Ivy grunted an affirmation. âDonât stress about it. Now that Giselleâs in prison, she wonât be a threat to you anymore. The main thing is, you need to take care of your foot.â
Diana flashed a grateful smile. âThanks for the concern, Ms. Dunhill. Looking forward to learning the ropes from you during our scenes together.â
Ivy was not one to be overly cautious, and Diana felt confident that she could win her over and become her âgood friend.â
She figured if she could get on Balfourâs good side, the doors to prime roles would swing wide open for her.
Ivy had not realized that at the moment she looked down, the woman before she had already calculated her next move.
She never felt special among the group of actors, but when Balfour came to pick her up from work, everyone else would avert their eyes, not daring to glance their way.
That was when she understood that to them, Balfour was beyond their reach.
Finally, someone who was not afraid to loosen up and chat came along, and Ivy was thrilled.
When it was Dianaâs scene, she hopped up and bounced over to the director without anyoneâs help.
âColton, Iâm up, right?â
Colton glanced at her crutch and frowned, clearly not on board.
âAlas, Iâve already said your scenes arenât as crucial as Ivyâs. We can push them back and shoot them once your footâs better. Itâs all the same.
Diana kept a cheery facade, but inwardly, she cursed Colton up and down.
Being the second lead, she was obviously not as central as Ivy.
If they pushed back her few scenes, who knew when she would be in the spotlight again?
âNo trouble at all! I just chatted with Ms. Dunhill about it. Colton, You can count on me.â
When filming started, Diana tossed aside her crutch. The scene was a dialogue, so shooting her from the waist up was plenty.
âAurora, why are you sneaking around following me?â
Aurora and the heroine, Valor, were childhood friends, but ever since Valor met David, she had ditched Aurora several times to meet that man in secret.
âHave you been charmed by that foreigner?â
Aurora could not bear to see her dear friend deceived. She stepped forward and grasped her hand.
âSnap out of it. Do you even know that man? Have you forgotten what grandma always said? Heâll leave us one day. Do you think heâll spare you a thought then? Donât be foolish, Valor!â
But to Auroraâs dismay, Valor simply pressed her lips and chuckled. âHeâs told me everything youâre saying. Donât worry, Iâm not a child. I can take responsibility for my choices.â
Her cheeks flushed with a shy smile, and Aurora could tell Valor was utterly smitten, all for that drifter who had barely spent a week in their village!
She had forgotten herself.
âFine. Heâs told you everything, yet you still are hell-bent on going with him? Have you forgotten our dreams? We swore to explore the world beyond together. How could your forget?â
Valor had never forgotten her dream with Aurora, and she was well aware that her affair with David might not have a future.