Chapter 3

Holy shit!

That’s so intense?

Could it be an hallucination?

The fact that these two people are actually engaged is absolutely shocking news.

Netizens watching the live broadcast became incredibly excited. For a while, the internet was dominated by trending searches like “Lynn Newman’s fiancée” and “Tanghua’s group heartbreak”.

The staff member who was streaming couldn’t stop shaking. Suddenly, they saw Julie Berkeley glance their way through the camera. Terrified, they immediately ended the stream.

Netizens immediately went wild, flooding the comments with insults against the post’s author.

The news had spread everywhere. By the end of the day, Lynn Newman’s phone was practically flooded with calls.

She stole a glance at the refined and handsome man beside her, annoyed by his composure. After hesitating for a while, Lynn Newman still said unhappily, “It’s not very nice of you to say that.”

Julie Berkeley looked up from her computer upon hearing this, with an innocent expression on her face. “I just made our relationship public.”

“What’s the relationship between us?” Lynn Newman averted her gaze, feeling uneasy. A month had passed since that night. She thought Julie Berkeley had acted on a whim back then. The fact that there was no contact between them at all during that month pleased her greatly. But now, Julie Berkeley had suddenly reappeared and made their relationship public, catching Lynn off guard.

“Lynn Newman, I’ve always been serious.” Julie Berkeley closed her computer. She leaned slightly forward and said seriously, “You said you needed time to think it over. I think a month is enough time to make up your mind.”

Lynn Newman opened her lips in surprise. “I…”

Just then, Julie Berkeley suddenly took her hand and put a ring on her middle finger.

Lynn Newman immediately recognized that the ring was none other than the one-of-a-kind Blue Feathered Heart.

“This is a symbol of the Berkeley family’s daughters-in-law,” said Julie Berkeley. She raised her hand and gently kissed it, her devout expression making Lynn Newman’s heart race.

She pulled her hand back abruptly and refused with downcast eyes, “Julie Berkeley, you don’t like me, do you? You just think I fit the image of the wife you have in mind. But you really don’t like me at all.”

Lynn Newman leaned back, closed her eyes, and a mocking smile appeared on her lips. “But you really don’t understand me at all. Perhaps, I’m not even fit to be a good wife at all.”

“Yes,” Julie Berkeley admitted calmly. “I just feel that you’re a great match for me.” Julie Berkeley was already of marriageable age, and she was tired and indifferent to her parents’ constant pressure to get married. Before this, she had a slight fondness for Lynn Newman, so she didn’t refuse what happened that night.

It was precisely because he knew that, if he wanted to achieve his goal, having a relationship with Lynn Newman would make things much easier.

Ignoring the strange emotions rising in her heart, Lynn Newman was about to speak when a cheerful ringtone from her phone interrupted her. She glanced at the caller ID, hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly answered, “Father.”

“Lynn Newman, what’s all that the news is saying about? Have you become too independent now? How come your father doesn’t even know about your engagement?”

On the other end of the phone, there was a scolding session right from the start. Lynn Newman instinctively glanced at Julie Berkeley. Julie had already turned on her computer and gotten back to work, giving Lynn all the privacy she needed.

“Lynn Newman, if you still consider me your father, then you must come to your aunt’s birthday this weekend.”

Lynn Newman’s eyes were filled with cold mockery. Her fingers gripping the phone tightened slowly. “You yourself said it: my last name is Newman.” Newman was her mother’s surname. Although her selfish mother never cared about her, she remarried a foreign man and moved abroad.

“You…” Bert Eden was furious, his beard flaring and his eyes blazing. “I’m giving you one last chance. If you don’t show up, don’t blame me for having someone bring you here by force.”

As the dial tone echoed through the phone, Lynn Newman felt a deep sense of helplessness welling up inside her. Why wouldn’t these people leave her alone, even though she had already gone?

The car quickly arrived at the apartment building.

Lynn Newman hesitated for a moment, her fingertips playing with the diamond ring on her finger. Then, she asked seriously, “Julie Berkeley, do you still stand by what you just said?”

“Of course.” The man’s voice was cold and firm.

“Very well, let’s make three rules. We’ll work together as a proper married couple, but this doesn’t include the rights and responsibilities that come with being husband and wife. Of course, you don’t need to support me financially—I have my own job to support myself. But during this partnership, I don’t want you to get involved in any scandals with other women. Do you agree?”

After saying that, Lynn Newman suddenly felt regretful. By marrying Julie Berkeley, she had gotten a huge bargain and acted all sweet and naive. She truly despised herself for such behavior.

Thus, those beautiful willow-like eyebrows furrowed together.

Julie Berkeley pondered for a moment. This verbal agreement meant no loss to her, so she nodded and said, “Okay, I agree. If you’re worried, I’ll have my lawyer draft a formal contract later.”

He’s always so considerate that it’s genuinely endearing. Lynn Newman shook her head, her tone firm: “I believe you.”

The smile in Julie Berkeley’s eyes deepened suddenly.

After another long silence, Lynn Newman pleaded, “Someone in my family is having a birthday this weekend. Could you go with me?” Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her hands were nervously entwined together.

Julie Berkeley, who had plans for the weekend, suddenly felt sorry for it at that moment.

“Okay.”

He thought that since they were husband and wife, he had to fulfill his responsibilities and duties as a husband. Even if it was just for show, the proper rituals still needed to be carried out.

A simple word, yet it gave Lynn Newman the strength to keep going.

“Thank you.”

Her voice was so soft it was barely audible.

Lynn Newman got out of the car quickly. As she closed the door, she glanced at the woman with a worried expression in the window reflection. She felt a sense of alarm.

The vulnerability she always showed in front of Julie Berkeley made her increasingly dependent on him. She was well aware of what kind of feelings this dependence would eventually lead to, and she had to put an end to it before it happened.

The moment she turned around and went upstairs, she reverted to her usual calm and composed demeanor as a movie star.

But if feelings take root and begin to grow, they can’t be stopped just by wanting to. Because love is sometimes like a gentle spring breeze that silently penetrates deep into the heart, bringing life back to that once dull and lifeless heart.

The next day, Lynn Newman arrived at the set. Everyone noticed the diamond ring on her finger and rushed over to congratulate her.

Even Lynn Newman noticed that Director Augustine had become much more gentle and enthusiastic in his attitude.

I couldn’t figure it out no matter how hard I thought.

Director Augustine is the second person in China to win the Academy Award for Best Director. Known for his strict approach to filming, he’s jokingly called the “Fierce King of Hell”. Actors working under him are required to give their best performances, no matter how experienced they are. Otherwise, they won’t be allowed to continue filming.

Their budget is larger than anyone else’s, yet the films they produce are both critically acclaimed and successful at the box office.

Looking at this legendary director, who for the first time in three collaborations actually gave her directions, Lynn Newman was overjoyed. At the same time, she began to doubt Julie Berkeley’s identity for the first time.

Is he really just an ordinary businessman?