The Gipsy

During my lowest point, I managed to catch the attention of a billionaire named Walter Kirk, catapulting myself into stardom.

Later, when he fell from grace, I left him.

Upon hearing that Walter was making a comeback, I knew trouble was looming for me.

1

At a social gathering, when we met again, he watched me pour drinks for others with a smile. "You're quite the expert at catering to others, aren't you? Come and pour me a drink too."

Walter's words pierced my heart like a thorn. I had never felt so humiliated.

I stood still, not moving an inch.

"Have you been in the spotlight so long that you've forgotten your roots?" The air at the table was thick with tension.

Reluctantly, I approached him.

I remembered how he used to pour drinks for me, always catering to my whims.

After pouring his drink, he smiled with satisfaction, "Let's talk about 'The Jade-like Stranger'."

I gripped the wine bottle tightly, hoping he wouldn't ruin my plans.

The director, Anthony Johnson, eager to please, said, "Walter, whatever ideas you have, just let me know, and I'll make it happen."

Walter toyed with his wine glass, looking at me with a familiar smile, "What do you think?"

His smile caught me off guard, and I blurted out without thinking, "I want to be the lead actress."

2

It was only after I spoke that I realized things weren't like before.

Walter casually told the director, "She can't be the lead."

I almost lost my grip on the wine bottle.

Suddenly, the door swung open.

"Sorry I'm late." A woman with flawless makeup walked in.

She walked straight towards Walter, looking full of vitality, and her demeanor was reminiscent of my own from years ago.

Walter affectionately served her food, whispering in her ear.

Introducing her to the director, he said, "She's the lead."

Anthony quickly agreed.

The opportunity slipped through my fingers, and my agent frowned, "Director Johnson, what role can you offer Jane then?"

Clare Murphy looked at me with a sweet smile. "I've watched Jane's shows and noticed she rarely plays villains. How about letting her play the villainous supporting character?"

Walter glanced at me.

Anthony's eyes darted between Walter and Clare.

Clare tugged on Walter's arm, playfully asking, "What do you think?"

"If she doesn't want to play the villain, then she shouldn't play any role at all." Walter's sharp gaze seemed to pierce through me.

My heart sank. The inevitable had come.

Anthony agreed.

I had read the villain's script. It was an unlikable role, easy to criticize no matter how well it was played.

Thinking of my nearly empty bank account, I said nothing and headed to the restroom to compose myself.

After splashing my face with water, I found Clare had followed me.

"I heard you're Walter's ex-girlfriend?" She said, touching up her makeup in the mirror.

I remained silent.

My instincts told me this woman was hostile towards me.

"Have fun being the villain. I'm planning to end your acting career here." She taunted, flipping her hair and looking at me challengingly.

I found it amusing. Without Walter, it didn't mean I would let others bully me.

"Who do you think you are?" I retorted.

She seemed both surprised and infuriated.

"Before today, I hadn't even heard your name. You know, I have been a movie queen for quite some time. How dare you talk to me like this? Instead of bothering me, why not consider if you're fit to play the lead?"

I walked out of the restroom, hearing the sound of a mirror shattering behind me.

3

To me, Walter was a ray of light in the darkness, a savior.

I could accept his revenge, but not now. I hadn't lived for myself yet.

Returning to the table, I overheard them discussing changes to the script.

"The villainous supporting character, driven by vanity, sells her friend's kidney and corneas for money, and eventually targets her own family. Should she be even more evil?"

Walter tapped the table lightly. "What about the ending?"

"In the end, she's killed by the person she loves, who takes her organs." Anthony said seriously, holding the script.

Walter looked at me, then said, "Should it be even more tragic, right?"

Unable to bear his direct gaze, I looked away in panic.

The dinner soon ended.

I waited at the entrance, wearing a mask and hat, for my agent.

A Porsche sped towards me, clearly with the intention of hitting me.

Despite my attempts to retreat, I was grazed and fell to the ground.

I thought it was a crazed fan, but as I fell, I saw Clare's face through the car window.

She raised an eyebrow, full of disdain.

My anger peaked at that moment. Perhaps, as Walter said, after being a star for so long and being pampered, I couldn't tolerate such treatment.

I clenched my jaw, vowing to remember this slight, and awkwardly got up, brushing off the dust.

While doing so, I noticed Walter standing behind me.

How much had he seen? Not wanting him to see me in such a state, I pretended nothing happened and turned away from him.

"Does it hurt?" His words tore through my facade.

I wanted to speak, but choked up, finally managing to say, "It's okay."

The warm yellow light from the restaurant cast shadows on the ground, and the wind rustled the leaves.

I mustered the courage to look at him, and he was looking at me too, his gaze cold and unfeeling.

He slowly approached, glanced at my scraped elbow, and spoke slowly and icily, "Do you think this is enough?"

4

"It's not enough."

I knew it...

Walter suddenly laughed.

He gently tucked my wind-blown hair behind my ear, lifting my chin along the contour.

His touch wasn't cold, yet it sent a shiver down my spine.

After a long gaze, he scoffed and stepped back a few paces.

A black car slowly approached, and without another glance at me, Walter got in.

"Is your new boyfriend that useless?" His voice came from the car.

Then, with a cloud of dust, he was gone.

Watching the car disappear, memories of the past flooded back...

In my freshman year, my father was a gambler, unable to pay my tuition, which we borrowed from relatives. My phone constantly received calls from lenders, and even during the college entrance exam break, I got a debt collection call.

I worked multiple part-time jobs, sometimes two or three in a day. The constant worry about money made life seem bleak.

At that time, I heard from my classmates that luxury cars often parked at the university entrance with a bottle of water on the hood.

Water became more expensive as its value increased. As if guided by an unseen force, during the second semester of my freshman year, I picked up a bottle of water.