Chapter 15
Amara turned her head.
Walking toward her was Finnian. He was dressed in a tailored black shirt and slacks, his broad shoulders and narrow waist accentuating his long, graceful legs. His physique was enough to make even the top male models feel a twinge of envy.
And then there was his face, handsome enough to overshadow any star.
When he first stepped onto the set, the young women couldn’t help but scream and gawk at him. The actors, who usually seemed miles above the extras, were suddenly pale in comparison.
As Amara watched him, she couldn’t help but think back to when she first met Finnian in their senior year of high school. She, too, had been dazzled by his looks.
But recalling what Finnian had just said made her heart feel like it had been pricked by a needle.
“Ms. Porter isn’t quite right for the role,” she said bluntly to Finnian. “She doesn’t match the image of Isabella p>
“Images can be adjusted,” Finnian replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Besides, the whole production team has already signed off on this p>
Implying that her opinion as a mere scriptwriter didn’t matter. Amara bit her lip hard, her heart twisting painfully.
“Look at how much he stands up for Liliana,” she thought to herself. “Just because she wants this role, he, who usually stays away from the film industry, would invest in this project. He’s willing to do anything for Liliana p>
“This is final,” Finnian said. “There won’t be any more changes p>
This statement made Liliana’s smile widen. Amara, wearing a mask, hid her emotions, but her clenched fists and fiery gaze made it clear she was angry.
Liliana stepped forward with her sweet voice. “Finn, don’t argue with Ms. Sullivan because of me. I really like the role of Isabella, but I understand Ms. Sullivan’s being displeased since she’s the scriptwriter p>
She then turned to Amara with sincerity. “Ms. Sullivan, I truly want to be a part of this project. I promise to give it my best, please don’t be upset p>
Cedric looked at the three of them, puzzled. He sensed the vibe among these three was amiss, feeling like he was missing something important.
Amara and Finnian’s marriage was a secret. Cedric didn’t even know they knew each other and assumed Amara was simply opposing an investor’s meddling with casting.
He tried to ease the tension. “Let’s leave it at that. Liliana is a seasoned actress; she’ll do a great job p>
Amara closed her eyes briefly, unsure of what to say. The investors, the director, they were all on Liliana’s side. It seemed she couldn’t change anything.
“Come with me,” Finnian said, glancing at her before walking away. Amara followed.
In the hallway, Finnian said calmly, “Liliana will do well in this role. There’s nothing to worry about p>
Would Liliana handle the role well? Her acting skills were adequate; she wouldn’t ruin the show at least. But even if she didn’t, Finnian wouldn’t care.
For him, the essence of the matter was that Liliana wanted to do this, and he would move mountains to make it happen, nothing more.
Amara understood all this, yet her lips were pale. She silently gazed out the window for a long time before turning back to him. She replied, “Alright p>
So be it. If Finnian insisted on having Liliana in the role, her opposition was futile. With that, she walked away, leaving Finnian watching her retreating figure, his gaze darkening.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off with Amara. Was it just his imagination? Her departing figure seemed unusually lonely, and his heart unexpectedly twisted. What was this about?
Back on set, Amara remained downcast, but work called, so she kept her head down, organizing scripts. Suddenly, a mocking voice came from above her.
“You didn’t listen when you were warned against marrying him, and now, despite all your devotion, he openly favors his lover over you. Is this the life you wanted p>
Amara looked up in exasperation at the man before her, silent.
Standing tall at over six feet, he wore a limited edition casual suit. His short hair framed a face that combined the gravitas of a mature man with a laid-back charm, enough to make countless hearts flutter.
He leaned nonchalantly against the doorframe, challenging her with his eyes. “What’s wrong, cat got your tongue p>
“No.” Amara replied, “Keith, can you stop being so childish p>
“How am I being childish?” Keith’s casual demeanor slipped, replaced by frustration. “Did I say anything wrong p>
“So what if you’re right? So what if you’re wrong? It’s none of your business either way p>
“You and I don’t have connections p>
“Yes, zero p>
“Well, keep this up and you’ll just keep getting walked all over! You’ll be a doormat for life p>