The action wasn’t in the script, so when Maria did it, many people were surprised. Maria knew she shouldn’t have done it, but she craved that kind of attention. Even though it was just acting, Osborn was really in love with her now.
The director didn’t call for a stop, but Maria suddenly stood up and took a step back while clenching her fists.
“I’m sorry, Sir,” Maria shook her head. “I… I can’t get into character.”
Osborn looked at Maria with a slight frown on his face.
“What’s going on?” The director asked irritably. Today’s shoot with Maria had been difficult from the start.
“It’s just…” Maria turned to look at Osborn and took a deep breath before bowing deeply to the director. “I’m sorry, I can’t continue shooting.”
With that said, Maria left directly – this was the first time anyone had gone on strike during filming and everyone on set was stunned.
Maria’s agent panicked as she apologized repeatedly to the director before quickly chasing after her.
“What is going on? What does she want?” The director grumbled angrily; his expression showed how upset he felt inside.
“Are all actors like this nowadays? They do whatever they want?”
Osborn got up from his seat and walked towards where Maria had left earlier calling out to her name, “Maria! What happened?”
By the time her agent caught up with her in the dressing room, Maria had already started removing all of her jewelry; if not for her agent’s timely arrival, then even changing out of dress would have been possible too!
“I don’t want to shoot anymore,” said an icy-cold-faced-Maria shaking off any attempt by anyone trying to console or persuade otherwise
The first time encountering Maria like this, the agent was dumbfounded. She stood still for a moment, then reached out and grabbed Maria’s wrist.
“What happened? Tell me,” the agent demanded.
The agent had been with Maria since her debut, and she knew Maria’s personality well. Now, Maria’s expression genuinely startled the agent.
“It’s my own problem,” Maria’s voice trembled, and she seemed reluctant to explain.
“Anyone can be involved, except him…”
“What?”
Maria had just muttered something, and the agent couldn’t quite catch it.
“I’m so tired. I want to go back. Can we talk about this tomorrow?” Maria shook her head and pulled her arm away from the agent.
“Maria! Have you lost your mind? Do you even know what you’re doing?” The agent saw Maria’s disheveled appearance and immediately felt angry, his tone becoming more forceful.
“Do you think now is the time to be rebellious?”
“Why can’t I be rebellious for once?” Maria said. She just wanted to act out and defy everyone.
Her heart was in turmoil, so much so that it hurt.
She used to love being an actress, but now she couldn’t distinguish between acting and reality anymore.
Before, when Maria heard others talk about how people break down in inexplicable moments, she scoffed at it. But now it seemed like it was happening to her.
“Now is the time for you to be rebellious? Do you still want to continue in this industry?” The agent didn’t understand Maria and became even angrier with her response.
“I don’t know… I don’t know…” Maria shook her head with a pained expression. She pushed the agent away but was stopped by someone blocking her path as she tried to leave.
Osborn had a stern expression on his face as he grabbed hold of Maria’s arm and pulled her outside without saying a word. They walked for what seemed like forever before Osborn finally stopped walking.
“What are you doing?” Maria looked at Osborn with a heavy voice as the night breeze made her feel cold enough that she shivered slightly from its touch on her skin.
“Maria, do you even know what you’re doing?” Osborn looked at Maria feeling like he didn’t recognize this girl standing before him anymore.
“Going on strike,” replied Marie nonchalantly.
But this carefree attitude only angered Osborn further, “Just because of Warren? I told you I would help…”
“Osborn, do you really not understand anything?”
Maria lifted her eyes; the night unfolded, bringing with it moonlight that scattered across Osborn’s face. However, it didn’t soften his current expression one bit.
Her lips parted, and a faint, melodious voice entered Osborn’s ears.
Osborn was stunned, forgetting even the words he had originally intended to say.
“I thought you always understood, Osborn. How could you be so ruthless…” Maria shook her head, a peculiar smile playing on her lips.
“Maria…” Seemingly sensing something, Osborn took a deep breath.
However, before he could finish his sentence, Maria interrupted him directly.
“I like you, Osborn,” she said. It was the same as what she had said back then, but this time Maria didn’t have that shy expression anymore.
Osborn turned his head and chose not to look into her eyes. “I told you before that I only see you as a sister.”
“I don’t want to be your sister! I know you like Jane, but she’s already engaged to Patrick, isn’t she?” Maria spoke while clenching her fists at her sides.
“So what?” Osborn pursed his lips when he heard that name. He seemed to be trying hard to stay calm.
“Can’t I have a chance?” Maria asked.
“What about Kim?” Osborn’s words left Maria speechless. It felt like a heavy hammer hitting her head hard.
Yes, what about Kim? She had promised him that she would try to love him back. But now why was she saying these things in front of Osborn?
“Maria, this is not a game. I hope you can see clearly that I rejected your feelings for me. You can’t hurt others recklessly.” Seeing how Maria reacted made Osborn guess something and finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Hurt others…”
Maria opened her mouth wide in shock and suddenly realized that the name Kim felt like a thorn piercing through her heart fiercely.
Osborn looked at Maria’s reaction and eventually chose to turn around and leave because right now she needed some time alone to calm down herself.
Maria lowered her head slowly until finally crouching down with both hands hugging herself tightly together.
After some time passed by silently, she took out her phone and dialed a number.
“Kim… Let’s break up.”