Chapter 6 At the hospital , the doctor carefully removed the thorns embedded in my skin . It felt as if years of love were being drawn out with each one . The next morning , I noticed a rare voice call from Jacob . Why arent you answering ? Arent I still blocked by you ? After a pause , he replied , Ill be home in half an hour with fresh cream puffs and egg tarts . Oh , and I bought a new wedding ring . Sorry for how things have been ; it wont happen again . I glanced at the time and replied , There is no next time for us . But hed already hung up . With three hours until noon , I tried his computer passwords , finally unlocking it with Jasmines birthday . I waited , but as an hour passed , Jasmine posted again , showing her hand entwined with Jacobs , both wearing matching new wedding rings . Smiling , I used his account to send our story and evidence of his infidelity to everyone at his company . Then , I smashed the laptop , grabbed my suitcase , and headed to the airport As I went through boarding , a flood of messages and calls came in . I could almost see Jacobs furious face and hear my mothers hysterics . None of it mattered anymore . I removed my SIM card , tossed it into the trash , and felt a profound silence settle over me . On the plane , as clouds drifted by , it felt like everything from my past was finally saying goodbye my childhood , my love , my family , my life . I knew neither Jacob nor my mother would ever follow me or change for me . The two people I once valued most were now just memories . For the first time in a while , I slept soundly on the plane , without nightmares or Jacobs interruptions . There were no ghosts of the past only the promise of the future . When I landed , Ellie waved at me , her smile fading as she noticed the bruises and scars on my body . Cluj 7 Chapter 7 Ivy , what … what happened to you ? Your head … and your hand … youve lost so much weight . It hasnt been that long , but I can barely recognize you . What did Jacob do to you ? Ellie gently blew on my wounds , her tears falling like broken pearls . I patted her shoulder and said , Its alright . It doesnt hurt anymore . Its all in the past . My words were calm , but heart ached . In all this time , Ellie was the only one who cared about me . Everyone else thought I was just being unreasonable . Only she asked me if I was in pain . my As I stood there lost in thought , Ellie suddenly hugged me tightly , her warm embrace silently soothing me . Then she took me to her place , patiently explaining and recommending companies that might suit me . Ivy , Im so glad you knew when to cut your losses . Youre only thirty , still so young . Your life should be full of possibilities , not … spent as Jacobs mistreated , undervalued maid . I looked down at my hands , recalling the photo of Jasmines delicate fingers adorned withra sparkling ring and her perfectly manicured nails . That kind of carefree life , untouched by household burdens , never seemed to belong to me . I spent every day cooking , cleaning , and tending to Jacobs every need . He had a cleanliness obsession and couldnt stand even a single hair on the floor . With the hardwood floors so hard to maintain , I often found myself on my knees , scrubbing them repeatedly . Yet , no matter how spotless I made them , Jacob . would always let Jasmine dirty them again , then blame me for being useless , incapable of even handling such trivial tasks . Id truly had enough of those endless , thankless days . Seeing me lost in thought , Ellie patted my shoulder . Dont dwell on the past anymore . Chapter 7 I held her hand in return . Everyone suffers , but only you can pull yourself out . Id struggled so hard to climb out of one pit after another I wasnt going to let myself fall back in . Determined , I threw myself into preparing for my interviews . I was ready for rejection , but to my surprise , the interviewer was full of praise after our conversation . Davis , its such a shame someone as talented as you has had such a long gap in your career . ur company would be thrilled to have your The interviewers words took me by surprise . After all those years with Jacob , hed done nothing but belittle me , eroding my confidence bit by bit . Id never imagined that someone as ordinary as me could shine in the eyes of others . I felt reborn , throwing myself enthusiastically into my new life . But on moving day , an unexpected visitor showed up in my life . In the latest episode of ReelTalk EP 37, titled "Confessions of a Casting Director" by CrushReel, dive into the behind-the-scenes world of bringing your favorite stars to the big screen. Casting Directors reveal the intricate process of selecting actors for roles and share insights into what they seek in fresh talent. Explore the nuanced themes and character elements that shape the casting decisions, shedding light on the unique aspects that influence the final choices. Discover the artistry and expertise involved in assembling the perfect ensemble to breathe life into each character on screen. What sets this episode apart is its candid exploration of the casting process, offering a rare glimpse into the meticulous craft of matching actors to roles. Uncover the passion and dedication that drive Casting Directors in their quest to create captivating performances. For an exclusive look into the world of casting and to learn more about this ongoing series, head over to CrushReel. Experience firsthand the magic of bringing characters from script to screen by delving into "Confessions of a Casting Director," available to read online at CrushReel.