When Hailey woke up the next morning, Aldrich was already gone.

After breakfast, Butler Shen stood nearby and said respectfully, "Young Madam, the driver is waiting for you."

"Driver?" She bked in surprise.

Noticing her reaction, Butler Shen asked cautiously, "Is there a problem, Young Madam?"

"Why do I need a driver?"

"The villa is in the Upper East District—it takes half an hour to reach downtown. The young master arranged for a chauffeur to take you to work and bring you back afterward."

Hailey was speechless. A chauffeur just for commuting? She wasn’t some high-society heiress like Aldrich.

"So the driver just waits in the car the whole time I’m working?" That sounded downright inhumane.

Butler Shen bowed. "Aldrichs. He is at your disposal."

She waved her hands frantically. "No, no. Knowing someone’s just sitting there waiting would stress me out." Unlike Aldrich, she wasn’t used to ordering people around like some capitalist overlord.

Seeing Butler Shen’s troubled expression, she reconsidered—this was probably part of his duties assigned by Aldrich. Refusing outright would put him in a tough spot.

"I can drive myself. No need to trouble the driver."

Once her decision was clear, Butler Shen presented a set of keys. "The young master prepared this car for you."

She took them—and nearly dropped them when she saw the glaring Lamborghini logo.

"I can’t drive this!"

"Does Young Madam dislike Lamborghinis? There are many other vehicles in the garage. You may choose—"

"No, no, you misunderstand." She almost cried. A third-tier actress rolg up to work in a Lambo? That might as well be a neon sign screaming "I’m a kept woman!"

She didn’t need to check the garage to know Aldrich’s collection was all obscenely luxurious.

"Do you have… something cheaper? More low-key?"

Butler Shen pondered. "The young master’s cars may not suit your taste, but Young Master Ou left a Grand Cherokee here. Would that do?"

A Grand Cherokee wasn’t exactly "low-key" either—but compared to a Lamborghini? She snatched the keys without hesitation.

Even the "cheapest" car in Aldrich’s garage was the nicest she’d ever driven. As she navigated the roads, her mind wandered.

The more she interacted with Aldrich, the more one question nagged at her:

Who exactly was he?

Her "fake husband" seemed like a far bigger deal than she’d realized. Had she bitten off more than she could chew?

Star Glory Media, her agency, was a mid-sized entertainment company in City A. Though not a powerhouse, it had decent opportunities. A scout had discovered her before graduation, and she’d signed on the spot.

Parking in the underground lot, she checked her phone—dozens of missed calls from Bella.

Oh no！

They were roommates. Two nights without returning home? Bella must be frantic.

She called back instantly.

"Hailey! You’ve got some nerve! Skipping one night after that banquet was bad enough, but two?! Where the hell have you been?! I almost filed a missing person report!" Bella’s voice could’ve shattered glass.

"Don’t be mad! I—I got caught up in something complicated…"

"Hailey! Don’t tell me you’re tangled up with that scumbag Darian again?!"

Hearing her hesitation, Bella immediately guessed she was hiding something. After seven Aldrichars of friendship, only one thing would make Hailey clam up: Darian.

The name still made her chest tighten. "No! It’s not him. It’s… a long story. Let’s meet for dinner tonight—I’ll explain everything."

How could she explain this mess over the phone?

"You had me worried sick! You’re paying tonight!"

Warmed by her friend’s concern, Hailey agreed. "My treat. I’ll pick you up after work."

"Pick me up? Since when do you have a car?!"

That was a story for later. "I’ll tell you everything tonight."

After pacifying Bella, she hung up and headed inside.

The receptionist greeted her. "Miss Hailey, long time no see."

She smiled. It had been a while. Actors didn’t keep office hours—they were too busy hustg for gigs. Hailey only showed up today because her agent, Danny, had scheduled a script review.

She went straight to his third-floor office.

Two tall, stunning girls stood inside when she entered. They Aldrich her up and down, then turned away with disdain.

Unnerved by their stares, she addressed Danny. "I’m here for the script."

He nodded at the girls. "You two can go. I’ll call you."

As they left, one deliberately shouldered past Hailey—hard.

Had Aldrich been there, he’d have recognized her: Feifei, the model he’d humiliated yesterday.

Staggering back, Hailey scowled. "What’s her problem?"

Danny adjusted his glasses with a flourish. "Models trying to break into acting. Don’t mind her—she’s Black’s latest fg. Riding high right now."

"Black? Who’s that?"

"Sweetheart, do you live under a rock? Black—heir to Ou Jewelry! That little gold-digger? He dropped this much to buy her the lead role." He held up three fingers.

"Three million?"

"Thirty, darg. Black doesn’t do small change." Danny sighed. "You really need to learn the big names in this town. Bet you wouldn’t recognize Aldrich if he bit you."

Hearing that name again threw her.

"Is Aldrich… important?" She treaded carefully. Beyond "filthy rich," she knew nothing about him.

Danny rolled his Aldrichs. "Important? He’s L.N.’s crown prince. When he sneezes, City A catches a cold. But forget trying to seduce him—he hates women throwing themselves at him. You’d have better luck with Black once he dumps that model."

If only Danny knew—not only did she know Aldrich, she was his legally wedded wife.

She shot him a look. "Aren’t we a respectable agency? Since when do you pimp out your actresses?"

Danny’s delicate features twisted into a smirk. It makes him appear more and more gay.

"Don’t look down on them. How many leading roles have you landed? This industry’s drowning in pretty faces. Without connections, you’ll rot in obscurity."

She didn’t argue. Their values were too different.

Mistaking her silence for agreement, Danny smugly tossed a script on the desk. "Here. Sword Legends—a major production. Don’t screw this audition up."