Chapter 183: A Major Face-Slapping Scene
If Melody Monroe’s character had so many scenes in the early stages that she practically upstaged the female lead, then the later stages were all about the female lead reclaiming her presence.
Raymond Ford knew her recent scenes were crucial.
Moreover, several of these scenes were incredibly cathartic—plot points where her character was supposed to completely overpower Melody Monroe’s.
But she could never quite make the switch. Unlike Melody Monroe, whose transformation from five years ago to five years later was incredibly stark!
She’d been trying to figure out how to project that kind of commanding presence, but it felt like she was trapped in a box.
"Ready to go? All departments, stand by!" the assistant director confirmed, exchanging a look with Director Wallace.
"Action!"
Raymond Ford stepped in front of the camera and looked at Melody Monroe.
They both stopped in their tracks.
Melody Monroe glanced at Raymond Ford, then started to walk past her.
Raymond Ford grabbed Melody Monroe’s arm.
Melody Monroe’s brow furrowed.
’Raymond Ford’s grip on her arm was tightening! It was like she was trying to claw through the fabric and tear her flesh!’
’Looks like Raymond Ford is up to her old tricks.’
’During previous takes, Raymond Ford had tried these little tricks before, but Melody had always managed to neutralize them and act like nothing happened. It seemed Raymond Ford really had a thing for playing the innocent, manipulative "white lotus"—an urge that just had to flare up every now and then.’
"Willow Lynch! You know perfectly well how important this project is to Julian, so why do you have to steal it? I know you still love him! You’ve already taken more than enough from him! Aren’t you satisfied yet?"
"It’s just fair competition. Besides, didn’t you get the project this time?" Melody Monroe said, shaking off Raymond Ford’s hand.
Raymond Ford immediately grabbed Melody Monroe’s arm again!
Melody Monroe’s frown deepened. ’The director hasn’t called cut, so the scene has to go on.’
This time, Raymond Ford squeezed even harder!
Their eyes met.
Director Wallace watched their performance, feeling it was perfect. This palpable tension, this hostility, was exactly the effect he wanted.
"Let go!" Melody Monroe commanded in a cold voice.
"Tell me! The Hale Family is already in this state. What will it take for you to finally stop interfering!"
"Holly Summers, I told you to let go!"
But Raymond Ford didn’t let go. Instead, she squeezed harder.
To Raymond Ford, it looked like Melody Monroe was getting flustered. ’That line wasn’t even in the script!’ she thought, secretly delighted to see Melody seemingly losing her composure. ’I’m going to make her mess up a take for once! And today, I’m going to make her mess up even more!’
But then a new thought surfaced. ’Wait, Melody did say the wrong line. Why hasn’t Director Wallace called cut?’
Suddenly, Melody Monroe raised her hand and delivered a sharp slap!
"SLAP!" The crisp sound of the slap echoed, stunning everyone around them.
Even Director Wallace was taken aback.
Raymond Ford was stunned by the slap. Clutching her face, she stared blankly at Melody Monroe.
’This wasn’t in the script! How dare Melody Monroe actually hit her!’
The director didn’t call cut. It was Zane Langdon’s cue to enter. Unbuttoning his suit jacket as he walked over, he too was a little surprised by the slap. But he quickly composed himself, walked to Raymond Ford’s side, and pulled her protectively behind him.
"Julian!" Raymond Ford cried out. But before she could utter another word, a look from Zane Langdon silenced her.
"President Hale, congratulations," Melody Monroe said with a smile, extending her hand as if nothing had just happened.
Zane Langdon just stared at Melody Monroe, making no move to take her offered hand.
"Did you receive the summons?" Melody Monroe asked.
"Why didn’t you just tell me directly?"
"Tell you what? That your father murdered mine? That he’s always wanted to swallow the Lynch Group whole? Julian Hale, your father should have just waited. If he’d waited until the day I married you, maybe I would have handed over the Lynch Group to the Hale Family as my dowry!"