Chapter 102: Does She Dare?
Evan Fairchild had spared her only because of Ian.
Although Ian had never returned to his mother, he still loved her. This had stirred a rare moment of compassion in Evan Fairchild.
Later, her predecessor tried to use Ian to get close to Evan Fairchild, slowly chipping away at what little patience he had. Ultimately, like a moth to a flame, she brought about her own doom.
Melody Monroe would absolutely not repeat the same mistakes.
"Melody, are you really not the least bit attracted to President Fairchild?" Jasper Rockwell asked again.
’As if I’d dare.’
"No." Melody Monroe shook her head.
Jasper Rockwell’s spirits plummeted. ’It’s over. It’s really over. A completely lost cause.’
A makeup artist walked over. "Melody, I’m here to do your makeup," she said.
"Alright." Melody immediately stood up and followed the makeup artist to one side. ’The makeup artist’s timing was perfect,’ she thought.
...
The afternoon shoot went smoothly. Tiana Gable had taken over Rhona Hughes’s role, and her acting was so much better that their scenes together felt effortless.
After that scene, Tiana Gable was done for the day, but Melody Monroe still had a tough battle ahead of her.
Next up was a heartbreaking scene in the rain.
It would be a major test of her acting ability.
However, they had to wait for Zane Langdon and Raymond Ford to finish filming their scene before they could set up for hers.
"Melody, you’re incredible!" Tiana Gable said to her. "Acting opposite you feels so easy! I get into character instantly, and we even have fewer bad takes. I have so much to learn from you!"
"Oh, come on. You’re great too."
"I’m heading out now." Tiana Gable waved to Melody Monroe.
"See you tomorrow." Melody Monroe waved back.
...
Raymond Ford had just finished a scene and was waiting for the crew to arrange the set.
She held her script, looking over the lines.
Next was a pivotal scene: her kiss with Zane Langdon in the rain.
For the character of Willow Lynch, this was a heartbreaking scene. She would have to watch Julian Hale and Holly Summers kiss, and from that moment on, the story would refocus on the main couple’s romance.
Meanwhile, Willow Lynch and Julian Hale would be set on a path to a complete and final break.
The thought of filming a kiss scene with Zane Langdon made Raymond Ford’s heart race with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
Besides, this wasn’t the only kiss scene she had with Zane Langdon.
If she could ride on Zane Langdon’s popularity and get the fans to ship them as a couple, her own fame would surely skyrocket.
Who wouldn’t want to latch onto a superstar like Zane Langdon and ride his wave of popularity? Wasn’t that what every actress who’d ever worked with him did?
Leah Young came over and held her phone out to Raymond Ford. "Raymond, look at this thread from today. The original novel’s fans really despise Melody Monroe."
Raymond Ford scrolled through the comments under the post and smiled.
They used their burner accounts every day to steer the narrative, and more and more of the novel’s original fans were joining in. By now, pretty much everyone in the book’s fandom despised Melody Monroe.
This was exactly the outcome Raymond Ford had been hoping for.
"Serves her right! She’s just playing a minor character, but they keep adding scenes until she has as much screen time as the second female lead. I don’t know what Director Wallace is thinking." Raymond Ford handed the phone back to Leah Young.
"She’ll never make it big. Once the show airs, you’ll be doing promotions and roadshows with Zane Langdon. Your popularity will definitely explode, and you’ll be a certified A-list starlet!"
"By the way," Raymond asked, "did you find out why they changed the kiss scene between Zane Langdon and Melody Monroe?"
"I don’t know. The rumor is that Director Wallace got a phone call, and then he canceled all of Zane Langdon and Melody Monroe’s kiss scenes."
Raymond Ford grew a little worried.
’What about my kiss scene with Zane Langdon? They’re not going to change that too, are they? No, probably not. We’re about to shoot it. They wouldn’t make any last-minute changes!’ Raymond Ford silently tried to reassure herself.