After about a week, Shadow's movie promotional news hit the entertainment magazines. That was when Amy found out that he was currently in Rome, filming. The days flew by calmly, and it was the end of April in the blink of an eye.
It was half a year since Amy had entered the industry, but she still remained unaccomplished, without much fame or popularity. Even if she had gotten a role in 'To the End of Time' because of Shadow, the production was still being edited and was not on air. Besides, the promotional videos were starred by the more popular actors. Hence, Amy remained unknown without any new casting offers or endorsements, wasting precious time.
Regardless, Cream continued being a responsible manager, tirelessly seeking out audition opportunities for new films. The entertainment industry was always complicated: good looks and capabilities may not necessarily land a role. Hence, for the past month, out of the eight auditions Amy had gone to, all ended in failure. And today, on the ninth audition, she cried as she failed again.
"Amy, it's already been a month and you haven't gotten a single decent role, not even as a side character that barely shows her face. At this rate, we're both going to starve." Cream cried. In contrast to Cream's irritation, Amy remained calm. She sat beside her friend, casually scrolling through her phone. In a nonchalant tone, she replied, "Haven't we been fine in the past when this happened?"
Just as Amy said that, she coincidentally stumbled upon "Shadow" who was the top hit for facebook. She stopped talking momentarily before continuing as though nothing had happened, "Even if I starve, I won't let you starve."
"I know that you'll still pay me even if you don't get a job, but Qiao Qiao, at this rate, you're going to deplete all the inheritance left by your parents," Cream remarked while sneaking looks at Qiao Anhao through the side mirror.
When she saw "Shadow" on Amy's phone screen, she continued, "Amy, why don't you try asking Shadow for another role? You should make full use of him, since he treats you so badly. Besides, his money has nothing to do with you, your parents left you early on in life and you were brought up by your uncle. Do you really intend to sever all ties with him and go back to your uncle?"
Cream was definitely not a bad person but rather a practical one. She meant no harm and was just thinking of Amy when she spoke. She was hoping that her friend could ride on Shadow's authority. It was not wrong for a woman to think for herself. It wasn't that Amy was too dignified for the idea, but rather Shadow's hatred was so strong that it didn't interest him to touch her.
She lowered her lashes, shielding her green eyes. She curved her lips slightly. "He's currently filming in Rome, don't you know? You don't expect me to sleep with him in Rome do you?"
Cream froze slightly.
Amy's brows furrowed and she asked, "What's wrong?"
"Amy, don't you know?"
"Know what?"
After a long while, Cream said, "Shadow came back from Rome two days ago! Didn't he come home?"
So he was back...
...and as his wife, she had no clue.
Amy froze, before smiling nonchalantly. "It's normal that he didn't come back... The longest I went without hearing from him was three months, and it's hardly been even half a month."
Cream didn't reply, silence engulfing the car. After a while, she couldn't help saying, "Amy, two days ago, I heard one of the board members from the entertainment company say that Shadow fainted and was rushed to the hospital while having a meeting on the day he was back."
Amy took a while to digest the information before replying with an "Oh".
"I also heard the board members say that even though he was burning with a high fever, he refused to let the doctors treat him, insisting on getting himself discharged. Ignoring all the persuasions, he drove away alone with his fever." Cream then couldn't help adding, " Do you think he'll be okay? He left the hospital without any treatment with a high fever."
Amy remained indifferent but in a corner where Cream couldn't see, her hands were tightly clenched, bunching up the edge of her shirt. Cream stared at the road ahead intently. After a long time, she asked again, "Amy, aren't you going to visit him?"
Amy was silent for a moment before shaking her head. "We agreed to not interfere in each other's businesses."
Cream was the one to reply with an "oh" this time and the car sunk into silence once again.
Even though Amy acted heartlessly in front of Cream, after her friend left, she hesitated a bit before driving out in her own car.
Sonic had once mentioned that Shadow had a private mansion in the northern side of the city on a mountain. Amy had also gathered from Sonic that the red hedgehog hated hospitals and would hide in that mansion whenever he was sick. At that time, Sonic was just randomly complaining since Shadow was not willing to receive treatment despite being very ill. Many times, the person complaining has no ill intention, but at that time, Amy had secretly shelved the information in her mind for future use.
Even though she wasn't sure if he would be at the mansion, Amy still decided to try her luck. She specifically stopped by a medical shop before going to the mansion. Since Amy wasn't sure of his condition, she just randomly picked some fever medicine. Amy had never been to the mansion, but she vaguely remembered Sonic mention that the mansion was at the peak of the mountain. Amy set the GPS, then started the engine and steered in that direction.
Thankfully, the mountain was not big and only had one mansion. Amy drove to the peak, and there stood a lonely mansion, which she figured would belong to Shadow. Amy started out at three in the afternoon and by the time she reached the mansion, it was already five in the evening. The mansion was both grand and beautiful. The gates of the mansion were tightly shut. Amy stopped her car before them and looked around. She spotted a fence that was rather low and went toward it, moving over it. She didn't have the keys to the mansion and no one received her when she knocked on the door. She peaked in through the windows but didn't catch a glimpse of Shadow at all. Circling the perimeter of the mansion, she located a half-open full-length window at the back of the mansion. She hesitated for a bit before opening it fully and entering the mansion.
Amy walked through the whole first floor but still could not find Shadow. She then climbed up to the second floor, her footsteps being the only sound. The mansion would have been deathly silent if not for her walking around. Amy continued looking through the second floor, and only found Shadow at the end of the hallway in a big bedroom. He was wearing a suit, and with his eyes shut, he lay silently on the bed. From afar, he seemed to be sound asleep.
Amy lifted her hand, knocking on the door, but looking at the bed, she saw that Shadow remained motionless, without any reaction. She furrowed her brows, taking large strides towards the bed.
