From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Just a glance awakened the reality in June Carter's mind—

The burdens she needed to carry, the challenges she needed to face, the experiences she needed to endure, those torments and pains, those repressions and confusions, all poured down.

In an instant, she was submerged.

The smile at the corner of her lips slightly stiffened, gradually smoothing out bit by bit, lost and bewildered, immersed in her thoughts, a roaring sea of emotions continuously surging.

Confusion. Perplexity. Disappointment.

How should she continue to live? Continue to be surrounded by those critical and scrutinizing gazes in the arena of fame and fortune, or turn around and leave to live in seclusion in the mountains?

How should she tell Johnny that things weren't so simple, that they were no longer children, no longer able to do whatever they wanted with just a heart full of love?

Should she remain single? Did she no longer have the right to pursue her own happiness, forever branded with the label of a failed marriage, at a loss for what to do?

Thoughts, like a volcanic eruption, gushed out, but couldn't be sorted out clearly, all intertwined and entangled.

This reminded Reese of earlier.

The entire crew was buzzing with rumors, and Reese couldn't help but worry about Anson, genuinely worried, because she herself had experienced such situations and circumstances, she knew how much pressure was borne behind the glamorous facade, and she extended an olive branch to Anson, expressing friendliness.

Reese genuinely liked Anson—as an actor, as a partner.

However, what about Anson?

Dismissive and nonchalant, his carefree appearance made her look like a fool. Her worries and concerns must have seemed very foolish to Anson.

Indeed, people are different; and the difference between men and women is even greater, although not in all cases, but society often favors men more.

After all, this is a “man’s, man’s, man’s world,” just as that classic song sings.

Not just Anson.

Ryan Phillippe was the same.

Also being an actor, Reese thought Ryan would be able to remain rational and understand her work.

Reese had never complained about Ryan's acting work, even when he needed to film very intimate scenes, she told herself that it was work.

But what about Ryan?

Ever since learning that Reese was going to film “Walk the Line” with Anson, he had been sarcastic and confrontational, even when it had nothing to do with the content of the filming, Ryan simply didn't like Anson, and even demanded that Reese withdraw from the “Walk the Line” crew.

Reese thought Ryan was being ridiculous, she had no reason and should not sacrifice her career because of Ryan's small emotions.

Imagine, if the positions were reversed, and Reese was being ridiculous, demanding that Ryan sacrifice a role in order to preserve their marriage, how would people judge her? How would they attack her?

She refused.

She was also an actress, she also had her own career, she also had her own life, although she loved Ryan, still deeply loved him, although she and Ryan had a wonderful marriage and had given birth to two children, she still refused to sacrifice her career.

Before she was Ryan's wife and the children's mother, she was first and foremost herself, Reese Witherspoon, only when she had a complete personality could she better fulfill her roles as a wife and mother, right? If even she herself couldn't realize her own existence, how could she play a role as a wife and mother?

Damn it!

Again and again, in a familiar way, she continued to experience such things, tightly clutching her throat.

She couldn't breathe.

This scene fell into Johnny's eyes, he had been watching June Carter, his eyes never leaving, immersed in the happiness of the melody, unable to extricate himself.

Johnny felt it, felt the sweetness and happiness in June Carter's singing, he knew that June Carter wasn't without feeling, she was the same as him, which also confirmed his guess; but he didn't understand why June Carter kept rejecting him and avoiding him, he couldn't see the reason.

Then, Johnny once again felt June Carter's wavering and retreat.

With great difficulty, she had poked a little bit of her figure out of her shell, revealing a little bit of her heart, and now she was about to shrink back, closing herself off again.

This left Johnny at a loss, a hint of disappointment and sadness flowing in his eyes, at a loss for what to do.

What should he do?

How should he let June Carter understand his feelings, how should he break down June Carter's defenses, how should he break through the paper window between them?

In a flash of lightning, countless thoughts crashed around in his mind.

A burst of dizziness, a burst of lightheadedness, Johnny felt an impulse, an impulse that could destroy everything but was still difficult to suppress.

The soft and warm touch, like a cloud, had not yet had time to savor it before returning to reality, dazedly looking at the beauty.

Slightly stunned, unable to recover for the time being.

June Carter was also stunned, immersed in her own wild thoughts, not having had time to sort out her thoughts, she was suddenly attacked, she reflexively looked up at Johnny, her eyes, after a brief moment of panic, completely fell into the abyss, the chilling anger made all the beauty and ambiguity disappear completely, an uncontrollable and indescribable shame and anger instantly erupted.

June Carter looked at Johnny coldly, without expression, and without fluctuation.

"Don't. Do. That."

Each syllable popped out, crisp and neat, straightforward, and you could even clearly feel that all the light in those eyes had disappeared.

She looked him straight in the eye.

Cold. Resolute. Decisive.

She refused to obediently be captured, she refused to acknowledge the spoils of men, she refused to be manipulated like a Barbie doll, she refused to compromise, refused to surrender, refused to muddle along, refused to swallow her anger.

She stared into his eyes without flinching, the anger that had been suppressed and controlled again and again was finally released.

Johnny froze.

June Carter didn't give Johnny a chance, she turned and left without hesitation, without nostalgia, without hesitation, without fear, she left straight away.

That back view, trying to straighten up and leave upright; but in the end, she couldn't hold on, she couldn't even make it off the stage, her upper body hunched up and curled up, covering her face with her hands, she ran all the way into the curtain, using the curtain to cover up her embarrassment, even forgetting her slippers, and left in a huff.

Despite her outwardly fierce and tough appearance, she was still a woman, a woman who grew up under the influence of traditional culture, a woman with devout faith, torn between tradition and herself, she was ultimately unable to bear those injuries.

Tears scalded her cheeks.