She Becomes A Hot Sensation After A Scandalous Affair
Chapter 118

Chapter 118: Chapter 118

[Song Recommendation: Charlie Puth - We Don’t Talk Anymore, feat Selena Gomez.]

"I—I just want to be friends. Honest," Madeline said. "I just want to apologize, move on, and be friends. Why can’t we do that?"

"Because I don’t want to be your friend," Zane replied curtly. "I am utterly unable to bear the idea of being close to you but unable to touch you. The thought will make me insane."

Madeline’s heart sank.

No matter how many times she tried to persuade Zane to abandon whatever feelings he had for her, he still didn’t want to.

Madeline knew at this point that they should’ve just walked their different paths, hoping they would never cross paths and hurt each other again.

But Zane really left an impression on her, and she was reluctant to let go.

"But why would you tell Jasmin to give your phone number to me if you don’t want to be my friend?" Madeline asked.

"Because I’m worried," Zane replied. "I’ve seen the hateful comments on your official account and mine. I’m worried that one of those crazy fangirls would attack you in real life, or maybe you get too depressed reading all of those slanders online."

"You don’t need to do that. I... I can manage myself," Madeline murmured.

"I know. I was making sure." Zane sighed. "I can’t bear to see the woman I love get hurt. So I finally gave you my phone number, just like you requested back then."

"But that doesn’t mean you can call me for random stuff like this. Only call me when you need help," Zane said. "Listening to your voice is like torture for me, Madeline. If you see me as your friend, then at least help me by not torturing me like this."

"... I understand," Madeline murmured. "Sorry..."

There was another awkward silence between them after that. Even so, neither wanted to end the call.

For some reason, hearing each other’s breaths was enough to make them at peace, even if they had two different desires within them.

Madeline desired a company, but Zane desired much more than that.

"So, are you still with him?" Zane asked rudely. He didn’t even give Lance an ounce of respect, so he refused to mention his name. "Then you should end this phone call before that bastard makes another ruckus."

"I—I’m in my room, alone," Madeline quickly confirmed her situation. "About Lance and me... we’re just business partners, nothing more."

"Business partners? Hah! Don’t make me laugh, Madeline," Zane scoffed. "That bastard flew from Los Angeles to Bali just to ruin the final day of filming. It’s obvious that he’s into you."

Madeline couldn’t confirm that, nor could she deny it.

Because she was also unsure of Lance’s feelings for her.

Why did he keep using her as a business tool if he was truly in love with her? Why didn’t he at least show a bit of sincerity to her?

The only time he actually showed love was during sex, and a man like Lance could pillow talk his way into a woman’s skirt.

Zane knew that he was putting Madeline on the spot. But he was still bitter over the fact that Madeline chose Lance, who obviously did not love her.

"I’m going to hang up now. Only call me when you need help. I will always help you no matter what," Zane said. He wanted to hang up immediately, but he had an urge to say a sentence he wished Madeline would reciprocate.

So he said, "I love you, Madeline Rose."

...

There was no answer from Madeline, much to Zane’s annoyance.

"As expected, huh?" Zane sneered before he ended the call.

Beep.

—

Madeline sighed as she fell back onto the bed.

She stared at the ceiling, wondering if she could appease Zane enough.

"Or maybe I should just tell Zane everything about my contract with Lance, hoping he can find a way out to break the contract," Madeline thought. "That way, I don’t need to deal with Lance anymore."

That idea sounded very tempting.

But in the end, Madeline knew she couldn’t just annul a contract with someone as powerful as Lance so easily, and she didn’t want to harm Zane.

Not only would her career be affected, but Lance might also use his connection to destroy Zane’s.

Besides, deep down, Madeline couldn’t deny her fatal attraction to that man. Despite the shitty things that Lance did, she somehow still wanted to be close by his side.

"Madeline Rose, you’re a fucking idiot," Madeline scolded herself, as she knew that she was falling into the same hole. "You’re repeating the same mistake. Lance will be the death of you. He will deceive and betray you, just like Jon did."

Madeline remembered Jon and everything he did for her that made her fall in love.

She also remembered everything that Lance did for her, both the good and the bad.

She felt heartbroken, and tears started to sparkle in her eyes.

She put her palm on her chest, feeling her accelerating heartbeat.

"Why can’t you fall in love with the right man? Why do you always get yourself in trouble with these scums?" Madeline scolded herself. She began beating her heart as she got frustrated with her situation. "Goddamn it, why can’t you feel good with Zane? Just fall in love with him already and start a good life!"

If only Madeline could lie to herself. She would lie that she was in love with Zane and act as if her feelings for Lance were just a mirage.

But Madeline has always been a woman driven by love.

She wouldn’t persevere until this point, if not because of her love for her family.

She also couldn’t control which person her heart would harbor and cling to.

She fell in love with Lance, and it would probably take a long time—if not a lifetime—to forget this man and everything about him that gave her a fatal attraction.

"What twisted fate made me fall in love with a scum like you, Lancelot Grant?"