Chapter 27

The dilemma regarding the team's preference for Vivian for the lead role weighed heavily on the director's mind.

Selecting Serena purely for financial gain could tarnish his professional integrity, painting him as a puppet of the investors.

After hours of contemplation, the director devised a diplomatic solution.

He contacted both Serena's and Vivian's agents, suggesting a final callback audition.

This would create a fair competition, allowing the financial aspect to be introduced organically if both actresses delivered equally compelling performances.

On the morning of the decisive audition, Adrian and Serena sat together in the luxurious leather seats of a black Maybach.

Serena, radiating confidence, turned to him with a playful smile. "Adrian, let's grab lunch after this. We're long overdue for some quality time," she said brightly, already anticipating her victory with his backing.

When he didn't respond immediately, she glanced up, expecting his usual attentive gaze.

Instead, Adrian seemed distracted, his focus fixed on something beyond the tinted windows.

Following his line of sight, Serena spotted Vivian.

Vivian stood out in the crowd like a diamond among pebbles.

Dressed in an ivory cashmere sweater and fitted jeans, she carried herself with an understated grace that made even casual wear look runway-ready.

She seemed to glow with an inner light that dimmed everything around her.

Even the morning sunlight appeared to pale in comparison to her radiance.

Serena's fingers involuntarily clenched before she forced them to relax, replacing her scowl with a calculated smile.

She'd specifically brought Adrian to witness her triumph.

This was meant to be her moment to flaunt how she'd taken both Vivian's man and now her coveted role.

Masking her irritation, Serena tugged at Adrian's sleeve with feigned surprise. "Isn't that Ms. Hartley? What's she doing here?"

Snapped from his thoughts, Adrian responded with deliberate indifference. "She's spent years living in luxury. Maybe reality has finally caught up with her." His voice dripped with condescension. "Could be she's realizing she can't survive without me."

He kept meticulous tabs on Vivian's situation.

Her continued stay at the Harbor Grand Hotel while leaving her belongings at their penthouse spoke volumes.

To him, this wasn't a genuine separation but a childish cry for attention.

In his mind, Vivian had grown so accustomed to her gilded cage that independence proved too challenging.

Her unexpected appearance today could only mean one thing - she was ready to crawl back.

After all, she'd always been obsessive about tracking his movements during their marriage.

In the lobby, Vivian stood by the vending machine, studying the Coke selection with unexpected intensity.

Her fingers hovered over the buttons.

The machine hummed softly.

Outside, the city continued its morning rush, oblivious to the silent drama unfolding within these walls.