Chapter 104
Lila smiled helplessly, not wanting Jamie and Teddy to start arguing. “I don’t have much time. Whoever’s scene is next, I’ll help them run their lines first.”
Jamie pursed her lips and quietly stepped aside, starting to practice her lines on her own. Lila gently patted her head like a parent dealing with two kids. When she met her bright, sparkling eyes, she couldn’t help but smile.
“Lila, do you still want to date?” Jamie blinked as though seriously considering something. “How about I introduce Vince to you?”
Teddy immediately rushed over. “You’re scheming again!”
He hurriedly pulled Lila away as though terrified that she would be taken away from him if he delayed for even a second.
When Dorian walked out of the lounge, he saw Lila and Teddy running lines together. Teddy towered over her by more than a head. His sharp features gave off a cold intensity when he wasn’t smiling, and he looked down at her with focused attention.
Lila was glancing down at the script, the soft, wispy strands of her hair framing her face. As she read her lines, she gestured with the script, rolling it up and thrusting it toward his chest like a weapon.
Her brows knit together with a determined expression, exuding a sharp, commanding presence. Her actions were precise and smooth, turning the script into a sword with a natural air of authority.
Teddy’s eyes flickered, momentarily surprised, but he quickly followed her lead. The two worked seamlessly, and when they finished, they exchanged a knowing smile.
He couldn’t help but praise her. “Ms. Hart, with skills like yours, you could totally be an actress. Have you ever thought about joining us in the industry?”
She laughed softly, her gaze clear and bright. “My passion is directing.”
Dorian stood frozen, watching Lila’s radiant smile. His hands clenched at his sides, the knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure. He couldn’t even remember when she had been this lively and engaged while running lines with him.
She caught sight of him through her peripheral vision. She glanced up briefly, then looked away with little interest.
Behind Dorian, Darcy smirked disdainfully. “What a flirt. She’s already cozying up to another man.”
Dorian turned to glare at her, his expression cold.
Caught off guard, Darcy shrank and muttered awkwardly, “Are you seriously planning to keep chasing after her?”
“It’s none of your business!” Dorian snapped, his tone annoyed.
When Samuel texted that the equipment had been fixed, Lila left without staying
to watch the two newcomers finish their shoot.
By the time she was done for the day, it was already 7:00 pm. Jamie and Teddy had wrapped up earlier, but when Lila pulled out her phone, she was greeted with 99+ new messages in the Top 3 Richest group chat.
Jamie wrote, “Dorian’s arthouse film won an award overseas. I’m not happy about it!”
Teddy replied, “We can’t exactly scold the judging panel. His character may suck, but his acting’s decent.”
She wrote, “I watched that film, and it was pretty good. But giving the award to Dorian? No way.”
She continued, “It’s like the internet has no memory. A few days ago, everyone was dragging him for cheating, and now, thanks to one award, he’s suddenly respectable again.”
He replied, “It’s mostly because he has so many fans. In the entertainment industry, as long as you don’t break the law, nothing else really matters.
“A little scandal like this? It’ll blow over in a few days. It’s totally normal.”
Lila didn’t respond to their messages. Instead, she opened the trending topics list to examine it.
#AwardWinnerDorian-the tag was already number five on the list. She clicked on it and scrolled through.
It was for that arthouse film she had recommended before. She wasn’t surprised it had won an award.
Out of habit, she scrolled through the related tags and spotted another one linked to Dorian, which was #DorianSoDevoted.
Lila blinked. “What?”
For a moment, she wondered if her eyes were playing tricks on her. After some hesitation, she clicked on the tag.