The set was buzzing, but all I could focus on was the fact that my assistant had messed up my lunch order. Again. I glanced down at the container. Seafood bisque. The moment I lifted the lid, a delicate, briny aroma wafted up. I’d just wrapped a scene in the water, and a deep chill had settled into my bones. My stomach ached with a hollow, gnawing hunger, but my eyes instantly spotted the problem. “There are shrimp in this.” I looked up at her. “I’m allergic to shrimp.” Her face went blank for a second, then drained of all color. “Oh my god, Olivia… I’m so sorry. I was in such a rush, I completely forgot.” This was the seventh time. The first time, she handed me a pair of sunglasses from a rival brand right before a press event. I caught it just in time, narrowly avoiding a PR nightmare. The second, she rushed onto the red carpet to “fix my dress,” only to faint from low blood sugar, sparking a media frenzy with headlines about me overworking my staff. The third, she spilled a latte all over a veteran actress’s designer gown. She sobbed and apologized, all while shooting these teary, pleading glances at me. The actress was furious, and despite my endless apologies, I was branded with the reputation of “disrespecting a senior.” And so on. Just like now. She stood there, hesitating, as her eyes slowly welled up with tears. “Then… then please don’t eat it. I’ll eat it myself… You can just take the money out of my salary.” I didn’t say a word. Her meager salary couldn’t even begin to cover the cost of the messes she created. My silence seemed to panic her. She fumbled for her phone, her thumbs flying across the screen. A few seconds later, a wave of relief washed over her face. She looked up, forcing a bright, eager smile. “It’s okay, Liv! Alex said he’s on his way. He’s bringing you something else.” I had already started to turn away, but those words stopped me dead in my tracks. My phone buzzed softly in my pocket. [Alex: Is my princess angry with me?] [Alex: I’m bringing you that butternut squash soup you love. Don’t be too hard on the new girl. Everyone makes mistakes.] [Alex: Wait for me, baby.] The tone was so casual, so familiar. As if this kind of cleanup operation was something he’d mastered. Lily was the younger sister of his high school sweetheart, the one who had passed away far too young. Her family was struggling, her education was mediocre, but she was undeniably pretty. After graduating, she couldn’t find a job, and her parents were about to marry her off to some old bachelor in exchange for money to pay for her brother’s wedding. So, she went to Alex. And then, he sent her to me. For her to “learn the ropes,” he’d said. But I knew better. The girl had ambition. She had her sights set on Hollywood. Seeing that I wasn’t responding, she hugged the container of soup to her chest and mumbled, just loud enough for me to hear, “It’s a shame to waste food. I guess I’ll just have to eat it myself.” I didn’t bother replying. I just turned and climbed into my trailer. 1 Half an hour later, Alex arrived. I’d already showered and was sipping a cup of hot ginger tea. He saw me, but instead of an apology, the first words out of his mouth were a defense of the girl. “Come on, Olivia. It was just a lunch order. Why are you giving a young assistant such a hard time?” A lump formed in my throat. “I haven’t eaten all day to look good on camera. I just spent hours in freezing cold water for three different scenes. I’m cold and I’m starving.” I stared straight at him. “And besides, the Golden Griffin Awards are in two days. If I had eaten that soup, my face would be swollen and covered in hives. Do you honestly think I could walk the red carpet like that?” “Have you forgotten what that award means to me?” “That was the first role I landed after spending a year in a hospital bed, learning how to walk again. It’s a milestone, Alex. It’s the symbol of me getting my life back.” He was silent for a couple of seconds, his expression finally softening. He reached out and gently pinched my cheek. “Alright, my little princess. Don’t be angry anymore.” He placed the new container of food in front of me, handed me a spoon, and started rubbing my shoulders from behind. It was the same gentle care he’d shown me when I was recovering. After I’d been crushed by a falling piece of scaffolding while pushing him out of the way, he had tended to me for a year. He washed my hair, changed my clothes, even did my laundry. On the surface, it was the same devotion. I took a bite of the soup, then pointed to the designer coat draped over the sofa. “That couture piece. Didn’t you say you were picking it up for me on your trip to London? Why is she wearing it?” His hands froze on my shoulders. He instinctively glanced outside the trailer. “Why did you take her coat?” he asked, his voice suddenly sharp. “It’s freezing out there. What if she gets sick? It was her birthday, and she really wanted a gift. I saw how much she loved it, so I gave it to her.” He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You have so many clothes you never even wear. What’s the big deal about rewarding a hardworking girl?” I looked up at him. “Alex, I am your fiancée. Not your property.” “Shouldn’t you have at least asked me before giving away my things?” Her being poor was her problem. Why was I expected to carry the weight of her life? And what exactly had she done to deserve a reward? He didn’t try to soothe me. Instead, his brow furrowed in disapproval. “Olivia, I bought that coat.” “Even if it was a gift for you, it was my money that paid for it. I can give it to whomever I want.” In that instant, it felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room. I could still hear his voice on the day we got engaged, promising that as long as he was around, I’d never have to spend a cent of my own money. From jewelry to a simple pair of socks, he would provide everything. How quickly things had changed. How clearly the lines were now being drawn. He must have seen the tears welling in my eyes, because his resolve finally broke. He pulled me into a hug. “Liv, I’m sorry. It’s my fault.” “Just… don’t hold it against Lily. Her sister… back in school, she was the only one who was ever kind to me. I’m just trying to repay that kindness.” I was so tired of hearing that excuse. “If you want to repay a debt, then give her a job at your company. Make her your assistant. I can’t have her on my team anymore.” Half an hour ago, I had already called my agent and told her to fire Lily. She would have gotten the news by now. Sure enough, a moment later, the sound of hysterical sobbing erupted from just outside the trailer. Alex stepped out. When he returned, his face was a mask of cold fury. “All she wants is a job so she can have a decent life!” “You fired her for ‘incompetence’? You know that will ruin her chances of getting another job in this town! How hard is it to fetch coffee and run errands? What is so incompetent about that?” This was the second time he had yelled at me for his new assistant. It felt like being plunged back into that icy water, and I started to tremble. “Alex, are you really fighting with me over a complete stranger?” He didn’t answer. He just snatched the coat from the sofa and stormed out without a second glance. 2 Lily was successfully soothed. Not only that, but Alex pulled some strings and landed her a small supporting role, the fifth female lead, in the very movie I was starring in. While he was arranging all of this, I was alone in my hotel room, running a high fever. The cold had seeped into my legs, and every movement sent a sharp, needle-like pain through them. The old terror of my injury, of being crippled again, came rushing back. I swallowed my pride and called him three times. Each call went straight to voicemail. Later, lying in bed in a daze, I tried to pinpoint where everything had gone so wrong between us. At two in the morning, the door creaked open. Alex was back. He carried the faint, sweet scent of flowers, and he was clearly in a good mood. Before he could even reach my side of the bed, a soft knock came from the door. “Alex? I just… I feel like I need to make this clear. I really don’t need any special treatment. I can make it on my own. I’m not afraid of hard work.” It was Lily. “And this coat… I really can’t accept it.” Her voice was thick with unshed tears. “When you said it was a birthday present, I was so happy. I just never imagined it would make your sister so upset. She fired me because she was angry… I don’t mind being treated unfairly, but I can’t stand the thought of you being blamed because of me.” Alex’s voice softened, laced with an unmistakable note of pity. “Once a gift is given, you don’t take it back.” “Didn’t we already talk about this? Since she won’t let you be her assistant, and you love acting, then be an actress. I’ll invest in you, I’ll open doors for you. You just focus on your work and don’t worry about anything else.” Lily looked up, her eyes red-rimmed but her expression defiant. “Thank you, Alex. I’ll work as hard as I can. But since this coat belongs to Olivia, I think I should give it back… We’ll be on the same set now, and I don’t want to be targeted again…” Alex was silent for a few seconds. “Lily, don’t be naive.” “The way to get ahead is to learn how to use the resources you’re given, not to cling to some useless pride. Olivia is experienced, she’s a talented actress. Learn from her, build your network.” “As for the clothes, she has more than she could ever wear. She’s just throwing a tantrum with me. You wear it with confidence.” He paused, then added, “Actors need to look the part. That credit card I gave you, don’t be afraid to use it. Buy yourself some decent clothes.” As he spoke, he gently took the coat from her arms and draped it over her shoulders. “Wear this. You’ll catch a cold.” My eyes were closed, but I heard every single word. That coat was supposed to have been part of my outfit for the red carpet. The door clicked shut. Alex turned and his eyes met mine. He froze. “You’re awake?” I said nothing, just watched him. He seemed to realize his position, and the explanation came smoothly, as if rehearsed. “The girl has potential. It’s not a bad investment. You can mentor her a bit on set, it’ll be a good way to repay that old favor for me.” His tone was so gentle, as if he were discussing the weather. “I’ve explained everything. Don’t be jealous anymore. Nothing is going on between us, I swear.” A bitter, absurd laugh almost escaped my lips. “I’ve never heard of repaying a debt like this. Anyone who didn’t know better would think she’d saved your life.” “That’s enough, Olivia! Have you become so jealous that you can’t even tolerate the memory of someone who’s long dead?” His shout left me stunned. I knew his old flame was a sensitive topic, but he had never exploded at me like this before. He had been incredibly busy lately. We hadn’t seen each other in over two weeks. If it hadn’t been for Lily, I probably wouldn’t have seen him at all this time either. I wanted to say more, but a raw, scratching feeling in my throat made me bite my tongue. Three days later, after finishing my promotional events, I returned to the set. The first person I saw was Lily. She was standing there in a tight, crimson dress, a look of bold confidence on her face. I glanced down at the revised script pages that had just been handed to me. It was absurd. The film was nearly finished shooting, yet they had added dozens of new scenes for a complete novice. “Congratulations on the award, sis.” She smiled at me, a picture of innocence. “I’m looking forward to you showing me the ropes.” I was already in costume, my feet throbbing in a pair of prop heels rigged with dull nails for a torture scene. Standing was agony. “I can’t teach you. Find someone else.” I tried to step past her, but she grabbed my arm. “Olivia, is it that you look down on people like me? People who didn’t come from a fancy acting school?” I looked at her. It was as if she had prepared this speech. She raised her voice, making sure everyone around could hear. “I don’t want people to get the wrong idea.” “I don’t want to be known as some trophy girl who depends on a man.” “There is nothing going on between me and Alex. You don’t have to resort to firing me and badmouthing me to get back at me.” “Since you’re so bothered by my presence, why don’t we have a fair competition? Let’s see who really shines in this film.” I could barely stand. “Your business has nothing to do with me, and I have no interest in your childish games.” Lily let out a soft laugh. “Always so high and mighty, aren’t you, Olivia?” “You’ve never had a hard day in your life. You have no idea what it’s like to be truly desperate.” “You can’t act out that kind of raw, gritty pain.” “But I can.” “And this time, I am going to be brilliant.” 3 Before the official shoot began, the director pulled me aside. “Today’s scene is going to be… a bit intense.” He was vague, his eyes filled with a weary resignation. “The investors specifically requested it. I’m sorry, but I need you to play along.” I scanned the new pages. [The heroine, pushed to her breaking point, has a hysterical argument with the villain. In the chaos, the villain slaps her across the face.] The scene was short, and it was entirely designed to be Lily’s star moment. Before I could say anything, she was already in position opposite me, her smile sweet and docile. “Olivia, this is my first time doing such an emotional scene. We might need a few takes. Please be patient with me.” Her words were apologetic, but her eyes held no remorse. First take. “Action!” She raised her hand, and the slap landed. Smack. The sound was sharp and clear. I froze for a split second. A stage slap is always faked, a trick of angles and sound. It’s never real. The director didn’t call cut. But she let out a small gasp, her eyes immediately turning red as she broke character. “I’m sorry, director. I just couldn’t find the right emotion.” Second take. This time, she hit harder. Smack. I bit the inside of my cheek, and the metallic tang of blood filled my mouth. The director frowned but still didn’t stop the scene. “Let’s go again.” Third take. Fourth take. Each time, she would claim her “emotions weren’t right” or simply refuse to continue the scene. And each time, her hand struck my face with more force than the last. My cheek started to go numb, a dull ringing in my ears. The crew began exchanging uneasy glances. The set fell silent, but no one dared to speak up. She was the “newcomer,” the one being “looked after.” And I was the “veteran,” the one who was supposed to endure it. Fifth take. The moment her hand came up, I finally snapped. I shot my arm out, grabbing her wrist. With a sharp twist, I reversed the motion. SMACK. The sound of my palm connecting with her cheek was sickeningly solid. Someone on set gasped. She stumbled backward dramatically, her arm slamming hard against the sharp metal corner of a prop cabinet. “Ah!” Blood immediately welled up, staining her sleeve. Lily crumpled to the floor. After a beat of stunned silence, she burst into loud, theatrical sobs. “Olivia… why are you targeting me like this?” “I’m just a newcomer… This was all in the script! I was just trying to do a good job with my acting…” “Even if you don’t like me, you didn’t have to hit me so hard…” Her wails echoed through the soundstage. I stood frozen, my palm still tingling. The director finally jolted into action, yelling, “Cut!” People rushed to her side. Someone called for a medic. That night, a carefully edited clip of the incident went viral. 「VETERAN ACTRESS OLIVIA REYNOLDS LOSES CONTROL, VIOLENTLY ASSAULTS NEWCOMER ON SET」 The video had no sound. There was only the image of my hand striking her face, and the shot of her collapsing to the floor in tears. The comments section was a landslide. 【Who does Olivia think she is just because she won a few awards? Does that give her the right to bully people?】 【I heard that new girl used to be her assistant and that Olivia bullied her constantly. She probably couldn’t stand sharing a scene with her, so she used it as an excuse to lash out!】 【Wasn’t there a story last year about her mistreating her assistant and making her faint on the red carpet? I guess all those villain roles she plays so well are just her showing her true colors!】 Every old accusation was dragged back into the light. I was about to issue a statement, my agent’s fingers flying across her keyboard, when the door to my hotel room burst open. It was Alex. His face was a thundercloud. “Are you out of your mind, Olivia?” He grabbed my arm, his grip so tight it hurt. “It was just a scene! Did you really have to hit her that hard? She could have permanent scarring on her arm, do you have any idea what you’ve done?” I didn’t speak. I just slowly removed the ice pack from my cheek. The swollen, bruised skin was stark under the bright hotel lights. He stopped short. His tone finally softened, but only slightly. “…She’s new. She doesn’t know any better.” “You’re the veteran here. Couldn’t you have just let it go?” A dry laugh escaped my lips. “How much more should I let it go? Should I have offered her my other cheek so she could get a matching set?” I placed my tablet on the table and opened a file. “This is the complete, unedited security footage from the set.” “I’ve had a backup since day one.” The video was clear, the timeline undeniable. The color drained from Alex’s face. “You can’t release this!” He lunged forward, slamming his hand down on the screen. “She’s just starting her career. If you post this, you’ll destroy her life.” “Bullying a senior actress before you’ve even made a name for yourself? That’s a death sentence for a newcomer.” I looked at him, and it was like staring at a stranger. “And what about me?” He opened his mouth, but no words came out. I continued, “So I’m just supposed to get hit, get dragged through the mud online, and have my name ruined?” I pulled the tablet back. “Not only am I releasing this, I’m also breaking up with you. It’s clear I’m no longer your priority, so there’s no reason for us to be together anymore.” “What are you talking about?” He panicked, reaching for my hand again, but I slapped it away. “There’s no room for me in your heart or your head anymore. I get hurt, I get bullied, and the first thing you do is defend the person who hurt me. I’m not a masochist, Alex.” He was about to argue, but suddenly, the custom ringtone he had set for Lily chirped from his pocket. He answered the phone. He only listened for a moment before his expression changed completely. “What did you say?” His eyes shot to mine, wide with shock. “…Lily’s pregnant?”
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