Chapter 48: Scam

"That’s wonderful, I’m determined to get this role. You have to tell Director Smith that I’m willing to act for free. This way, no one else will have a chance to compete with me for the role." "Not getting paid? Is this really necessary?" The agent asked with doubt. "Of course, it’s absolutely necessary. This is Director Ethan Smith’s project! And the screenplay is by the famous writer, Willow. With such a star lineup, it’s bound to be a hit. Besides, the male lead hasn’t been announced yet, but he’s definitely one of the superstars in the industry. I want to seize this opportunity to make myself famous; once I have fame, won’t the money follow? Fame is income! It’s a perfect chance to create an image of someone who would do anything for art." Convinced by her words, the agent finally nodded in agreement. Clara Bennett quickly left the place while the other party was unaware. She swiftly returned to her original spot and began quietly contemplating the conversations she had just overheard. In the previous life, she didn’t have much interaction with Nell Sue; initially, she quite believed in Nell’s persona. Whenever she went to the filming site and saw Nell working hard, she even believed it was true. So when her brother decided to date Nell, she never objected, and even thought he had found a lifelong partner. But now it seems, all of this was nothing more than a meticulously arranged web of deception... And it was precisely because of the success of this movie that Nell became an overnight sensation. However, the truth is: she didn’t really achieve this through her ability. Instead, she eliminated her competitors and used some unsavory means. Clara Bennett lightly raised her eyebrows, her face showing a complex and thoughtful expression. Nell Sue, in the past life, manipulated situations and used various tactics, ultimately achieving success and rising step by step. But this life is entirely different, because she encountered her. This girl named Clara Bennett will not let Nell easily achieve her goals. Instead, she will use the same methods against Nell, making her taste the treatment she once gave to others. With this intention, when Nell walked by, Clara deliberately lowered her mask a bit to better hide among the crowd, trying not to let Nell notice her. Seeing a gathering of people, Nell scanned the crowd, and upon confirming that none could match her appearance, she was immediately filled with a sense of superiority. From her perspective, these people simply based on appearance were far inferior to her, not worthy to be her opponents or competitors. With this in mind, in a good mood, Nell showed exceptional friendliness to what she viewed as "losers," instructing her agent to buy beverages to distribute to everyone, ensuring each had a cup. However, despite receiving this unexpected gift, Clara didn’t touch the drink at all. In fact, most present chose not to drink it. For those who frequent the entertainment circle, constantly on guard, who would accept any inexplicable gift at such an important occasion? Especially when about to undergo auditions. Nell wasn’t concerned with their reactions since, to her, handing out drinks was just a small gesture to demonstrate her good mood. At around one-thirty in the afternoon, the real test—the audition phase—finally commenced. The casting process was overseen by Producer Ethan Smith alongside the screenwriter and those responsible for selecting actors. When these three, with serious expressions, entered the designated location, particularly with Ethan leading, they seemed to be in a bad mood. It turned out because the female lead they had previously decided upon suddenly had an issue, disrupting the entire plan. Looking at those prepared to participate in the selections, Ethan felt they seemed to be just filling in numbers, not holding out much hope. Thus, upon quickly entering the studio, he didn’t even cast a polite glance at the eagerly waiting candidates before heading straight into the room. Witnessing this scene, Clara couldn’t help but remark internally, "Mr. Smith really has a fiery temper, he should take some time to check his liver function!" As the auditions officially started, the tension among the hopeful artists was pushed to the extreme. Unexpectedly, the first girl to enter was asked to leave within sixty seconds. When that contestant exited, her face was streaked with tears, causing a stir among those present. Seeing this, several equally anxious girls immediately surrounded her, asking with concern: "What happened? How come you were asked to leave so quickly?" "What exactly happened inside? Can you explain in detail?" The young woman who just experienced failure sobbed while explaining intermittently, "The moment I appeared on stage I was too nervous and accidentally tripped. Director Smith immediately angrily pointed out he couldn’t accept someone with poor physical coordination as a collaborator and asked me to leave. Actually, I was just too anxious, not deliberately performing poorly..." Clara was too shocked to speak, it was eye-opening. At that moment she could hardly believe her eyes, deeply shaken internally. No wonder her brother previously advised her; if it were her in the past, she too would certainly have been dismissed. Her brother’s tone was so serious back then, recalling now makes everything seem clear, the deep meaning behind those warnings tightened in her heart. At this point, Clara, with her sharp ears, heard Nell quietly mocking, "You’re crying here yet lack ability." That small voice, clear in her ears, pierced her heart like a thorn, causing great discomfort. Clara raised her eyebrows lightly. Nell’s personality is truly terrible, have to admit, in some ways she is indeed a natural drama queen, always able to exhibit a cold demeanor at the right moment but hides all kinds of unspeakable secrets behind. Edward Bennett, as the head of an entertainment company, didn’t detect his girlfriend was such a person. Clara couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful and helpless for her brother; perhaps sometimes emotions make people neglect many important things. Alas, Clara pondered. Is there a curse on their family? How come both she and her brother always encounter such rotten people? Continuous misfortunes make her start to wonder if some unlucky fate has been entwining their family. The previous participants in the auditions were all affected by the first girl’s situation, resulting in poor performances.