My face went white, and my body began to tremble uncontrollably.

"No, Landon, listen to me, I just didn't want to take that medicine anymore..."

But Landon ignored my state, cutting me off with a voice full of scorn. "I think you should've been an actress, not a singer!"

"If you're going to lie, at least make it believable! Taking vitamins is just pathetic!"

He threw the bottle down.

The "thud" was like a giant rock crashing onto my heart.

I started to have trouble breathing, unable to form a complete sentence. "No... it's not like that."

"I have my tour... and after I take the medicine, I can't sleep. My head hurts..."

I felt a wave of nausea, and my hands unconsciously began to pull at my hair.

Whenever I took that medicine, it felt like my own heartbeat was amplified a thousand times in my ears.

I always had headaches, and my nose would bleed for no reason...

So I stopped taking it and replaced it with vitamins.

But Landon just stared at me, his face a cold mask of disbelief. He didn't believe a single word.

Then, without another word, he turned to leave.

I was terrified that if he left, he would never come back. I rushed forward to grab him, pleading, "Landon, don't go..."

Landon looked at me, hesitating for a fraction of a second.

Then he shook me off and strode away.

The door slammed shut with brutal force.

I curled up on the sofa in agony, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face.

After a long time, I grabbed the vitamins and shoved them into my mouth, one by one.

Swallowing them down with my tears, they scraped my throat raw.

...

The tour continued, one show after another.

Los Angeles was the first stop, and it was also where I held the final concert.

A perfect end.

But before the concert began, my mother suddenly appeared, blocking my way.

She was disheveled, and she dropped to her knees in front of me, wailing dramatically.

"Elara, have pity on your old mother! Those people said if I don't pay them back, they're going to cut off one of my hands!"

My heart trembled, but I still took a step back.

"You once tried to sell me to old Mr. Webber from the next town over for twenty thousand dollars just for your gambling debts."

"You unlocked the door for him in the middle of the night and almost got Zoe hurt too."

"I ran away with Zoe, and you went around telling everyone I was trying to sell my sister so I could go to the big city... Even so, after I became famous, I still provided for you."

"But then you tried to sell Zoe to some rich man to be your next cash cow..."

"I'm not giving you a single penny!"

Before the words were even out of my mouth, a sharp "slap" echoed through the room.

My mother's face was twisted in a grotesque mask of rage as she struck me across the face.

"I'm your mother! Are you going to just watch me die? I worked so hard to raise you, and you've made so much money. Why won't you give me a little?"

"Elara Vance! You dare treat me like this? You'll die a horrible death!"

I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms.

But the physical pain was nothing compared to the bitterness in my heart.

Renee finally arrived with security and dragged her away.

Her vicious curse on her own daughter sent a chill down everyone's spine.

When it was quiet again, Renee looked at me with concern. "Elara, the concert..."

I took a deep breath and sat down at the dressing table. "Cover up the slap mark. I'll finish the show."

When the music started, I gathered the hem of my magnificent dress and walked up the stage, step by step.

With each step, a heavier, brighter light enveloped me.

The concert went on as scheduled, and the passion of my fans from all over the country was electric.

When it came to the final song, I looked at the sea of faces below and had a sudden impulse.

I raised the microphone. "This is the last show of the tour. This moment is very important to me."

"And at this moment, I want to share it with the most important person in my life."

With that, I took out my phone and called Landon.

The cheers from the crowd suddenly died down. They were holding their breath, waiting with me.

But one second, two seconds...

The ringing continued, on and on, until the call automatically disconnected. No one picked up.

My heart sank. I stood on stage, lost and helpless.

Suddenly, a fan shouted, "Elara, you still have us!"

I was startled, my eyes welling up with warm tears.

A few seconds later, I forced a smile. "Thank you, everyone... I really wanted to walk this path with someone, forever and ever."

"But it seems that's not meant to be."

"This last song is for all of you. I hope we can all... learn to love ourselves."

The fans once again heard that beautiful, gentle voice.

"A careless word, a memory stirred, left to grow old in a moment of time..."

"Through a road of thorns, I still walk towards you."

As the last note faded, I stood on the very edge of the stage.

I closed my eyes, took one step forward, and fell from the great height.

The entire venue erupted in screams.