Chapter 11

The next day. The set felt like it was stuck on replay—same stress, just a new pair in the spotlight: Aiden and Grace. The weather didn’t help either. Cloudy skies all day. But William said the scene had to be done today, so the director had no choice but to switch the romantic sunset into a night setting. Olivia wasn’t having it. She muttered under her breath, her words sharp as ever, “Such a romantic scene, and Grace made it look like an affair.” “No wonder Aiden couldn’t bring himself to kiss her.” Elsie didn’t respond. She kept her head down, focused on muttering the lines for the second female lead. The wind was insane—it almost drowned out the director’s “Action.” Aiden kept messing up. They’d already had to stop filming two or three times. “Cut! “Aiden, seriously? It’s just a kiss. What’s the problem? “Figure it out and let’s run it again!” Grace’s face wilted as she reapplied her makeup in front of the mirror. Elsie closed her script, absentmindedly rubbing the edge between her fingers. William’s Bentley was parked just beyond the crew’s marked zone. However long Grace had been filming, that car had been sitting there just as long. The black gloss of it sparkled faintly under the moonlight. She thought back to yesterday’s interrupted kiss scene—the one William had shut down in a flash. And now? He let Grace film kisses and didn’t bat an eye, while he always stuck his nose into her work. What a joke. She glanced at the monitor again. Grace and Aiden had finally gotten through a couple more takes and pulled off a passable kiss. Barely decent, but it was good enough for the director. He rolled up his script with a grumble: “That’s a wrap!” Grace was livid. She blocked Aiden just as he was heading toward the director’s tent. “You messing with me on purpose, huh?” Aiden shrugged casually. “Course not. I’ve got a thing about hygiene. I genuinely couldn’t do it.” “You saying I’m dirty?” That hit a nerve—Grace had been spoiled her whole life, no one ever talked to her like that. Her face twisted with rage. She took a step toward him, voice sharp and rising. “Don’t think I can’t tell you got a thing for Elsie! Hygiene? Please. If William hadn’t stopped you yesterday, you’d have kissed her no problem!” Aiden didn’t say a word, just subconsciously looked over at where Elsie was sitting near the director’s tent. Watching this, Grace’s anger shot through the roof. “If you’ve got standards, then you should definitely be staying away from her! A two-timing slut—wait, nope, make that three guys now, including you.” That did it. Aiden’s head snapped around. Grace flinched under the chill in his stare but refused to back down. “Elsie’s the type to play everyone. I’m doing you a favor, showing you who she really is. Otherwise, when she drops you like trash for someone else, good luck recovering.” She thought her words would sting. But Aiden just stared at her for three seconds and walked off. No fight, no anger—just an ice-cold glare that made her stomach twist. For a second, she felt like she was being watched by something deadly. A shiver climbed up her spine, raising every hair on her body. Under the tent, Elsie saw Aiden heading her way and immediately yanked Olivia to her feet. “Let’s go.” Olivia sighed. “Is this really necessary? William’s literally flaunting Grace in your face, and you’re just work buddies with Aiden, not like you’ve slept together. Why not keep him close?” “You’re getting divorced, Elsie. Why do you still care what William thinks?” Elsie shook her head. It wasn’t about William. It was about protecting Aiden. And herself. William was acting weird lately—moody as hell and taking it out on anyone remotely close to her. Elsie didn’t want Aiden to lose his role because of her, and she definitely didn’t want to lose him as a friend, either. Looking back, she realized she should’ve said no that night when he asked to see the movie. Given how he felt about her, it was bound to give him the wrong idea. Just like William did before—so gentle and considerate, always there for her. It had her fooled into thinking she was special to him. Took her until now to really see it clearly. She didn’t want Aiden walking the same road she did. If it’s not love, better not give someone hope in the first place. She got up to leave. In the corner of her eye, she caught Aiden freezing in place. Her heart sunk a little, and she apologized silently in her head. — The next day, it was Elsie and Grace’s scene. Elsie had been waiting forever before Grace finally waltzed in, still touching up her makeup like she had all the time in the world. The director didn’t rush her, so she just stood there, waiting. Finally, they were about to shoot when Grace wandered over out of nowhere and asked, “You know why William gave me your role?” Elsie didn’t even glance at her. Grace didn’t seem to care. Chin slightly raised, she went on, “Not just ‘cause you’re the lead—it’s also ‘cause today we’re shooting a slap scene.” She waved the script in front of her and smirked. “But now, guess who’s getting slapped?” Taking a step forward, she leaned in close and whispered, “You embarrassed me in the lounge. William said I could hit you however I like—to blow off some steam.” This time, Elsie finally looked over. She turned her face slightly, voice calm and cold. “The behind-the-scenes team and the fan-cam people are all here. If you’re dying to see your name trending with ‘on-set bullying,’ go ahead.” Then she walked off toward her spot, leaving Grace frozen behind her, that smug look draining right off her face like someone had dumped a bucket of cold water on her. The cameras rolled not long after. The scene was of the lead finding out the tuition fees she gave the second female lead were wasted on nonsense. She was furious and slapped her out of disappointment. Once the clapperboard slammed down, Elsie was right in character. The camera zoomed in for a close-up. Her slender fingers flicked a cigarette, light blue eyeshadow tracing her lifted eyeliner, her gaze laden with a cool sort of amusement as she looked toward the fuming Grace. Every move she made had a strange, captivating pull. She was the textbook dropout rebel, yet not a trace of cheapness clung to her. Instead, she looked like a fallen angel—beautiful and broken. “Cut!” The director sounded satisfied—right before Grace suddenly raised her hand and— Smack. The crack echoed across the room. Elsie’s head whipped to the side, a red mark blooming on her cheek. Grace looked all shocked and apologetic. Hand to her mouth, she gasped, “Oh no, sorry! Slipped!” The director grabbed the megaphone. “It’s okay, that was in the script. But Grace, your emotions were all off. You’re supposed to be upset but still care about her. Your face can’t be just angry.” “Got it! Let me go again.” The camera had barely started before Grace’s hand came swinging again. “Oh shoot, I forgot my lines! Sorry, director!” It wasn’t just loud—it was hard. Elsie felt a strong buzzing in her ear. She saw the director’s brow twitch. A nearby assistant whispered something to him, and he just waved a hand. “Touch up makeup. We’ll redo it!” Elsie followed their gaze. Turned out William was standing nearby. Straight-backed, hands in his pockets, face cold and completely expressionless. That blank indifference felt like an icicle straight through her chest. So it was true. He was letting it happen. All because she told him to keep his distance from Grace in the lounge?