Chapter 117

"Whenever you’re feeling down, just talk to me, okay? I’ll always be here to listen. And if you’re low on cash or wanna get something fun, just let me know." James knew Maria wasn’t hurting for money—she just never said it out loud, which made him feel even more guilty. He walked Daniel Lewis all the way to the entrance of the neighborhood and didn’t head back until the kid disappeared from view. Then he finally got in his car and drove off. Daniel’s agent announced that the song would drop in five days, so Maria jumped straight into promo work, dragging Grace along to every event. She hadn’t even stepped into the office for three days straight. To keep her image clean, she limited herself to shooting just three variety shows. Once those wrapped, she finally got a break. Lying on a super comfy bed, Maria was so wiped out she didn’t even feel like going on her phone. She just stared blankly at the ceiling, zoning out. Then, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen—Lily Summer was calli