Chapter 15
lackened her pace and called mit, “Mi. Foster.
She then greeted everyone with a genite smile,
Her long, straight hutt was tied low with a single
trands of hair fellamondbertare, softening her features
*So, you’re the student Mc, Foster Lives about? I’ve brand all about. speaking so softly before,“ joked Samuel Grant, the film’s director
arxl it a preat to finally meet you! I’ve known Mr. Foster for years, but we never seen him
Sammel was one of Tayler’s students and shaped los meticidous approach to work. However, he had been somewhat unlucky: He lost two intemational awants to unexpected competitors and dealt with a fewartia
Bertunately, be had real talent and some financial backing. This time
Erla respected his resilience and replied politely, “Mr
ubing armmeback. Hehat spanden expense, even inviting, Taloershelp
Tador chuckled and pulled her aside protectively. “Without conte am, be is supposed to be your senine. III’m not amend, don’t beutate to ask him for help
Mterabit more small talk, Taylor led her aside: “Lila, there’s something I want in talk to jomu alent
He lowered his head, alusest as if he were a student who had done something wrong. With just one sentence, Lila understood what he was going to say, “Mr. Foster, know what you’re getting at. I understand where you and Mex. Foster stand, but I’mafraid I love to disappoint you There’s no longer a porobility between Therian and me.
Tayler besitated, but sering her determined and confident demens, he seemed to be reminded of herniversity days.
He sighed beavily. “I had known, I should have stopped Camille hom playing matchmaker in the first place.”
“Mr Bøster, I’ve never blamed either of you. Dorian and I were simply not meant to be” She reassed in, her voice as clear and soothing
He nodded
“I’ll let Camille and Dorian know, but keep working hard. Although you’ve been a bit idle these past few years, you have a solid foundation
“I still hope you can excel in directing. You will definitely achieve great things, far surpassing me.
At this Taylor’s eyes lit up, and his cheerful expression må his wound face legle with excitement.
“You and Dorianare both promising talents. You
Just as Taylor was getting sentimental, he caught sight at Donan out of the comer of his eye. Upon seeing that he stopped speaking, Lila followed his gaze Doran stood there in a dark suit, his expression cold yet carrying an air of authority. The mood tumed heny. For reasons of his own, Taylor spoke up first
“You have have a talk I’ll go check on
Without giving Lila a chance to protest, he briskly walked off with surprising energy, leaving her both amuses and resigned. Despite understanding her decision, it seemed he still had to answer Camille
Once he was far enough away, Dorian stepped closer, standing in the shadows with a deep gaze. He had just heard Taylor’s last remark.
“Lila, if you want to get back together, at least show me some sincerity first.”
She frowned, puzzled by how he had assumed she wanted to reconcile. Not wanting to talk to him, Lila tumed to leave but was caught by the wrist.
“Lila, enough of your little games. 1 love you, and I wouldn’t stoop to using any tricks to make you compromise. If you keep acting this way, I can’t guarantee what I might do.”
She looked back at tim, expressionless. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Lila struggled to free her weist but couldn’t break away. “Let go!” Her voice was cold, he ice that had been building up for years. With her cold experton, she seemed to stand in a world of ice, making others instinctively backott.
“Dorian, are you two arguing ** A sickly, sweet voice piped up brum behind, sending a shiver down Lila’s spine.
Zare stood under the light, weaning hermal pale dress. Fortle walk–through, her hair was styled straight instead of herwaal gentle waves, making her.
Why was shehere? Sering Lila’s cordusion, Zara Hushed a sweet smile.
* Ham, what a coincidence! Dorian recommended me for this role. He mentioned this might be Mr. Foster’s last project and loses how much I wanted to work with him, sobe personally recommended me to the director”
Hearing this made Lila’s stomach tum with disgust. Her brows furrowed, and her frustration built up like a tangled koot that she couldn’t unravel.
“So, what brings you here?” Zara tilted her head in an attempt to look playful.
Lila ignouedber, homing to Dorian with a colder, more annoyed tone. “‘t you going to let ga?”
Zaraglared down at their joined hands, a hint of apology in her valev, “Dh, you two were talking, weren’t you? Did I come at a bad time?!
“There’s nothing here you can’t listento. Dorian released her wrist, his gaze softening as he looked at Zara
At that moment, Lila felt like it was just another part of their game, which revolted her even more. She smiled differently but said nothing, although the disdain inereyes stabbed right at Dolan, making him want to snap,
“Ms. Hart, don’t be mad at Dorian. You have no idea how he has barely been able to eat or sleep since you gested breaking up. I’m worried he might actually make himself sick”
Her for was itripping with ennerm as if it painest ber more than if the were the one suffering
tilahadadenes takenpare of his health knowing an actoremulla Lovermbiler, the cmetally managed i
oder, ensuring he had the righ
in smaller
Bat her exporssion didn’t change Hergair was indifferent as if she had just heard something
toprintment (bidered across his face
“I didn’t know that since you seen so aware, I guess you? u spending plenty of time with him, haven’t you?
Zara traze, het long lashes tuttering. Her expression suddenly timed fragile and innocent. “T.
“Lila, why are you taking your anger out on her?” Dorian snapped, his frustration evident.
He had noticed he was losing patience with her more and more lately. She had brought it on herself.
“Ma. Hart, please don’t misunderstand. 1 only heard this from Dorian’s assistant. I haven’t been=”
Zara’s gaze lingered on Lila’s elegant air, her hands clenched tight at her sides. When she first heard Dorian had a girlfriend, she was abroad. Still, she had someone look into Lila’s background
Knowing Lila was an orphan with no family to support her, Zara barely considered her a threat. Back then, the Hayes family was thriving, and her parents had forbidden her from pursuing Dorian, who had nothing back then
But when he became an award–winning actor, Zara returned home. She had assumed she could easily push Lila out of the picture. But three years later, she found that Dorian’s feelings had deepened.
Fortunately, they weren’t anbreakable. It had taken her two years to drive them to this breaking point
Lila was unworthy of Dorian Only someone as radiant as Zara should stand beside the dazzling, celebrated Dorian
Doman stepped out of the shadows, lightly patting Zara’s back to reassure her. “You haven’t done anything wrong. Why explain yourself to her?
“Lila, have you thought over Ms. Parker’s offer?” He was standing in the sunlight, but his gaze held none of its warmth. It was cold and unsettling, more like a dark, damp basement.
She stared directly into his gaze.
For a moment, her chest ached with a familiar pain, although less piercing than before.
She had no desire to explain herself to him. Her expression remained impassive as she stood there, upright and proud.
Zara clenched her fists, but her expression betrayed nothing. Her voice remained soft as she said, “Lila, please don’t
“Hold on,” Lila said, tapping her eat annoyedly as she looked at Zara with a half–smile. “We’re not that close, so please don’t call me by my name.”
