DRUG

After three rounds of drinks, Elise started feeling a little dizzy.

She shook her head and said to the Director, “I’m going to the bathroom.”

Today was the crew’s opening banquet, lively and bustling. Although she wasn’t good with alcohol, she didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere, so she had a couple of glasses of red wine. Now, the excitement was getting to her.

What kind of wine did they make the screenwriter (her) drink? She rubbed her face, silently complaining to herself.

At the washbasin, she splashed two handfuls of cold water on her face. The icy sensation eased her discomfort, and she finally felt much better.

As she walked out of the bathroom, she noticed a small, elegant pond not far away. The water sparkled with ripples, and she could hear splashing.

Behind a carved screen adorned with ink and flowers stood a man smoking.

This hotel was expensive and primarily hosted the rich and powerful, but smoking wasn’t allowed, regardless of status. He stood there brazenly, yet no one dared to stop him—proof that his status or wealth was more than enough to afford such boldness.

Unfortunately, the night was dark and the moonlight hazy, so Elise couldn’t see his face clearly. She could only make out the outline of his profile.

Even so, he was undeniably handsome—and not just a little. When he tapped the ash from his cigarette, his jaw lifted slightly, his Adam’s apple rolling for a brief moment. The falling ash drifted down elegantly, calm and noble. His fingers were long and well-defined, carrying an air of restraint and aloofness.

Elise found herself captivated.

Then her phone vibrated, breaking the moment.

It was her best friend, Enna.

Nana: [Honey, your birthday is coming up soon. What do you want as a gift?]

Her wish had remained unchanged for ten years.

[I want a man.]

Enna stifled her urge to curse: [Your standards are higher than a casting director's. Where am I supposed to find you a man? I can't do that. Is there anything else?]

Elise didn't care: [I just want a man.]

Enna: [?]

Elise's romantic journey had been bumpy. Her father was a Principal, and from elementary school to high school, every move she made was under his control, leaving no opportunity for early romance.

Finally, upon graduating high school, she looked forward to college romance, her heart racing with anticipation. She had planned to transform into a naive girlfriend who was in love... but when the acceptance letter arrived, she was dumbfounded.

A technical university.

In her stereotype, handsome guys were few and far between at technical universities. Among the few attractive men, most already had girlfriends, while the rest were still messing around, planning to date a whole football team while maintaining backup options.

Elise disliked interfering in others' relationships and despised playboys. Unfortunately, that was the reality; she had nothing about romance during her four years of university.

However, she did gain something; during those four years, she focused on her career, writing one novel after another, achieving decent results, and even selling the rights for a web drama adaptation, which was about to start filming.

She thought that having money would also be good if there were no men. Yet, perhaps because she had been single for too long, she felt a strong desire to fall in love after graduating. Without love, a handsome and capable friend with benefits would do, T-T.

Although she said that, she wasn't that desperate. After all, she was an idealist and somewhat passive in relationships.

So, she took a distant glance at that handsome guy, her heart fluttering, but her rationality averted her gaze, pretending nothing was wrong as she turned to leave.

After walking a few steps, she bumped into the Assistant Director.

Assistant Director: "Eli! Why have you been gone for so long? They just served some cake, and it's almost gone! Luckily, I saved a piece for you. try it!"

The Assistant Director had small eyes and a flat nose, giving him a somewhat lecherous appearance. Elise didn't want to eat, but because she was very uncomfortable with his proximity-afraid that if she pushed him away, he might accidentally touch her- she simply raised her hand and took the cake.

She was determined not to let him touch her at all.

His eyes flickered with anxiety and a moment of disappointment, but he quickly smiled and leaned closer.

"I'm good to you, right?" he asked.

She didn't want to respond, but since they needed to cooperate for the filming, she didn't want to make things too awkward. Instead, she pretended to eat the cake, positioning her back to block the assistant director's approach.

As she chewed, her lack of interest was evident on her face. "Okay. Let's go back," she said.

She didn't notice how the assistant director's eyes lit up at her words.

Later, when they returned, the annoying Assistant Director kept talking, making excuses to avoid letting her into the private room. The two of them ended up circling back in front of the screen.

Subconsciously, she wanted to see if the man who had been smoking was still there. But when she lifted her eyelids, just as she was trying to focus, a sudden flash of white light appeared before her, and her body went weak.

Her consciousness felt like it was being stripped away in an instant, the effects of alcohol leaving her feeling powerless.

She felt a bit dizzy, and in her muddled state, it felt like a pair of hands gripped her waist. She clung to a thread of rationality, wanting to scream, but all that came out was a dry heave from intoxication.

Her ears felt muffled, and she struggled to hear clearly. Her insides were burning, with heat rising in her spine and exploding like fireworks. At that moment, she finally began to realize vaguely...

The Assistant Director had drugged the food he gave her, and now she was finished. Elise's body slumped, wholly exhausted, like a well-behaved little lamb lying quietly in a man's embrace.

The Assistant Director should have been wide-eyed in shock, but at that moment, he was so terrified that he couldn't even speak; his legs were trembling.

"M-Mill... Mr. Miller?"

Liam wrapped an arm around her, gently comfortably positioning her, but his gaze was icy cold. His piercing eyes were filled with anger, sharp and cutting, like ice shards in February. The man fought to suppress his urge to explode; his jaw was tight, and his eyes held a murderous glint.

"Get lost."

The Assistant Director nearly collapsed in fear. After a moment, he snapped back to reality and quickly turned to flee. Deep down, he sensed that he had made a decision tonight that he would regret for the rest of his life.

But hadn't he merely acted routinely?

It was just a low tactic.

A newly graduated girl had joined the team-a beautiful and pure original author and Screenwriter with a sweet voice. Unfortunately, she held him in contempt and kept her distance, never coming within half a meter of him.

This industry was inherently corrupt, and the use of force was commonplace. He understood these young women all too well. Their pride and dignity were paramount. Even if humiliated, they would never dare report it, let alone make it public.

Knowing that she had no significant support, he harbored malicious intentions. He slipped her some drugs, believing that tonight would go as he planned. He would record a video to threaten her during the three months of filming, ensuring that she would comply with his demands.

At that point, he felt he could do whatever he wanted.

But what wind had brought Mr. Miller here?

Just as Elise's legs went limp, and she hadn't had a chance to react, Liam Miller suddenly rushed in from somewhere, holding her tightly in his arms.

The Assistant Director sighed with regret, still hoping that once Mr. Miller was done, he would leave a piece for him to sample. As he pondered this, his phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number, but he recognized the name.

Few people knew Liam Miller and even fewer knew him well. The Assistant Director's heart raced as he froze in place, afraid to move.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***