A Second Chance 119
Posted on March 07, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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Chapterย 119 Yvetteย didnโ€™tย bringย upย whatย hadย happenedย earlier.ย Asย usual,ย sheย madeย smallย talk. โ€œYouโ€™reย runningย aย bitย lateย today.ย Oh,ย andย itโ€™sย gettingย colder.ย Iย justย reppedย outย ofย theย carย andย walkedย over,ย andย myย faceย wasย freezing.ย Here,ย feelย it.ย Doesnโ€™tย itย feelย cold?โ€ย sheย said. Asย sheย spoke,ย sheย gentlyย brushedย herย cheek againstย Howardโ€™sย palm.ย Hisย browย furrowedย slightly,ย hisย fingersย trembledย faintly,ย andย hisย armย fellย limpย toย hisย side,ย pullingย hisย handย away. Yvetteโ€™sย heartย skippedย aย beat.ย Isย thatย deliberate?ย Wasย heย avoidingย me?โ€™ย sheย wondered.ย Butย sheย didnโ€™tย letย itย show,ย insteadย speakingย withย care.ย โ€œYourย armย mustย beย tired,ย huh?ย Thatโ€™sย onย me.ย Itโ€™sย myย fault.โ€ Howardย openedย hisย mouthย slightly,ย aย raspy,ย indistinctย soundย escapingย hisย throat. Yvetteย understoodย immediately.ย Sheโ€™dย gainedย plentyย ofย experienceย takingย careย ofย himย lately.ย โ€œYouย needย toย useย theย restroom,ย right?ย Holdย onโ€ฆโ€ย  Sheย wasย aboutย toย getย upย andย helpย himย toย theย bathroomย whenย sheย feltย aย tugย onย herย sleeve.ย Howardย hadย grabbedย it,ย frowningย deeplyย asย heย slowlyย shookย hisย headย  Sheย understoodย hisย gesture,ย butย atย theย sameย time,ย sheย didnโ€™t. โ€œHoward,ย Iโ€™mย yourย fiancรฉe.ย Theย onlyย thingย weโ€™reย missingย isย aย marriageย certificate.ย Otherย thanย that,ย thereโ€™sย noย differenceย betweenย usย andย aย marriedย couple.ย Letย meย helpย you,ย okay?โ€ย sheย said. Butย Howardโ€™sย frownย onlyย deepened,ย andย heย shookย his headย again. Yvetteย sighed,ย pressingย herย fingersย toย herย foreheadย inย frustrationย Fine,ย Iโ€™llย goย getย theย caregiver.โ€ Howardย hadย twoย caregivers,ย oneย maleย andย oneย female.ย Yvetteย stoodย up,ย aย tightย feelingย inย herย chest. Sheย truly didnโ€™tย understand.ย โ€œWhatโ€™sย goingย onย withย him?ย sheย wondered.ย Everย sinceย Howardย hadย regainedย consciousness,ย heโ€™dย avoidedย anyย gesturesย ofย closenessย fromย her. Heย didnโ€™tย mindย herย helpingย withย basicย thingsย likeย washingย hisย faceย or bringingย himย water.ย Butย whenย itย cameย toย thingsย likeย usingย theย restroomย orย beingย bathed,ย heย wouldย onlyย acceptย helpย fromย theย caregivers. โ€œWhy?ย Weย areย supposedย toย beย theย closestย peopleย toย eachย other,ย sheย thought.ย Maybeโ€ฆย heย doesnโ€™tย wantย meย toย seeย himย atย hisย mostย vulnerable? Thatย wasย theย onlyย wayย Yvetteย couldย consoleย herself.ย Forย now,ย Howardย couldnโ€™tย speak,ย soย sheย couldnโ€™t evenย argueย withย himย ifย sheย wantedย to. Aย weekย later,ย Siennaย hadย meticulouslyย reviewedย theย script.ย Sheย wroteย downย allย herย thoughtsย aboutย theย femaleย characters,ย capturingย herย interpretationsย inย aย thickย stackย ofย papers. Sheย handedย themย toย Charles.ย โ€œMr.ย Carter,ย pleaseย takeย aย look,โ€ย sheย said. Charlesย acceptedย theย stack,ย visiblyย surprised.ย โ€œThisย much?โ€ย  โ€œYesโ€ฆย Siennaย admitted,ย feelingย bothย embarrassedย andย unsureย ofย herself.ย Thisย isย myย firstย timeย writingย somethingย likeย this,ย soย Iย justย jottedย downย everythingย thatย cameย toย mind.โ€ โ€œNoย problem.โ€ย Charlesย smiled,ย clearlyย impressedย byย herย effort.ย โ€œHavingย thisย attitudeย isย alreadyย theย firstย stepย toย success.ย Iโ€™llย goย throughย itย andย getย backย toย you.โ€ โ€œThankย you,ย Mr.ย Carter.ย Siennaย smiled. 1/3 20-49 Mon,ย Janย b Chapterย 119 861%% Asย itย turnedย out,ย Charlesย wasย quiteย satisfiedย withย herย work.ย However,ย castingย decisionsย forย aย showย werenโ€™tย solelyย upย toย him. Asย theย director,ย Charlesย hadย authority,ย butย aboveย himย wereย theย producerย andย theย financier,ย theย trueย powerย players.ย Oneย heldย overallย responsibilityย forย theย project,ย andย theย otherย provided theย money.ย Hiringย aย newcomerย wasย alwaysย aย gamble. Oneย evening,ย afterย filmingย wrappedย up,ย Derekย approachedย Sier.ย โ€œSienna,ย Mr.ย Carterย askedย meย toย tellย youย toย joinย usย forย dinnerย tomorrowย night.โ€ Beforeย Siennaย couldย ask forย moreย details,ย Derekย gaveย herย aย knowing wink.ย โ€œForย now,ย youโ€™reย theย onlyย actressย underย considerationย forย aย roleย inย thisย project. โ€œJustย stayย calmย whenย youย meetย theย producerย andย theย financier.ย Mr.ย Carterย andย Iย willย beย thereย withย you.โ€ So,ย itย wasย aย dinnerย withย theย bigย bosses.ย Siennaย feltย anย inexplicableย resistance.ย Sheย couldnโ€™tย quiteย putย herย fingerย onย why Butย sheย stillย nodded.ย โ€œGotย it,ย Derek.โ€ Theย nextย day,ย knowingย sheโ€™dย beย meetingย importantย people,ย Sieraย choseย aย longย brownย dress.ย Itย struckย theย perfectย balanceย betweenย eleganceย andย formality,ย whileย alsoย accentuatingย herย figure. Followingย theย addressย Derekย hadย sentย her,ย Siennaย madeย sureย toย leaveย earlyย toย avoidย trafficย andย arrivedย atย Mouseaย Houseย rightย โ€œonย timeย toย meetย him.ย  โ€œYouโ€™reย here,โ€ย Derekย calledย out,ย wavingย herย over.ย โ€œLetโ€™sย go.ย Mr.ย Carterย isย alreadyย upstairs.โ€ โ€œAlright,ย letโ€™sย go.โ€ย Sheย nodded. Asย theyย rodeย theย elevator,ย Derekย couldnโ€™t helpย butย sigh,ย hisย face cloudedย withย concern. โ€œDerek?โ€ย Siennaย asked,ย puzzled.ย โ€œIsย thereย somethingย wrong?โ€ Derekย glancedย atย herย andย frownedย slightlyย beforeย givingย herย aย wordย ofย caution.ย โ€œWhenย weย getย there,ย ifย youย feelย wronged,ย justย endureย it.โ€ โ€œWhatย doesย thatย mean?โ€˜ย sheย wondered.ย Siennaโ€™sย heartย startedย pounding.ย Wronged?ย Wrongedย how?โ€ โ€œHereโ€™sย theย thing.โ€ย Derek explained.ย โ€œIย justย foundย outย thatย theย producerย forย thisย projectย isย Enioโ€ฆโ€ Siennaย blinked,ย completelyย inย theย dark.ย Sheย hadnโ€™tย evenย setย footย firmlyย inย theย industryย yet,ย andย sheย didnโ€™tย knowย whoย Enio SEMย  โ€œEnioโ€ฆย Derekย hesitated,ย thenย grittedย hisย teethย andย decidedย toย layย itย out.ย โ€œHeโ€™sย gotย aย bitย ofย aย habit,ย likesย toย getย aย littleย handsyย Siennaโ€™sย eyesย widenedย instantly.ย Aย littleย habit?ย Isย thatย howย Derekย describedย it?ย sheย wondered. doย toย you.ย โ€œDonโ€™tย beย tooย nervous,โ€ย Derek quicklyย reassuredย her.ย โ€œHeย wouldnโ€™tย dareย doย anythingย outrageousย inย aย publicย settingโ€“Plus,ย heโ€™sย notย theย financierย forย thisย project.ย Ifย youโ€™reย unwilling,ย thereโ€™sย nothingย heย can Accordingย toย Charles,ย heย hadย hisย eyeย onย Siennaย forย theย thirdย femaleย lead.ย First,ย sheย wasย newย toย theย industry.ย Second,ย sheย hadย aย danceย backgroundย butย noย actingย experience. Third,ย theย thirdย femaleย leadย wasย aย standoutย role,ย doneย right,ย itย couldย beย aย breakoutย opportunity. Withย Charlesโ€™sย standingย inย theย industry,ย theย producerย andย theย financierย wereย expectedย toย giveย himย someย leeway. Still,ย Derekย wasnโ€™tย goingย toย sugarcoatย things.ย Inย thisย lineย ofย workย thereย wasย noย shortageย ofย peopleย willingย toย takeย shortcutsย toย climbย theย ladder. Ifย Siennaย wantedย toย playย along,ย noย oneย wouldย stopย her,ย andย itย wouldnโ€™tย beย lookedย downย upon.ย Butย judgingย byย herย reaction, Chapterย 119 Asย itย turnedย out.ย Charlesย wasย quiteย satisfiedย withย herย work.ย However,ย castingย decisionsย forย aย showย werenโ€™tย solelyย upย toย him. Asย theย director,ย Charlesย hadย authority,ย butย aboveย himย wereย theย producerย andย theย financier,ย theย trueย powerย players.ย Oneย held.ย overallย responsibilityย forย theย project,ย andย theย otherย providedย theย money.ย Hiringย aย newcomerย wasย alwaysย aย gamble. Oneย evening,ย afterย filmingย wrappedย up.ย Derekย approachedย Sienย โ€œSienna,ย Mr.ย Carterย askedย meย toย tellย youย toย joinย usย forย dinnerย tomorrowย night.โ€ Beforeย Siennaย couldย askย forย moreย details,ย Derekย gaveย herย aย knowingย wink,ย โ€œForย now,ย youโ€™reย theย onlyย actressย underย considerationย forย aย roleย inย thisย project. โ€œJustย stayย calmย whenย youย meet theย producerย andย theย financier.ย Mr.ย Carterย andย Iย willย beย thereย withย you.โ€ย  So,ย itย wasย aย dinnerย withย theย bigย bosses.ย Siennaย feltย anย inexplicableย resistance.ย Sheย couldnโ€™tย quiteย putย herย fingerย onย why. Butย sheย stillย nodded.ย โ€œGotย it.ย Derek. Theย nextย day,ย knowingย sheโ€™dย beย meetingย importantย people,ย Siennaย choseย aย longย brownย dress.ย Itย struckย theย perfectย balance.ย between eleganceย andย formality,ย whileย alsoย accentuatingย herย figure. Following theย addressย Derekย hadย sentย her,ย Siennaย madeย sureย toย leaveย earlyย toย avoidย trafficย andย arrivedย atย Mouseaย Houseย rightย โ€œonย timeย toย meetย him. โ€œYouโ€™reย here,โ€ย Derekย calledย out,ย wavingย herย over.ย โ€œLetโ€™sย go.ย Mr.ย Carterย isย alreadyย upstairs.โ€ โ€œAlright,ย letโ€™sย go.โ€ย Sheย nodded Asย theyย rodeย theย elevator,ย Derekย couldnโ€™tย helpย butย sigh,ย hisย faceย cloudedย withย concern. โ€œDerek?โ€ย Siennaย asked,ย puzzled.ย โ€˜Isย thereย somethingย wrong?โ€ Derekย glancedย atย herย andย frownedย slightlyย beforeย givingย herย aย wordย ofย caution.ย โ€œWhenย weย getย there,ย ifย youย feelย wronged,ย justย endureย it. Whatย doesย thatย mean?ย sheย wondered.ย Siennaโ€™sย heartย startedย pounding.ย โ€œWronged?ย Wrongedย how?โ€ โ€œHereโ€™sย theย thing,ย Derekย explained.ย โ€œIย justย foundย outย thatย theย producerย forย thisย projectย isย Enioโ€ฆโ€ Siennaย blinked,ย completelyย inย theย dark.ย Sheย hadnโ€™tย evenย set footย brmlyย inย theย industryย yet,ย andย sheย didnโ€™tย knowย whoย Enio wasย  โ€œEnioโ€ฆโ€ย Derekย hesitated,ย thenย grittedย hisย teethย andย decidedย toย layย itย out.ย โ€œHeโ€™sย gotย aย bitย ofย aย habit,ย likesย toย getย aย littleย handsyโ€ย Siennaโ€™sย eyesย widenedย instantly.ย Aย littleย habit?ย Isย thatย howย Derekย describedย it?ย sheย wondered. โ€œDonโ€™tย beย tooย nervous,โ€ย Derekย quicklyย reassuredย her.ย โ€œHeย wouldnโ€™tย dareย doย anythingย outrageousย inย aย publicย setting.ย Plus,ย heโ€™sย notย theย financierย forย thisย project.ย Ifย youโ€™reย unwilling,ย thereโ€™sย nothingย heย canย doย toย youโ€ Accordingย toย Charles,ย heย hadย hisย eyeย onย Siennaย forย theย thirdย femaleย lead.ย First,ย she wasย newย toย theย industry.ย Second,ย sheย hadย aย danceย backgroundย butย noย actingย experience. Third,ย theย thirdย femaleย leadย wasย aย standoutย role,ย doneย right,ย itย couldย beย aย breakoutย opportunity Withย Charlesโ€™sย standingย inย theย industry,ย theย producerย andย theย financierย wereย expectedย toย giveย himย someย leeway. Still,ย Derekย wasnโ€™tย goingย toย sugarcoatย things.ย Inย thisย lineย ofย work,ย thereย wasย noย shortageย ofย peopleย willingย toย takeย shortcutsย toย climbย theย ladder. Ifย Siennaย wantedย toย playย along,ย noย oneย wouldย stopย her,ย andย itย wouldnโ€™tย beย lookedย downย upon.ย But judgingย byย herย reaction, 2/3 Chapterย 119 Derekย figuredย sheย probablyย wouldnโ€™tย goย thatย route. โ€œDonโ€™tย stress.ย Itโ€™sย justย dinner,โ€ย heย said. Siennaย tookย aย deepย breath.ย โ€˜Gotย it,ย Derek.โ€ Butย thereย wasย noย wayย thatย sheย didnโ€™t feelย nervous.ย Allย sheย couldย doย nowย wasย hopeย theย producerย wouldnโ€™tย crossย anyย lines. Whenย theyย reachedย theย privateย roomย upstairs,ย theย dimย lightingย madeย Siennaย squint,ย tryingย toย adjust.ย Sheย frownedย slightly.ย findingย itย hardย toย acclimate,ย especiallyย withย theย overwhelmingย mixย ofย alcoholย andย perfumeย inย theย air. Derekย ledย herย overย toย whereย Charlesย wasย seated.ย โ€œMr.ย Carter,ย Siemaโ€™sย here.โ€ โ€œHi,ย Sienna,โ€ย Charlesย said,ย wavingย herย over.ย โ€œComeย here,ย andย letโ€™sย standย aย bitย closer.โ€ โ€œYes,ย Mr.ย Carter.โ€ย Siennaย nodded. Derekย steppedย aside,ย leavingย roomย forย her. โ€œComeย one.ย Thisย isย Sienna,โ€ย Charlesย said,ย motioningย towardย herย asย heย introducedย herย toย aย middleโ€“agedย manย seatedย nearby. Theย manย wasย thin,ย hisย faceย fullย ofย smiles,ย radiatingย anย airย ofย falseย benevolence.ย Thisย wasย theย producer,ย Enieย Wilson. โ€œMeetย ourย producer,ย Enio,โ€ย Charlesย said. โ€œHello,ย Siennaย said,ย bowingย politely. โ€œHello.โ€ย Enioโ€™sย gazeย landedย onย Sienna,ย hisย expressionย firstย oneย ofย astonishment,ย thenย oneย ofย fixation.ย Hisย eyesย wereย gluedย toย her,ย unrelenting. Sheย wasย stunning.ย Evenย inย anย industryย filledย withย beautifulย women,ย herย looksย wereย extraordinary. Enioย shotย Charlesย aย meaningfulย glange.ย โ€œMr.ย Carter,ย impressive.ย Whereย didย youย manageย toย findย suchย aย beauty?โ€ โ€œPureย coincidence,ย Charlesย repliedย withย aย casualย chuckle,ย โ€œAย luckyย coincidence. โ€œComeย here,โ€ย Enioย said,ย extendingย hisย handย towardย Sienna. Hisย palmย facedย upward,ย openย andย waitingย inย frontย ofย her.ย โ€˜Doesย heย wantย meย toย takeย hisย hand?ย sheย wondered.


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