Chapter 2 Trending Topics

The overwhelming number of injuries from the fire was staggering, straining the already frantic doctors and nurses as they tried to provide aid.

Carrie had been merely grazed by a splintered clothes rack, which left a deep, jagged wound on her calf. In comparison to the chaos around her, her wounds seemed almost negligible.

She managed to get basic care-a brisk cleaning and a quick wrap of bandages-at a local hospital before catching a cab back to her house.

Bayview Villa, a grand property under Kristopher's name, was technically their matrimonial residence.

Living alone had become the norm for Carrie, as Kristopher was hardly ever around. She had bid farewell to the housekeeper, discovering that her life could be quite adequately maintained with just takeout, deliveries, and the occasional visit from a part-time cleaner.

Now, she found herself the sole occupant of the sprawling living room, sinking into the sofa, her gaze drifting across the empty space.

The stark, monochrome decor did nothing to imbue warmth into the atmosphere.

A chilling realization crept up on her: this vast, elegant space felt more like a colossal tomb, a silent grave for her lost years of youth and a love that had quietly slipped away.

In this cold, echoing house, would anyone even notice if her breath ceased one day?

Carrie exhaled a weary sigh, her frame heavy as she leaned against the cold wall for support, struggling up the stairs to her bedroom on the second floor.

Each step was a battle, sending stabbing pains shooting through her from the surface of her skin down to her aching bones.

The house, stark and hollow, echoed even the smallest sounds, magnifying her sense of isolation.

It was today, amidst this profound silence, that Carrie truly grasped the all-encompassing nature of her loneliness-it was almost tangible, enveloping her senses with its texture and mournful whispers, tightening around her heart like a vice, producing a dull, relentless ache.

Upon reaching the sanctuary of her bedroom, she collapsed onto the bed, the very embodiment of exhaustion, feeling it both physically and spiritually.

Just as she surrendered to this weariness, the sharp ring of the phone pierced the silence.

"You reached out to me earlier. What do you need?" Kristopher's voice cut through the line, cold and distant as ever.

Carrie was caught off guard by his unexpected call. Words failed her as she parted her lips to respond, but before she could collect her thoughts, a soft, feminine voice floated through from the other end. "Kristopher, will you join me to..."

A surge of emotions tightened Carrie's grip on the phone, her heart thumping louder with each second. Overwhelmed and unable to contain her rising panic, she demanded, "Who's there with you?"

Kristopher gave no answer, merely stating in a flat, disinterested voice, "If there's something you need, let's catch up when I'm back. I have pressing engagements right now, so I must disconnect."

He promptly ended the call, cutting off any chance for Carrie to reply.

As the harsh beep of the disconnected line filled her ears, Carrie's lips twisted into a rueful grin. How utterly foolish she felt! Deep down, she knew his response all too well, yet she had clung to the hope of hearing his voice confirm it.

With a sense of self-inflicted irony, Carrie activated her tablet and scrolled through the day's hot topics.

One headline caught her eye: "A female star shielded from harassment at a dinner by her formidable partner." A wry smile twisted her lips.

Carrie knew all too well what it was like to face harassment at those kinds of dinners.

She vividly remembered her first major audition after her entering the showbiz; her agent had escorted her to a dinner with the influential director and producer of the drama series "Serene Sighs."

As a novice in the dizzying world of showbiz, Carrie had felt incredibly vulnerable, uncertain of how to navigate the murky waters of such gatherings.

The producer had eyed her shamelessly, sneering as he asked, "Is this the new talent you're introducing? She appears presentable, but I'm curious to see how she fares with a drink. Here's the deal, if you can gulp down this bottle in one go, I'll secure you an audition for the lead role."

Carrie was inclined to decline, but under the relentless pressure from her agent, she found herself compelled to consume the entire bottle.

As the evening wore on, she was hurriedly taken to the hospital suffering from a severe stomach ailment.

Her agent, fretful about the prospect of the role slipping away to another, quickly settled the hospital charges and departed.

At that time, Carrie found herself isolated in a hospital bed for several long days.

Yet, even before Carrie could be released from the hospital, the media was abuzz with the announcement that Lise had secured the lead role in "Serene Sighs."

Subsequently, her agent rebuked Carrie for her lack of ambition, complaining, "You are more appealing than Lise, so why can't you show more drive? She cozied up to Mr. Norris and hardly had to make an effort. She's surrounded by people eager to cater to her every need. I've heard that Mr. Norris personally orchestrated her landing the lead role in this production!"

When the show premiered, Lise was catapulted into stardom, swiftly ascending to the elite echelons of the acting world.

From that moment forward, Carrie let her acting aspirations wane and chose instead to devote herself entirely to supporting her husband, Kristopher.

After all, no matter her efforts, she could never get the same career opportunities that Lise seemed to receive effortlessly with Kristopher's offhand remarks.

At that time, Carrie had believed she was filling the role that was meant to be Lise's as Mrs. Norris, which meant she owed Lise.

By giving up the career opportunities to Lise, Carrie thought they would settle their unspoken debt.

However, Carrie hadn't foreseen that Lise would claim both the coveted career and Kristopher's affections.

As Lise's professional and love life blossomed, Carrie came to the painful realization that she had been overly consumed with her romantic pursuits, at the expense of her career, and now, she found herself bereft of both love and professional fulfillment.

With tears streaming down her face, Carrie viewed her past two years as tragically misguided.

Given another opportunity, she resolved she wouldn't be so unguarded, letting her heart recklessly fall captive to Kristopher's charm.

"Ms. Spencer, the new copyright contract is prepared. Please review it for any discrepancies."

Her phone buzzed with the alert, snapping Carrie out of her reverie. She gazed at the PDF file attached in the message, her mind briefly overwhelmed.

Under the pseudonym Katrina Spencer, Carrie had once made a name for herself as a budding screenwriter, selling numerous scripts in her early days.

During her early career as Katrina, Carrie often sold her work for a pittance, compelled by her urgent need for immediate cash.

Over the years, these scripts transformed into blockbuster films and hit series, catapulting Katrina's reputation to new heights.

By this time, Carrie had married Kristopher and was no longer plagued by the financial woes that had once driven her to desperation-her grandmother's hefty medical bills were a thing of the past. With her financial crises resolved, Carrie's life had pivoted to domestic responsibilities, striving to be an exemplary wife to Kristopher. Amidst these changes, her pseudonym, Katrina Spencer, gradually receded into the background.

However, her past as Katrina wasn't ready to be shelved just yet. Recently, an interested buyer had come forward, ready to pay a handsome sum for one of her old scripts.

Carrie, however, was hesitant to sell. She raised several concerns about the contract presented to her, and to her astonishment, the buyer was genuine enough to revise it accordingly.

Holding the revised contract in her hands, Carrie inhaled deeply, her resolve hardening. She seemed to have reached a crucial decision.

Her fingers danced over her phone's keyboard with swift precision, typing out a firm command. "Create a divorce agreement following my terms and ensure it reaches Kristopher Norris at the Norris Group."

Without pausing for a response, she placed her phone aside and limped toward the bathroom, each step echoing a blend of determination and newfound independence.