Chapter 1044: Chapter 1044: You Are the Girl I Love
Bertha Swift had been immersed in her role recently, but she wasn’t completely oblivious to the things around her. When she picked up the phone just now and heard her father’s stream of profanity, she was initially stunned, but gradually sobered up.
After taking another shower, she regained her composure completely.
Since being angrily driven out of the Swift family by her father for having an abortion, Bertha had recognized many truths, but none as clearly as at this moment.
Those filthy words were like sharp swords piercing her heart, completely shattering the fantasies she harbored deep inside.
Leaving nothing behind.
It wasn’t that she didn’t feel heartache, it was just that too much had happened in recent times, and she had already learned to accept the unchangeable facts.
However, to Adam Piers, her expression appeared somewhat as if she’d lost all hope to live. The usually cool and brazen man couldn’t help but lean over, saying, "Bertha Swift, if you’re feeling bad, just say it."
Bertha merely cast a cold glance at the man in front of her, recalling the day when he forced her to agree to let him guide her in acting, but the condition was that if he found her projecting her feelings for the male lead onto Brian Joule, he would awaken her with a forceful kiss.
At the time, she was restless and didn’t believe he could guide her into character. She thought of trying the desperate measure with low hope, but she couldn’t get into the role, while Adam, who wasn’t even professionally trained, could easily guide her into it.
Fortunately, although Adam was annoying, he had a bottom line and didn’t take advantage of her, so their interactions had been relatively normal.
To thank him, Bertha hadn’t resisted his company much during this period.
But that was all.
Yet at this moment, seeing the concern in his eyes and his anxiety when he barged into her room, she began to somewhat believe that he truly liked her.
However, after the previous hurt, she couldn’t bring herself to test the waters with her heart again, so she just gave a perfunctory smile, "I’m really fine. Have Director Locke and the others rested? I’d like to discuss some PR matters with Director Locke."
Bertha had a rough guess of what happened from her father’s cursing, but right now she had no popularity, no company, and no money. She was suddenly blacklisted without any ability to fight back. She personally didn’t mind, but "The Doctors" was everyone’s hard work.
If it were to be forced into hiatus because of her, she would feel immensely guilty.
"You don’t need to worry about this. Just focus on filming; I’ll handle the other matters with David Locke." Compared to the scandals outside, Adam was more concerned about Bertha’s state of mind.
But Bertha showed no sign of sharing anything with him.
"But this matter started because of me, the loss to the crew..."
"Can you afford to compensate?" Bertha was interrupted by Adam’s cool remark.
She was choked by his retort, then glanced at him, "Isn’t half of my pay still outstanding? I can compensate the crew with that."
Adam looked at the woman who was still stubbornly maintaining her pride and couldn’t resist reaching over to ruffle Bertha’s half-dry hair, "You’re something else."
Bertha quickly moved away from his reach, warily looking at Adam.
Adam chuckled lightly seeing how Bertha guarded against him as if he were a thief, "Most likely, your situation was stirred up by Oswald Lewis and his people. I will handle it. Instead of worrying about compensating the crew, you should think about how to deal with the Swift family next."
Given Adam’s understanding of the Swift family patriarch, after spending so much money nurturing Bertha, it’s unlikely he would let it go that easily.
Bertha seemed to realize this too, her face turning pale, "That’s my own issue."
Adam helplessly shook his head, this little one is so stubborn?
"If there’s nothing else, can you leave my room?" Bertha urged softly, seeing Adam’s speechless face.
"Okay, I’ll come and help you get into character tomorrow morning?" Adam reminded about filming before leaving.
Bertha wanted to refuse, but finally just nodded.
Only then did Adam feel a bit relieved, but as he pulled the door open he couldn’t help but remind her, "Don’t look at your phone, go to bed early."
Bertha impatiently waved him off.
Adam, feeling thwarted, closed the door.
Once Adam left, Bertha immediately opened her phone, glancing at the online comments, her face turned even paler. Since Milne Swift sent her for "The Doctors" audition, she knew that path wouldn’t be easy. She had seen her cousin face blockades along the way from a small actress to Best Actress, but the Swift family, once a renowned pharmaceutical household, had long fallen. Especially after her aunt went missing, her father, neither skilled in medicine like his grandfather nor talented in management, brought the Swift business to a hollow shell in recent years.
Yet her father’s vanity didn’t want others to think the Swift family declined, stubbornly maintaining a luxurious facade, and aimed to elevate her as the top socialite in Swallow City, even creating a genius girl persona. However, that wasn’t to lead the Swift family back to its glory but to marry her off to a powerful family, supporting the Swift family, maintaining their dignified life.
Moreover, their targeted Piers family continuously embarrassed him, and noticing her cousin earning well in the entertainment field, they let her flirt with Adam Piers while stepping into the entertainment industry.
But she defied her father by aborting the child and was inadvertently picked by David Locke to star in "The Doctors."
Seeing the online insults, Bertha wondered if her freshly started acting career would be cut short?
Sighing lightly, Bertha thought about Adam’s earlier concerned expression. Sometimes, she felt he was really despicable and annoying, yet at crucial moments, he always seemed to be the one standing behind her.
And in truth, she never truly measured up to him.
As Bertha mockingly curled her lips, her phone rang again. Seeing the caller ID, Bertha’s brows slightly furrowed, hesitated for a moment but then answered the call.
"Bertha, it’s Mom." The voice on the other end, fearing Bertha might hang up, hurriedly identified herself.
How could Bertha not recognize her mother’s number? She steadied her breath, "Uh-huh, what’s the matter?"
"What’s with that news? Your dad saw it and was very angry. I know it’s not easy for you being alone outside, but don’t take the wrong path." Mrs. Swift advised earnestly.
"It was a misunderstanding, not true at all," Bertha softly explained, feeling both love and resentment, along with pity for her mother.
"I knew our Bertha is a good child, how could you do such things. But did you really land a role in Director Locke’s new film?" Mrs. Swift eased a bit with Bertha’s explanation but asked with eagerness.
Bertha frowned more deeply but still replied, "Yes."
Mrs. Swift seemed to breathe a huge sigh of relief, "Our Bertha is amazing. I heard landing a role in his film guarantees stardom. You know our family situation now, your dad and I are relying on you. You don’t know, your dad lost a ton of money recently. If you’re able, help your dad out..."
Afterwards, her mother kept talking, but Bertha Swift no longer wanted to listen. She hung up perfunctorily, feeling all the warmth in her heart had plunged into an ice cellar.
Compared to her father’s humiliation, it was her mother who truly broke her heart.
But what could she do about it?
Bertha Swift tucked her phone under the pillow and lay flat on the hotel bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, when her phone vibrated again.
For a moment, Bertha Swift almost erupted, thinking about venting out all her anger at her mother, asking what on earth she wanted—did she really see her as a daughter? Yet, when she angrily pulled out her phone, it wasn’t a call but the alarm ringing.
With all her anger having nowhere to go, Bertha Swift stared at the vibrating phone for a while before remembering the reason for the alarm; it was the time Adam Piers had set for her third dose of medication.
Staring at the phone, Bertha Swift went blank for a while, allowing the annoying sound to keep buzzing before reluctantly getting up to take her medicine.
The pills tasted sweet and sour, and after taking them, she inexplicably felt a bit better. Then she checked her phone and saw Adam Piers’ message, "Silly woman, remember to take your medicine."
Bertha Swift stared at those six words for a long time, suddenly feeling tears in her eyes. Her mother hadn’t even asked once about her health during their call, only concerned about calming her father down, while the man she hated the most actually cared about her well-being.
For a moment, Bertha Swift didn’t know whether she should be sarcastic.
Ignoring Adam Piers’ message, Bertha Swift lay back down. Perhaps because of the medication, contrary to her expectations of sleeplessness, she quickly fell asleep clutching her blanket.
In the morning, the knocking on the door came on schedule. Bertha Swift tidied herself up, opened the door, and saw a languid Adam Piers, exuding a dandy air despite wearing formal attire.
"Want to grab breakfast?" Adam Piers glanced at Bertha Swift and, seeing her face rosy and free of dark circles, finally felt a weight lifted off his chest.
Bertha Swift gave a sound of agreement. Recently, this man had been sticking to her in the film crew without any inhibition. Since it was well-known he was pursuing her, there was no point in avoiding him, and she was too lazy to struggle.
"Take your medicine with you," Adam reminded before leaving.
Bertha Swift shook her little bag, indicating she had it with her.
Adam Piers grinned with satisfaction, "Finally learned to behave."
A phrase that left Bertha Swift not wanting to engage with him; what did he mean by "learned to behave"? However, she couldn’t deny the effectiveness of Abigail Green’s medicine. After a little over a month, she felt much more energetic, and the fatigue associated with the abortion had greatly improved, with her complexion looking much more rosy.
Adam Piers seemed indifferent to Bertha Swift’s change of mood, "There shouldn’t be much left. Once you finish it, I’ll have my sister-in-law make some more for you."
Bertha Swift thought of her past conflicts with Abigail Green. Her movements stiffened, but she still asked, "Did Abigail Green know she was making this medicine for me?"
She thought about her conflicts with Abigail Green. If someone knew the medicine was for her, they would definitely refuse to make such troublesome pills for her.
"She knows," Adam replied nonchalantly.
Bertha Swift was slightly stunned, "She knows?"
"Yep, my brother and sister-in-law dote on me. They know it’s for the girl I like, so they gave me face." Adam teased, glancing at Bertha Swift, his handsome face still carrying the laziness and mischievousness of an early riser, particularly alluring.
Bertha Swift choked, unable to believe this person could say such cheesy words, and yet his handsome face, combined with his usual dandy demeanor, made people’s hearts soften inexplicably.
"Haha..." Adam Piers noticed Bertha Swift’s ears visibly reddening and chuckled amusedly, thinking the strategy for pursuing his wife that he discussed with Pullan last night was working well. No wonder Pullan said that Brandon Piers, that monster, successfully courted his sister-in-law by reading his strategy book.
Bertha Swift realized she had been teased, glared at Adam Piers, "Shut up."
Zoe Thatcher happened to come out and saw the teasing banter between the two, feeling both upset and conflicted. Though she hoped Bertha Swift would be disgraced, she also realized a scandal involving the latter could jeopardize "The Doctors," a major production she was participating in for the first time with a favorable role, leaving her feeling frustrated.
Bertha Swift sensed a gaze from behind, turned around, and met Zoe Thatcher’s unwilling yet helpless expression. Remembering her last warning to Zoe about staying away from Adam Piers, Bertha found it amusing and playfully stumbled forward, causing Adam Piers to frantically hold her, lightly reproaching, "Can’t even walk properly?"
Witnessing the scene, Zoe Thatcher took a deep breath and mumbled, "Green tea*."
Bertha Swift happily raised an eyebrow, hearing the amused man beside her ask, "Was it fun?"
Unexpectedly caught red-handed, Bertha Swift’s expression froze, "Um...it was okay."
"Was it? Next time you can be more dramatic with your antics; I wouldn’t mind fulfilling your wishes." Adam shrugged.
Bertha Swift, "..." Jerk!
After breakfast, Bertha Swift intended to go to the film crew but was stopped by the crew manager, "There are a lot of reporters gathered at the film crew; you all shouldn’t go out today. Just stay at the hotel."
Bertha Swift frowned, "Is it because of my matter?"
"Um...anyway, don’t wander around; Director Locke said he would handle it on his side." The crew manager awkwardly tried to explain, unsure how to address the issue and merely glossed over it, especially considering Adam Piers’ presence in Bertha’s room the previous night, which made him even more uncomfortable.
"Let’s head back." Bertha Swift still wanted to say something, but Adam Piers pulled her back.
The crew manager, witnessing the scene, didn’t know where to place his eyes momentarily.
Bertha swallowed her words, following Adam Piers back upstairs, running into Mary Scott, who had just been notified by phone, and Zoe Thatcher. The group decided to head to David Locke’s room together.
David wasn’t in; he was dealing with the crew matters. Mary Scott poured everyone a cup of coffee and patted Bertha’s hand, seeing her expression of sorrow, "Don’t overthink this; it’s not entirely your fault this time. Our rival is causing trouble."
"But if it weren’t for me, they wouldn’t have found Director Locke’s loophole." Currently, "The Doctors" had been filming for two months, and because filming was smooth, it would wrap up within a little over a month. If her situation impacted it, the loss would be substantial.
Mary Scott sighed; they’d already executed emergency PR yesterday, and Adam Piers contributed both money and effort, yet this morning reporters still blocked the film crew. Evidently, someone was manipulating the situation.
They hadn’t managed to set up David Locke last time, so the plan now was to exploit Bertha Swift’s situation to continue undermining David. Even if they couldn’t entirely topple him, if netizens started boycotting Bertha Swift, the losses to "The Doctors" would be substantial. A last-minute role change wouldn’t just involve substantial costs; it could also mean missing next year’s New Year’s Eve release window.
"Actually, I have an idea." Mary Scott, noticing Bertha’s dejected demeanor and Adam Piers’ persistent activity since entering, suddenly spoke up.
Everyone immediately raised their heads to look at Mary Scott.
Mary Scott took a deep breath, looking somewhat reluctant as she glanced at Bertha Swift, aware the solution wasn’t ideal, but it was the only way to rescue Bertha Swift given the circumstances.
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*Note: "Green tea" here is a slang term used to describe someone who appears innocent and virtuous but is actually manipulative.