As the conversation buzzed, a taxi pulled up, contrasting with the fancy cars already parked.
Everyone at Vincent’s party was someone important. Who would show up in a taxi?
Was it a mix-up, or had someone really arrived at the party in a cab?
Curiosity surged as all eyes turned to the taxi.
Under the curious stares of the crowd, the taxi driver emerged and opened the back door.
A delicate foot adorned with a pearl-studded white high-heeled shoe emerged first, capturing everyone’s attention. Then came slender and smooth legs.
The woman stepped out of the taxi, exuding grace. She wore an elegant white evening gown with long sleeves, her hair neatly styled into a bun and adorned with a pearl hairpin. Diamond earrings dangled from her ears.
As she emerged, the crowd gasped in admiration. Her elegance, purity, and beauty left them speechless.
It was Sophia Johnson, known far and wide as the epitome of purity and respected across the country.
From the other side of the taxi, Bianca emerged. She wore a light pink off-the-shoulder evening dress with lace detailing, adding a playful touch. Peach flower accents highlighted her slender waist, while the dark fringes at the hem resembled peach blossoms.
Delicate makeup enhanced her charm, making her look like a fairy among blooming shrubs.
Sophia and Bianca had arrived!
Walking together, they exuded a captivating charm that surpassed all the other female stars present!
“Sophia still looks stunning, even after having a child and being away from the industry for five years!” someone in the crowd remarked.
“And look at Bianca, the agent. She’s absolutely stunning. She rivals any top actress in the industry!”
However, some of the other female stars at the party couldn’t hide their envy and made snide remarks. “Arriving in a taxi? How unglamorous for a star.”
“Were they even invited by Mr. Lopez? Or did they just show up on their own?”
Just as these words were spoken, a deep voice resonated from behind, “Sophia, Bianca, welcome.”
Turning around, the crowd was taken aback. Vincent and his wife personally stepped forward to greet Sophia and Bianca!
As Vincent and his wife bypassed the crowd to engage with Sophia and Bianca, Natalie and Zoey’s expressions turned sour.
Natalie walked up to Sophia and crossed her arms over her chest. She feigned a smile and said sarcastically, “Sophia, I’ve always admired you. You truly were the reigning movie queen. Despite leaving the entertainment spotlight for five years, getting married, and having a child, you’ve maintained your grace and beauty. It’s really admirable!”
Her insinuation led people to cast doubtful glances at Sophia.
Sophia had posted a tweet stating that she had been abused and imprisoned by her husband for years, but today, she looked radiant.
Could her story have been fabricated?
Bianca held Sophia’s arm and looked at Natalie with a smile. “Despite Sophia’s tough times, she was once named the most beautiful woman in the country. Her timeless charm and beauty can’t be shaken by time or external influences. Those who try to copy her will never truly understand her value.”
“How dare you!”
Natalie’s glare intensified at Bianca’s words. It was clear to her that Bianca was subtly making fun of her efforts to imitate Sophia’s style to impress Vincent for the lead role.
After Bianca spoke, the crowd agreed.
“Yes, Sophia may not be the same as before, but she’s still way ahead of many stars today, especially those who rely on cosmetic procedures.”
“Without comparison, you don’t see the difference! We think Sophia is in great shape because we haven’t seen such an outstanding star in the entertainment industry for a while!”
“It’s true. Many of today’s famous actors aren’t that great at acting. Some aren’t even that attractive, yet they’re cast as the most beautiful characters. It’s quite embarrassing! Sophia playing those roles is much more believable.”
“Natalie might be the only one who looks stunning, but her acting skills have noticeably declined in her recent performances…”
Natalie overheard these comments, and her face turned red with anger.
Noticing that Natalie was about to lose her temper, Zoey gently grabbed her hand to calm her.
Then, with a smile, Zoey turned to Sophia. “Miss Johnson, you’re a rare talent, the youngest winner of Best Actress in our country. Your acting skills and beauty are unmatched. Even though you’ve stayed out of the spotlight for years, you still have countless fans eagerly awaiting your return. I was excited to hear about your comeback and wanted to bring you into our company. However, there’s been quite a buzz online with various scandals surrounding you, which has affected public opinion. I’m curious about how you plan to handle this…”
Once Zoey finished speaking, all eyes in the room turned to Sophia. Even Vincent and Paige paused their own conversations to listen.
It was true. Since those rumors had surfaced, Sophia had not made any public clarifications.
So, some people started thinking that maybe Sophia wasn’t purposely being defamed by others.
They wondered why she hadn’t said anything to clear things up.
“I…” Sophia hesitated, wanting to explain.
But Bianca jumped in to help. “The stories online aren’t true. Sophia will talk about this later, after today’s party. Right now, let’s focus on celebrating Mr. and Mrs. Lopez’s anniversary. It’s not the right time to talk about rumors.”
Hearing this, Zoey frowned and began to speak, “Bianca, you have a point. We all trust Miss Johnson’s honesty. But based on what I know…”
But then, Zoey suddenly stopped talking.
Her words hung in the air, leaving everyone curious and wanting to hear more.
“Miss Carter, what’s the news? Please tell us!” Someone urged.
Zoey looked unsure, her cheeks turning red. “Well, today’s about Mr. and Mrs. Lopez’s anniversary. The stuff I got might just be made up to stop me from working with Miss Johnson. I can’t say if it’s true, so let’s not spread rumors.”
Her words got everyone talking, eager to know more.
Some female stars, who felt overshadowed by Sophia before, saw this as a chance to stir things up. “Miss Carter, spill the beans. What’s the truth? We’re in the dark here,” they asked urgently.
“Have you heard anything bad about Miss Johnson?”
“We’re all friends here. If you don’t spill, it’s like you don’t trust us!” someone exclaimed from the crowd, increasing the pressure on Zoey to share.
Although she found it amusing, Zoey acted as if she was struggling to decide how to respond.
Vincent, looking serious, stepped forward. “Miss Carter, tell us what you know. I want to understand, too,” he said with genuine concern.
With a sigh, Zoey finally gave in. “Mr. Lopez, if you’re insistent… Okay.”