Chapter 5

And so, despite being the favorite to win, I ended up in last place.

“Anna just had a little slip-up this time! She’s been amazing in her livestreams and videos before.”

“No one’s perfect. It’s normal for Anna to make mistakes now and then!”

My fans rushed to console me, but my mom wasn’t having any of it.

The moment the competition ended, she stormed backstage, clearly looking for me.

Panic surged through me. If she caught me, I knew I wouldn’t escape unscathed.

For the first time, I defied her—I ran.

She chased after me, her voice echoing with curses.

“You little brat! Just wait until I catch you. You’ll regret this!”

As she was about to grab me, a figure suddenly stepped in front of me. My eyes lit up with hope.

I collided into the man’s chest, and he immediately crouched to check on me. His voice was deep but gentle.

“Are you okay?”

My mom, trying to suppress her fury, called out in a cold tone, “Anna, come here.”

But I clung tightly to the man’s shirt, my tear-filled eyes pleading with him as I shook my head.

Understanding my silent request, the man stood up and positioned himself between me and my mom, blocking her view of me.

My mom, now livid, snapped, “Who the hell are you? This is my child. How I handle her is none of your business!”

A few onlookers started whispering nearby, and one of them muttered something just loud enough for my mom to hear.

“That’s Mr. Thompson—the show’s main investor.”

Instantly, my mom’s expression shifted. Her anger vanished, replaced by a forced, ingratiating smile.

“Oh, Mr. Thompson! My apologies, I didn’t recognize you! Haha, silly me! So… what did you think of Anna’s performance? Wasn’t she great?”

I didn’t catch the rest of what she said because Mr. Thompson gave a subtle signal, and the person who had been whispering earlier gently took my hand and led me away.

Around the corner, I turned back just in time to see Mr. Thompson handing my mom a bank card.

I didn’t understand what it meant, but after a while, the person escorting me told me it was time to go home.

I didn’t want to go back.

I sat outside the studio for hours, watching the sky grow darker and darker.

But eventually, I gave in to reality and headed home.

When I got there, I was surprised—my mom didn’t yell at me or hit me.

For the first time, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe it was because of that man?

But then, she handed me a card. Written on it was the address and room number of a hotel.