“Viewers are viewers, and you are you. This happened to you. Are you just going to watch and do nothing about it?” Asher was furious, but Elisa remained calm. It was him who had brought Elisa into the cast, staking his own reputation.
“I don’t know whether to call you magnanimous or narrow-minded.”
“I’ve never been magnanimous.”
“Then what are you doing?” Asher asked.
Elisa leaned back in the soft chair, crossing her legs, her shirt sleeves rolled up, revealing delicate, snow-white arms. Her eyes curved, resembling a calculating fox.
“I’m just watching. Seeing what else they can stir up. Mr. Kentala, just be patient for another two days for the results. Don’t waste the opportunity that’s come knocking at our door. The drama’s popularity is hanging by a thread. Don’t let them pull the plug.”
Hearing her confident tone, Asher probably knew she had something up her sleeve to be so audacious.
Asher, intrigued, asked, “Do you have some kind of trump card? Why don’t you tell me?”
“I can’t tell you right now. But you’ll know in two days.”
In two days, wasn’t that the day when Filippa was holding a press conference? Was Elisa planning to make a scene? If that was the case, it would be truly exhilarating.
“Since you put it that way, I’ll rest assured.”
Elisa nodded. “Mr. Kentala, I need you to speak a few words on my behalf to Mr. Usoro.”
“He doesn’t blame you. Your talent is obvious to him. He even feels sorry for not being able to speak up for you.”
Elisa smiled and remained silent.
While these people pranced around, the higher they jumped, the harder they fell. Elisa’s negative news was hitting new highs.
This matter was far from being as simple as it seemed on the surface. The mastermind behind all this was undoubtedly her agent, Thomas. She held the recording pen, grasping Thomas’s lifeline. He wanted to get rid of her, but couldn’t do it openly, so he resorted to some tricks to shift the blame onto someone else.
At this point, even if she really wanted to reveal something, it’s unlikely that many people would take it seriously. Instead, they would think she was just seeking sympathy. Then she would be caught in a crossfire, and it wouldn’t serve her much to confront the company.
Thomas had sent her the contract termination papers long ago. As long as she signed, she could leave. But even if she left, it would be a loss, even if she cleared her name. She hadn’t forgotten her original purpose, which was to avenge “Aoife” and to find out about Lorelei.
That night, Louis messaged her on Facebook, asking her about her plans and offering his help. But Elisa declined his offer.
“Elisa, don’t always bear everything alone. We are friends, you can try to rely on me a little,” Louis said.
Elisa looked at the message in a daze, as if no one had ever told her she could rely on anyone. Since birth, the weight of a life had been on her shoulders, and only her grandfather had been a bit kind to her. He didn’t coddle her; he mostly told her that one must be strong, and that you can’t rely on anyone.
At eighteen, she inherited the family business and got used to toughing it out, handling things on her own, never relying on others. She knew that relying on others could become a habit, and if the person you relied on left, being alone in the future would be much harder than being alone in the past.
“I can handle it,” Elisa quickly replied to the message and put down her phone.
The next day, Elisa received a text from Tobias. It contained two main points: one about Mimi, and the other about the divorce alimony.
To adopt Mimi, she would have to wait until she returned to Chiwood, but as for the alimony, she was worried about not having the money when Hamish sent it over.
Eight billion, enough to buy ten economic companies with plenty to spare.
Elisa provided an account number, and that same evening she received the transfer. Counting the zeros in her account, she became instantly rich. Having money makes everything easier.
Elisa anonymously called a journalist.
“I have a recording and video of the recent highly talked-about scene between Filippa and Elisa. Are you interested?”
The other person, clearly intrigued, asked, “What’s in it?”
Elisa saved the recording and video into a file and sent it to his phone. “You can take a good look. The video and recording both have timestamps. You can get a professional to verify whether it’s authentic ornot. Believe it or not.”
The individual immediately went offline to check the files Elisa had sent. After ten minutes, they came back online and typed, “Impressive,” and added, “What do you want in return?”
“I don’t want anything. I just want you to ask the parties tomorrow during the press conference if Elisa really didn’t rehearse with them. Remember to ask repeatedly.”
“Understood.”
Elisa plugged her phone in to charge on the bedside table, occasionally receiving breaking news updates. Today’s headline was “#Revenge and Love Allegedly Boycotted by Netizens, Production Halted.”
When it comes to slapping someone in the face, it has to be quick, accurate, and ruthless. Just as others are basking in their success, deliver a blow that sends them from heaven to hell, shattering their glory. That’s the real satisfaction and relief.
With everything arranged, Elisa could finally get a good night’s sleep. Everything was moving in a positive direction. With money in hand, once she sorted out the current mess, she could return to Chiwood to pick up Mimi.
The next morning at 9 a. m., Filippa and Sebastian held a press conference. Filippa wore a plain dress, standing in the wind looking fragile, while Sebastian supported her as they walked slowly. The camera lights cast an eerie pallor on her face, making her appear sickly.
Once they took their seats, the journalists below eagerly began asking questions, hoping to dig up some dirt.
Filippa had prepared her script well in advance, leaving no room for leaks.
“Miss Zheng, can you tell us when the show started shooting?”
“On the 5th of this month. I arrived in Bankshire on the 4th.”
The journalist followed up, “How were the roles assigned based on the script?”
“The show’s rules dictate that actors are ranked based on public acting reviews, with the highest rank being S-level and the lowest being D-level. My senior, Sebastian, received an S-level role and had the right to choose the script freely. Elisa was given a D-level role. S-level actors can even modify the script as they see fit.”
Filippa nudged Sebastian with her elbow, prompting him to speak. Sebastian, who had been silent, forced a smile, “Yes, this is all clearly stated in our contract.”
“I would like to ask Mr. Sebastian, when did you finish modifying the script and when did you give it to Elisa?”