When Zephyr returned to Royal Manor, Cordelia was learning from Helen in the kitchen.Helen reduced the heat while the soup in the clay pot bubbled. The whole house was aromatic and filled with simple warmth.“The last step is to add this… and done!” Helen taught Cordelia step by step, and the latter learned seriously.“That’s all?”“Yeap!”“Mm.” Cordelia took a deep breath. “It does smell better with these added.”“You and Mr. Z can both have some of this soup. Winter’s starting now, and it’s cold and dry. It’s time for some nourishment.”“Okay,” Cordelia assented with a smile, putting the lid back on the pot and turning the fire off.Helen was astonished. “Y-You’re not drinking?”“I’ll wait for him to return and have it together!”“Didn’t Mr. Z go to the manor today? He probably won’t be back so soon! Just have your portion and leave him his!”“No way! It isn’t the same eating by myself.” Cordelia smiled. “I want to wait for him!”The girl’s sweet voice jolted Zephyr, who
”Ms. Lulham!” Someone made a sensual drawl of a cry and sashayed her way to Trinity. She looked at her with a coquettish complaint and plopped herself down on the empty seat next to her.“What is it?” Trinity pinched between her brows, looking tired.Said someone was Millie Hill. She had spent years working happily with Trinity and was also a significant award-winning actress in the industry.She was one of the outstanding performers when the female artists had worked together to embarrass Michelle back at the Tanners’ event.Although she was fussy and occasionally fantasized about having a sugar daddy, her acting talent and skill were unbeatable. The credit was partially hers in the few films with which Trinity had won awards.Basically, both of them had contributed significantly to each other’s careers coming to this day.“I mean, can you change the second lead?” Millie was straightforward. “With how we’re filming, when are we finishing the scene between her and me? I’m still w
Trinity went up to look at Michelle seriously. “Michelle, this scene is a close-up shot, so we’ll need your cooperation.“Which means this take… will be a real hit.”“What!?” Michelle’s face fell. She snickered after a while, “Hah, this is all the famous director Ms. Trinity Lulham knows? Why does it have to be a real hit?”Trinity did her best to keep her cool. “I told you. It’s a close-up shot. To have the best effect, it can only be a real hit. But don’t worry, Millie’s an experienced actress. She often had to do the same during filming last time. She knows how to control herself.”“As if!” Michelle glared at her. “Trinity, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Do I have to actually let the car run over me in an accident scene when I have to take a real hit in a slapping scene?”Trinity was at a loss for words at that moment.Back then… Trinity promised Frederic she would treat Michelle well when the latter joined the crew. Frederic even bought her a meal because he was
Trinity froze and turned to the door stiffly.As expected, Frederic was standing there. There were many crew members there as well.Trinity caught the disappointment in Frederic’s eyes. She wanted to explain herself but felt choked. Her lips moved, but there was no sound produced.Michelle threw herself into Frederic’s arms in front of everyone.Frederic froze, his hand hesitant before he patted Michelle’s shoulder lightly.“Frederic, listen…” Trinity bit her lips. “Just now…”“I heard about it just now, and I saw it too.” Frederic’s voice was calm without any ruffle of emotions, but his eyes were clearly brimming with disappointment toward her.Trinity’s heart clenched, and pain spread all over her.Frederic stepped toward her with a complicated gaze. “Trinity, Michelle’s a singer and has just shifted her path to acting. She mustn’t know a lot of rules. Please teach her patiently, will you? If there’s something she did wrong, I’ll apologize on behalf of her—”“Mr. Constable,
“What about winning awards? Can’t keep up with having a guardian angel!”Frederic could hear the sarcasm in Millie’s tone and knew the complexity of the entertainment industry. Michelle had to depend on Trinity to survive. He took a discreet glance at Trinity only to see the latter’s reddened eyes and felt his heart clench for no reason.Cordelia padded to Michelle. “How are you getting used to the set life, Ms. Carmichael?”Frederic was happy to see Cordelia’s concern for Michelle and immediately gestured for the latter to speak more to Cordelia.Despite that, Michelle’s gaze toward Cordelia was obviously one of jealousy and fear.“I brought you a unique set of tea.” Cordelia waved a hand with a smile, and someone behind her took out what was in the small basket.The dessert on the pretty porcelain was in the shape of a snake.“Ms. Carmichael, don’t have such a hot temper when you’ve just joined the crew. Be like this snake. It’s good to be cooler.”Everyone knew that Cordelia
Trinity met Cordelia’s eyes and smiled, perking herself up.“Get ready.” She picked up the walkie-talkie and kept a serious gaze on the screen. “Action!”“B*tch!” When the camera zoomed into Millie, the award-winning actress did not disappoint. She raised her arm and slapped Michelle!Michelle gasped and held her cheek automatically, seeing stars from the pain.Millie’s hair was disheveled, and the buttons of her collar popped. She was living her character—a feisty woman. She pointed at Michelle and scolded vehemently, “Sl*t! How dare you snatch my man!? Look at yourself first!”Millie somehow felt what she said. She was engrossed, imagining herself to be Trinity as she glared at Michelle.“Good, wonderful!” The assistant director instructed from the side, “Watch your emotions. Hmm… give me more! Yes, camera zoom in… Continue with the lines!”“Get up now! Fight back! Hah, pretending to be weak in front of me? It might work on the men but not me!“I’m going to kill you today!”
“Thank you.”“We’re good bros, right? No worries!” Frederic chuckled and lowered his head to look at her. “Uh… you’re not angry anymore now?”“Huh?”“I know that you’re a rational and mature girl. You’re friendly and genuine too. So… Michelle must have been in the wrong to have angered you like that. I’ll apologize on her behalf. Stop being mad, okay?”Trinity froze. The haze that had just dissipated came back in full force again.All in all, he had gifted her the charm because of Michelle. She was sensible to him, so the sensible one should be forgiving and understanding, benevolent and merciful, not be calculative even when wronged—because only children who threw tantrums would be given candies!Trinity could not get herself to act like Michelle. She despised that too.That was why she could never compare to Michelle in Frederic’s eyes.There was a bitter smile on Trinity’s face. When she looked down, the charm did not look so radiant anymore.…Later, the men gathered in
“Z…”Frederic’s throat constricted. He was usually good in words but could only break out in cold sweat in front of Zephyr now. Moreover, he had never seen Zephyr so stern.“It’s not wrong to like a person, but you’ve got to know what kind of person it is you like!” Zephyr said sternly, “You can only determine if it’s worthy to love a person when you know them for who they truly are!”“Z.” Frederic chuckled and emptied his wine. “Did you decide to love Cordelia after you got to know her for how she is? No! I can bet that you liked her at first sight!”Zephyr’s gaze darkened. “What are you trying to say?”Frederic did not answer but poured himself another glass.“Cordelia’s not like that woman!” Zephyr’s voice was cold. “Don’t compare the two of them!”“What?” Frederic scoffed, taking advantage of his tipsy state. “Your girl’s the apple of your eye, and the one I like is worthless?”“You—”This dumb*ss! If Michelle truly cared about him, she would have gotten together with him