Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress novel Chapter 711

Chapter 711: So empty and scary

Putting on his sunglasses, Slater drove back to the city at a much slower speed than usual. He winced, touching his side as it ached a bit. What the mechanic told him was true. Even with a safety harness and the body gear he had been wearing earlier, the impact still took a toll on his body.

"That old fart," he muttered, breathing out with slight difficulty. But he was overall fine, so Slater shrugged off the thought. "Whatever."

[Hey, the boss is looking for you. You should give him a call.]

Slater leaned back, driving slower as he thought about the mechanic’s parting remarks. Another shallow breath escaped him as he pulled over to the side of the road. Holding the steering wheel with both hands, he slowly moved forward to rest his forehead on it.

"Hah..." he breathed out, glancing at the dashboard and running his tongue across his inner cheek. Taking out his phone, he scrolled to the end of his contacts and stopped when his eyes landed on the contact name Z.

His thumb hovered over the caller button, hesitating as he remembered how he got tangled up in all of this.

It all happened five years ago...

******

Five years ago...

"Slater, look here!"

"Here, Slater!"

"Slater, we love you!!!"

Cameras kept flashing in Slater’s direction, with people asking him to look at them. Some fans were even screaming just to get his attention. Slater maintained a smile, but his steps to the van were steady. All the cheers, the flashes of the cameras, and all the other noises disappeared in an instant the moment the van shut closed.

"Goodness..." Seated inside, James let out a deep exhale. He smiled as he cast Slater a proud look. "Slater, your popularity is skyrocketing. It’s amazing."

Slater cast James a look and smirked. "Do I get a raise now?"

"I’m working on adjusting your talent fee," James chuckled. "Our phones are ringing nonstop; people want you to do some cover magazines and some cameos..."

James trailed off, pressing his lips together because Slater cast him a blank look. "Right. You’re an artist, not just a celebrity. Of course, you don’t have time for that."

Slater didn’t answer as he peeled his eyes from James while the latter cleared his throat. "I want to rest."

"But you still have—" James stopped, staring at Slater’s side profile. "Fine. I’ll just tell them you can’t make it."

James raised his brows, studying Slater’s unchanging side profile. "Slater, is everything okay?"

"Mhm."

"Are you sure? You’ve been acting differently since you started working on your album," James pointed out. "You can tell me if something is bothering you."

Slater kept his lips tightly sealed, casting James a look. Seeing the latter’s curiosity, he smiled. "I’m fine. I’m just... tired. That’s all."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am sure. By the way, James, I sent you something to your home."

"Huh?"

"It’s a little gift." Slater smiled. "I also sent everyone a gift, as thanks for being there for me."