The Tycoon's Secret Wife's Escape

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

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The corners of my cousin Charlotte's lips curved up slightly. She stood beside Lucas Murphy, my childhood friend, their hands intertwined. Lucas, now a distinguished board member at Golden Stage Entertainment, was engaged to Charlotte, my cousin, who also happened to be the head talent manager at his company.

Because of her position, Charlotte controlled both my and Gabriel's careers, which is why I never got any major roles despite years of hard work and many auditions. Her influence was everywhere in the industry.

“Isabella!” Lucas frowned at me, his forehead creasing with disapproval. "What are you doing here?"

Charlotte, trying to maintain her pleasant demeanor for Lucas, chimed in, her voice dripping with false sweetness, "Perhaps she found out we were visiting the set and decided to stir up trouble... Isabella, how many times do I have to tell you? If only you were better at acting, you'd be in Sabrina's position by now."

I couldn't entirely blame them for thinking that way.

Two years ago, because of Lucas' influence and as a friend, I turned to him when I wanted to end the public rumors about my boyfriend and Sabrina's relationship. He had agreed to help me. But Charlotte intervened just three days later. She accused me of using Gabriel to get Lucas's attention, making me look like a desperate and scheming woman.

It wasn't long before Lucas started seeing me as nothing more than a delusional childhood friend. We used to be close, always supporting one another, but everything changed the moment Charlotte came into our lives. She captivated Lucas's attention, wrapping him around her perfectly manicured finger.

"Anyway, Isabella," Charlotte said, her voice softening for Lucas's sake, "Uncle Fred has been asking about you. Stop being stubborn and go back to the mansion. Your family misses you."

I couldn't hold back anymore when she mentioned my father.

"You know what, Charlotte? You should have been an actress instead of a talent manager. You're such a natural at pretending," I snapped, my teeth clenched in irritation, hands balled into fists at my sides.

"Look at yourself!" Lucas fired back, his face reddening with anger. "Charlotte's been nothing but concerned for you. She's taken on the responsibility of caring for your parents, and this is how you repay her?"

I scoffed bitterly, feeling the familiar ache of betrayal in my chest. "Is that what she told you? That I abandoned my parents?"

The truth hurt deeply-my parents broke my heart when they believed Charlotte's lies over me when I was just sixteen. They abandoned me, falling for one lie after another, and left me to struggle in a world that seemed set on making me fail.

"Isabella, I know the truth. You've always been jealous of Charlotte, and that's why you're acting like this!"

I stared at him, feeling the weight of his betrayal settle heavily on my shoulders. Lucas was supposed to be my friend, but he'd already let me down. Explaining myself was pointless. In his eyes, I would always be the villain of this story.

I walked past them without saying a word, keeping my head high and pretending they weren't there. It was then that I remembered Sophia was with me, her surprised expression showing how shocked she was by my ease around the couple. Her eyes moved back and forth between me and them as we left.

Charlotte's perfectly painted lips curved into a triumphant smile. She was clearly pleased that Lucas was growing more agitated by the second, his face flushing a deeper shade of red.noveldrama

"Isabella!" Lucas shouted, his voice bouncing off the hallway walls, but I kept walking, leaving them behind.

"Love, just let her go," I heard Charlotte say in her sweet, manipulative tone. "She always pulls this for attention. She'll come around once she realizes we're just trying to do what's best for her."

As soon as Sophia and I settled into the car, her curiosity bubbled over, and she couldn't help but speak up.

22:50 Fri, 11 Apr

"You know Boss Lucas Murphy and Charlotte Prescott?" she asked, "Then why..."

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"Why won't they help me with my acting career?" I finished for her. "You saw how they treated me back there. Lucas maybe my childhood friend, but when it comes to Charlotte, he's blind to everything."

Sophia nodded, her expression thoughtful. She knew well enough that Lucas and Charlotte were the power couple of the company, their influence reaching every corner of the industry. Lucas adored Charlotte so much that nothing else seemed

to matter.

Realization dawned on Sophia's face as she connected the dots. "Charlotte is your cousin?"

"Yeah..." I shrugged my shoulder and leaned back in the chair, trying to appear nonchalant.

"I mean, how? I've been handling your career for the past three years, and they often reject some of the jobs assigned to you. They always changed them last minute."

"Because Charlotte wanted my life," I simply said. I've known about it for a long time, but eventually, I just gave up, feeling all my energy slip away.

"Charlotte entered my family's mansion when we were ten..." I started to tell the story.

I consider Sophia a friend, and I knew she wouldn't reveal anything about my life to the public. Her loyalty was one of my few comforts in this cutthroat industry. "Her parents died in a car accident, and my parents took her in. She came from a modest family and became interested in my family's life. At first, she took Lucas' attention away from me when we were teenagers. Lucas is from a wealthy family. She used her pitiful life to win Lucas' affection..."

I paused for a moment, searching my feelings to see if I still felt any pain, but it had turned to ice because of my experience.

"When I was sixteen, Charlotte made a bold move to make my parents hate me completely. She planted weed in my closet..." My voice trailed off, the memory still sharp despite the years that had passed.

Sophia's eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth in shock.