Chapter 589

Ricardo remained silent, standing quietly to the side.

John really didn’t have much to pack. Everything he owned wouldn’t even fill a small suitcase. His gaze lingered on the wedding photo by his bed, perforated with holes, and he pursed his lips tightly. He’d never imagined the day he would walk out of this place.

Seeing that John had finally mustered his courage, Brielle stood up. “John, let me lay it out straight for you. By joining Stellar Stage Entertainment, you’ll become an exclusive director under our banner. We’ll back movie after movie for you, but the only condition is you give first dibs to actors from our own roster. Of course, I’ll allow you to choose the ones you’re most satisfied with. If none meet your standards, I won’t stop you from looking elsewhere, but our talent must be your first port of call.”

This requirement actually gave John complete freedom. At least it didn’t limit him to choosing actors only from Stellar Stage Entertainment.

“Alright, I agree.”

Brielle then extended her hand. “I’m Brielle Haywood, the current president of Stellar Stage Entertainment. This here is Ricardo, one of our signed actors without a major work to his name yet. I hope you’ll guide him well in the future.”

A tremor quivered through John’s lips as he grasped her hand, his voice hoarse with emotion. “Thank you, Ms. Haywood. This is a momentous day for me.”

Years later, when John would recall this moment, he’d still feel a profound sense of gratitude. By then, he’d have an Oscar for Best Director under his belt, a pioneer among filmmakers. He’d always say the person he was most thankful to was Brielle, who pulled him out of the mire. She’s his close friend, his confidant. Her timely help would be something he’d remember for a lifetime.

Walking out of the alley, John tried to memorize every detail of the place. In truth, aside from a narrow passage and the moss climbing the walls, there was nothing much to remember. It was the most desolate scene he’d ever witnessed, yet it was etched in his heart.

Perhaps this very experience drove him to focus on the underdogs in his later works, stirring a deep resonance in his audience. He captured the lives of the unknown, turning himself into a celebrated hero.

The three of them stood by the car. Brielle heard Ricardo say, “Ms. Haywood, I’ve got some other matters to attend to, so I won’t be heading back to the office just yet.”

Brielle nodded, ready to take the driver’s seat, but John stopped her. “I’ll drive.”

Without objection, Brielle got into the car, and as they drove off, she caught a glimpse of Ricardo in the rearview mirror.

Standing still, he slowly shrank into a tiny dot as the car drove away and around a bend, 12:32 disappearing from view.

Ricardo looked up at the orange–hued sky, which seemed particularly beautiful against the backdrop of decay. The allure of standing in the sunlight was indeed a tempting thought.

Footsteps approached from around the corner, and a man’s voice rang out. “Ricardo, this is your first failed mission, isn’t it?”

Ricardo didn’t turn around but instead looked at his palm. His hands were stained with blood, and he’s a man burdened with sin. Could he truly stand in the spotlight?

The man had stopped right behind Ricardo, chuckling coldly, “So, the infamous Chameleon, the master of disguise, has a soft heart after all?”

The clean aura around Ricardo shifted, becoming ominously dark as if he were a man who had emerged from a mountain of corpses. “So what? Whether I fail a mission or not is none of your business.”

“You better keep that backbone when you’re facing the boss.”

The mention of the boss caused Ricardo’s expression to freeze. Then, a dagger slipped from his sleeve and flew towards the man. It grazed the man’s cheek, leaving a thin line of blood before embedding itself in the mottled wall behind him.

The man lifted a finger to his cheek, wiped off the blood, and tasted it.

Salty, metallic, like the taste of rust.

“Had you done that just now, Brielle would be dead.”

“I’ll take my punishment on my own terms. Say one more word, and I’ll kill you right here!”

It seemed the man truly feared Ricardo as he kept silent.

Ricardo’s eyes seethed with murderous intent as he pulled the dagger from the wall, plaster crumbling with it. He slid the dagger back into his sleeve. “You’ve dirtied my blade.”

The man was agitated. His chest was heaving as he spat out, “Do you think Brielle would still believe you belong in the spotlight if she saw you like this? Give it up. How could a normal person ever pity a monster? Don’t forget how your sister died. You were already deceived once. Do you really want to be fooled again?”

Ricardo laughed softly, his fangs bared. “If she deceives me, I’ll use this dagger to slice off her flesh piece by piece and feed it to the stray dogs on the streets.”