Chapter 175

I was completely silent. In the room, with its rustic feel, Lubella sat cross-legged on the cream-colored carpet, wearing light green loungewear. The breeze made the pale pink roses on the small table sway gently. She held a book, slowly flipping through its pages. The phone on the table suddenly rang, breaking the peaceful moment.

Isabella glanced from her book to the phone. It was a video call from Samuel. She put down her book and answered the call. Samuel’s face appeared on the screen, his deep, magnetic voice asking, “What are you doing?”

At that moment, Samuel was sitting on the sofa, his deep eyes intently fixed on Isabella through the phone. Isabella picked up the book beside her and showed it to Samuel, replying softly with a smile, “Just reading a book.” She was planning to read for a bit and then go to sleep. But since Samuel called her, sleep would have to wait a little longer. Samuel knew Isabella enjoyed reading, so he wasn’t surprised.

Labella placed the book on the table and asked, “How’s your business trip going? Have you been feeling tired lately?” Samuel had been on his business trip for quite a while. He came back for a short while a few days ago, but then left again the next day. Samuel heard the concern in her voice, his smile widening and his voice softening unconsciously, “I’m not tired. I’ll be back soon.”

Perhaps it was just her imagination, but Isabella felt his voice carried a hint of tenderness, making her ears warm slightly. Samuel’s grandpa’s birthday was approaching, and it seemed that was why he was returning. However, after the birthday party, Isabella would have to leave for a major competition.

Iubella placed her phone on the stand on the small table, interlacing her fingers and resting her chin on her hands. Looking at Samuel, she chuckled softly. “You’re back, but I’m afraid I won’t be around for long. We might not have much time to see each other.” The downside of being so busy was that they hardly saw each other. Luckily, they were both very career-focused and didn’t need to be together all the time, or they’d have argued much more. Isabella really likes how she and Samuel get along now. It was comfortable and relaxed, without feeling tied down.

Samuel raised an eyebrow. “Well, not necessarily.” “Hmm?” Isabella looked puzzled. Samuel didn’t explain and just gave a slight smile. “Winning the Gold Award in the Masterpiece Design Competition will benefit you. Are you confident!?” Samuel knew how important the Masterpiece Design Competition was for jewelry designers and the level of prestige it carried. Of course, an award with such prestige required great skill.

Isabella was a bit surprised. “You know?” Samuel remained calm. “My wife’s safety is very important.” Just a few words from him made Lubella’s heart flutter. If it were someone else doing this, Isabella might feel like she was being monitored. But she understood that Samuel wanted to keep her safe, away from Hudson’s manipulations, and probably he had his own people placed within the Stour Group.

“If you need me… Just let me know,” Samuel’s deep voice brought Isabella back to reality. She smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I know. There’s nothing I can’t handle right now. I’ve submitted my work and am just waiting for Hudson and the others to finalize the contestant list.”

Samuel raised an eyebrow. “Your work is impressive enough that they wouldn’t dare stop you from competing. This award is important for the future of the Stout Group.” Babella gave a slight sniff. “Then you should be aware of something else, right?” Samuel remained silent, waiting for her to go on. Isabella divulged all the details about Hudson’s debt to the Golden Glory.

Samuel’s eyes grew cold. “It’s fine to have a quarrel among themselves, but the approach is lacking. Bella. A true punishment hits where it hurts.” In the end, Jabella couldn’t help but feel compassionate. Isabella still cared that Hobson was her father and that the family bond was important to her. Isabella curled her lips. “I know what you mean, but I’m growing up too, right?” Samuel pressed his lips together, staying silent.

Isabella picked up the glass from the table, took a slow sip to moisten her throat, and then spoke again. “Winning that award is my first step to establishing myself in the Stout Group. Everything Hudson took must be given back to me. Before that, I want him to suffer little by little. If I crush all his hopes at once, without any struggle or resistance, it would be boring.” Isabella’s gaze gradually turned firm, shedding any reluctance. Samuel eventually said nothing more. No matter the circumstances, Samuel was there for Isabella and wouldn’t watch her suffer.

After a moment, Samuel looked at Isabella and gently said, “Make sure you’re safe at all times.” This was the most important thing of all. Isabella put down the cup she was holding and replied to Samuel, “Alright.” Samuel locked eyes with Isabella, and they chatted about everyday things before saying goodnight and hanging up the phone.

She stared at the darkened screen, feeling a bit unaccustomed to it. It was as if everything suddenly became quiet. Isabella frowned, not particularly liking that feeling. She decided not to think about it anymore, turned her phone face down on the table, and headed straight for the bathroom.

Thanks to the early involvement of the Pit department, Luna’s hospital visit didn’t become public beforehand, which allowed her to breathe a sigh of relief. If news like that got out, Isabella would definitely ask why Luna went. It would be almost impossible to keep it a secret then. Thankfully, everything just caused a minor disturbance that eventually settled down.

That afternoon, in Luna’s apartment, the spacious living room had a modern, slightly luxurious style, with off-white fabric sofas adding a touch of softness to the space. On the marble rectangular dining table was a large bouquet of blush pink roses, giving off a warm and romantic atmosphere. Luna, dressed in casual gray attire, sat on the cozy sofa, fully absorbed in reading a script. Next to Luna, on the left-hand sofa, sat a man in stylish clothes, Kerry James, the assistant director of Empress of Prosperity. He had soft features and a cheerful demeanor, with delicate skin that many girls would envy. Kerry was holding the script for Empress of Prosperity, biting his lower lip with a furrowed brow, deep in thought.

He looked up at Luna anxiously. “Everything is set now, but what about the second female lead! We’re starting shooting soon, and if we don’t finalize the second lead, how can we proceed?” Also, the second lead’s scenes were scheduled to be filmed first.

8:25 AM

Chapter 175

They had been casting but still hadn’t found the right person. The second lead’s role was crucial and couldn’t be taken lightly. Luna couldn’t help but sigh, clearly troubled by this situation. Looking across the entire entertainment industry, there wasn’t a single suitable person for this role. The second female lead should be attractive with a gentle personality, but she shouldn’t appear weak. Her looks should be comparable to the female lead’s, with each having their own distinctive features. Only by choosing such an actress could the drama inily be engaging. Moreover, the second female lead absolutely could not have a cosmetically altered face.

Luna put down the script she was holding and scratched her head anxiously. “We only have ten days until we head to the northern desert for filming, so we need to finalize the casting quickly.”