LILY I waded through that koi pond at the Reed Pack mansion for almost the entire night before I found that fucking ring.
Iâd been on the verge of collapse and hypothermia when my father took me to the hospital. That was my idea. He wanted to go straight to our country house so I could shift and run and heal in my true form.
But I need to handle the fallout on social media that had been destroying my brand and name while I was busy getting my snorkel on in that stupid pond.
Dad brought me to the hospital. I even got an IV drip. Of course, when they hooked me up to the drip in the hospital, I made sure to let my agent take photos and post them on the Internet to gain sympathy.
After what happened, I stayed in my human form until my publicist booked a press conference. Given the dehydration, continued exposure to that frigid water and my bout with hypothermia, I had a very sickly appearance.
Which was exactly the look I was going for.
At the press conference, I apologized in public and said that because the ring was given to me by my sister, I cherished it very much. On that day, I had thought that had been the ring I was wearing when I went out. When I got outside, a friend had alerted me that the ring was not on my hand, so I thought that it had fallen off. Therefore, in a moment of anxiety, the situation of asking people to help me find the ring emerged.
"I'm sorry. It was because of my carelessness that so many sanitation workers had to help me find the ring. I, on the other hand, stood to the side and did not look for the ring together with them. I sincerely acknowledge my mistake. I think I was too absorbed in memories of my sister whom I love so muchâ
and whom I lost a few years ago. She was a bright light in this world for so manyâmy family, her fiancee, all her friends and colleagues.â I press my hand to my chest. âJennifer, you are forever in my heart.â
Given my haggard appearance and sincere, heartfelt apology, the wave of negativity begins to reverse.
After a pause, I continue, "I'll go to the Sanitation Service Center to express my sincere gratitude to the sanitation workers who helped me. I'll also donate all of my income from this year's work and use it to set up a breakfast stall. The sanitation workers can get a free breakfast every day with their work pass.â
Once the video of the press conference is uploaded on the Internet, many people felt that my crisis had been handled well. Even the fans kept posting endlessly to help me regain my previous âdarlingâ image were being met with much less trolling and fewer hostile remarks.
As a result, many people felt that this had indeed just been a misunderstanding.
My gratitude towards the workers is also well-received and it even attracted many reporters.
Which brings me to another press conference.
This one is set up by the director of the Sanitation Service Centerâ¦
* * * * * * * * * * *
GRACE Theyâve arranged for us to be outside.
We have to stand in rows and smile, accepting gifts from the same woman who thought nothing of having us scour through week-old refuse because she wanted to make my life miserable.
Well, sheâd succeeded.
And she was chalking up a second victory because I was miserable again.
I sit inside the Center, refusing to go outside for this media circus.
Does no one see this for the obvious attention grab that it is!?!
Each worker had to line up and smile for the cameras while accepting a âtoken gift of Lilyâs gratitude.â
Wow. Justâ¦wow.
Claire accepted her gift and is very happy. In addition to the check for ten thousand dollars, had come with a down jacket. Looking at the label, she sees that it is a designer brand. When she looks up, she sees me. âHey, I was wondering where you were! Hurry and go outside. Everyone is lined up from the third shift. Lily is handing out gifts and cash compensation for her mistake. You worked harder than anyone. Go get whatâs due to you.â
Claire nudges me.
"I don't need it."
"This down jacket costs more than a thousand dollars. And the check is for ten thousand. Are you crazy?!? Why don't you want them?" Claire canât mask her disbelief.
Why donât I want them!? I can think of ten thousand reasons.
âIâm not sure what youâre thinking right now. Just take the things and leave, you'll be fine," Claire says.
She pulls me up and drags me toward the door.
"There's no need, Claire. There's really no need," I argue.
However, before I can release myself from Claire's surprisingly strong grasp, Iâm already been pulled outside.
"There's still one left who didn't receive the gift!" Claire calls out.
All of a sudden, the cameras and the reporters are aimed at me.
I automatically use my hands to block them.
Those cameras make me think of the time when I had been outside the court being swarmed and photographed by the media. The reporters had all been holding microphones and persistently wanting to interview me.
And Sean at that time... Iâd seen Sean standing outside the frame of the cameras.
Three years ago, in prison, he had stood there coldly.
When Lily had said that she was going to impair my hands, he had looked down at my fingers, which were already stained with spots of blood, and said "good" in a frosty tone.
Three years later at the country club, when his bastard friend Gregory had accosted me, heâd also stood by.
There were some things that, even after three years, remained the same.
Itâs okay. Youâre okay.
I breathe deeply.
Lily is the one in the crossfire today, not her.
This media circus isnât out to condemn me.
But then Sean steps into my line of vision. And he wonât break my gaze.