Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Rosita deliberately played the damsel in distress, hoping to trigger Bill's protective instincts.

This trick had always worked for her in the past.

But today, with Bill, she hit a wall.

Bill, a seasoned agent, lived by his own set of rules. Rosita's behavior had crossed a line for him.

He snapped, "Something this big, why didn't you talk to me first?"

Rosita froze, stunned that her vulnerability had absolutely no effect on him.

Unconvinced, she furrowed her brow and let her voice tremble. "Bill..."

"Save it!" Bill put one hand on his hip and jabbed a finger at her. "You could call me 'Daddy' and it still wouldn't work! Listen up-this kind of thing is strictly off- limits with me!"

Rosita hadn't expected this at all.

But Bill was unfazed and immovable, and she realized that her usual ploys weren't going to work with him.

Her expression darkened, her voice turning cold. "Well, I didn't expect you to sign me up for this show, either. Did you discuss it with me before making the decision?"

"I'm your agent," Bill retorted. "Every decision I make is for your own good. Besides, the big boss pulled strings to get you this spot-there are people fighting tooth and nail for this, and you still think you get to choose?"

Rosita was growing impatient. "Even if it's a rare opportunity, it's over now. I have to drop out!"

"Drop out? Absolutely not." Bill's tone was firm. "Mary's already thrown herself into the competition, and you want to quit?"

Mary...

Rosita remembered Mary's blatant provocations the night before, and bitterness flared in her chest.

She raised a hand to her temple. "So what do you want me to do?"

Bill stroked his chin. "You've already fainted once-why not take it further?"

Rosita frowned. "What do you mean?"

choice but to take you out of the

suggesting I fake an

has to be real enough that the crew's medic gets called in. Otherwise, people

her feet. "You want me

have

pressed her lips

backing you now, but you're not that young anymore. Actresses have a short shelf life— you're thirty-one, and after thirty-five, the roles

her jaw, but

morning,

gathered downstairs on

director asked Don to check on

reached

hand was

Everyone stared, stunned.

"Ms. Lockwood, what happened?"

Ms. Lockwood-your hand-what on earth happened overnight?" Mary gasped, hand to mouth. "Your whole right hand is bandaged! Is it

nasty fall." Rosita managed a small smile.

must have hurt!" Tony said with

a surface wound," Rosita replied. "A few stitches

"It was twelve! I saw the

she should've gone

The room went silent.

her tone layered.

her eyes

sweet but her eyes sparking with

pressed her lips together,

had been provoking her, openly and covertly,

a ripple of anger

rookie daring to

ever, she needed to keep her composure

image.

forced herself to look away and respond to the others'

exchanged a look but said