bChapter /b21.

    When Eloise arrived, she was practically armed to the teeth.

    She was wearing a hat, sses, and a mask. Even her hair was rolled up and stuffed inside the hat, hiding every trace of herself.

    As she entered the private room, she couldn’t help but feel paranoid, whispering, “I swear, there are two women out there who keep staring at me.”

    Rosalind poured her a cup of tea and replied, “They’re not paparazzi. Don’t worry.”

    “How do you know they’re not?” Eloise asked.

    “Because they’re following me,” Rosalind answered coolly.

    Eloise threw off all her disguises, letting them fall to the side as she sank into her seat, downing her tea in one go

    She said, “It’s so annoying. There are always people tailing me. I’m out here having an affair or something” Rosalind smirked, “It’s because you’re too famous. The moment anyone notices you, it’s ia /itrending topic. Eloise groaned in frustration. “If I’d known this would happen, I never would’ve be a star. I’m constantly on edge.”

    “You don’t have any scandals, so what’s there to be scared of?” Rosalind pointed out.

    The words hung in the air, and both women felt an ufortable silence settle over them.

    That night of seven years ago had been a secret shared between them, and a nightmare they both still couldn’t

    escape.

    Eloise took Rosalind’s hand, her voice filled with gratitude.“Rosa, thank you for everything these ipast /iyears.” Rosalind chuckled softly. “What are you thanking me for?”

    “If you and Vernon hadn’t shown up that night, I… I might have really died there,” Eloise admitted, her voice trembling slightly.

    Eloise had always been beautiful, the kind of stunning beauty that turned heads.

    Rosalind, on the other hand, was the kind of graceful beauty that captivated but in a more subtle, understated

    way.

    Both were beautiful in their own right, but it was clear that Eloise had the kind of beauty that caught a man’s ey The problem started in university, where Eloise, the campus queen, was far too famous for her own good.

    Her passion for the arts made her a fixture in every school event–singing contests, talent shows, you name it. A she won them all.

    Because of this, Eloise’s name spread like wildfire during her university years, earning her the attention of seve scouts, each offering to make her a star.

    Her life was supposed to be a smooth ride, full of glory and fame.

    19:53

    But the turning point came during the graduation party in her senior year. She was wearing a dance top and a short skirt when she bpassed /bby a construction site near the school gates.

    Next thing she knew, she was gagged and taken to a hotel.

    It was the receptionist who noticed something was off and alerted the police.

    The police reached out to her counselor, but he happened to be out of town that day. He then called his friend Vernon to handle the situation.

    Vernon, a man with a daughter, knew how devastating this could be for ia /iyoung woman’s reputation and mental

    state.

    At the same time, Rosalind had been searching for Eloise, and after some quick nning, the two of them rusher to the hotel.

    Vernon, together with the police, restrained the drunken young workers, while Rosalind stayed at the hotel, keeping Eloisepany all night.

    Eloise’s clothes were torn to shreds, her body bruised and battered. When she saw Rosalind, she couldn’t speak, only crying and holding onto her.

    Vernon, fearing for their safety, spent the night outside the hotel room, guarding them.

    By morning, Eloise’s parents had arrived to take her home.

    Only then did Rosalind and Vernon leave the hotel and return to school.

    Vernon told her, “From now on, this is just between us. No one can know, or Eloise’s life will be ruined.”

    Rosalind understood and kept the secret buried deep inside her.

    Eloise sighed. “That night still feels like a nightmare. Even after all these years, I still wake up in a panic sometimes.”

     Chapter 22.

    Chapter bi22/i/b.