Chapter 190
He had never threatened his people or used such a harsh tone before. But this time, not only was he angry, but his stance was also straightforward: those who followed him would prosper, while those who opposed him would perish.
The subordinate trying to persuade him could only nod in agreement, responding, “Yes, Mr. Harper.”
The weekend was a bit tumultuous. When the official announcement for Oliver’s newly directed drama “Dreams of Rising” was released, it drew significant attention worldwide after learning that an unknown screenwriter had written the story and various opinions had been circulated. Many curious individuals couldn’t help but seek out the original story to read it for themselves.
Opinions on the story varied widely, with some praising it while others critiquing it. However, despite its brevity, the narrative was undeniably captivating. It had emotional highs and lows, resonating with many.
This was especially true considering the legendary Oliver, known for his remarkable talent, was the director behind the project. The industry had a saying: [If Oliver Fraser is involved, you can expect nothing less than excellence!]
As a result, the casting for his new drama garnered significant attention and anticipation. When the official poster was released, most viewers were instantly excited.
[The leading actress is Abbie Hopkins?]
How could it possibly be Abbie Hopkins?]
Most people had forgotten this name entirely, but many others couldn’t escape the lingering scandals and unmentionable past. It didn’t require competitors to buy marketing accounts to smear her; simply holding onto Abbie’s past would unleash a torrent of negative public opinion.
In no time, the comments section of Oliver’s account exploded, with thousands demanding a change in the leading actress. Some even declared that they wouldn’t watch any production featuring Abbie.
Oliver was quite troubled by this situation. However, since he had already cast the actress for the role, replacing her was out of the question. He had anticipated such a reaction.
After much contemplation, Oliver updated his status: [I used to think the same way. But later, I found it truly delightful. There’s no need to rush or be anxious-wait and see.]
This statement showed that he wouldn’t be swayed by outside opinions and had no intention of changing the cast, even if it meant taking a gamble this time.
The waves of controversy and public opinion gradually subsided with his statement, but some of Abbie’s longtime fans were overjoyed, hoping sincerely for their idol’s return to the public eye. Coincidentally, Zoe was one of them. So when Tiffany walked into class on Monday, she was greeted by an excited Zoe rushing over.
“Tiffany, Tiffany, did you hear? An idol I’ve loved for so many years is making a comeback!” Zoe exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. “I can’t believe a boss with such good taste managed to pull my idol away from that awful company!”
Tiffany glanced at Zoe’s phone and saw the casting announcement for “Dreams of Rising.” Abbie’s striking poster stood out prominently amidst the excitement.
“You like her?” Tiffany chuckled, ruffling Zoe’s hair playfully. “I’ll take you to meet her one day, the real deal, up close and personal.”
“Tiffany, are you joking with me?” Zoe usually had unwavering trust in her and spoke with a hint of skepticism for the first time.
Tiffany paused for two seconds before rephrasing, “Abbie Hopkins is filming this drama at the Lovell City studio. If you want to check it out, you can.”
“Really?” Zoe exclaimed, her excitement palpable. “I want to go, want to gol”
“I’ll take you there this weekend,” Tiffany replied.This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.
“Tiffany, I love you so much! We’ll sneak in quietly and take a quick look. I promise I’ll be on my best behavior!” Zoe exclaimed.
Tiffany couldn’t help but laugh, “Alright.” She just hoped Zoe would still be this calm when the time came.
Gradually, more students filled the classroom. To everyone’s surprise, Kenneth, whose injuries hadn’t fully healed, arrived at school.
Someone jokingly remarked, “Mr. Harper is determined despite his injuries.” Kenneth ignored them, his gaze fixed intently outside as if waiting for someone to arrive.
Tiffany felt a surge of realization. Remembering the figure she had glimpsed by the roadside last Friday and Kenneth’s distracted demeanor, she wondered if Melody had transferred to the school.
As expected, a few minutes later, the teacher led a girl dressed in the same uniform. She introduced her to the class with a pretty appearance and gentle demeanor. “Everyone, please welcome our new student, Melody Princeton. Melody has excellent grades, so if you have any questions in the future, feel free to ask her for help.”
Applause erupted in welcome. Tiffany remained still, her smile lingering, a blend of amusement and intrigue.
At that moment, Melody scanned the crowd from the stage, her gaze landing on Tiffany. Few in the entire class or even the whole school had such striking and beautiful features as Tiffany’s, which always caught attention at first glance.
Melody’s eyes flickered for a moment. She subtly shifted her gaze, nodded politely, and offered a gentle, sweet smile.
When the seating arrangements were made, someone kindly offered her a seat nearby. Just as Melody was about to accept the classmate’s goodwill and move over, a sudden voice interrupted, “Why not sit here with me?”
The person speaking was Kenneth, who was usually composed and gentlemanly. The entire class fell into an eerie silence as soon as his words fell.
No one expected Kenneth to take the initiative to speak up like this. Given that he had come to school despite his injuries, everyone couldn’t help but wonder if he had come specifically for Melody.
In an instant, everyone’s expressions shifted subtly. Their gazes flitted back and forth between Kenneth and Tiffany. Many of them looked at Tiffany with sympathy, considering she was still Kenneth’s fiancée.
The outcome was that, as his fiancée, she had never been able to compete with anyone. It all started with Sandra, who had a complicated and ambiguous relationship with Kenneth. Just when Sandra finally stepped back, now married to someone else, another rival, Melody, emerged. One could only ask-how tragic was that? It was indeed a disaster.
Under everyone’s watchful and subtle gazes, Melody turned and walked straight to Tiffany’s side. With a hint of innocence in her smile and a touch of shyness and unease, she asked, “Hi, may I sit in this seat next to you?”
“You’re welcome to,” Tiffany replied calmly, her expression relaxed and casual.
With that, Melody took her seat. The desks weren’t tightly packed together, as the classroom was spacious, and each desk was arranged in fixed rows with a considerable gap in between, which made little difference to the overall atmosphere.
As class began, Kenneth was on edge the entire time. His concern was solely for Melody, worrying that as a newcomer without friends, she might struggle to fit in and could be bullied or challenged by Tiffany. However, he overestimated the situation; the class went smoothly, and nothing unusual occurred.
When the class bell rang, Kenneth hurried over to Melody’s side you… do you remember me?
“I didn’t mean to scare you that day at the hospital. I was just reall make you uncomfortable.”