with your words? After a pause, ra looked at Mariana, with a slightly unpleasant face and a very impulsive tone. With just one question, she had made ra feel unhappy with her. -Since there is nothing else, I will go back first.... Mom, take care of yourself. After saying that, Mariana turned and left. ra was stunned for a moment and, looking at Mariana, her heart could not avoid a sad feeling, but then she thought of something, and went back to the house. In bed, Mariana closed her eyes thinking about what Grandma and Lionel had said. The information was that, indeed, this woman, Diana Solis, was extraordinary for Leopoldo, a very important person in his life. As he thought about it, his head grew increasingly numb. Mariana was awakened by the weight of her body and opened her eyes to the darkness in front of her, obviously it was not yet dawn. The man on top of her was moving and, just like the night before, the smell of alcohol surrounded her. Mariana pushed against the man and screamed: -Leopoldo, Leopoldo, wake up! But there was no response. -Leopoldo! It''s Mariana! Wake up! The next moment, the pushing hands were mped with one of the man''s hands, and she could not move. The man''s movements became more violent. She couldn''t understand how it had happened like this, and remembered what her grandmother had told her today about Diana. But although there was a slight resistance in his mind, his body sincerely longed for it. It was a charming room. The next day, Mariana woke up and Leopoldo was gone. The pain in his body was a clear indication of what had happened the night before. Finally, he got up, cleaned up and went to the set. Just as she arrived on the set, she saw Xavier walking toward her. -Is the great designer Ortizing to work? Chapter 96: Nothing Can Be Done Chapter 96: Nothing Can Be Done Chapter 96: Nothing can be done With a smile, Mariana looked at him, who was standing in front of her with his arms crossed, and spoke in a low voice: -This is my job. -What? You work because? -a smile emerged and he took a step closer to Mariana-am I here? He was such an attractive man. Even Mariana couldn''t help but look into his eyes, and then she felt a little helpless: -Don''t be ridiculous. With that, he passed Xavier and left. And, naturally, the man didn''t let her go so easily, walking beside her, still looking cynical: -Is that man in a bad mood these days? Apparently, Xavier was such a proud man but now he spoke tofort her. -Xavier, you don''t have to tell me this. Immediately,ughter rang in his ears, -Mariana, what were you thinking, that such words have moved you? -How is this possible? With these words, Mariana continued on her way. The man behind her had stopped smiling and his gaze fell on the slender, smooth figure with many emotions, taking a long time to calm down. After spending the whole morning in the dressing room, Mariana was almost exhausted. It was lunchtime. But Mariana waited for a long time without anyone bringing her food. Normally, she would have eaten lunch by this time, but now Ana screamed: -I''m starving. But the crew was still missing. Mariana nced at Ana, who was lying on the sofa, and had to get up and leave the dressing room. As she passed by the set, an angry voice made Mariana stop. The man who usually served her food stood listening, hands sped in frustration and even trembling slightly in fear. And it was Andrea standing in front of him, shouting angrily and making sarcasticments: -What? How dare you bring me that pig food? -Do you want to keep working on the set or not? Looking at the set member who kept apologizing, Andrea''s eyes were full of contempt. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. She had called Leopoldo from time to time during this period, but, each time, Lionel had blocked her, not once did Leopoldo return her calls. It was evident that Leopoldo did not want to see her. This infuriated her, but she could do nothing, and had no choice but to keep her anger bottled up, and this worker was right in her crosshairs, naturally she had to vent her anger on him. The entire set remained silent, not daring to say a word, although some looked up from time to time. They saw the trembling person and felt sympathy for it, but because Andrea was so dominant, they had to keep their mouths shut to protect themselves. After all, the lead actress in Emperatriz Santa was chosen by Grupo Dur¨¢n, and even the director used to respect Andrea and would not easily me her. -He is unlucky, Andrea has been in a bad mood thest few days. -Yes, I don''t know what''s wrong, Andrea is always angrytely, she doesn''t like anyone. -I didn''t go over to hand her a bottle of water, and she was upset and yelled at me. The whispering continued, but by then Mariana could no longer hear them and walked towards her. At that moment, the whole set, who were still chatting, looked at her with surprised, mocking or frightened eyes. It seemed iprehensible and unbelievable that Mariana had taken the initiative to approach Andrea under those circumstances. The scene was silent for a moment. -Luis, the director said that another lunch ration is needed, it seems that some boss hase and wants to invest in the team, let you send it quickly, do not dy. Mariana did not look at Andrea, but her gaze fell on the trembling Luis. At the sound of the voice, Luis raised his head with eyes full of confusion and looked at Mariana, whose face was calm. Then he looked at Andrea, who was furious, and shook his head very gently at Mariana. Mariana understood that Luis wanted her to leave quickly so as not to bother Andrea anymore. But he did not move a step and continued to speak insistently: -Luis, there is no time to lose on the part of the director. Luis, think about it, if you dy the director''s investment because of this little matter, the director will be angry at that time, you''d better leave quickly. -What are you doing? Have youe to teach me what to do? He''s just a stage assistant, and now you have to defend him. Is this set Miss Ortiz''s world now? Is no one else allowed to speak? The words were wrapped in great anger. Chapter 97: Cover Headlines Chapter 97: Cover Headlines Chapter 97: Cover headlines -Miss Solis, it''s my fault, designer Ortiz was just passing me a message.... Before Luis could finish, Andrea had already interrupted him again: -You know it''s your fault? Then she looked triumphantly at Mariana, her words still unrelenting: -The producer trusts you to let you direct the set meals! It''s not for you to profit. The set meals are now junk! How dare you try to cheat me out of those meals! With that, Andrea violently threw the lunch box in her hand to the floor, juices flowing and the food soaked in mud. -If you want me not to me others, well, since you think the food served here is good, then you can eat the good food on the floor in front of me, then I''ll take you at your word! And I''m not going to make things difficult for you. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Mariana stared incredulously at the food on the floor, angry. And Luis looked at the juicy food on the floor, showing a look of helplessness. Mariana saw Luis like that, she understood that he was going to do what Andrea said. -Miss Solis, the food on the set has been specially adapted by a nutritionist. All the crew members, including the director and the producer, and even Xavier, ate the same lunch. And since you are the protagonist, the meals Luis prepares for you are much more borate, don''t you see? Looking at Mariana, Andrea was unmoved by herment. Mariana took a box of food from one of the staff members, and ced it in front of Andrea. It was true that the box inside was not as varied as Andrea''s, nor as borate, and it was clear that Andrea''s box had been prepared well. -Miss Solis, even the director and the producer are eating the same lunch box, why can''t you? Looking directly at Mariana, with a lot of anger, for a moment Andrea could do nothing. What she intended was to make things difficult for her today, and she knew that, as her agent had taken care of her beforehand, the food she delivered to her was different from what was delivered to the others. I did not expect to find Mariana, who had mentioned the director and producer, and even Xavier, were more important than her, were receiving a meal like this, so what more could be said? Andrea knew that if she kept it up, tomorrow''s front page headlines would be full of her stories. -Mariana, remember what you said today! With those cold words, Andrea left with her assistant, without looking at anyone else. Mariana stepped forward and looked at Luis sympathetically and said softly: -Luis, sometimes it''s not good to put up with everything.... He wanted to exin himself more, but... -Miss Ortiz, I know everything! But, after all, you have offended Miss Solis because of me, and I''m afraid the days ahead are going to be even more difficult. Previous incidents between Andrea and Mariana had spread throughout the set, so even Luis. -That''s it, what else can I do? Well, Luis, I''vee for my food box and Anita''s, so you can give them to me. -Okay. Luis went to one side and picked up two boxes and handed them to Mariana, then went to another side, picked up yogurts and shoved them into Mariana''s hands. -There''s nothing good to eat here, but there''s still some yogurt left after lunch, so I''ll give you some more. Mariana wanted to refuse, but... -Do you think it wasn''t good? If you don''t like it... -Yes, I like it, then, thank you. In the following days, when Luis woulde to deliver Mariana''s food, he would have a fewughs with her, and the two became much closer, talking andughing. Every time Luis arrived, he would bring some snacks, fruits and so on, and give them to Mariana, which were not too expensive. Mariana took them, but did not expect anyone to see her actions. Andrea looked at Mariana and Luis, she already had a n. Luis was obviously offering Mariana some fruit. Instead, that image seemed to those who were a little farther away, as if the two were shaking hands and talking andughing. Andrea looked at the two standing there, her mind already made up. Once back in his living room, he pulled out his cell phone. -Hey, howe the big star has time to call a little reporter like me? The wordsing from the other end of the phone were satirical, which made Andrea''s expression impatient. -The shooting schedule for Empress Santa has been very busytely. And I have an issue here, I don''t know if you''re willing to ept it. Gomez, once the job is done, the price is negotiable. There was a moment of silence, and then came the serious words, and Andrea shed a satisfied smile. -Well, tell me, Miss Solis. Chapter 98: Obsession Chapter 98: Obsession Chapter 98: Obsession In the evening, Mariana returned to the vi and, after a short dinner, went first to her small studio and drew some designs. When he looked up again, it was already 23:30. Mariana got up to the window and stood there, opening it gently, and the cool breeze blew in. On her neck there were still some unfaded red spots, reminding her of that night. He stopped thinking andy down on the bed. However, only a momentter, the alcohol-smelling man entered, and stood over her. The warmth and the familiar smell of alcohol made Mariana slowly rx. -Leopoldo... -Shhh... N?velDrama.Org content rights. Mariana was struck dumb as she felt the touch of a cold finger against her red lips, the slightest tingle and pain. You didn''t even want to hear his voice, did you? But, still, she found herself shamefully drowning in this fleeting happiness, as if this was the only moment they belonged to each other. There was no Diana, no Andrea, just the two of them in bed. The panting was getting more and more intense, the air temperature was rising and Mariana was already in a trance, losing herself. *** During the day, Mariana continued sorting the fabrics scattered in the wardrobe department and dealing with Andrea''s various problems. At night, she would lie in bed with Leopoldo, who came to her room drunk, and they would do the intimate things that only lovers should do. It was the obsession with him. The day went on as usual, and it was finally time for the cast and crew to get production underway, during which time some sequences from Empress Santa were shot. Mariana got up early this morning, put on her makeup and headed to the venue. ording to the agreement between thepany and the production team, all the costumes for the main characters were toe from the wardrobe team directed by Mariana during the filming of Emperatriz Santa. This was another coboration that will benefit both parties, in addition to allowing them to develop the costumes. Clearly, the publicity benefits of stars like Xavier and Andrea wearing their designs would be considerable. To minimize contact between Mariana and Andrea, all deliveries to Andrea had been made by Ana. After confirming with Andrea''s people about the costumes and other things, Ana went to Mariana''s side to sit down. -Mari, this Andrea is really too tormenting, I''m exhausted! He looked at her and Mariana spoke in a soft voice: -Anita, I''d better go, it''s my business, I shouldn''t drag you into this kind of work. -Mari, what are you talking about! Your business is my business, that''s fine. The two sat in one of the seats at the press conference, where there were seats reserved for the cast and crew. In a moment, the journalists filed in, each choosing a seat and readying their cameras to point at the stage in unison. However, the next moment a loud noise was heard. -Look! I didn''t expect Mr. Dur¨¢n to be here today. -Yes, yes, Emperatriz Santa is a Grupo Dur¨¢n project, but I did not expect that Mr. Dur¨¢n would also deign toe. -Do you think Mr. Dur¨¢n came to support Andrea? The noise and confusion in Mariana''s ears triggered a different sense in her heart and she couldn''t help but raise her head and look in the direction of the crowded door. The cameras that had been ced in front of the stage and pointed at him turned and focused directly on Leopoldo. Mariana''s gaze fell on that figure, and on the other side, Ana began to exim again: -It''s really Mr. Dur¨¢n, isn''t it? He''sing for... It can''t be for Andrea, can it? -Sit down here, Mr. Dur¨¢n," a fat man in a suit next to him held out his hand and pointed to a chair in the center. Leopoldo sat quietly without saying a word. The man then had security guards surround him, who immediately separated the journalists. -Please return to your seats and be seated, the investment conference is about to begin. The journalists returned to their seats, taking more pictures of Leopoldo''s back. -Do you have your eye on Mr. Dur¨¢n? Chapter 99: She Was An Unfaithful Woman Chapter 99: She Was An Unfaithful Woman Chapter 99: She was an unfaithful woman Ana approached Mariana and spoke, -Mari, why do you love Mr. Dur¨¢n, when you have such a handsome and rich man like Xavier by your side! -Although, he is handsome and rich, and he is the prince charming for many girls, but, I think Xavier is better! Mariana smiled, not knowing what to do. How could two such people belong to her? Ana was about to say something else when a sweet voice suddenly sounded from the stage. The two had to stop talking and looked up to see ady in a sexy dress and delicate makeup holding a microphone and introducing the investment conference with a smile. -Ladies and gentlemen, today is theunch of Emperatriz Santa and we are delighted that Mr. Dur¨¢n has been here. The apuse was so loud, the fat man was so excited. However, Leopoldo remained in his seat, indifferent. The presenter had a moment of embarrassment, but in an instant she was smiling again and spoke again: -Let''s invite our director and Xavier, who ys the male lead, and Miss Andrea, who ys the female lead, to the stage! He immediately burst into apuse. Mariana looked at the man and woman standing on the stage, and Xavier and Andrea''s world was different, they belonged to the lights, to a much higher and dreamy stage. She, on the other hand, was behind the scenes. N?velDrama.Org content rights. -Well, this is an investment release, it is sure to bring the sincerity of our Holy Empress team, the director has edited a version of the trailer so far not aired, so please watch the screen. The presenter said to the director, Xavier and Andrea as she looked at therge screen behind them. Andrea, looked at Mariana, and what she did not expect was that Leopoldo would also be at today''s investment event. So he would be the first one to see what was going to happen next, right? Andrea found that very interesting. Therge screen gradually lit up, but the next moment, the images on the screen caused the crowd of journalists to erupt. The room suddenly became chaos, with flickering lights shing in front of them. -Mari, how can this be? Ana''s voice, very surprised, and Mariana looked at the screen. Was it her? It was a shot of her talking andughing with some of her male colleagues from the wardrobe crew. Then there was a shift to a scene at the entrance of the salon where Luis was handing her fruit. The angle of the shot was a bit tricky, to make it look like she was holding hands with Luis. What Mariana didn''t expect was that the final image on the screen would be of her and Xavier walking down the hallway. There was an image of Xavier looking at her, both with a slight smile on his face. Mariana stood up, trembling all over her body. At that moment, he was still putting up the photos and the lights came on immediately. When he opened his eyes again, it was the microphones and the exciting journalists. -Miss Ortiz, do you have something to exin? You seem to be sweethearts, are you in love? -Miss Ortiz, as the production designer, you were involved in the Facebook incident some time ago, but you didn''t leave the production, is it because of Xavier? -Miss Ortiz, please answer our question positively, can you lead the wardrobe team, is it because you have the support of the main character of this drama? The voices fell noisily on her ears, causing Mariana''s mind to cloud a little, her gaze was slightly dazed. The microphone stretched forward as if it was about to prick him in the face, the reporters were mad as if he knew some secret. At that moment, Ana suddenly stepped forward and stopped Mariana in front of her, hugging her tightly with her arms outstretched and talking: -What are you doing here? Today is theunch of Empress Santa''s investment, it''s not about Mariana, please go back to the subject, this is just a personal and private matter, it''s not necessary to exin it to everyone.... However, his words were violently interrupted the next moment by a reporter: -How can it be a personal affair? The video shows that designer Ortiz seems to be unfaithful between rtionships, and that one of the men is, Xavier! I think Xavier would also want to know what the answer to that question is. The journalist''s words seemed to be phrased in advance, aggressively forcing her to respond. Suddenly, her wrist was gripped by someone''s hand, with warmth settling on her skin and then instantly transferring to her heart. She was forced to turn around, moving forward with the man. Chapter 100: He Said Home Chapter 100: He Said Home Chapter 100: He Said Home When Mariana looked up, she realized it was Leopoldo. At that moment, the journalists who had been asking questions stood up, stunned as they watched Mariana leave with Leopoldo, their eyes wide with surprise. Was it... Leopoldo? After a moment of silence, the crowd of reporters turned to raise their cameras. Numerous shing lights came on again, pointing to the backs of the two as they walked away. As soon as they were stunned, the security guards who had been present to manage the scene came out en masse, holding hands in front of the group of journalists. The crowd could only watch the two leave. Andrea, standing on the stage, looked at the two disappearing from the entrance, angrily. Why hadn''t Leopoldo, after seeing the video, abandoned her? Why had hee to her aid? It couldn''t be like that! Xavier turned to look at the video, smiling yfully as always, and reached out to stroke her chin. What a beautiful photo. Mariana followed Leopoldo stumbling, and he led her to the elevator, then to the garage, and finally opened the car door and pushed her in, stepping aside to get into the car as well. Everything seemed to have happened in an instant, and Mariana was still a bit disoriented, with a confused look on her face. The man next to him had already started the car. -Where do we go now? -Home. The calmness in his tone surprised the woman first, yet she felt warm in her heart. The whole trip was in silence. Soon they arrived home, and after entering, Mariana went upstairs, entered her room and fell into bed. The moment his eyes closed, what had happened at theunch appeared before his eyes again, the lights were so blinding that they seemed to burn his soul. To which world did he really belong? After remaining silent for a while in front of Mariana''s room, Leopoldo became angry, but, finally, he stopped interrupting and returned to his room. He went to the window, took out his phone. -Mr. Dur¨¢n. Lionel''s voice came on the other end of the line. -Did you find anything? -It was the journalist who pressured Mrs. Marina. We got his phone, hacked into it and got a recording of the call.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Journalists always left open the possibility of recording the calls. -Tell me! -It is Ms. Solis, she contacted that reporter and edited that video to be shown at theunch of the investment. The reason he didn''t say, because his boss knew. Lionel held the phone tightly, waiting for the words there. I kept thinking of the image of Mariana stunned and helpless in front of a crowd of frantic journalists. At that moment, that image made Leopoldo''s heart hesitate for a few moments, and then he turned to her. -Create a car ident so that she cannot continue filming Empress Santa. Lionel, clenching the phone in his hand. Only after a while did he answer in a deep voice: -Yes. Hanging up the phone, Leopoldo looked out the window, thinking about something. In the evening, after attending to reporters, Andrea returned to the living room and suddenly mmed her purse on the floor, her smile instantly fierce. His eyes were bloodshot, his body was shaking and his chest was full of rage, unable to calm down for long. -Miss... At that moment, her assistant, who was standing behind her, carefully picked up the expensive bag on the floor and hesitantly approached Andrea''s side, saying with some concern and fear. -What? You want to make meugh too, don''t you? Andrea turned sharply, angrily, ring at her assistant, and spoke with hatred. Seeing the look of fear on the assistant''s face, Andrea snorted with disdain, removed the bag and turned to walk away. Driving alone to the bar, Andrea was wearing a ck cap andrge ck sses that almost covered most of her cheeks. -Whisky. As soon as he sat down at the bar, a ss was quickly ced in front of him. He drained the ss in one go. -Another drink. At that moment, the seat next to her was upied, and Andrea sensed something, and turned her eyes to see a well-dressed man. -Miss, are you alone? The words were tinged with a slight coquetry. Andrea took the ss handed to her by the waiter, her fingers brushed the wall of the ss thinking about something, without looking at the man. The bar was a ce to have fun, but she was in a bad mood today and really wasn''t interested in anyone. After taking another drink, Andrea spoke : -Another one. Andrea was already a little dizzy. -Miss, how boring to drink alone! The man lifted the ss in his hand and held it up to Andrea''s face, tilting it slightly so that the liquid inside fell into Andrea''s ss. She looked at the man and Andrea took the ss and drank it. The man''s eyes showed he was nning something and the smile intensified as he stared at Andrea and he drank. Shortly after drinking, Andrea''s body became hot and her face was warm. Chapter 101: Change Of Person Chapter 101: Change Of Person Chapter 101: Change of person Realizing something, Andrea looked down, remembering the alcohol of unknown origin she had just drunk. -Miss, what''s the matter? -Are you ufortable? I have a suite here. How about I take you there to rest? As Andrea''s head grew dizzier and dizzier, the man''s hand already touched her shoulder. Andrea panicked, got up, pped the man fiercely and quickly left. He got into the car in a hurry, and immediately started the car and sped off. However, the drug had already taken effect. Andrea was dizzy and could barely open her eyes. Just as the car turned, arge truck in front of her shone a bright light and shot straight into her eyes. The next moment, the pain hit her and she could no longer see anything. *** At that moment, the cold man whose figure was hidden in the darkness looked at the cell phone that was constantly vibrating on the table. Picking up the phone, the assistant''s voice came from the other end: -Mr. Dur¨¢n, it is done. Leopoldo hung up the phone and stared coolly at the pale moonlight outside the window, hazy and indifferent, not very clear. The next day, everyone was discussing gossip, but, inplicated discussions, most were talking about the same thing. That was the matter of the famous actress Andrea, who had a car ident at the corner of the G road and was seriously injured. For a while, countless reporters appeared in front of the central hospital, some even tried to get inside to get thetest news. The most shocking thing was that Andrea, who had always faced the public as a delicate and positive figure, was this time involved in a car ident due to driving under the influence of alcohol, which had very bad repercussions. And as soon as the news broke, it shook the entire entertainment industry. -How ridiculous! Andrea''s agent sat down on the couch and angrily tossed the phone on the coffee table. Her face was grim and her face was now filled with discontent. -These journalists are abominable! Before they always came to ingratiate themselves with us, but now they start attacking us when an ident happens, miserable! Turning her eyes to look at Andrea, who was lying on the bed, the agent was even angrier. Andrea''s injury was not as serious as described in the news, it was only a broken corbone. -Now that something like this has been exposed, your development in the industry is only going to get worse! The tone of voice was full of disappointment. I wanted to say something else, but Andrea''s face was very pale, and there were some scratches on her originally perfect cheeks. With a sigh, the agent leaned back on the couch: -Although the bad repercussion of this incident, the memory of Inte users is only a few days. During this period of time, you must work on the set, do not post on Facebook or read the news! After a pause, the agent continued to say uneasily, -Santa Empress is very fashionable, so you should do your thing right, and when it airs, Inte users will forget about these things, and naturally you can be famous again by then! The mood was still a bit low when Andrea heard these words, her expression rxed slightly and she nodded softly. The agent and Andrea were still dreaming of bing popr again, while Lionel was already sitting in front of the director and producer, -Director, producer, this time I am here to convey Mr. Duran''s message. The DUI is too influential this time, and she is also injured, so Ms. Solis cannot continue with the shooting. After a pause, the assistant raised his eyes and stared at the director, -What Mr. Dur¨¢n means is... to rece it. As soon as the words were finished, the director and the producer could not help but look at each other, both with astonishment in their eyes. They had not expected that this news had just been -But, now the loss of this substitution? Everything is prepared ording to Miss Solis, and the crew scene has already shot a small part, is it appropriate to rece the protagonist at this time? The producer frowned and looked at Lionel, speaking of his concerns. Although Andrea''s incident was widely publicized, the director and producer weighed their options for a long time and still did not decide to rece her immediately. Reducing the number of scenes might even be a better option. After all, the time and money spent looking for a new person was enormous. -You should know that the Holy Empress is one of those that the Group values, so naturally we don''t want her to have the slightest defect. The assistant''s tone was serious and the director and producer sensed it. -The investment for this drama belongs to the Dur¨¢n Group, since Mr. Dur¨¢n has decided to do so, naturally he has already calcted the losses that this will bring, and the Dur¨¢n Group will bear them all! Looking at the director and producer, Lionel''s hand inadvertently brushed the rim of the cup. After a pause, neither the director nor the producer spoke, it was a tacit acquiescence. The assistant stood up and spoke in a low voice: -Since Mr. Dur¨¢n''s words have been brought, I will leave first. Only the director and the producer were left, sitting on the couch and looking at each other. -Do we really have to follow Mr. Dur¨¢n''s decision? The director was a bit hesitant. -Since Mr. Dur¨¢n has said so, we do, after all, the investment for Emperatriz Santaes all from Grupo Dur¨¢n, so naturally the boss decides everything. The producer lifted the cup of coffee in front of him and took tworge sips, which dispelled some of the depression in his heart. Recing Andrea would make the initial investment of millions go to waste, and probably also lose poprity. In his opinion, that decision was unwise, a businessman like Se?or Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Dur¨¢n should not behave like that! With a sigh, the producer looked at the director, -It is better to inform everything as soon as possible. *** In the room, the agent became very rmed and said aloud: -What? You want to rece Andrea? -Why? We have signed a contract. Andrea on the bed couldn''t help but get up when she heard the words, but the quick movement affected the wound. The pain made her wrinkle her eyebrows, and her heart trembled wildly. The agent seemed to realize this, turned around and looked at Andrea, covered the phone, opened the door and walked out. Andrea sat on the bed for a long time before the agent returned. The agent frowned and looked at Andrea on the bed, whose face was tense and seemed to be suppressing some emotion. -Andrea, the director said they want to rece you, and they have already decided on this matter and it will not be changed. The corners of her mouth curved into a cold smile and Andrea''s eyes were fierce. -I am the main actress chosen by the Dur¨¢n Group, if they want to change me, they should inform Leo. The director decided to rece me without permission, if I tell Leo.... Before Andrea could finish speaking, the agent interrupted her with a slight huff. Chapter 102: The Protagonist Chapter 102: The Protagonist Chapter 102: The protagonist -Andrea, it was Mr. Dur¨¢n who sent his assistant to inform the director. The words fell on Andrea''s ears, causing her to raise her head in disbelief, and her body rose, tugging at the wound on her shoulder. However, at this point, Andrea could no longer worry about this, she just looked at the agent with paranoia, -Is it... Leo? Nodding strongly, the agent, who still had some resentment towards Andrea, at this point had both eyebrows furrowed, somewhat distressed. She was aware of Andrea''s feelings for Leopoldo, and she had never stopped him because it would help his acting career, but she hadn''t expected such a bad oue in the end. Andrea''s hands were clenched into a fist and her corbone wound was open, with bright red blood seeping out and soaking her light-colored hospital gown. However, it was as if Andrea did not feel any pain. Suddenly, Andrea removed the needle and stood up hurriedly, looking for something on the table in a panic. When the agent next to her saw this, she frowned fiercely and said: -Andrea, what are you doing? Finally, Andrea found her cell phone on the cluttered table. She picked it up and pressed the button. The call took a long time to be answered. Andrea''s eyes sparkled and she hurried to speak: -Leo, it''s Andrea. There was no response from the other side, but Andrea was not discouraged and continued. -Leo, why did you change me? Do you know how much effort I put into this role? You shouldn''t have... The cold, hard words suddenly came out of the other end of the phone, leaving her shocked. -By all considerations, you are no longer suitable to continue as a female lead. After a pause, it urred to Andrea and the corners of her mouth curved into an odd smile, -Leo, you promised my cousin that you would take good care of me, have you forgotten? Or is this your care? If so, aren''t you worried that my cousin will nevere back? Threatening words came from his pale lips and were transmitted to the other end over the phone. -There is a price to pay for what you have done. After saying this, the other party hung up the phone. Andrea was stunned, sitting back on the bed, dazed, her eyebrows slightly furrowed in confusion. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. The things he did? Suddenly, Andrea remembered what had happened at the investment conference, and it seemed that what Leopoldo was talking about was this. Was it all Mariana''s fault? Andrea stood up, sweeping all the objects from the table to the floor, her voice echoed throughout the room, signaling anger. Damn Mariana! *** Hanging up the phone, the director made a sad face. The premises the team rented cost money every day, and they weren''t cheap, even Xavier only left a few months for the crew, and now that they were without the leadingdy, they naturally had to find her quickly and fill the gap. -Things are easy enough for Se?or Dur¨¢n, he just has to give the order, but where am I going to find the protagonist? He took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth and lit it, the director still looked a little grumbling. The producer also took a cigarette. Suddenly, a slender figure crossed the producer''s mind, causing his hand to pause and his eyes to light up at the thought. Quickly stubbing out the cigarette in his hand, the producer looked directly at the director. -What do you think of Mariana? If I were looking for another leadingdy in the entertainment industry now, no one would be as famous as Andrea before. Then you would have to find a special one. Mariana was good looking and had endless charm and an excellent temperament. Such a surprising decision on the part of the crew was bound to provoke a heated discussion, and by then the poprity of the Holy Empress would only increase. The director, however, was a bit hesitant when he heard this. -Is it a good idea? Not even talking about her character, as a neer, she may not even be able to act, and now that time is urgent, we can''t give her time to learn acting. The producer smiled, looked at the director and spoke indifferently, -Even Andrea''s acting skills can get her to where she is now, I trust you to make Mariana popr! -In addition, the video has a negative impact, but Mariana''s poprity has not diminished. -From the video you can see that indeed Xavier and Mariana are morepatible, which makes the impact that this video brings more and more huge, isn''t it? As the producer naturally put profits first, and the measure was whether revenue could be generated, other considerations were the director''s. The director silently exhaled smoke rings, frowned and thought for a while, and finally could only nod his head. -Well, but now we have a lot of problems. Anything rted to Empress Santa will immediately hit the hot searches, I think it''s better to try it first. *** -Ah! Mari! Have you seen the news? You''re going to be a star! A shout of surprise filled the dressing room, and Ana quickly ran to Mariana''s side with her cell phone. Mariana saw a big red headline on it: The female lead role in Holy Empress, which belonged to Andrea, had been given to Mariana! Below was a slightly smaller sentence, in ck lettering: Xavier and Mariana are together for the first time since the scandal! -Where does this false gossipe from? How could I ever star in Holy Empress? As she handed her phone back to Ana, Mariana felt a little disgruntled. It was probably because the haters had increasedtely. Her eyes returned to the suit in front of her, Mariana''s expression was serious, focused and devoted. -Mari, why don''t you believe it? Since so many influencers are posting this news, surely it can''t be fake, think about it, Andrea is in this situation now, how is it possible for her toe back? Then, Ana suddenly saw a Facebook post from a member of the production team, implicitly revealing that the female lead in Empress Santa would be yed by Mariana, the head of the production team''s wardrobe team, and she was immediately more certain of her thoughts. She was about to put that test in front of Mariana when she identally clicked on thements, and Ana''s face suddenly changed. The followingments were full of curses to boycott Mariana''s role as the heroine of the Holy Empress, and the words were very nasty. Ana looked closely and noticed that there were severalments made by Xavier fans, and they were very excited. -What''s up Anita? Mariana looked at Ana with a puzzled and worried expression. At the sound of Mariana''s voice, a look of panic instantly appeared on Ana''s face, and she turned off her cell phone and put it in her pocket. Chapter 103: YouRe Back Early Chapter 103: You''Re Back Early Chapter 103: You''re Back Early -Nothing, it shouldn''t be true. -Anita, have you seen anything? During this period of time, the online criticism about her had not stopped, no one cared what she said, they only cared about what they saw and what they could imagine. -Nothing, Mari, is it nonsense? We won''t see it. Noticing that Ana seemed intent on hiding it, Mariana was helpless and had no choice but to repress her thoughts. *** Lionel looked at the search hotspots that kept going up, a dozen hot searches rted to the Empress Santa cast were shing non-stop. Too many people navigate the top three! -Remove the hot search! Suppress the news and inform them that the female protagonist of Holy Empress cannot be Mariana. Leopold stood in front of the window with a deep coldness that was terrifying. Lionel lowered his head, unable to help a slight sigh, but his face remained calm, -Yes, I''m going to do it now. The director and producer were also very unlucky, they finally found someone, but they didn''t expect it to be the boss''s person. Lionel turned and left. Looking down the street below, where people were constantly passing by, Leopold frowned slightly, his expression had taken on a slight impatience. *** When she returned to the vi in the evening, Mariana was already exhausted. Although the crew was scrambled and she just had to do some preparatory work, but the forced smile of the day made her very tired. She couldn''t help but rub her face, which was stiff from the fake smile. While rubbing her face in amusement, Mariana raised her eyes slightly, but was stunned. It was Leopoldo. At this moment, he was sitting on the couch, alone next to a dim floormp, the tender light hitting his body, as if integrated with the dark night. After some hesitation, Mariana came over and sat down next to him. -Why haven''t you rested yet? The words suddenly fell on his ears, causing the man with closed eyes to open his cold, stern eyes and look at her. The faint fragrance of a woman''s scent reached his nostrils, when Leopold looked back, he saw a pair of crystal eyes, like a calm, cool andfortable spring. -Didn''t you juste back too? The cold words in this dim light also seemed a bit meaningful. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Mariana leaned back gently on the soft sofa. The light from themp was blocked by the tall figure beside her, and she seemed to be hidden in Leopoldo''s shadow, as if her whole body was trapped in darkness. -Leopoldo," a hoarse voice sounded, "thank you. She seemed to be aware of something, but he could not see the expression on Mariana''s face. They both knew she was saying thank you for the investment conference. -It is not necessary. He uttered a faint phrase that made Mariana startle. Her eyes were shining, as if they could emit a dazzling light even in the dark. -Tomorrow I want to prepare dinner," Mariana stared at Leopoldo''s face and spoke softly, "youe back early. After a long while, just when Mariana thought that Leopoldo was not going to ept it, a "Good" sounded in her ears. The corners of his mouth couldn''t help but curve, warmth flowed into his heart, and for a moment, the two of them sat like that, as if they were a real couple. Public opinion on the Inte was still seething, with most Inte users strongly opposing Mariana''s role as the female lead in Holy Empress, and some even conducted a secret poll, with up to 95 percent voting against Mariana''s participation. All this had annoyed the director and the producer. However, Lionel also brought Leopold''s order that the female protagonist of Holy Empress would never be Mariana. Mariana arrived on set as usual and, naturally, received all kinds of stares from the set. Gossip was the most powerful tool to awaken hidden thoughts in people''s hearts: -She wants to be the female lead in our Empress Santa? Don''t even think about it! -What a surprise, it is said that the director and the producer approved it! Could the director and the producer have been seduced? -It''s possible! If not, why would the director and producer let Mariana act in such a big production? Aren''t they afraid of losing money? Mariana passed directly in front of those few people, cool and elegant, with a serene face. Just as she reached the entrance to the dressing room, a shocking sound from Ana rang inside, striking Mariana''s eardrums and causing her to stop in her tracks. -What do they know? How dare they talk about Mari like that! After a pause, Ana''s voice dropped a little, but was still unusually angry. -The crew is anxious to find the heroine now, and they think of Mari, but how can these people do this? If it''s just a test, that''s fine, but it will affect Mari too much! Hearing these words, a trace of warmth surged in his heart. Returning to normal in an instant, he pushed open the door and entered, and the voice suddenly stopped. -Mari! Ana''s face lifted with a smile, she put her phone away, took a few steps to Mariana''s side, grabbed her arm and turned to look at those in front of her and spoke: -Well, don''t gossip, all of you go to work, the boss ising. In the next second, after greeting each other, these people quickly left. *** On this day, Mariana came home from work early. When she left the house this morning, she had already asked her babysitter to go out and help her buy the ingredients again to cook a big dinner. Thest time she prepared a meal for Leopoldo as a token of appreciation, he didn''t eat it, but this time this kind of thing shouldn''t happen. The babysitter had already left early, so Mariana tied her apron and began preparations, with the corners of her mouth always turned up, without lowering them. After a long while, Mariana took thest of the soup to the table and looked at the clock hanging on the wall. Leopoldo would be back soon. Unwrapping her apron, Mariana made her way to the couch and sat down, somewhat bored, she turned on the TV, found a random variety show to pass the time. However, the moon was already high in the sky, but Leopold had not yet returned. Walking to the dining room table, Mariana looked at the various dishes that almost covered the table, she had a slight feeling of depression. Turning his eyes back, he looked at the door, his eyes full of anticipation, as if someone was actually going to walk in at that moment. Chapter 104: No Surrender Chapter 104: No Surrender Chapter 104: No Surrender At this moment, Leopoldo was in a high-end restaurant, his eyes containing a touch of sadness. The elegant sound of the piano echoed in the restaurant, soft and affectionate. Such an atmosphere was fitting for a date. At that moment, there was ady sitting in front of Leopoldo. Her brown hair was spread over her shoulders, slightly curled, wrapped around a beautiful face, with kind eyes and a soft smile. He stretched out his fingers and gently lifted the tall ss in front of him and took a sip, -Leo, long time no see. There was joy in his tone at being reunited after a long time. -I''m back. The person sitting in front of Leopoldo was Diana, who had just returned. He was gentle on the surface, but his eyes were full of intent, and he stared at Leopold, feeling determined to win him over. -Long time no see," came a cold voice. -I''ve been abroad for many years chasing my dream, but I still feel empty inside, as if I''ve left something important behind here. He looked directly at Leopoldo, Diana''s words were full of deep meaning. -Is that so? However, Diana discovered that today''s Leopold was even colder than then, silent and quiet. But he didn''t give up. He had made some wrong decisions once, he wouldn''t do it a second time. -When I was abroad, I kept in touch with Andrea, and from time to time she would tell me something about you. And Leopold''s long, slender fingers unintentionally brushed the rim of the ss, his face still calm. Slightly stunned, Diana did not expect Leopold to be silent upon hearing these words from her, and there was a hint of annoyance in her heart, gently biting her lower lip, her eyes already holding back tears. -Leo, are you still ming me? I left, I... Before Diana could finish, the man in front of her had already interrupted her words. His voice was low and clear, -I know, I don''t me you. In fact, if I med her, then I wouldn''t have wanted her toe back. However, at this moment, there was a strange feeling in his heart, as if the words spoken were only instinctive and not the true thoughts deep in his heart. Hearing these words, Diana''s eyes lit up with joy as she looked at Leopoldo, the corners of her mouth curved into a soft smile and all the depression she had just felt disappeared. She knew it was so! However, in the next sentence, he heard the man in front of him ask coldly: -Why are youing back? Although he had not paid particr attention to their affairs, he did know something about it. Diana looked down, raised the ss of wine in front of her and took a sip, -Because there is someone here that I can''t let go. Leopold''s hand paused for a moment, then returned to its natural state. At that moment, the phone suddenly rang, cutting off what Diana was about to say. Looking at the name still shing on the screen, Leopoldo frowned and hung up decisively. -What do you mean? The words were much softer. -Nothing," Diana smiled. *** Sitting on the sofa for a long time, Mariana looked at the phone she had hung up, and now the phone screen had gone dark again, revealing an inexplicable coldness. Rising somewhat dejectedly, Mariana took onest look at the cold dishes on the table and turned to go upstairs. Today''s "home" seemed to be extraordinarily cold. The next day, Mariana arrived early to the set and was stopped by the assistant director as soon as she arrived, -Mari, the director wants to see you, there is a meeting. Raising her eyebrows, Mariana looked at the assistant and was a little confused, -Now? -Yes, Mari, you can go to the meeting room first, I still have to go brief others, so I''ll go first. Although she was still very puzzled, Mariana did not return to the dressing room and went straight to the meeting room. As soon as he entered, he found that there were already a number of people seated inside, all of whom were considered the core of the Empress Santa production team. Then, Mariana found a seat in a corner and sat down, realizing that today''s meeting must be about something important. Finally, almost everyone was there. The director sat at the front of the room with his hands sped, looking at the cast and crew, but his eyes lingered on Mariana for a moment, then returned to normal. The director spoke out loud, -We have called everyone here today, because we have something important to tell you. Everyone looked at each other, thinking that the most important thing for the team was the selection of the female lead, and now it seemed that the female lead would be decided today. For a while, everyone couldn''t help but stare at Mariana, and even some people who had noticed the look the director had just given them began to whisper, and the center of the conversation was, naturally, Mariana. -Is it really her? -Okay, the online boycott didn''t even change the decision of the director and producer! My God, who are the people behind this Mariana! -She is so lucky! Although she had done her best to keep her voice down, all kinds of words reached Mariana''s ears. In the next moment, the surrounding area was suddenly silent. The scene, which had been somewhat noisy, was suddenly hushed, as if the fall of a needle might cause amotion. Mariana raised her head and saw the stupefied expressions on the faces of the people right in front of her, and couldn''t help but turn around. She was a woman. With a soft smile on her face, her long brown hair fell over her shoulders. At that point, the director stood up and looked at the crowd before pointing to the new woman and began to introduce her, -She is Diana Solis, soon to be the protagonist! As soon as the words ended, there was another burst of excitement from below. The crowd could not help but look at each other, and some alsoid their eyes on Mariana''s body with different expressions. Such a sudden change was something no one expected. Mariana''s whole body froze at the sound of that name, and a myriad of thoughts passed through her mind, as her eyes stared at the shadow of that person.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. So she was Diana. The woman who had long been remembered by Leopold. -I am Diana, pleased to meet you. His voice was very soft, like a warm current that constantly pierced the hearts of the crowd, and for a while all kinds ofpliments rang out. However, doubts still arose, -Director, is it appropriate? The previous protagonist has the poprity, if... Before he could finish, a man interrupted his words. Chapter 105: Diana Solis Chapter 105: Diana Solis Chapter 105: Diana Solis -Who are you belittling? Don''t you know who Diana is? She is an internationally famous model, Belle, she is the darling of fashion and has won many awards in the modeling world. Andrea is only famous here, who knows her outside the country? And after the man finished those words, he looked at Diana and smiled at her. -Don''t say that, Andrea is my cousin, she is also very good. Diana smiled at the man who defended her. However, these words caused Mariana to frown slightly. She felt that although these words explicitly defended Andrea, they were also an indirect admission of the affair. -Very well, since there are no objections, the matter is decided. Then, the director looked at the makeup team, -Communicate more with Diana about the makeup, it has to fit the character of the y and look good. With a roll of his eyes, he said to Mariana: -Mariana, take care of the costumes, change the size ording to Diana''s figure. Mariana nodded her head. The director instructed the others on a few more things, and then stated that he would prepare for three days, after which he would start working and then the meeting would be adjourned. As she was about to leave, Mariana could not contain her thoughts and looked back at Diana, who was body, making the smile seem to shine even brighter, making people unable to take their eyes away. At that moment, Mariana finally knew why Leopoldo had note homest night. It was all because... Diana had returned. When she returned home, Mariana went straight to her studio, today she didn''t wait for Diana to have free time, naturally she didn''t have time to take her measurements. Tonight she had some free time, so Mariana opened herputer and typed the word Diana in the search box. As usual, no search results came up. Something crossed her mind, and Mariana suddenly remembered the Belle she had heard during the previous discussion, so she tried to look her up. When he clicked on the link, he didn''t expect it to be so long, and although it went way down, the scroll axis only moved a little. After a quick nce, Mariana already had some understanding of Diana. She went abroad at a very young age to pursue her dream, but she was very lucky and as soon as she Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. arrived abroad, she received an invitation to a fashion show for the internationally renowned luxury jewelry brand Rose Mary and quickly became famous. The ensuing moves also went smoothly, working with major luxury essories and showing off her charms on the catwalk. But the surprising thing is that Diana announced that she would retire for a period of time at the peak of her career, and then disappeared from people''s attention. Some spected that she had returned to her homnd, others that she had gotten married, etc. However, after a long period of silence, she suddenly returned and reappeared before everyone as Diana, and also entered the circle of actors. Mariana closed herputer. This part of Diana''s dream-seeking story was not only legendary, but also a bit of a mystery. She stretched and rose from her chair, surrounded by silence. Mariana left the small studio, raising her eyes to look in a certain direction. Leopoldo''s room was still dark, he had not yet returned. There was a huge sense of loss in his heart, and the corners of his mouth drew up in a smile of bitterness. At the end, he returned to his room with heavy steps. The feeling of liquor that had been pounding her body for days and days and the feeling of not being able to refuse to press on her suddenly disappeared, but made Mariana feel shamefully nostalgic about it. She reached out unconsciously into the darkness and proceeded to wrap her arms around herself, tightly, but still feeling alone and helpless. In the morning, when Mariana woke up, she couldn''t help but reach out and rub her forehead, only to feel a pain in her head. However, Mariana did not dare to dy and made the effort to get up and go wash herself. The set was busy with preparations, especially after the change of people, theplexity of changing clothes after the change was almost asplicated as making a new dress. This made Mariana, who only had two days left,pletely unable to loosen up. Just after arriving at the dressing room and leaving her things, Mariana asked the person next to her, -Have you seen Diana? The word Diana came out of his mouth, always giving him a sense of abruptness. -How is this possible? Mari, yesterday you instructed me to inform Diana''s assistant as soon as I arrived today, to leave a good impression on her, so I could free up time for us to go make her clothes. But I''ve been waiting so long and I haven''t had a chance to step forward! Mari, what should I do? With a sigh, Mariana patted him on the shoulder and spoke in a deep voice, -Okay, I''d better go take a look. Walking to Diana''s living room door, she let out a deep sigh before Mariana knocked on the door. In reality, she did not want to see Diana. -Pleasee in. A soft voice brushed Mariana''s ears, making her feel warmer as well. When she walked through the door, she saw Diana, who was wearing aplicated chignon, vermilion hairpins pinned diagonally and exquisite makeup. At that moment, she was sitting in front of the mirror, and the team''s makeup artist and hairstylist were standing next to her, their faces full of collective smiles andpliments. It was then that Mariana stepped forward, approached Diana''s side and spoke, -Miss, I am here to take your measurements. He had no attempt at ttery and his voice was calm. The woman looked at Mariana, but her smile intensified, as if she had seen a dear friend, -You''re Mariana, right? I''ve heard about you, an up-anding designer, the head of the wardrobe team. It was quite unexpected to hear so many titles that belonged to her from Diana''s mouth. Mariana couldn''t help but look at her, but she fell into the softness of those eyes and just feltfortable. But underneath this softness, there was a lonely arrogance in the background, an arrogance of confidence. -I''m just an ordinary designer. Mariana had no desire to show off. -Well, since you''re here to work, shall we get started? Mariana nodded, took out the soft ruler she carried with her and began to measure. Just after measuring the circumference of her neck, Diana''s cell phone rang. Chapter 106: SheS Perfect Chapter 106: She''S Perfect Chapter 106: She''s Perfect -I''m sorry. With an apologetic smile at Mariana, Diana walked quietly to the dressing table, looked at the name on the phone screen, and smiled, -Leo? Mariana''s body froze, and the pen she held in her hand to write down the numbers seemed to lose its grip, dropping in an instant. However, the conversation continued, -All right, you can decide, I''ll listen to you. The voice was soft, making people feelfortable. Mariana ducked her head and stood to the side in silence, not saying a word. After a long while, when Mariana''s legs were already feeling a little sore, only then Diana hung up the phone. Turning around, she looked at Mariana with a little blush, her cheeks reddened, but it made the proud Diana look more like a normal woman. -Mariana, I''m sorry, there was a call that needed to be answered. Her eyes were clear, the corners of her mouth curved into a smile of obvious sweetness. Lowering her gaze, hiding the emotions in her eyes, Mariana spoke lightly, -Nothing. -Very well, then continue. Saying this, Diana opened her arms, closed her eyes slightly and stood in front of Mariana. Repressing many emotions in her heart, Mariana took a step forward and began to measure, although in reality, she was secretly looking at Diana''s face. Even though she was so close, Diana''s face was still perfect. It seemed that only such a person was worthy of Leopold. Quickly measuring and putting away the soft ruler, Mariana spoke, -It''s ready. Just as she lowered her arm, Diana looked at Mariana and spoke softly, -Sorry for the inconvenience, I should have taken the measurement yesterday, but I didn''t think I would be too busy and left it for today. With an apologetic face, Diana reached out to take Mariana''s hand as a gesture of closeness. A strange feeling arose in her heart, Mariana''s eyebrows furrowed slightly and she quietly withdrew her hand, hanging it behind her back. -I can understand that, Miss has just arrived on set and is acting as the lead, so naturally there is more going on. She did not want to stay here andmunicate with Diana. -Mariana, I heard from the staff that the role of the leadingdy was originally intended for you, but then it was dyed due to something, and to my surprise, I was invited ... Mariana looked at Diana, but saw only an apologetic look on her face, and saw nothing else. For a moment, Mariana could only repress the various thoughts in her heart and said, -It doesn''t matter, I''m just a costume designer, not an actress. In fact, I had no intention of appearing in this drama. -If so, that''s fine. Even with an apologetic face, Diana''s face wore a slightly arrogant look, it didn''t feel very intimate. -Then, if there''s nothing to do, I''ll go back to preparing clothes. After saying that, Mariana turned around and left. Diana always gave her a very strange feeling, but she didn''t know exactly what was strange, at first nce, she seemed very normal. "Is it because I think too much?" When she returned to the wardrobe room, Mariana began to rush the alterations. Although Diana and Andrea had simr figures, those details were more important to people. If the details didn''t fit, people always had the feeling that the work was clumsy in front of the camera, and even the people behind the cameras were criticized. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. When she finally finished modifying a set of costumes, Mariana straightened up and lifted her head, only pain was felt. Outside, the sky had darkened and the faint sunlight was creeping in, as if urging people to go home early. Mariana was a little confused. "Where is my home?" When Mariana was about to leave the costume room, she did not expect Ana to find her and greet her, -Mari, a new bar has opened on Bar Street, the decoration is very different, do you want to go and have a look? -Anita, I have to modify the suit again, I really don''t have time. Hearing this, Ana pouted and shook Mariana''s arm, begging her, -Mari,e with me, it is said that the bar is decorated in a very unusual way, I am very curious. Looking at Ana''s pleading expression beside her, Mariana sighed and thought about it for a while before finally agreeing. -All right, I''ll go with you. Anyway, there was only that empty vi to return to. When she entered the bar, Ana was very excited and kept looking around, curious about all the issues. Mariana, on the other hand, was a bit bored, she did not like these asions. However, as Ana said, the bar was decorated in a very special style, unlike other bars where dark tones predominated, but instead a lot of quite bright and cool colors were used, and with the dazzling colors of the shy neon lights, it also looked psychedelic. The two sat at the bar and Ana ordered a cup of Agua de Valencia, while Mariana simply ordered fruit wine. -Mari, why have youe to drink this? Looking at Ana with some helplessness, Mariana picked up the fruit wine in front of her and gently took a sip, sweetness and freshness coexisted, in fact, as the name suggests, it was like hot love. Her eyes lit up as she swallowed a mouthful, the sweetness returned to her taste, making people unconsciously want to taste it again. Ana looked at Mariana like this and couldn''t help but be curious, she took the cup and tasted some, she couldn''t help but squint her eyes too. -Mari! This is a really good one. At that moment, a voice sounded behind them, -This beauty has a good eye, this wine is specially prepared and has a sweet taste, but when the wine slides into the stomach, it makes people feel that their hearts are burning and their hearts are pounding. The two men turned their heads at the sound of the voice, but the next moment they were stunned. The man in front of them wore a flowered shirt, green leaves against red flowers, sorge you could just feel the re, the neckline was open way down, revealing arge area of white skin, smooth and sleek. The man raised the ss in his hand, gently tapped the sses in front of Mariana and Ana and drank it. -The order of these twodies is free today, my treat! Ana smiled, her face couldn''t help but blush a little, her eyes containing an affectionate meaning as she looked up at the man, -You are too kind, what is your name? At that moment, the waiter who had been silent spoke with a smile, -He is the owner of our bar: Rafael Borges. Looking at Ana, whose smile was even stronger, Mariana only felt a headache. Could it be that she had brought her to this bar today for the sake of the owner? Raphael''s gaze silently shifted away from the person next to him and settled on the cold woman with a hint of interest. Rafael had already recognized that the one who drank "el Amor" was Mariana, the one who had appeared at the Bar de Color that day, the one who had been in Leopoldo''s arms. If he had taken her in his arms, or even in his bed, what would Leopoldo''s expression have been like? The corners of his mouth turned up, Rafael''s eyebrows and eyes were animated, as if he had thought of something very interesting. -Two more sses. Turning his head to look at the waiter in front of him, Rafael said meaningfully. Chapter 107: I Am Here Chapter 107: I Am Here Chapter 107: I am here Soon, two sses of new wine were prepared and Rafael pushed them in front of Mariana and Ana, -Try it yourselves. Mariana nced at Rafael and felt something strange, before she could think more, over there Ana had already taken a drink for her, the other one was forcibly pushed into Mariana''s hand. -Mari, try it," she said, taking a sip herself. The taste of this cup was very simr to the "Love" from a moment ago, but the burning sensation of the aftertaste was even stronger, making people dizzy, as if they were floating in the clouds, and their whole body flew upwards. -What is this one? -Ana looked at Rafael. However, Rafael just smiled at her and looked at the ss of wine in Mariana''s hand. That attitude was as if he would not answer Ana''s question if she did not drink. Mariana looked at Ana, who immediately turned her head to look at her, and sighed in her heart, if this woman had a boyfriend, she would definitely abandon her friend. In the end, she still took a sip, and a burning sensation instantly rose in her throat, just now her heart and chest were burning, but now her whole body seemed to float. Mariana couldn''t help but frown and look at the empty cup in her hand. -This drink doesn''t have a name yet, but it was made by the bartender right after he saw you two, how does it taste? Shaking her head, Ana only felt that her whole body was now aroused, -Like... a crazy love. This burning sensation was too crazy. Mariana''s vision was no longer very clear. This description was quite correct. The strength suddenly disappeared, Mariana fell gently on the bar, her head was dizzy, the feeling was not pleasant. Hearing this sound, Ana turned her head and cried out with some concern, -Mari, what''s wrong? Tilting his head, he drank the wine and looked at the woman who had slumped over the bar, and a strange glint shed in Rafael''s eyes very quickly. Then he turned his gaze to the bartender, who nodded and made a phone call, and immediately someone approached the three of them. -There''s a lounge upstairs, let Miss Ortiz take a break, I''ll stay here and continue drinking with you. The words reached Ana''s ears, which could not help but pause for a moment, with only this pause, Mariana was already being helped away. A few sses of wer, Rafael looked at the woman who had fallen back down beside him. -You take good care of her. As he said these words, Rafael had already turned around and gone upstairs. As he entered the room, he looked at Mariana, who was lying unconscious on the bed, and tookrge steps to pass. Looking down at her from above, Rafael''s eyes quickly showed hints of sarcasm and coldness. He pulled out his cell phone and took a picture of Mariana, then put it on video mode and set it aside, Rafael slowly unbuttoned his shirt, his face cold. Step by step, he approached the woman on the bed and turned her over, face up, she looked extremely seductive. He took a step forward, took off Mariana''s jacket and threw it off; his hands searched for the cor of Mariana''s shirt, but there was a trace of disgust in his heart. The hand movement was much more brutal, and the cleavage burst open, exposing arge area of white skin. Such roughness caused Mariana to frown and open her eyes in confusion, only to be met with a look of naked disgust. She woke up. She struggled to sit up, but was restrained and fell back down, with the phone in her pocket pressing against her waist, causing her to lift her body involuntarily. -What? Are you in such a hurry? Her eyes became clearer and clearer, Mariana had already recognized that the person in front of her was the owner of the bar, Rafael, and with a jolt in her heart, she spoke urgently, -Where is Anita? Where have you taken Anita? The thin lips hooked with a hint of sarcasm and disdain, -You''d better take care of yourself first! With that, he violently tore Mariana''s shirt, the buttons rustling on the floor, revealing the ck strappy vest inside, enveloping her exquisite figure. -What are you doing? As she struggled violently with panic, a coldness arose in Mariana''s heart. She did not know this Rafael, but why he had such strong emotions towards her. -What do you think? He uttered mocking words and, with a strange look, swept the woman up and down, focusing on the white skin. When Rafael finished speaking, he slowly approached the woman. With a desperation in her heart, Mariana bit her lower lip hard and her body could not stop trembling with fear. At that moment, a loud sound was heard and Mariana opened her tightly closed eyes and struggled to get up. Then, Rafael was knocked to the ground with a fierce punch, revealing Mariana, who was disheveled underneath. She was stunned. "It''s Leopoldo." "Why is heing?" Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Her heart suddenly felt very aggrieved, which made Mariana''s eyes fill with tears, suddenly getting up, wrapping her arms around Leopoldo''s neck, tightly, without letting go of him in the slightest. The man''s body was stunned, and in an instant he returned to normal, hesitantly reaching out and wrapping his hand around Mariana''s slender waist. -Leopoldo... Muttering softly, Mariana''s body continued to tremble uncontrobly. -I am here. Her heart suddenly contracted, Leopold''s eyes were cold and dark, not letting in a single ray of light. Soft words came out of his mouth and fell on Mariana''s ears, and the fear in her heart slowly stopped. He took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around Mariana''s body. Leopoldo lifted Mariana and looked coldly at Rafael on the floor, turned and walked away with big steps. Rafael got up from the ground and looked towards the ce where the two had disappeared. After a long while, he took out his cell phone and called someone. The tone of his voice was light-hearted, with a joking sense, -I wanted to help you teach her a lesson, but I didn''t expect Leopoldo toe, what a pity. You don''t know, that woman, white skin, so smooth that one can''t really get carried away. -I can see that. With brief words, the phone was hung up. Rafael looked dazedly at the screen of the phone that had been turned off, as if his heart was also empty, and smiled bitterly. When he stopped walking, Leopoldo looked at Mariana. The woman in his arms was very obedient, her hands still wrapped around his neck, snuggling into him, feeling as if she were his pir. As he gently set Mariana down in the passenger seat, he didn''t expect the hands holding his neck to be unwilling to let go. -Mariana. Chapter 108: ILl Take You Home Chapter 108: I''Ll Take You Home Chapter 108: I''ll Take You Home -Let me go, I''ll take you home. Not knowing what word she had heard, Mariana finally let go of his hand and sat obediently in the seat. Mariana was like a rain-soaked kitten at that moment, which was endearing. After arriving home, it was Leopoldo who took Mariana upstairs and put her to bed. Just as he was about to leave, he was stopped by a soft voice calling out to him. -How do you know I''m there? That Rafael hadplicated feelings for her, not as a stranger, it seemed that Leopoldo knew him too, which made Mariana had to think a little more. Leopoldo turned around, his cold, stern eyes rested on Mariana''s body and he said indifferently, -What do you think? The woman on the bed closed her eyes, -I don''t know. It was he who saved her. Violence appeared in Leopoldo''s eyes, and the anger and panic that had been pent up after seeing such a scene suddenly exploded at this moment. Leopoldo came striding to the edge of the bed and covered it tightly, kissing Mariana''s lips, roughly and wildly, like... the previous person. Startled for a moment, the fear spread, Mariana struggled violently, clenched her fists with both hands and kept hitting the man on the shoulders. The man''s strength did not stop in the slightest, as if he was confirming something, nibbling and even tearing at will. Little by little, Mariana stopped struggling. There was a faint familiar smell of tobo on her breath, which belonged to Leopoldo. The bites also became softer, kissing gently, as if to soothe the rudeness of what had just happened. After the kiss, they both gasped. Mariana''s chest was rising and falling, she was looking at Leopoldo. -Don''t look at me like that. Leopoldo said, reaching up and covering Mariana''s eyes, the curledshes sweeping against his palm, tickling and causing a sh of deep meaning in her eyes. -You... As soon as he eximed, the gravity that covered his body disappeared. And Leopoldo got up, standing on the side of the bed, taking a deep look at the woman with openpels and flushed face, turning around and leaving with quick steps. Mariana reached out and touched her red, swollen lips. The intensity of the sensation made her heart flutter. Leopoldo returned to his room and stood in front of the window, with a long, thin cigarette between his fingers, its smoke billowing out. After standing for a while, Leopoldo extinguished the cigarette in his hand, took out his cell phone and dialed a number. -The Snow Bar, make it go away! His tone was cold, with a chill that prated to the bone marrow, causing Lionel on the other end of the phone to shiver slightly. -Yes. -Find out who else... is involved in this matter. The assistant paused and still epted it. Hanging up the phone, Leopoldo raised his eyes, the moonlight fell, reflected in his eyes, lonely and cold. The next day, Mariana woke up, her mind was dizzy and she was having pain attacks, which made her frown. The sunlight outside was a bit dazzling, shining brightly on her body, which made Mariana wake up instantly. She hurriedly grabbed the cell phone she had on the table and, once she opened it, she didn''t expect seven missed calls. All of them were from... Leopoldo. Her eyes twitched slightly, and all sorts of thoughts ran through Mariana''s mind for a moment, rushing through, but in the end it became her question from yesterday. How did you know it was there? He opened his phone and checked the call log, and sure enough, there was a call to Leopoldo the night before, and the callsted more than five minutes. With slightly furrowed eyebrows, Mariana remembered that, when she was pinned to the bed by Rafael, there had indeed been a sensation of something behind her, it must have been the telephone, and that her struggle had mistakenly dialed the number to Leopoldo, which allowed him to save her! Thinking like that, Mariana could not help remembering that hard kiss again, and unconsciously reached out and touched her lips again. The swelling of her lips had already subsided, but the wound on her lower lip that had bitten her yesterday was still there. After sitting on the bed for a while, the cell phone in my hand suddenly rang. When he looked down, he saw the words Ana. She couldn''t help but pick up the phone in fright and spoke with some concern, -Anita, where are you now? However, instead of answering his question, Ana eximed with a tone of surprise and bewilderment, -Mari, you know? I actually woke up and found myself in a hotel, weren''t we in a barst night? And I didn''t find you! Before Mariana could say anything, Ana intervened again, -Mari, I''m going to give you great news! The new Snow Bar that opened yesterday suddenly N?velDrama.Org content rights. disappeared overnight, and the ce where the bar used to be has suddenly be a wastnd with nothing! Disappeared? The image of Leopold in anger suddenly appeared in her mind, could it be him? -Anita, were you wellst night? This phrase made Ana feel disconcerted, -What could have happened to mest night? You, on the other hand, got drunk after a few drinks, and it was the bar owner who went drinking with me afterwards! Then I woke up in the hotel''s big bed. I guess it was the bar owner who sent me here. Mariana let out a long sigh of relief. -It''s good that you are well. After a pause, Mariana spoke: -You must have a bad headache today afterst night''s hangover, so you should keep resting, I''ll go and modify the costume. After saying this, they both hung up the phone. However, Mariana was still upset and could not calm down for a long time. "A bar like that had disappeared overnight?" But these matters were not very important now, two days had passed and I still had to change clothes, if I couldn''t finish it, it would dy the team''s shooting schedule. Mariana got up, washed up and went back to her small studio to continue working. After a day and a night, he finally worked overtime to finish the jobs and sat back in the chair, breathing a long sigh of relief. The next day, Mariana took the modified suit to the set and first showed it to the director, who nodded, and then sent it to Diana''s room. Standing in front of the dressing room mirror, looking at the in white but secretly luxurious costume she wore on her body, Diana''s eyes sparkled with a hint of deep meaning, and only after a long moment did she lift the corners of her lips and say: -Your work is so good, it''s so silky and extremely well fitted, as if this is my dress from the beginning. For some reason, when Mariana heard the second half of his sentence, she always felt that it carried some other meaning, but after frowning, she could not understand anything and could only give up. Chapter 109: The Person You Are Waiting For Is Back Chapter 109: The Person You Are Waiting For Is Back Chapter 109: The person you are waiting for is back He withdrew his gaze in the mirror and turned to Mariana with a smile, Diana couldn''t help but reach out her hand, but the next moment she covered her mouth and softly eximed, -Mariana, are you very tiredtely? Why do you look so exhausted? Unconsciously raising her eyes, Mariana stood behind Diana and looked at her appearance in the dressing mirror. The dark circles under her eyes were deep, the bags under her eyes were also puffy, her eyes were bloodshot, her face was pale and her lips were dry, she was really very haggard. The drunkennessbined with the daytime and nighttime exertion, the truth was that I was already a bit exhausted. -Mariana, why don''t you go home first? Let me tell the director and ask him to give you two days off. Anyway, now that all the costumes have been changed, and there''s no need for you to be busy in the crew for the time being, so you can rest at home. Mariana shook her head, -I won''t bother you. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. The tone of his voice was somewhat indifferent. Hearing this, Diana didn''t mind, she touched the suit on her body and tried to persuade Mariana again. -How can you say this is a problem? You''re like this because you had to help me change my suit, so don''t worry and go back to rest, I''ll just talk to the director. To Mariana''s ears, these words sounded like charity and, suddenly, she felt a stab in her heart. At that moment, a dizzy sensation hit her head, making Mariana''s body tremble slightly. -Mariana, the director will always take care of me. If you continue to work like this, I will be very worried. You... is there something wrong with me? Having said that, Diana can''t help but frown at Mariana with a puzzled look on her face. The wry smile on her face further highlighted the pallor on Mariana''s face. I had already said it, what else could Mariana do? At the end, Mariana nodded her head, -Thank you. After saying that, Mariana turned to leave. Mariana''s face was immediately filled with a look of exhaustion, she couldn''t help but reach out and rub her forehead, she just felt her head, which had been aching yesterday, getting heavier and heavier now. However, there seemed to be an inquisitive look following behind her, which made her frown, stop her steps and turn slightly to the side, only to see Diana''s friendly face with a smile on her face. Nodding once again, Mariana no longer stayed and left. Unexpectedly, she had just arrived in the living room and sat down when she received a phone call from the director informing her that she had been too busy during this period of time and that she was specially granted two days off to take a good rest. Hearing this, Ana, next to him, could not help but feel a little envious. -Mari, you really have two days off! -That''s really great! It was Diana who "helped" her get these two days off. And she... didn''t want it. After packing up and returning home, in the empty vi, only the nanny was at home. When he saw her return, he greeted her warmly, -Madam. Mariana nodded wearily, said nothing and went upstairs. The next day, she got up early and, after a short wash, bought some gifts and went to visit grandmother Zoraida''s house. During this period, he did not have time toe due to the production team''s busy schedule, but now that he had two days off, he thought he woulde and visit them. Grandmother Zoraida pushed her in the door, looked behind her and spoke with some surprise, -Mari, why didn''t Leopoldoe with you? At the end of her sentence, she was cautious, as if she feared the two would not get along. Feeling a little nervous in her heart, Mariana did not expect grandmother Zoraida to ask her about Leopoldo. However, she kept her face calm, continued to smile, stepped forward and embraced grandmother Zoraida intimately, -Grandma, you are busy, there are still many things waiting for you at thepany. Nodding, Grandma Zoraida patted Mariana''s hand. -Couples must understand and care for each other. He is busy with work and must be tired when he returns, so you must take care of him. Mariana felt very warm in her heart. She knew that this was her grandmother''s way offorting her, the olddy was thinking that she would be sad if she came today without Leopoldo''spany. It wasn''t worth it to sadden someone who truly loved and cared for her for the sake of someone else. Pressing her thoughts deep in her heart, Mariana smiled and spoke, nodding, -I know, Grandma. Grandmother Zoraida sighed, she knew Mariana was not listening carefully. The twoughed and talked about recent events, and the time passed quickly. After spending the night at grandmother Zoraida''s house, Mariana returned to the vige the next day. In that case, I would have to return to the set tomorrow. Thinking that the weather was too much cut, he didn''t fix anything else, so he went to sit on the couch and picked up the fashion magazine and flipped through it. While he was looking at the works, his cell phone suddenly rang, the sound seemed very abrupt in the quiet living room. Mariana frowned, fumbled for the phone, picked it up and put it to her ear without raising her head. In a moment, Ana''s excited voice came, -You know, Mari, there''s big news! -Big news! Mari, in thest two days you were away, Mr. Dur¨¢n came to the set, and do you know who he went to see? You must never have imagined it! However, speaking here, Ana stopped suddenly, suppressing the emotion that filled her heart to share the gossip and let Mariana guess. With her heart trembling, Mariana''s hand holding the phone couldn''t help but tense up. She... knew it. -It''s Diana! That Diana who suddenly became the protagonist of our film! -Besides, it is said that she is also Andrea''s cousin, don''t you think it''s a small world? They both have the samest name. The magazine in Mariana''s hand fell to the floor, the pages brushed against each other and then hit the floor with a somewhat rough sound. He felt something slipping out of his clenched hands, even though he was already holding it with all his might. -Mari, the two sisters are having an affair with Mr. Duran, my God! What kind of fate is this? And there''s an even more explosive story on the Inte! Leaving the cell phone on the table in front of the sofa and turning on the speakerphone, Mariana got up and went to the fridge, took a ss of ice water out of it and poured herself a few big sips, which dispelled all kinds of emotions in her heart and suppressed the restlessness that boiled throughout her body. When he returned to the couch and sat down, he heard Ana''s still excited voice. -It is said that Diana and Leopoldo were always sweethearts at first, even to the point of marriage! But then, because of her dream, she decidedly went abroad, and the two were forced to separate. -In all these years, Mr. Dur¨¢n has never had a woman by his side, so he''s waiting for her! He''s waiting for Diana! Andrea can be near him because she''s Diana''s cousin! The irritability that Mariana had just felt reappeared. Chapter 110: The Discussion Chapter 110: The Discussion Chapter 110: The discussion Was this the truth that Grandma and her assistant didn''t want to tell her? The two had even almost married at the time, but Diana went abroad. Mariana was very sad. And she felt sorry for... Leopoldo. -Mari, I didn''t expect that the person I always thought was cold and scary could be so touching and dedicated! I can''t believe it! Ana''s voice was still surprised and excited, and the mood on both sides of the phone was very different. Her eyes were downcast, containing tears at that moment, there was a sense of fragility. Mariana could not help but take another gulp of ice water. -Also, Mari, when this news came out, the whole Inte was buzzing as soon as the news broke! Now on Facebook is all the news about Diana. -There are also reporters following the story, they have captured images of Diana and Mr. Duran meeting very often, I will send them to you so you can take a look at them. Ana''s penchant for sharing gossip made Mariana sigh in amazement. After saying so much, she was still full of energy, without the slightest hint of fatigue. Mariana shook her head. At this moment, Whatsapp received several photos shared by Ana, she clicked and could not help but be surprised. Some of them were texts with very suggestivenguage from the reporters, while others were high- resolution photos of the two of them in the same frame. And in an attempt to tidy up the timeline, the reporters have also deliberately marked a date in the lower right corner of each photo in a small way, givingizens a better idea of the issue. Clicking on one of the photos, the date below turned out to be the night Mariana cooked for Leopoldo, who did not return. That day, Diana had justnded on a ne. And on this day, he was desperate to see her. Her heart was so full of bitterness that she could not help crying, but her eyes remained fixed on the picture. The two were in what must have been an upscale restaurant, but it was empty. Obviously, the restaurant was booked. The dim incandescent light illuminated the two men in the center, and the pianist not far away was closing his eyes and immersing himself in his own world. The two men in the photo were sitting across from each other, sses clinking in their hands, eyes full of each other''s reflection, smiling at each other. The two looked sopatible.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. She could no longer hear Ana''s words in her ears, and the only thing that remained in her eyes for a moment was Leopoldo''s face. At this moment, it was as if he understood what Diana really meant to Leopoldo. It was the light of his life. A tear drop fell onto the phone screen, the sound of it falling was crisp and clear, infinitely amplified, lingering in the mind. In the office of the president of Grupo Dur¨¢n. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, now Facebook is full of gossip about you and Miss Diana, getting more and more animated, should we take it down? Standing in front of the cold, stern man, Lionel said cautiously. -It is not necessary. However, these words made the attendee''s heart ache. Naturally, it was clear to me that everything that was on the Inte about this between the boss and Diana should not have been discovered only by reporters, someone should have informed them. And if it wasn''t the boss, it had to be her, who was also the person involved! -Sir, if your wife saw such news, she would definitely be sad, even though you two are married by agreement, but she at least.... Before Lionel could finish her words, she was interrupted by Leopoldo, -Those words, don''t say them in the future. Lifting his gaze, his icy eyes were riveted on the attendant. -Yes. Only after the assistant left did Leopoldo look back at the folder in front of him. Since she wanted to use it to create some fame for herself, there was nothing wrong with letting it go. But at that moment, that pair of pitiful eyes looking at him and the hand tightly wrapped around his neck suddenly shed through his mind, and he couldn''t help but feel a little worried. The next day, Mariana sat in front of her dressing room mirror, looked at her deep dark circles under her eyes, helpless, and had to cover them. All night long, her mind was filled with Leopoldo''s soft face looking at Diana, and she could not sleep. After finishing, he headed to the set. When he arrived, he did not expect to find Diana, Xavier and the director standing in front of the stage, giving an interview. -Miss Solis, I don''t know if you saw the news on Facebook yesterday. May I ask if Miss Solis and Mr. Duran are in a rtionship now? At that moment, a reporter grabbed the microphone and hurried to ask Diana in a high-pitched voice. The moment this was said, everyone present could not help but fall silent, and everyone fell silent. When Mariana heard this question, she also consciously stopped in her tracks and stood in the same ce. The corners of her mouth curved up, her gaze was soft and gentle, Diana looked at the reporter, saying nothing, and her face also revealed a slightly lonely and cold look. The director next door smiled and busied himself talking to help, -Today is about the visit of the Holy Empress, please also ask questions about the film, if... Diana''s smile was faint, she looked into the distance, but unexpectedly saw a figure, and after a moment of bewilderment, her smile intensified. Before the director could finish, over there Diana interrupted the director''s words and said softly: -Nothing, director, I can answer this question. Then, he rested his eyes again on the reporter who asked him the question, his eyes suddenly tinged with shyness, and his cheeks were a little red, which made his smooth face even more charming. -Thanks for the concern, I went back to the country this time, it is indeed... for Leo, things on the Inte, it is also true. At the same time, the phrase kept echoing in Mariana''s ears, causing her to stop inexorably in ce, unable to advance even half an inch. As if noticing her gaze, Diana, who was surrounded by a group of journalists in the distance, suddenly turned her head, her smiling eyes resting on Mariana''s body, the corners of her lips engaging in an extremely cordial and friendly manner. Mariana unconsciously avoided his gaze and turned to leave with quick steps. Suddenly, she didn''t want to let herself look like that in front of that person. The video that followed was uploaded to the Inte, causing a great sensation for a while, and people had a new definition of this woman''s image. The talented, reclusive Diana naturally gained arge and loyal following. The most impotent thing was that Mariana''s name appeared in the ce in the list of hot searches that was upied by Diana. The reason he was able to share the heat of the list at this time was because Leopoldo took Mariana off-site at theunch of the investment promotion earlier. Comparing the two, naturally, fans who liked the couple Diana and Leopoldo also joined the side of those scolding Mariana. Seeing this, Mariana only smiled slightly, but Ana, who was holding the cell phone, became very angry and kept scolding the Inte users. However, after a while, the hot search with Mariana''s name on it suddenly withdrew and disappeared. Chapter 111: Press Conference Chapter 111: Press Conference Chapter 111: Press conference -Mari, has your hot search been eliminated? -Ana''s words were full of suspicion. Ana looked at her phone again, but the information was still missing, so she couldn''t help but be very surprised and rushed to Mariana''s side with her phone in her arms, talking excitedly, -Mari, look, it''s really gone! After seeing the joy on Ana''s face, Mariana had no choice but to look away, in fact, she no longer cared. Only the people around her were important, as grandmother Zoraida had told her. However, when she saw her phone, she couldn''t help but be stunned. The active search had disappeared. When she entered Mariana in the search box, she could not see the contents at this time. -Mari, what do you think is going on here? Ah! Could it be that Mr. Dur¨¢n has helped you? With a tremor in her heart, Mariana originally felt happy, but in an instant she couldn''t help butugh at herself. Even if it was Leopoldo, it was because he didn''t want to show up in a hot pursuit with himself, right? Since Diana had returned, she had not seen Leopoldo at home for a long time. In recent days, the director took advantage of the poprity to give a press conference and proudly introduced Diana, who this time had taken Andrea''s ce to help out on the set. Ana and Mariana stood below the press conference, the wardrobe team was the backup and had to watch Diana''s posture and form. All the while there was nothing to do, but Ana, who was standing to one side, approached Mariana''s ear and spoke with great surprise: -Mari, why do you think the director treats Diana so well and so seriously? Is it just because he couldn''t find a leadingdy? Hearing this, her eyes could not help but pause slightly as Mariana looked at the director and Diana on stage, who were very harmonious together on stage. In fact, she was also puzzled. ording tomon sense, if it was just because she came back and was invited by the director to be the female lead in Holy Empress, the director should not be so polite to her. -Okay, that''s probably why," Mariana didn''t want to keep thinking about this question. After finishing like that, the pitch on the stage was almost over, and Diana and the director came down from the stage. As she approached Ana, Mariana spoke in an urgent voice, -Anita, look at the scene, the director will take Diana to the Sky Film Festival in a few days, the red Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. carpet show needs the costume team to help design a dress, I need to ask Diana''s opinion. At that moment, Ana busied herself with putting away her gossip and waved her hand, -You go, I''m here. Taking a step forward, Mariana spoke with some helplessness, -There are some things that are not for our wardrobe group to discuss, so don''t gossip about them. -Okay, and I know it. Frowning and pushing Mariana away, Ana pouted, but continued to remember Mariana''s words and said nothing more. However, Mariana had just passed a corner, heard the gossip that was deliberately suppressed. She didn''t want to stay long, but the name Diana instantly entered her ears, and without realizing it, Mariana''s footsteps froze in ce. -Moya, who did Diana''s makeup, told me that the reason the director treated Diana so well was because when he couldn''t find a female lead, it was Diana who gave up a great opportunity to develop overseas, flew back and took the initiative to ask for an audition to act in this film! -Really? Why? Doesn''t he do very well abroad? Every time he enters a show, it''s always the stage for those big brands! -Who says she isn''t? But it could be because she''s been inactive overseas for a while and she''s not developing too well, so she wants toe home and do something. His voice suddenly lowered again, and there was a tinge of mystery in his words. -The Duran Group is the industry leader. If you want to make a person famous, isn''t it easy? -That''s right, in the interview Diana said that her return was for Mr. Dur¨¢n! Mariana''s hands were clenched and rubbing unconsciously, her fair skin was already tinged with red, so you could imagine the confusion of her mood now. It turned out that the director treated her so well because Diana took the initiative to return to request an audition for the female lead in Empress Santa. Thus, the purpose of his return was not simple. Repressing her confused thoughts, Mariana stopped listening and coughed softly before her feet lifted, the sound of short-heeled leather bootsnding on the floor came out loudly, silencing the gossipy words being said. Mariana walked steadily towards Diana''s living room, she had not forgotten the purpose of her visit. However, the tightly sped hands revealed their true emotions. When she arrived at the salon, Diana was sitting in front of the dressing table mirror, removing her make-up, half of her make-up was richly colored and the other half was simple, a big difference, but a harmony. After taking a deep breath, Mariana came to stand diagonally behind Diana before speaking softly, -Miss Diana, excuse me, the director asked me to discuss with you the design of the dress for the red carpet walk in a few days. As she turned around and looked at Mariana behind her, Diana''s eyes sparkled, outlining her increasingly exquisite makeup. -Mariana, you are here, the director told me. Saying that, he greeted Mariana and sat down on the sofa next to her, then continued: -Mariana, do you have any ideas yet? Hearing this, Mariana did not think much about it and directly stated her idea briefly first, but to her surprise, her idea waspletely rejected by Diana. -Mariana, the type of design you''re talking about probably doesn''t suit my figure, right? It doesn''t necessarily fit me, the dress on my body naturally has to magnify the advantages and hide the ws, right? Mariana said nothing. -It''s my first big event, appearing before the public, naturally I have to be a bit more demure, if I can achieve a shocking effect, it would be better. The words had a sincere meaning, which reached Mariana''s ears faintly, but made her frown slightly. In fact, it was normal for Diana to think so, but she always felt that just now she had tly rejected his idea as having other implications. -Mariana? Diana opened her mouth again to ask, her eyes full of concern. -As the director asked me to discuss with you toplete the design, I think it is also to have a better design. do you have any opinion? With a faint smile, Diana looked at Mariana with a sh of strangeness in her eyes, which quickly disappeared. -Do you know a designer, her name is Susana Sanchez? With a slight roll of her eyes, Mariana nodded her head. -Yes, a famous national young designer, especially good at designing dresses, has won many national and international awards, can be said to be a famous figure in the youth design industry. In the fashion magazine she saw a few days ago, Susana''s works appeared, Mariana also felt a great respect for Susana in her heart. Hearing these words, Diana showed a smile, extended her hand before continuing to speak: -Susana is my friend, I also like her work very much and I have always wanted to work with her too, but... Speaking here, Diana paused, her tone bing somewhat bitter, -But Susanna feels that none of the dresses she designs are very suitable for my figure, or my temperament, there is a big difference. Chapter 112: Disappearing Overnight Chapter 112: Disappearing Overnight Chapter 112: Disappearing overnight -I cannot fully show the beauty of the work, and the work cannotplement me, it will only have the opposite effect. Her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and Mariana understood Diana''s meaning a little. And it really was. -Mariana, can you do me a favor? Susana as a friend gave me a dress she designed, it is unique in the world and it has not been published yet, can you help me to modify it on this basis? Mariana was in a bad mood, she did not respond immediately for a while. -I really like Susana''s design, it is my wish to wear a dress designed by Susana, Mariana, can you help me to make it? When she looked up, she met a pair of anxious eyes, and Diana looked at Mariana expectantly, her body slightly driven by nervousness. The distance between them was shrinking. With a lot of thoughts in her mind, Mariana opened her mouth and said softly: -Miss, each design is a treasure of the designer, something that cannot be vited. With a steady gaze, and with some embarrassment and reluctance, Mariana spoke with difficulty, -If I were to modify Miss Susanna''s design, it would not only be disrespectful to me, but also to Miss Susanna! She was also a designer, and thinking about this kind of thing happening to her, she felt that Diana''s suggestion was not appropriate. And Susana was his friend, all the more reason not to do it! -Mariana, you don''t have to worry about Susana''s side, she knows my obsession, so this piece that was given to me she can handle at will. There was a slight air of condescension in the words. Diana had attended many big shows abroad, so naturally she knew some upper-ss people, but she had not thought that Susanna''s friendship with her would have reached this level. Even over and above the design. However, the situation in front of him was even more difficult. -Mariana, you just need to recover this dress and change it to the proportions of my body, and it can highlight the characteristics of my temperament. This is much simpler than redesigning a dress. Mariana stared at Diana for a long time before speaking, -Miss Diana, I don''t think this is good, respect is mutual. -Even if the designer Susana doesn''t mind, I too, as a designer, don''t want to follow the designs of others, my work is my work, it belongs only to me. The tone of his voice was a bit harsh, and it fell hard on Diana''s ears, causing the smile on her face to fade a bit. The light in her eyes, with a slight feeling of oppression, went straight to Mariana. -Mariana, what do you mean? You must know that the director asked you to discuss with me the design of the dress. I just made a small request, which is convenient for me and also for you, why don''t you agree, could it be that such a trivial matter also requires you to inform the director and let the director solve it, then would you agree? The words had a strong, oppressive meaning, and even brought out the director. With a secret sigh, Mariana felt helpless. Mariana knew the importance the director attached to bringing Diana to the Sky Film Festival this time. After closing her eyes, Mariana finally nodded and agreed, -Then I''ll give it a try. As soon as these words were said, Diana''s face instantly broke into a smile. -Then I will have my assistant send you the dresster, please. The light in her eyes intensified as a hint of something strange shed through Mariana''s heart. -No problem. After leaving Diana''s living room, Mariana looked a little scared. Diana and Andrea were cousins, and even after Diana left Leopoldo and went abroad, Leopoldo was N?velDrama.Org content rights. still able to take care of Andrea thanks to Diana. "It seems that the rtionship between Diana and Andrea had a good rtionship should be good. In that case, does Andrea ever mention me after her return?" For some reason, during this period of time, Mariana always felt strange when she was with Diana, as if the person in front of her was not like that. But if I wanted to dig deeper, I couldn''t find anything else. While walking unconsciously, Mariana soon returned to the original scene, where Ana was still waiting for her. At that moment, seeing her, he rushed over and asked with concern, -Mari, have you finished with your business? Nodding softly, the corners of Mariana''s mouth curved into a slight smile, but there was still some concern in her eyes. -Well, it''s done. Then, Ana suddenly looked at the people around her, approached Mariana''s ear and lowered her voice. -Mari, guess who I just saw? With some helplessness, Mariana looked at the mysterious Ana, knowing that she must have stumbled upon some gossip again. But seeing how interested she was, she still spoke, -Who did you see? -I tell you I met Rafael! The owner of that maverick bar. Her eyes were stunned, and the bad memories of that night came back to her mind, Mariana couldn''t help but tremble and her mood was low. Trying to suppress the irritation in her heart, Mariana pretended to look at Ana calmly and spoke as calmly as possible, -Where have you seen it? -Right here! And just before you came back, he left the stage and went backstage. After a pause, Ana guessed, -I think he probably knows the people inside this press conference, he just waited here for a while, but I saw he had a bad look on his face, so I didn''t go up to greet him. Something went through Mariana''s mind very quickly, but she could not grasp it. Who was Rafael waiting for? The bar had disappeared overnight and Mariana had missed Rafael''s news, but she didn''t expect to find him here. Was it by chance? Looking at Ana, who was still puzzled, Mariana was surprised and hurried to speak: -Anita, the owner of that bar and we are definitely not from the same world, so the next time we meet, we should pretend we don''t know each other. After a pause, he said again, -After all, if you think a newly opened bar has disappeared overnight, it must have pissed off some powerful people we can''t afford to offend. Hearing this, Ana nodded approvingly, -If you can quietly make a bar disappear overnight on a downtown bar street, I think you have to be one like Se?or Dur¨¢n! With a start, Mariana turned her eyes to Ana, her pupils crinkling in disbelief. However, Ana did not notice Mariana''s disorder and sighed as if she was still sighing. -It''s a pity that you only know this great man, Mr. Dur¨¢n! What a pity! Only when he heard these words did Mariana feel relieved. At that moment, he thought Ana knew. Such a reaction made the depression I had just received from Diana dissipate greatly. Chapter 113: Letter From The Lawyer Chapter 113: Letter From The Lawyer Chapter 113: Letter from thewyer -All right, today''s work is also finished, let''s have lunch. Shaking her head and dismissing the disordered thoughts from her mind, Mariana pulled Ana and walked out. In the following days, Mariana took care of the dress alterations. After seeing the dress designed by Susana, Mariana couldn''t help but respect her even more. The neckline of the model''s red dress opened very low, exposing arge area of skin, and the skirt trailed long. The waist was cinched and a huge slit was made at the base of the legs, with a small sexy of the traditional dress, the ensemble looked like a piece of silky fabric, with smooth, sharp lines. He was simple and generous, but also unspeakably sexy, mboyant and wickedly charming. Such a dress really did not suit Diana''s temperament. Since she wanted to impress the audience at the film festival, Mariana had to satisfy her request. With downcast eyes, he already had an idea in his head and began to modify. Finally, the day before the festival, Mariana had her dress altered. Mariana opted to keep the one-piece style, but the neckline and therge hairpin that opened way down were very tight, and to make both match well, she chose to cover it with a light veil. This would not lose the original meaning of the dress, but would also satisfy Diana''s demand for the dress to be flowing and sexy. When the robe was handed to Diana, she merely gave it a faint nce before looking away,pletely devoid of any of the seriousness she had felt earlier. A trace of surprise shone in her eyes, Mariana frowned, but naturally said no more. On the day of the film festival, Diana brought to the stage Susana''s work modified by Mariana. It was beautiful and charming. There were no boundaries between the two different styles, which made her show a different kind of beauty. It was an impressive sight to behold. That night, Diana''s look topped the Facebook trends and, naturally, received a lot of praise, causing quite a stir. Even below Diana''s own Facebook ount, there werements from passersby who were drawn to the red carpet spectacle in the quest for warmth, all of them in awe of the dress. However, Mariana couldn''t feel half as much joy. That recognition was not what she wanted. Mariana put down her cell phone and opened the magazine on the coffee table, which showed Susana''s award-winning work. Her gaze was drawn to the winning dress, unable to tear herself away from it. The dress that appeared inside the magazine was the exact same one that Diana had taken to her to be altered, the exact same one! Her heart suddenly clenched and Mariana''s hand holding the magazine trembled slightly with a sense of helplessness. What the hell was going on here? Could it be that the rtionship between Susana and Diana had grown so close that they gave her the work that had won an international award, and promised to let her modify it as long as she liked it? His heart was beating violently at that moment, rising and falling in his chest, heavier than ever. Mariana''s heart was vaguely restless. The next morning, Mariana arrived on set, but to her surprise, a member of the crew handed her a t messenger. Puzzled, she picked it up and opened it, only to see the word Processing in front of her eyes. With a shudder in his heart, he unfolded all the hard white paper, andplex thoughts instantly surfaced in Mariana''s eyes. It is a letter from Susana''s studio suing her for giarism of her award-winning work. The dress that Diana had asked her to alter... Thinking of something, Mariana clutched thewyer''s letter tightly in her hand, turned around and ran out, just as she reached the entrance of the hall, she was told that Diana was sick and would not be After a pause, Mariana left the crew, took a cab, called Diana and used the address revealed by the reporter to find him. The phone was always off. When she arrived at the ce, Mariana quickly got out of the car and arrived at Diana''s vi, going ahead to ring the doorbell, but there was no answer, only the dull and unsettling sound of the doorbell ringing over and over again. At that moment, Mariana received the cell phone number of Diana''s assistant that she had asked Ana to check, and this time the phone was connected. -Hello? May I ask if Miss Solis is here? I''m looking for her on a very important matter, please pass her the phone. A slightly icy voice came from the other end of the phone,nding in Mariana''s ears and directly quenching her impatience. -Miss Ortiz, Diana caught a cold yesterday, at this moment she has a high fever and is still unconscious, she may not be able to talk to you, please call back in a few days, Diana needs to rest. In the end, the assistant''s words were mixed with a bit of impatience. -It is very important... Before I could finish speaking, the other party had already hung up the phone directly, without mercy. She wanted Diana to help her clear things up in front of Susana, but she didn''t expect her to even see her face. Somewhat dejected, she returned to the set and had just arrived and was stopped by an anxious- looking Ana, and a cell phone screen was ced in front of her. -Mari, look! Dropping her eyes to look at him, her otherwise listless spirit suddenly quivered as she grabbed the phone with both hands and flipped through it quickly. -A national designer, Mariana, is shamelessly copying the work of designer Susana and marketing it... This was the statement issued by Susana''s studio. N?velDrama.Org content rights. Clicking on thements, there was even an avnche of supportivements, all of them denouncing Mariana''s shameful act of giarism, and some of them were even very vicious in their -Mari, look, early this morning, the Susana studio issued such a statement, and in an instant, it quickly rose to the top of the hot search, and now the entire Inte is discussing this issue. The words were a bit heavy. Ana looked at Mariana with concern, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say. Naturally, she believed that Mariana would not engage in giarism, but there were too many people arguing online, and for those haters, it didn''t matter what the truth was, they just hurled insults. However, the fact that the others saw thosements would have a great impact on Mariana, and even on the production team of Emperatriz Santa. -Mari, what should you do now? The hand holding the phone couldn''t help but tense, and the thin, bony knuckles turned slightly white. "What can I do?" There was already a lot of fuss on the Inte, Susana insisted that she was giarizing, and the person in question, Diana, was in a feverisha. "What else can I do?" At this point, if she was still unclear about what kind of scheme she was submitting to, then she was really stupid. The fact that Diana and Susana were friends may not be wrong, and the dress may have been what Diana asked Susana to wear. Then they asked her to change, and then used her of giarism, and caused such drama. If she had really giarized, Mariana''s design career would be ruined! At that moment, someone knocked on the door. The assistant director came in, and when she saw Mariana, a touch of contempt and impatience shone in her eyes, -The director is looking for you. Then, without looking back, he quickly left. Seeing the appearance of that person, Ana became very angry, -Why is this person acting like this? It hasn''t all been decided yet, whether it''s giarism or not is another story, but he has condemned someone first! Gently stroking Ana''s shoulder, Mariana spoke helplessly, -Well, since the director is looking for me, I''ll go there. At that moment, the director, filled with deep anger, was sitting on the sofa browsing through online messages. Chapter 114: Plagiarism Chapter 114: giarism Chapter 114: giarism Inte users began collecting costumes designed by Mariana for the cast of Emperatriz Santa, Although the final result of the identification was that there was no giarism, but the behavior of Inte users had made it clear that, because of Mariana, they no longer liked the cast. This is not a good phenomenon. And the Holy Empress did not need so much poprity. -Director, are you looking for me? By that time, Mariana had already knocked on the door and entered to stand in front of the director. Looking at Mariana in front of him, the director violently threw the phone on the coffee table, and the flesh on his face trembled several times due to his emotions. -Miss Ortiz, I don''t think you have a code of conduct. The tone of his voice was strange. And she called Mariana as Se?orita Ortiz. With sour eyes, Mariana''s hands unconsciously crossed, rubbing them lightly, but her face remained calm. -I can overlook all the previous issues, but this one is suspected of giarism! I cannot tolerate such behavior. Icy eyes rested on Mariana. -I didn''t expect you to be able to do this giarism thing, there are no guidelines at all and my team can''t use you. -Director, that''s not the way things are... He spoke pale and weak, but the next moment he was interrupted. -I don''t want to hear exnations, I just look at the results, this matter has caused irreparable image consequences to the crew, so you are temporarily suspended and the wardrobe equipment will be handed over to Ana to manage. Temporary, or possibly permanent suspension. Mariana''s body swayed slightly. Such a result had truly determined that the giarism was her work. -Okay,e out. Waving her hand breathlessly, the director was unwilling to see her, and kept looking at the message on her phone. After remaining motionless for a long time, without receiving any attention, Mariana could only bow her head and leave. Whether he giarized or not, the damage to the crew had already been done, so afterwards he could not resent the crew for abandoning him to stay for the greater good. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. When she returned to the living room, Mariana began to gather her things. And Ana had already been called ahead of time and headed to the director''s room, presumably to prepare to take charge of the wardrobe team. Clutching the paper box in her arms, Mariana wandered dazedly along the roadside, feeling for a moment that the world was so big, but there was no room for her. With a bitter smile, and Mariana couldn''t help but stop in her tracks, looking up at the sky, trying to make the blurry vision a little clearer. Mariana''s heart was deste as she walked in silence. Suddenly, someone tapped her shoulder quietly, and Mariana''s heart fluttered as she looked back, -Xavier? Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, Mariana didn''t expect it was really Xavier. -What? -Who do you think it is? -Nothing," the murmur spoke. The cardboard box in her hand was picked up and Mariana raised her eyes in surprise. -Where do you want to go? I''ll take you there. With that, he carried the box directly to the car parked not far from him. Only then did it dawn on him that Xavier had appeared like this on the street without any disguise, and it turned out that he had driven here. Withoutint, Mariana climbed into the passenger side of Xavier''s car. -I don''t know where to go. I didn''t know where to go either, and with the cold weather in the vige, I didn''t feel much like going back. In the next instant, the man next to her leaned forward and buckled Mariana''s seat belt. The distance was very close, and the whole male scent was between her nostrils, which made Mariana couldn''t help but be stunned. A smile appeared on Xavier''s face, his eyes brimming with light at that moment. -Since you have no idea, then follow me. The car sped off, Mariana turned her eyes to look at Xavier, her heart that had been sullen suddenly loosened greatly. -Don''t you have a scene to shoot today? Hearing this, Xavier turned his head and looked at Mariana, his face full ofughter. -This is also thanks to designer Mariana. Instantly, Mariana''s face suddenly became pale and bloodless, and her body stiffened uncontrobly. Was it because of your giarism? With a sigh, Xavier pulled the car over to the side of the road, there was no hint of joking in his eyes, instead, there was a deep, serious look hidden in his eyes. -Mariana, I think you won''t giarize, you don''t need to think too much, I''m just talking about Diana calling in sick and taking a leave of absence. There were many actresses attending the film festival in full costume, each trying to cause a sensation, showing everywhere what they could, none of them suffering from cold and fever. Only she was the only one. Mariana stared at Xavier, her heart instantly filled with emotion, her voice trembling slightly with excitement. -Do you trust me? -We are friends, naturally I am clear about my friend''s character. Xavier gave a slight smile and raised his eyebrows slightly, while the words he spoke were extremely firm. The heart that had been hanging out suddenly dropped like this, and this feeling of solidity was really good. -Xavier, thank you. Tears kept invading her eyes, and the tip of her nose couldn''t help but be sour. Shortly after driving again, the car finally stopped at the entrance to an amusement park. With slightly furrowed eyebrows, Mariana turned her eyes to Xavier in surprise and spoke in confusion, -Xavier, why did you bring me here? The amusement park in front of me was crowded, and the sound of children''sughter echoed from every corner. -Naturally, to have fun. Looking at Mariana, Xavier said matter-of-factly. When Mariana withdrew her eyes, the man next to her was already fully armed, wearing a ck duck- tongued hat,rge ck-rimmed sunsses and a ck mask that covered Xavier''s handsome face so tightly you couldn''t see it, but it was also very impressive. With augh, Mariana looked at Xavier, -What are youughing at? -The voice came out of the mask and seemed a little muffled. Next, the man lifted his sunsses and gave Mariana a fierce look, also throwing a ck mask at her, before saying with mock ferocity, -Let''s go! Looking at the ck mask in her hand, Mariana was slightly stunned. I didn''t expect Xavier to be so careful. After all, she was now quite famous on the Inte, and her poprity was no less than that of some famous people. After putting on the mask honestly, Mariana followed Xavier and bought a ticket to enter the amusement park. Chapter 115: A Magnificent Ambition Chapter 115: A Magnificent Ambition Chapter 115: A Magnificent Ambition He raised his eyes in amazement and looked at everything in front of him, the roller coaster that kept flying and people screaming; the romantic carousel; and the flying car that was gliding rapidly from a high ce and making a big ssh.... Everything in front of me was so strange and yet so desirable. Mariana''s parents had never taken her to an amusement park. When the other children were cuddling with their parents and moring to go to the amusement park, what awaited her was always endless darkness. When she came to, Mariana smiled. It was my first time at an amusement park. Looking at the woman beside him through his sunsses, Xavier''s heart suddenly pricked. Even after going through that kind of blow, he could still raise his smile. This kind of optimism and strength was really touching. -Which one do you want to go y first? A sensual voice reached his ears. Holding out her hand and pointing to the crowd that was still shouting and rushing by, Mariana spoke in a low voice, -That one. There was a myriad of emotions knotted in his chest, running hard and wanting to escape. I needed to scream. With a lightugh, Xavier looked at Mariana, whose eyes were sparkling, and pulled her into line. As the roller coaster shot up into the clouds, a big breath of slightly cool fresh air was inhaled into her lungs, and for a moment, Mariana had the sensation of being reborn. "It''s just a false usation! I can prove I didn''t giarize!" "As long as I don''t give up, no one can beat me!" When Mariana went down, her legs faltered a little and, after taking two steps, she fell unconsciously to one side, but the next moment someone embraced her and held her in his arms. -What? Where is this magnificent ambition? The joking words fell on her ears, Mariana smiled as she used her strength to get up. Seeing her get up, Xavier then let go of her hand and brought his hands to his chest, looking at her calmly with a mildly mocking look. -I want one more time. Xavier''s eyes opened in surprise, looking at the face before him, slightly pale from the strong wind, but with extremely bright eyes, like stars in the night. -I will apany you. Then, the two yed again. After that, choosing no other exciting elements, the two sat on the carousel, enjoying the evening breeze. Mariana closed her eyesfortably and was very optimistic. "It''s just a setback in my design career, and I''ll get over it." -Xavier, thank you. An elegant, crisp voice came softly to Xavier''s ears on the night breeze, causing him to turn his eyes to look at Mariana. -Don''t think too much, maybe it''s just me wanting to get out and rx? The yful words fell on her ears, but this time Mariana only smiled, looking at Xavier with eyes full of gratitude. "Really, thank you." The sound of the shutter was still ringing in the dark, very fast, but no one noticed. At that moment, Diana, who must have been ill, wasfortably propped up on the plush sofa, poking at a silver fork and slowly eating the fruit on her te. His fingers kept gliding across the screen of his cell phone. Suddenly smiling teasingly, Diana looked at the erged image, her eyes were a little charming, not as cold as usual. I saw two people in the photo, a man and a woman, who had just gotten off the roller coaster, the man''s hand hugged tightly over the woman''s waist, while the woman was leaning on the man''s arms, the two were like a couple. A softugh escaped her lips, and her eyes sparkled with the faintest hint of horrible pleasure. "If I give the photos to Leopoldo today, what will be the result?" The reason he had returned, apart from that incident, was that Andrea had told him on the phone that a woman had appeared next to Leopoldo and had taken a ce. He had lost a lot before and could not afford to lose Leopoldo again. For this reason, he decided to return to his country. Lately, however, it seemed that everything was still under control. As for Mariana, she would soon fall to the lowest point and never rise again. With a light flick of his fingers, he dialed a phone number, -Send the photos to Mr. Dur¨¢n''s assistant. Hanging up the phone, Diana quietly picked up a strawberry again, bit it in her mouth and chewed it carefully, as if the strawberry was that person. Inside the office of Grupo Dur¨¢n''s president. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. The sudden and sessive vibrations of the cell phone on his body made Lionel''s heart skip a beat and he pulled out his cell phone in front of Leopoldo and checked it. As a result, his eyes widened in shock. He raised his head in fear and looked at Leopoldo, who was reading the documents, and his heart trembled. After much hesitation, the assistant stepped forward fearfully, ced the phone gently in front of the chief and spoke softly: -Sir, there is some information you need to confirm. Saying this, he quickly backed up a few steps, even as he was alreadymenting about his phone in his heart. Sure enough, in the next instant, there was a loud noise and a piece of debris sshed in front of him, it was his cell phone. The cold, stern man behind the desk was already up, sticking out his long legs and walking out of the office, blowing a wind of bitterness. With a shudder in her heart, the assistant followed in panic. On this side, Mariana and Xavier came out of the amusement park for a walk and couldn''t help but look at each other with a smile. All the fatigue and weariness in their bodies seemed to have disappeared. Looking up at the night sky, the bright stars were scattered over the ck curtain, like crystalline, dazzling diamonds. Suddenly, the scene of looking at the night sky with Leopoldo at grandmother Zoraida''s house that day popped into Mariana''s mind... Shaking her head slightly, Mariana felt a little helpless, but also deste. It was true that, because of its scarcity, it was made more precious and remembered more firmly, even Mariana arrived home, got out of the car and stood on the shoulder looking at Xavier, who had rolled down the window, with a smile on her face and a clear gleam in her eyes, -Xavier, I still want to thank you for taking me for a ride today. Although it had been said many times, it seemed that it was not enough to express the gratitude in Mariana''s heart. After all, he was the one who bluntly stated that he believed in her. -Well, if you continue, it always makes me feel like the word thank you is worthless. Xavier smiled as he stared at Mariana, -If you really want to thank me, why don''t you give me a kiss? With his long fingers pointed at her cheek, Xavier looked at Mariana calmly, waiting naturally. Laughing lightly with some helplessness, Mariana shook her head, -The Best Actor, Xavier, is worthy of being a famous person gued by scandals, but I won''t have to participate in your scandals," he said and waved his hands again and again. The two looked at each other and couldn''t help but disy their smiles. Only after watching Xavier''s car drive off into the darkness, never to be seen again, did Mariana turn around and prepare to return. When he opened the door, he did not expect the room to be dark, and there was a little hesitation. And just as he was about to turn on the lights, he suddenly heard cold, stern words. Chapter 116: You Are Mrs. Durè°©n Chapter 116: You Are Mrs. Dur¨¢n Chapter 116: You are Mrs. Dur¨¢n -Do you still know how to go back? The cold tone was wrapped in a deep anger that struck Mariana''s cochlea, making her furrow her eyebrows. After a pause, Mariana still turned on the living room chandelier and, in a moment, it was illuminated. Naturally, he also saw Leopoldo sitting cross-legged on the sofa. At that moment, he was looking at her with a sullen, cold face. -Yes," with a perfunctory answer, Mariana withdrew her eyes and prepared to go upstairs. It was then that he realized that, although Leopoldo was here, he still felt a pang of loneliness and coldness in the vi. Probably because that person did not belong to her, she was still alone. A cold smile was drawn on her face, it was now filled with a sense of loneliness. Mariana climbed the stairs with heavy steps. Suddenly, someone grabbed her slender wrist and the strong force squeezed her wrist bones until they ached. -What are you doing? Hearing this, Leopoldo said cold words without mercy to Mariana: -What? I haven''t been back for a few days, and you have the free time to seduce a man? After a pause, Leopoldo leaned toward Mariana, very close between them and they could smell each other, -Or do you know you''ve lost your job, so you''re looking for a recement quickly? Or do you think if you find Xavier, the crew will keep you? The mockeryden words were delivered bluntly. This caused Mariana''s heart to be surprised. She felt aggrieved and began to cry, as if suddenly all her strength had been taken away. -Leopoldo! Why... why are you looking at me like that? I''m... The red lips in front of him kept opening and closing, Leopoldo''s mind filled with that image. Suddenly, he bent down and lifted Mariana up, and quickly went upstairs. Panic crossed her eyes, Mariana was a little stunned, but she bit her lower lip hard. He struggled, but could not move an inch. The next moment, she was thrown violently onto the bed. Although the bed was soft, her body ached from being thrown with such force. In front of her, there was a sudden darkness and a tall figure covered Mariana''s body, with such force that she could not move a single muscle. Then, there was a tingling pain in her lips, which stimted her sharply, making her body tremble. The chest suddenly became cold and the clothes on her body tore violently. Mariana was surprised and struggled even more violently, but could not. The stabbing pain between her legs came, Mariana opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling, two lines of clear tears fell from the corners of her eyes. Like a rag doll in tatters. When she woke up again, Mariana felt only a tearing pain in her lower body, and when her eyes rolled back, she was stunned. The curtains were not closed, and the meager moonlight streamed in, illuminating the man standing by the window. The cigarette he held between his long fingers lit orange and red stars, like a bright light in a dark night, but with an eerie atmosphere. He did not know how long Leopoldo had been standing there. Moving with difficulty, Mariana tried to turn her back on him, but she didn''t want her slow movements to provoke a loud noise, which seemed to be bing clearer in the silent night. The man heard the sound and turned away, cold, hard wordsing from his thin lips, -Are you awake? At that moment, the clear whiteness of the moon became thinner and thinner, but a faint red color shot up from the distance. I had been here half the night. Her body stiffened, but Mariana continued to turn her back on Leopoldo. After a long time, it was hard to talk, but it was only a short word, -Yes. However, his lips opened and closed several times, and before he could say anything, he only felt some pain where they touched. It was because of the fierce bite from the person behind her. -Today is only your punishment," the words were deep and cold, "you must remember clearly that you are Mrs. Duran. The oppressive words fell hard on the ears, sending a shiver through the heart. The red glow outside suddenly became orange and red, even bigger, illuminating the dim interior a little, but Mariana''s eyes could no longer see anything. Suddenly, unconsciously, a whisper like this was uttered in the silent room: -That thing... Do you think I giarized? At these words, Mariana could not help but be stunned for a moment. Fortunately, his back was turned to Leopoldo at the time, so he didn''t let his thoughts manifest themselves in front of people. However, even as she thought about it, Mariana kept waiting for the man behind her to respond. I wanted to know if he trusted her or not. -What do you think? The indifferent and stern words reached Mariana''s ears, apanied by the burning gaze. There was a hint of harshness and even mockery in his tone. Mariana''s body trembled and she closed her eyes in fear. The pain in his body seemed to be even more unbearable, steadily approaching his heart. After all, he didn''t believe her. "Yes, I''ve always been a greedy woman in his eyes." The round sun rose in the east. The interior was bright. The woman in the bed was covered with a soft velvetforter and curled up in a ball, her back to him in a defensive position. Last night, his behavior was indeed too much. His eyes darkened as Leopoldo tossed the long-extinguished cigarette in his hand into the ashtray, turned and took a giant step, opened the door and walked out. When the door closed, the woman on the bed, who had been silent, suddenly trembled and then fell N?velDrama.Org content rights. silent again. Leopoldo left the vi to go to the office, and just as he arrived, Lionel pushed open the door. -Sir, are you looking for me? Nodding, he took the coffee prepared by his secretary and took a soft sip, Leopoldo settled into his office chair, his hands folded and his face somber. -Leave the matter in question aside for now and investigate the matter of Mariana''s giarism. Hearing this, the assistant could not help but frown slightly, -Do you also believe that thedy has copied Susana''s design? However, the man in front of him did not respond for a moment. As he waited, the aide was already sweating, those words were really out of his scope of work and not something he could argue with. Just as Lionel was about to turn around and retreat quietly, the cold, hard words finally came, -I don''t believe it. Yes, he didn''t believe it. The work was over. Therefore, when Mariana was not feeling well that day, she sleptte before getting up. After simply washing up, the nanny took the initiative to bring up the food and ced it in front of her. As she was leaving, there was still a hint of a strange look in her eyes. It was apassion. Rather, I did not expect that it had now reached the point of being pitied. Chapter 117: Confrontation Chapter 117: Confrontation Chapter 117: Confrontation After finishing her meal, Mariana returned to the sofa and took out her cell phone to call thepany manager. The nice person who appointed her head of the costume team of Empress Santa. The phone quickly went off the hook, ringing with the director''s usual short words, -Who is it? Mariana continued speaking in a low voice, -Director, it''s me, Mariana, this time about the news on the Inte.... However, before Mariana could finish speaking, the other party had already interrupted her words outright. -The matter has not yet been rified, there is no need to make amends so quickly. The words, somewhat cold, fell on Mariana''s ears, but they made her heart tingle with a little warmth. -Director... -Since nothing else is going on with the crew, you can stay home and wait for news. After instructing him, the director had already quickly hung up the phone. The pressure in his heart suddenly eased. After learning that the director had removed Mariana from her position, Diana''s illness healed naturally and she returned to the set again. He greeted the cast and crew one by one with a kindness. -To be honest, Miss Diana is not only talented, she is also beautiful! -Yes! It''s notparable to others at all. No wonder it already has countless fans in this short time! -And so outstanding, she also has a very good personality and treats everyone very well,pletely different from Andrea. The whispers did not cease, but carried a strong feeling of envy, which made the smile on Diana''s lips grow brighter and brighter. Lifting her chin slightly, Diana walked in front of the crowd with her head held high, a little coldly, but not too shy, just highlighting her cool temperament. In front of the door to the principal''s lounge, Diana knocked softly on the door and heard a deep voice before pushing the door open. The director, who was looking at the material, inadvertently raised his eyes, but did not expect to see Diana, whom he had not seen for several days. He got up, walked past the table and walked in front of Diana, waved her to sit on the couch where he was entertaining the guests. -Are you not sick? If you are sick, recover at home ande back when you are well, there is no hurry for work. It wasn''t that the team''s schedule wasn''t urgent, but the director finally found a person who was such a good fit, so naturally he didn''t want to lose him for these little reasons. In addition, the incident caused by Mariana this time had implicated Diana, causing considerable damage to her reputation. -It''s all right, Director, I just had a cold, I''m much better now. After a pause, Diana looked at the director, her eyes were clear and her face was full of smiles as she spoke sincerely, -This time you have already dyed the team too much, it is better toe back earlier. Nodding approvingly, the director''s gaze towards Diana became increasingly soft. The frown between his brows deepened as he thought of something else, sighing fiercely, and his face darkened, -Diana, this time, for the giarism incident, I''m really sorry. The wardrobe team was recruited by him, now because of the wardrobe team the female lead who had just joined the team had suffered reputational damage, naturally he also bore some responsibility. Diana was happier as she gently lifted her slender hand to fix the hair around her ear. However, it became sad, -Director, don''t say this. I''m the main character of Empress Santa, so naturally I''m with the team, no need to apologize to me, besides, it''s the designer''s fault. However, these words had already determined that Mariana had giarized. Her eyes were slightly downcast, her long white fingers gently rubbing the rim of the ss, and Diana were pensive. It was only a little damage to his reputation, but if he could drive Mariana out of his circle for good, it would be worth it. -All right, I know you''ll be absolutely reasonable. After a pause, a hint of annoyance appeared on the director''s face, -This Mariana is really a fool. She doesn''t expect to have the idea of giarism, and yet she exhibits at a big film festival. Raising his eyes, he looked at Diana, the director could not help but feel sympathy for her. -Now she''s linked to giarism and you''re wearing that giarized dress, it''s really.... However, speaking here, the director paused and shook his head helplessly, looking frustrated and disgruntled. It suddenly urred to him that since Mariana had arrived on the set, she had caused a lot of trouble. If he had known that, he would not have listened to Se?or Dur¨¢n''s words and would not have kept her on the set. -Director, since Mariana is gone now, don''t worry. As long as we finish filming the drama properly, everything will be fine when it premieres. -Okay, Diana, we''ll start shooting this afternoon. Diana left the room after exchanging a few polite words with the director. N?velDrama.Org content rights. The moment he closed the door, the smile on his face instantly dissipated, and a faint hint of mischief appeared on his face. However, just as he turned around, he didn''t expect someone behind him. The light in her eyes trembled slightly, the slightest hint of viciousness still hung on her cheeks, which was seen directly by that person. It was Xavier B?o. In an instant, the gloom dispersed, and a smile appeared on her face, Diana''s gaze was clear, the corners of her mouth curved into a soft arch, and she became the prouddy again. -Is Mr. B?o here to see the director? The light of his eyes fell on Xavier''s body and his heart trembled. So, it was better to act first. As if nothing had happened, Diana''s eyes were as gentle as ever, her gaze fixed on Xavier''s body, asking cordially and in a very friendly manner. However, the man in front of him did not immediately answer his question. She looked at the woman in front of her, and her eyes, which had been yfully engaged, were grim at that moment, with a slight sense of tightness hitting Diana''s face, making the smile can''t help but stiffen a little. Diana''s hands couldn''t help but clench, sharp fingertips digging into the soft palm. -Why are you looking at me like that? We''ve been working together for a while, there should still be some unspoken understanding, right? The words hid some kind of deep meaning, interspersed between the two men, making the atmosphere seem even heavier. -Miss Diana, do you think Mariana has giarized this time? Diana pretended to be calm as she watched Xavier in front of her. After a moment''s pause, he still smiled and opened his mouth, -This matter is not something I canment on, naturally I would like to believe that Ms. Ortiz will not giarize, but the fact that she is in front of us makes people have to believe it. In short, the two have already begun to confront each other. However, no one was the first to leave. Chapter 118: I CanT Stand It Chapter 118: I Can''T Stand It Chapter 118: I Can''t Stand It -Is that so? As far as I know, the dress Miss Ortiz altered was a gift from Miss Solis. It could be that... Diana''s smile remained the same, her light-colored pupils reflected a dangerous look in front of her. The man approached her, and in a moment, the distance between the two was very close and coercion came toward her. Close to Diana''s ear, Xavier lowered his voice, -Miss, if you don''t want people to know, don''t do it. By the end of his words, they were already cold and stinging, making Diana''s heart tremble hard. After that, the pressure dissipated, and the man was gone. Only after a long while, Diana turned her head and looked at the man''s distant figure, her fists clenched tightly and a trace of viciousness shone in her heart. "That being the case, this person should also be eliminated." At the end of the day, Diana greeted all team members with a smile before leaving the stage. Back in the living room, he dialed a number, -It''s me, let''s arrange a ce to meet. Hanging up the phone, Diana did not allow her assistant to follow her and headed for a seldom-used Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. coffee shop. It was already lunchtime, but the cafeteria was empty and seemed very cold. Lifting the sunsses she wore on her face, Diana scanned the room and found a seat in a corner and waited quietly. A short timeter, the weing voice sounded again at the door. He looked up and saw Susana. She wore a jacket with a ck tank top low-cut on the inside, revealing some cleavage, ck jeans that wrap around her slender legs and a colored square scarf tied loosely at the waist. -At this point, I thought you should avoid me. Pushing the coffee in front of the woman who had just taken a seat, Diana removed her hat and sunsses. -Thanks to you this time, I always have to thank you in person. With the tips of her eyebrows slightly raised, Susana quietly lifted the coffee in front of her and took a sip, the smile on her face had an ambiguous meaning. -Since when did you be so polite to me? Just don''t forget what you promised me, everything else is fine. The husky voice, reached Diana''s ears, making her smile, -Of course not. After a pause, he lifted the coffee cup in front of him and gently bumped the one in front of him, making a rustling sound. -I hope this time I can get this Mariana giarism thing right, and I know you have the ability to do it. Fingers unconsciously rubbed the rim of her coffee cup, the corners of Susanna''s mouth curved into a smirk, -You just came back, but I don''t know how Mariana provoked you. You are a famous person, but she is just a small designer. The smile on Diana''s face faded. The words Andrea had said to him on the phone came up, reverberating in his mind. Some things have been sketched in an image among his constant memories. That image made him nauseous. How could Leopoldo like such a woman? Leopoldo would only be hers, he was, is and always will be! -I just can''t stand it. Looking at the woman in front of her, Diana''s eyes sparkled with a touch of deep meaning, she gave her smile as she spoke lightly. Susanna snorted, she didn''t think she was going to ruin a person''s career just because she didn''t like him, but she didn''t ask any more questions. She didn''t have a very good rtionship with Diana, and the reason she was willing to give her that expensive dress was just an exchange. -I have always remembered what I promised you. Susanna was puzzled and raised her eyes to look at Diana, her fingers unconsciously tapping the rim of her coffee cup, she seemed slightly nervous and not as paused as she had just been. Lifting her chin slightly, Diana motioned for Susana to look behind her. Her heart trembled slightly, and a thousand thoughts crossed her mind, before finally falling nk. Susana turned her head sharply and saw the slender figure. The red and green shirt was worn over a slim body, but the shoulders looked thinner and thinner, making the skin even lighter. Susanna couldn''t help but squint her eyes slightly and felt her heart beating uncontrobly, pounding so hard in her chest cavity that the sound seemed to echo in her ears so loudly that she couldn''t even ignore it. Rafael Borges. This was the reason she was willing to trade with Diana. With a hint of contempt shining in her eyes, Diana looked at Susana, who was staring directly at Rafael, and the corners of her lips turned up in a slight curve with strong contempt. He winked frivolously at Susana, and then Rafael turned his eyes to Diana. -Diana, why do you want to see me? Then, quite naturally, he settled down next to Diana, that is, in front of Susana. With a faint smile, Diana nced at Susanna, whose face had turned a little pale. -Susana says she needs to go to a somewhat remote factory in the countryside to look at fabric to make dresses, originally I''m going to apany her, but the equipment suddenly started firing and I can''t leave, can you go in my ce? Gently biting her lower lip, her eyes tinged with a hint of embarrassment, she looked steadily at Rafael in front of her. At that moment, it was as if Diana''s pupils reflected only Rafael. -Since you are not avable, I will help you to go with Susana. Leave this matter in my hands. Diana, moved, gave Rafael a big hug. Before Rafael could react, she withdrew her hand. She took the opportunity to look at Susana on the opposite side, only to see that the smile, which she had sketched when she had just heard Rafael promise to apany her was, now frozen again. A hint of smugness crossed Diana''s heart. -Then, I''ll go back to the set first, so you can help Susana more with thingster. Winking at Susana, Diana picked up her bag and left withoutint. Rafael''s family was average, naturally no match for the Dur¨¢n Group, so he didn''t need to bother too much with such a person. What they didn''t know was that, in the shadows, a pair of eyes watched their every move. Chapter 119: Sense Of Security Chapter 119: Sense Of Security Chapter 119: Sense of security Respectfully cing the photo he held in his hand on top of the boss''s desk, Lionel took half a step back and stood a little farther away out of fear. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, these are the photos taken today. His long hands picked up the photo on the desk, but in an instant, his face suddenly darkened. In the photo it is clear that Diana and Susana are talking happily with each other, and they seem to be on... very good terms. With cold eyes, Leopoldo raised his hand and the photo fell on the table. -ording to the investigation, Miss Diana has met with designer Susana many times since her return, and the two seem to have a good rtionship, and designer Susana likes Rafael, but Rafael likes.... Diana. Thest sentence caused the assistant''s tone to go lower and lower, only to feel that the air pressure in the office had also gone way down, and the air had be thin, making his chest tighten and feel a little ufortable. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. After a long while, a cold, icy, deep voice reached his ears, -Susana''s investigation continues. -Yes. When Lionel heard the order, he was about to withdraw, but he did not expect Se?or Dur¨¢ to call him: -Delete all traces of Diana''s contact with Susana. With a shudder in his heart, Lionel couldn''t help but be a little stunned. From the photos, it appeared that Miss Solis was probably involved in the matter of Mariana''s alleged giarism. And now, what Mr. Duran said was actually a conclusion that Miss Diana was involved. But even so, he wanted to erase the traces of Miss Solis'' contact with Susana, that was to... protect her, no matter what the truth was. Both eyebrows furrowed slightly, the assistant finally answered yes. However, shortly after the door closed, the desk phone vibrated. Leopoldo looked at the name still shing on the phone screen, -What''s wrong? A soft, delicate voice came immediately from the other end of the phone, with a hint of temptation. -Leo, there are a lot of people around the set entrance, I''m a bit scared, can youe and pick me up? The cold, hard eyes lifted slightly, and then he looked at the picture before him. Hearing Diana''s pleading voice, his emotions seemed to have no fluctuation. -Diana, I will send someone to pick you up, thepany still has a lot of unfinished business. The words were subdued, but it was a categorical rejection of the request. The hand holding the phone tightened, and Diana frowned. I did not expect Leopoldo to refuse this request of his. His heart fluttered slightly, but Mariana''s face suddenly appeared in his mind, making his resentment rise. However, the words that came out remained as gentle as ever, -These people seem to be reporters, I think they are probably here to cover Mariana''s giarism issue, Leo, after all I wore that giarized dress designed by Mariana, yes.... The words came here, Diana paused delicately, biting her lower lip slightly, the pause vaguely revealing some concern and fear. -I''ll call the director to send someone to escort you home, I''m very busy. After saying that, without waiting for anything else to be said, he had already hung up the phone. The documents in front of him were piling up on the table, but Leopoldo had already stood up, grabbed his suit jacket on the hanger and his long figure walked out of the office with quick steps. He drove to the vi and just opened the door, but the room was dark, without a single ray of light. With a touch of surprise in his cold, stern eyes, Leopoldo turned on the light. And the brightness of the room seemed to awaken the nanny, who came out of her room and looked at Leopoldo, who had returned, and said: -Sir, you are back. He nodded his head slightly, and his eyes nced casually at a certain room upstairs. The nanny hastened to say: -Thedy hasn''t been out all day today, she had an early dinner and went upstairs to rest. -Good. He was about to go upstairs, but suddenly Leopoldo thought of something and stopped, -Thedy has been in a bad moodtely and needs your careful attention. -Yes. News of the giarism was so widespread that even the babysitter, who was not usually connected to the Inte, had heard about it. But after spending so much time together, she naturally trusted Mariana''s character, so she had taken great care of her. When he reached the second floor and went to the door of Mariana''s room, the man''s footsteps stopped immediately. His cold, icy eyes lifted slightly and rested on the closed door of the room. It was also dark inside, with no lighting from the door. Suddenly, from Mariana''s room there was a noise, sometimes faint and sometimes mournful, like the screams of someone haunted by a nightmare. Leopold immediately took a big step, pushed open the door in front of him and entered the room. He approached the bed and pushed Mariana, who was lying on the bed with her eyes closed, and gently caressed her hot cheeks. -Mariana, wake up! Wake up! Wake up! However, he did not expect that the next moment, the palm would be held tightly by a hand that moved from side to side, with such force that it seemed as if it would break the bones in the hand, like a person who was about to drown holding on to a straw in the water, without letting go of it in the slightest. -No... Let me go! Let me go! It''s not me! It''s not me... Screaming and sitting up at the same time, Mariana''s face was reddened, her forehead covered with thick sweat, her hair wet and messy against the side of her face, the corners of her eyes with a few tears. Her lips were slightly open and her chest was rising and falling, Mariana was breathing heavily. The faint aroma of tobo surprised Mariana. A feeling of security enveloped his whole body. Raising her eyes, Mariana saw Leopoldo and could not help but throw herself into his arms, hugging his strong waist tightly andying her head on his strong chest. With furrowed brows, Leopold looked silently at the woman clinging to him, her exquisite figure now pressed against his. But the body in her arms was still shaking uncontrobly, as if she was almost scared to death. After some hesitation, Leopold finally reached out, ced his hand gently on the woman''s back and caressed her. Only after a long while did the woman in his arms gradually calm down, although she was still wrapped tightly around his waist. -Mariana. She did not respond. Helplessly, Leopoldo gently pushed Mariana''s hand away, leaned down, and looked into her eyes, but the next moment, he couldn''t help but be stunned. On her cheeks were two lines of tears, the tip of her nose was red, with a very aggrieved look. A shudder ran through his heart and a pang of pain spread from deep within his heart to his surroundings, depressing him as well. -Go to sleep, I''m here. Saying this, Leopoldo also climbed into bed andy down next to Mariana, wrapping her in his arms, moving with an unprecedented tender look, as if something was sprouting on this night. Snuggled against the man''s broad chest, the smell of tobo intensified, but Mariana couldn''t get enough of it. After a deep inhtion, his heart also calmed down. The nightmares that had just tormented her dissipated in an instant. It was extremely reassuring. Chapter 120: There Are Rich People Behind Her To Support Her Chapter 120: There Are Rich People Behind Her To Support Her Chapter 120: There are rich people behind her to support her No one mentioned what had just happened, and at the time the room was very cozy. The small hand reached out to embrace Leopold''s waist tightly. Her heart trembled unceasingly. The man''s cold, stern eyes watched the woman''s movements, making no reaction. In just one day, Lionel had already investigated Susanna''s past life with rity, this time, he couldn''t help but be surprised, he didn''t expect Susanna''s path to fame to be really so despicable. The first stage was based on hype and the second on credit theft. No wonder he came up with the idea of framing others for giarism, all from personal experience alone. Handing the information to Leopoldo, who was sitting behind the desk, the assistant spoke earnestly: -This is all the information about Susana''s research. Her slender fingers gently leafed through it, her gaze was serious and her breathing was deep. -Treat this matter ording to your ideas, this matter must be resolved quickly, the sooner the better. At these words, Lionel lowered his eyes and his face took on a slightly serious look as well, -I know. Saying this, he went out. As soon as he left the office, the assistant dialed an unknown number and was soon picked up. A slightly husky female voice rang out. -Is it Susana? There was silence before the cold words came from the other side, -Yes, but who are you? -I have something here that I think you might be interested in, at the Leaf Cafe, I''ll be waiting for you. After saying this, Lionel hung up the phone. After Susana arrived, she looked at the man sitting in the corner, who saw her enter at that moment and smiled at her, and knew that it was that man who had asked her out. Repressing the various thoughts in her mind, Susanna stepped forward and stood in front of Lionel, -Why are you looking for me? With a lightugh, Lionel pulled a folder out of his bag and tossed it in front of Susanna. He looked at her and motioned for Susana to open it. Her heart was already a little impatient, not knowing what the person in front of her really wanted, but because of certain things, Susana did not dare to risk it and still went to the appointment after agreeing on the ce. When she opened it, she was immediately stunned. The hint of helplessness he had just felt disappeared, leaving only a sense of coldness and panic in his heart. She hastily closed the folder again and red angrily at the man across the table, her tone impetuous, -What do you mean by that? -Who the hell are you? Pushing a cup of cappino toward Susanna, Lionel still had a smile on his face, -I don''t know what you like to drink, so I ordered something sweet, after all, I''m afraid only some sweetness will be able tofort you. Looking at the coffee in front of her, Susana did not make a move, her gaze still fixed on Lionel. -I think you should also know that we have proof of your giarism. Lionel forcefully pronounced the word giarism. Suddenly, Susana''s eyes opened, and it was clear to her why the man hade to her. Mariana was also involved in the giarism incident, and this matter turned out to be rted to her. -Do you want me to withdraw myint? I hadn''t heard Diana mention that there were any big shots behind Mariana, but anyone who could get to the bottom of her in a short period of time had to be no ordinary person. Slightly surprised, Lionel nodded, -Yes. -Good. Naturally, it was more appropriate to preserve himself first than the agreement with Diana. -But there is one more condition, i. e., I hope that Miss Susana can publish a statement on her own social media tform, rifying that Mariana is not a giarizer, as well as an apology! Susanna stared at the smiling-faced man in front of her, and the hand ced under the table couldn''t help but clench her fist. I didn''t expect the other party to be waiting for her here. They not only wanted to withdraw theint, but also to apologize. In that case, wouldn''t she, a nationally renowned designer, have ndered a little person? -What? -Do you have a better proposal? The smile did not change, and Lionel''s words were full of menacing intent. Susana could only nod reluctantly, -I will do whatever you tell me to do. After saying this, he took the folder in his hand and turned angrily to leave. Looking at the man''s distant back, Lionel let out a sigh of relief. However, the next day, a sudden change urred. He tossed the information in his hand and dropped it on Lionel, and Leopold''s eyes darkened with anger. -Is this what you have done? Lionel just felt suffocated.N?velDrama.Org content rights. I did not expect Susana to have any other tricks. She also did what she promised, but the statement she sent was not correct. It didn''t seem like a sincere apology, but more like he had to apologize to Mariana to clear the air because of some power threat. In an instant, "There are rich people behind Mariana to support her", "Susana was threatened" and "Susana''s statement" topped the Facebook trends, and more people paid attention. -First, remove the hot searches. After saying these words coldly, Leopoldo stopped speaking silently, while his whole body was covered with disgust. The assistant withdrew with trepidation. *** -He doesn''t expect you to be so thorough. It saves me a lot of decency. The burgundy liquid swirled inside the cup in his hand, with a slightly demonic glow under the fluorescent light. The woman leaning against the window was none other than Susana, who at that moment was talking on the phone. -These are just a few little tricks, not worth mentioning. The soft words came from the other end of the phone, but they made Susanna feel like she was discussing matters with very dangerous people. -Diana, I really hope we never be enemies. Susana told Diana that someone had met with her, iming that she could no longer help her deal with Mariana, but to her surprise, immediately afterwards, Diana sent her amunication. This was the culprit that caused quite a stir on the Inte. -Naturally not," with a soft smile, Diana said in a gentle voice. However, the hand holding the phone tensed. ording to Susana''s ount, the man who came to her was probably Leopoldo''s assistant, she did not expect Leopoldo to help Mariana so much! Hatred surged in his heart, and his fingertips were slightly white from the force. -You have to be attentive to the people in your studio. You can''t keep those who betray you. I''ve found someone to send Mariana''s photo and approximate address to all the media, so it will be all over the Inte in no time! Destroying a person online is easy, just create real or fake material, but destroying a person in real life is more interesting. I didn''t want to do that, but since Leo was defending her, don''t me her! Thements on the Inte became more and more intense and, for a while, all kinds of information about Mariana was spread everywhere. Chapter 121: The Most Expensive One Chapter 121: The Most Expensive One Chapter 121: The most expensive one From then on, Mariana hardly left the house. That day, she was lying in bed, bored, leafing through fashion magazines, but Ana suddenly called out to her. -Mari! I''ve taken the day off. Let''s go shopping! I regret not buying that dressst time. I''m going to buy it! Mariana was relieved. I knew Ana was worried about her, so I wanted her to go for a walk. -But Anita... Before she could finish her sentence, Ana interrupted her: -Mari, don''t turn me down! I''m in a hurry to buy that dress! I''ll wait for you at the usual ce. After saying this, she hung up the phone. Looking at her cell phone, Mariana smiled, but still got out of bed and changed her clothes. Standing in front of the mirror, now her dark circles under her eyes were very conspicuous and her face was pale. During this period of time many things had happened, all of which had made her very depressed. Mariana put on the ck mask, left the vi and went to the ce where she had an appointment with Ana. As soon as Ana saw her, she gave her a warm hug. -Mari, I miss you so much. Mariana was very excited, -Okay. I miss you too. Ana held Mariana''s arm tightly, tears in her eyes. -Let''s go shopping! I''ll buy you anything you want today. Marianaughed, gently pinched Ana''s nose and said affectionately: -Then I will choose the most expensive one. When they came out of anothermercial building, Mariana already had a pile of shopping bags in her hands, while Ana was still energetic. Looking behind her energetically, Mariana made an effort to lift the shopping bags in her hands and strained to follow. Today I was only in charge of carrying the bags. At that moment, he suddenly saw a girl, and then heard a loud falling sound. Mariana immediately put the bag she was holding on the ground and ran quickly, jumping into the water without hesitation and rescuing the girl who was struggling in the water. Fortunately, the girl had not been in the water for long. It was a fountain built in a shopping mall for people to enjoy. It was also illuminated at night and was very popr with children. It was unexpected that this little girl was too bold and climbed into the fountain. Mariana looked helplessly at the girl who was sitting on the floor coughing uncontrobly. She sighed and said: -It''s too dangerous. You can''t do it in the future. The girl stared dumbfounded at the kind and beautiful woman in front of her. She stood up and hugged Mariana: -Thank you! Mariana put her arms around the girl and felt very warm. At that moment, a high-pitched, frightened scream sounded behind her: -What''s wrong? Then, the child in her arms was quickly carried away. Mariana froze when she saw a woman holding the girl in her arms and looking at her suspiciously. However, it was the girl who said: -Mom, I fell in the fountain. Thisdy just saved me. She is beautiful and I like her very much. She couldn''t help but sneeze. Although it was in the afternoon, his clothes were all wet and he could easily catch a cold. Mariana said: -You should go home quickly and change your clothes. She smiled tenderly at the girl. The girl''s mother still looked at Mariana with distrust, said nothing and left quickly with the girl. Ana came back to find Mariana just in time to see such a scene and couldn''t help but get angry, -You rescued her daughter, but she thinks you''re a bad person. It''s so unreasonable! Mariana pulled Ana''s arm and said lightly: -It''s good that the child is well. At that moment, they felt the sh. A group of people, not far away, was looking at them with hatred. Mariana and Ana looked at each other, confused. N?velDrama.Org content rights. -You bitch! You didn''t just giarize, you also hurt Diana! -It''s all your fault! -How dare you go out? How shameless. You''ve done something like that and now you can still pretend nothing happened. His insults made Mariana start to tremble. She touched her face and realized that she had lost her mask while saving the girl. Then, someone threw cream and some cookie crumbs at him. The others followed that person''s example and all started throwing things at him. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain, and then a hot liquid flowed down her forehead. Mariana smelled a strong odor of blood. He looked down and saw a bunch of keys on the floor with red blood marks on them. Ana trembled and took a pack of tissues out of her purse and pressed it on Mariana''s forehead. -Mari... Ana looked fiercely at those people and said angrily: -You know nothing! It is against thew to hurt people. Ana held Mariana with concern, -Mari, I will take you to the hospital. Now Mariana was frail and her face was pale. -Sir, please drive faster. -Yes. Ana took another piece of paper and pressed it over her wound, but the blood was still flowing. Chapter 122: Will It Leave A Scar? Chapter 122: Will It Leave A Scar? Chapter 122: Will it leave a scar? They arrived at the hospital and went to the emergency room. -The wound is a bit serious and needs stitches. Ana frowned with concern when she saw the wound and said: -Doctor, will the wound leave a scar? The doctor began to do his business and looked at Ana impatiently: -Don''t worry. All the wounds I treat will not leave scars. At the end, Ana let out a sigh of relief. Once the bandaging was finished, the two were no longer in the mood and returned home. Mariana had just arrived home when Ana called her. -Anita, what''s wrong? Standing in front of the mirror, Mariana looked at the wound on her head that was wrapped in white gauze. -Mari, look at Twitter! Hanging up the phone, Mariana frowned and browsed the web. Someone had uploaded a short video with subtitles. After watching the video, Mariana''s face became somber. This was not the real situation on the scene. Someone had maliciously edited his words. The video made everyone think she was upset with Diana, so she used them - even the forehead injury was something she deserved! However, the video was forwarded andmented on by many people. Mariana pressed her phone angrily, but could do nothing about it. Obviously, someone had deliberately let this video be seen by more people. He sat on the floor wearily, feeling cold all over. In the office of the president of Grupo Dur¨¢n. Lionel stood in front of Leopoldo Dur¨¢n, sweating. Leopold stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking cold and unapproachable. -Expose the Susana scandal to the media and find out what exactly happened today! Lionel was surprised and nodded. "This matter is, indeed, somewhat strange." "Now the boss wants to use the Susana scandal to attract the attention of the crowd, but this was risky." "If the public finds out, they will believe that Mariana is really someone''s lover, and then it will be difficult to control things." -Have Susana''s design assistant post the news on the Inte, and then buy ordinary ounts that are normally active to transmit this news. Hearing this, Lionel looked at his back in surprise. "The boss is really trying to help Mariana." "This time, I will definitely perfectly fulfill the things that the Lord hasmissioned me to do." Leopoldo picked up the suit jacket on the hanger and left the office. Lionel asked him: -Mr. Dur¨¢n, where are you going? -Cancel the rest of my business. I have personal business. After saying that, Leopoldo ignored him again and left. Company employees were also surprised to see Leopoldo leaving work so early. He returned to the vi and, as soon as he entered, he saw Mariana sitting dazed on the sofa. Her hands were on her knees and her long ck hair covered her pale cheeks. On the coffee table in front of her was aptopputer. Leopoldo handed the nanny the suit jacket he had taken off, walked behind Mariana and looked at the contents of theputer. It was today''s entertainment news, and all the articles were rted to Mariana. He turned off theputer. He said casually: -Don''t read it again. Mariana heard his voice and looked at Leopoldo in a daze. Leopoldo turned his head. He looked at the white gauze on his head and felt distressed. He said with mock sarcasm: Property ? N?velDrama.Org. -Is that your new costume? Mariana carefully covered the wound with her hair and whispered: -Yes... The atmosphere became heavy. -Since you have nothing to do, you should go out less. After saying that, Leopoldo went upstairs. Mariana gently touched the gauze in dismay. "Is our rtionship always like this? Or has it only be that way since Diana came back?" "The night we spent together in Zoraida''s courtyard admiring the stars seems like a long time ago." Mariana rested her head sadly on her knees. *** Lionel met with Susana''s assistant designer, Monica. Since Lionel turned to Susana, Monica had been fired by her and was now unemployed. During all these years, Monica had not created any famous work. Lionel informed Monica of his intentions and she was very resentful with Susana, so they soon came to an agreement. It was only after one night that things took a big leap forward. The next day, Mariana woke up with a headache. She had not slept well. He got out of bed and went to the living room, but to his surprise, Leopoldo was also there. Chapter 123: Online News Chapter 123: Online News Chapter 123: Online News He gracefully picked up the coffee from the table and took a sip. She paused and bit her lips. Mariana sat across from Leopoldo. The nanny immediately and brought him breakfast. -Madam, eat your sandwich first. Mariana nodded and took it. The atmosphere in the room made Mariana uneasy Suddenly, he choked on his food. He coughed violently a couple of times. She was about to get up and go to the kitchen to drink water when, suddenly, a cup appeared in front of her. Mariana didn''t think too much about it, she simply drank it. As he put the cup down, he realized that he had just drunk Leopoldo''s coffee. Mariana blushed, but did not thank him. She was still haunted by what had happened the night before. She hated his icy words. Leopoldo stood up and said: -Read the news online. After saying these, he left. Mariana''s face turned pale. "News online?" "The news that curses me indiscriminately?" At that moment, the nanny brought him a cup of hot coffee. -Ma''am, the coffee is very hot. Please be careful when you drink it. Mariana felt even more ufortable. He picked up his mug and took tworge sips of coffee. The sore throat made his mind much clearer. However, he still could not forget the insults. At that moment, the cell phone on the side rang. She ignored it, but the phone kept ringing. Mariana could only answer the phone helplessly. Ana said enthusiastically: -Mari, have you seen the news? This morning Susana''s assistant designer Monica brought a scandal to light on Twitter. He said with difficulty: -What''s wrong? "Now the Twitter gossip is all about me." Ana did not notice the abnormality in Mariana''s voice and continued saying: This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. -Mari, do you know who the protagonist of the scandal is? She belongs to Susana Sanchez! After a pause, Ana said: -Actually, Susana became famous because someone paid the media to promote her. She even stole Monica''s jobs! -Besides, Susana''s recording makes it clear that you have not giarized. Mariana was surprised. "But why has this matter been brought to light at this time?" -The mother of the girl you savedst time sent a long message to thank you. The girl told her what had happened and she realized she had misunderstood you. Public opinion is now in your favor. Mariana did not know what to say. He remembered what Leopoldo had told him before he left. She was very moved. After hanging up the phone, she read the news. The people who had previously scolded her began to insult Susana, as if they had found a new target. "How ironic." Mariana closed the web page, feeling tired. "That world has always been like that..." "The attitude of the public changes so quickly..." Diana furrowed her eyebrows and her face became somber. Just now Susanna had called her, asking her to help her, but Diana didn''t want to be dragged away by her. She felt exasperated. I didn''t think Mariana would get away with it. However, there was nothing I could do. Susana informed him that Leopoldo''s assistant did it. This disturbed her. "It''s possible that Leopoldo has already figured it out." Thinking about this, Diana hurried to call Leopoldo. Soon he answered the phone. -Leo, where are you? We haven''t seen each other for a few days. What do you say we have lunch together? Leopoldo was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, with his assistant reporting things. He looked at the traffic below. -Okay. Diana said happily: -Thene pick me up after work. I know a very good restaurant. Chapter 124: Renaissance Chapter 124: Renaissance Chapter 124: Renaissance Seeing Leopoldo hang up the phone, Lionel continued saying: -The statement of ount sent by the finance department this time indicates what... Before he could finish, Leopoldo said coldly: -Leave the documents on the table. I will read them this afternoon. I have to go out. After saying this, he grabbed his suit jacket and walked out. Lionel was puzzled and didn''t know what happened. Mariana had nothing to do at home. After hanging up the phone, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that the nanny was cooking, he went to help her. -Ma''am, what are you doing? I''ll do it myself. Sit down and rest. She was also happy to see Mariana in a good mood. -It''s all right. Anyway, I have nothing to do. Suddenly thinking of something, the nanny stopped and looked at Mariana. -It is normal for couples to fight. Some time ago, when you came back sad, Se?or Dur¨¢n stayed at the door of your room for half the night. In the end, he went back to his room. Mariana froze. -Is it true what you say? She froze and looked at the nanny. Seeing Mariana like this, the nanny was surprised. She frowned and said seriously: -It''s the day you told me you were going to theunch of the investment.... Mariana felt a little out of breath. "Leopoldo was at my door for half the night?" "Why, was he worried about me?" But then he shook his head. "How is that possible?" "He has always liked Diana.... And he has waited for her for so many years." However, he still couldn''t help but feel sweet. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. At that moment, the phone rang and Mariana went over to see that it was Xavier calling. Puzzled, Mariana picked it up and said: -Xavier, what is it? Immediately, he said in a joking tone: -Can''t Ie to you if I have nothing to do? Mariana sighed and said helplessly: -I didn''t mean that. -Okay. I know you''ve been reborn, so I''ll buy you dinner. Marianaughed and said: -A big meal? When she was with Xavier, Mariana always felt rxed and at ease. -All right. He was the first person to tell her that he believed she had not giarized. Mariana was very grateful to him. -I''ll treat you then. I''ll see youter. The two agreed on a time and ce, and hung up the phone. After greeting the nanny, Mariana went to the agreed ce. This restaurant was also very famous. If they wanted to dine here, they had to make a reservation in advance. As soon as he entered, the waiter gave him a warm wee: -Miss, do you havepany here? Mariana nodded her head. -Is yourst name Ortiz? Mr. B?o is waiting for you in the upstairs room. It is also elegantly decorated. -Yes. As we passed by, the atmosphere was quiet, with no one making noise. It was not surprising that Xavier had set the location here. When he entered, he saw Xavier. He was admiring the painting on the wall. He looked serious and focused. Marianaughed. Xavier turned his head and saw Mariana standing in the doorway. -What are you doing standing in the doorway? Do you regret inviting me to dinner? -Don''t worry, I can still pay for a meal. Saying this, he sat down next to the mahogany table and picked up the menu. They both ordered some special dishes. After eating, Mariana was about to pay for the meal, but before she could say anything, the waiter told her that Xavier had already paid. Mariana looked at Xavier, who was leaning back in his chair, -Why did you pay first? Haven''t we agreed that this time I will treat you? -I''m a regr customer here, so they thought I was the one who was going to settle the ount. Xavier said: -Then you can treat me next time. Mariana nodded helplessly. Xavier smiled mischievously. The two picked up their suitcases and went outside, but just as they opened the door, they stopped. Mariana froze. The two people in front of them were Leopoldo and Diana, who had obviouslye to eat together. Mariana was distressed to see Diana holding Leopoldo''s arm. Diana was silent for a moment before looking at Xavier and Mariana. She said smiling: -Are you here for a date? So are we. She gave Mariana a mocking look. Mariana did not know what to say. Chapter 125: Why Do You Treat Me This Way? Chapter 125: Why Do You Treat Me This Way? Chapter 125: Why do you treat me this way? Mariana knew that Leopoldo was watching her, and his gaze was so hot that it could burn her skin. He said coldly and the words were hurtful: -Yesterday you were falsely used of giarism, and today you have free time to go out on a date? The word "appointment" was pronounced clearly and, upon hearing it, Mariana''s face turned pale. These words were too harsh. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, my rtionship with Xavier is not what you think it is. Mariana looked at him stubbornly. Leopold''s face became somber and his cold eyes were frightening. "Mr. Dur¨¢n? Xavier?" "When did she ever be so familiar with him?" The atmosphere was strange. Diana was happy to see Leopoldo reprimanding Mariana. On the contrary, Xavier frowned and in his pretty eyes no longer showed affection as before. -You are in no position to judge our rtionship. Since you''re here to have lunch with Miss Solis, then we won''t bother you anymore. Xavier grabbed Mariana''s hand and led her outside. Only after turning a corner did Mariana feel the burning gaze behind her disappear. She felt frustration and stopped smiling: -Xavier, I''m a little tired and I want to go back. -Do you need a ride home? Looking at Mariana who was in such a bad mood, Xavier was worried. -No, I will drive back myself. When she returned to the vi, the nanny said with a smile: -I just made some sandwiches, ma''am. Would you like to have some? Mariana shook her head and went upstairs without another word. Looking behind her, the nanny was puzzled. She wondered why thedy''s mood had suddenly altered. Lying on the bed, Mariana closed her eyes and covered her head with the nket, but those disturbing images were still in her mind. Leopoldo''s soft gaze towards Diana, Diana''s hand on Leopoldo''s arm and her smile... All this made his heart ache. At the restaurant. Diana pretended to be innocent and asked curiously: -Leo, it turns out that Mariana and Xavier are so close. Leopoldo withdrew his arm from Diana''s hand and looked at her indifferently. -Diana, I remembered that I still have some things to take care of. I''ll go first. After saying that, he left. Diana froze, staring angrily at his back with clenched hands. I didn''t expect Leopoldo to leave her like that! After leaving the restaurant, Leopoldo headed straight for the vi. The speed was so fast that the scenery outside the window could not be seen clearly, like his feeling now. The nanny was startled at the sound of the gentleman. She said shakily: -Sir, what is wrong with you? Leopoldo did not see Mariana. -Where is Mariana? -Are you looking for thedy? She went upstairs as soon as she arrived. She doesn''t seem to be in a good mood... Before she could finish her sentence, he was already up the stairs. Looking at her figure, the nanny shook her head and couldn''t help but sigh. Lying in bed unable to sleep, Mariana woke up irritable, her hair a bit messy. Suddenly, the bedroom door opened. Mariana was startled and looked at the door. It was Leopoldo. "Shouldn''t he be having dinner with Diana right now, why is he back?" His proximity made her nervous. Before she could say anything, Leopoldo lifted her out of bed. Now he looked cold and frightening. -Leopoldo, what are you doing? Mariana furrowed her eyebrows. Suddenly, Leopoldo kissed her red lips fiercely. Mariana was startled and angry. She struggled vigorously and pushed against him. I couldn''t forget those scenes of him and Diana together. "Why, why did you do this to me?" Mariana was gradually losing her strength due tock of oxygen. Noticing this, Leopoldo stopped and bit Mariana''s lips. Her face was pale, but she looked very captivating. -Remember our agreement. Mariana did not open her eyes After Leopoldo released her, she copsed on the bed and did not move. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Leopoldo gave her a cold look and left. When he opened the door, he remembered something and said: -I don''t have a cuckold fetish. The room was silent again. After a long time, Mariana burst into tears. The next day, Mariana woke up and felt ufortable. After a simple cleaning, he went downstairs for breakfast. The cut Leopoldo had made yesterday on his lip was still evident. Chapter 126: Hypocrite Chapter 126: Hypocrite Chapter 126: Hypocrite Mariana frowned and ate her breakfast slowly. She looked the same as always. The nanny sighed and left. Unexpectedly, just after lunch, he received a phone call from the direct. -Hello, Director Pablo. Paul said kindly: -Mariana, the matter of your giarism has been cleared up, so you should go back and take charge of the wardrobe department. The director of yourpany thinks so too. Mariana thought for a moment and said nothing. I really didn''t want to go back. There were people I didn''t want to see, and things I didn''t want to be a part of. But if that was what the director had in mind, she had to consider it. -Mariana, the wardrobe team needs you. Now that the shooting is finally underway and there is no room for error. Mariana finally agreed: -I''ll be back on set tomorrow. In the director''s room. With a sigh, the director helplessly left his phone on the table. The producer next door handed the director the tea and asked: -Is it done? -Of course. I have personally asked for it. How can you not say yes? Paul took a sip of tea and felt better, -What is the rtionship between Mariana and Mr. Dur¨¢n? Why did he help her so many times? -I don''t know. But, we''ll have to be nice to her when shees back. The producer shook his head. The next day, Mariana gathered her things and arrived on set early. I did not expect to meet Diana as soon as I arrived. Mariana greeted her with a smile: -Hello, Miss Solis. Diana looked at the wound on Mariana''s lips. -What happened to your mouth? Mariana touched her lips and said smiling: -I identally bit it. -Be careful. Mariana did not want to listen to him and decided to leave. However, someone stopped her. Diana''s assistant said: -Mariana, do you know that Diana is the one who asked the director to ask you toe back to work? How can you talk to her like that? Mariana stopped and looked at the assistant, then at Diana. She asked in confusion: -What do you mean? This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. -Mariana, did I make you angry by doing that? Now that the giarism has been cleared up, so I asked the director for you toe back. I didn''t think you didn''t want toe back. Diana frowned and looked aggrieved. Mariana said nothing to this hypocritical woman. -Mariana has already caused a lot of trouble since she came to our set. Diana helped her and she didn''t appreciate it! -If it weren''t for Diana, who would remember her! -Diana is really very kind! Diana was very pleased to hear this praise from others. -If you don''t want toe back, I''ll talk to the director about it. Mariana said coldly: -No need. It''s fine for now. Thank you. The assistant said aloud: -Now you''re afraid Diana will ask the director to get rid of you? Mariana nodded in annoyance and left. Only the stars liked the attention and she was only behind the scenes. Looking at her back, Diana smiled. "How could I want her back?" "I heard the director and the producer talking and learned that the Susana incident was done by Leopoldo''s assistant. That''s why I asked the director to invite her back, so that everyone else would think I was nice." Diana went in the opposite direction. Back in the dressing room, Mariana was much calmer without the gaze of those people. After delivering her work to Ana, it was time to leave work. The wardrobe team''s job was easy for Mariana. He returned home, washed up and went to bed to rest. He was about to put the phone down on the coffee table when he unexpectedly received a text message from Xavier. -Congrattions on your return to work! Marianaughed and sent a message to him: -Thank you very much. Hanging up the phone, Mariana looked up at the white ceiling. "I don''t know if Leopoldo knows that the matter of my giarism has been cleared up and the director has invited me back to the cast." Mariana forced herself to close her eyes and stop thinking about him. Chapter 127: Dodging Chapter 127: Dodging Chapter 127: Dodging The next day, Mariana arrived on set as usual, but found that many people were listless. It turned out that Diana was unwellst night, so work finishedte. Mariana shook her head, not giving it any importance. It was none of her business anyway. Not long after sitting down, Diana''s assistant came over and looked at her sarcastically. -Miss Ortiz, Diana''s suit is torn. Could you fix it? After saying that, he ignored Mariana and left. Ana could not resist the urge to argue with her, but Mariana stopped her. -All right. I''ll do it. After reassuring Ana, Mariana followed the assistant. However, when she arrived on the set, she saw Xavier and Diana filming. The assistant said in a cold voice: -What took you so long to get here? They''ve already started shooting. -If something goes wrong in the shoot, you''re screwed! Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Ignoring their words, Mariana looked at the two who were filming. The site was temporarily built with some logs and was rudimentary. Soon after, Diana said with some guilt: -Pablo, my suit is torn, can you let Mariana fix it for me? Paul said: -Mariana, help her fix her dress. Dianaughed and said: -Mariana, this scene isn''t over yet, so you''d better fix it here. Mariana nodded, squatted down and began to check her outfit. Finally she saw some threads in the hem of the skirt. They were very unobvious. Mariana was helpless. She was about to get up to get the scissors when she heard a scream. She looked up and saw that a falling log was about to hit her. Mariana froze and could only watch as the thick log approached. Suddenly, someone forcefully pushed her away. The log fell a short distance away. At the same time, he heard moans of pain. The dust made Mariana sneeze several times. She opened her eyes and froze. The person standing over her and protecting her was Xavier! Mariana felt his hands tremble as he hugged her. She asked worriedly: -Xavier, are you all right? -Don''t worry. I''m fine. But his face was pale. The people around him were horrified. -Xavier? Are you okay? Xavier was helped to his feet, and Mariana was only slightly injured thanks to his protection. Mariana followed them to apany Xavier to the hospital, but was unexpectedly stopped by Diana''s assistant. -Stay away from Xavier! Marian noticed that Diana was also frowning and cradling her arms, as if in pain. Pablo said concerned: -Diana, you''re hurt too. Go to the hospital. Nodding with a frown, Diana headed for the car. However, his face became somber. I didn''t expect that this time I would still be able to avoid it! Mariana stood there stunned, watching the staffe and go. I didn''t know what to do... Suddenly, he heard a worried voice. -Mari! I heard there was an ident. Are you okay? Ana quickly ran to her, grabbed Mariana by the shoulders and looked her up and down. By this time, the blood in the wound had solidified. -Mari, you''re injured! Why didn''t you go to the hospital with them? Ana pulled Mariana anxiously towards the outside. "Why?" "Because no one remembers me..." Looking at Ana, who was still talking, Mariana felt warm. Upon arrival at the hospital, the doctor briefly treated his wounds. After looking at her already bandaged arm, Mariana said: -Anita, Xavier was hurt because he saved me. I must go see him. Ana did not expect things to be like this. She nodded and said: -All right, but... She hesitated. -What''s wrong? -Mari, entertainment journalists have gathered at the entrance of Xavier''s hospital room after learning of his injuries.... Mariana furrowed her eyebrows and didn''t know what to do.... Xavier''s pale face disturbed her. After pondering for a long time, Mariana still decided to go to him. After all, he was hurt because of her. -I will go quietly to see him. The VIP room must not allow journalists to approach. Ana still had some doubts, but in the end she nodded and agreed. Chapter 128: Why Are You Doing This? Chapter 128: Why Are You Doing This? Chapter 128: Why are you doing this? Then, the two moved separately. Mariana secretly made her way to the VIP lounge. She saw Xavier''s agent. She was about to greet him when the stairwell door behind her opened unexpectedly. The sh of cameras made Mariana close her eyes. She heard confused footsteps and felt very uneasy. -I told you Mariana and Xavier were a couple! -Miss Ortiz, am I here to visit Xavier B?o? Why are you avoiding everyone? Are you really a couple? -You were not present when Xavier was taken to the hospital. Is it true that he was injured in an ident on the set? The myriad of questions brought Mariana to the brink of copse. However, this time Leopoldo was not at his side. Mariana did her best to calm down. -I am also injured and havee for treatment. It''s not what you think. After saying that, Mariana wanted to leave. However, the reporters stopped her. In an instant, Mariana was already surrounded in the center. -I''m just backstage. I am not the object of your entertainment. Please make way. No one moved. -Miss Ortiz, what are you afraid of? Is it true that you and Xavier are a couple? Mariana looked angrily at the journalist who asked her the question. Although it was his job, such aggressive questioning was ufortable. Mariana was about to say something when her arm was suddenly pulled by someone. She did not expect to see Xavier''s agent, and was stunned. -Come with me. Taking advantage of the journalists'' moment of bewilderment, he pulled her straight out of the crowd and into the VIP lounge. A dozen men in ck security uniforms mercilessly chased the journalists away. Only then did the room quiet down. When she looked up, Mariana saw Xavier lying on the bed with a pale face. -How are you? Frowning, the agent said impatiently: -Didn''t you see it? His back was hit by the log. Fortunately, he dodged the strongest impact... The man lying on the bed was quiet, only the slight rise and fall of his chest indicating that he was still alive. Mariana never thought that one day Xavier would die. -Why did you help me? She knew her agent didn''t like it. And when the reporters showed up at first, she saw them clearly, but ignored them. -If I hadn''t, I''m afraid I would have been fired. The mocking words made Mariana flinch and bite her lip. -Well, since you''re here. I''m going for a walk. After saying this, he left. Sitting next to Xavier''s bed, Mariana had mixed feelings. He muttered: -Why are you doing this? The next day, new gossip emerged. However, the female protagonist was still Mariana. The news headline read: Mariana and Xavier''s romance is confirmed. A photo of the two was also included. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. A littleter, another ount posted another story. When Mariana went to repair the protagonist''s damaged costume, she deliberately collided with the logs on the stage, causing the logs to fall. Not only did it cause Diana to be injured, but even Xavier, who went to rescue her, was seriously injured. This news without objective evidence was retweeted by countless people. Mariana did not hear the news, as she had arrived in the living room first thing in the morning with a Xavier took a sip and narrowed his eyes slightly. Then, he drank a lot more soup before smiling and saying: -So you''re a good cook. Mariana said shyly: -I already learned to cook with my grandmother. In fact, Zoraida had taught her a lot about cooking. "I''ve prepared borate meals twice, but he didn''te back..." Mariana took the porcin bowl in Xavier''s hand, picked up the thermos and poured it again. -If you like it, drink more! Seeing her smiling face, Xavier felt happy. He looked down and continued to drink the soup. When the agent came in and saw this scene, he said nothing and went back out. It was only when dusk fell that Mariana got up and prepared to leave. Seeing how Xavier chuckled and looked at the thermos in her hand, she smiled and said: -I''ll bring you the soup tomorrow. -It''s a deal then. After saying that, Mariana left. When the door opened again, Xavier looked at the visitor and felt very disappointed. -Your expression of disappointment made me very sad. Xavierughed, but did not respond. The agent closed the door and sat down on the couch. He took an apple from the table and peeled it. -I remember that you don''t like these tonic soups. Leaving the magazine in his hand, Xavier looked out the window. Chapter 129: ILl Give It To You Chapter 129: I''Ll Give It To You Chapter 129: I''ll give it to you -It is also quite tasty. Mariana handed him a peeled apple. Xavier took it and took a bite. It was very sweet. -What''s going on outside? He noticed when the agent came in and left again. -No. It''s just a few minor things on the set. Just get well. Diana is also injured, so it''s useless for the director to rush now. Xavier continued to eat the apple and said nothing. He was touched by Mariana''s care. *** Diana elegantly picked up a grape and popped it into her mouth. The woman on the phone said in a booming voice: This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. -Diana, you were the one who wanted to cooperate with me in the first ce. Now I''ve been set up and nothing has happened to you. Shouldn''t you help me? It was Susana. -Susanna, how can I help you? Didn''t you do all those things? Now the evidence is overwhelming. If I help you then even I will be brought down too. Diana frowned impatiently. -Diana, that incident with Mariana was not just my doing. If now I expose it to a journalist, what will you do? Susana was already very desperate, so he chose to threaten her. Diana paused and said coldly: -As long as you give me five million, from now on, whatever happens between us, I''ll keep my mouth shut. How about that? Diana said sarcastically: -Why should I believe you? Susana scoffed: -Rafael will never want me again, so I''m only asking for five million. Besides, you can''t seem to do anything but trust me, can you? After a pause, Susana continued: -Diana, I know you are the daughter of the Solis family, so five million is nothing to you! These words were full of fury and despair. Diana said coolly: -I will give it to you... Susana smiled in satisfaction and said: -After all, what I do is good for you too. After saying this, she hung up the phone. Looking at the cell phone, Diana had some dangerous thoughts, but then she hesitated a bit. That night, Mariana was lying in bed. The vi was still empty. Thinking she had to go take care of Xavier in the morning, she forced herself not to think too much and closed her eyes. Suddenly, the door to the room opened and smelled of alcohol. The room became dark after a moment of light. Mariana was about to get up when someone pressed her down on the bed. The weight was like a mountain. Mariana struggled desperately. Even though I knew it was Leopoldo, I still couldn''t stand the smell of alcohol. I even wanted to vomit. -Leopoldo! You''re drunk! Get up! However, the man was still pressing down on her. Suddenly, Leopoldo kissed her. He grabbed her hands and held them above her head. Only when Mariana bit Leopoldo''s lip did he let go. He immediately got up from the bed to leave. I could not stand Leopoldo. But just as she touched the doorknob, he hugged her again. The pain in his back as he hit the door made Mariana frown. He shouted in a hoarse voice: -What are you doing? Let me go! I''m Mariana! Not Diana! Mariana blushed with anger. Leopoldo stroked her neck gently, which made her shiver, -I know you are Mariana. Leopoldo said in a cold voice: -Do you remember that you are my wife? Mariana looked dumbfounded at the dangerous man in front of her. Suddenly. He began to choke her. She struggled desperately, but he was too strong. Gradually he became out of breath. Unconsciously, she heard him say: -There are rumors all over the Inte about you and the Best Actor. But do they know you''re married? Mariana closed her eyes weakly. Just when she thought she was about to die, he released her. She coughed violently as soon as she could breathe. -I''m afraid you''ve forgotten what I saidst time, but this time you''ll remember, won''t you? -Although our rtionship is not yet public, I don''t want there to be the slightest chance of it negatively affecting the group! After saying that, he didn''t wait for Mariana to respond and left. Mariana hugged herself tightly and curled up, burying her head between her knees. At that moment, she really thought Leopoldo would kill her. Chapter 130: Kidnapping Chapter 130: Kidnapping Chapter 130: Kidnapping Mariana cried silently. The next day, when she woke up, Mariana looked at the bruised pinch marks on her neck. She touched them gently, but they hurt a lot. "I can''t go out with these..." Mariana stayed in the vi until the bruises on her neck disappeared. She had a phone call with Ana, who warned her that the Inte was talking about her and Xavier. I didn''t expect this thing to have such a big impact. However, after a few days, this news was forgotten. Suddenly, Mariana remembered that she had promised Xavier thest time she visited him that she would bring him soup the next day. But many days had already passed. Mariana touched his neck, the marks were almost gone. So she quickly went to the kitchen and saw the refrigerator full of ingredients. She hesitated for a moment and took some out. Xavier was injured because he had saved her life, so she should have taken care of him. However, she had been in a bad mood for the past few days, so she had stayed in her room andpletely forgotten about him. By the time the soup was ready, it was already dark outside like thest time she left the hospital. Leopoldo did note back these days. Everything was the same as before, but something seemed to be different. Mariana drove to the hospital with the lunch box and headed straight to Xavier''s room, but when she opened the door, it was empty. At that moment, someone asked him: -Who are you looking for? Mariana asked the nurse: -Where is the patient? -You mean Xavier? It''s not very safe here, so he left after he recovered. After a pause, the nurse suddenly eximed, pointing to Mariana: -Are you Xavier''s girlfriend? I''ve seen the news on the Inte. But if you are his girlfriend, how do you not know that he has been discharged from the hospital? Surprised, Mariana held the lunch box tightly. She had not expected to be discharged from the hospital. -I am not his girlfriend. After saying this, Mariana turned and left quickly without greeting the nurse. As she left the hospital and looked up at the night sky, Mariana could not help but sigh and feel guilty. As he walked to the parking lot, he pulled out his phone to call Xavier. He was looking for Xavier''s number but suddenly, a ck hood covered his head. Before Mariana could scream, she felt a sharp pain in her head, then she lost consciousness and fell to the ground. The two men looked around, lifted Mariana up and quickly climbed into the van parked to the side. However, at that moment, the person on the other end of the forgotten phone said impatiently: -Mariana? However, no one answered him except the constant sound of the cold wind at night, like crying that bothered him a lot. Finally, the long silence made Leopoldo sense something. He felt uneasy. N?velDrama.Org content rights. Mariana would not call him for no reason. Hanging up the phone, he dialed Lionel, -Find out where Mariana is now. Diana, who was sitting on the couch not far away, heard these words and felt hatred. Nevertheless, he smiled, stood up and approached Leopoldo. She gently took the man''s arm and asked worriedly: -Leo, what''s wrong? I think I just heard Mariana''s name. Leopoldo pulled his arm away from Diana''s hand and said diffidently: -There are still some things to deal with at thepany. I''ll leave first. After saying that, without waiting for Diana''s words, he picked up the clothes on the couch and left with quick steps. Looking at the man''s figure, Diana clenched her fist tightly and hated Mariana even more. "Something seems to have happened to Mariana..." Suddenly, it urred to him what Susana had told him that day and a tinge of joy appeared on his face. "So, I really have to thank Susana." *** -Mr. Dur¨¢n, the nanny said that Mariana left the vi in the afternoon after making the soup and thought she was going to deliver it to you, but she hasn''t been back since. Hearing these words, Leopoldo''s face became somber. He remembered the unanswered phone call again and frowned. -I have sent many people to look for her. Soon there will be results. Nodding his head, Leopold stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the darkness of the sky. The stars were shining in the darkness and the city under the sky was well lit. "Where is Mariana?" Suddenly, Lionel was shocked to receive news on his cell phone, he rushed to Leopoldo''s side and handed him the phone. It was a blog post from a regr ount. -Mariana is so grumpy! Today I saw her visiting Xavier in the hospital with a lunch box, and it''s clear that the two of them are very close. But, to my surprise, Xavier didn''t tell his supposed girlfriend about his leaving the hospital. Then Mariana threw a tantrum at me! The address on this ount was the private hospital where Xavier was! -Tell them to check the surveince near the hospital first! Lionel knew the seriousness of the matter, so he responded in a stern voice: -Yes! Then he went out to fix the job. Looking at the lightsing through the window, Leopoldo was very angry. "Very good!" "How dare you do something like that after I warned you!" All Leopoldo wanted was to find Mariana quickly and show her what would happen if she disobeyed him. *** Mariana had a headache. She looked at the unfamiliar ce in front of her and felt very uneasy. "Where is this ce?" It was all dark, with only a single dim light. The floor was covered with dust and the corners with cobwebs. It looked like an abandoned factory. Chapter 131: The Pleasure Of Revenge Chapter 131: The Pleasure Of Revenge Chapter 131: The pleasure of revenge Not far away sat three men. Mariana could not make out their faces because she had just woken up so much that her vision was still blurry, she could only hear the sound of beer bottles clinking against each other and the sound of aughing conversation. -She''s a very pretty girl, with soft skin! -Dream on! You can''t touch this woman! We were only told to capture her. -Hey, boss, don''t be so inflexible! Although they didn''t say it, they didn''t stop it, did they? So what if we do something with it for fun? With a shudder in her heart, Mariana closed her eyes tightly again and pretended to remain unconscious. -What? You don''t want the rest of the money? This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. A hoarse and familiar voice sounded next to her ears, causing a strong jolt to Mariana and she went on high alert. It was Susana! How could it be her? -Miss, you are here, have a seat. The thin man who had just said "for fun" stood up hurriedly, cleaned the stool and greeted Susanna cordially. Susana shot a disgusted look at the man, suppressed her difort and sat back with a condescending and arrogant demeanor. -It''s not that you can''t touch it, but I need to take a video of it. At those words, the three men could not help but look at each other. It was still the lewd skinny one who again took the floor brazenly: -I didn''t expect him to have that fetish. -What the hell, I''ll try to ruin it! When the timees, I''ll put this video on the inte.... Susanna paused, already able to think of that image, her satisfaction inside her believed even more for the pleasure after the revenge! Hadn''t she ruined her career as a designer? Then she was going to destroy Marianapletely! The three exchanged nces with each other and were shocked at the insanity she was disying, even the thin man who had been talking to her closed his mouth and stopped talking. Mariana clenched her hands tightly. The pain produced by the sharp nails digging into her soft palms finally made her unable to stop shaking. Ideas quickly swirled in his mind as to how he could escape from here. Sneakily groping with her hands on the ground, Mariana moved cautiously, perhaps because she was only a fainting and weak woman, the men had not tied her down. The three men and Susana were talking not far from the door, so if she wanted to leave she would have to go through them. Mariana looked around for something and finally spotted a half-brick diagonally in front of her. He strained to reach this one, but the next second a rustling sound rang out beside him, a sound so shrill in such an environment that it suddenly stopped the chatter by the door. All four men looked this way. -Catch her! A high-pitched voice was heard with hatred, its usual hoarseness gone. The three men were stunned for a minute and immediately got up and ran to Mariana, their eyes full of ferocity. Mariana, in a panic, stood up, brick in hand, looking on guard at the men running towards her, waving it repeatedly and shouting harshly: -Don''te any closer! Don''te any closer! Theyunched a sneer and quickly arrived in front of her, with a horrible grin on their faces and merciless eyes as they slowly approached her. -Pretty, you''d better put down the brick or you''ll hurt yourselfter! Speaking, the thin man stepped forward and pretended to try to attack her. Mariana, startled, brandished the brick hard and hit him, which left him groaning in pain, looking quite pitiful. The other two men took advantage of this time and quickly stepped forward, grabbing Mariana by the shoulders. Then the skinny one also took the brick from her hand and spoke with hatred: -Son of a bitch! Next, he pped her face hard. The hair covered her pale cheek in a messy way, but you could still see the instant redness and swelling through the hair. As if this beating had not faded her anger, the thin man stepped forward and pped her hard again, causing both cheeks to swell inexorably. Mariana, with her head bent helplessly and her hands restrained, felt only dizziness, blurred vision, burning cheeks and enormous pain. Behind her, Susana reached over and reached out to grab the woman''s long ck hair, forcing her head up. Then she gave a pleasant smile, proud to a fault. -Mariana, you never thought that one day you would fall into my hands, did you? There was a sharp pain in her scalp and Mariana frowned, but her eyes remained calm, with an indomitable expression. -Paf! The sound was crisp and loud. -Don''t look at me like that! It makes me nauseous. Another pnded on the left side of her face, Mariana''s eyes were full of irony. She tried to lift the corners of her mouth, but stopped moving them because of the pain caused by the wound. -Since she''s being so tough, p her more! With that, Susanna stepped back and winked nonchntly at the three men, speaking in a cold voice. The thin man who had been hit with the brick immediately stepped forward, lifted Mariana''s head and pped her twice cruelly. This time the corners of her mouth were also stained with bright blood, which made her look very terrible. -Stop it, don''t make her die, I still want to be nice to her! After all, she has helped me. A sarcastic smile appeared on her face as Susana looked smugly at Mariana, who had been thrown to the ground as if she were garbage, with much contentment in her heart. "Why should I be the only one to fall from the clouds to hell?" Inside the office of the president of Grupo Dur¨¢n. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, we have found it! The man, always standing by the window, immediately turned and looked at his assistant. His cold, stern eyes blinked, revealing a slightly different emotion. -We found on a stakeout near the hospital the Lady being taken to a van by two men and then heading to the outskirts. But since the ce they went to was too remote and there was no surveince, we could not determine the exact location, we only knew approximately! -These men are not very professional, although they have deliberately avoided surveince on the road, there are still some in hidden corners that picked up their tracks. -Let''s go! Lionel followed the man who strided away and left the office. Meanwhile, Mariana, tied to a post, had bruises all over her bare skin and her clothes were dirty. After examining it from top to bottom, a satisfied smile appeared in Susana''s eyes. She took out her phone and started taking the video. Only when she finished recording did she smile and turn to the man behind her: -You have not taken pity on her. The thin man red at Mariana with ferocity and violence. -That woman is a bitch! She had to take a beating to learn what kind of people she can''t mess with," the man said, starting to get excited again. Susana''s gaze was icy. As if she could not see the blood on Mariana, she spoke with disdain: -As I just told you, I want to make a video of him and post it on the Inte, which of course requires your help. So do the three of you do it together, or do you want to do it one by one? At what she said, the thin man smiled and his cloudy eyes shone brightly. He stepped forward and ttered Susana: -Miss, in this case, me first! With a frown, she nced at the lust on the man''s face and took half a step back to distance herself from him before speaking indifferently: -Then you go first. With that, he stepped aside, opened his phone and began recording video. Chapter 132: SheS In My Hands Now Chapter 132: She''S In My Hands Now Chapter 132: She''s in my hands now When the ropes on Mariana were removed, she immediately struggled and struggled to raise her hand, pping the thin man hard in the face with a rough noise. Anger welled up in her eyes as the thin man leaned forward and grabbed the woman''s hands with one hand, lifting them above her head, then began tearing off her clothes. -Bitch! How dare you hit me? He stripped off her outer garment, exposing a ck bra on the inside and a wide area of smooth white skin, but which was now covered with bruises and wounds. Terror instantly flooded her heart and Mariana could not help struggling. She looked up and saw the thin man, with a terribleugh and exposed yellow teeth, now slowly approaching her. He felt his stomach churning. Just as the thin man was about to kiss her, a deafening sound suddenly rang out behind her: the heavy iron door crashed against the concrete wall. The next moment, Leopold, upon encountering the scene before him, had a look that shone with anger and coldness. The bare, snow-white skin was very dazzling. At the same time, the attendant nodded to the burly bodyguards who hade together, dozens of men rushed forward quickly and in an instant grabbed the two men standing to one side. At this point, Susana reacted very quickly. She hurriedly stepped forward and dragged Mariana off the ground, pulling out a sharp knife and cing it against Mariana''s slender neck. The thin man also stood beside him. -Don''te any closer! For a moment, the bodyguards looked at each other and all stopped moving, turning their gaze to the man standing in the center who was radiating rage. And Mariana, who was restrained, also looked at Leopoldo. The tears that had not fallen during the beating and abuse she had just endured now flowed like a river that had opened its floodgates, sliding down her cheeks and washing away some of the dirt. -Leopoldo... His hoarse voice trembled. Leopoldo felt as if his heart was being rubbed hard. The tears streaming down the woman''s face made the coldness in her eyes intensify and her face darken, as if it were the brief calm that preceded the storm. -Let her go. The tone was calm, but it was also frightening and clear, wrapped in a great strength. Susanna shuddered, cold sweat pouring off her and she gripped the knife tighter. In an instant, a spot of red blood appeared on the pale neck. -Don''t make me! She''s in my hands now! He shouted at Leopoldo, as if he were bluffing. Turning his head slightly, Leopold gave a nce to his assistant behind him, who nodded softly. -I can satisfy you with all this, as long as you let her go. After a few cold chuckles, Susanna suddenly went suddenly crazy and burst outughing, which was so raucous that it pierced the sky like a sharp de sheathed. They gave a very unpleasant sensation. -Let her go? Why should I let her go? I was so scared I almost forgot my purpose, didn''t Ie just to kill her? Then why should I let her go? He looked at Leopold with a horrible expression, and even his smile was wicked and merciless. At this moment, the bodyguard who had been standing diagonally in front of Susanna had moved to her side silently and step by step when she wasn''t paying attention. Then, he stepped forward at a speed almost imperceptible to the naked eye and pushed away the knife in Susana''s hand. The next moment, he found himself contained in the thin man''s arms and the two began to fight. Leopoldo quickly stepped forward, taking off his suit jacket and wrapping it around Mariana as he pulled her into his arms. The shivering, cold body was suddenly surrounded by warmth and she couldn''t help but grab the jacket as if she were grasping for a glow in the dark. The hand that embraced the woman tightened involuntarily. Her tone was still indifferent, but tinged with a hint of tenderness: -All right. Soon, Susana and the thin man were captured by the bodyguards. Leopoldo lifted Mariana as his icy gaze passed one by one through the men. His thin lips parted slightly, but his words came out as if from hell: -Get rid of them. Some people should not have lived in the sunlight, they were only fit for the foul darkness. -Yes. The car was traveling down the highway at high speed when a voice rang out from the passenger side, tinged with a hint of panic. -I... I don''t want to go to the hospital. A memory like that I did not want to evoke. Looking at the woman''s bruises, Leopoldo said nothing and the atmosphere inside the car seemed to freeze for a moment. -I don''t want to go to the hospital! Mariana bit her lower lip and looked stubbornly at Leopoldo, her eyes, which had been so clear and bright, were full of tears, but that couldn''t hide the fear underneath either. In the end, Leopoldo did not take her to the hospital, but returned directly to the vi. He led Mariana up the stairs slowly, the woman''s soft hands now resting on his neck. The two were so close that their breathing could be heard. After gently cing her on the bed, the man turned and left. The room instantly regained its silence, even with the lights on, it gave a cold and lonely feeling, the warmth that had just surrounded her had dissipated. Mariana curled up in a baby position despite the pain of the scars on her body. He had left her behind. Tears spread across her eyes and filled them, then slipped quietly away. At this moment, there came suddenly behind her the sound of slippers scraping against the wooden floor, seeming very clear in the still night. She sat up abruptly and looked up. The long figure approached her step by step, like a god in Mariana''s eyes, shining a faint glow all around. The man lowered his eyes, ced the first aid kit on the floor, reached up to remove her suit jacket, then tried to untie the woman''s bra. Mariana rushed to wrap her hands around her chest and asked cautiously: -What are you doing? -Since you don''t want to go to the hospital, I''ll have to give you medicine. Even though they had made things more intimate, he still couldn''t do it when he asked her to undress in such a bright light. Mariana bit her lower lip hard as a blush appeared on her face, -Let the maid do it for me. A wryugh came from above, the indifferent words that left the man''s lips struck hard on Mariana''s eardrums. -Mariana, do you think I would be interested in doing something to you in your current state? The words were cruel and unrelenting. Mariana stiffened and reached up to subconsciously touch her reddened and swollen cheek, and an immediate pain erupted from where she had touched it. So, he did not refuse again. Coolness invaded her body and she squeezed her eyes shut as her eyshes quivered softly. -That''s it. Mariana covered herself with the nket, still with her eyes down and a bewildered and lost face, and said somewhat dazedly: -Thank you. Footsteps were heard and the man, without another word, turned and left. N?velDrama.Org content rights. Tonight seemed like a dream. When Mariana woke up the next day, her face was still a little red and swollen, but it didn''t hurt as much. At breakfast, the nanny was surprised by her appearance and she had to exin the reason. But unexpectedly as soon as she did so, her phone rang. She looked at it confused, it was Xavier calling her: -Mariana, I heard you went to the hospital to see me? Mariana looked down, stirring the food in front of her, only to feel her throat go dry. Chapter 133: You DonT Have To Apologize To Me Chapter 133: You Don''T Have To Apologize To Me Chapter 133: You Don''t Have to Apologize to Me There was a long pause before she said: -Yes, but when I couldn''t find you, I came back. There were some things I didn''t want anyone to know. -Mariana, I''m sorry I didn''t inform you in advance that I was out of the hospital. It was the first time I had heard Xavier apologize. Mariana blinked, couldn''t help but feel a little guilty and spoke hurriedly: -Xavier, you don''t have to apologize to me, it was me who offered to take care of you, but I didn''t think I would end up breaking my word, I should apologize to you. Her heart fluttered as she involuntarily clenched the spoon in her hand. Azy voice with a yful smile came from the other end of the line: -That''s enough, let''s stop apologizing. Didn''t you say you were going to send me tasty food? I''m sending you the address of my house now... The spoon in his hand suddenly fell, collided with the porcin bowl and produced a crunching sound. Xavier''s unspoken words were cut short. -What''s wrong? -Xavier, I''ve been feeling... badtely, I may not be able to visit you. How about this, when youe back to the set, I''ll bring you food every day, okay? Mariana reached out and gently touched her red, swollen face, saying with some difficulty. A moment of silence passed before thezy tone sounded again on the other side: -Then I will wait for Miss Ortiz''s work. After hanging up the phone, Mariana couldn''t help but let out a sigh. But on the other hand, Xavier looked at the phone whose screen was slowly dimming, his heart emptied in an instant and his pair of beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. In the following days, Mariana stayed at home without doing anything because of the wounds she had on her body and did not see Leopoldo again, as if he had suddenly disappeared. However, at midnight, Susana''s frightening face would burst into her dreams, which made her feel uneasy inside and her mood deteriorated during the day. That day, Mariana, sitting in the living room, was staring at her cell phone on the table, slightly frowning, looking a little hesitant. He finally picked it up, dialing a number. He quickly connected and a puzzled voice came from Lionel on the other end of the line: -Ma''am? Mariana, somewhat puzzled, raised her hand to gently put her hair next to her face behind her ear as she asked in a low voice: -I was going to ask you about what happenedst time, Susana? But at this point, she paused and did not continue. -Madam, you want to ask me how Susana is, don''t you? As she has done something illegal and criminal, naturally she has gone where she should go. You don''t have to worry, Ma''am, I''m sure she won''t hurt you again in the future. The assistant, a little guiltily, vaguely exined Susana''s end. Mariana bit her lower lip. If she was sent to the right ce, it should have meant going to jail. But Susana was a public figure after all, and if so, the media would have gotten the message and the story would have spread in the meantime. But that didn''t happen, nor was there anything on the Inte. -Hey, Susana... -Madam, if there is anything else you want to know, you''d better go ask Mr. Dur¨¢n, he asked for everything like this. I have things to do, so I have to hang up now. Hanging up the phone, Lionel exhaled a deep breath. How could Susanna continue to live in this world after doing something like this? But these were things the boss didn''t want his wife to know, so naturally he had to hide them from her. Looking at the phone screen getting darker and darker, Mariana couldn''t help but shake her head. There was nothing she could do about it. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. He was about to get up and go upstairs when his phone rang again. Just as he answered it, Ana''s voice came with a hint of panic: -Mari! Xavier is at home recovering these days, so the team is taking advantage of this period to start shooting Diana''s scenes, which are the next storyline, so that initial costume was used. Unable to resist rubbing her forehead, Mariana said: -What happened? -But when Diana put it on today she found a hole, and it''s right at the waist, unable to cover herself anyway. Now that you''re off work and I''m the only one on the wardrobe team, the director has ordered me to fix it quickly so as not to dy the shoot. But Mari, where is the rest of your fabric? Mariana frowned, hesitating for a moment. Ana, on the other end of the line, did not wait for an answer and anxiously continued: -More than that, Mari, I''ve searched the whole wardrobe room and there''s nothing, it''s probably at your ce. Something quickly crossed his mind, but disappeared too quickly to grasp it. -Anita, I''ll look for it first and call you when I find it. With that, they both hung up the phone. Mariana unconsciously rubbed the metal casing of her phone and frowned. She went to the small studio, but found nothing. Finally, after asking the nanny, he headed for the warehouse. Just as he opened the door, a cloud of dust rose up and the air was full of musty, musty odor. I had not thought there was such a room in the vi. She looked around frowningly, finally spotting acy orange cloth in the corner. Cheerful inside, she hurried over there. Indeed, the torn fabrics in the box were exactly what Ana wanted. She struggled to pick it up and was about to leave, when suddenly she stumbled over a box, having barely taken a few steps. Mariana looked down, momentarily stunned. It was a dark green square box that had fallen to the ground, the lid of which had been ripped open by the collision, exposing its carefully guarded contents. She narrowed her eyes, set aside the box in her hands and lifted the dress it contained in the box.... As soon as he unfolded it, an admiration instantly appeared in his eyes. He couldn''t help but freeze. The skirt was light yellow with a long, soft, smooth hem; it was sleeveless, with snowkes depicted at the waist, like bunches of plum blossoms in bloom, as beautiful as a winter snow scene. The waistband at the back was hollowed out, through which you could see the soft, slender waist, a discreet and sexy design that was very seductive. He disyed a demure and airy aura, at the same time a sexy charm. Mariana blinked rapidly, as if she had received a great inspiration. Such a design was truly an extraordinary work for her as a designer. I attentively contemted the techniques used on her and how she silently disyed those almost imperceptible sensations. After ncing around the somewhat cluttered and dirty warehouse, Mariana looked down at the dress in her hands. She then carefully ced it in the box and took it out along with the boxes. "Since it was abandoned here, probably no one uses this, right?" Back in her room, as she looked at the dress in her hands, a great shock came over Mariana. The only way to really understand the design of a dress was to see how it actually looked on the model. Once she made up her mind, Mariana took off the nightclothes she was wearing and put on the dress, which fit her well. Due to the delicate embroidery at the waist, I did not expect that the dress was tight at the same ce, making it even more charming. Suddenly, the door to the room opened from the outside. Chapter 134: Still Playing With Me Chapter 134: Still ying With Me Chapter 134: Still ying with me The woman, who was scrutinizing the design of the dress, looked up startled and met a pair of eyes that quickly became tinged with anger. An extreme coldness assaulted her body. -Why did youe back? And he came to his room. Instead of answering her, however, the man stepped directly in front of her. In the next instant, he reached out and strangled her delicate neck, forcefully and unforgivingly. -Who allowed you to touch this dress? A strong tremor in her heart made it much more difficult to breathe. Mariana opened her mouth helplessly, trying to breathe, and her face gradually flushed from suffocation. Her hands struggled to push the man''s palms away and her hoarse voice struggled out of her throat: -Leopoldo... let go of me. As if he hadn''t heard her, the man who gave off an icy aura narrowed his eyes and raised his jaw, but his delicate face expressed fierce anger. -Are you worthy of that? Then, with an energetic movement of her hand, the woman flung herself towards the dressing mirror like a kite with a broken string. Instantly, there was a violent roar in the room. -Cof... cof... cof... Holding her neck, Mariana coughed with effort. A few tears welled up in her eyes from the intense movement. She gasped hard for a while before the redness on her face subsided a bit. She looked up, with some hesitation, at the man gazing down at her from above, immediately Mariana''s heart swelled with sadness and anger. She felt like an unimportant person who could be scolded and beaten at will. -Why? Leopoldo opened his eyes slightly and felt something strange inside. He looked away from the woman on the floor, no longer looking at her vulnerable form. -Take off your dress. With these indifferent words, the man took long strides and turned to leave. The destion in her heart amplified and Mariana tried to smile, but found herself powerless. She felt like a manipted puppet, but now the string that had held her was broken. Numb, she stood up, ignoring the pain she was in, took off her dress, folded it carefully, put it back in the dark green box and closed the lid before going to Leopold''s room and knocking on the door. Just as she pushed open the door, the rich smell of tobo in the air instantly overwhelmed Mariana and enveloped herpletely, as if trying to get her to contract the unique taste of that person. He didn''t know what to do and stepped back, walking out of the room, and stood outside the door. But just in time she saw her action Leopold who had turned away, and in an instant her anger was again like a wave that wanted to swallow her up. Mariana bit her lip and lowered her eyes, hiding all the emotions in them. Finally, she stepped forward step by step and handed him the box in her hand. -Here you are... Finally, he didn''t have the courage to say "I''m sorry" to her after a long time of hesitation. The next moment, a loud bang was heard and the box Mariana was holding disappeared, but rathery broken in the corner, and the yellow dress it contained had fallen to the floor, staining it with dust. Her heart suddenly jerked hard and a sharp pain came to her, causing her to frown. -Do you think I''d want something you''ve used? Even with weakness, Marianaughed at such a ridiculous scene. Her eyes seemed clear and full of tears, like a shimmeringke or ice that broke on the ground. -What are youughing at? A pain from her jaw left Mariana feeling a bit sick, the wrinkle between her forehead deepened considerably. -Or were you preparing to seduce me with this dress? Why did you go to so much trouble? With that, there was a noise in her ears. She sensed a shiver in her chest and the home clothes she was wearing had been removed by Leopoldo, with the underwear ruined due to the rough action. The next thing that happened was that Mariana was thrown onto the soft bed. Suddenly, her eyes widened and her pupils narrowed. Mariana couldn''t help but move backwards covering herself with the torn clothes. I didn''t know how things had gotten to this point. Or did he think she was doing it all to get his attention, to seduce him? His tall, heavy body approached her and squeezed tightly above Mariana. Leopoldo held both of her slender wrists with only one hand and forcibly ced them above her head, while his legs pressed N?velDrama.Org content rights. against hers which moved. -Let me go, Leopoldo! Let me go! The woman beneath him struggled violently, however, naturally, a woman''s strength was no match for that of a man. Firmly immobilized, Mariana raised her eyes and looked at him coldly. But the man on top of her didn''t care; instead, he curved the corners of his mouth into a sarcastic smile and gave her a meaningful look. -What, are you still ying with me at this point? Be careful about going too far and hurting yourself in the end. The harsh and sarcastic words reached Mariana''s ears, sending a strong shiver down her spine. -Leopoldo! Get up! I didn''t do it! You... But the next words were swallowed by the man, their soft lips intertwined. Mariana, with her eyes wide open, looked incredulously at the man whose gaze remained cold. She felt as if she too had been invaded by an infinite coldness that froze her with force at this instant. In such a way, everything went in an unbearable direction. Mariana did not even have the power to stop it and could only endure it. When the lust dissipated, Marianay on the bed like a worn-out doll, silent as if lifeless, deste and miserable. Seeing her like this, Leopold frowned fiercely, feeling a pain in his heart. He was now fully dressed. But the next second, his eyes regained their usual coldness. Then he turned and walked away. All this brought Mariana enormous difort, and even her throat became dry and she felt like vomiting. Early the next morning, Ana came to pick up the fabric. As soon as she entered the vi, she couldn''t help but marvel at the elegantly decorated and surprisinglyrge interior: -Mari, I didn''t expect your family to be so rich, that you live in a vi in the suburbs. There is no one around and the environment is quiet, you are so happy! Speaking, she rushed forward and threw her arms excitedly around Mariana''s neck. Mariana, however, unconsciously gave a slight cry of surprise. Her injuries were almost healed, but she had been tortured by Leopoldo the night before. With concern in her eyes, Ana hurried to let go and asked worriedly: -Mari, are you all right? She lowered her gaze, whichnded on the bruises on the other woman''s slender white neck, and was instantly stunned. With another nce at the surprisingly spacious vi, a host of feelings surged through Anne''s mind. Finally, with a slight cough, she looked away and changed the subject: -Mari, did you find that fabric? Give it to me now, I''ll take it with me so I can finish the suit quickly, otherwise Diana will reproach me again if I dy the production! Anne was enraged at the thought of Diana, and her face became tinged with anger. -Mari, you don''t know how hateful that woman is! Without Xavier on the crew, now she''s almost be his, and everything depends on her! And even our boss alwayses to visit her. Clinging to Mariana''s arm, Ana could not stopining about Diana. Chapter 135: Being With Me Chapter 135: Being With Me Chapter 135: Being with me Mariana smilingly looked at Ana whose face was red with anger, pulled her to the sofa and sat down. At this point, the nanny also brought two sses of water and ced them on the table. -She has not offended you, why do you dislike her so much? Only after taking arge sip of the water in front of her did Anne feel the anger that had been raging in her heart subside a bit. -Mari, don''t you know it! Although Diana smiles all the time and is kind to everyone, I don''t like it! I can feel that, although she behaves like this, she is still arrogant, very proud. Mariana lowered her gaze to hide her emotions, then raised her ss and took a sip of water. She had not expected Anne, who had not had much contact with Diana, to see her this way, but instead she herself had thought at first that she was a nice person. -That''s enough, she''s the protagonist now, so you''d better not offend her. Dropping her eyes with some frustration, Ana, holding the ss of water in her hand, answered him in a low voice: -But I still think Se?or Dur¨¢n is so blind as to have be infatuated with her! In my opinion, she is not nearly as good as you. As if something had struck her heart, water spilled from the ss Mariana was holding in her hand. The warm liquid fell on her clothes and instantly lost its warmth, invading her skin and also seeming to have reached the depths of her heart. -Mari, what''s wrong? Noticing his loss ofposure, Ana hastened to ask with some concern. He wondered if he had said something wrong to make Mariana look like that. -I''m fine, Anita, since the director told you to fix the suit quickly, you should go back first with the fabric and finish it quickly. Stunned for a moment, Ana then remembered this. She patted her head and said: This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. -I''ve been talking about gossip, I almost forgot such an important matter. He paused before looking at Mariana, his eyes lingered on her neck for a while and quickly moved away. -Mari, I''m going out then, take care, I''ll wait for you on the set. Looking helplessly at Ana who was reluctant to leave, Mariana waved her hand and watched her walk away. As he sat down on the couch again, he immediately lost all his strength, sinking into it exhaustively and staring straight ahead in a trance. Where she could not see, Leopoldo and Diana probably got along well as lovers. Sketching a bitter smile, Mariana was a little angry in her mind, but there was nothing she could do about it. And so it took her several days to recover at home before the marks on her body faded and were now Finding professional attire to wear, he left the vi and headed for the set. Just as she reached the set, she saw Xavier walking toward her and her agent behind. She frowned, a little worried, but also pleased, -What a coincidence, Mariana, I didn''t think that the first person I would meet on the set would be you. Xavier''s delicate eyes narrowed slightly and his eyebrows drooped, a slightly yful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Looking at Mariana in front of him, the emotions in his eyes changed a thousand times, but finally they all returned to the calm, which was hidden under them. -Xavier, thank you, and sorry for the dy in your work. Hearing what he said, the agent standing next to him couldn''t help but roll his eyes. As the most prominent actor in the country in terms ofmercial value, Xavier had a full schedule afterwards, even usually attending somemercial activities after a day of shooting scenes. But now, because of this incident, all the work alreadypleted was forced to be mixed up, which meant that Xavier would have to work non-stop afterwards. Mariana was embarrassed, as she hesitated to speak with an apologetic tone: -Xavier, I... Before she could finish, Xavier shot a warning nce at his agent. -Go make the transition and tell the director I''m going back to work. The tone was somewhat t, and a bit icy. And so he interrupted her. The agent''s eyes hovered for a moment between the two of them before he finally sighed and reluctantly walked away. Then Xavier reached out and wrapped his arms around Mariana''s slender shoulders, saying jokingly: -What''s wrong? How are you going to pay me back? -Are you going to be with me? Yes or yes. When she finished speaking, she coquettishly hooked his chin and bent at the waist so that their eyes could meet. The ambiguous desire hidden in the depths of Xavier''s beautiful eyes had a fatal attraction that was casting a spell on her. Mariana''s heart skipped a beat and she hurriedly turned her head to avoid the man''s gaze. She moved her body and escaped from his embrace. -What are you talking about? She reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear, and when she turned around again, Mariana was back to normal, with her usual serene look. -Well,e on, it''s time to go back. But after entering, they were surprised to find that no one was there. Both Xavier and Mariana looked at each other puzzled. Suddenly, a "boom" was heard. -Wee the return of Mr. B?o and Miss Ortiz! Then a few sessive blows were heard and countless colored pieces fell from above, some of which The woman''s movements were soft, but at the same time a little cautious. Xavier lowered his gaze and a strange emotion secretly dted. At this point, the director also came over and hugged the two one by one, also inevitably feeling a bit emotional. It had been a difficult time for the crew. When the logs slipped thest time, he had also investigated and had finally found someone who belonged to Diana''s team, saying that he was not happy with her and thus doing such a thing. It was directed against Diana, but he did not expect to end up hurting Mariana and Leopoldo by mistake, while thetter was fine. He told Diana about the incident and, as a result, she fired the man, but the matter remained unresolved. For the moment, Diana stepped forward, nodded first to Xavier and whispered: -I''m sorry. Then he held Mariana''s hand and said with self-reproach: -Mariana, I didn''t think this was about me, if I had known, I wouldn''t have asked you toe and fix my dress, I''m so sorry. She looked so sad, with tears hidden in her eyes, hesitating to well up, which made her all the more charming. But Mariana only found it ridiculous. If the Susana incident had not happened, she might have believed her. But now, she didn''t believe her at all! Forcefully pushing Diana''s hand away, her gaze was quite cold. He leaned close to Diana and whispered in her ear: -Miss Solis, be careful, don''t let all the things you have donee back to haunt you someday! The unrelenting words were threatening. Standing up straight, Mariana looked at her with a mocking smile. She was an actress and liked to act, but not Mariana, she was just herself! Chapter 136: The Arrival Of The Boss Chapter 136: The Arrival Of The Boss Chapter 136: The Arrival of the Boss -How could he do this? The director already investigated this case, someone wanted to harm Miss Diana, she is also a victim! But he was kind enough to apologize to Mariana, but what an attitude he has! -Yes! I have never seen such a mean person! Compared to Miss Diana, she is a nasty person with an ugly appearance and an ugly heart. -No wonder Miss Diana had so many fans as soon as she came back to the country! I like pretty girls with a good personality too. And look at Mariana, no wonder so many people hate her! As countlessments reached Mariana''s ears, she made no response, but her smile disappeared. The scene was a bit awkward for a moment. At this instant, Xavier stepped forward and grabbed Mariana''s slender wrist with his hand, pulling her behind him and protecting her. -Now that Mariana has epted Miss Solis'' apology, let us all get on with our business. With that, he was about to lead her out, but the next moment he didn''t expect to meet resistance: Mariana''s other wrist was pulled by the other man. She looked up subconsciously and stiffened. It was Leopoldo. -Director, since when do so many people gossip on the set? Gossiping during work can interfere with work, and thepany doesn''t need employees like that. The tone of his voice was cold and his eyes were even colder. His gaze went straight to the director standing to the side. A single word from him could decide the fate of these people. The director, who had not expected Leopoldo''s sudden arrival, rubbed his hands together, not knowing what to do. Cold sweat broke out and covered his entire forehead. He stepped forward and said with a nod of his head: -Of course. Then, looking behind him at the deputy director, he whispered some instructions. The people who had just been talking about Mariana were now pale and trembling with fear, wondering how they had provoked their boss just for a fewments. Mariana frowned and looked up to see a pair of long shadowy eyes, inside which a coldness filled, like a silent darkness, that did not let the light through. The words that had reached the tip of his tongue stopped again, stuck between his throat, unable to rise or fall. With a strong tug, Leopoldo pulled her into his arms. Mariana hastily grabbed the clothes in front of the man''s chest and thus managed to avoid falling backwards. She struggled to let go of him, but the man held her more tightly in his arms so that she was immobilized. Consecutive gasps and exmations sounded from all sides. Looking at the few people who were surrounded by the center, everyone could not help but open their eyes and be dumbfounded. They had never expected such a scene to emerge before their eyes. One was a well-known national actor who was gaining momentum, while the other was the president of one of the country''s leadingpanies, either of whom was one of the most important people in the country, but who were now fighting over a woman, one who was nothing. The wrist that had been in his hand suddenly disappeared and Xavier subconsciously took in the air that was flowing between his fingers, as if the soft sensation was still in the same ce. He smirked and was somewhat irritated for no apparent reason at the sight of the woman sped in Leopoldo''s arms. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, what are you doing? Your wife is here looking at you, I don''t think it''s good for you to be cuddling with another woman. With that, his gaze seemed to shift to Diana who had a grim face and gritted teeth. The surprise she had felt at seeing Leopold had beenpletely dismantled by now, reced by the anger that continued to sh and pound inside her. He could barely contain it anymore. He had not thought that he had not looked at her since Leopold arrived, and such knowledge made his whole heart grow cold. There was even a hint of fear rising from deep within. Diana made a point of smiling and clenched her fists, the stinging sensation of the sharp nails digging through her palms diforting her smile on her face. Stepping forward, he walked towards Leopold with a still calm and friendly appearance. -Leo, what are you doing? Let Mariana go. At this point, the atmosphere became more awkward, and all eyes fell on Mariana''s wrist that Leopoldo was holding. It was a game of those two women. Mariana lowered her eyes and an inexplicable feeling welled up in her heart, faint but impossible to ignore. His heart could not stop beating violently in his chest. The hand on her wrist suddenly tightened and pain instantly spread through her body, causing her to N?velDrama.Org content rights. frown. Surprise and excitement rushed through his head at the same time. However, the man gave her no nce. In the next instant, she felt the force on her wrist disappear and the warm chest on which she had been leaning also receded. It was then that a rxed smile returned to Diana''s face. She stepped forward and pushed Mariana aside and stood next to Leopoldo, wrapping her arms around the man as if informing everyone who he belonged to, clinging to him and smiling softly. Mariana, who was pushed aside, lost her bnce before she could react. A second before she was about to fall to the ground, she threw herself into a warm embrace. She thought of something, raised her eyes sharply with a faint gleam in them, but the next moment she saw who was in front of her, she suddenly disappeared. The person who caught it was Xavier. After meeting her gaze, Xavier held his breath as a great helplessness welled up in his heart, almost consuming him. But the smile became more and more yful, fixed so solidly on the face like a mask that would not -Thank you! Sighing, Mariana hurriedly got up from Xavier''s arms. identally raising his head, he saw that Leopold was looking down at the woman next to him, with an infinitely tender gaze, quite the opposite of the coldness he had just shown. Mariana frozepletely, and an endless bitterness flooded her heart, causing her eyes to fill with tears. And at this moment, Diana turned her head and eyed her meaningfully. In her curved eyes were filled with triumph and mockery, and a sneer spread at the corners of her mouth. -Leo, since you havee to see me, let''s go then, the director will take care of the rest. His gaze fell on the director, who nodded hurriedly. Leopold looked at the man and woman standing on the other side with a dark indifference in his eyes, but everything was hidden under those ck pupils. He took the lead in taking steps, Diana followed close behind and the two of them left together. Staring at the backs of the two as they walked away, Mariana''s heart was beating wildly, as if she had been cruelly dragged from heaven to earth, and even to the immense hell. She had not expected Leopoldo to appear out of nowhere, to lead her to his side in such a situation and to free her from the constant gossip. But also in the next breath, he again chose another woman and.... he left her. Chapter 137: Being Laid Off Chapter 137: Being Laid Off Chapter 137: Beingid off It all happened incredibly fast, as if it had been done in the blink of an eye. That warm breath with the faint smell of tobo still seemed to linger in her nose, but only silence surrounded her now, and nothing else. Looking at the woman''s somewhat frail figure, Xavier sighed secretly. He stepped forward and jokingly slipped his arm around Mariana''s shoulders. -Well, now that the wee is also over, go back to the locker room to rest. The farce came to an end with the departure of several key yers. The director stood in ce, watching the backs of those who were leaving and could not help but let out a sigh. Finally, with a nce at the people gathered around, he spoke earnestly: -Those who have spread gossip... are fired. After saying that, he frowned and quickly left. After this incident, there were no longer people in the crew who dared to gossip. Although Mariana could still feel some strange looks directed at her, full of suspicion, she lived a morefortable and rxed life than before. He just didn''t imagine it was all for Leopoldo''s sake. The filming was over a third of the way through and to celebrate, and as a sort of gift, Xavier, as the lead actor, asked someone to go to Starbucks to buy coffee and snacks and have the clerk send them to the set so everyone could have a good time. This move naturally won the hearts of the crew once again. The happiest person was Ana. At this moment, with a caramel mhiato in one hand and a few sandwiches in the other, I enjoyed sitting down to enjoy them. Mariana shook her head and giggled at this scene. The two were sitting under an umbre next to the set, eating their snacks. Because of this act by Xavier, the director freed up more than an hour for everyone to rx. -I must say that Xavier is so rich, handsome and generous! How delicious this bread is! Looking somewhat amused at Ana who had picked up another sandwich, Mariana spoke helplessly: -Everyone only has one coffee and one sandwich, howe you have so many? At this, Ana stopped her movements and approached his side, speaking mysteriously: -Mari, don''t you know, I told them it was you who wanted to eat! When he finished, he couldn''t help but burst outughing. -He heard you liked it and told me to bring more, I''m smart, aren''t I? Mariana reached out her hand, pretending to prepare to hit it, but it felt a little weird. Frowning, she didn''t want to think about it deeply. At this moment, a girl suddenly came running up. She hurriedly ced the sandwich and coffee she had in her hands on the table, her face wrinkled in pain, clutching her stomach as she looked at Mariana and spoke shakily: -Miss Ortiz, this is Miss Diana''s coffee and snack, her assistant asked me to deliver them, but my stomach hurts a lot and I have to go to the bathroom, could you help me to deliver them? Thank you very much. After saying that, before Mariana could respond, he turned and quickly ran away. Seeing this, Ana got a little angry andined: -Mari, what is this about? Why do you have to send them to Diana? Don''t do it, let them pick it up themselves. Mariana sighed inwardly at the thought of how the girl looked. She stood up and spoke softly: -It''s okay Anita, if the snack and coffee don''t arrive on time, the girl will be in trouble, I just have to bring them to her. N?velDrama.Org content rights. As he picked up the items on the table and saw Anne''s still furrowed brows and anxious face, he couldn''t help but smile and coax her: -I''m going to give them to Diana and I''ll be right back, don''t eat my sandwiches! At what she said, Ana red at her, but she was still a little worried. I always felt that something might happen. Mariana stood outside Diana''s living room, knocked on the door and heard a e in" from inside before entering. But as she looked up, she unexpectedly saw a man sitting cross-legged on the couch. It was Leopoldo. Mariana, a little surprised, lowered her eyes, hurriedly collected all the emotions in them and approached Diana sitting in front of the make-up mirror, handing her the coffee and snacks she was holding. -Here are your sandwiches and coffee, I brought them for someone else. As everyone is already here, I will leave now. With that, she was about to turn and leave, but to her surprise, the next moment she was called by Diana. He had to stop in his tracks. -Mariana, have you eaten this snack? Mariana''s eyes sparkled with confusion and she turned to look at Diana, a little unsure, but she responded softly: -Yes, it is delicious. Their rtionship did not seem to be at the point where they could talk about such tidbits. She frowned as uneasiness grew in her mind. She hesitantly waved goodbye to them, but surprisingly, Diana ignored her and began to eat her sandwich. She smiled softly, with an intent in her eyes that was too quick to be understood. Then she grabbed a small spoon from beside her, slowly scooped up a spoonful of the cream and popped it into her mouth. -It melts in the mouth, the smell of milk is also very rich. Mariana, thank you. Scowling at Diana in front of her, the confusion in Mariana''s mind intensified even more. "Why thank me when it''s obvious that Xavier invites everyone over for snacks?" The next moment, however, before she could express these doubts, Diana had already knocked over the sandwich in her hand and covered her stomach tightly, moaning in pain: -My stomach hurts. The figure stood up suddenly and came quickly to the woman''s side, his eyes full of worry and eyebrows tightly furrowed. -Diana, what''s wrong? The woman who heard the words looked up. Her eyes were wet with tears, her face was pale and her hands covered her stomach as if the pain was unbearable. -Leo, my stomach hurts a lot. Leopoldo turned his head to look at the sandwich he had thrown on the floor, and suddenly his eyes fell on Mariana with an infernal coldness. Mariana rushed to wave her hands and looked at the man in front of her who had a terribly somber, bewildered expression. "Are you suspecting that I''ve done something?" Leopoldo then pulled out his phone and made a quick call to his assistant. -Drive the car to the front of the set. Then he knelt down and picked up the woman curled up in the chair, looking at her pale face with some anguish and concern. A pair of otherwise cold eyes turned soft, not as fierce as they had been a while ago. Standing frozen in ce, Mariana felt a shiver run down her spine. An uneasiness was born in her heart, so great that it seemed to engulf her. And the man who was a short distance away from her firmly carried the woman in his arms and walked away. As he passed her he did not even look at her. Mariana didn''t know what was going on, but she had a vague feeling that something was wrong and that she was caught up in it. Chapter 138: How Badly Do You Want Me To Die? Chapter 138: How Badly Do You Want Me To Die? Chapter 138: How badly do you want me to die? With panic in her heart, Mariana left Diana''s living room stiff and confused, while the outside was N?velDrama.Org content rights. already in chaos due to the heroine''s abdominal pains without anyone giving her the importance. Back in her living room, she sat dazedly on the couch with her knees between her arms, her mind in turmoil. Thoughts flocked to her mind, but they came out too fast to catch. Again she was in a helpless situation, even her frail body was trembling, looking very miserable. This was the scene that Ana saw as soon as she entered. She approached and hugged Mariana with concern, trying to stop her trembling body with her own body heat. -Mari, it''s not your fault, you didn''t buy the snacks, you just helped someone else to deliver them to her, she suffers from food poisoning because she didn''t see the food clearly herself! So it''s not your fault. Gradually clenching her hands and looking at Mariana who was still pale and silent, she was a little anxious. But such constions did not reach Mariana''s ears at all, instead, Leopoldo''s merciless eyes seemed to be back in front of her. At that moment he looked at her as if he were looking at a stranger, a stranger most abominable. Hugging Mariana tightly, Ana said over and over again: -Mari, it''s really not your fault. It''s not your fault, no... But the body in his arms remained cold and shivered uncontrobly. Dismayed, Mariana went home, changed her shoes and walked up one step at a time. Just lying on the bed, the next moment the door was kicked open from outside and a great roar sounded, which burst into Mariana''s ear. A cold breath came in with it, enveloping her so tightly that she could not escape. The arriving man walked forward and reached out to grab her neck fiercely, making more and more force. Only then did he manage to see the man in front of him, it was.... Leopoldo. Her chest was rising and falling from suffocation and Mariana was getting dizzier and dizzier. She struggled desperately, but could not free herself anyway. -Mariana, do you hate her so much that you want her to die? She shook her head weakly, tears welling up in her eyes from the pain and choking, slowly spilling out of them and sliding down her face, while her face flushed uncontrobly. He wanted to say he hadn''t, but with an effort to open his mouth, he couldn''t even utter a sound, as if the air around him had instantly thinned out. -Don''t you know that Diana is allergic to peanuts? If she eats just a little bit, she will suffer abdominal pain and even faint. But you brought her a snack containing peanuts, do you hate her that much? The force of the hand became more and more, Leopoldo''s face was expressionless, but almost peeked resentment under his eyes, all of which was reflected sadly in Mariana''s pupils. She was still the same woman, money-hungry and vicious, willing to do anything to get what she wanted. The woman''s hands struggled to remove Leopoldo''s, but all in vain. Little by little, weakness took over her body and even the strength of her hands disappeared; Mariana''s sight began to blur and her hands slipped away. His body was losing strength. "I... am going to die?" "If so, it will be good too, won''t it?" However, the next instant, arge amount of fresh air rushed into his throat in a manner unable to stop, and at the same time his thoracic cavity became moist. A sh of remorse appeared in Leopoldo''s eyes, but it was short-lived. When Mariana''s hand had moved away from his, he felt as if some part of his heart emptied. Leopold frowned, not pleased with such a state of hers. Gathering up the emotion in his eyes, he stood up and looked down at her from above. Mariana was lying on the bed, coughing loudly. Her throat burned with pain from the suffocation she had just suffered. Tears welled up again, falling silently on the soft sheets beneath her. The icy voice sounded again behind her, striking her fragile soul: -Mariana, you should be grateful that Diana is still alive. With that, he stopped looking at the woman on the bed and turned to leave. Mariana copsed on the bed, overwhelmed by the darkness that surrounded her. Silence once again reigned over her. As the moonlight outside the window continued to filter into the room, the woman on the bed suddenly curled up in a gesture of self-protection. A low voice came from the bed, like a sob or augh, sounding very deste. The next day, to hide the marks on her neck, Mariana specifically wore a turtleneck sweater. When she arrived in the dressing room, Ana looked at her, pursed her lips and changed the subject: -Mari, why are you here so early today? That''s... Diana is fine now, she just ate peanuts by mistake yesterday, it''s nothing serious. Mariana nodded and calmed down a little. Reaching out and subconsciously touching her neck, Mariana remained serene on the surface and unperturbed inside. All sensations had disappeared yesterday. Mariana thought she could face Diana calmly, but when she saw her again, she found she couldn''t; inexplicable emotions had always surrounded her and she couldn''t get rid of them. Mariana thought she could face Diana calmly, but when she saw her again, she discovered that she could not; inexplicable emotions always surrounded her and she could not get rid of them. The tall man took the woman''s shoulders and wrapped her in his arms. The look tinged with concern and tenderness was a far cry from yesterday''s cold disgust. -Leo, I''m fine. Looking up at the man with some helplessness, Diana smiled softly, appearing to be pampering. The moment Diana looked up, she saw Mariana standing frozen in front of her. She blinked smiling, her eyes shining triumphantly. She stepped forward holding Leopoldo''s arm and said softly: -Mariana, I know you didn''t mean it yesterday, I don''t me you. -I didn''t do it, it wasn''t... Before Mariana could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Leopoldo: -How dare you defend yourself, it''s clearly your fault, apologize to Diana. -How can you do this? Mariana is innocent, she only helped someone else to bring dessert to Diana, it''s not her fault at all, why should she apologize? Seeing Mariana''s slim figure, Ana immediately stepped in front of her and defended her. Seeing this, Leopoldo winked at his bodyguards, who understood, and immediately two of them stepped forward to grab Ana and pull her aside. -Aren''t you going to apologize? Leopoldo looked at Mariana whose face was pale, an annoyance crossed his heart, but he continued to stubbornly demand an apology from her, as if trying to prove something. Chapter 139: Childhood Sweethearts Chapter 139: Childhood Sweethearts Chapter 139: Childhood sweethearts Looking at the man in front of her, Mariana finally bent at the waist, raising a sneer in her mouth as she felt a pang of sadness. -I''m sorry. I hadn''t thought that someday he would have to apologize for something he hadn''t done, how ridiculous. But as she looked at Ana who was restrained by two bodyguards, she struggled to suppress the nausea that kepting. -Since Mariana has already said so, there is no need for me to think about it. Taking the man''s arm, Diana''s eyes contained a soft smile as she said: -That''s enough Leo, since she apologized, don''t get angry, okay? Let the girl go. Leopold looked coldly at the woman with a look tinged with scrutiny for a moment before turning to Diana and looking at her with a somewhat softer expression. -Let her go. Diana stepped forward to embrace him and, despite the crowd gathered around them, stood on tiptoe, dropping a soft kiss on Leopold''s left cheek. He was stunned and subconsciously looked at Mariana, and Ana, a little frightened by the suddenness of the situation, still continued shouting: -Diana, what is this? Let me go if you dare! What''s this about you asking them to take me away when I won the argument? With a somewhat worried look at Ana, who was still angry, Mariana stepped forward calmly, wrapped in an aura of coldness. -Miss Diana, what are you doing? If Anita has offended you, I apologize on her behalf. With that, he bowed slightly and apologized in a whisper: -I''m sorry. Off to the side, Anne watched her bow to Diana because of her, the rage in her heart swelling even more, but her eyes filled with tears first. -Mari... Shaking her head at Ana, she spoke again with sincerity: -Miss Diana. A smirk shone in Diana''s eyes and quickly disappeared. She looked at Mariana bowing to her and was ovee with pleasure. But, feigning embarrassment, she said: -Mariana, Leo thought that I had been wronged, that''s why he ordered it that way. Speaking, he raised his eyes to the man, with a kind expression and a melodious voice. -Leo, why don''t we leave it at that? I don''t mind, after all, I''m used to being misunderstood like this over and over again. Leopoldo looked down at the expressionless Mariana and said mercilessly: -Diana, you don''t have to be nice to everyone, some people don''t deserve to be treated that way. Diana could barely conceal the smile in her eyes, and her heart was full of satisfaction and rejoicing, but she did not show it on her face. -Miss Diana, I apologize for what I did before, I''m sorry. After a pause, Mariana felt as if something was blocking her throat, unable to go up or down, which made her more ufortable. -It was Anita who misunderstood, Miss Diana, please don''t me her, it was all my fault. With her eyes focused solely on Diana in front of her, Mariana did not look at the man who had been staring at her, as if she considered the fiery stare as nothing. The woman hadn''t looked up, as if she hadn''t noticed. A dark disappointment crept into his heart. Leopold frowned, reaching out to wipe the kissed cheek with a strange emotion in his eyes. N?velDrama.Org content rights. -Well, Leo, let''s go. The sight of the man''s actions couldn''t help but bring Diana a chagrin, but the smile on her face was softer. When the two finally left, the set, which had been silent, finally erupted in thunderous cries of surprise, followed by endless chatter: -I had no idea that Diana and Mr. Duran were so close! She kissed him in public and Mr. Duran wasn''t even angry! -Yes! They are childhood sweethearts, one went abroad to pursue his dreams and the other waited at home, unlike that ungrateful toxic woman! -I can''t believe Mariana dared to do something like that. This apology of hers shows that she knew Miss Solis was allergic to peanuts, but she still did it. What a wicked heart. All kinds of gossip abounded, with malicious spections, which reached Mariana''s ears with precision. At this point, Ana had been released by the two bodyguards and he rushed to her side, taking her arm with some concern and asking softly: -Mari, are you all right? It was obvious that it was something he had not done, but he had taken it on to save her. Mariana smiled reluctantly and looked at Ana, her eyes clear as she spoke with a smile: -I''m fine, I''m really fine with you staying in front of me all the time! What was most evident, however, was his pale face, which looked very vulnerable. -Mari, why did you do that? Only when he hugged her did Ana notice that she was trembling and felt even more distressed, she choked and said: -Mari, it''s obviously not your fault, Diana wanted to me you, she... Before he could finish his sentence, Mariana reached out and hugged him, interrupting him: -Come on, Anita, there is still some unfinished business with the wardrobe team, let''s go over there. With that, she pulled Ana forcibly to leave. Mariana, who was walking in front, had a slight smile on her face, but as the wind blew, a tear quickly slipped from her eyes, which fell to the ground and lost its track in an instant. So what? The man had already established that she had done it, hadn''t he? In the following days, Leopoldo came to the set frequently, always at Diana''s side; although he deliberately dyed the healing of his stomach pain, he gradually improved. During this time, he wondered if it was Diana''s intention to avoid Mariana, he was never alone with her again; when he saw her, she was always apanied by Leopoldo. Naturally, the crew realized how important Diana was to the boss and they all approached her trying to tter her. -Miss Solis, here is the shooting schedule for tomorrow. Tomorrow we are going to shoot indoor scenes and the light is not very good, I wonder how you want to light? How many light boards do you need? Diana, sitting at the dressing table, with smiling eyes and gentle face, looked at the obsequious man beside her and spoke in a soft voice: -Mr. Paco, don''t be ridiculous, you are better at illuminating than I am, you decide. I am sure you will make me look beautiful. -Of course. With that, Paco couldn''t help but raise his head and nce at the man sitting on the couch, not far away, flipping through a magazine, before continuing: -Since he has things to do, I''ll go first. Nodding, Diana gave Mr. Paco a slight smile. Chapter 140: Very Fragile Chapter 140: Very Fragile Chapter 140: Very Fragile It was only when the figure of the man disappeared that Diana withdrew her gaze, a tinge of contempt crossing her eyes, then turned her head and looked at Leopold, bing demure and virtuous. -Leo, where are we going for dinner after the shoot today? My agent recently rmended a good western restaurant, or shall we go there? However, when Diana finished speaking, the other party did not respond. The man sitting on the couch remained silent there, his lowered eyes hiding the emotions in them and making it impossible for people to guess what he was thinking. Rising, Diana approached him and gently nudged him. -Leo? Leopold raised his head and his gaze fell on her, putting aside the magazine in his hand that he had not read. -What''s wrong? Diana frowned with hatred as she looked at Leopold in front of her, a little displeased at heart, but as gentle and affectionate as ever on the surface. -Why are you so distracted? I asked you if you wanted to go to that restaurant my agent rmended tonight. The hand hanging at his side clenched involuntarily, the pain of the sharp nails sinking into his palm allowing him to barely contain the anger and fear rising in his mind. Leopold had been acting like this for a long time; in the few days he stayed with her, he had always been in a trance from time to time, very distracted. The man narrowed his eyes in order to hide the emotions that were short-lived, giving the impression of being unpredictable. -There''s too much work piling up at thepany these days, as you''re feeling better now, I''d better get back. After saying this, he stood up and straightened the wrinkles in his suit jacket, with a very leisurely and natural attitude. At this, Diana became slightly nervous and could barely keep her smile on her face. Looking at Leopoldo, she stepped forward and took him by the arm, whispering: -Okay, take care of yourself on the road and call me when you get to thepany. However, there was an obvious look of loss on his face. Leopoldo frowned, spoke of nothing, nodded and left. Diana clenched her fists and gritted her teeth in resentment as she watched the departing figure without looking back. In the office of the president of Grupo Dur¨¢n. Standing in front of the window, Leopold gazed at the night scene outside, and the darkness in his eyes seemed to be dispelled a little by the reflections in his pupils from the bright neon light. The assistant stepped forward and looked at his boss''s back, feeling a little strange. Leopold at this moment seemed to have a different emotion than his usual seriousness and indifference, but he remained imprable. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, I have investigated the matter of Miss Diana''s food poisoning at your request. The woman who had given the sandwiches and coffee to thedy to ask her to send them resigned and left for no apparent reason, now her whereabouts are unknown. There was a pause and the assistant raised his eyebrows. -Continued. Leopoldo indicated calmly. -Yes, other than that, there is nothing unusual. But from the evidence gathered so far, it really doesn''t look like Madam was deliberately trying to harm Miss Diana, not many people know about her peanut allergy. After all, in a chaotic ce like show business, if anyone found out about her fatal weakness, they could plunder Diana''s resources with a little trickery. The man always standing in front of the window did not move, but his aura became more and more icy, with a deep majesty that made the air in the office freeze a little. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, you don''t think the Se?ora would do something like that either, do you? That''s why you asked me to look into it, so if so, why have you ignored her all this time and stayed with Miss Diana at all times? Finally, the assistant asked the question that had been on his mind. Leopold stretched out his broad palm and ced it on the clean, transparent ss in front of him. His gaze was, as always, unfeeling and deep. Why? In fact, he was not sure that Mariana would do such a thing, so he had asked his assistant to look into it. But it was actually Diana who had been injured. In his mind there was a slight suspicion that the incident might have something to do with her. Staying by his side at all times could take care of his injuries and also prevent him from doing anything else. But when the results of this ambiguous research were presented to him, he had no desire to continue. -I know, go away. Speaking casually, the man remained standing in front of the window. The assistant looked at his boss and could not help but make a long face. Naturally, he, as an This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. assistant, could not intervene in these matters. He had no choice but to turn around and leave the office. The office became quiet again. Leopold fixed his gaze outside the window, deep in concentration, but suddenly the woman''s pale face came to his mind: her ck hair was scattered down her back, some of whichy in disarray beside her cheeks, looking very fragile. A spasm went through the heart in his chest. On this day, the crew changed the day off and it was Mariana''s turn to rest, and she woke up in the morning with nothing to do at home. The director had criticized her because of her initiative in admitting that she had caused Diana''s food poisoning, but, for some reason, there was no further punishment after the criticism and he allowed her to return. This apparently biased move infuriated the casting staff, but they dared not contradict the director, so he began to iste her in private. As a result, Mariana had not been very happy on the set during this time. Now she finally had a day off and could rx. However, the joy did notst long. There was a knock at the door, followed by the nanny''s voice: -Madam, there is ady to see you. Confused, Mariana went to the door, opened it, looked at the nanny still standing outside, and asked frowningly and perplexedly: -Miss? Is it Anita? -No, she is a young woman I have not seen before. The nanny shook her head and quickly responded. He had no choice but to follow the nanny downstairs, but was surprised to see an unexpected guest in the living room, none other than Andrea, whom he had not seen for some time! Several thoughts went through her mind as Mariana went to sit on the couch across from her and frowned, not knowing what was going on. -It seems we don''t have a friendly rtionship, I wonder why you came for me. At this point, the nanny brought two sses of water and ced them in front of them. Andrea withdrew her gaze that had been observing the surroundings, before looking at Mariana in front of her and speaking in a low voice: -I didn''t expect Miss Ortiz''s house to be such a luxury, what a surprise. Indeed, a building with such a decoration in such an area could not be achieved with a little money. Andrea lowered her eyes, hiding the excitement in them. She lifted the ss in front of her and held it in her hands, taking a small sip. -But you don''t even have tea in the water, Miss Ortiz, you''re too stingy. Mariana narrowed her eyes slightly and moved back to lean against the soft sofa, realizing that Andrea hade to find trouble for her. Chapter 141: Mistress Or Mistress Chapter 141: Mistress Or Mistress Chapter 141: Mistress or mistress -If Miss Solis has nothing else, then I am sorry I cannot apany you. Mariana stood up and made a "please" gesture, however, Andrea did not move at all. -Why are you in such a hurry? I''m here to help you today, I know everything that has happened to you during this period of time, so," Andrea looked directly at Mariana, "you should also know my cousin''s ce in Leo''s heart. Mariana sat stunned, with a bit of bitterness in her heart. -What do you mean by that? Looking coldly at Andrea in front of her, Mariana didn''t want to beat around the bush. cing the ss on the table, Andrea''s eyes filled with intense hatred. -Mariana, do you think you can get Leo away from me? No way! Leo''s heart is only for my cousin! And you are nothing in his heart! Mariana furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Andrea. -I know what you''re saying, there is no need to.... Before Mariana could finish her sentence, the words were interrupted once again: -What do you know? You don''t know anything! You don''t even know what happened between my cousin and Leo! Rather, you shamelessly seduced him, and in the end, what do you get? You still have to quit! Now you can just watch my cousin and Leo get together, can''t you? Rising abruptly, Andrea approached Mariana step by step, with a strong sense of authority and resentment. -How do you feel now? After a pause, as if she had thought of something, Andrea suddenlyughed mockingly, bent down. She approached Mariana''s ear and spoke to her in a low voice. -Even a strategy as vile as food poisoning, Leo still couldn''t make it out and chose to trust Diana, right? The breath blew in Mariana''s ear, leaving a slight tingling sensation. This sensation seeped through his skin and into his heart, making him a little hard to bear. Mariana felt a little nauseous. He violently pushed Andrea, who looked grim, away and picked up the ss of water from the table and drank it in one big gulp. Seeing Mariana''s appearance, Andrea felt very happy in her heart. She had lost the role in Holy Empress and had made Leopoldo hate her for it, all because of Mariana! So when he heard about Diana''s food poisoning incident, he asked someone from the set crew for Mariana''s home address and went over. Andrea reached out and gripped Mariana''s shoulder tightly, forcing her to look down at herself. Her smile intensified, but her eyes were terrible. -Mariana, do you think that if your present appearance was seen by Leopoldo, he would hate you as much as he hates me? Since Diana came back and made you like this! The force she exerted on her shoulder was too strong and so a burst of pain erupted from her, Mariana struggled, but could not push Andrea away. The depression of this period had caused her to lose weight very quickly, and her mood was not very good either. After being shaken by Andrea, she felt very dizzy. As the two pushed each other, Andrea lowered her eyes and saw the pinch marks on Mariana''s neck, which had obviously subsided somewhat. -Is this pinch mark made by Leo? Is it because of Diana''s food poisoning? O... However, the woman below her had already closed her eyes and fainted, dipping her head to the side and dropping it. Andrea was stunned. At that moment, the nanny who had been preparing fruit in the kitchen came out with a te of fruit and saw the scene before her eyes. The slipped out of his hands and fell to the ground. -Madam! -Not caring about the mess on the floor, the nanny quickly stepped forward and grabbed Mariana, looking angrily at Andrea, "What have you done to thedy? Why has she fainted? -Isn''t she just Leo''s mistress? Why do you call her mistress? -Andrea had a suspicion in her heart, but refused to admit it. The nanny responded to Andrea only after she made the emergency call: -Mistress? Thedy has been married to Mr. Dur¨¢n for a long time.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 142: Sarcasm Chapter 142: Sarcasm Chapter 142: Sarcasm Andrea looked incredibly at the nanny and unconsciously took two steps back, but her heart was in shock. How is this possible? How could Leopoldo be Mariana''s husband? When did they get married? Why didn''t anyone know? So, what is she? What was the current Diana? He felt it hit him hard, he could barely breathe. In an instant, a feeling of despair and frustration arose, mixed with some sarcasm. In the end, he didn''t make it, and neither did Diana. The ambnce arrived and, naturally, the nanny no longer had any energy for Andrea. She opened the door and let the doctors and nurses in to take Mariana to the ambnce. Only the surprised Andrea stayed in ce. They arrived at the hospital, ran tests and diagnosed Andrea with moderate depression. However, what surprised the nanny was that thedy was actually more than three months pregnant. Soon after, Mariana woke up, but only saw a white color in front of her eyes, which only made her feel depressed. He reached up to rub his forehead, but just as he lifted it, he felt only resistance. And as he lowered his head, he saw the needle on the back of his hand. This was the hospital. This noise woke the nanny next to her. She hurried to Mariana, frowning with concern and asking: -Ma''am, are you all right? Gently shaking her head, Mariana tried to smile reluctantly, but only felt weak. The nanny looked at her pale face and tears in her eyes. -There is nothing wrong with me. Mariana said and wanted to sit down, but was stopped again by the nanny. The nanny seemed a bit anxious and spoke with concern: -Madam, you are pregnant now, you should go to bed first. Mariana was stunned, looked at her t belly, then looked at the nanny and spoke softly: -Is it true what you said? Am I going to have a baby? His voice was trembling. Mariana raised her other hand, ced it gently on her belly and her heart was mixed with various feelings. Was she going to have a baby? Mariana''s eyes sparkled with surprise and the joy of soon bing a mother, Mariana could barely calm down. However, in the next second, a slightlyplicated feeling appeared in his eyes. She and Leopoldo only had a marital agreement rather than an effective partnership, so would he be willing to take this child? The surprise disappeared instantly and Mariana fell into a huge panic, she didn''t know what she should do. However, the child was innocent after all, wasn''t he? From the moment it arrived in her womb, she wanted toe into this world to take a look around. Seeing Mariana''s dark face, the nanny felt puzzled and confused, so she couldn''t help but ask: -Ma''am, why do you look so unhappy? Could it be that you don''t love this child? Mariana was in a very turbulent mood and did not respond to the nanny at first. The nanny sighed and sat in the chair next to her, looking at Mariana withpassion. -I have been serving you and Mr. Dur¨¢n for so long that I know your personality, so I would like to say one more thing. Although Mr. Dur¨¢n seems indifferent, but he is a good person, and treats you well. The nanny paused and spoke again: -Several times I have seen Mr. Dur¨¢n taking you back. Also in the beginning, he looked for books and materials for you, so you can see that he still has you in his heart. Mariana''s mood became more uneasy at the nanny''s words. -Since you are pregnant, it is naturally a good thing. And whatever happens, the child is innocent, isn''t it? The nanny sighed and looked at Mariana, after a pause, she said softly: -You''ve been awake for so long, you must be hungry, I''ll go get you some food. She had just headed for the door, faint words sounded behind her, her tone unusually firm, even a little cold and hard: -Don''t tell him about this matter of my pregnancy.... The nanny nodded and went out. Some things, naturally, had to be discussed between them as a couple. Mariana''s gaze rested on her belly, she sighed softly and muttered under her breath: This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. -Mommy likes you very much too, my baby. After staying in the hospital for a few more days, Mariana''s condition was better, as she could no longer take medication due to her pregnancy. What she did not expect, however, was that the depression she had suffered during that period would gradually improve thanks to the baby she was expecting. But she was still not very stable, so she had to protect the baby well, so Mariana took some baby pills. When her sick leave was over, Mariana returned to the set. Although she did not look well, there was nothing unusual about her face, and the punctures in her neck had disappeared. However, as soon as Mariana returned to the set, she immediately encountered Diana, tried to avoid her, but was blocked. Thinking about what happenedst time, Mariana rubbed her belly with worry, her heart trembling. -Miss Solis, I still have some things to do in the locker room equipment, so please give way. Mariana spoke in a low voice, trying to appear humble, but her cold face seemed to have another meaning. Diana had some cruelty in her eyes as she looked at the woman in front of her. -Wow! It''s the great designer Ortiz. In fact, she can ask for permission at will and the director doesn''t dare to check on her, even if she hasn''t been here for a few days. The assistant behind Diana saw that Diana did not flinch at saying these words, so she stepped forward and taunted Mariana. A trace of coldness shone in Mariana''s eyes and her heart trembled a little. -Please yield the right of way. Mariana spoke indifferently, not paying attention to the assistant''s words. Diana smiled, but did not really feel joyful. She looked at Mariana and said softly: -Last time it was Leopoldo who took it too seriously, I''ve been waiting for an opportunity to make it up to you, I''m sorry. Although he said it, there was neither a half-hearted apology on his face, but a hint of sarcasm. Chapter 143: Fighting Chapter 143: Fighting Chapter 143: Fighting Mariana sighed in her heart and just felt helpless, Diana still refused to let her go so easily. -Miss Solis, it is better not to talk about the previous issues, I ... Before Mariana finished, Diana had already stepped forward and stood in front of her, reaching out to hook Mariana''s jaw and speaking with some pain. -I heard you were hospitalized some time ago? It''s heartbreaking to see you so thin. If another man saw you, he''d be heartbroken. Her words were full of deep meaning, which meant that Mariana had seduced men and was shameless. Mariana took a step back and looked at Diana, with a slightly cold but not obvious look. -Please also ask Miss Solis to respect herself, if she has nothing else I will leave first. Mariana said, wanting to turn around and go out the back. -Wait, don''t go so fast, I still have a few words to finish. Mariana just had to stop, she turned around with an extremely impatient expression, she really couldn''t stand these words from Diana. -What is it? -I just want to remind you not to touch men you shouldn''t touch, what is not yours will never be yours, or else, in the end, they will just be called shameless! These words were so harsh that Mariana furrowed both eyebrows and clenched her hands into fists. Before she could say anything, however, an angry roar came from behind her: -What did you say! Mariana turned in confusion and saw a group of people from the wardrobe group, who had probably heard what Diana had just said and were very angry. Ana quickly stepped forward and arrived at Mariana''s side, looking at Diana angrily. Mariana felt a surge of warmth and her eyes moistened a little. There was always someone willing to help her. -Didn''t you hear what we said? Did we say the wrong thing? Diana''s assistant approached at that moment and spoke contemptuously to Ana and the wardrobe team. -What do you mean? The person from the wardrobe group looked at Diana''s assistant and was very angry to hear what she had said, pointing her finger at her, but with a different meaning and scolding: -Who do you think you are to dare to talk like that? What ack of shame! All these words refer to you, don''t they? -Are you in a position to say any evil to Miss Mariana? Don''t even look at yourself! A single assistant of a disorderly person, do you still think you are the daughter of a famous family? -Mariana is an upright person and has done nothing shameful, why should she be spoken to like that by you? The scene fell into chaos. In a moment, the wardrobe group behind her stepped forward one by one, protecting Mariana, pointing at Diana and her assistant, opening their mouths to angrily scold them. Everyone was very agitated. Seeing this, Mariana got a little worried and wanted to stop these people and tell them to stop talking. But she was stopped by Ana. -Mari, these two said that about you, and you keep helping them! -Are they more of a person? Now let them see who has more people around them. Diana looked at those foul-mouthed people, she felt indignation in her heart, but with just the two of them, she looked vulnerable. At that moment, Diana looked behind Mariana, her expression changed. In an instant, her indignant and angry face disappeared, her eyes contained tears, and with a bit of fear and panic, she took two steps back in quick session. When the wardrobe crew saw Diana like this, they felt even more furious and pushed the assistant in front of her, vowing to give Mariana an exnation. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Suddenly, Diana crashed into the fence and fell to the ground. -Enough! As the cold words fell, Mariana turned around and looked at a very familiar figure. It was Leopoldo. Then, bodyguards stepped forward and pushed people out of the way, clearing a path from the center. Due to the brutal action of those people, Mariana was also involved, she was pushed and staggered a little, before being able to stand still with difficulty. She held her hand to protect her belly in some panic, her eyes also filled with worry. The indifferent man didn''t even look at her, he stepped forward and reached Diana''s side, gently helping her up. -Diana, how are you? The tone of his voice was still icy, but it softened slightly. Mariana''s gaze pierced through the crowd and stared straight ahead. Leopoldo tenderly wrapped Diana in his arms and gently examined her hands. The palms, originally white and tender, looked grave as they were stained with hints of red blood, mixed with gray and yellow mud. -I''m fine, leo, it doesn''t matter. Diana''s eyes were tear-stained, looking pitiful. She tried to withdraw her hand, but Leopoldo again held it tightly, making it impossible for her to continue withdrawing her hand. -Doesn''t matter? -You''re hurt! Leopoldo raised his head and looked at the wardrobe crew. His cold gaze lingered on Mariana''s body for a while and then turned away. His smile was mocking, and his gaze, ck as the dark night. -I didn''t know that the usual leisure of the set was for fighting. The cold words fell, hitting the ears of the crowd. The people in the locker room team ducked their heads, with not-so-good faces. However, Ana''s face remained indignant. She was about to step forward to say something, but Mariana stopped her and gently shook her head. The past things were still on her mind, if she let Ana get close to her again this time and got caught again, then she wouldn''t know what she should do. Mariana nced at Diana, who was in Leopoldo''s arms, in whose eyes there were no longer tears, but she was smiling with satisfied disdain. The four eyes met in the air, and then he walked away. The wardrobe crew had not touched Diana. As angry as they were, they wouldn''t do anything to hurt anyone, especially when that person was the lead in Empress Santa! However, Diana continued to fall to the ground. Therefore, it was obvious that she had done it on purpose. Chapter 144: That Morning Chapter 144: That Morning Chapter 144: That Morning Leopoldo walked through the crowd of people with bowed heads, turned around, looked at the staff behind him and spoke in a cold voice: -Fire all these people! A single word had already condemned them. A slight smile appeared on Diana''s mouth, revealing a smug look. Hearing this, Mariana only felt a tremor in her heart and a dizziness, her eyes became blurry. This was a big blow. When the locker room team heard this, they looked at each other, but no one dared to say anything. Now they were members of the set, which was invested by Leopoldo. Now they had messed with Leopoldo''s people. The wardrobe crew personnel shook their heads in amazement and fear. Mariana saw the expression of the people around her. Her face was sullen and cold, but her heart was deste. She pushed the crowd aside and approached Leopoldo step by step. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, this whole affair is my fault, so I will resign, there is nothing to do with them. Leopold''s cold gaze fell on the woman in front of him, whose face was pale, even her body had be very thin. This made the deep color in Leopold''s eyes darken even more and his heart shuddered. At that moment, Diana''s assistant stepped forward again, looked at Mariana and spoke in a cold voice: -Miss Ortiz, I''m afraid you''ve got something wrong. It wasn''t you who pushed Miss Solis, it was them. People should be punished for what they did wrong, shouldn''t they? The assistant''s words were full of mockery, and Mariana closed her mouth. The scene fell into an indescribable silence. Mariana felt a little difort in her throat, there were some words in her mind that she could not say, however, she could not not say them. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, this matter is really my fault, I am going to resign alone. Diana''s assistant, who had been instructed by Diana, stepped forward and pushed Mariana, -Ms. Ortiz, it is not toote to discuss your resignation when this matter is resolved. Mariana was pushed backwards, feeling even more dizzy, her legs trembling. Finally, she could no longer hold on and fell to the side. N?velDrama.Org content rights. At that moment, Diana''s assistant felt that she had been pushed hard and crashed against the fence. She was about to curse, but when she saw that the person pushing her was Leopoldo, she immediately sat down on her knees in fear. Leopoldo embraced Mariana in his arms, feeling that she was so thin that she was nothing more than a skeleton, and his heart trembled a little. -What''s the matter, Mariana? The voice was still icy, but with a certain tension. Mariana raised her hand helplessly and grabbed Leopoldo''s palm, speaking softly: -I''m just a little dizzy, Mr. Dur¨¢n, let them go, they did it for me too. Although she was still dizzy, Mariana did not dare to faint, fearing that the baby in her belly would be discovered by him. The scene that morning when Leopoldo told her to take the birth control pill was still vivid in her mind. Looking at Mariana in this state, Leopoldo agreed, -All right, no one will leave. -Thank you, Mr. Dur¨¢n, I will resign from the director," said Mariana as she let go of his hand. -You don''t have to quit, I''ll send you to the hospital.... Leopoldo could not help but worry. But the words were interrupted before he had finished them. -No, I''m fine, I''m going to look for the director," before Leopoldo could answer, Mariana got up and left. Chapter 145: Innocence Chapter 145: Innocence Chapter 145: Innocence Leopold stood in ce, looking at the slender back of the woman who was leaving quickly, some strange thoughts secretly arose in his mind, but then quickly disappeared. In the director''s room. Mariana sat a little restrained in front of the director, hot tea in hand. She hesitated for a long time before speaking quietly: -Director, thank you for taking care of me on set during this time, but I''m afraid I can no longer fill the position of wardrobe crew chief due to health reasons, so I''m going to ... resign. Paul was astonished and looked at the woman who was smiling calmly in front of him, talking in confusion: -What''s going on? Why do you suddenly have to quit? Mariana repressed the various emotions in her heart: -I have already told Mr. Dur¨¢n, and he has agreed, so I hope you will allow it. Hearing these words, Paul was even more surprised and frowned in thought for a long time. Seeing the director''s appearance, Mariana became a little uneasy and, after a pause, she spoke again. -Do you have anything inconvenient to say, or is there a wardrobe problem that hasn''t been resolved? If so, I can finish it first. After all, the sudden resignation alsocked consideration. This was already the safest way I could conceive of. The director remained silent for a long time before looking at Mariana and asking in a soft voice: -Has it already been approved by Mr. Dur¨¢n? -Yes. Mariana nodded, sadness in her eyes. However, the director''s next soft murmur suddenly took her by surprise, N?velDrama.Org content rights. -All the things you had provoked before on the set could have made me fire you many times. But each time, it was Se?or Dur¨¢n who kept you. However, I did not expect him to be the one to let you go now as well.... The director kept asking questions, but Mariana was already lost in thought. The ss in his hand suddenly fell and shattered all over the floor. For a moment the room was in chaos, like Mariana''s heart at this moment. It turned out that she had not gotten away with things, but that it was Leopoldo who had been protecting her. But why? The sound of shattering ss interrupted the director''s contemtion, and he spoke helplessly: -Mariana, what are you doing? -I''m sorry, I''m going to clean it up. Saying this, he was about to get up, but was stopped by Paul. He waved his hand and spoke with some impatience: -Forget it, I''ll find someone else to clean it. Then, he said. -Since Mr. Dur¨¢n has already epted your resignation, I won''t keep you any longer. There is also no more work after the wardrobe team, and I think Ana will be able to handle it. Mariana was still in shock and didn''t listen to his words, she just nodded her head: -Thank you very much. As she opened the door and stepped outside, the cold wind blew into Mariana''s face, and she couldn''t help but shiver slightly, her heart also fluttering wildly. It turned out that it was Leopoldo who had helped her from the beginning. This news made Mariana feel vertigo, she could no longer know if this was reality or a dream... How could Leopoldo help her? Suddenly, Mariana stopped, took out her cell phone and, after a long hesitation, dialed. However, no one answered her. Her hands were shaking uncontrobly, but still she did not give up and dialed again, but this time they caught it quickly. -Leopoldo? Mariana''s voice was a bit unsettling and cautious, and, moreover, a bit astringent. -Madam, it''s Lionel, sir... you are with Miss Solis at the moment, I''m afraid you don''t have much time to pick up your call. These words made Mariana wake up instantly. The unsettling feeling in her feet disappeared and Mariana took two unconscious steps. The feeling of having my feet on the ground was so real that I wanted to shed tears. Even if she had helped him before, so what? Now the woman he loved was back and by his side again, while she, Mariana, was nothing more than an unpleasant person bound to him by a marriage contract. If she were in your shoes, she would know how to make the right decision. Mariana opened her mouth, but could not say anything. -Ma''am? The slightly puzzled voice of the assistant suddenly sounded on the other end of the cell phone. Mariana came to her senses, repressing the emotions in her heart and feigning indifference as she spoke: -It''s nothing... I just want to thank Mr. Dur¨¢n for taking care of me before. The words became more and more fluent at the end. The assistant was even more puzzled, but before she could ask again, Mariana had already hung up. With doubts in her heart, the assistant held the phone and returned to the room. At that moment, the doctor was standing by the hospital bed, looking at the examination report in his hand and said. -Miss Solis'' waist has no injury, the excruciating pain is probably because... it was identally twisted, now it haspletely healed, and there is no need for hospitalization. At these words, Lionel looked up with apparent awareness. It was seen that there were tears from the woman on the bed, whose face was pale. She was lying softly and weakly, with a look full of innocence. He was so different from his wife, who was stubborn even when her face was pale. With a jolt in his heart, Lionel ducked his head, sighed in his heart and spoke softly: -Mr. Dur¨¢n, your cell phone just received a call, it''s... Before the assistant could finish her sentence, the words were interrupted. -Okay, there''s nothing else to do here, you can go back first. With a cold tone, Leopoldo had already picked up the phone. Lionel opened his mouth, but had to keep silent again, hesitating, with some reluctance. However, her boss already started whispering tofort Diana. Once again he sighed helplessly and had to withdraw. Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Chapter 146: Reminiscences -I''m fine, Leo, you don''t need to treat the people from the wardrobe team like that, they are only fighting for Mariana. The words had deep meaning. Diana smiled, showing some reminiscence in her eyes as she looked at her now bandaged hand: -Do you still remember the past days? At that time, I''ll just scrape my palm and you nervously approached. Hearing these words, Leopold also felt a sense of reminiscence, the coldness instantly turning to tenderness as he looked at Diana and nodded his head. -If only we could go back to the old days. Diana looked at Leopoldo, his words full of deep meaning. She smiled, but not really felt joy. Just now, after Mariana was injured, the scene in which Leopoldo immediately left her and ran to her side wounded her deeply and made her hold a grudge. These feelings of resentment and violence almost choked her. I would not allow Leopoldo to belong to anyone else. Lately, however, he felt increasingly helpless. He always had the feeling that she was using the past to tie him down, to keep him from leaving her. Leopoldo''s absent-mindedness would almost overwhelm her, even drive her crazy! *** After resigning, Mariana returned to the locker room, greeted the wardrobe team and consoled Ana, who was crying a lot. Ana cried and said she wanted to say goodbye for her, but he refused. She had only one thing on her mind now, and that was to protect the baby she was carrying in her womb. When she returned home, Mariana put away the work material she had brought with her in her small study and called her nanny in a good mood, ready to go food shopping together. Now that she was pregnant, she had to be strict with her diet and nutrition. She could do whatever she wanted, but not the baby in her belly. The nanny naturally understood the feelings of a mother and so was very attentive, buying many herbs to protect her baby ording to her experience and preparing them in soup for Mariana to take together. In the evening, Leopoldo returned. Arriving in the living room, he smelled a strong odor of herbs, bitter and pungent. When Leopoldo entered, he saw Mariana, who was sitting quietly at the living room table, taking small sips of her soup. The warm light above her gave her a soft glow and revealed a peaceful expression, somewhat different from her usual coldness. Leopoldo approached her warily. Icy words rang over Mariana''s head, which under the warm light, however, as if it became soft. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. -What are you eating? Mariana was surprised, her hands felt weak, the spoon collided with the bowl. Mariana looked up and saw the man''s deep-set eyes, as well as his tightly furrowed eyebrows, -It is only a tonic soup to strengthen the body, it is nothing. Mariana was a bit nervous, so her words seemed a bit forced, and Leopoldo''s face instantly darkened. The next moment, Mariana only felt a tall shadow surrounding her, and she was enveloped in an embrace that smelled faintly of tobo. Leopoldo picked up the spoon, spooned a spoonful into the bowl and lifted it to his mouth, but he didn''t notice any difference, nor did he feel the hint of bitterness in the air. When the nanny heard the noise, she rushed out of the kitchen and was surprised to see what Leopoldo had done. By this time, however, the man had already stood up, and the faint smell of tobo was gradually covered by the bitterness of herbs, and then it all disappeared. Mariana was a little dazed, she just felt her heart beating violently at that moment, unable to calm down for a long time. -Since it is a tonic soup to strengthen the body, give me a bowl as well. Leopoldo turned around and looked at the nanny. After finishing coolly, he sat down across from Mariana. The fluctuation in Mariana''s heart had not yet ceased and she clutched the soup spoon in her hand with something unbearable. What he was drinking was a soup made by adding herbs that were good for the baby, not the strengthening soup he had just said. Hearing this, the nanny hesitated a bit and looked with some trepidation at Leopoldo before looking at Mariana. Naturally, she did not want Leopoldo to find out she was pregnant. Mariana unconsciously pressed her hand on her belly and nodded to the nanny. Nothing more was said between the two, which made for a silence and peace that had long been missing in the room. The nanny ced the bowl of soup in front of Leopold and paused for a moment, looking at the two who were unusually quiet today, a slight smile appeared on her face and she nodded secretly. Silence stretched between the two of them, Mariana looked at Leopoldo, then lowered her head and continued drinking the soup. The heart that had just been beating violently had regained calm. However, the corner of his mouth turned with a slight bitter meaning. -Why aren''t you at the hospital with Miss Solis? As Mariana said these words, she felt a bit of regret. The tone of the words was a bit jealous, but what was her identity now? -I just... -It''s all right, she''s back. The cold, hard words fell hard on Mariana''s ears, making her heart shudder. Mariana looked at Leopoldo in a daze, with a sense that something was quietly and slowly changing. Mariana shook her head, the events on the day''s set were still on her mind. Unless she wasn''t feeling tough enough to have so many delusions of grandeur. Thinking about this, Mariana quickly finished her soup, stood up and spoke indifferently: -I''m done, I''ll go up first. Then, without mercy, he turned and left with quick steps. The man looked at Mariana''s slender figure slowly walking up the stairs. Leopoldo felt a tremor in his heart. In the following days, Mariana stayed in the vi, without going anywhere or doing anything. Xavier had called once, but Mariana did not answer. That day, Mariana felt that the weather was nice, so she sat in the garden in the sun, with the parenting books she had asked the nanny to buy a few days ago. In fact, he did not have a very good childhood, the past with his parents was not good, so he did not want his son to be like that in the future. He was reading intently when a sudden noise was heard outside, he looked up and saw a yellow Ferrari parked in front of the door. A woman stepped out of the car, who wore ck-rimmed sunsses that covered most of her face, revealing only a small, delicate chin, radiant, but with a touch of pomp and circumstance. Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Chapter 147: Miss Ortiz or Mrs. Dur¨¢n This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. The woman nced around the vi, approached slowly and went straight into the house. After a few steps, she looked at Mariana, who was sitting in front of her. The woman took off her sses, it was Diana. At that moment, the nanny inside also heard themotion and came out. Looking at Diana, she hastened to step forward to stop her and spoke in a somewhat puzzled manner: -May I ask who you are, miss? Who are you looking for? When she was suddenly stopped, Diana''s heart shed with some anger and the smile on her face disappeared. She looked at the nanny and sneered and sneered: -Who are you to dare to stop me? I am looking for her. He said, pointing to Mariana. The nanny''s eyes were full of concern, thinking naturally of Andrea, who had caused Mariana to go to the hospital. If Mariana had not been kind and had not told Leopoldo about the incident, she might even have been fired and gone home. The nanny hesitated for a moment, but did not turn away, turning her head to look at Mariana, waiting for her instructions. Mariana stood up, put the book down carefully and looked at Diana, puzzled and confused: -What do you want from me? Besides, how do you know I live here? Hearing this, Diana shed a fierce look, which caused the nanny toe over again and stand next to Mariana. -Should I call you Miss Ortiz? Or Mrs. Dur¨¢n? There was no doubt in the words, they were all sarcasm, as well as deep resentment. Mariana''s face froze a little, remembering Andrea who came herest time, she should be the one to tell Diana. But in what condition to stand in front of it and act as if it were a crusade? -If Ms. Solis came here for this matter, it really shouldn''t be like this. You should ask Mr. Dur¨¢n about these, shouldn''t you? Mariana looked directly at Diana and answered with a cold look. -You''re pretending well! You married Leopoldo a long time ago, and you''re still pretending you''re strangers! You really have bad intentions. Diana paused, remembering something, whose mouth filled with an unpleasant smile, -Or did you use some despicable means to be Leopoldo''s wife? Mariana repressed the anger in her heart and spoke softly: -If Miss Solis hase to say these words, I am sorry I cannot apany her! -I''m afraid you used such despicable means as pregnancy to be Mrs. Duran, didn''t you? -Diana''s face darkened as she voiced this suspicion. -What are you babbling about? -Mariana became a little agitated and replied loudly, while her hand involuntarily caressed her belly. Seeing Mariana like this, Diana understood everything, she was really pregnant. Diana''s face was somber, she could not directly remove the child in Mariana''s womb, but she could secretly remove it. After all, an unformed baby was very fragile and there were numerous ways to make it leave this world quietly. Diana looked at Mariana''s belly with a slight smile, but with full malice. By this time, Mariana had calmed down. She winked softly at the nanny. The nanny immediately stepped forward and returned to shield Mariana behind her as Diana hesitated. Mariana''s eyes were cold as she looked at Diana, -Miss Solis, since you two love each other, naturally I sincerely hope that you and Mr. Duran can have a happy life. It was as if a knife had been plunged into Diana''s heart. However, Mariana was smiling slightly. Diana looked at her. Their gazes met in the air, one with a slight smile and the other with a cold face. In the end, Diana said nothing and turned to leave. The car whistles away. Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Chapter 148: Guilt The nanny turned her head to look at Mariana and spoke with concern: -Ma''am, are you all right? After what had just happened, she naturally wasn''t going to dwell on such gossip. After all, such things were not something she should be asking about as a maid. Mariana gently shook her head and said: -I''m fine. It was just the way Diana looked like that that made her really think she would do something to the child in her womb. After all, any woman would go crazy to hear something like the man she loved so much was letting another woman carry his child. It was probably after learning this that Diana came to the vi in anger. If she were still alone now, I wouldn''t be afraid of her, but ... Mariana covered her belly with her hand, her heart trembling, she still had to protect someone, her son. -Don''t tell Mr. Dur¨¢n about this matter. The nanny was quick to nod, but her heart was still a little restless. I had not expected so much to happen. However, within a day, this matter was brought to her grandmother''s attention. Mariana was still very confused when she received the call from her grandmother, and only after looking at the nanny who was standing to the side and nervous, did she understand what had happened. She felt a little amused and, after steadying her emotions, she promised: -I know, Grandma, I''ll be back. Only when Mariana hung up the phone did the nanny shiver and approach. She was not supposed to intervene in these matters, but she did not want Mariana and the baby in her womb to be in danger, so she took it upon herself to tell the grandmother. Mariana sighed, knowing that the nanny was doing it for her, and at the risk of being dismissed by Leopoldo, she felt a surge of warmth. So he just looked at her and spoke quietly: -You haven''t told Grandma about my pregnancy, have you? The nanny shook her head and said repeatedly: -No, no. After observing her during this period of time, the nanny understood that Mariana did not seem to want people to know she was pregnant, so she did nothing else. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. -Good. Mariana exhaled sharply and lowered her heart. She wasn''t ready to tell Grandma yet, so it was best to keep it from her first. Mariana hid the guilt on her face and spoke lightly: -In that case, I''ll go to Grandma''s house. When he arrived, he saw Leopoldo in the living room, whom he had not seen for a long time. Mariana suddenly remembered the day Diana came to her, and a bitter feeling came over her heart. Next to Leopoldo sat the old woman with a somber face, with a slight anger that made people''s hearts tremble. Mariana sat down next to the grandmother and spoke in a low voice: -Grandma, did you cook something delicious for me today? Saying this, Mariana also tugged fervently on her grandmother''s arm, her movements were gentle, with a slight touch of pampering on her face, very different from her usual coldness. When Leopold heard these words, he looked at the woman, his eyes shining with a touch of deep meaning. Did this happen to be the way she and her grandmother got along regrly? It seemed that all the elders loved her, whether it was Grandma, Grandma Zoraida or anyone else in the Dur¨¢n family home, without exception. At the sound of her soft voice, Grandma looked slightly at Mariana, her face unchanged as she reached out and patted Mariana''s arm. -Girl, what are you doing! The words still carried anger in them, but after they were spoken, the expression was much lighter. When Leopoldo saw this, a difference shone in his eyes, which quickly disappeared. He lifted the ss and took two sips, without saying anything. Grandma hummed, naturally still in anger, but she couldn''t bear to treat Mariana coldly either. In the end, she still held Mariana''s hand, put it between her hands and caressed it gently. -Mari, it''s really hard for you. Grandma''s face was full of pain. Mariana''s heart was strongly moved, but she was very rxed. -She really made you suffer! How many years that woman has been gone, and now that she''sing back, she must havee across something bad! It was even more foolish of Leo to stay with her. The grandmother''s heart was filled with anger and she gave Leopoldo a fierce look, full of reproaches. -It''s not like that, Grandma. Grandma let out a sigh and looked at Mariana, speaking with some disapproval: -The nanny at home has already told me, and did that woman reallye home to fight with you? Leopoldo, who had been standing silently to the side, looked at Mariana after hearing this, with a slight depression: -Diana had gone to look for you? Mariana said nothing and did not react. Grandma gave him a fierce look and spoke angrily: -Don''t you know? She even asked Mari to bless you and her! -Mari is your wife now! Grandma gasped, feeling a little forced to breathe. Mariana also became aware of the sound of Grandma''s heavy breathing and saw her face flushed. Momentarily rmed, she rushed over and gently stroked her back to soothe her breathing. -You don''t have to get so angry, it''s nothing, he didn''t do anything to me, he just said a few words. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Chapter 149: Kneel down At that moment, Leopoldo also stood up worriedly and approached the grandmother''s side, speaking in a low voice: -All right? After the grandmother calmed down, she paid no attention to Leopoldo, but red hatefully at Mariana: -Mari, you have to remember that you are Leo''s wife, you are husband and wife. Finished speaking, Grandma got up and walked over to the side of the antique piece of furniture, on top of which was a dark brown wooden bar, reached over and pulled it out. Mariana stood up somewhat incredulously and spoke in a low voice: -You don''t have to. She knew very well that this was her family''s rule. Those who made mistakes were whipped with this ancient wooden bar as a way of putting future generations on guard. I didn''t expect Grandma to have to use the family rule to help her today. Next to him, Leopoldo was also a little depressed, his eyes deepened. He looked at Mariana. However, the way Grandma got angry had also scared him, and at this point, he would never make her angry again. -Come here, kneel down! A deep voice rang out as the grandmother raised the bar and looked at Leopoldo angrily. Leopold got up and walked over to the closet, and knelt down beside his grandmother, his face still sullen and cold. -You know you''re wrong? However, the words received no response, and Leopoldo knelt down with an expression of not admitting his mistake. -Well, in that case... Before she had finished the words, the grandmother had already shaken the bar, falling fiercely on Leopoldo''s body. A dull thud echoed in the room, causing Mariana to startle and rush forward. He grabbed his grandmother''s hand, -Grandma ... She said, shaking her head. -Get out of the way, Mari! Then he kept pounding, the sound of the bars and shirts crashing against each other echoed through the room, sending shockwaves through people''s hearts. And Leopold, who was kneeling on the floor, remained erect, his lips tightly closed, without uttering the slightest sound. Mariana was a little nervous and nced worriedly at the beads of sweat on Leopoldo''s forehead, whose veins had bulged. He stopped the grandmother again, grabbing her hand, not letting go again. -Stop knocking, Grandma. The voice was tinged with bitterness, and a touch of unspeakable meaning. Leopoldo, who had been kneeling, looked at Mariana, who had an urgent look on her face, but said nothing. His dark eyes reflected the shadow of the woman in his eyes, causing a shuddering feeling to pierce the heart. Grandma''s hand gripped tightly as she looked at Mariana and spoke in a deep voice: -What are you doing, Mari? No one has yet dared to stop the family rule. Mariana''s heart trembled, but she did not let go of his hand: -Grandma, stop hitting, you''ll be hurt. -Mari, I''m helping you teach him a lesson! He treated you like that and let others bully you, why do you keep protecting him! Looking at Mariana, the grandmother spoke in a deep tone. -I''m fine, grandma, you don''t have to worry about me, Leo treats me very well, that woman is just bothering Leo, but he doesn''t listen to her. Mariana was anxious in her heart and uttered those words. Under such an intense gaze from her grandmother, she was a little confused. Grandma was not satisfied, however, and shook her head, with a twinkle in her aged eyes, -Mari, there must be another reason. Mariana''s eyes averted and she opened her mouth, but could not speak. -Okay, since you don''t care anymore, then I won''t hit. Mariana hesitated for a moment and finally let go of his hand. Grandma put the bar away and put it back on top of the wooden cab. Grandma turned around and walked over to the couch and sat down, taking two sips of water before she was calm, but her breathing was still a bit rapid. He had just gotten angry, so he couldn''t help but use a lot of force. -Come and sit down, Mari. Grandma paused and said again to Leopoldo in a cold voice: -Come and sit down too! Leopoldo slowly made his way to the sofa in front of him and sat down, his face still calm and serene, as if he were not the one who had just been hit. Mariana sat next to her grandmother and gently rubbed her shoulders and arms. -Grandma, why do you have to be angry? It''s not good for your health. Besides, such things were no longer taken seriously. But after saying this, there was still a strange feeling in his heart, and his movements stopped for a moment. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. -Stay here for a while, girl. Then, the grandmother turned her head to look at Leopoldo: -Come with me to the studio, I have something to tell you. Grandma patted Mariana''s hand, got up and left. ra, who had been listening in the corner of the wall, arrived in front of Mariana at this moment, looking at her with anger in her eyes. -Go out with me. After saying this, he took the lead and went out. Mariana paused, but got up and followed ra. The two of them reached the garden, ra made sure no one was there before speaking angrily: -I heard what you said inside. Since the rtionship between you and Leopoldo is not good either, and I had advised you to get a divorce, why didn''t you agree? ra looked at Mariana with anger and resentment on her face. Mariana smiled bitterly and spoke in confusion: -I never knew why you didn''t approve of my marriage to Leopoldo. Am I not your own daughter? Don''t you want me to be happy? ra was unable to look directly at Mariana''s bitter and deste gaze, and a rush of guilt arose in her heart. He thought of something else, however, and the guilt dissipated cleanly, and when he raised his head again, he had recovered the anger he had just felt. -Don''t change the subject! Let''s not talk about what happened then, this time the olddy has used the family rule, naturally because Leopold had done something really bad, if that''s the case, why don''t you divorce him yet? I do it for your own good. However, Mariana took half a step back and shook her head, unable to continueughing. Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Chapter 150: Frustration -For my own good? In ra''s eyes there was not even the slightest bit of affection, only anger and resentment. How could it be for your own good? -I am your mother! What else could I be if I am not fond of you? ra stepped forward and held Mariana''s shoulders tightly, looking at her and pleading with her: -Mari, listen to mom, it''s better that you get a divorce, Leopoldo doesn''t suit you, with the situation of our family, you are not worthy of him at all! -After that, I''ll find you one again, I''m sure you''ll be happy then! A slight pain erupted from Mariana''s shoulder and her eyebrows furrowed further. She forcefully pushed ra''s hand away and said indifferently: -If so, I will not divorce. After saying that, he simply turned and left. Behind her, ra looked at Mariana''s figure, her sad expression reced by anger, and she clenched her fists tightly. Mariana sat on the sofa, her heart beating violently, unable to calm down for a long time. He stretched his hand across his belly, muttering under his breath: -Calm down, Mom, I won''t do it. The voice seemed to be tinged with tears and blood. At that time, the atmosphere in the studio was a bit stagnant, even a bit tense. Grandma was sitting in her seat with frustration in her heart, looking at the man in front of her. -Leo, for what? He didn''t like to beat around the bush, so he asked directly. Leopoldo sat to one side, hands sped. His expression softened a bit, but he still looked deep and cold. Seeing his silence, Grandma couldn''t help but sigh heavily. -Leo, I don''t know why you can''t forget that woman. She left you to go abroad, saying she was chasing her dream, but don''t you know the real reason? Look at Mari, she was the one who was always by your side! Grandma took a breath and looked at Leopoldo impatiently, waiting for his response. But after a long while, Leopoldo said nothing. Leopold stood up and walked to the window with a slightly forlorn look, unlike his usual indifference. -I owe Diana a debt of gratitude, you know. She was the one who was always with me during that period of time, after all, if it wasn''t for her, now I would be.... Leopoldo''s voice was low and meaningful. Grandma looked at his figure and felt a little sorry,ing to his side and patting him on the back. -I know it''s not easy for you either when something like this happened. Grandma paused and said: -But people change, can you be sure she''s the same now as she was before? You don''t have to marry her to repay her kindness, there are other ways, aren''t there? Grandma was standing next to Leopold, and it was as if the teenager she was then, vulnerable but stubborn and fierce, even colder and more protective than now, came to life before her eyes. -Just now, although I sincerely wanted you to learn a lesson, I also wanted to see Mari''s attitude, didn''t you see how she stepped forward to protect you? Leopold looked soberly out the window, his hand trembling imperceptibly, and his eyes deep. -Grandma... Seeing the look on Leopoldo''s face, Grandma held up her hand with an angry look on her face, gesturing for him not to continue. Then, he turned around and walked out, only when he approached the door, he turned his head and said: -I just hope you don''t fail Mari, she''s a good girl. Finally, without another word, he turned and left. What exactly love was, the matter had yet to be understood by him. Still, it might help a bit with that. Grandma came downstairs and saw Mariana on the couch looking somewhat disoriented, her eyes red as if she had cried. Grandma furrowed her eyebrows and came to her side. -Mari, what''s wrong? Mariana came back to her senses and looked at the grandmother, smiling reluctantly, as if the smile would disappear in an instant. -There is nothing wrong with me. Grandma reached out and patted Mariana''s hand reassuringly: -If something happens, you have to tell me. If Leopoldo bullies you, you must also tell me, I''ll help you teach him a lesson! Grandma couldn''t remember many things, but she seemed to remember this incident very clearly. Tears welled up again, Mariana lowered her head, hiding the various emotions in her eyes, and smiled slightly as she spoke: -I know, and with you helping me, who would dare to intimidate me? Mariana''s cold heart felt a surge of warmth and the corners of her mouth curved into a mocking smile. Her own mother never cared for her happiness, but she did not expect those who were not rted by blood to truly love her. -Okay, don''t be sad. After saying that, Grandma went to the cupboard next door, took out the medicine and put it in Mariana''s hand, and spoke: -He''s upstairs. It looks like I''ve given him quite a beating. I don''t want to see him, so you go and have a N?velDrama.Org content rights. look. Mariana leaned back a little, biting her lips helplessly, with a somewhat pitiful look on her face. -No argument between husband and wife willst long. Grandma paused, then frowned again and spoke: -I really don''t want to see him, I feel angry to see him. Well then, you go upstairs and hand him the first aid kit, and thene downstairs and let him take care of himself. Grandma turned her head, with a face that was intended to be angry and reproachful, but she still used the corner of her eye to observe Mariana. Seeing her frown slightly and look with a certain intolerance at the medicine cab, she already knew itpletely. -Okay, Mari, go, I''ll apany you. With that, Grandma got up and took the lead to walk to the studio. Mariana gritted her teeth and followed her with the first aid kit. Mariana arrived at the studio, looked at the grandmother behind her and entered. Just as she was behind Leopoldo, the studio door mmed shut. Mariana turned around and turned the handle, without moving an inch. Obviously, the door had been locked from the outside. At that moment, Grandma''s voice sounded from outside, with a smile: -You two will stay in the studio today, there''s some food there and I''ll let you out tomorrow. With that, Grandma went downstairs. Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Chapter 151: You Think It Was Me After only two steps, the grandmother bumped head-on into ra, who looked up with concern and asked in an urgent voice: -Ma''am, are you all right? Why don''t you let them both out? He waved his hand and continued down the stairs, speaking softly: -What''s wrong with it, there''s still food and drink inside, even if there isn''t, it''s okay to starve for a day. With a nce back at the closed door behind her, her wise eyes filled with satisfaction: -This way, maybe not only will they be closer, but then I''ll even have my great-grandchild. pping her hands together with a loud p, Grandma couldn''t help but feel increasingly pleased with her decision, and smiled as she walked briskly down the stairs. At that moment, inside the study, Mariana reluctantly turned the doorknob again, but still couldn''t turn it, "what grandma said must be true." With a shrinking heart, Mariana turned around, but the next moment she saw a pair of cold, stern eyes, with a strong pressure. Leopoldo, who had his back to her, at some point turned around and stared at her, causing her to squeeze the handle of the medicine cab in her hand. The hard touch brought Mariana back to her senses before she remembered that she hade to deliver medicine and, after a moment''s hesitation, she moved forward and ced the box of medicine on the table. -Grandma asked me to give it to you. Then the room fell back into an ufortable silence. None of them spoke. After a while, Mariana looked out the window, today she had arrived early, the sun was shining brightly at this time, it must be noon. She nced around the studio and saw some food and drinks in a corner, as if they had been specially prepared. Mariana was stunned for a moment, then shook her head, she wanted tough. She went ahead, took some bread and chewed it in her mouth, and when she felt thirsty, she drank some milk, ignoring Leopoldo''s presence, as if she were the only one in the room. Holding back some of the turmoil in her heart, Mariana took a tissue and carefully wiped her fingers. "I still don''t know when I''ll be able to get out. I can still hold on, but the baby in my belly can''t." He was about to sit down on the couch to rest for a while when he saw the first aid kit on the table. It had probably been some time since she had arrived at the studio, Leopoldo was sitting indifferently behind the desk, his face expressionless, lowering his eyes, and he did not cry out in pain, which made Mariana forget for a moment. Her heart shed with a slight pain, Mariana put her hands together and rubbed them unconsciously, taking the first aid kit and walking to Leopoldo''s side. After a moment''s hesitation, he still spoke softly: -Let me help you put some medicine on you, or else the wound behind ... "Grandma like this is not just talking, with dexterity can naturally prate inside the shirt and hit the skin hard." Hearing this, Leopoldo, who had remained silent, raised his eyes to look at Mariana, his eyes contained a slightly different deep meaning, which made people shudder. The cold and stern man said nothing, but quickly took off his shirt. The white shirt fell down, revealing his strong, lean upper body. Mariana looked away in panic. By this time, Leopoldo had already turned around and had his back to Mariana. After a while, Mariana opened her eyes and looked at Leopoldo''s back, which had several scattered red marks, already a little red and swollen, some even with a little red blood. Mariana couldn''t help but gasp as she covered her mouth, repressing the cry of surprise that was about toe out of her mouth. "Grandma has done something really cruel this time." Opening the medicine box, she found the ointment to stop the bleeding, Mariana used a cotton swab to dab some and then carefully applied the medicine to Leopoldo. The cold ointment fell on the burning wound, bringing a slight sense offort, which made Leopold''s heart flutter. This imperceptible movement startled Mariana, who was watching Leopoldo at all times, and she stopped at his movements. With slightly furrowed eyebrows, he couldn''t help but speak softly: -Did I hurt you? Then I''ll be a little softer. -All right. The cold, hard words, dark and deep, with an indescribable meaning, fell hard on Mariana''s ears, who could not help biting her lips. Then, he continued to apply the medicine, only his movements were still a little softer. -That''s it. When the medicine was finally applied, Mariana straightened her back and exhaled loudly, only then This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. did she realize that, due to her nervousness, a thin sweat had appeared on her forehead. Hearing these words, the man who had remained quiet and still picked up his shirt and put it on, stood up and looked at Mariana in a somewhat condescending way, with deep nces. Seeing such an intimidating man, Mariana could not help but take a few steps back with the first aid kit in her hand. -What now? -We... can''t go out. The word "we" always carried a strange emotion, which made Mariana pause involuntarily. "How can we be us between Leopoldo and me?" She smiled bitterly. When Leopoldo heard these words, he had already averted his gaze, looked at the window. -Let''s wait for Grandma to open the door for us. The cold, harsh words rang out overhead, causing Mariana to be stunned. "So, we really can''t go out today .... Let Leopoldo and I be together for a day and a night," just thinking about it Mariana couldn''t help but shake her head. Suddenly, a faint voice reached his ears again, with a slight questioning sense. -Have you told grandma about Diana? The voice rose slightly, but carried an even worse meaning, pressing Mariana. His eyes fluttered, and before he could react, Mariana smiled with a sarcastic meaning, -Do you think it was me? "In the end it turned out that he med me. I thought about it when I got the call from Grandma, and I''ve already been lucky, but now it looks like it''sing." Mariana looked up and looked at Leopoldo, but her eyes contained a fine tinge of sarcasm, which caused Leopoldo to squint slightly. -Wasn''t it you? After thinking about it, she felt ridiculous again, since he had already said it, wasn''t it already determined in her heart? Without another struggle, Mariana lowered her eyes and spoke in a low voice: -Yes, it was me who told grandma that Diana came to the vi, but so what? She came as a mistress to question your legal wife, is there anything wrong with me doing that? The man''s eyes immediately turned cold and looked at Mariana, but she continued to look at Leopoldo firmly and did not dodge. Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Chapter 152: Mariana, don''t force me "But in my heart I felt sad, it''s the first time I challenge Leopoldo like this, right? Now my husband is doubting me for a mistress, it''s really funny." And Marianaughed out loud, sarcastically. His eyes were cold, and when he saw the woman''s smile, he became angry. He raised his hand and struck hard at the left side of Mariana''s face. After being pped hard, Mariana suddenly fell to the ground and covered her stomach in some shock, with concern in her eyes. There was no need to worry about the bruises on his face. -You should know that! We are only married by contract, and it doesn''t look like it''s your turn to take care of this, Miss Ortiz, one still needs to know one''s own identity. "Yes, what identity do I have? In your eyes, I am nothing more than a shameless woman who has tied herself to the president of the Dur¨¢n Group for money. But the punishment I received should not apply to the child I carry in my womb, right? It is innocent." Her eyes had tears in them, and the guilt and helplessness in her heart weighed on her, leaving her powerless to resist. In addition, there was the uncertainty of the future. It was time to put an end to this abnormal rtionship. Repressing the various emotions in her heart, Mariana spoke in a cold voice: -Mr. Dur¨¢n, in this case, let''s break the marriage contract, I can no longer afford to maintain this rtionship, let''s divorce and terminate the agreement. When she finished speaking, Mariana only felt that her whole body was weak, these words seemed to have drained all the strength from her body. Her heart was cold, like the cold tiles under her hands, she could not feel the sunlight outside at noon, the temperature seemed to inste her from it. Leopoldo looked at Mariana from above, his eyes full of anger, -Never! The cold, harsh words once again deepened the sadness in Mariana''s heart. She slowly got up from the floor and stood in front of Leopoldo, she was no longer as submissive as before, she was stubborn and even her words seemed aggressive: -Mr. Dur¨¢n, what is all this? Since you want to give Diana a name, we can finish the agreement and make the two of you together, isn''t that good? The man took a step forward and approached Mariana, reaching out to grab her slender neck and squeezing it lightly, then he saw Mariana''s reddened face. -Mariana Ortiz, don''t force me, if you want to terminate the agreement, you can do it, unless you can pay for the breach of contract, you must know that those monies are like astronomical figures for you now! The words were cold, with a sense of deep menace. The woman''s heart shuddered, despair flooded her heart and her eyes watered. The pressure on her neck suddenly loosened and Mariana coughed loudly twice, slightly cold air rushed into her mouth and then ran down her airway into her lungs, Mariana panicked. "I don''t even have the right to leave - I''m pathetic and pitiful!" Her body was a little bby, and Mariana sat on the couch, bending her knees, burying her head in her knees and curling her hands tightly around her legs. This posture was strange, but it made her feel like she could breathe easier, but her tears fell silently, unable to stop. Leopoldo stood in front of the window, blocking the woman, casting gray shadows on her body, enveloping her like a dense from which it was impossible to escape. With a shudder in his heart, the coldness in Leopold''s eyes silently dispersed and was instantly reced by a slightly strange look, with furrowed brows. "She is thin, frail and unsupported." This was the most intuitive feeling Mariana gave Leopoldo at the moment. He turned around and sat back in the chair behind the desk, then leaned back, such a movement shook the bruises on his back, he felt the slight pain. The hand resting on the ck desk closed unconsciously. As the woman finished applying the medicine, he saw the care and pain in the woman''s eyes, and his heart inevitably fluttered. Once again, an oppressive silence fell in the studio. The next morning, when Grandma came in with the key, she saw Mariana curled up on the sofa and Leopoldo sitting behind the desk with his head resting on his elbows. He moved closer, looking at the two, really feeling the disappointment. Naturally the noise woke Mariana and Leopoldo, who looked up to see the studio door open. ra, who was standing behind Grandma, couldn''t help blinking her eyes. The grandmother came to Mariana''s side and frowned: -Mari, why do you sleep like that on the sofa, what if you catch a cold? Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. She was a little dizzy, and when she looked at her grandmother, Mariana only felt her cheeks burning and could not see well. Seeing Mariana like this, her grandmother got worried and thought of something, so she went ahead and put her hand on her forehead, but the hot temperature made her hand shrink instantly. Turning to ra, who was behind her, she said: -Go and call a doctor. With a start, Mariana''s mind cleared a little and she waved her hand: -No, no, I''ll be fine with some medicine. -Your forehead is very hot, it must be a serious fever, how can you take medicine? After a pause, he turned his head to look at Leopoldo to the side and scolded him: -How have you been taking care of Mari? I can''t believe you made her have a fever. I didn''t expect the night to end this way. Mariana spoke softly as she reached forward to take her grandmother''s hand, her face tinged with a slight tinge of urgency. -Grandma, I''ll just take some medicine and sleep, there''s really no need to call the doctor, if I wake up and the fever hasn''t gone down, then look for a doctor again, okay? "I can''t let the pregnancy be exposed like this." Looking at Mariana, who had a determined face, although the grandmother still had worries in her heart, she nodded helplessly and agreed. Helping her grandmother out, Mariana did not look at that ce, as if she was the only person in the room from the beginning to the end. Leopold remained under the light and shadow, with a cold and stern look, his eyes moving with the woman''s figure, but not moving an inch. When Mariana woke up again, it was already afternoon, her fever had gone down and her body had no more difort than a little pain, so she finally felt relieved. By this time, the sun was setting in the west and the orange glow wasing through the window and spreading across the room, giving everything inside ayer of warm color, and Mariana''s mood improved. "We still have to look ahead." Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Chapter 153: The celebration party Just as I left the room, I heard my grandmother''s greeting: -Mari, are you awake? Are you feeling better? Licking her lips, Mariana smiled as she spoke softly: -Much better already. However, his voice was hoarse and astringent due to the severe fever, and it was not very clear. -It''s time to get hungry, I''ve asked the kitchen to prepare many of your favorite dishes today. The voice was loud and clear, reaching Mariana''s ears, encouraging her. Her eyes scanned the living room and there was no trace of that cold and stern figure, so Mariana was reassured. I still didn''t know how to deal with it, nor did I want to. After returning from her grandmother''s house, Mariana also stayed at the vi for a while to get better and the baby she was carrying was also healthier. That day, Mariana got up early and, after a simple breakfast, walked around the garden. The nanny was quick to chase her with her cell phone, and only stopped when she saw Mariana and, panting, told her: -Madam, your cell phone has rung several times, someone must be looking for you on an urgent matter, please call quickly. Upon receiving the phone, Mariana looked at it suspiciously and, indeed, she saw three calls from the set, as well as two calls from Ana, and was even more puzzled. She felt a little weird, "I''ve been quitting for a long time, and the deputy director was calling me at this time." After a moment''s reflection, Mariana finally returned the call. After a few moments, aughing voice came from the other side,nding loudly in Mariana''s ears. -The deputy director has called me twice in a row, is something wrong? -Mariana, it''s for thepletion of our Empress Santa set. Although you have now resigned, but as the former head of the costume team, you have also put in a lot of effort and made many contributions, so this time the director wants to summon you to the celebration party. His eyebrows furrowed slightly and he hesitated a bit. -Subdirector, it''s better that I don''t go, now I''m no longer a member of the set, so if I go like this ... Before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by the assistant manager on the other end of the phone, even with a slight sense of reproach. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. -Mariana, what kind of words are you talking about? Almost all the costume designs of the main characters on the set were made by you, without your contribution, now there wouldn''t be such a perfect "Empress Santa"! The director said you muste, I''ll have someone send you the entrance invitationter. After saying that, without waiting for Mariana to say anything else, he hung up the phone directly, without giving her time to refuse. She sighed and, before Mariana could think about it, her cell phone rang. She looked at it, it was Ana''s call. Her eyes trembling slightly, Mariana picked it up, slightly helpless. -What is it? Why are you looking for me, Miss Lopez? You have called again and again. Instantly, Ana''s excited, high-pitched voice came from the other end of the phone. -Mari, Mari, you must have received a call from the set, right? You''re invited to the set celebration party. Shaking her head, Mariana wanted tough: -Did you call me just to tell me that the set invites me to the celebration party? Ana did not hear the mockery in Mariana''s words, but spoke smugly: -Of course! Although it seems a bit rushed to have a celebration party right after the shooting, as soon as I heard the news, I immediately asked the director for an extra seat for you. After a pause, he continued in a mysterious tone: -Mari, you are a great hero of our wardrobe team, we can''t celebrate this party without you! Mariana was moved: -All right, I''ll go. -Since that''s the case, make an appointment to go dress shopping together this afternoon! I haven''t been taking much care of my figuretely, and I don''t even have a proper gown anymore. The words fell intermittently on Mariana''s ears with slight embarrassment. -Okay, okay, I hear you on everything. The two then agreed to go shopping together in the afternoon. When the nanny heard such news, she naturally agreed to go, after all, it was good for Mariana''s mood to rx, after all, the previousa was also due to depression. Just after parking the car and getting out, she hugged herself and arge impact hit Mariana, causing her body to shake slightly before she managed to stabilize herself. Ana''s choked and excited voice rang in his ears, -Mari, I miss you so much! I''ve been alone on the set all this time, alone, and now I finally see you, how nice! Mariana felt a little worried as she gently pushed Ana away, her hands on her stomach, carefully protecting it. After a few seconds'' pause, he looked up andughed: -Don''t I know you yet? There are plenty of people on this set you can talk to, you won''t be alone! The twoughed and joked as they made their way to the mall, but as they passed a mother and baby store, Mariana couldn''t help but pause, eyes slightly twitching, looking at the cute little children''s clothing inside, and their gazes softened a bit. To one side, Ana looked at the mother and baby store in front of her, and then at Mariana who looked at the store in a daze, she was very confused. -Mari, what''s wrong? Why don''t you leave? A trace of unnaturalness crossed Mariana''s face before she spoke: -I have a cousin who is about to give birth, since I stopped by the store today, I thought I woulde in and buy some clothes to give as gifts. At these words, Ana had not a trace of hesitation, and pulled Mariana directly towards the mother and baby store. -If so, why do you keep stopping here? The soft touch under her hand made the motherly love in Mariana''s heart overflow and she smiled faintly. Ana looked at Mariana thoughtfully and could not help but speak softly: -Mari, I''m sure you will be a good mother in the future. -Is that so? Mariana smiled, she felt very happy. After choosing a blue top and a little pink skirt, Mariana and Ana left the store and went to choose their dresses. When she returned to the vi, Mariana just felt very tired and copsed on the sofa. Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Chapter 154: Baby Clothing At this moment, the nanny approached, smiled and nced at Mariana, handing her a ss of hot water. She straightened up and busied herself drinking it, taking tworge sips, which relieved her a little. -I''ve walked too much and sweated today, I''ll go upstairs and take a shower before I go downstairs. After these words, Mariana went upstairs. After showering and putting onfortable house clothes, Mariana dried her wet hair as she went downstairs, but she didn''t expect to see Leopoldo sitting on the sofa, who at this moment had a little pink dress in his hands. The man''s eyes were still cold and stern, with a deep, dark color. Her eyes widened as Mariana hurried downstairs, grabbed the dress from the man''s hand and stuffed it into the bag. "I had just gone upstairs to take a shower, but I forgot to take the baby clothes I bought there, but I never thought Leopoldo woulde back today and find it." Her heart was pounding, which made Mariana''s body tremble slightly. -What is this? He said coldly. With her hands clutching the bag in her hands, Mariana pursed her lips, not knowing what to do for a moment. "Ana may not know if I have cousins, but Leopoldo knows me a lot." With a cold, prating gaze, the man looked at Mariana with a sense of scrutiny, but in the back of his eyes he seemed a little soft. However, Mariana, who was unexpectedly nervous, was thinking of a n to deal with the situation, so naturally she did not notice this slight difference. After a moment''s hesitation, Mariana suddenly thought of the nanny, who was busy in the kitchen at the time, and hurried to speak. -These two little clothes are for the nanny''s grandchildren. Her family has a new set of babies, and the nanny has been taking care of me, so I always need to send some gifts. I was very nervous, not knowing if I could fool him. His gaze instantly turned cold and the air pressure around him was a few degrees lower than it had been at the time. Leopoldo got up and ignored Mariana, turning around and going up the stairs. Only when the sound of footsteps faded away did Mariana let out a sigh of relief and raised her head, looking up, a bit puzzled, not understanding why Leopoldo was angry. Lowering her eyes, Mariana looked at the small, delicate baby clothes in her hands, ced it gently on her chest and hugged it, as if she could feel the baby''s breathing, her heart was full of reluctance. At dinner time, Mariana and Leopoldo sat facing each other, and there was silence all the time, neither of them spoke. Mariana''s heart shuddered at the memory of what had just happened, and she feared that Leopoldo would ask for the clothes, so she tried to slow down her movements to reduce his presence. But in the end, Leopoldo said no more. Only after the man got up and went upstairs did Mariana slowly put the chopsticks down in her hands, looking a bit thoughtful, reaching out and gently covering her stomach with some hesitation and some apology. She did not dare to tell Leopoldo about her pregnancy, because if she did, there would be only one result, and that was the loss of the child in her womb. But this child was not only his, but Leopoldo''s as well. His gaze was heavy, and Mariana suddenly remembered what the nanny had told her thest time. "Yes, the child is innocent, and even if I am careful, I will not be able to guarantee the safety of the child I carry in my womb until I have escaped from Leopoldo''s side. The only thing I can do is to tell Leopoldo of my pregnancy." Mariana reflected to herself, "When will be the best time to confess?" But what she didn''t know was that a shocking change wasing from the shadows, leaving people struggling, but unable to break free, only to sink or even be annihted in it! The next day was the day set for the set celebration party. Mariana wore a conservative dress that she and Ana had bought on a shopping trip, which wrapped around her body without revealing anything, but still looked elegant, she also wore simple makeup, nothing dazzling. After everything was arranged, he drove to the party venue. Although Mariana''s dress was simple and unexciting, it was still wrapped in a bright white light, like a fairy descending from the sky at night. In such a crowded party where all the people were dressed in colorful clothes, she was like a special person, bringing a touch of sweet and clear light. In an instant, the scene was silent for a second, and then a louder cacophony of chatter broke out. -Last I heard, the reason Mariana coulde to the celebration party was because Diana personally went to see the director and told him that she had put in a lot of effort and made a great contribution to the set, so she should get an invitation, but I didn''t expect her toe shamelessly! -Yes, yes, he has already resigned, I didn''t think he still had the nerve toe here, and he doesn''t even think about the problems he has caused our set during his tenure! -Some people, you cheeky, it''s something you don''t expect! This chaotic gossip did not reach the ears of Mariana, who had just arrived on the scene when she was spotted by Ana, who could not help but push her way through the crowd and rushed over to drag her away, her face full of excitement. -Mari, it is said that the productionpany has spent a lot of money on this celebration party, I just looked at the party food, there are many kinds of food, you should eat muchter. Shaking her head helplessly, Mariana spoke softly: Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. -You! The two had just gone to the corner to eat when the door behind them opened again, as if light came out from behind, falling on the two walking forward, casting a dappled gray light and shadow, shining also on the different expressions on everyone''s face, whether of astonishment, jealousy or envy, all of them. The screams around them naturally caught Mariana''s attention, so she turned her eyes to look and saw Leopoldo and Diana walking from the doorway. Her eyes sparkled with surprise, Mariana did not expect Leopoldo to arrive on such an asion. The woman wore a floor-length white dress with a long skirt and a one-piece design that revealed Diana''s exquisite body. Therge sparkling diamonds she wore around her neck, wrists and earlobes dazzled under the party lights, adding to Diana''s opulence. Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Chapter 155: It Can''t Be And although the man next to her was icy and stern, he looked at Diana with tenderness, making the women could not help but feel envious and jealous. But in an instant, Mariana''s eyes had already left that side and she looked again at the food in front of her. It was as if they were just two unrted strangers. However, the slight fluttering of his heart still betrayed his truer emotions. To one side, Ana was still chattering: -Mari, so it looks like Diana and Leopoldo are really a good match! The words were full of jest, but also held the slightest hint of wonder. Mariana did not turn around and answered quietly. -Miss Ortiz, it has been a long time. A yfulugh reached her ears, and when Mariana looked up, she saw a pair of pretty eyes. That was Xavier. At this point, the man was holding a ss of yellow cocktail in his hand, wearing a suit, but he still couldn''t curtail his debauchery. Only when she saw Xavier did a genuine smile appear on Mariana''s face. Pregnant women are not allowed to drink, so when she saw the ss of slightly tilted forward, Mariana turned her head and looked at the drinks ced to the side, picked one up and gently clinked it. -It''s been a long time. The two couldn''t help but smile at each other. However, such an image was seen by the man in the distance, and his cold, stern eyes narrowed slightly as he shook the burgundy-colored liquid in his hand slightly and tilted his head to drink it in one gulp, very angrily. -The producer and the director took great care of me during the shoot, I am very grateful for that as I am new to this. The director and producer waved their hands and looked at Leopoldo, whose face had suddenly be sullen, and were startled. They raised their sses to toast and he said politely: -Nothing, Diana, you are talented. The three of them congratted each other, while the cold and stern man stood aside and said nothing, which made Diana feel ufortable. Catching the pause between Diana''s words, the director and producer looked at the situation and said to excuse themselves before quickly leaving to greet the others. Only then Diana looked at Leopoldo with a look of deep meaning: -Leo, what''s wrong? Why do you feel distracted? Hearing these words, he withdrew his eyes, and in an instant all sorts ofplicated thoughts were hidden in them. When Leopold looked down again to look at him, his cold, stern eyes had regained their usual calmness. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. -It''s probably because I''ve been a little busy this time. Although there was still some displeasure in her heart, Diana did not show it again. He stepped forward to take the man''s arm and spoke softly in a sympathetic voice: -The hotel the director has booked has rooms upstairs for guests to rest, why don''t you go upstairs and rest for a while? I''lle up and get you after briefly greeting the rest of the set. Having no problem with Diana''s suggestion, Leopoldo left, headed for the staircase and signaled a waiter, then followed him upstairs. After the man left, the delicate smile on Diana''s face abruptly disappeared, the corners of her mouth were still slightly hooked, but there was a bit more sneer and sneer, and her gaze was even more fierce and violent. She turned gently and stared at Mariana, who wasughing and joking with Xavier in a corner, her eyes were stern and cold, as if she were a fierce tiger watching her prey, waiting for an opportunity to kill it. As she stepped to the side and looked at the drinks carefully arranged on the table, Diana smiled wickedly. A little white powder fell into the cup as she slightly raised her fists in her hands. Diana picked it up to shake it, in an instant, the powder dissolved. "A child? No way." At this moment, a woman quietly approached her side, looking carefully around before standing next to Diana, with a slight expression of fear on her face and her hands clenched. Looking at the woman in front of her, Diana''s eyes shed withplicated meaning, her chin lifted and she spoke in a condescending manner: -I will remember what I promised you, go. With a wave of her hand, she poured some of the light green liquid into the cup held by the woman in front of her, the light green was instantly covered by the strong red, the color flipped and looked a little weird. The woman raised her eyes, looked at Mariana standing in the distance, a fierce look shone in her eyes, nodded towards Diana and slowly approached. Arriving at Mariana''s side, she covered it with her body and gently ced the cup in her hand in front of the drinks, which was also the closest ce to Mariana. Then, switching a ss of drink and cing it in her hand, she turned and walked towards Mariana. -I didn''t expect Mr. B?o to be here too. Hearing the voice, Mariana raised her eyes and saw a somewhat unfamiliar woman, she frowned and thought before vaguely remembering that it was a background character from the set of "Holy Empress". His eyebrows furrowed slightly and he looked at Xavier with some confusion. However, Xavier also shook his head, indicating that he did not know her. -Mariana, don''t you remember me? There was a moment when Andrea Solis lost her temper and poured coffee on the top of my suit, or you helped me clean it up in time, which didn''t dy the filming process, otherwise I would have been scolded by the director and might not have been able to keep my job! There was a pause, a hint of cowardice on his face, he looked very fragile and inferior. -Our unknown actors can only y background characters on big sets. I thought you wouldn''t look down on us, but you were very kind to us. We may never see each other again, so I''d like to use this celebration to toast you. With that, the woman raised the cup in her hand and looked at Mariana with a certain longing, her eyes full of expectation, but she feared that Mariana would be embarrassed, so she did not dare to express too much. Mariana felt affection, she suddenly remembered the reason why the time he came to rescue her was just a memory of his old days in the design industry. The drink in her hand was already empty, smiling apologetically, Mariana turned around and picked up the nearest drink, the red liquid swaying inside with a strange light. As his eyes rested on her, Mariana smiled softly and looked at the woman, sincerely wishing: -I hope your future career will be very good! At these words, the woman could not help but stop herself from smiling, like the slightest trace of cracks in the top of a delicate mask, but it passed in an instant, so quickly that it could not be seen. -Thank you Mariana. The wine sses clinked, bursting with a crisp sound. Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Chapter 156: Save My Child Mariana looked at the woman as she bent her head to finish the drink in the cup, and also drank it with the same boldness, in an instant, the red liquid in the cup was gone. Her eyes flickered slightly, the worry in her heart was finally over, the woman smiled towards Mariana and Xavier before speaking with a smile, -In that case, then I will leave you alone. After saying that, he turned and left. At this point, the director and producer had already entered the scene. Standing in front of the crowd and with microphones in hand, the presenters on the side also started waving to the audience. -Thank you all foring to the celebration party held today by Empress Santa set. These days, thanks to all the workers, because of their efforts, Empress Santa is so perfect. Then, a series of thunderous apuse rang out from below, and everyone looked to the front. Xavier at his side also said: -Mariana, I have to go there first. He was the lead in "Empress Santa," so he was one of the main creators, so he would definitely have to get on stage and give a speech along with the director, producer and female lead. Mariana was about to nod her head when suddenly a slight jolt of pain shot up from her abdomen, her eyebrows furrowed slightly and the smile on her face stopped for a moment, and she couldn''t help but cringe. -What is it? -Mariana? Seeing the pained expression on Mariana''s face, Xavier reached over to hold her and spoke with concern. However, the pain in her belly passed instantly and she was nowhere to be found. Mariana raised her eyes, and although she still had some doubts in her heart, she knew she could not dy Xavier''s work. -Xavier, they are waiting there, go quickly, don''t dy your work. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Mariana with some concern, but seeing that her face was already as usual, he could only nod and turn to leave. After the four people on stage briefly said how hard they had worked during this period of time, as well as their thanks, the audience began to ask Diana and Empress, the "Holy Empress" couple, to do an opening dance. At this moment, Ana was standing at the front of the crowd, very happy. Shaking her head and smiling helplessly, Mariana looked at the two on stage. The man''s figure was elongated and yful, while the woman next to him was also graceful and elegant, making a perfectbination. So there could be many people who liked this couple. At the end, Xavierughed and looked at Diana seemingly full of infinite tenderness and elegantly extended his hand and ced it in front of her as an invitation. At this celebration party like today, of course, some famous journalists participated. This was not only a reward for the sess of the set, but also took advantage of this fame. After all, either there was a scandal between Diana, who was the main actress on the set, and Leopoldo, or Mariana and Xavier were "entangled". But the lead actor and actress on the set were not involved in any way, so how could they entice more fans to watch the series? The two joined together in the center of the dance floor, and the set broke out into gossip, pping and cheering, as the shing lights scattered everywhere kept shing rapidly, the blinding white light falling on the two in the center. They looked like dazzling people who were born to be in the shing lights. A shudder ran through her heart, and sharp pains again erupted from her belly, stronger than ever, causing Mariana to reach down and clutch her belly, panic and fear in her heart. A littleter, she felt a warm, wet liquid gushing out of her inner thighs, at first it was just a little, not noticeable, but soon the blood came out in a torrent. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. The liquid slid coolly down the skin of her inner thighs, made her body tremble slightly. She became very frightened. When she looked down, Mariana saw the red drops of blood on the floor. As the pain continued, cold sweat kept breaking out on her skin, covering her forehead. Mariana felt very scared. He wanted to open his mouth to say something, but after moving his lips, he said nothing. "My son ... Who will save my son?" In the end, Mariana could not stand it and fell to the ground, the pain was so acute that she did not even have the strength to get up, her heart filled with panic. Suddenly, in her blurred vision, she felt a faint flicker of white light, and when she unconsciously raised her eyes, she saw the reporter holding a camera and pressing the shutter towards her. His heart suddenly skipped a beat. -What are you doing? The words that came out were so faint, with slight astonishment, without any impulse, naturally unable to frighten the reporter in front of him. She struggled to get up, but it was as if she were tied to the ground, and Mariana fell to the ground again. -May I ask you Miss Ortiz if you are single and pregnant first? Or is it a messy private life? Is the child in your womb Xavier B?o''s or Leopoldo Dur¨¢n''s? Or is it someone else''s? The humiliating words kept reaching Mariana''s ears and her heart trembled, but she could do nothing about it. Under the blinding light, Mariana felt as if she had been stripped naked in front of everyone. However, the child was the most important thing now! -Please, please, please, please send me to the hospital, my baby..... The voice was hoarse and prated with a deep tone of pleading. -Miss Ortiz, I just asked the question and you have not answered it, may I ask whose child is this? However, it was as if the reporter had not heard Mariana''s plea for help, nor seen the blood underneath her. She ignored Mariana''s plea, her face remained calm, even with a hint of displeasure, and she looked up at Mariana from an elevated position, asking her again. His heart filled with despair and he looked at the crowd of people cheering there. People in the distance cheered and celebrated, but their son was struggling on the edge of death and no one was asking about him. "It''s ridiculous." At this moment, a warm jacket with a faint scent of tobo suddenly fell over her shoulders and, the next moment, Mariana was picked up by someone andnded safely in the man''s strong arms, surrounded by a familiar scent. "It''s Leopoldo." Mariana raised her eyes, looked at the man in confusion. The sweat and tears on Mariana''s face were constantly mingling and mixing, some even sliding down to her eyes, blurring them. His vision gradually blurred, unable to see what the man in front of him looked like, but he felt an inexplicable aura of sadness envelop him, and the man''s hand that held it seemed to tremble ... -Save my son. Reaching out, he grasped the man''spel, tightly, and did not let go. -Leopoldo, he... he is also your son, save him, please. After the words, Mariana then felt the look that covered her body be deep and hot, so she couldn''t help but shrink even more into the man''s arms. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Chapter 157: Miscarriage It was as if only in doing so, clinging to the man''s strong, warm chest, did she find a sense of security. Cold, stern eyes turned away from the pale face of the woman in his arms, frowning coldly as he looked at the reporter who was already trembling with fear off to the side. Without waiting for the reporter to react, she already hugged Mariana and left with big steps towards the entrance of the party. The reporter felt very frightened. The camera fell straight down and crashed to the ground with a loud sound, but it unexpectedly covered the sound of the scene and attracted the attention of onlookers. The crowd turned their eyes to see the tall man walking away with the petite woman wrapped in a suit jacket in his arms, and gasped in shock. Many more people also heard this sound. The set members who were gathered around Xavier and Diana looked back and saw the scene. The surprised reporters even moved their cameras, which had been filming the protagonists, and Diana''s eyes trembled fiercely, and her heart filled with anger and fierceness, and her delicate hand tightened. At this moment, a lightughter with a yful tone rang in his ears. -It is better for Miss Solis to be lighter. Hearing these words, Diana came to her senses, looked at Xavier, and when she saw the hands they were shaking, the next instant she let them go fiercely. She had little tear in her eyes, which covered her fierce look. Diana smiled slightly as she looked at Xavier and spoke softly: -Sorry, Xavier, I was a little lost in thought just now. -Therefore, there are some things that, unless one does not do them, will always be discovered. There was deep meaning in his words, but Xavier''s eyes had long since drifted away, resting faintly on the entrance to the party, which was now empty. Her heart was full of anger and hatred, but Diana dared not show it again, and could barely keep a smile on her face as she continued with the celebratory party. On this side, Mariana held tightly to Leopoldo''spel, her abdominal pain was unbearable, the sensation of wetness under her legs, sticky, made her feel even more ufortable. -Save him, save him! The choked words fell on the ears of Leopold, who could not help but pursed his lips, frowned at the pale woman in his arms, his heart fluttered, even he did not notice that he felt very bad. After gently cing Mariana in the back seat, Leopoldo quickly went to the front and sat in the driver''s seat. He drove quickly, so they arrived at the hospital within 20 minutes. Just after taking Mariana to the operating room, before Leopoldo could sit down, Ana and Xavier arrived. When she saw Leopold, her heart was filled with anger and rage, and Anne could not help but rush forward in anger, but the next moment she was dragged away by Xavier. -What are you doing? Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. At these words, Ana became even angrier, her chest rising and falling in anger. -Don''t you see? Mari had a miscarriage! This affair must have something to do with him. Furrowing his eyebrows, Xavier looked at Ana with lowered eyes and spoke coldly: -I know, but it has nothing to do with Mr. Dur¨¢n, they are just colleagues. His heart pounded. "Are we just colleagues?" The three waited anxiously outside, and it was a long time before the operating room door opened again. When she saw the doctor leave, Ana hurried to step forward, her face anxious and worried: -Doctor, is the adult well? And the baby, how is the baby? The doctor shook his head vigorously as his eyes swept over the three of them before sighing: -I''m sorry, the baby was not saved. At this moment, Leopoldo, who had been sitting down, stood up and approached the doctor, looked at him with a deep gaze with an intimidating pressure. -What about her? The words were somewhat astringent, not as cold and stern as usual, and even a bit panicky. -Thedy has been saved, but this miscarriage has still caused considerable damage to her body, so she should pay more attention in the future, and if she wants to have another child, she should be more careful. After some advice, the doctor left. Then, the pale woman lying on the white bed with her eyes tightly closed was pushed out by the nurse. The steps moved unconsciously forward. But the next moment, two people appeared quickly in front of him, Xavier and Ana had already arrived at Mariana''s bedside, looking at her with worried eyes. It was only when the figures disappeared around the corner that Leopoldo withdrew his gaze. Lionel walked quickly behind him and looked toward the end of where those people had disappeared from before saying quietly: -Mr. Dur¨¢n. -Find out what happened. He said coldly, causing Lionel to startle and speak with a straight face: -Yes. However, the fragile appearance of Mariana lying in a pool of blood reappeared in his mind, her face pale and her body red with blood. Thinking of something, Leopold''s eyes twinkled slightly and he turned and hurried out of the hospital, driving towards the vi. When Mariana woke up, Xavier and Ana were sitting next to her. Her eyes blinked a couple of times before clearing a little, and she looked up at the white ceiling above her, her heart trembling, then she saw Anne who hurried over because she found that she was awake. He opened his mouth slightly, -Anita. -Mari, don''t move, lie down first, you must rest now. Her heart suddenly contracted, Mariana reached out and ced her hand tremblingly on her t belly, her lips also trembled involuntarily, but finally she gritted her teeth and spoke. -Where is the child? What is my child like? Hearing these words, a trace of sadness appeared on Ana''s face and she lowered her head, not daring to continue looking at Mariana''s pale face. Seeing Ana like this, Mariana had already understood, and for a moment, her heart was filled with destion and despair. -Mari, you are still young, you will have children again in the future. The hand on her belly dropped weakly and rested heavily on the side of the bed. In an instant, tears welled up in her eyes again, slowly converging into drops that fell silently along the edge of her eyes, soaking the pillow beneath her. "My baby is gone. The child who has given me warmth and support, I have not been able to keep him after all." Next door, Ana looked at Marian''s distressed appearance and became a little worried. -Mari, the doctor said you just had an abortion and your body is weak, so you shouldn''t be too sad, it''s not good for your health. However, Mariana did not ept his advice. Helpless, Anne could only pin her hopes on Xavier, who was standing to one side, frowning. Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Chapter 158: I Don''t Want to See You He shook his head silently, Xavier sighed softly, turned and walked out. Ana could do nothing and had to follow him, leaving Mariana alone. When the room was quiet again, Mariana cried aloud. Although Mariana covered her lips, trying to stifle the sobs, they continued to flow from her body and even from the tears that continued to flow from her eyes. There were two soft knocks on the door, but Mariana was so lost in her own pain that she didn''t notice. Leopoldo entered the room and looked at the woman on the bed, with a deep gaze. The fragile woman''s face was even paler, and tears were streaming down her cheeks. The woman huddled in a self-protective position, heedless of the noises around her. The dropper hanging from the back of his hand recoiled slightly from such a movement, the thick ck and red blood flowing upward along the syringe in a slightly terrifying manner. -The child? The somewhat astringent words finisheding out, only to be rudely interrupted by the woman, who was unusually excited at this moment. -Yes! -This child is yours! But so what? It''s gone! Are you ming me for the secret pregnancy? Or do you suspect that I want to have this child to seek the fortune of the Dur¨¢n family? Or do you think it''s a good thing that this child has disappeared? His pale face lifted, his icy gaze turned directly to the man in front of him, the words were extremely sour, with a deste and desperate expression, akin to madness. Frowning, Leopold pursed his lips, his eyes deep-set, and did not speak. -Now that the baby is gone, you don''t have to worry anymore, I don''t want to see you, go away! With that, turning her head, Mariana pointed her hand in the direction of the door and spoke hatefully: -Go away! Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. However, Leopold did not move, he was still standing by the hospital bed, and the depth of his eyes that rested on the woman at this moment carried a slight tinge of tenderness. -Don''t you want to know exactly how your son got lost? When he returned to the vi and asked the nanny, he learned some news. She did not expect Mariana to be pregnant with his child, and she did not even tell him after she was pregnant. However, when he learned of such news, the first reaction in Leopoldo''s heart was not anger and guilt, but even sadness and regret. Although the doctor had indicated that the mother''s health was too weak, which was probably the reason why the baby could not be stabilized and therefore unfortunately miscarried. However, after leaving the vi, he continued to instruct his assistant to focus on investigating what had happened to Mariana during this period of time, especially at the party. Now, it was true that I had also found some clues that showed that Mariana had not miscarried by chance. Hearing this, Mariana''s body, which had been turning her head so as not to look at Leopoldo, shuddered and quickly looked over. -What do you say? Her body trembled slightly and Mariana''s eyes widened. The sharp fingertips sank into the soft palm of his hand, causing a burst of pain, which made him squint slightly, but his heart was fluttering. With much lighter breathing, Mariana looked directly at Leopoldo, waiting for his response. -That woman who toasted you at the party recently got the role of second lead in a big project. An unknown actress who had worked quietly in the entertainment industry and had limited herself to ying the background character in countless film and theater productions, suddenly one day, as luck would have it, a project so big fell into herp, at exactly the right time, that she had to make people suspicious. -Did you hear? -Who exactly is it? Shaking his head, Leopoldo looked at the rekindled hope in Mariana''s eyes, his heart trembled slightly, only to feel the guilt lighten slightly. There was nothing else unusual happening at the party, so this person did it perfectly. -I''ll have someone start investigating, and I''ll let you know as soon as I have some information. After a pause, he continued: -You should also want to know who has really harmed the child you are carrying in your womb, since that is the case, get well, only then you can ... take revenge. Mariana looked at Leopoldo, anger rising in her chest, burning. After this, however, there was a force that melted in his heart, making him feel that his mind, which had just been confused, had suddenly be clear. "Yes, I want to find out who has harmed my son." In the following days, Mariana stayed in the room to recuperate, during which time Ana and Xavier came to see her from time to time, and Leopoldo''s assistant also came by from time to time to bring her some tonic products and news. However, Leopoldo did note again. Taking the knife from the fruit on the small table and gently lifting the apple in her hand, Anne began to peel it with zeal, but her movements were so clumsy, but she continued with perseverance. -Mari, you know that after thest party, the next day there was a website that we didn''t know who to offend, and it was taken down overnight, and now there''s nothing left when you look up the IP of that website! Does that seem strange to you? After a pause, Ana frowned and thought for a while before suddenly realizing: -Right, that website seems to be called something like Flowers. Mariana, who was leafing through the magazine in her hand, could not help but feel a tremor in her heart. "Flores? That day at the party, even though I was in pain, in a cold sweat and even in a daze, but I still overheard the conversation between Leopoldo and that reporter. And that reporter happens to be from Flores! Is it all a coincidence or is it..." The situation after Mariana did not dare to think anymore, she raised her head, looked at Ana, smiled reluctantly, and spoke in a low voice, -Maybe he doesn''t want to work anymore. Then, he changed the subject: -No other gossip to talk about these days? How did you get interested in this inexplicable website? Sure enough, when Ana heard this, a mysterious smile could not help but appear on her face as she put down the apple and fruit knife in her hands, looked at Mariana and walked over. -Mari, do you know there was a woman who toasted you at the partyst time? I heard that it was revealed that she is a mistress of some boss. After a pause, he continued: -I also heard that the role of the second lead in the big production I had booked has been reced, and the character is a fake, now she''s really a person everyone hates! Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Chapter 159: First Time Mariana smiled coldly, as the hand holding the magazine could not help but tighten gradually, hatred swirling in her heart. "He deserves disgrace! That person should be made to pay for the wrongs he has done, not just lose the things he has earned for the wrongs he has done!" Mariana couldn''t help but remember what Leopoldo had said in her ear that day, "Now that I think about it, he seems to want me to regain the hope of living. I don''t know how his research is going." In the office of the president of Grupo Dur¨¢n. Lionel stood behind Leopold, pretending to be calm, but his heart was beating like a drum. "This time, the things I investigated are not ordinary, and it may even be said to surprise people." Leopold was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his eyes were so deep and cold. -Silencing external opinion. The cold, hard words fell hard on the attendant''s ears, and made his body shudder. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, then about... Before the assistant could finish, he was interrupted by a cold voice. -You don''t have to think about other things, you just have to do this. The air pressure in the office dropped sharply instantly. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. -Yes. After saying this, Lionel looked at the documents on the table and turned to leave. After a long while, Leopoldo who had been standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window moved, walked to the back of the desk and sat down, picked up the information that had already been opened on the desk. At the end of the party, the woman who had toasted Mariana earlier left veryte, and at that moment she was standing next to Diana. This was the truth that made the attendee break out in a cold sweat. Gathering the information in his hand, Leopoldo got out and drove away. Right now, Diana was sitting on the couch at home, her fingers constantly gliding over the phone screen, watching the entertainment news that came out earlier today, her eyes fierce. At this moment, the nanny of the family approached and handed over a cup of coffee, which she wanted to gently ce in front of Diana, but unexpectedly Diana suddenly straightened up with an excited expression and bumped the cup into the nanny''s hand. In an instant, all the coffee spilled out andnded on Diana''s hands and body, the hot liquid sticking to her body, making her feel very ufortable. -What are you doing? Raising her eyes, she looked coldly at the nanny before her, and Diana''s eyes filled with a fierce fury. Nanny''s body trembled, her hand shook, and the porcin bowl in her hand fell to the plush carpet, resounding with a heavy, dull sound. -I''m sorry, miss, I''m very sorry. Crouching down, the nanny couldn''t help but apologize, her face full of panic, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead from nerves, but not bothering to wipe it off. -If you can''t do it, get out fast! The Solis family money is not so easy to earn. With that, he was about to dismiss the nanny in front of him, but a soft voice reached his ears, like a breeze brushing past. -Diana, the nanny has at least worked in the house most of her life, it is better to forgive her. They saw a lovely woman slowlying down the stairs, wearing a light-colored housecoat, her hair hanging softly behind her, somewhat pulled back, her face dignified and elegant, yet her eyes were full of vicissitudes, as if she were eighty years old. Hearing this, Diana, who had been sitting on the couch, got up and came to the woman''s side, holding her gently, frowning and grumbling: -Mom, you''re too good, that''s why all the maids in the house are so unruly, they can''t even get this little thing right! Stroking her daughter''s hand somewhat helplessly, Diana''s mother''s eyes lifted slightly with a slightly distant look, as if she were looking somewhere far away unseen. -Diana, when your father was alive, he often told me to bepassionate, when you were born, if it were not for... Eyes shining, Diana''s face glowed a dark color very quickly, she looked at her mother, and spoke softly: -Okay, Mom, let''s not talk about the past. This time, I forgive her, I let her serve you well, as long as mom uses her well. The old Solis family mansion was the only ce where Diana''s mother lived, and she only came back from time to time. The nanny received a nod from Diana''s mother and left after tidying up the porcin bowls on the floor. Before leaving, she looked at the young woman standing next to thedy, felt ufortable and still couldn''t help but sigh. "The character of this youngdy does not resemble thedy, nor does it resemble the deceased gentleman." The two sat on the couch, and Diana picked up an orange and put it in her hand, carefully plucking and removing the white meridians before putting it in her mother''s mouth. She opened her mouth to eat the orange her daughter was giving her, and Diana''s mother felt only sweetness, reaching out to gently caress Diana''s cheek affectionately. -Diana, why did you think of staying again today? Her heart fluttered, but the smile on Diana''s face did not change: -Isn''t it because I miss mom? Don''t you want me toe back to stay with you? Saying that, Diana tugged on her mother''s arm and looked at her smugly. -How can this be? I am very happy. At this point, the housekeeper approached and stood a short distance away from the two, speaking in a low voice: -Madam, Miss, Mr. Dur¨¢n is here. Hearing these words, Diana''s eyes sparkled and she smiled contentedly, but in the blink of an eye, a slight uneasiness spread in her heart. "Since my return to the country, I have only asked Leopoldo to see my mother, but this is the first time he hase to the Solia family home after my return." Some bad thoughts popped into his mind. Diana''s smile faded as she remembered the child lost in Mariana''s womb. Seeing that Diana said nothing for a long time, her mother, who was a bit puzzled, said: -Diana, what''s wrong with you? Is it because you''re so happy that you''re dumb? Since her husband had left suddenly, Diana''s mother only cared about Diana, so naturally she wanted her daughter to be as happy as possible, and would not meddle too much in what she liked. He could also see that Leopoldo was a good boy. Aftering to her senses, Diana released her mother and stood up, straightening her skirt before speaking: -Mom, I''m going to take a look. -Okay. Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Chapter 160: Panic Just outside the door, he saw Leopoldo leaning against the car. With a soft smile on her face, Diana approached Leopoldo and spoke with a smile: -Why don''t youe in? Will you wait for me here? Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Cold, stern eyes lifted and rested on the woman in front of him, Leopold''s eyes darkened, -There are some things I need to talk to you about, is that convenient? Saying that, he gestured for Diana to get into the car. Slightly startled, Diana thought about the words she had just thought in her mind, her face had already regained calm once more, she nodded gracefully and turned around to get into the passenger side. The two sat in the car, a suffocating feeling lingering in the slightly small space. Diana turned her eyes with a soft smile on her face and whispered softly: -Leo, what is it? Cold, stern eyes rested in front of him, and Leopold did not look at Diana. -This person Dalia G¨®mez, do you know her? A tremor ran through her heart, and Diana couldn''t help but clench her hands. "Of course, it''s about this issue." -I know her, isn''t she an actress from the set of Empress Santa? At thest celebration party, she even came up to me and thanked me, she seems like someone who knows how to behave. After frowning and thinking for a moment, Diana spoke softly. -Much of the recent entertainment news is still about her, which is quite unexpected. Turning her head and looking at Leopoldo, Diana''s face softened as she stepped forward and took Leopoldo''s arm: -What? Leo, you came just to tell me this, didn''t you? Do you know her? In a few words, Diana had removed herself from this thing, "I only knew Dalia from the set, I don''t know anything else, nor am I clear on anything else." The man''s eyes were cold, but the woman was as soft as ever. Finally, the coldness in Leopold''s eyes melted a little. -Since you don''t know, then forget it. There was no further discussion. Some things up to this point were probably the best protection for everyone, and the safest position to be in. Mariana''s pale face suddenly reappeared in his mind, and his heart shrank violently. He remembered the child who could note into this world to take a look. His eyes darkened for a moment, and Leopoldo reached out, took the document from one side and handed it to Diana. Diana became nervous again, looked at Leopoldo, who was not looking at her, and had to open the document she was holding in her hand. When she saw it, she was very scared. -What are you doing? Her hands trembling as she held the information in her hands, Diana looked at Leopoldo with stubbornness in her eyes, but she cried. Tears slid down her pale cheeks. -You already believe it, so why do youe to ask me? What are you trying to prove? The interrogative words fell on his ears, and when Leopoldo looked back, he saw Diana, whose face was covered with tears, and his eyebrows could not help but furrow. Diana had always been a woman who sought perfection and was stubborn, she rarely cried, at least in the impression of Leopold, who had not seen the scene before him a few times. That defiant woman had just revealed her vulnerability, in full view of him. -Since you have chosen to believe all this, what are you doinging to question me? Is it to humiliate me? Leo, have we be the enemy? With trembling hands, she held up the information in her hands, and Diana looked at Leopoldo with a pained face, tears streaming down her face. -If I''ve admitted everything, what about you? What are you going to do? With his thin lips pursed, Leopoldo did not speak. -So, if I don''t admit it, what are you going to do? However, Leopoldo furrowed his eyebrows hard and, in the end, said nothing. For a moment, the only sound in the car was Diana''s soft sobs. Leopoldo couldn''t help but take out a piece of paper and gently wipe Diana''s cheeks. "It''s Diana who helped me in those days when it was so dark that I couldn''t see a single ray of light, and at that time, she was like my light. Now, I''m pushing her hard." -All right, I won''t ask anymore, I know you''ve always been nice, something must have gone wrong here. With tears still welling up in her eyes, Diana cried until the tip of her nose reddened, raised her head and looked at Leopold, looking a bit pitiful, very different from her usual dignified and gentle appearance. -Leo, even if everyone in this world doesn''t believe in me, you have to believe in me. With her hands tightly gripping his frontpel, the woman''s eyes looked directly at him, anxiously and expectantly awaiting his response. With a gentle nod of his head, Leopoldo epted it. The next moment, however, his heart skipped a beat. Leopoldo''s cold, stern eyes shed with a hint of something different. As the car drove away, the look of sadness on Diana''s face disappeared without a trace, she smiled wickedly, but her heart was full of anger and ferocity. "If I had not chosen to cry, I would have made Leopoldo believe that I had done it. Mariana is very cunning, trying to beat me with a child no one likes! Impossible! How could my position in Leopoldo''s heart everpare with someone like her?" After a few more days of recovery in the hospital, Mariana did not want to be here anymore. She always felt that her son was still with her, and as long as she was here, she would not stop thinking about that unfortunate child. During this period of time, Mariana''s mood had also be very depressed, and the moderate depression she had been experiencing because of the baby had greatly improved, but now, the more powerful because of the baby''s death. That day, the nanny came to pick Mariana up at the hospital. The design firm was busy, so Ana couldn''t -Madam, don''t worry, I''ll take care of it, you just recovered, so you should take care of yourself. He said, stepped forward and took the things from Mariana''s hand and began to arrange them, letting her sit down and rest to one side. Smiling helplessly, Mariana was about to walk over and sit down, but didn''t want to, when the door to the room opened and an elongated figure entered, making the originally peaceful atmosphere stagnate. It was Leopoldo. Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Chapter 161: Knife wound Leopoldo nced at Carmen, the nanny who was gathering her things, before settling his gaze on Mariana who was in front of him: -Are you going to be discharged? After a slight start, Mariana nodded sincerely and spoke softly: -I''m better, I want to go home, I don''t want to stay here any longer. The man narrowed his eyes without speaking of anything else. He entered the room, followed by Lionel, who, upon seeing her, gave her a polite smile and greeted her: -Madam. Then he took out a brown folder from the bag he was carrying. He secretly nced at Leopoldo before handing him the folder in his hand. -Ma''am, here are the results of the investigation.... With that, he stepped back in silence. Lionel knew that his boss had brought him in to y hardball. Quickly grabbing the folder, Mariana, distracted, hurried to sit on the couch, opened it and pulled out the information inside. However, there were only a few simple papers inside. She took them out and, after reading them, showed a somber look, looking somewhat copsed. -Did Dalia do it? Why? Mariana frowned, very confused. ording to Dalia, it was true that when Andrea had embarrassed her, Mariana had stepped forward to help her, but now she wanted to hurt her baby. The man sat quietly on the couch, frowning and not speaking. Lionel, standing to one side and from whose forehead sweat was still pouring, naturally knew what I was thinking when he saw her face. He stepped forward and began to say what he had prepared in advance: -Miss Solis was only trying to make things difficult for Dalia, she didn''t really want to do anything to her, but when... you intervened, Miss Solis was furious and even told the director to rece her. But thanks to Dalia getting a sponsor, the matter was settled. It was also the truth, so more than Andrea, she hated Mariana who had helped her at the beginning, but did not insist until the end and made it even more difficult for her. Mariana''s eyes widened as she stared incredulously at Lionel in front of her, her heart heavy. She had never imagined that he had lent her a hand just out of pity, but he had brought destruction upon his own son! Leaningsciviously on the sofa, her hands were shaking. The ringing of her phone helped her suddenlye to her senses. With a slightly pale face, he pulled it out, looked at the number on the screen and spoke in a faint voice: This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. -I have to take it. He then answered the call. From the other end of the line came a firm voice, with the usual banter gone and reced by a breathless concern. Mariana, someone has sent me a file to my e-mail, it''s about your abortion, do you want to see it? With furrowed brows, Xavier put more force on his hand holding the phone, looking a little hesitant. Mariana was a bit puzzled and looked down at the file in her hands before finally speaking quietly: -Send it to me. As soon as he posted it, a few photos arrived on WhatsApp. He clicked on them and couldn''t stop shivering after seeing them. She turned around to look at Leopoldo, seated and paused, and only felt her body freeze. A coldness that came from the bottom of her heart enveloped her so fiercely that she could not free herself. -Leave first, I have something to say to Mr. Dur¨¢n. She tried to reassure herself, but she still sounded a little shaky. There was a moment of silence in the room, after which Carmen and Lionel looked at each other and left, closing the door softly. An awkward silence flowed between them. Finally, Mariana spoke in a soft voice: -Diana did it, didn''t she? It was her! She made our baby... my baby... The words that followed were once again swallowed up in tears, the calm and courage that had built up with such difficulty vanished into thin air. She had her eyes fixed on Leopoldo, neither giving up nor dodging, waiting for an answer that would let her downpletely. The man blinked slowly before looking down at the phone she was holding tightly, and so he looked up at her, silent all the while. -Or do you think it doesn''t matter at all if you don''t talk to me? Mariana curved her mouth mockingly while the smile on her face became increasingly icy. -Leopoldo! He''s your son too! Why do you treat me like that? Why do you treat him like that? Mariana stood up and looked down at him from above. Her eyes were growing cold, carrying fury and reproach, but with a deste despair in their depths. But the man continued to sit indifferently on the couch, as if he did not feel her emotional turmoil. -Get out! Blurting out the word coldly, Mariana picked up the small knife on the table and pointed it at him. -Get out of here! Leopoldo narrowed his eyes, with inexplicable emotions welling up inside him, but remained silent. With a frown and a somber face, he stared at the knife in his hand. -Leave the knife. -Get out! However, the woman, with a face as pale as a sheet, continued waving the knife at him as if she had not heard him. Leopoldo frowned even more. -Leave it. Saying this, he carefully approached her trying to take the knife out of her hand. But his approach aroused further resistance from Mariana. The knife in her hand waved indiscriminately and the next instant, without realizing it, she wounded Leopoldo in her outstretched hand. Bright red blood dripped instantly and fell to the ground along his fingers. Staring at the red that spread across the floor, Mariana froze, in her mind she shed back to therge bloodstain below her at the party that day, just like now. Suddenly she grabbed her head and screamed. At this moment, the knife in his hand stabbed his temple in the midst of his panic. With inordinately wide eyes and pursed lips, Leopold rushed forward and grabbed the handle of the knife, then snatched it from her hand and threw it aside. He made a cut on the palm of his hand, the pain flooded him immediately and the blood flowed in torrents. But he didn''t seem to perceive it, he just silently contemted Mariana, squatting on the floor with her hands on her head. The woman was so thin, curling up and trembling all over, as if she had received a heavy blow. Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Chapter 162: Nothing''s wrong, just cry At this moment, Carmen and Lionel, who had been waiting outside, naturally heard the screams The room was in chaos. The woman crouched on the ground, crying with her head in her hands and whispering something. And the man looked at the crouching woman. There was a not very serious cut on the back of the left hand, above which the blood was slowly clotting, while the hanging right hand was still bleeding and had converged in a small pool of blood around her leg. Seeing this, the two rushed forward. Bringing a napkin from the side, Lionel pressed it firmly against Leopold''s injured palm and asked with a frown: -Mr. Dur¨¢n, why don''t you go out and bandage it? But instead of moving, the man just fixed his eyes on the woman. Carmen arrived at Mariana''s side with a sad face, extending her hand trembling with fear and hesitating to touch her. She had a mixture of nervousness and worry in her mind, obviously also frightened by the spectacle before her. -Ma''am, what''s... what''s wrong with you? Are you okay? So saying, he gently ced his hand on Mariana. The panic in her heart dissipated as she felt a tremor that was even more violent than her own at the moment. He removed her hands from his head and looked at her in distress, then gently lifted her off the floor and helped her sit on the couch. Mariana opened her eyes wide. Those transparent tears representing sadness and pain fell silently. -Ma''am, it''s okay, it''s okay.... It''s all right now. Carmen had always been aware of her condition: previously with a moderate depression and now with a miscarriage; she had already found herself on the verge of copse, almostcking the will to live. But now Leopoldo told her that the abortion was no ident, which renewed her hope. But it was clear that hope had faded, a fading that her heart could not bear, so she was broken. Holding her gently in her arms, Carmen''s constion tenderly reached Mariana''s ears with motherly kindness and affection: -It''s okay, just cry, there''s no need to hold back. Reaching out his hand, he patted her shoulders regrly, one after the other. Little by little, Mariana, who had been in a trance, suddenly hugged Carmen tightly, put her head in her arms and burst into tears. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. He was crying desperately like a baby. His cry was as mournful and heartbreaking as if he had suffered many injustices and was trying to tell everything in spite of everything. Lionel looked at her like that and felt pity in his heart. She was so miserable. Leopoldo was trembling as if he couldn''t keep his bnce, his eyes showed a bit of confusion and a shock he couldn''t hide. Such a Mariana was unlike anything he had ever seen before, as vulnerable as if she were a little girl with no one to turn to. The emotions that had been building up in her mind had no way to vent, and could only end up hurting herself. Leopold felt as if his feet were tied and nailed solidly to the ground, which allowed him to be immobilized, and he began to stiffen. The pain produced in his hands seemed to vanish the moment the whimpering began. He could not perceive anything. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, leave thedy alone for a while, her hand also needs to be bandaged quickly. Blood was still pouring from the wound in his hand. The man''s face was pale, but he remained motionless. But when he saw the way Mariana was sobbing, it was as if something had clogged her throat. In the end, she had no choice but to take steps to get out. The door closed again and Mariana and Carmen were left alone in the room, with the sound of the pitiful cries still echoing in the air. Leopoldo stood in the doorway for a while before leaving. The wound was soon treated. The man looked at the white gauze on his hand, his eyes misty with emotion. -Investigate how he found out about this. He had erased all traces pertaining to Diana before asking Lionel to deliver the prepared information back to Mariana, so she should never have known. Something shed through her mind and her eyes widened wildly: the call Mariana had received! -And the call she received in the living room. Lionel lowered his eyes and replied quietly: -Yes. With those instructions, Leopoldo got up and turned toward the living room. Watching his back, Lionel couldn''t help but shake his head with a sigh, then went to undertake what he had ordered. Leopoldo stood at the door with some hesitation. He was about to push the door, but then it opened from inside and Carmen came out. She looked up in surprise at Leopold who had reappeared in front and was stunned for a moment. She folded her hands tightly and finally whispered: -Mr. Dur¨¢n, there is something I want to tell you about the Se?ora. With that, Carmen closed the door behind her, not letting him in. Leopold frowned with his skeptical gaze at her before eventually nodding. The two made their way to a bench in the hallway and sat down. -It''s the first time I''ve seen Madame so sad. She is usually calm and kind, and although she always seems cold in front of people, she is always nice to everyone. Leopoldo gazed ahead with a deep look and his heart trembled gently. He never thought it would be his own nanny who would tell him about this one day. Instead of Mariana''s parents. -It was ascertained that the Se?ora was moderately depressed some time ago, just after Miss Andrea Solis arrived at the house. Perhaps her words irritated her and made her faint, and it was also the moment when it was ascertained that she was pregnant. Leopoldo was in a lot of shock inside, but his face remained expressionless, without any visible emotion. -After that moment, I thought she would tell him the good news, but he stopped me from saying it, I just thought she wanted to tell him herself, but to my surprise she didn''t say anything. Carmen''s voice was a little hoarse. After spending so much time with Mariana, she seemed to have been taken into her world, a ce so wide that one could not see the way forward. -Andter, Miss Diana Solis also came to the house for her. From her conversation, it was Miss Andrea who told her that she was pregnant, and she went to the hospital where the Se?ora did tests at that time, so she knew. It turned out that Diana knew about Mariana''s pregnancy. Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Chapter 163: Too many misunderstandings Leopold subconsciously clenched his hands while his face was still serene. Carmen, who had been talking, turned her head to look at him and saw that he was not responding, not knowing if it was anger or sadness that filled her heart, but both were making it increasingly difficult for her to vocalize. -Miss Diana came for a confrontation with Madame that time, Madame did not dare to provoke her because she was pregnant, but she was still affected afterwards. She had been rting in a derative tone, without mixing her own personal emotions. She told it all to Leopold, out of the affair, as a spectator. -I then became concerned about Madame and called the olddy, her grandmother, to tell her about the incident, but I didn''t expect to cause a major misunderstanding between the two of you. After a pause, Carmen looked at him. -Now that Madam is like this, there are things I''m not sure you know, if you knew and treated her like this, that''s really.... The unkind words were not spoken by Carmen. -If not, I will tell you today so that you do not cause any more misunderstandings between you. With a heavy sigh, she rose and came to the front of Leopold, bowing deeply and saying in a slightly apologetic tone: -Mr. Dur¨¢n, I know that what I said today was a bit out of ce, but I don''t care so much anymore that thedy ends up in this situation. If you want to fire me, I have no regrets, since it was the olddy who recruited me to take care of you. Over the past few days, Carmen had repeatedly reviewed recent events and only then wondered if Leopoldo had misunderstood something. Now being able to say it all left her more relieved. -If thedy wakes upter, she must be hungry, so I''ll go back to cooking and bring her some food. After saying this, she turned and left despite remaining concerned that Mariana would be left alone. Silence returned to the hallway. The door was a short distance away, but Leopoldo was frozen in ce. It turned out that he had been misunderstanding her and had hurt her deeply. The heart in his chest felt as if it had been hit hard, leaving him breathless. Only after a long while, he got up, walked slowly to the living room and opened the door to see the woman lying on the bed. Her face was haggard, cheeks still streaked with tears, eyes red and puffy and frowning tightly, looking a little restless; she clenched her hands into fists and ced them at her side, as if she couldn''t be calm in her sleep either. It looked very fragile. Leopold sat on the edge of the bed, frowning and with a different emotion in his eyes. Suddenly he reached out and gently stroked her slender cheek; apneas he did so, he felt only a coldness and it took a moment for a warmth to reach his fingers. Variety of thoughts that burst into his mind at this point made his eyebrows furrow even more and his eyes were tinged withpassion, which rippled between them. However, he did not realize it himself. He pursed his lips as a huge guilt hovered in his heart and stirred it. As I was about to withdraw my hand, the woman on the bed suddenly moved and the next moment she opened her eyes. Their gazes met, and confusion and guilt seemed to violently collide in the air. At this moment, it was as if the only thing in their eyes was each other, reflecting their figures. Mariana blinked, turned her head and averted her eyes, paining from within her heart. And Leopold had concealed the various emotions he had just expressed. He stood up and his face had regained its usual indifference. After a long silence, a cold voice came from above: Property ? N?velDrama.Org. -Take care of yourself. The woman lying on the bed did not move or respond, as if she had not heard him. Leopoldo watched her with a deep look and stood for a long time, withouting out directly. -It''s clear to me what happened before. Just in time, Carmen, who had not long returned home, came back with two thermoses in her hands and, seeing Leopoldo, said smiling hastily after being stunned: -I spent hours this morning making this soup, which must be very tasty. Mr. Dur¨¢n, you shouldn''t have eaten, should you? Would you like some? With that, she set them aside and opened one of them, immediately the aroma filled the room and quickly prated their noses. Carefully setting the table for Mariana, Carmen served the meals on it one by one. As soon as she tried to help her sit up to eat, she was surprised when Leopoldo stopped her. -Leave them here, I''ll do it. Carmen froze and then a bright smile appeared on her face. She hurried to step back and took a while looking at them happily. So it seemed that it was helpful to have told Leopoldo those things before. Thinking to leave them some space where they were alone, Carmen stopped stalling and quietly withdrew, closing the door carefully in the process. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Leopoldo looked at Mariana who had her back to him, and such a slender figure making such a movement still gave him a feeling of utter disgust. He sighed secretly and picked up a white spoon, scooping up some rice and using the chopsticks to catch food before speaking quietly: -Come and eat. But the figure on the bed did not move at all. Leopold frowned, looking somewhat helpless, but did not show his usual impatience. -Eat all the food, and I will give you an exnation of this matter. The slender figure trembled softly. After a moment she sat up, her puffy eyes staring at him as she asked in a muffled voice: -Really? The woman looked quite pale and had her lips tightly pursed in resignation; though she remained wary and suspicious, her eyes shone as brightly as the brightest stars in the night sky. -Really. With that, Leopoldo passed the spoon full of food in his hand towards Mariana''s mouth, patiently waiting for her reaction. -I can eat by myself. The woman looked at him and her face improved, but her body was still tense. She looked again at the spoon in front of her and, less naturally, reached out her hand ready to take it. -Do you still want justice? The stern words fell on his ears, but they were not as cold and harsh as usual, they seemed to have a different meaning, so deeply hidden that he could not detect it unless he listened carefully. The man''s hands were still wrapped in thick white gauze, and Mariana frowned slightly as the past events unfolded somberly before her eyes, making her heart flutter. Before he coulde to his senses, he had leaned forward and shoveled what was on the spoon into his mouth, chewing mindlessly, as if he had lost all his senses. When the woman had swallowed, she passed another spoonful of food to her lips and had to open her mouth to take it again. Before long, the small bowl of food in Leopoldo''s hand was finished. Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Chapter 164: As if I had lost something very important Leopold went to the side, opened another thermos, from which he poured himself a steaming bowl of soup, then sat back down on the edge of the bed, tilting his head and feeding it carefully. Gently, she picked up a spoonful, put it around her lips to blow it out and waited for it to cool before taking it to Mariana''s mouth; and so on, until she finished the soup. -Do you want more? Mariana shook her head, looking at him with a frown. It seemed strange to Leopold, but he did it as naturally as if he had experienced it a thousand times before. -So you have taken care of... Miss Solis when she was sick? Leopoldo''s hands stopped. He looked up at Mariana who was staring at him with ck eyes, and This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. shook his head, -From my mother. It sounded somewhat sad in his tone, and also had a tinge of something else. For a moment, she couldn''t help but be stunned in her seat. Since they had been married, they visited both his father and stepmother regrly at the old Dur¨¢n family home every month, as well as his grandmother from time to time, but this was the first time he had heard him talk about his mother. Her grandmother had told her that Leopoldo''s mother had passed away a long time ago. -I''m sorry. Mariana lowered her head, bit her lip and spoke with some difficulty. -I''ll give you an exnation for this, so just rest. With that, he went outside, and when the door opened again, Carmen came in. Mariana was somewhat dejected, as if she had lost something very important. The way the two had just spent their time together was like that of a couple who had been together for years, which had confused her mind and left her frozen for a while. -I think Mr. Dur¨¢n has you in his heart, otherwise he wouldn''t take such good care of you, would he? So don''t be angry with him, he doesn''t want to lose this baby either. Looking at Mariana, Carmen sat down on one of the sofas, picked up an apple on the table and began to peel it, whileforting her. The baby... Sadness took over her again, Mariana pursed her lips and nodded softly without saying anything else, turning her back to him and lying down again, obviously she didn''t want to continue the conversation. With a sigh, Carmen had no choice but to keep quiet. On the other hand, Lionel called Leopoldo and told him that he had found out something. Shortly thereafter, Leopoldo arrived at the Grupo Dur¨¢n building. Removing his suit jacket and cing it on the coat rack, Leopold then sat behind his desk, nced at Lionel in front of him and gathered the information on his desk. -We found out that Xavier was the one who told this to Madam, we hacked his email and found the IP address that sent it to him, which is in... Dalia''s house. Leopoldo frowned and began to leaf through the information in his hands. He told the truth. Then he could not help but clench his fists as a great anger welled up in his heart and violently invaded him. Lionel looked up and saw the white gauze that had turned almost red in Leopold''s hands, such a move would tear the wound. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, be careful with your hand! With an exmation, Lionel rushed over with eyes full of concern. Opening his palms, Leopold lowered his head only when he saw the wet blood on his hand. The darkness in his eyes seemed to be swallowed by said red color, from which ferocity continued to emerge. -Dalia? I don''t want to see her in this city again. Lionel instantly became serious and nodded vigorously. -Go away. -Mr. Dur¨¢n, your hand... -Your hand... Do you want to bandage it? Leopoldo looked without a care in the world at his wound and said tly: -All right. Lionel had no choice but to leave. Stillness returned to the office. It was getting dark, the room was unlit and gloomy, the sun was slowly dissipating along with its heat. Leopoldo, with a heavy heart, lit a cigarette, but he did not smoke it, he simply held it between his fingers to observe how it was consumed little by little, leaving only the red tip of the cigarette, which could not be burned in any way. A faint smoke rose in front of him, the unpleasant smell of tobo managed to calm him and his eyes returned to their stability and coolness. Finally, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. Soon, the call was picked up and Diana''s soft voice with a smile camenguidly from the other end of the line: -Leo, what is it? -I heard about a good restaurant, Novo Aroma, let''s have dinner together today. The tone was t and, at the same time, a bit tired. -Of course, I''ll have to dress nicely or there will be trouble if I''m recognized. Once it was agreed, they both hung up. When Diana arrived, Leopoldo was already here, and the whole restaurant was empty except for them, apparently it had been reserved by him. She lifted the corners of her mouth gracefully and drew a decent smile. She straightened the veiled dress she was wearing, took off her jacket and handed it to the waiter next to her, along with her sunsses, before walking charmingly towards the man under the slightly surprised and stunned gaze of the other party. -Why did you invite me to dinner today? Putting aside her expensive purse, Diana smilingly looked up at the man, her expression showing an ambiguous seduction. Until Leopoldo told her he loved her, she would never do it first. From the beginning until now, she should have been the one dominating the rtionship. The woman was delicately made up, which allowed her to show her softness in the right way, unlike Mariana, who was already so thin that she only looked weak. Leopold narrowed his eyes and raised an eyebrow, lifting the ss in front of him and taking a sip to disguise the thought he had just had. -Let''s eat first. At this point, the waiter read the situation and immediately came with the appetizers. Diana had a smile on her face and carried herself gracefully all the time, asionally sheughed when talking about something with Leopoldo, making the two of them seem very intimate. When he finished his meal, he picked up a napkin and gently wiped the corners of his clean mouth, asking softly: -Leo, we''re done, can you tell me why you asked me toe here? Such an environment was meant for couples, moreover, Leopold had deliberately chosen this ce and invited her. His smile became more and more entuated, as if he had already guessed the surprise that awaited him. -Diana, you should know that what I promised you before is still valid, nothing will ever change. -I know, Leo, if you want to say something, just say it. If you keep hiding it from me like this, what if I misunderstand you? Diana looked at him serenely while a shrewdness passed in her eyes. -You knew from the beginning that Mariana was pregnant, you were also the one who ordered Dalia to drug her at the party, you wanted her to have an abortion! Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Chapter 165: Interrogation The icy words fell like a bombshell in Diana''s ears and the smile on her face seemed to freeze, leaving her looking somewhatical. She frowned at Leopoldo and her heart skipped a beat. He couldn''t believe his Leo would talk to him like that. -Leo, do you know what you''re talking about? "It''s all over now, isn''t it? Why are you bringing it up again now?" Panic gripped Diana''s mind as she quickly mulled over a response with her eyes narrowing with vignce. -Diana, this... Before Leopoldo could finish, she interrupted him again and even her face turned pale as she said in disbelief: -Leo, didn''t you say you would always trust me? What are you doing now? As if unable to ept what was happening before her eyes, tears slowly welled up in her eyes, swirling in the sockets and then running down the corners and down her pale cheeks. But she continued to stubbornly stare at him, raising her chin arrogantly. -So you chose to believe Mariana and now we''re here? You said you wanted to have dinner with me today, but you just tried to interrogate me, didn''t you? Leo, how could you do this to me? As she said, the usations andints in her tone became louder and louder. Leopoldo looked at her, but his gaze grew colder and colder. -Diana, I can believe you, but Mariana is also innocent, she needs an exnation. At that, Diana scoffed and the way she looked at him added a resentment, which made him somewhat ufortable and squint. Tears were still evident on her face, but the woman had already changed her expression as if putting on thick armor and thinking of ways to protect herself. Leopold lowered his eyes, the heaviness in his heart further identified. -She needs an exnation, and so do I. I''m sure you''ve already looked into this matter, in that case we can go head to head, let''s see who can''t hold it together first then. Leopold frowned and his face became slightly somber the moment the image of the woman frantically brandishing the small knife in her hand came to his mind. -You can''t face her. The arrival of the icy words to her ears made her lips pucker instantly and a rancor appeared under her eyes. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Even Leopoldo probably didn''t know exactly how he looked right now when he said it. Wiping all emotion from her face and revealing nothing more, Diana returned to her usual tenderness, but pouted, a very aggrieved look. She blinked softly and tears slipped from her eyes, crystalline tears against her pale face, making her look even more vulnerable and helpless. -Leo, what the hell were you thinking? How could I have harmed your son? You think I ordered Dalia to do it? Remember? You questioned mest time! After a pause, he reached out and took Leopoldo''s hand next to the cup, staring at him and asking: -Do you have toe and question me every time she cries? If that''s the case, I might as well admit it directly so I won''t be so sad every time youe to me like that. Leopoldo looked at the woman in front of him with his eyes opaque from the emotions in them, shining and fading, which prevented him from seeing what he was really thinking. I hade today just trying to ask Diana to apologize to Mariana and then I would do my best to protect her. After all, he had said he would protect her. Leopold frowned and stared at the woman''s hand on his, his expression finally softening a bit. -Diana, I shouldn''t have to question you over and over again, this is thest time, you really haven''t, have you? The hand that had been resting on Leopold''srge palm trembled slightly as Diana opened her eyes wide, astonishment in them surging like wavespping at rocks, but the next moment she lowered her gaze to hide it. Leopold was not to know how she looked by asking that question, that in those cold, stern eyes was not unconditional confidence in her. A fierce shiver ran through her heart, and instead of withdrawing her hand, Diana shook it even tighter and stubbornly, and stared at him. -Leo, you have to believe me, I didn''t do it. By now, she had regained herposure, as if she had recognized something, or was clear about the rtionship between the three of them. The man, on the other hand, had both eyebrows tightly furrowed as he looked at the woman with a hint of something else in his eyes. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke quietly: -I choose to believe you. Choose? He did not say "I believe you", but "I choose to believe you". The small distinction of words led to apletely different meaning. She scoffed inwardly, but outwardly she seemed touched, but she had expected this response from him. She knew that with her rtionship and her past with Leopold, this affair would only end up being what she wanted it to be, as long as she insisted on denying it. With a smile on her face and a nce at the man, Diana raised her ss, leaned forward slightly and whispered: -Leo, thank you for choosing to believe in me. Then the sses clinked in the air with a crisp sound. Diana had a meaningful smile in her eyes and drank the wine. From now on, it would be a new beginning. Still, I would never let go of Leopoldo. He could only be hers, so he would eliminate anyone or anything that got in his way without mercy! The two walked hand in hand out of the restaurant and suddenly Leopoldo heard a slight shutter sound and couldn''t help but stop. -What is it, Leo? Diana''s heart raced, so she held her breath and reached forward to take the man''s arm and ask him. However, the man did not answer him, but walked straight to a flowerbed and finally approached. A man holding a camera and wearing a visored cap could be seen squatting in front of him. He probably did not expect to be caught, so at this moment, his face was full of panic and deep surprise. He looked at Diana who was walking behind Leopoldo and hurriedly averted his gaze. -Delivers the camera. The journalist shuddered as the man''s indifferent voices came out above his head; in the cold, windy night, he felt only warmth and his forehead was covered with cold sweat, but he dared not wipe it away. Clutching the camera tightly in his hand, the journalist seemed stricken with regret. He looked at Diana, and with no choice, finally had to hand it over with a shudder. Diana took a quick nce at Leopoldo, stepped forward and said annoyed to the other man: -I am off duty now, this is my private life, please respect me! Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Chapter 166: You just ruined everything Diana then turned her head towards Leopoldo, a little anxiously, and could not help but speak: -Leo, did he take any bad pictures? If not, you''d better give it back to him, they''re not easy either. Looking at the trembling journalist, Leopoldo gently raised his hand and the camera he was holding went into free fall, and the next moment there was a loud bang. The remains of the camera were scattered around his feet, looking somewhat disastrous. It was definitely unusable. The reporter looked at them and felt distressed; in order to film with high definition image quality and adapt to various bad conditions, the requirements for the camera were very high and it almost cost him the sry of a me s to buy such a thing. But then something urred to him and he calmed down a bit when he saw the memory card in the middle of the shattered pieces. With this one, his day''s work was not in vain. However, to her surprise, the long figure in front of her reached down and pulled her out of the ruin. -I can let you out this time, but I hope next time you won''t stalk me, I don''t like it like this. With that, Leopoldo took steps and turned to leave. Diana once again cast a nce at the journalist in front of her, with condemnation and anger in her eyes, but in the end she said nothing and quickly followed him. After apanying her home, Leopoldo left. She had just finished washing up and going out when her cell phone rang. Diana frowned, put the towel down in her hand and picked up the phone, impatience showing on her face as she saw the number on the screen. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. -You have the nerve to call me? I asked you to take some sneaky pictures of tonight and post them, this is all good for both you and me, but what did you do? You just ruined everything. In fact, this reporter tonight was arranged by Diana, who wanted nothing more than to take advantage of Leopoldo to achieve spection and also wanted Rafael to see him. -Miss, you can''t say that, who would think that Mr. Dur¨¢n would find out? Now I have not only lost a camera, I have almost lost my job too, who am I going to me for these things? The slender figure wrapped in a bathrobe moved slowly and finally stood in front of the window. Diana looked at the ring lights and a difort grew inside. It seemed that everything had stopped going as she had programmed it, one thing after another was slipping out of her control and that made her very uneasy. -What do you want then? And this reporter on the other end of the line was thinking of ckmailing her! -I suppose you also want to coborate with me for a long time, don''t you? In that case, how can I be a journalist without a camera? Don''t you think so, Miss? The words made him cringe, but he managed to suppress the feeling of nausea that kepting up and spoke in a cold voice: -Okay. In this circle there was only one rtionship: threaten and be threatened, and whoever could know more about the weaknesses of others would win. On this side, Leopoldo headed straight to the hospital after taking Diana back home. Mariana was supposed to be discharged, but due to her mood swings that day, she ended up having to stay in the hospital for a few more days for observation. But he stopped short in the doorway of the room, from which the lights were passing and faint sounds of conversation and asionalughter could be heard. He squinted, and when he heard a certain name, he couldn''t help but freeze in ce. -Xavier, sorry for the inconvenience, you work so hard every day and you always bring me fashion magazines, and I have read them, many are out of print, thank you. Inside the room, Mariana looked at Xavier in front of her with a heart full of emotion. She had been looking for those magazines for a long time and had not seeded, but she had not expected him to find them and send them to her so quickly just after she had mentioned them to him once. An inexplicable warmth enveloped her and she smiled, and on her otherwise somewhat pale face she added a crimson and did not look so haggard. -Mariana, you don''t have to be polite to me, aren''t we friends? Aren''t friends supposed to help each other? I found them in a recent essay I was working with, so I borrowed them for you. Still, Mariana was very grateful for his kindness, and the mere fact that he remembered what she had said made her feel excited and warm inside. -Xavier, I must thank you anyway. They looked at each other and smiled. Suddenly, the door behind them burst open and a cold breeze blew in, mming over her and causing her to inevitably freeze. Looking up, he saw the long figure standing in the doorway. It was Leopoldo. The smile on his face faded a little. Leopold had a panoramic view of such a change: the woman who had been talking smiling jubntly with the man in front of her had turned somber-faced as soon as she saw him, such a difference in attitude so striking. It was as if a great rage had welled up in his heart and burned incessantly, his eyes grew colder, settling on Mariana with a heavy pressure. -What''s the matter? Did Ie at a bad time and disturb you? The words were harsh with obvious sarcasm and hurt his ears hard, making his face turn unpleasant. -What are you talking about? Xavier, standing to one side, shifted his gaze from Mariana to Leopoldo. Indifference flooded his beautiful eyes, impregnated with infinite coldness. -Why is Mr. Dur¨¢n speaking in such a tone? Mariana and I are just friends now, I just came to bring you some magazines to relieve your boredom. He looked at Leopoldo without scruple, without flinching or fear in his gaze, but with deep warning and... protection. As if irritated by the emotion in those eyes, Leopold instantly burned with a monstrous rage, which rolled into his eyes and invaded every part indiscriminately, swallowing the light in an instant and turning them ck. -Don''t you know, Mr. B?o? Mariana is married and her husband is... Leopold turned his eyes to her, causing her hand to tremble slightly as she held the magazine. -It''s me. Mariana opened her eyes wide, her face covered with dismay. She looked at Leopoldo in front of her as if she did not know him. Her heart was beating like a drum, as violently as if it was about to burst out of her throat in the next second, causing herself uneasiness. Her hands clenched into fists, the pain of the sharp nails digging into her palms suddenly hit her and then spread throughout her body. Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Chapter 167: Sarcasm "You don''t want anyone to know about our rtionship, do you? So what are you doing now?" For a moment, Mariana felt that she couldn''t understand him, that she couldn''t understand what the hell he was thinking! And at this moment, Xavier''s mind was also filled with shock. He turned his head and let his gaze fall upon her, and seeing the way she pursed her lips and didn''t reply, he already understood. It was the truth. He shivered slightly, but the next moment, anger and anguish for her came over him again. The past appeared before her eyes like the projection of a movie. It seemed that the man in front of her had provoked everything Mariana had gone through. -So as her husband, you just watched her being bullied on set? How Andrea bullied her and how she was falsely used by Diana? And now you''ve watched her have a miscarriage? Mariana made an effort to clench her hands, but she could not stop the trembling of her body, the only thing she was able to perceive was the heat that was being lost little by little. Leopoldo looked coldly at Xavier and said: -It doesn''t seem to be Mr. B?o''s business, does it? There are some things that outsiders shouldn''t get involved in, and naturally they shouldn''t. Mariana was agitated and restless, her hands crossed and the pain in her palms made her feel numb. Finally, she could not help but speak softly: -Did you want toe and tell me the exnation? The whispered words interrupted the conversation between the two, causing a gap between them through which a cold wind whistled continuously. -Exnation? What do you care about the damn exnation when you and your lover are flirting here? In fact, you''re happy that this child is dead and out of your way, aren''t you? The cruel words reached Mariana''s ears unhindered and sent a shiver through her heart. She raised her head and looked at Leopoldo with an incredulous look. -Do you know what you are saying yourself? Leopoldo smiled a cold smile and the look he gave me became imcable as usual. -Mariana, you should remember that you''re married now! You''d better stay out of some things. The tone was t, but the words expressed the mockery of having condemned her. Suddenly Mariana, who had been looking angrily at Leopoldo, burst outughing. At first theughter was small and only drawn to her lips, but gradually it spread across her face and her voice grew louder, as if it were something so ridiculous that she could not stopughing. Xavier looked at her with thin pursed lips, his eyes had lost their usual yfulness and were flecked with undetectable concern. -Is that so? In that case, you''ve heard about our rtionship, why still won''t you let me go? I already said it once at your grandmother''s house, but then... I was pregnant, now that the baby has died, and you and Diana are in love, no one will stop you without me. The ethereal voice of the woman passed Leopold''s ears, the determination between her sentence made his eyes widen and his heart instantly fill with nervousness. "So he''s always been wanting to leave! Is it because of him that she wanted to split that then?" The atmosphere in the room became tense in the blink of an eye. At this moment, the door opened again. It was Carmen who entered. He looked at the people in front of him without realizing that something was wrong, instead, he was happy to visit Leopoldo visiting Mariana and showed a smile of satisfaction on his face. -Se?or Dur¨¢n, have youe to keep the Se?orapany? Since you leftst time, she is in much better spirits and has been eating well these days, and from time to time Se?or B?o and Se?orita Lopez havee to talk to her. With that, she looked at Xavier with a kind expression. However, there was no one to answer her. It was then that he saw the tears in Mariana''s eyes, her face growing paler and paler and her dry lips pursed in shame. Leopoldo turned outside the door and instantly disappeared from sight. The sound of leather shoes scraping against the floor reached Mariana''s ears, making her flinch slightly, but without saying anything else. Xavier, who was watching her from the side, reached over and tried to lift her hand that was dangling at her side, but it did nothing. -Mariana, stop being sad. If the time reallyes, you coulde to me then. After a pause, she smiled at Carmen and turned to leave as well. He had left shortly after Leopoldo left, so he had just arrived at the subway garage when he saw Leopoldo had not yet left. With a hatred in his eyes, Xavier immediately stepped forward and mmed his fist into his head. The blow was hard, he had used all his strength. Leopold frowned and looked up at the man in front of him, the corner of his mouth swelled and blood spilled then. He reached up and wiped it off, stepped forward and punched him back. Xavier, naturally, was not about to let him off easy. -This one is for Mariana''s baby, and this one is for her! The parking lot was almost empty at this point, but lingering in the shadows was a reporter who had been following Xavier. Not expecting to be lucky enough toe across such a shocking piece of information today, his hands shook with excitement as he quickly clicked the shutter and began snapping photos. From this subtle angle, the bruises on both of their faces were clearly visible. The next day, the Inte was in an uproar and the discussion seemed to have no end like boiling water. All major websites were marked with bold red headlines: Leopoldo, president of Grupo Duran, and Xavier, a well-known domestic actor, fought for love in the parking lot! The public naturally wanted to see such a scandal involving such rich, powerful and handsome men, so within minutes, the discussion had reached a million and the influence was always high. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Diana was the only one who could rte to the former since she was rumored to be with Xavier. And thetter, who had millions of fans, had had numerous romances but they were all for show, not genuine; but in fact one day he got into a fight with Leopoldo over a woman, which no one expected and his fans were devastated! The story did not mention who the woman was, but someone thoroughly researched the women who had been involved with both men at the same time, and Diana was the most corresponding! Suddenly, the news of the fight between Leopoldo and Xavier over Diana was widely covered and spreading through the streets, and naturally the movie Emperatriz Santa, financed by Grupo Dur¨¢n and starring Xavier and Diana, was at the top of the search list. Lidia Ramos, the agent, looked over at her who was sitting on the couch flipping through a magazine, her face full of smiles. He approached her obsequiously with the tablet in his hand, very prurient to be able tough so freely at this moment. -Diana, look at all thements on the Inte! Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Chapter 168: Fighting over a woman -They say youe from a rich family, but you have a great personality and so much talent that in the short time you have been here you have attracted Leopoldo, the president of Grupo Dur¨¢n, one of the leadingpanies, and Xavier, the well-known actor, to fight over you. Such a hype, at no cost, was almost a gift for no effort at all, and besides, as long as it could have anything to do with any of them, their poprity and recognition in the industry would increase enormously. The more he looked at her, the more Lidia felt satisfied with her, so much so that she wanted to kiss her. -Diana, look, as the buzz continues to build, your search volume is skyrocketing. I never thought we could gather all this influence for nothing. Hearing that, Diana looked at the very happy agent standing next to her and gave her a smile. -The person in charge of the important project I negotiated for you has been hesitating, but I think it will work this time. That said, Lidia ignored her and promptly left, ready to take advantage of the trend to grab more work for herself. However, Diana, who had just worn a slight smile, couldn''t help but frown. The affair between Leopoldo and Xavier this time was not to be about her. Lidia didn''t care about anything but her acting career, but she wasn''t like that. What kind of person could have caused this conflict between them? A name came to his mind, but he didn''t want to believe it anyway. She narrowed her eyes as *** Mariana was drawing on herputer in the living room, while Ana, sitting next to her bored, picked up a fresh orange, quickly peeled the skin, then removed the white orange part and handed it to her. He then picked up another one and began to eat it while peeling it. -Mari, there''s been another big gossip on the intetely! Do you want to know? Mariana looked intently at the design on herputer, manipted the mouse in her hand and asked: -About what? -Yesterday Leopoldo and Xavier got into a fight in the subway parking lot of some hospital! A journalist recorded it with a camera and posted it on the Inte. Now the Inte is flooded with tears from the millions of Se?or B?o''s fans, they are so heartbroken! Mariana frowned and put down the mouse, asking with some trepidation: -Subway parking? Ana did not notice the strangeness in his tone and continued excitedly: -Yes! And they talk about fighting over a woman! There was much spection on the inte, and finally some blogger came up with the rtionship picture that supposedly best fit the facts, which led to the identity of the protagonist being.... Diana! With that, Ana couldn''t help but chuckle and feel very sorry for herself. -Why are you so angry? These two people have nothing to do with you. Seeing his indignant expression, Mariana couldn''t help but shake her head and smile. However, his heart was pounding due to some suspicion, preventing him from calming down. It was true that both Leopoldo and Xavier had gone to see herst night, and both had fought in the subway parking lot of some hospital.... He hastened to shake his head vigorously in order to get all these imaginations out of his head. She chuckled to herself. "What am I thinking?" After being quiet for a while, Ana put thest piece of orange in her mouth, nced secretly at Mariana and said vaguely, pretending to be careless: -Mari, when you get out of the hospital, what about your job? Her hand stopped moving again and Mariana frowned at the drawings on herputer, shadowing her expression. She had quit her job for the baby and the wardrobe crew, but she hadn''t expected that in the end, she wouldn''t find a new one and lose the baby too. Seeing her like this, Ana was a little worried. She approached her andforted her: -Mari, in that case, you''d better go back to thepany. The CEO hasn''t hired someone for your position. We all know what happenedst time, now that the drama is over, it''s no big deal for you to keeping back to work! Mariana had some hesitation, but finally, she shook her head. She smiled, and her face showed something serene and sentimental. -Anita, I''m not going back to thepany, resigning is resigning, I''m afraid of causing problems for the the hospital, you don''t have to worry about me. Reaching out to cover his hand and holding it firmly in her palm, Mariana smiled back at him, telling him to calm down. She still had some confusion and didn''t know what the future held, but life had to go on, and she had to get a job. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Seeing her like this, Ana did not dare to express her inner worries any more, she was afraid of upsetting her again. She couldn''t help but sigh and also held Mariana''s hand tightly. In the office of the president of Grupo Dur¨¢n. Leopold frowned, looking solemnly at the tablet Lionel had handed him as his slender fingers glided across the screen. The gaudy headlines shed in his eyes, making his aura turn a little cooler. -What is it about? Tossing it onto the wooden table, he leaned back in his chair and looked annoyingly up at Lionel across from him, his insides burning with the anger that was slowly surging. Lionel subconsciously shuddered and shook hands, cold sweat could not help but break out and covered his forehead in no time. He felt unfortunate that every time something like this happened to his boss, he was the one getting the interrogation here! With a deep breath to erase several thoughts, Lionel stepped forward and said in a soft voice: -Your fight was caught on camera by a reporter and posted online. One blogger imed that ... the conflict between you and Xavier was over a woman, and said it was .... Diana. After saying this, Lionel felt very uneasy, as if someone had grabbed him by the heart and prevented him from breathing. Naturally, the boss didn''t want to appear in the pages of this messy entertainment news. -Someone block the news, besides, you investigate that website, I think it doesn''t want to continue working. Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Chapter 169: Challenging limits Lionel held his breath and responded earnestly: -Understood. This website was challenging the boss''s boundaries, and probably after this issue, the media should know what they could and could not report. -One more thing, the design firm that you were testing before you took over Grupo Dur¨¢n, the morad Company, has recently had some problems, you may have toe and check. The moradpany could be considered Leopoldo''s first asset, so it meant a lot to him. He found someone to take over thepany when he took over the Dur¨¢n Group, and for many years he had dominated it from behind. Today it became somewhat famous in the design world and, more importantly, no one knew that he was really responsible for it. -I see. After another secret nce at Leopold''s expression, Lionel walked away, but with a sigh in his heart. *** Mariana''s condition had been improving for some time. Since thest time Leopoldo and Xavier had arrived at the same time, they had not returned. In the meantime, Ana hade once saying that the group had to return to the set to discuss the further promotion of the film Holy Empress. The director tried to recreate the image of Xavier and Diana as a couple by taking direct advantage of the news that Leopoldo and Xavier had fought over Diana some time ago, but to his surprise thetter tly refused and after leaving the set, his agent expressed his disapproval of the matter with a cold face. Ana went so far as to tell him that it was because things hade out and her agent wanted to keep the two of them as far away as possible. But when Mariana heard the news, she felt confused and thought something was wrong. It was more that I didn''t want Diana to get involved with them. That day, Carmen came to pick her up at the hospital. When she returned to the vi, Mariana had the feeling of being in a different world, as if everything from the past was still here, but some things, like people, had changedpletely. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Without thinking about anything else and without asking about Leopoldo, she began to look for a job on the Inte, but it did note up quickly. She had left her job suddenly due to interpersonal rtionships, the averagepany would have thought she didn''t fit in and they wouldn''t want to hire her. After a few days of searching, I was still unsessful. This day, Mariana received an unexpected call from Xavier. When she picked up the phone, she frowned, looking puzzled, and asked quietly: -Didn''t Anita say there was a lot going on with the production of Empress Santa? Why do you still have time to call me? A voice tinged withughter came from the other end of the call and came softly in his ear: -What? Was it Se?orita Ortiz''s head that got hurt this time? Why is your memory so bad? Have you forgotten that we are still friends? Marianaughed helplessly. -That''s enough, tell me, what is the reason for calling me? -In that case, I won''t beat around the bush. My agent admires your designs and wants to hire you in my studio to be my personal dressmaker. There was a slight indifference in the cheerful tone, and some hints of implied firmness, which did not give the impression of levity. Still, Mariana couldn''t help but frown. -Xavier, you should know that I''m actually better at designing women''s dresses, not men''s. Thest time I designed the costumes for the movie, I could barely finish it because it came in sets and there were historical references. Thest time I designed the costumes for the movie, I could barely finish it because it came in sets and there were historical references. A personal dressmaker for celebrities was supposed to be more inclined to mix and match outfits, working mainly with big, internationally known brands, and even wearing clothes from the brands they endorsed themselves, who didn''t have much connection to the original designers like her. Therefore, Xavier''s decision was a bit abrupt and even iprehensible. -Okay, I believe in your designs, you can keep working on them when youe to my studio, but you are mainly dedicated to helping me with the costumes. Mariana was still frowning and pursing her lips, her eyes shining with shame and anger, -Xavier, tell me the truth, did Anita tell you about my recent job search? She asked you... to give me a job, is that right? The more he talked, the more difficult it became for him to speak. She was a bit ufortable and felt as if a boulder was obstructing her chest, somewhat burdened, and that even her breathing became much more difficult. -Mariana, it''s not like that... Before he could finish his sentence, she had already interrupted him. She looked calm enough, but her eyes gradually grew moist and tears welled up in them. -Xavier, friends should not be like that. His hoarse, raspy voice paused and Mariana blinked, saying serenely: -Thank you for your help, but I will find the job myself. After that, he hung up the call. cing the phone on the table, he leaned back on the couch, feeling nothing but exhaustion and a jumbled set of thoughts filling his head. It was a handout, a handout I didn''t need. At this moment, a clear voice suddenly rang in her ears. Mariana looked to where it came from and saw that an e-mail had arrived on theputer she had left on the table. He clicked on it and was surprised to find an acknowledgement, asking for an interview tomorrow morning at 10 am. The frustration she had just felt melted away and she couldn''t help butugh. Although she still looked a little haggard, she was finally relieved. She couldn''t help but lean forward and shout towards Carmen who was busy in the kitchen: -Carmen, I''m going to my interview tomorrow! -Great! For a moment, the happiness of the conversation seemed to spread throughout the vi with the flow of air. The next day, Mariana woke up early. She quickly set things up, put on a professional outfit and natural makeup before grabbing her resume and heading to the agreed-upon location. Standing in front of the building, looking at the tworge letters in front of her, Mariana was a little nervous, but her face remained calm without showing any panic. What had asked her toe to the interview was exactly the morad Company in front of her, a He hadn''t expected one of the top design firms to give him an interview. After all, when he had sent in his resume he had only thought about getting more opportunities. The morad Company could be considered the cradle of young designers and was the kind of