Chapter 32: My Introvert HUSBAND
I’d heard rumors that DN Entertainment, Gideon Davenport’s company, was on the brink of bankruptcy because the new actors and actresses they signed hadn’t produced a single hit movie, even though most of them were influencers with massive social media followings.
Oh, but who cared about their bankruptcy? They didn’t even bother to defend me when I was buried in fake scandals, and they had no problem discarding older actresses once they lost their youthful beauty.
I suppose that was also why they wanted to build a business alliance with the Brixtons through marriage. But of course, they wouldn’t dare sacrifice their "precious lamb" to the so-called crippled wolf.
In the end, they decided to throw away the lamb they thought wasn’t worth much, which was Helcia or me.
But what they didn’t realize was that instead of throwing away a useless lamb into the fire, they had unknowingly placed her right on top of a pile of gold.
"When I look at Mrs. Davenport, I can see she’s two-faced, but I never imagined she was capable of something this vile!" Lando’s voice trembled with suppressed anger.
As a professional actress, I could always tell when someone was faking their feelings or expressions. But now, sitting face-to-face with Lando, I didn’t see even the slightest trace of deceit on his face.
He was genuinely furious, the kind of rage that looked as if he wanted to throw Addison straight into a pit of fire.
But honestly, who wouldn’t feel the same?
"I don’t know when my hidden camera broke, and I haven’t checked all the recordings saved in there yet." I hesitated before asking, "Did you ... happen to see any video of my stepmother forcing me to sign the loan agreement?"
Lando took a deep breath, trying to regain his calm. "I haven’t watched all the videos either, but the last recording on that memory card is from about two months ago. Did your stepmother force you around that time?"
I let out a heavy sigh, feeling disappointed because what I was looking for wasn’t there. "No. She forced me a month ago," I admitted. "Which means ... it’ll be hard to bring this to court."
"I’ll find another way," Lando said firmly. "I know someone who can handle it."
I blinked, unsure if I’d heard him right. "Really? There’s another way?"
He nodded with confidence. "This memory card holds so much evidence of Mrs. Davenport abusing you for years. With this evidence alone, we can convince the jury that it’s not impossible for her to have forced you to sign the loan agreement."
He added, "So don’t worry. I’ll find a way."
From the way he spoke, it didn’t sound like an empty promise. He truly meant every word he said, and even though I hadn’t known him long, I believed he was a man of his word.
"In that case ... I guess I’ll just have to trouble you!" I smiled brightly at him, thrilled that he was willing to help me. "I don’t think I’ve ever said this before, so I’ll say it now." I looked him straight in the eyes and added with a cheerful laugh, "I’m truly lucky to have been chosen to marry you, husband!"
Lando held his breath when he heard my words, either because he felt shy or because he couldn’t believe what I had just said.
But I truly meant every word. I felt lucky not just because he had tremendous wealth—though honestly, that was a jackpot—but because he was genuinely kind and gentle!
Most rich men would probably sneer at their wives for taking on something they considered beneath them, like modeling for a small product campaign.
Sure, Rosélle Beauty wasn’t exactly "small," but compared to his world, the paycheck I received must have looked like pocket change.
Yet not once did he ever say, "You don’t need to work," or try to stop me from chasing the little things that mattered to me.
Sure, he asked plenty of questions when I told him I had just gotten a job and even went through my contract, but not once did he belittle me. Instead, he supported me, offering his support and even guiding me so I wouldn’t lose my way in that industry.
Maybe I was being dramatic, or maybe it sounded biased, but he really was the first man who ever made me feel safe without stressing me out.
That’s why I liked him so much. Maybe not romantically—not yet, at least. I didn’t know what the future would bring—but even as just a friend, he truly made me feel happy in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.
I just hoped he wouldn’t disappoint me in the future. Otherwise, I’d be stuck clinging to my fictional husbands for the rest of my life.
"That goes the same way," he said at last. Lando turned his face slightly, avoiding my eyes once again. "I’m lucky to have you as my wife, instead of ... your sister."
I didn’t say anything for a while, just smiled and giggled, because he looked so adorable when he got shy and awkward like that.
Some of my colleagues used to joke that any introvert would be living in a nightmare if I ever adopted them as a friend and maybe they were right. I was loud, playful, and sometimes a little too much to handle.
However, Lando didn’t seem bothered at all. Even when he sometimes looked like he didn’t know what to say, he never once seemed uncomfortable around me.
Maybe he could be my first adopted introvert friend.
[Husband.]
What?
[You mean your introvert husband,] the system corrected me. [You keep calling him "Husband," but in your head, you treat him like a friend. Host, please decide his role properly!]
Why did the system have to make such a fuss about that? I only called him "husband" because I didn’t want to call his name out loud, and technically, he was my husband on paper!
Still, I didn’t want to let my hopes rise too high. The system’s mission was to win Lando’s heart and raise his favorability toward me, not to make him fall in love with me.
Friends could love and care for each other too, right?
[Why don’t you just accept the fact that he’s your husband!]
I snapped at the system in my head. ’Hey, you’re supposed to be a money-making system, not a matchmaking system! Stay in your lane!’
Instead of answering me, the system suddenly threw a random quest at me.
[A Random Quest!]
[Quest: Invite your HUSBAND to dinner and make your HUSBAND compliment your beauty.]
[Reward: $10,000]
[Time Limit: 12 hours.]