Chapter 497: I’m Just A Nobody To You

Brady’s long absence only added to the distance between them. Trust didn’t come easy.

Even so, Blake needed his power. For now, he had to accept it.

The bodyguards started pushing his wheelchair toward the waiting area.

But after only a few steps, Blake stopped.

A few distance from him, he saw a figure he knew all too well.

It was Reese.

"Stop," Blake told the bodyguards. They came to a halt right in front of Reese.

She wore a black windbreaker and a wide hat. Her face was mostly hidden behind large sunglasses, but Blake knew it was her right away.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

Behind the glasses, her lips trembled a little. Her voice was low and rough. "Bianca told me you were going overseas. I came to say goodbye."

"Thank you," Blake uttered politely.

Reese looked at the two bodyguards in black behind Blake. Her brows drew together. "Who are they?"

Blake glanced over his shoulder and let out a small laugh. "My godfather hired them to watch over me. You know my leg… sometimes it makes things hard."

Reese gave a small nod and didn’t ask further.

She bit her lip, then looked at him again. "Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?"

"It’s something personal," Blake said, looking into her eyes. "I didn’t want to trouble anyone."

"So, after everything, I’m just a nobody to you?" Reese said with a sad smile. "Not even worth telling about something as big as ending your contract?"

Blake stopped and looked at her. Her sunglasses hid her eyes, but he could hear the pain in her voice.

Suddenly, his eyes had changed. The softness was gone and it was replaced by something darker.

"I’m sorry. I should’ve thought about how you’d feel," he said. "I only told Bianca because she’s my agent and had to know."

Reese sniffled. Hearing that made her feel a little better.

She could never stay mad at him for long.

"Take care of yourself while you're away," she said, her voice soft. "And call me if you ever need anything. If there’s something I can do, I will..."

Her voice started to crack. Tears built up in her eyes, but she held them back.

As long as she didn’t cry, he wouldn’t know just how much it hurt.

"Thank you, Reese," Blake said gently.

His voice cut through her heart like a blade, making her feel a deep sorrow.

"Can I ask you something?" he said all of a sudden.

"Of course. What is it?" Reese asked. Her eyes lit up a little behind the sunglasses.

Blake’s expression turned sad. It was the kind of look that always made Reese feel something.

"You know about me and Bianca. Now that I’m leaving, I won’t know what’s going on with her. Can you let me know how she’s doing?"

Reese felt a small sting in her heart.

She wasn’t shocked. It was always about Bianca.

Still, she pulled herself together. It was a simple favor and she couldn't turn it down.

At least now, she had a reason to keep in touch with him.

With that thought, she answered right away. "Of course, I promise."

Blake gave her a soft smile. "Thank you. That’s all then? I should head to the check-in counter now."

Knowing it was time to say goodbye, Reese stepped to the side and gave a light wave. "Go on then."

Blake smiled again as the bodyguard slowly wheeled him past her.

Reese watched him roll away while her eyes fixed on his back.

Suddenly, Blake stopped and turned around.

He gave her that same warm, gentle smile she remembered from the beginning.

"If you ever need to cry, call me. Don’t keep it all inside," he said.

Reese’s heart skipped a beat.

She looked at him and gave a silent nod, saying nothing.

Blake's decision to leave Emerald Artists Agency caused a big problem inside the company.

Bianca tried to manage it, but things quickly got out of control. The news spread fast online and became a trending topic.

People on the internet had different opinions.

Some said Blake had always looked cheerful in public, but deep down, he couldn’t accept his condition.

They guessed it affected his mental health and made it hard for him to keep working in front of the camera.

Others believed Bianca thought his injury would ruin his future and that this may have caused problems between them.

Bianca posted a statement on the company’s official account. She said Blake ended the contract for personal reasons. She didn’t respond to the angry comments from his fans.

For the next two days, she dealt with complaints from other companies. She used the penalty fee from Blake’s contract to fix those problems.

At the same time, Blake’s deal with Phoenix Entertainment got suspended. He had been the winner of “Star Search,” so it caused a lot of talk.

Luckily, Reese acted fast. After she cleared up the rumors, several companies reached out to her with good offers.

Glory Pictures’ stock dropped sharply after news broke that the company and Natalie had set Bianca up.

The chairman quickly apologized to Bianca. He offered her a new contract with better terms.

He also hoped Reese would stay with them and even suggested her for the lead role in their next big movie.

Even though Bianca was still upset about what had happened, she knew how the industry worked.

In showbiz, friendships, and rivalries often came and went, all based on gain. She saw the advantages of making peace and agreed to work with Glory Pictures again.

After several draining days, Bianca finally came home. She dropped onto her bed, too tired to move.

The door creaked open. She looked up and saw her mom walk in.

“Mom, you’re home early today,” Bianca said, trying to sit up.

Madison had been busy at Cherish. She usually left early in the morning and came home late. Bianca hadn’t seen her in days.

Madison walked over, clearly upset. Her face was filled with frustration.

“What’s going on between you and Dave? And what about Blake—what happened?” she asked sharply.

Bianca took a deep breath. She realized her mom already knew everything. She had hoped to keep it secret a little longer, but that wasn’t going to happen now.

She gently pulled Madison to sit beside her, trying to calm her down. “Mom, please don’t be mad. I’ll explain everything.”

But Madison shook off her hand and gave her a hard look. “Are you back with Dave? Is that why Blake left you?”

“No…” Bianca paused, unsure how to explain.