Yolanda smiled. “You’re a great screenwriter, too. I’ve read a lot of scripts, and so many these days feel like they were churned out on an assembly line—all fast- paced plot but completely devoid of emotion.”

“But the stories you write are always full of heart. Reading them is a genuinely moving experience. I know you’re going to become a famous, top-tier screenwriter someday.”

The two women traded compliments, neither of them speaking out of mere politeness. They meant every word.

Just then, Antonia walked over. Amara’s expression darkened the moment she saw her.

Antonia had come around yesterday to provoke her, only to be harshly chewed out and chased off by Finnian. What did she think she was doing, strutting back over here with her head held high?

The moment Yolanda spotted Antonia, her nose wrinkled in distaste. She grabbed her notebook and immediately relocated.

She and Antonia had gotten into a screaming match over a makeup artist a few days ago, sparking a bitter feud between them.

Outside of actually filming their scenes, they refused to exist in the same space. As far as Yolanda was concerned, just breathing the same air as Antonia was bad luck.

Seeing Yolanda flee at the sight of her, Antonia spat mockingly at her retreating back. Then, she turned her arrogant gaze onto Amara. “I heard the news, Amara. Keith’s parents can’t stand you. Is that why you two never tied the knot?”

Amara stared back at her coldly, refusing to dignify that with a response.

Antonia didn’t care. She pressed on, “Guess it’s true, then. Since that’s the case, you can forget about ever marrying Keith.”

“His parents look down on you now, and they always will.”

Antonia looked thoroughly pleased with herself. Watching her, Amara only felt that

the woman was incredibly childish-childish and entirely ridiculous.

She finally spoke up. “What does his parents’ opinion of me have to do with you? Who are you to Keith, exactly that you think you have the angesat ught to point fingers at our

relationship? You really think highly of yourself, don’t you?”

Antonia’s face instantly soured.

It was true. She had absolutely no relationship with Keith. She had been hovering around him for days, desperately trying to get close to him and plenty of people on set had already noticed her obvious crush.

But Keith completely ignored her. He wouldn’t even spare her a single word, leaving her utterly miserable.

From childhood until now, she had never been denied anything she wanted. This was the first time she had hit a brick wall, and the rejection gnawed at her. Because of it, she fiercely resented Amara.

In her mind, Amara was the root of the problem. If Amara wasn’t around, Keith would definitely give her the time of day.

“It’s none of your business who I am! The point is, I’m right,” Antonia said through gritted teeth. “Keith’s parents despise you. Don’t even dream about being with him.”

Amara gave her a slow, sweeping look up and down.

Usually, there were things she

preferred not to say, not wanting to

stoop to that level. But Antonia’s

relentle

provocations had pushed

her past her limalt. “People do things

for a reason. What exactly is your

goal in coming over here to tell me

all this?”

“You’re trying to say that Keith’s parents look down on me, but what, they’d approve

of you?”

“Even if they did, does Keith even want you? Where do you get this blind confidence?”

Amara genuinely hated having to say things like this. It made it sound as though they were fighting over a man, which was just embarrassing.

But wasn’t Keith the entire reason Antonia kept scurrying over to run her mouth? Amara was thoroughly sick of it. It was time to rip the band-aid off and fire back.