Meanwhile, Sarah strolled back to the hotel, her eyes on her phone.
So, she was trying to set her up? Talking behind her back, huh?
Sarah had been playing it cool all this time, not stooping to those catty tricks to bully Elisa.
But now that she thought about it, Elisa really seemed to have a knack for being annoying. Even when she wasn’t messing with her, Elisa still tried to provoke her. Did Elisa think she was some pushover she could easily trample on?
If they wanted to mess with her… they better bring twenty million to the table like Holden.
Sarah snapped a picture and sent it to Ronald.
In the photo, Elisa was leaning on Edward’s shoulder, and the two of them looked quite cozy, like a couple.
In the original story, the old Sarah used to do stuff like this all the time. Sarah felt like she was turning more and more into the original Sarah as this went on.
After that, Sarah sent Director Beck a message, asking him to tell Edward to come by her place to go over tomorrow’s scenes.
Ever since Director Beck found out Sarah was Holden’s wife, his opinion of her had shot up.
It wasn’t so much that he was impressed by her background, but more that he respected how she still worked diligently on his set despite her high status and didn’t get mad when he yelled at her. It seemed like she genuinely loved acting, which Beck found rare and admirable.
Of course, Director Beck didn’t know that Sarah’s real motivation was just to make some extra cash…
Edward, still fuming, made his way to Sarah’s room and was just about to knock when he got a text from her: [I went out to eat. Not in the mood for rehearsing tonight.]
He had never met a newbie so rude before. His anger flared up, and just then, he heard an argument coming from the room next door.
“What’s going on with you and Edward? Do you like him, or does he like you? Otherwise, why are you two so close?”
Edward froze in his tracks when he heard his name. He had no idea why some stranger was suddenly talking about him.
Elisa covered her eyes, crying softly. “We were just acting. I’m not good at it, and I wanted his help. Ronald, what are you even thinking?”
Ronald was fuming, practically grinding his teeth. “This isn’t during a scene, right? He put his hand on your shoulder, and you didn’t think to push him off?”
Edward didn’t even remember if he had put his hand on Elisa’s shoulder that day. Because of Elisa’s kind and sweet demeanor, he had a pretty high opinion of her, thinking she was just an innocent girl with no hidden motives.
Looking back, he realized he might’ve done it without even thinking, especially since he felt protective of her and she had come to him for acting advice.
It wasn’t great that her boyfriend misunderstood.
Edward was about to knock on the door to explain when he heard Elisa say, “He’s an award-winning actor, a senior in the industry. If he put his filthy hands on me, what could I do?”
The moment he heard the words “filthy hands,” Edward’s expression froze.
In all his years, he’d been called “dreamboat,” “heartthrob,” but never “filthy hands.”
Elisa kept crying pitifully, “Sarah’s acting is terrible too, but no one says anything. The director doesn’t like me, the other colleagues isolate me, the award-winning actor harasses me, and they’re all biased toward Sarah, ganging up with her to bully me. What can I do?”
Hearing this, Edward’s face went even stiffer. Sure, he didn’t like Sarah, but saying she had bad acting skills? Sarah’s acting had already surpassed that of a rookie. She could hold her own even in scenes with him, a seasoned actor. Among people her age, no one could really compare.
As for everyone ganging up to bully Elisa or isolate her… that was just nonsense. From Edward’s perspective, it seemed more like Sarah was the one being isolated.
There were always rumors floating around that Sarah was just some industry plant, or that she liked to steal other people’s boyfriends. Even though there was no evidence, people loved to believe these baseless stories.
Ronald, feeling sorry for Elisa, said, “Elisa, why didn’t you tell me sooner? If you’d told me, I would’ve stood up for you. Next time I see that filthy actor, I’ll beat him up.”
Elisa kept sobbing, looking utterly pitiful. “No, it’s fine. I’ll just endure it. The more you help me, the worse they’ll treat me.”
Hearing this, Edward felt like he’d swallowed a swarm of flies-he was that disgusted.
At this point, what was there to not understand? He’d been used by a newbie as a tool for her own gain and then labeled as “filthy hands.”
Edward looked at the message Sarah had sent him yesterday: [I’m sorry, Mr. Edward. Elisa told me you wanted to go over tomorrow’s scenes tonight, so that’s why I asked if you wanted to rehearse. I apologize for any misunderstanding.]
Now that he was calm, Sarah’s apology seemed perfectly straightforward.
But last night, his judgment was clouded by prejudice, and he thought Sarah was just trying to cover her tracks after failing to seduce him, which only made him dislike her more. He even carried that negative attitude into today’s filming.
The more Edward thought about it, the more he regretted it.
Meanwhile, after explaining things to Ronald, Elisa and he started getting all lovey-dovey again.
Frustrated, Edward kicked the door hard before storming off.
When Edward got downstairs, he ran into Sarah.
Sarah was carrying a bag of desserts, casually playing on her phone as she walked.
Edward couldn’t bring himself to apologize.
When Sarah looked up, she greeted him, “Oh, hey, Mr. Edward.”
Edward’s face flushed red, and he quickly turned and walked away.
******
The next day, Sarah didn’t show up on set-she’d taken the day off. Holden’s grandfather had fallen ill, so she had to go with Holden to visit him.
The Smith family preferred elegant and modest attire, so Sarah wore a lace long dress, with her golden hair pinned up using a hairpin. Even though she didn’t wear any jewelry, she radiated natural elegance.
Butler Ted, seeing her in that outfit, couldn’t help but compliment her, “Lady, you’re looking more beautiful by the day.”
Butler Ted used to be indifferent toward Sarah, but after getting to know her better, he found there was much to admire… except for the fact that her relationship with Mr. Holden seemed strained-marriage in name only.
Holden was distant throughout the drive, and Sarah figured it was because his grandfather’s illness had put him in a bad mood, so she didn’t try to engage him.
The driver dropped them off at the hospital.
This hospital had a serene environment, more beautiful than some parks, with hardly any people around-it was the Smith family’s private hospital.
Sarah looked around, curious, and asked Holden, “Is this hospital only for your family? No other patients?”
Holden responded coolly, “Yes.”
When they arrived, Holden’s grandfather, Old Mr. Smith, was still asleep.
Holden went to talk with the doctors, leaving Sarah alone, feeling a bit bored, so she stepped outside for some fresh air.
To be honest, the Smith family’s wealth was evident in every little detail. The hospital’s landscaping was impeccable-despite it being summer, there were no mosquitoes, and the place was filled with lush trees and beautiful flowers.
Just the dozen or so pines Sarah had seen were each worth over a million, not to mention the other rare plants.
She suspected that if a thief were to steal the plants here and sell them, they’d make a fortune.
Indeed, this world was far richer and more intricate than the wealth she’d seen in her previous life among the first and second-generation rich.
Growing up in a family like this, it was no wonder Holden had such a naturally commanding presence.
“Hey-you’re Sarah, Holden’s wife?”
A voice called out, and Sarah turned to see a slick-looking man in a suit approaching. It took her a moment, but she realized this was Holden’s second uncle, Samuel Smith.
Holden had two uncles, both sons of Nicola. The family ties were weak, and so was the relationship between them.
Nicola and Old Mr. Smith wanted their sons, Samuel and Reuben, to inherit more of the family business, but neither could hold a candle to Holden. Trying to take power from Holden was nothing short of a pipe dream.
Samuel was a bit of a loafer, always out chasing women. But he had a silver tongue and often sweet-talked to Old Mr. Smith, who doted on him, indulging him in whatever he did.
Samuel had seen Sarah once before, but hadn’t paid much attention. He hadn’t expected Holden’s girl to be so striking.
“Holden’s a madman, you know?” Samuel said with a smirk. “The kind of madman who could kill you one day and not be held responsible.”