14:49 Mon, Nov 11
Chapter 60
3
59%
As dawn broke, Ophelia stirred from her slumber, finding herself nestled in a plush bed. However, any attempt to move proved futile. Kenneth’s muscular arm was wrapped around her waist like a vise, as if she might disappear if he loosened his grip.
It was always the same when they shared a bed. He treated her like a cherished teddy bear, and the slightest movement only made him hold on tighter.
Resigned to her fate, Ophelia remained perfectly still, waiting for him to wake up on his own terms.
“Why were you sleeping in the study last night, hmm?” Kenneth’s voice was husky with sleep as he gently turned her head towards him, his large hand tousling her messy hair.
“I was looking up some information,” Ophelia replied, already accustomed to his pet–like caresses. “When did you get back?”
They chatted idly for a while, discussing this and that as the morning slowly unfolded.
Suddenly, Ophelia casually mentioned. “Oh, by the way, I’m visiting the film set this afternoon. Want to come along?” ‘Don’t come, please don’t come,‘ she silently pleaded, while maintaining an innocent smile on her face.
Kenneth frowned. ‘Another outing on the weekend? Am I just invisible to her?‘
Ophelia got up to freshen up, while Kenneth lay back with his hands behind his head, his eyes never leaving her. “If you don’t want to come, you can wait for me at home. I won’t be long,” she said.
After washing up, her face looked pure and clean. But in front of Kenneth, she couldn’t hide her inner thought.
Kenneth pulled her into his arms. “So, how long will you be gone?”
“It won’t take long,” Ophelia said.
“Oh really? Two hours?” Kenneth’s striking features reflected in her pupils, his long lashes softening the mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Two hours isn’t nearly enough,” Ophelia mumbled.
Kenneth raised an eyebrow. “I’ll come along. Not counting travel time, you get two hours. Deal?”
Something didn’t add up. Kenneth’s sudden generosity felt off. Last time, he’d barely given her ten minutes, and now he was offering two whole hours. It smelled like a trap. Even if he was generous enough to offer it, she wasn’t about to fall for it.
“Actually, one hour should be plenty.” Ophelia backpedaled.
“How could one hour be enough…” Kenneth murmured, his voice low and persuasive.
Ophelia’s breath caught in her throat. ‘So that’s what he thinks isn’t enough.‘ She saw right through his implications. Two hours would be the end of her. “Kenneth, my back’s killing me,” she groaned.
Kenneth chuckled softly, “I told you, that excuse won’t work anymore. I’m being pretty damn generous here.”
Ophelia fought the urge to roll her eyes. ‘What a smooth–talking con artist,‘ she thought. ‘He’s the one getting all the benefits, yet he has the nerve to pat himself on the back for his so–called generosity. What a jerk.‘
On the set of Legacy of the Paramour, cameras were ready to roll.
14:49 Mon, Nov 11 E
Chapter 60
59%
This gripping period drama told about the rise of Gwen Cladwell, an overlooked royal consort who clawed her way to the top. Despite facing endless schemes and scorn, she outmaneuvered her rivals to become Empress and, eventually, the power behind the throne. It was a rollercoaster of palace intrigue, with a kickass leading lady at its heart.
Sharon, with her piercing gaze and world–weary smirk, was cast as Josephine a haughty and domineering consort from a prestigious family background.
Before entering the palace, she was known for her straightforward nature and shared a close bond with the female lead. They entered royal service together, and initially, she trusted the female lead implicitly. However, everything changed when she drank a soup prepared by her friend, resulting in the loss of her unborn child.
This incident transformed her completely. Josephine became consumed by bitterness over the event, and was responsible for much of the female lead’s suffering in the early stages of the story. Even when the female lead gained the Emperor’s favor, she continued to suppress her former friend relentlessly.
Josephine’s character, while responsible for many villainous acts, was ultimately a tragic figure. Manipulated by the person she loved most, she eventually met a miserable end.
Ophelia’s primary motivation for encouraging Sharon to accept this role was its potential to become a classic. The series was destined to be a hit, catapulting director William Martin to fame.
Ophelia reasoned that if Sharon could establish a working relationship with William through this project, it would open doors to many high–quality productions in the future.
The film set buzzed with activity on the first day of shooting. The opening scene was a dramatic confrontation. Josephine, having just learned of her miscarriage, stormed off to confront the lead character, Gwen.
In the makeup trailer, stylists and makeup artists worked carefully on Sharon’s appearance. Today’s look wasn’t meant to be glamorous. Instead, they aimed to capture the weak, vulnerable state of a woman who had recently miscarried.
Sharon sat quietly, reviewing her script. Around unfamiliar faces, she tended to be reserved. Her strikingly beautiful features, devoid of expression, often gave the impression she was scowling–though this wasn’t the case.
Once her styling was complete, Sharon retrieved her phone from her assistant and glanced at it. ‘Where is Elia?‘ she wondered. ‘She should be here by now.‘
“Ms. Campbell, let’s run through the scene,” Tracy called, the lead actress‘ assistant.
It was only upon arriving on set that Sharon learned the original lead actress had been replaced at the last minute.
Sharon entered the new lead actress‘ dressing room, curious about the woman she’d heard had some industry connections. The young actress was dressed in plain, dusty costume clothes with minimal headpieces, perfectly matching the character description in the script.
As Sharon looked at her, a spark of recognition flickered. This was Emily, the lead from another film that had premiered around the same time as one of Sharon’s recent projects. She recalled that Emily had also modeled for Brock in the final round of a designer competition. Landing lead roles right out of the gate spoke volumes about the resources backing her
career.
Despite this being their first collaboration, Sharon felt rather indifferent towards Emily.
“Ms. Campbell,” Emily said, her tone professional, “we have a slapping scene coming up. I want you to really go for it–no holding back. It’s our first scene together, so we need to give it our all.”
Sharon simply nodded. “Of course. I’ll make sure to control the force, but I’ll make it look authentic.”
They quickly ran through their lines before the cameras started rolling.
Sharon stormed into the princess‘ bedroom, instantly in character. Her eyes welled up with tears as a look of pure hatred
14,49
IVIDIT, NOV | I
Chapter 60
@59%
spread across her face. Her–pale complexion instantly conveyed the devastating grief of a mother who had lost her child.
“Gwen, you bitch!” she spat out, her voice trembling with rage. “How could you be so heartless? You poisoned me and killed my unborn child!”
As Sharon spat out her lines, tears streamed down her cheeks. At this moment, she had lost both her sister and her baby. She hated Gwen for causing her baby’s death but even more for her betrayal.
Emily, playing Gwen, wept uncontrollably, shaking her head in desperate denial. Just as she tried to explain, Sharon’s hand came flying towards her face.
In reality, Sharon pulled her slap, her fingers barely grazing Emily’s cheek. At this camera angle, there was no need for actual
contact.
Emily stumbled backward from the slap, falling to the ground.
“Cut!” the director called out, pleased with the take.
Suddenly, Tracy rushed forward. “Ms. Campbell, how could you actually hit her? Emily has another scene coming up. If you’ve swollen her face, how can we shoot the next scene?”
Emily kept her head down, her hand covering her cheek. “It’s fine. Ms. Campbell was just being professional.”
Emily didn’t mention that she had requested the real slap. When she finally removed her hand, five distinct red marks were visible on her face.
Sharon froze. She was certain she hadn’t used much force, so it shouldn’t have left such noticeable marks.
“Oh no, Sharon! Why did you hit her so hard?” Nancy, the assistant director, looked at Emily with concern. “Quick, take her to get treated. Sharon, have you forgotten how to act after being away from set for so long? This angle doesn’t require a real slap.”
田
