Chapter 51

“Go ahead with your plan. I’ll back you up if anything goes wrong.”

Sebastian’s words resonated deeply with Daphne. It was the first time since her rebirth that she truly felt the warmth of having someone she could rely on. His words offered comfort, even though she had handled the situation herself and didn't need his intervention.

She looked at him earnestly and sincerely, forgoing a formal thank you. It felt too distant, and she didn't want to upset him again. Therefore, she kept her gratitude to herself. “Alright. I’ll head back now, Sebastian,” she said.

Three days later, the news of Starstruck Entertainment’s leadership change dominated the headlines. Billy had risen to the top with 55% of the shares, becoming the largest shareholder, while Hugo was relegated to second place.

Daphne was surprised by Billy’s efficiency. Reflecting on it, she realized he had likely been biding his time under Hugo’s suppression, waiting for the opportune moment. Perhaps all the pieces had been in place, and she had simply provided the critical tool. She thought Billy was truly brilliant.

That same day, she received a notification from the court. Starstruck Entertainment had withdrawn its lawsuit against her and paid all prior litigation fees. They also released a statement announcing an amicable termination of her contract.

The statement was intriguing: “Ms. Yeager’s contract was terminated prematurely at her request. Based on her commercial value, she would ordinarily owe the company a breach of contract penalty of ten billion dollars. However, the company has decided to reduce the penalty to just one dollar in recognition of her significant contributions during her time with us. Our partnership has ended. We wish each other success and a bright future!”

The announcement went viral, crashing servers due to overwhelming traffic.

Fan 1: “Finally! She’s free from that disgusting excuse of a company!” Fan 2: “That’s so funny! One dollar breach-of-contract fee? Who came up with that? What a genius!”

Daphne felt refreshed and at ease reading the supportive online comments.

Hugo called her that evening. She didn’t need to guess his message; it would be nothing but furious yelling and insults. She didn’t want to be entangled with him, as it would ruin her mood. Therefore, she declined the call and immediately blocked his number.

Many things had taken unexpected turns recently. She hadn’t anticipated Wilson’s unscrupulousness, Hugo’s viciousness, or Billy’s surprising reliability. Moreover, she hadn’t expected her second chance at life to still be fraught with challenges.

The tension had been overwhelming. Perhaps it was time to unwind. With that thought, she immediately called Billy to congratulate him on his success and thank him for honoring their agreement.

Billy kept things straightforward, thanking her for selling her shares at such a favorable price and assuring her that Starstruck Entertainment would continue to extend top-tier resources for future collaborations.

Daphne contacted Ava after her call with Billy. “Ava, book a spot for tonight. Let’s go out and celebrate. Invite Wendy and Lucas, and I’ll bring Sebastian. Let’s have dinner together, sing a little, and enjoy a few drinks to celebrate.”

“Got it. I’ll reserve a place and send you the details. You and Mr. Turner can come together, so I won’t bother picking you up.” Ava’s tone was teasing and playfully insinuating.

Daphne knew what she meant but ignored it. She texted Sebastian, asking him to meet at 5:30 pm.

She stretched lazily and collapsed onto the bed after sending the message, feeling an unprecedented sense of relief. She slept well before waking to check the time. It was…