Ray didn't continue pressing, but Gigi seemed to have opened the floodgates herself, speaking as if she needed to get it off her chest.

"…I guess you could say I became famous young. I shot my first commercial at thirteen, and it took off immediately. After that, acting gigs kept coming—I was on top of the world and became a nationally recognized star."

A faraway look came over her eyes as she recalled those high points, a fleeting escape from the gnawing hunger.

"When I was twenty-five, I me