Chapter 88

Vivian Hartley, who had been silently watching, felt the tension crackling between them. Her instincts sharpened: Sebastian Hartwell clearly had an ulterior motive concerning her.

With deliberate casualness, she replied, "I'm flexible. You pick the scene."

Damien Vaughn studied both actors, his gaze heavy with unspoken knowledge. "Since you're both amenable, I'll choose a scene at random."

Though officially overseeing the audition, Damien remained doubtful of Vivian's abilities. Future collaborations required tact, and he hesitated to be overly critical. His main hope was that she could meet basic acting standards.

With Sebastian having initiated this challenge, Damien was privately eager to observe their chemistry.

After carefully shuffling the scripts, he randomly selected one and handed copies to Vivian and Sebastian.

Vivian quickly absorbed her lines, her posture shifting as she prepared. "Ready when you are," she declared with quiet assurance.

Sebastian's expression darkened. "Every word in 'Ambermyst' was carefully chosen," he criticized. "How can you possibly grasp the subtleties with just a quick glance?"

Vivian blinked in surprise. Did he not realize she was the script's original author under her pen name? Revealing that now would feel forced. Instead, she countered with controlled sharpness, "My skills will speak for themselves during the performance. Unless..." She tilted her head. "Are you having trouble with your own lines? If you need more time, I'm happy to wait."

Her polite tone barely concealed her steel. Sebastian's constant challenges had ignited her competitive fire.

"You're quite arrogant," Sebastian muttered, displeasure flashing in his eyes. He set down his script. "Let's begin."

Having analyzed the script countless times, Sebastian knew every scene by heart. His goal from the start had been clear: test Vivian, hoping she'd stumble during the audition.

Recognizing his strategy, Vivian poured her entire artistic soul into the performance. As the scene unfolded, her interpretation shattered Sebastian's lowest expectations. Her delivery and emotional depth showed no trace of amateurism.

Their interaction flowed with unexpected harmony—each beat perfectly timed, their chemistry electric and genuine.

When the scene ended, Sebastian found himself wanting more. True to his principles, he acknowledged his earlier mistake.

Approaching Vivian, he offered a sincere apology. "I never expected you to understand Katrina's script so profoundly. My initial judgment was embarrassingly narrow. I apologize."

Sebastian's motivation stemmed not from personal bias but from fierce protection of his idol's work. Modern romance dramas often prioritized looks and social media fame over talent. Previous auditions had featured influencers with weak acting skills, resulting in shallow performances.

So when an unknown actress like Vivian arrived—beautiful and seemingly inexperienced—Sebastian had dismissed her as another well-connected pretty face.