Chapter 106
Ophelia asked, “Why? Do I seem cruel to you now?”
A flash of shock crossed Rex’s face before he quickly averted his gaze, feeling a twinge of guilt. He thought. ‘How does she know what I was thinking? That’s terrifying. Mom is right. The more beautiful the woman, the more dangerous she is. My angel has turned into a devil in no time.
“If you’re scared, then be good and attend the acting classes. Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with the consequences, Ophelia said as she placed a thick stack of papers before him
Rex felt aggrieved, but the moment he thought about Ophelia’s position in the Carnegie family, he immediately caved.
“Jason“” Rex shouted toward the door, and Jason rushed into the lounge. The way Rex had yelled was so desperate that Jason thought something terrible must’ve happened.
I’m not taking on any work for the time being. Sign me up for all those acting classes, Rex said.
“W–what?” Jason’s expression looked like he had just been struck by lightning He thought, Is Rex out of his mind, or had he suddenly turned over a new leaf?
Jason glanced at Ophelia with pure admiration. He thought. How on earth had she managed to make Rex this obedient! For the past two years, I had begged and pleaded to no avail”
Rexx charming eyes drooped. If his fans saw him like this, they would be heartbroken. Even though he was lazy and carefree, his face still had a lethal charm. Watching him now, looking like a wilting flower, it was hard not to feel sorry for him.
Ophelia sighed. “How about this. If you diligently attend the classes. I’ll give you my allowance. How does that sound Bethany gave her 200 thousand dollars as pocket money every month, which she intended to use to buy gifts for the Carnegie family. But it would be great if that money could motivate Rex.
“Your allowance? Rex’s eyes brightened for a moment but quickly dimmed again. “Forget it. Keep that allowance for yourself. I’m still a celebrity, you know. I’m not exactly strapped for cash” He couldn’t possibly take money from a woman not even over his dead body.
Ophelia thought, “Did I just get rejected? Well, it made sense. As long as his funds aren’t cut off, his pocket money is definitely more than mine.
“Oh right. I haven’t given you a proper welcome gift yet. Later tonight, just pick any car you like from my garage, Rex said, looking utterly defeated. The mere thought of attending those endless acting classes gave him a headache.
“If you really want to give me a gift, go home and study that script properly,” Ophelia replied, adding another book to his already thick stack of materials.
Rex wanted to cry.
Not long after Rex left, James came rushing in, looking for her. “Ophelia, check Twitter”
Ophelia took out her phone and scrolled through it. There were two trending topics with hashtags: “Behind the audition of With Love as My Cause” and “Thomas and Sharon spotted leaving a hotel together.”
The original tweet was a long post by Zoe Holloway. She conveniently glossed over the events of the audition day and made no mention of her lackluster performance. She even noted that everything she said was based on her personal experience, adding a layer of credibility to the story.
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Posting this just as With Love as My Cause announced its casting was certainly a well–timed move.
I’ve already asked the PR team to handle it.” James said, exasperated. He hadn’t expected Zoe to pull such a stunt just because she didn’t land the role.
“No need. We don’t have to respond. It’s practically free publicity for us. Let it be for now,” Ophelia said calmly, though her focus had already shifted to the story about Thomas and Sharon. Why were those two spotted at a hotel? she thought.
Ophelia clicked on the photos, and everything became clear. They were obviously deliberately taken during the audition day to create drama. She didn’t need any guessing to know the person behind it.
A newly registered Twitter account posted photos of Sharon and Thomas getting into a van together right in front of the hotel. Naturally, this led to a storm of speculation.
Although Sharon recently gained some fame through a movie, she didn’t have nearly as many fans as Thomas, who had been in the spotlight for years.
In the entertainment industry, whenever scandals like this arose, women always bore the brunt of the attacks.
Sharon was now being singled out and attacked by Thomas‘ fans.
To make matters worse. Thomas won Best Supporting Actor a few days ago at the Golden Globe Awards, putting him in the media’s spotlight. This was prime time for anyone looking to ride his wave of attention.
Everyone criticized Sharon, and some fans even made outrageous claims, saying she was involved with James.
The internet was never kind to long–winded explanations, If one didn’t act quickly to counter the rumors, people would cling to the smallest detail and never let go.
As luck would have it, Thomas was already at the company and sought Ophelia out.
“Miss Spencer, you’re here too. I might have an idea, but I’m unsure if it’ll work Thomas hesitated, his lips tightening-
“Let’s hear it,” James replied. Not having a better solution himself, there was no harm in listening.
Thomas said, “Well, today, there’s this ridiculous trending topic online. People are shipping me and Rex, speculating which of us would be the bottom and the top. It’s getting out of hand, and it might affect both of our future roles. Since gossip about Sharon and me is already circulating, why don’t we.
“You want to make it official?” Ophelia turned to Thomas, and a hint of embarrassment flashed across his handsome face
“No way. That’ll cause your fans to abandon you. You’re only thiny. If you reveal a relationship too early, forget about future roles. You might not even have a career left. James warned.
As Silverline Media’s largest shareholder, James had to prioritize the company’s interests. They had just paid a hefty sum to cover Thomas‘ contract termination fees and signed him on for big projects. The last thing they needed was for him to become a washed–up actor before they could even capitalize on his potential
“Are you sure about this? Ophelia asked, thinking the plan had its merits.
“I disagree. This sort of thing just needs a simple clarification. No need for self–sacrifice,” James reiterated.
Thomas, however, smiled slightly, “I’ve thought it through. As long as Sharon agrees.”
“Alright, I’ll give her a call Ophelia said.
James was speechless. He thought, ‘Could they respect my opinion just once?
Ophelia saw how deflated James looked and explained. “James, you’ve got to keep up with us young people. Nowadays,
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netizens can handle the truth just fine. Real couples are the best to root for, right?” She glanced at Thomas, raising her chin slightly.
For a moment. Thomas felt as though those clear, innocent eyes of hers saw right through him.
Before James could voice his objections, Ophelia had already dialed the number.
Meanwhile, Sharon had just finished filming a scene on the Legacy of the Paramour set. Her assistant handed her a phone and a heat pack.
Ophelia said, “Did you see the gossip online about you? There’s a solution. You could officially announce your relationship. with Thomas. It would completely kill the rumors. But you two will have to stay on your best behavior from now on and maybe throw out some couple moments now and then for the fans”
“Huh?” Sharon was stunned, not quite processing the idea.
Ophelia had kept the call on speaker, and Thomas, overhearing the conversation, nervously swallowed a lump in his throat.
