To Love A Villain-Chapter 201: Director

>>Hael

I stood next to Mom, both of us peering down from the wide glass windows of her office. From this height, I could see the sea of fans gathering below, their signs held high, their voices merging into a collective hum of frustration. They were relentless, camping out in front of the company building, demanding answers and refusing to leave until I came down and spoke to them. The longer I watched, the more apparent their desperation became.

"All this happened because you announced you were leaving the industry," Mom said, her voice cutting through the room.

I glanced at her

That’s right. The problem became bigger because I made an announcement I was leaving. I honestly have no reason left to stay, I’ve already accomplished my original purpose of becoming famous.

I sighed, leaning back against the desk and crossing my arms. "Well, what else was I supposed to do?" I shrugged, casting a sideways glance at her. "My wife matters more, and these young fans won’t let us be. They’re obsessed."

Mom narrowed her eyes, her lips pressing into a thin line. "It’s not just about the fans, Hael. You made a career out of this. You’re a public figure. People are invested in you."

I didn’t need a reminder. I knew what the stakes were, and I knew how much I was giving up by walking away from everything I’d built, it takes a lot to get where I am. But every time I thought about Amber, about the way the media and the fans could turn her life upside down, I had this nauseous feeling I’d rather not feel at all.

So, I made my announcement, I knew this was the right decision. She didn’t deserve to be pulled into the madness of my world.

Mom glanced down at the crowd again, shaking her head. "You need to handle this before it gets even more out of control."

I raised an eyebrow. "Me? Handle it?"

"Yes, you," She snapped, her tone sharp. "Go down there and talk to them. These fans worship you, Hael. They’re not going to stop until you tell them something."

I sighed heavily, running a hand through my hair. I didn’t want to deal with this. Not today. But Mom wasn’t wrong—the longer I stayed silent, the worse things would get. If they’re doing this in front of the company building, there is a chance they’ll find my home and do it there too.

One shouldn’t underestimate these fans.

"Fine," I muttered, pushing myself off the desk and heading for the door.

As I made my way down to the lobby, I could already hear the noise from outside growing louder. The second I stepped out of the elevator, the building’s security team straightened up, giving me nervous looks. They knew how bad things had gotten with the fans lately. And honestly, I couldn’t blame them for being on edge.

When the glass doors slid open and I stepped outside, the noise was deafening. The crowd immediately surged forward, fans pressing up against the barriers, waving signs and shouting over each other to get my attention. Some were crying, others were just staring at me with wide eyes, like they couldn’t believe I was actually standing in front of them.

The moment they saw me, the questions came flooding in.

"Hael, are you really leaving the industry?"

"Why are you doing this? You can’t leave!"

"But you’re such a great actor! Please don’t go!"

"Please come back, Hael! We need you!"

"Did you get married so you could leave?"

"Isn’t acting your passion!? How can you just abandon it!"

"Did your wife force you to do this?!?"

I raised my hands, trying to calm them down, but it was like trying to stop a tidal wave with a paper cup. Their voices overlapped, each one more desperate than the last.

"I know you all have a lot of questions," I began, my voice raised just enough to cut through the noise. "But I need you to listen to me." It’s best to diffuse the situation here.

I noticed a number of girls took out their phone to record me, this is directly going to social media.

The crowd quieted slightly, their attention now fully focused on me. I took a deep breath, preparing myself for the backlash that was sure to come.

"Yes, it’s true. I’m leaving the industry." I saw a ripple of shock and disbelief run through the crowd. Some of them gasped, others looked like they were on the verge of tears.

"But why, Hael? You’re at the top of your career!" one girl called out, her voice shaking.

I nodded, "I know it seems sudden, but I’ve made this decision for personal reasons. My life has changed, and I need to prioritize my family."

"But we’re your family too!" Another fan shouted. "We’ve supported you for years! You can’t just leave us!"

...

I can’t deny that but this was different. The one thing I’ve waited years to get, I already have it, so I don’t want any useless drama anymore.

"I appreciate all of you," I said, my tone softening. "You’ve been amazing, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without your support. But this... this is something I have to do. I have someone in my life who means the world to me, and I can’t keep dragging her through the chaos that comes with this lifestyle." I have to choose my words wisely.

The internet is a battlefield, afterall.

"Is it because of Amber?" One girl asked, her voice barely audible over the murmurs in the crowd. "Is she the reason you’re leaving?"

... 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

I knew this question would be thrown my way.. "Yes. Amber is my wife, and I love her more than anything. The attention she’s getting because of me... it’s not fair to her."

Some of the fans exchanged glances, and I could see the disappointment written all over their faces. They didn’t want to hear this. They didn’t want to believe that my decision had anything to do with someone they barely knew.

"You can still act and be with her!" one of them protested. "Other celebrities do it!"

"It’s not that simple," I replied, trying to keep my frustration in check. "Amber never asked for this. She didn’t choose to be in the spotlight, and I won’t let her suffer because of my career." Besides, if I didn’t announce this, all the attention wouldn’t have come back to me.

People had spent days bashing my wife on the internet. The best thing I could think of was to get the attention back on me and do something that would silence the people for good,

Hmmm

Maybe I’ll add in something else, "I would not have made this decision to leave if people weren’t so mean to my family." I activated my acting mode, "But it’s hard to see my wife and her family suffer." None of them really cared.

Contrary to my worries, they all deleted their apps and focused on other stuff for a while.

The crowd fell into an uneasy silence, and I could see some of the fans beginning to understand, even if they didn’t like it. Others, however, looked like they were on the verge of a meltdown.

One girl, standing near the front, wiped away her tears and looked up at me with wide, pleading eyes. "So that’s it? You’re just going to disappear? We’ll never see you again?"

I sighed, feeling a pang of guilt. "I’m not disappearing. If things settle down for good, I might just make a comeback."

I mean, it’s not going to be hard for me. Me and my mother literally own the company. I can come back whenever I want.

But putting on this drama about leaving was necessary to get the fans to calm down.

I know it won’t happen immediately but the fact has been established that I am not married. So, if I come back in the future, people won’t react how they are right now.

For the time being, I’m going to work with Mom and take the position of the director, which is actually way better at the moment since I won’t have to leave the city or the country just for filming or for fan tours.

I want to stay with my wife and this way, I won’t be gone for months just because I have to film somewhere else.

The crowd was silent for a moment, processing my words. Then, slowly, the questions started up again, softer this time, less frantic.

"But what about your projects? What about all the roles you haven’t played yet?" one fan asked, her voice trembling.

"I’m sorry," I said sincerely. "There are always going to be roles I haven’t played, but those aren’t as important as the role I need to play in my own life."

Some of the fans nodded, though I could still see the hurt in their eyes. This wasn’t what they wanted to hear, but it was the truth. And it was the best way to calm things down. Some fans are only there for the idol, not their work and projects.

If I like something in the future and decide to act again, all the people who liked my work can come and support me again. It’s not an issue I’m worried about.

I know I’m good.

"I’m sorry for the confusion, and for how sudden this must feel," I added, glancing over the crowd one last time. "But please understand, this decision isn’t about abandoning you. I would never abandon you all. I would love to come back some day, But this is about protecting someone I love."

I smiled

This should be enough.