Chapter 14

Hearing her best friend's voice again after all these years, Liliana nearly teared up on the spot. Trisha had always been her ride-or-die. In their last life, they'd been inseparable—willing to go through hell and back for each other. But thanks to Marsha sowing discord, Liliana foolishly grew distant from her. Then life just kept closing in on her. Even when she wanted to reconnect, there was no way to reach Trisha. "Hey now, don't make me out to be the bad guy. I missed you like crazy, okay?" Liliana grinned. Trisha played along, faking a dramatic sniffle. "So touching, I could cry." They joked around for a bit before finally easing into more serious talk. "I'm bored out of my mind living like this. I wanna give the entertainment industry a shot. Trisha, what do you think?" As the talent director at Starlight Ember Entertainment, Trisha had a sharp eye for spotting potential. She could tell in minutes whether someone had star quality or not. "Wait, you're being serious?" Trisha's tone turned all business. After being taken back in by the Johnsons at fifteen, Liliana lived a pampered life—never had to lift a finger. Her whole world had revolved around Ethan. A job? That thought had never even crossed her mind. "Dead serious," Liliana nodded. "I'm not a kid anymore. Can't rely on my parents forever. And I'm not anyone's accessory—I need a life of my own." The line went quiet for a moment before Trisha spoke again. "If you really mean it, let's talk face-to-face." Clearly, she took this to heart. Even her usual easygoing vibe was more toned down. Liliana agreed, and they picked a place to meet. Half an hour later, they met up at a café downtown. "Lili, if you're all in, sign with Starlight Ember," Trisha said. The industry was a shark tank. Without connections, just surviving was a struggle. Liliana didn't know the ropes yet, and Trisha would only feel at ease if she could keep an eye on her. "I'm not signing a contract right now," Liliana hesitated, eyes sparkling as she looked at her. "But I was hoping you could be my agent." Trisha narrowed her eyes. "You're not just chasing a whim, are you? Don't flake after two weeks." She wasn't doubting her completely—it's just that Liliana had never really worked a day in her life. Even when Old Mr. Johnson tried bringing her into the family business, she lost interest halfway through. "Look at my face—do I look like I'm playing games?" Liliana raised her hand like she was swearing an oath. Trisha tapped her forehead. "Hope you mean it." "I'll go check my schedule later," she added casually. No fuss, no mention of salary. Liliana got so touched that she pulled Trisha into a hug, rubbing her head against her shoulder. "Trisha, you really are the best person in the world!" Trisha might be young, but the few artists she managed were killing it in the industry. She was the rising star among agents—having her on your team? That was a golden ticket. More than anything, it was her friend's full-on support that moved her most. "You drama queen," Trisha muttered with a playful pinch to her waist. With that face and figure Liliana had, as long as she got serious, even with just a decent agent and minimal resources, blowing up was totally doable.Liliana clung to her like she found a lifeline. "I can already picture myself walking red carpets and flashing lights!" Trisha came from a wealthy family—money was never a worry for her. Her true passion lay in showbiz, and she thrived on the satisfaction of watching her talent soar. Her dream? To launch a triple-award-winning actress. That's why she took the role of talent director at Starlight Ember Entertainment. Becoming Liliana's agent felt like the perfect win-win. "Then I'm counting on you to snag me that Best Actress Grand Slam!" Liliana teased, nudging her playfully. After coffee, the two grabbed lunch and then made impromptu plans to hit the mall. "Liliana, finally saw the light, huh?" Trisha beamed like a proud mom whose kid just aced finals. Back then, Liliana barely shopped. She always picked out the cheapest clothes without caring if they suited her. Now she was the one who suggested going shopping—clearly, her mindset had done a 180. Trisha couldn't be happier. "I used to be way too naive," Liliana sighed in self-mockery. She wasn't going to live for others anymore. No more walking on eggshells or letting insecurity grip her. From now on, she was going to own her life—confidently, unapologetically. "In that case, we're raiding every floor of this mall!" Trisha declared with a dramatic flair. Liliana laughed and gave her a thumbs-up. Breaking into the entertainment world meant learning to market herself. A good outfit could boost public perception by miles. Sure, Wilson had already gifted her plenty of clothes, but now that she'd gotten a taste for styling herself, there was no such thing as "too many clothes." ... As the two stepped into a trendy boutique, they ran smack into Marsha and Chloe, both browsing racks of clothes. Liliana kept her gaze on the new arrivals beside Trisha, pretending not to notice them. But Chloe wasn't about to let her off that easy. "Well, if it isn't Liliana out shopping for once," Chloe said, her tone dripping faux sweetness. Before Old Mr. Johnson's birthday bash, Liliana had been the talk of the town—but not in a good way. Her clothes were frumpy, her social skills worse. In Halebrook's rich circles, she was just a walking joke. "What a coincidence," Liliana replied calmly, her smile polite. In the past, remarks like that would've wrecked her mood, but not anymore. She'd stopped tying her worth to what others thought. She'd realized she wasn't beneath anyone. People who find joy in tearing others down usually have nothing going on inside. Making others feel small was their only crutch. "You sure you're in the right store? Stuff here's pretty pricey. You got the cash for it?" Chloe scoffed, eyes narrowed in disdain. Liliana wasn't the least bit fazed. Trisha rolled her eyes and fired right back, "Why's it such a big deal that she's shopping? Is your world really so small that this mall feels like your entire universe?" She was never one to sugarcoat things, especially not to people who came in itching for a fight. Her words didn't just defend Liliana—they shot right over Chloe's head with a clear diss. Chloe's face tightened into an angry scowl. She wanted to snap back something sharp, but with Trisha's status in Halebrook and her wide network, Chloe knew better. She might go after Liliana, but Trisha? That'd be the definition of self-sabotage. "I wasn't even talking to you," Chloe muttered, letting out a cold huff. Marsha barely hid her annoyance, patting Chloe's back in an attempt to cool her down. "C'mon, we all know each other. No need to make it ugly." Trisha had a grip on a lot of resources in the entertainment world. Staying on her good side could open doors. Marsha still held a grudge about being lectured by Old Mr. Johnson the night before—thanks to Liliana. But revenge could wait. Her career, on the other hand, couldn't.