Chapter 3 A Secret Baby

The noise of fans at the Convention Center was deafening when Louisa and the leading actor - Tony Bowman, walked onto the stage, waving with several other From the End players behind them. Shots from dozens of cameras immediately captured the movements of the stars without missing a single expression and distributed lightning that dazzled the eyes. They sat on chairs after being invited by the presenter to praise the success of the romantic film, which touched the blues but made the audience feel hot with the intimate scenes presented.

The host asked Louisa to stand up to express thanks for the fans' enthusiasm to fill this large building. She smiled broadly, waved again, and said, "Hi, everyone. I'm sorry I had to wear glasses because this morning there was a small incident involving my eyes. But don't worry, I'll be fine if I can meet you. I'm grateful that this film can be successful and exceed our targets. Without you, I am nothing. Danke! Danke!"

"Oh, I'm sorry about what happened to your beautiful eyes, Ms. Bahr," said the curly-haired presenter. "Okay, this time we will hold a question and answer session that we have gathered from some of your fans, the actors and actresses of From The End."

Then, one of the committee members gave a microphone to a woman with a fertile figure and a scarf around her neck. She looked at her new idols individually and then asked, "I want to ask Tony Bowman a question. How did you feel when you were on a project with Louisa Bahr? How did you two build such good chemistry that swept us completely away in your love story."

Tony Bowman blushed, glanced at Louisa, and then put his arm around his co-star. "Because I like this beautiful and talented girl." Tony's answer got such an unexpected reaction that Louisa clapped and laughed out loud at the man's sentence. "I'm serious, guys. She was a fun girl during the filming process, and we found so much in common that the chemistry built without realizing it."

Louisa nodded in agreement and added, "Tony is a handsome man, and who doesn't want his sense of humor when you're in a bad mood? He has jokes that make me feel at home."

This response made the SDCC building busier, whistling at Tony and Louisa's teasing. So, one of the audience raised a hand not far from the first questioner. The red-haired woman accepted the microphone with her heart pounding wildly, wanting to ask a question that tickled her mind. "I want to ask Louisa Bahr a question."

"Yes, please, Miss," asked Louisa.

"I saw on Twitter that you and your boyfriend broke up. Is it true that Troy Austin has a baby you don't know about?" asked the red-haired woman, knocking Louisa's heart to the floor. "How did you react when you found out you were having an affair, Ms. Bahr?"

What?

Cash Louisa froze like a human who had just received a curse with her mouth open. Her ears were ringing to the point of pain, and the enthusiastic smile she was trying to put on her face suddenly disappeared, replaced by shock at the fan's statement. Her brain was suddenly paralyzed, and she couldn't reply to the remark. Instead, dozens of questions emerged from other fans who protested that this should not have been asked because it disturbed her personal life.

And as if she had been turned upside down, Louisa repeated the woman's statement about Troy's child over and over again. Denying what happened earlier was not reality but a joke that wanted to drop her name when she started becoming famous. Without realizing it, Louisa almost burst into tears, remembering how stupid she was about the other side of Troy's life in Paris. A baby? Louisa wanted to smash Troy's head against the wall right now and then throw him into the crocodile cage so he would know how broken her heart was right now. How could that bastard have a baby while they were having an affair?

Unfortunately, Louisa's ignorance and harmony with Troy all this time backfired. They shred Louisa's heart into minor pieces, then sprinkle with salt. The pain was excruciating; she couldn't define the extent of the pain she was experiencing now. It was as if Louisa had been strangled and then pushed into the most bottomless abyss without allowing anyone to help. Now, she felt like the most stupid person in the world. She should have noticed the change in Troy's attitude towards her, how the man had begun to distance themself so there would be no more communication between them. Louisa thought it was all due to Troy's busy schedule, but he was playing with other women.

"Lou, after my work is finished... I want to go to LA to meet you," Troy promised via video call.

"I can't wait, Troy. Let's spend time wherever you want."

"A proposal? Where do you want to be proposed to?" Troy asked with a blush. "I want to propose something we can't forget for the rest of our lives, Babe."

"Fuck Troy!" Louisa grumbled, getting up from her seat and leaving the stage just like that.

###

Louisa Bahr, the actress who made her name in the film From the End, was dumped by Troy Austin.

Responding to rumors of a breakup that were never made public, Cory, the manager, denied Troy Austin is not worthy of being Louisa's lover.

Louisa's fans were furious at the audience's questions, which ruined the atmosphere at the press conference at SDCC. Embarrassing!

"Oh shit!" Cory growled, reading one of the headlines on the internet as they were going to the place to meet Dean. "I'm not even saying that you are better than Tony. The media is too much!"

Louisa leaned her head against the car window with tears streaming down her cheeks. Ignoring Cory's words, Louisa still tried to contact Troy to ask for an explanation that what the know-it-all woman said at SDCC was not reality. She was still in denial and thought everything that happened to her today was just a game. Louisa growled when Troy answered none of her telephone calls; instead, they were diverted to the mailbox. Not long after, the number was blocked. She banged her head against the window, completely frustrated over the nightmare she was receiving.

Louisa wanted to curse and pull Troy's curls and then chop the unknown man's body into many pieces. How could he hide this bitter truth during their seven-year relationship? What did she lack that Troy would have the heart to cheat on Louisa with another woman? Doesn't he realize that Louisa did all these accomplishments for him, too?

What kind of woman managed to snatch that bastard, Troy?

Cory patted Louisa's shoulder, implying that the girl's tears were too expensive to cry for Troy. A second tissue box was given on the dashboard and deliberately provided by a dashing driver. Whether it was a coincidence or God was on this poor girl's side, a black limousine caught up with Louisa and Cory at a time when gossip chasers were constantly asking questions about the breakdown in the love story of Cecilia. The man, whose face resembled a fat version of Brendan Fasser, explained that Dean Cross had ordered him to pick them up and take them to a private place where no one would disturb them.

"I'm just sad why he's hiding all this, Cory," said Louisa, sobbing. "What am I lacking? I always obey her wishes. Our relationship has never had any problems, and now... I'm like a stupid donkey who doesn't know anything that he has a baby from another woman."

"Lou... please... wipe your tears, darling. You're too elegant for a cheap man like Troy. There are still many charming men who can please you. Yeah ... for example, Tony Bowman. Ah, forget it! I wouldn't say I like Tony's ways. "I was looking at you earlier. OK, back to the original problem, Lou. You are beautiful, smart, and sexy; whatever is beautiful is in you. Don't dwell on sadness because I'm sure there will be a man who wants to heal your wounded heart," explained Cory at length. You pulled Louisa into a hug.

Louisa did not respond to her manager's advice and motivation. The sentence just passed through my ears without having time to digest it in her head. Louisa was busy picking up the debris of her broken heart while praying silently that Troy would get recompense one day.

Then, she moved away from Cory's warm embrace and turned towards the street, where the magnificent buildings became smaller as she crossed the Coronado bridge. She opened the car window slightly, letting the night breeze blur her anguish from settling to the bottom of San Diego Bay. Louisa's tears dried up in seconds as if nature didn't want her always to be sad. However, the hole in Louisa's chest was too big to close at once. This wound may take weeks or months to heal to accept a new person. She shook her head slowly, unsure of what Cory was saying.

After walking along the circular bridge that connects San Diego with Coronado, Louisa was greeted by restaurants, souvenir shops, three to five-star hotels, and cars parked neatly on the side of the road. Towering coconut trees also decorate the city's streets while the smell of the sea begins to waft into your nose. Besides, even though winter isn't over, people feel at home walking through the shops under thick coats. There was jealousy in Louisa's heart when she remembered Troy's promise to her that they would spend the holidays together.

This limousine finally entered a legendary hotel area two centuries ago. The setting is large and forms a circle decorated with shrubs along the yard, so it doesn't feel too hot even though it's on the beach. The trees tower like sentinels, while the main building reminds Louisa of the Victorian style of the 1800s.

The hotel building's paint is consistent, with only brick red on the roof and white on the walls. A perfect combination that makes Louisa feel like she's back home. The yellow lights burning in each room give a warm and romantic impression, like hundreds of fireflies wanting to provide light in Louisa's life. Once again, he was carried away by the atmosphere displayed by the hotel.

As soon as the car engine stopped, the door was opened by a waiter in formal clothes. His friendly gaze ushered Cory and Louisa out and said, "Ms. Louisa Bahr?"

"Yes, that's me," answered Louisa, pulling clear liquid from her nose. She was evil at appearing in front of people, she thought.

"Nice to meet you, Miss. You have been waiting for Mr. Cross at Serena Restaurant."

"Without my manager, you mean?" Louisa pointed at Cory.

"Don't worry about me, Lou. I'll hang around here for a bit, and maybe we can stay the day," Cory suggested. "Enjoy your dinner with Mr. Cross," he whispered, straightening the leather jacket that wrapped Louisa's body. "Don't cry. I'm sad if you're like this."

"Okay," said Louisa wearily.

She couldn't help but walk alone, led by a man with a slim body and long legs, saying that the girl had been waiting for her all along. The waiter expressed his pleasure at meeting Louisa in person and apologized for being unable to attend SDCC. However, the man who is probably his biggest fan regrets the issues that have arisen and asks the star to be patient in dealing with love problems.

Louisa responded with a faint smile, slightly raising the sunglasses from the bridge of her nose and restraining herself from crying again even though she was about to meet the agency's highest management. Louisa wondered whether Mr. Cross had heard the hot rumors about him and Troy. Will she get his sympathy after this?

Who knows. I'm not interested either.

While walking side by side, Louisa was amazed by the architecture that once built this magnificent hotel. If it weren't winter, perhaps more visitors would come to sunbathe in the sun or surf on the rolling waves that kiss the shoreline. One of the things that Louisa longed for was to get rid of boredom.

The man stopped right at a restaurant with a seafood menu and invited Louisa to come in. The girl nodded without asking many questions and stepped deeper into her boots-clad feet until presented with an outdoor atmosphere directly connected to the beach area. She gaped momentarily and would melt if a man asked her out there.

How could it not be? The decorative lights feel so sweet combined with the white wooden table and neatly arranged chairs. Matching umbrellas protect visitors from the sun while closed as if not to allow the seascape and sparkling stars to be obscured. A breeze ruffled Louisa's hair, and she froze momentarily when she saw the man in the gray shirt standing to greet her. His dark ocean-blue irises glistened as a crooked smile appeared on his thin lips.

Mr Cross.