Chapter 80: Swift and Decisive
Three days later, the official script was distributed to every actor.
Melody Monroe began reading the script intently the moment she received it. In the revised version, her part was now second only to the female lead. A character who once existed only in flashbacks would now survive until the final episode.
She was thrilled, but she also felt an undercurrent of pressure.
She had to play this role well and lay a solid foundation for her acting career.
"Melody, I just realized I haven’t seen Rhona Hughes today," Talia said, walking over to sit beside her.
Melody Monroe looked up, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. "You haven’t seen her?"
"No." Talia shook her head.
Rose had said she wouldn’t make a move on Rhona Hughes for the time being, but that didn’t mean she’d let Rhona stay on the production. It was possible she had used the major script rewrite as a chance to replace her.
Decisive and efficient—that had always been Rose Shaw’s style.
"Melody, Talia." Winter Kane pushed the door open and walked in, calling out to them.
Although both of them were Melody’s assistants, she hadn’t brought Winter Kane to the set with her. She didn’t have that much going on, so Talia could handle everything on her own.
"Winter, what are you doing here?" Melody asked, surprised.
"Rose sent me. She said that for the duration of the shoot, I’m to stay here as your assistant and bodyguard."
"That’s great! Now we have someone to run errands," Talia said cheerfully.
Melody couldn’t help but laugh, too.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
The door opened to reveal three people standing in the doorway. The girl in the center, wearing a chic, Chanel-style dress, had a smile on her face.
"Hello, Melody. I’m Tiana Gable. I just joined the cast today and wanted to come and say hi."
’Tiana Gable. She was a Stellaris artist, too—she’d signed on at the same time as me and had even released a few songs. The character was in the original novel, but she was just a minor background character, mentioned only in passing.’
’The original Melody had probably met her a few times.’
"Hello. Please, come in and have a seat," Melody invited politely.
"No, thank you, I won’t disturb you now. I have to run and meet the director. I’ve taken over Rhona Hughes’s role, as she was unable to continue for personal reasons. I hope we can work well together in the future."
"You’re being too kind. I’m a newcomer myself, so I’m not in any position to be ’looking out’ for anyone."
"Well, I’ll be going then. Let’s talk again when we have time!"
"Okay."
As Tiana Gable left, she politely closed the door behind her.
"So Rhona Hughes really got replaced? Rose is incredible!" Talia exclaimed.
She had always admired Rose Shaw, and now she looked up to her as a role model even more.
Melody thought to herself, ’Telling Rose Shaw about that incident was the right move.’
’Right now, I have no money and no connections. Even though I knew Rhona Hughes was behind it, there was nothing I could do to her.’
’Not only did Rose Shaw get Rhona Hughes replaced, but she also sent Winter Kane over. It just shows how thoughtful she is.’
Rose Shaw had a younger sister she’d been separated from for many years.
When they were young, their parents divorced. Their mother abandoned Rose Shaw without a second thought, taking her younger sister with her.
Rose Shaw was left with her hopelessly gambling-addicted father and suffered immensely. Later, when her father was imprisoned, all his gambling debts fell onto Rose’s shoulders.
She was only seventeen that year when she was taken away... for seven days and seven nights.
One can only imagine what happened during those seven days and seven nights.
’Back when she was reading the book, Melody had felt the author was far too cruel to the character of Rose Shaw!’
’On top of a tragic backstory like that, she was also in love with someone completely out of her reach!’
Melody heaved a heavy sigh.