Chapter 282: Breaking free is the only path we have.
Freya might not have known Adelyn for long, but she already knew one thing well—
Adelyn was sharp.
She knew Adelyn would be able to see through every trap that had been carefully disguised within the artiste agreement.
However, what she hadn’t expected ...
... was the amount of trust Adelyn had placed in her.
Even when she had been asking Adelyn to sign it, the girl had still seen through the true meaning behind her words so effortlessly.
— As if she hadn’t believed she would have her sign such papers for real.
Adelyn truly surprised her.
The corners of Freya’s lips slowly lifted as she looked at her. "The other box doesn’t offer an easy path to your dreams ... or to success."
Her gaze shifted toward the agreement lying on the desk.
"At least these papers are giving you a promise."
She gestured for Adelyn to look at them.
"But the other box carries no such promise."
"If it contains anything ..." She paused briefly. "... it’s complete uncertainty. And a requirement to persevere until the very end —until the day you finally obtain everything you’ve been working toward."
She looked back at Adelyn.
"So ... don’t choose the second box if you’re looking for certainty ... or for an easier road. Because I won’t be able to offer you that."
"The only thing I can offer you is my experience in this industry, and an intent to do everything within my capabilities to help you achieve success that’s the dream of many."
She smiled faintly.
"But whether we actually get there ... doesn’t depend on me alone. It depends on countless possibilities that may or may not go our way." Her gaze remained steady.
"And above all ... it depends on you."
Adelyn listened quietly.
Her eyes never left Freya’s face.
Only after Freya had finished speaking did she finally ask, "Have you decided to leave ZX Media, Sister Freya?"
The question caught Freya off guard for a brief moment.
But when she saw the certainty in Adelyn’s eyes ...
She simply nodded.
"We have no other way to avoid this if I don’t leave the company."
She had been considering this decision for a long time. She simply hadn’t expected circumstances to force her to accelerate those plans this early.
Adelyn studied her carefully.
She hadn’t reached that conclusion through guesswork alone.
Instead, she had observed Freya’s attitude —not only today, but during every interaction they had shared before.
Especially the confidence with which Freya had assured her that she had a way to handle everything.
With Corrin Thatcher holding such influence and authority within ZX Media ...
The only way Freya could remain firm in her decision —was by breaking free from the company altogether.
"Won’t leaving only push you into even greater trouble?" Adelyn asked, her brows knitting together ever so slightly.
After all, making a decision was always easier than carrying it out.
Freya’s situation within the company had already deteriorated to such an extent that leaving had long become the obvious choice.
Yet she had stayed.
She had endured humiliation day after day.
That could only mean one thing—
Either every escape route had already been cut off ...
... or someone —or something —had been holding her back all this time.
If that was the case, then leaving now wouldn’t be easy either.
The subtle crease that appeared between Freya’s brows only confirmed Adelyn’s suspicions.
"It won’t become the worst outcome ..." Freya said after a brief silence.
"... as long as we execute everything properly."
"Execute?" Adelyn repeated. "You already have a plan?"
A small smile curved Freya’s lips.
"A plan gives you a safety net. Of course ... it’s always better to play safe than act sorry."
Adelyn nodded.
She didn’t ask about the details. Instead, she asked the only thing that truly mattered.
"What do you need me to do?"
Freya looked at her quietly. Then, leaning back against her chair, she asked her back, "Are you certain you want to choose the other box instead of the one ZX Media is offering you?"
Adelyn calmly met her gaze.
Freya had expected to see at least the slightest hesitation. Even a flicker of uncertainty...
A trace of inner conflict...
Yet there was none.
Adelyn remained just as composed ...
Just as resolute...
... as she had been the very first day they met.
It was as though she had already decided everything long ago.
Confidence like that wasn’t built overnight. If someone possessed such unwavering resolve, it could only have been forged through countless painful experiences.
That thought had always made Freya curious about Adelyn’s past.
However—
She also knew there were some things that couldn’t simply be asked.
"I never intended to accept such a deceitful offer in the first place," Adelyn said before closing the agreement for good.
Freya watched her for a long moment. Then she slowly nodded. "Then you don’t have to."
"For now ... just focus on what’s right in front of you. The official announcement that’s coming up and then the filming schedule."
"As for everything else ..." She smiled reassuringly. "We’ll take it one step at a time. We still have plenty of time before we make our move."
"Do we really have time?" Adelyn looked at her, one brow lifting slightly.
Freya nodded with a soft hum. "Mhm ... My contract with ZX Media still has another two months before it expires."
"So until then ... we have time."
"But won’t they realize it?" Adelyn asked again.
After all, contract renewals are usually handled well in advance.
"ZX Media will know before your contract actually expires."
Freya nodded.
"They will. But by the time they truly realize it ..." She smiled faintly.
"... it’ll already be too late."
She paused before adding, "And if they somehow discover it earlier ..."
"Then we’ll deal with whatever comes at that moment. But regardless of what happens..." Her eyes grew firm. "We won’t stay here."
"Breaking free is the only path we have left."
—————————————————
Meanwhile—
At Goldstem Productions—
The investors had gathered once again, unwilling to let go of what they believed was their final opportunity.
They had already tried every possible metho
Freya might not have known Adelyn for long, but she already knew one thing well—
Adelyn was sharp.
She knew Adelyn would be able to see through every trap that had been carefully disguised within the artiste agreement.
However, what she hadn’t expected ...
... was the amount of trust Adelyn had placed in her.
Even when she had been asking Adelyn to sign it, the girl had still seen through the true meaning behind her words so effortlessly.
— As if she hadn’t believed she would have her sign such papers for real.
Adelyn truly surprised her.
The corners of Freya’s lips slowly lifted as she looked at her. "The other box doesn’t offer an easy path to your dreams ... or to success."
Her gaze shifted toward the agreement lying on the desk.
"At least these papers are giving you a promise."
She gestured for Adelyn to look at them.
"But the other box carries no such promise."
"If it contains anything ..." She paused briefly. "... it’s complete uncertainty. And a requirement to persevere until the very end —until the day you finally obtain everything you’ve been working toward."
She looked back at Adelyn.
"So ... don’t choose the second box if you’re looking for certainty ... or for an easier road. Because I won’t be able to offer you that."
"The only thing I can offer you is my experience in this industry, and an intent to do everything within my capabilities to help you achieve success that’s the dream of many."
She smiled faintly.
"But whether we actually get there ... doesn’t depend on me alone. It depends on countless possibilities that may or may not go our way." Her gaze remained steady.
"And above all ... it depends on you."
Adelyn listened quietly.
Her eyes never left Freya’s face.
Only after Freya had finished speaking did she finally ask, "Have you decided to leave ZX Media, Sister Freya?"
The question caught Freya off guard for a brief moment.
But when she saw the certainty in Adelyn’s eyes ...
She simply nodded.
"We have no other way to avoid this if I don’t leave the company."
She had been considering this decision for a long time. She simply hadn’t expected circumstances to force her to accelerate those plans this early.
Adelyn studied her carefully.
She hadn’t reached that conclusion through guesswork alone.
Instead, she had observed Freya’s attitude —not only today, but during every interaction they had shared before.
Especially the confidence with which Freya had assured her that she had a way to handle everything.
With Corrin Thatcher holding such influence and authority within ZX Media ...
The only way Freya could remain firm in her decision —was by breaking free from the company altogether.
"Won’t leaving only push you into even greater trouble?" Adelyn asked, her brows knitting together ever so slightly.
After all, making a decision was always easier than carrying it out.
Freya’s situation within the company had already deteriorated to such an extent that leaving had long become the obvious choice.
Yet she had stayed.
She had endured humiliation day after day.
That could only mean one thing—
Either every escape route had already been cut off ...
... or someone —or something —had been holding her back all this time.
If that was the case, then leaving now wouldn’t be easy either.
The subtle crease that appeared between Freya’s brows only confirmed Adelyn’s suspicions.
"It won’t become the worst outcome ..." Freya said after a brief silence.
"... as long as we execute everything properly."
"Execute?" Adelyn repeated. "You already have a plan?"
A small smile curved Freya’s lips.
"A plan gives you a safety net. Of course ... it’s always better to play safe than act sorry."
Adelyn nodded.
She didn’t ask about the details. Instead, she asked the only thing that truly mattered.
"What do you need me to do?"
Freya looked at her quietly. Then, leaning back against her chair, she asked her back, "Are you certain you want to choose the other box instead of the one ZX Media is offering you?"
Adelyn calmly met her gaze.
Freya had expected to see at least the slightest hesitation. Even a flicker of uncertainty...
A trace of inner conflict...
Yet there was none.
Adelyn remained just as composed ...
Just as resolute...
... as she had been the very first day they met.
It was as though she had already decided everything long ago.
Confidence like that wasn’t built overnight. And if someone really possessed such an unwavering resolve, it could have only been forged through countless painful experiences ...
That thought had always made Freya curious about Adelyn’s past.
However—
She also knew there were some things that couldn’t simply be asked.
"I never intended to accept such a deceitful offer in the first place," Adelyn said before closing the file for good.
Freya watched her for a long moment. Then she slowly nodded. "Then you don’t have to."
"For now ... just focus on what’s right in front of you. The official announcement that’s coming up and then the filming schedule."
"As for everything else ..." She smiled reassuringly. "We’ll take it one step at a time. We still have plenty of time before we make our move."
"Do we really have time?" Adelyn looked at her, one brow lifting slightly.
Freya nodded with a soft hum. "Mhm ... My contract with ZX Media still has another two months before it expires."
"So until then ... we have time."
"But won’t they realize it?" Adelyn asked again.
After all, contract renewals are usually handled well in advance.
"ZX Media will know before your contract actually expires."
Freya nodded.
"They will. But by the time they truly realize it ..." She smiled faintly.
"... it’ll already be too late."
She paused before adding, "And if they somehow discover it earlier ..."
"Then we’ll deal with whatever comes at that moment. But regardless of what happens..." Her eyes grew firm. "We won’t stay here."
"Breaking free is the only path we have."
—————————————————
Meanwhile—
At Goldstem Productions—
The investors had gathered once again, unwilling to let go of what they believed was their final opportunity.
They had already tried every possible method to persuade Director Rhodes to change his decision.
Yet nothing had worked.
Not only had their efforts failed, their repeated rejection had also dealt a heavy blow to their pride.
By now, their egos had become just as stubborn as their demands.
They simply couldn’t tolerate Adelyn remaining in the production anymore —not even in a minor role.
"Dear investors," Producer Polson began after copies of the investment agreement had been distributed to everyone seated at the table.
"Please take your time to review the contract carefully. If there aren’t any changes that you’d like to make, we can proceed with signing it today."
"We need to get everything finalized soon so that we can —"
Before he could finish his words, one of the investors interrupted him with an arrogant scoff.
"You can’t seriously still be joking with us, Producer Polson??"
to persuade Director Rhodes to change his decision.
Yet nothing had worked.
Not only had their efforts failed, their repeated rejection had also dealt a heavy blow to their pride.
By now, their egos had become just as stubborn as their demands.
They simply couldn’t tolerate Adelyn remaining in the production anymore —not even in a minor role.
"Dear investors," Producer Polson began after copies of the investment agreement had been distributed to everyone seated at the table.
"Please take your time to review the contract carefully. If there aren’t any changes you’d like to make, we can proceed with signing it today."
"We need to finalize everything as soon as possible so that we can—"
Before he could finish his sentence, one of the investors interrupted him arrogantly.
"You can’t seriously still be joking with us, Producer Polson?"