Chapter 281

Chapter 281:

Madisyn’s fingers danced across the keyboard. “This video is clearly doctored.”

With a few deft clicks, she restored the original footage and sent it to Victor.

Victor’s reply was almost immediate. “Oh my god! It’s actually fake? I can’t believe I fell for it! Oh no, I wrongly accused that new actress. Well, although she performed well today, I’m still worried about her performance in the future.”

Madisyn posed a subtle challenge. “Aren’t you going to give her a chance?”

There was a moment of silence. Madisyn imagined Victor hesitating, fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Finally, his reply came through, more thoughtful this time. “She deserves a chance. While I’ve been let down by a newcomer before, that doesn’t mean all newcomers should be written off so quickly.”

Madisyn simply typed, “Okay,” and with a tired sigh, she shut her laptop. The weight of the day tugged at her, pulling her into the comforting embrace of her bed. Sleep claimed her quickly, and she drifted off into a deep, dreamless slumber.

Lɒtєѕτ ϲнαρτєrs ιn g𝒶l𝑛ovєls.𝓒𝓸𝓶

The next morning, the skies were grey with storm clouds. Tatiana got up early. Today was the opening ceremony for the new TV drama, which was critical for its success. The original novel was written by none other than Hermione, so it was a given that many eager reporters would be present. Tatiana took her time getting ready, determined to stand out at the ceremony.

Just as she was adjusting the final touches, her phone buzzed. It was Kiley. “Tatiana, I still haven’t heard anything from Victor. Did I get the part or not?” Kiley asked, her voice laced with anxiety.

Tatiana frowned, her brow creasing in concern. Filming was set to start today, and Victor hadn’t contacted Kiley yet? Among all the auditionees yesterday, Kiley had stood out the most. It didn’t make sense.

“I’ll talk to Victor,” Tatiana offered, her voice calm.

She tried calling Victor, but the line was busy. After several attempts, she finally gave up and called Kiley back. “Why don’t you come over first? I’m sure you got the role.”

“Okay,” Kiley responded, cheering up instantly.

The opening ceremony buzzed with life, the air thick with anticipation as reporters swarmed the venue, their cameras at the ready. When Tatiana made her entrance, the flashbulbs exploded in a frenzy, capturing her every graceful smile and wave. Kiley, just a step behind, felt the eyes of the crowd on her too. The photographers, like moths to a flame, eagerly documented their every move.

Speculation had been rife online about who would snag the coveted second female lead, and now, the suspense was finally over. Reporters scrambled to break the news, eager to be the first to share the scoop.

As soon as netizens got wind of the news, reactions flooded in. “I knew it! That role was Kiley’s from the start. Victor would never gamble on some unknown rookie,” one comment read. “The newcomer is gorgeous, but it seems she doesn’t come across as very likable,” another chimed in.

“Such a shame. With looks like hers, she could’ve been a star, but that personality? Total turn-off,” another added.

Even before making her big break in the entertainment industry, Milly had already amassed a legion of haters.

Settling into a quiet corner of the venue, Kiley checked her phone and scanned through the comments, a smug smile tugging at her lips. Confidence radiated from her. The role was hers—no question about it. So what if that other woman was beautiful and talented? In this cutthroat world, it was all about connections, not skills. As Kiley reveled in her triumph, Victor made his grand entrance. The venue erupted in warm greetings, a chorus of respect for the man who held so much sway in the industry.

But when the crowd caught sight of the woman trailing just behind him, a wave of shock rippled through the air. Who was she? Wasn’t that the same woman who’d been competing with Kiley for the second female lead? Hadn’t Kiley already secured the role? Why was Milly here, too?

Tatiana’s eyes widened as she quickly interjected, “Victor, what—”

But Victor’s cold gaze silenced her. His voice was icy as he declared, “This is Milly, our second female lead.”

“What?” Tatiana nearly shouted. Eyes wide, she lowered her voice and whispered, “But, Victor, you…”

Hadn’t he seen that video? How could he have possibly chosen Milly?

Victor’s expression remained stern, unyielding. “Tatiana, I’ve actually been meaning to ask you something. Why did you send me a doctored video?”

Tatiana’s heart dropped to her stomach. Victor was a staunch admirer of Hermione and shared her disdain for any hint of injustice. Her actions had clearly displeased him.

A shadow of anxiety crossed her face. Had Victor uncovered the truth?

“Victor, this must be some kind of misunderstanding. Was that video really doctored? I swear I didn’t know. A friend sent it to me, and I recognized the person in it, so I forwarded it to you, worried that someone unworthy might join our production,” she quickly said, her voice trembling slightly. “I’m really sorry.”

Milly, who had been silent until now, finally locked eyes with Tatiana. Her voice was calm but carried a sharp edge. “So it was you who sent a video to Victor to mislead him? I’m curious, where did you even find that video? I doubt many people even know who I am.”

The air grew thick with tension as those present began to piece together the situation.

Tsk tsk.

The dark underbelly of the entertainment industry was all too familiar to them. Obviously, Tatiana had tried to sabotage Milly but had failed miserably.

Tatiana, a seasoned actress with numerous awards under her belt, resorted to setting up a newcomer? How small-minded could she be?

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