Sunlight filtered through the window, pulling Vivian Lin out of her turbulent thoughts. She exhaled slowly, letting the initial shock of her situation settle.
She had returned to five years ago.
This was the year when she had just begun to gain recognition in the industry. She had a few small projects under her belt and a growing reputation, but she was far from being a household name. And this was also just a few months before she met Nathan Reid.
The thought of his name curled her lips into a bitter smile.
Nathan Reid—the man she once trusted the most, and the first to push her into the abyss.
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At the time, Nathan Reid already held half of the entertainment industry in his hands. To him, Vivian Lin was nothing more than a key piece in one of his carefully constructed games.
The first time he heard her name was during a high-level dinner meeting.
"Nathan, there's a newcomer making waves in the industry. She just got nominated for the Best Newcomer Award at the Golden Screen Awards—her name's Vivian Lin," his assistant mentioned casually, not expecting much of a reaction.
After all, newcomers were a dime a dozen, and someone like Nathan wouldn't waste his time on an up-and-comer.
But to the assistant's surprise, Nathan raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Best Newcomer? Look into her."
A few minutes later, a brief file appeared in front of him. His sharp eyes scanned the details and stopped at the photo—a young woman with delicate, striking features. There was a hint of naivety in her expression, tempered by an undeniable spark of defiance.
"What's her potential?" Nathan asked, his voice calm as he flipped through the file.
"She's signed to a small agency with limited resources, but she has some talent. If given the right opportunities, she could become a top actress," the assistant replied, pausing before adding, "Although, she has a reputation for being… headstrong. She's reportedly turned down several dinner invitations."
"Headstrong, is she?" Nathan chuckled, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "The more headstrong they are, the easier they are to control."
He shut the file with a snap and leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk. "Arrange for me to meet her after she wins the Best Newcomer Award."
The assistant hesitated. "Sir, with all due respect, someone like her doesn't seem significant enough to warrant your personal attention."
Nathan's gaze sharpened, his tone dropping to a low, dangerous murmur. "Insignificant? The entertainment industry isn't just about trading influence. Sometimes, you need pawns—pure ones—to attract attention and neutralize threats. Do you understand?"
The assistant quickly nodded. "Understood, sir."
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Back in the present, Vivian stood in the soft morning light, staring out of the window. Her hands clenched at the memory of her first encounter with Nathan.
She remembered that meeting vividly. Nathan had approached her with a mask of warmth and sincerity, offering opportunities and making promises that seemed too good to be true.
He had praised her talent, saying, "It's rare to see someone as gifted and pure as you in this industry."
At the time, she had naively taken those words as genuine encouragement, never realizing that what he truly saw was her inexperience—her gullibility, her straight-forwardness—all weaknesses that made her an easy target to manipulate.
What Nathan admired was never her talent. It was her vulnerability.
Vivian's grip on the script in her hand tightened. The cover crumpled slightly under her fingers, but she didn't care.
"This time, I won't fall into your trap."
She exhaled slowly, forcing her thoughts into order. She already had a plan.
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In her previous life, all of her initial opportunities had come from Nathan's carefully arranged "favors." He had introduced her to directors, facilitated meetings with producers, and slowly chipped away at her defenses with his promises and charm.
This time, she would completely sever his influence.
One name came to mind: Kevin Zhou, a brilliant agent who had been forced out of the industry in her previous life because he offended Nathan. Kevin was known for his sharp instincts and unwavering principles, but his straightforward nature had made him enemies in high places.
In this timeline, Kevin hadn't yet faced his downfall.
"If Nathan likes to pull the strings, then I'll make sure he has no puppet to control," Vivian muttered under her breath, her eyes flashing coldly.
She picked up her phone and found Kevin Zhou's number—a contact she had saved five years ago but never used. Back then, she had been too inexperienced to understand his value. But now, she knew better.
She dialed the number and waited as it rang. When the line connected, she spoke clearly and confidently, "Mr. Zhou, this is Vivian Lin. I have a proposal for you. I'd like to meet and discuss a potential collaboration."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, but Vivian didn't give him a chance to decline. "If you're willing to hear me out, I promise this could be an opportunity for both of us."