Bianca had always assumed celebrities like Sophia would delegate all household tasks to their staff. She never imagined Sophia would be so grounded and hands-on with her cleaning.
Smiling warmly, Sophia gestured for Bianca to sit on the sofa. “Bianca, I saw Vincent’s post.”
“Do you feel confident about it?” Bianca asked, looking straight at Sophia.
Sophia sighed, her fingers intertwining thoughtfully. “Honestly… I don’t feel ready at all.”
Bianca gently placed her hand over Sophia’s, offering reassurance. “Sophia, I get it. That’s why I’m here. I’ll help you prepare and nail that audition. You need to trust both of us.”
Bianca sensed Sophia’s hidden doubts and lack of self-confidence.
The movie’s filming was still a while off, giving Sophia time to get ready gradually. But now, she faced the challenge of an online audition in just a week, with the eyes of the nation on her. It was a daunting task.
In such a nerve-wracking situation, it was understandable for anyone to feel hesitant, especially Sophia, who hadn’t acted in five years and had faced numerous challenges.
But Bianca had strong faith in Sophia. She had followed Sophia’s career closely, watching all her movies and interviews. Sophia wasn’t just talented and charming; she was also incredibly hardworking, more so than many others in the industry.
Five years ago, Sophia would stay up late studying scripts, always opting to do her own stunts without using a body double. Even at the height of her fame, she focused solely on acting, rarely appearing on talk shows or taking on other distractions.
Sophia’s professionalism and collaboration were outstanding in every fashion show and global brand campaign.
Her talent was undeniable. Beyond the glitz and glamor, Sophia had a genuine and humble nature that set her apart from others.
Sophia glanced at Bianca, who sat beside her. Bianca had been a guiding light for Sophia during a difficult time, offering hope when things seemed bleak.
Even when Sophia struggled with self-doubt, Bianca’s strong faith in her never faltered.
And now…
Tears welled up in Sophia’s eyes as she nodded decisively.
“Okay.”
Seeing Sophia make up her mind, Bianca smiled with relief. They were deep in conversation when, suddenly, the sound of a door opening interrupted them from behind.
Bianca and Sophia both turned to look behind them.
A small head poked out from a partially open bedroom door.
“Mommy…”
Sophia motioned for Elaine to come closer and said, “Come here, Elaine.”
Elaine emerged in a white lace nightdress, blinking her big, round eyes charmingly.
Standing up from the sofa, Bianca admired the charming girl in front of her, instantly feeling fond of her. “Sophia, this must be your daughter. She’s so cute.”
Elaine paused a few steps away from Bianca, a hint of caution in her eyes.
“Mommy, who is she?”
Sophia came closer and crouched beside Elaine, speaking softly, “She’s a dear friend of mine. You can call her Aunt Bianca.”
Then, turning to Bianca, Sophia said, “Bianca, this is my daughter, Elaine.”
Bianca quickly moved closer, crouching down in front of the girl. She extended her hand with a warm smile. “Hello, Elaine.”
Elaine looked at Bianca, her big eyes filled with curiosity.
Suddenly, without warning, Elaine lunged at Bianca, gripping and biting her arm hard.
Bianca winced in pain. Sophia immediately jumped up, quickly pulling Elaine away. She exclaimed, “What are you doing, Elaine?”
Tears streamed down Elaine’s cheeks. “She’s a bad person! I don’t want bad people in our home.”
“What do you mean, Elaine? Bianca is a friend; she’s not bad at all,” Sophia reassured anxiously, trying to calm the situation.
Elaine’s cries grew louder. “She’ll make Mommy leave me. She’s mean. I want her to leave; I don’t want her here.”
Bianca looked at the weeping Elaine, feeling sympathy for the little girl.
In the past five years, while Gabriel imprisoned Sophia, Elaine must have gone through a lot of pain. Perhaps witnessing so much cruelty and violence had made her wary of strangers and deeply attached to her mother.
With a soft sigh, Bianca stood up. “Sophia, take care of Elaine. My presence seems to upset her more. I should go now.”
Cradling Elaine, Sophia glanced at the teeth marks on Bianca’s arm, concerned. “Bianca, your arm…”
Bianca waved it off with a smile. “Oh, it’s just a little nip. No big deal.”
Clearly embarrassed, Sophia apologized, “I’m so sorry, Elaine can be… I might have spoiled her too much.”
Bianca shook her head reassuringly. “It’s okay, Sophia. Don’t worry about it.”
She then smiled kindly at Elaine. “Elaine, I’m not here to hurt anyone. Please don’t be afraid. I’ll leave now. Next time, I’ll bring you some yummy treats and toys, okay?”
Tightly held by Sophia, Elaine sniffled and peeked at Bianca with her big eyes.
Bianca smiled and left, quietly shutting the door.
Outside Sophia’s apartment, Bianca planned to talk to Blake about her situation with Vincent.
When she arrived at Vincent’s office, the receptionist stopped her. “Sorry, Miss Scott. Vincent doesn’t want to meet you and Miss Johnson before the public audition to avoid any doubts.”
“And what about Zoey and Natalie?” Bianca asked.
The receptionist said, “He’s not meeting them either.”
Bianca understood. Vincent wanted to make sure the audition process was fair and clear, without any rumors or issues.
Despite understanding, Bianca was still thinking about her situation with Blake.
After thinking for a moment, Bianca called Vincent. He answered quickly.
“Hi, Bianca. What’s up?”
“Mr. Lopez, I read your post. I’m confident Sophia will do great in the audition next week.”
“I believe in her; that’s why I decided on this. As long as you understand,” Vincent replied warmly yet seriously.
“Well…” Bianca took a deep breath and continued, “Actually, Blake and I…”
Vincent interrupted gently, “Oh, that was just my opinion on Twitter. You’re adults; you make your own choices. But Bianca, you’re young and new to the job world. Be careful; don’t be swayed easily by sweet words. Choosing a partner is a big decision. Be smart about it. I can’t speak for others, but I’ve seen Blake grow. He’s smart, kind-hearted, passionate, and genuine. Like you, he’s one of the good ones.”
“Okay, I understand. Thanks for the advice,” Bianca said before hanging up.
She sighed, feeling a mix of relief and pressure. It seemed like Vincent, like many older people, had an interest in matchmaking.
Meanwhile, Vincent put his phone away. Paige came over and asked, “How did it go? What did Bianca say?”
Vincent sighed as he saw Paige looking worried. “Blake has fallen for Bianca, but she doesn’t feel the same way.”
Paige disagreed strongly, saying, “I think Bianca and Blake are perfect for each other. She should be with him, and I won’t let anyone else take her.”