Chapter 51

51 Under the Spotlight Alex was taken aback to find Bella in his room. His gaze quickly swept over the room – all was in order.

Nothing had happened last night. A sigh of relief escaped him.

His sudden movement stirred Bella awake. She blinked sleepily, then sat up, facing Alex directly.

found you dozing off at the lounge last night, so I helped you up here,” Bella said matter-of-factly, as though narrating an everyday occurrence. “I tried to leave, but you wouldn’t let go of my hand. I was stuck.”

Η Bella’s frustration was palpable. She had secretly hoped for a closer encounter with Alex, but the night had passed uneventfully. Now, she was left strategizing ways to maintain her presence in his life.

Alex, slightly embarrassed, couldn’t fathom holding onto Bella. His memory of last night was hazy, but he was sure he saw someone else, not Bella. He shook his head, choosing not to dwell on it.

“I see,” Alex replied, masking his discomfort.

“I’ve got a busy day ahead. You should get going too. I’ve been thinking, maybe you should consider moving abroad. It might be a better environment for your career, and staying here could lead to unnecessary complications,” Alex suggested, his voice tinged with concern.

Deep down, Alex knew his troubled relationship with his wife, Emma, was somehow linked to Bella. He wasn’t sure why he was helping Bella, but he hoped it would somehow set things right.

Bella felt a jolt of rejection at Alex’s words. Was he pushing her away? Her mind raced. “I can’t leave yet. The famous singer, Maxwell, is coming for a concert, and my agency wants me to perform with him. It’s a big opportunity, whether I stay or go.”

“I need to clear up my current projects before considering a move. Otherwise, I’ll owe the agency at fortune, and I don’t want to b a burden to you,” Bella added, a hint of desperation in her voice.

Alex paused, then simply nodded, “Okay.”

Bella managed a strained smile. Alex seemed indifferent, yet he was concerned about her reputation. If he truly cared, wouldn’t he try to keep her close?

After Alex left, Bella found herself in a bind. She had impulsively claimed a collaboration with Maxwell, which was far from confirmed. Maxwell, known for his strong personality, wasn’t someone the agency could easily persuade.

Gritting her teeth, Bella realized she had to make her claim a reality. Gaining Maxwell’s support was critical.

She called her manager, who had been overwhelmed with Bella’s recent scandals. His frustration was evident over the phone. “Why are you calling? Haven’t you caused enough trouble already?”

Bella was taken aback by his harsh tone but stood her ground. “Can you arrange for me to perform $1 Under the Spotlight with Maxwell? It could change everything for me.”

212 Her manager laughed scornfully. “You think you’re that significant? Maxwell doesn’t need you. He’s the one calling the shots here.”

Bella, undeterred, threatened to reveal the manager’s involvement in her scandals to Alex. Panicked, the manager reluctantly agreed to help her one last time, but with no guarantees.