The assistant, who was also a young girl, nearly fainted when she felt the snake coiling around her arm.
If a more well-known actor had encountered this situation, everyone would’ve rushed over with advice and help. But she was just a lowly assistant.
The other girls and guys who were scared of snakes huddled together, too afraid to get close. A few who weren’t scared didn’t want to get involved either, finding it amusing how she was screaming her head off.
Sarah took a moment to calm down, then slipped a plastic bag over her hand, grabbed the snake behind its head, and tossed it into a nearby bush. The snake, also frightened, quickly slithered away.
“It’s not poisonous,” Sarah said with a frown. “You’re fine.”
Sarah used to be terrified of things like this. But after filming in remote mountain areas where bugs and snakes would often crawl into the living quarters, she’d gotten used to it. At first, she was so scared she cried herself to sleep, wishing she could go home, but eventually, she became immune.
The assistant finally broke down crying. She had talked badly about Sarah with Elisa before, so there was a bit of shame on her face as she cried.
The rest of the crew started looking at Elisa differently; they weren’t as warm toward her as they used to be.
Elisa had been so scared she didn’t even realize what she had done. Now, as it dawned on her, she quickly rushed over to the assistant, fussing over her. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry! I was just so scared!”
The assistant was working for the actor playing the tyrant, and both had been on good terms with Elisa. The actor was a big deal and thought of Elisa like a cute little sister. The assistant often got coffee and snacks from Elisa and thought she was a great person. But after what just happened, she looked at Elisa with caution.
Elisa was full of guilt. “I was just so terrified! It was all a reflex… Are you really mad at me?”
The assistant just blamed herself for not seeing Elisa for who she really was. Remembering how she used to gossip about Sarah with Elisa made her feel even more ashamed and upset.
What’s more painful than being saved by someone you once criticized?
The assistant pulled her hand away from Elisa. “I’m fine.”
Then she caught up to Sarah, who was packing up her things. “Sarah, thank you for what you did back there.”
Sarah, as usual, was calm and indifferent, just nodding her head.
Everyone in the crew had a mental scale. After what had just happened, they understood more about Elisa’s true nature. Those who were once close to Elisa now kept their distance, afraid she might turn on them just as quickly one day.
As for Sarah, everyone eventually realized she was actually pretty great. Her acting skills were top-notch-she could hold her own in scenes with the Movie King and never slowed down the filming schedule.
At first, some people thought Sarah was stuck-up or looked down on the front desk staff, but they had never seen her mistreat any crew members.
All the negative impressions of Sarah seemed to come from Elisa. Now that Elisa’s true colors were showing, all those bad opinions about Sarah just disappeared.
Sarah had already left, but people were still whispering about her and Elisa.
“I’ve noticed Sarah is actually pretty nice, not as manipulative as Elisa said.”
“Yeah, grabbing a snake with her bare hands? I could never do that. I’m terrified of those things.”
“Hey, have you noticed that Elisa and Sarah look kind of alike? Their eyes and noses, stuff like that.”
“I noticed that a while ago. Elisa said Sarah loves her boyfriend and purposely tried to look like her to steal him away.”
“But Sarah doesn’t have any signs of plastic surgery, and Director Beck doesn’t like actors with obvious work done. Elisa, on the other hand, has faint scars on her nose and ears.”
“…”
Hearing these whispers, Elisa’s expression froze. She quickly gathered her things and left. She knew the director didn’t like her. Now that her facade had crumbled, her reputation with the crew was in the gutter. There was no point in staying on set.
That same night, Elisa packed up and left with Ronald. Ronald was pretty baffled by Elisa’s sudden decision to quit.
“I gave you such a big favor, and now you don’t even want to shoot anymore?” Ronald said, clearly annoyed. “My dad was going to have Director Beck make a promo video for our company, and I used up that favor! He’s definitely going to be mad at me!”
Elisa’s eyes darted around thoughtfully. “Ronald, have you ever thought about getting into the entertainment industry?”
Ronald hesitated. Normally, he’d be set on inheriting the family business.
But for some reason, Ronald felt like fate was on his side when it came to his career. Whatever he did, even if he hit some bumps along the way, he always seemed to succeed in the end. And this success didn’t seem to have much to do with his skills-there were plenty of people more capable than him who weren’t nearly as lucky.
Elisa thought for a moment. “I think you should give it a shot. Show your family what you’re made of and let them see how talented you are! Ronald, I believe in you!”
With Elisa’s encouragement, Ronald instantly felt more confident.
Elisa, however, still felt a bit unsatisfied. She had always seen herself as a winner in life.
Sure, Sarah was more beautiful, but Elisa had been catching up, step by step.
And while Sarah came from a better family, Elisa had been siphoning money and resources from Ronald to support her own family, slowly bringing her family back on track.
Now, Sarah had given up the role of a full-time housewife and was pursuing a new path. This made Elisa feel a sense of urgency. It seemed like Sarah was different from before.
Elisa couldn’t stand the idea of someone she had once defeated rising back up to beat her. So, Elisa decided she wanted to enter this new field too and outshine Sarah. Just like when she used to watch Sarah from afar in school, surrounded by admiration.
She wanted to make Sarah fall into the dirt and look up at her with envy.
So Sarah wanted to be a star, huh?
Well, she would be one too-and even more famous.