Chapter 4When the Sun Sets on Yesterday's Love

Hailey POV

"Vicious?" I repeated the word, a cold smile curving my lips.

Eight years of wholehearted devotion, four years of silent companionship. In his eyes, they couldn't compare to a few tears from Serena.

My pride, my professionalism, my sincerity. He trampled them all mercilessly underfoot.

"Ethan, if I were truly vicious, she wouldn't have been able to sit in that livestream room today." My gaze swept coldly over Serena hiding in his arms playing the victim, my tone completely calm.

"Those comments were genuine reactions from my fans. If the person you value has poor professional skills, don't blame the audience for not buying it."

BANG!

Ethan violently slammed the documents in his hand onto the table, the enormous crash instantly silencing the entire backstage area.

"Hailey, watch your attitude!" He was furious, as if his authority had been challenged. "Post a statement immediately clarifying that you were absent for personal reasons and publicly support Serena. Otherwise, all your commercial partnerships will be indefinitely suspended."

Threatening me with my career?

Looking at this man I'd loved for eight years, the last glimmer of light in my eyes finally extinguished completely.

"Fine. I'll post it." I didn't yell or cry. I just very calmly took out my phone and, right in front of him, posted an update.

No support, no clarification. Just one simple sentence: "As you wish."

After posting, I tossed my phone on the table and turned to walk out of the backstage area. From the corner of my eye, Ethan's brow seemed deeply furrowed, his expression flashing with what looked like panic, but it was quickly interrupted by Serena's sobbing.

Half a month later, the annual Fashion Gala was held as scheduled.

As a prominent beauty influencer, I originally had an exclusive custom starry sky gown from the brand. This dress took two months of communication with the designer to finalize and represented my highest fashion resource of the year.

However, two hours before the red carpet began, someone from the brand awkwardly came to my dressing room and handed me an ordinary off-season ready-to-wear piece.

"Hailey, we're terribly sorry. Mr. Wyatt just instructed us to transfer that custom starry sky gown... to Miss Mitchell."

My hand, which had been drawing my eyebrows, jerked to a halt, the eyebrow pencil leaving a glaring red mark at my temple.

"He says transfer and you transfer?" My assistant trembled with rage. "That dress was custom-made to Hailey's measurements. Can Serena even fit in it?"

"Mr. Wyatt said if the measurements don't fit, we can alter it, but Miss Mitchell must be the center of attention tonight." The brand representative wiped cold sweat, not daring to meet my eyes.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and when I opened them again, my eyes held only deathly silence.

Center of attention? By stripping away my dignity to create Serena's moment of glory?

"Hailey, let's not go! We won't attend this event!" my assistant pleaded, eyes red.

"Attend. Why wouldn't we attend?" I stood up and took the off-season outfit, my tone devoid of any fluctuation. "It's just a dress. I didn't get where I am today because of clothes."

That night on the red carpet, Serena wore that ill-fitting starry sky gown on Ethan Wyatt's arm, making a grand entrance as the finale. Media cameras captured them like the perfect couple.

And I, wearing that plain off-season outfit, walked alone in the cold wind.

Around me were undisguised mockery and gossip from industry peers. "So what if she's top-tier? Offend Mr. Wyatt and she can't even borrow a decent dress."

I didn't lower my head. I kept my spine straight, each step resolute. But in the corners where cameras couldn't reach, watching Ethan thoughtfully shield Serena from the wind, something inside my heart completely collapsed.