His expression darkened immediately when Tiffany told Oliver Fraser about the casting decision. "Absolutely not!" he protested, clearly unhappy with the choice.

Abbie Hopkins had received a lot of bad press. Despite being a talented actress who had won two prestigious awards early in her career—attributes Oliver initially admired, leading him to consider working with her—things quickly soured. Not long after, she was imprisoned on assault charges.

The only silver lining was that Abbie's victim wasn't seriously injured; otherwise, a comeback would have been impossible. Even so, no one dared cast her. Oliver knew that audience rejection would be a significant loss for him.

"I've got my eye on another newcomer," Oliver responded. "I think she's a perfect fit." He tried to persuade Tiffany.

However, Tiffany remained unmoved. "I've already made the announcement," she said. "The decision will be based on Abbie's performance at the audition the day after tomorrow. Of course, your newcomer is welcome to audition as well."

Everyone should compete fairly, she thought. After all, Tiffany wasn't the type to be overly oppressive or have the final say on everything. If she were, it would be more apparent.

Oliver was left speechless, nodding in reluctant agreement. The decision was already in the contract, and he'd anticipated this from the start. Now, he could only hope his chosen actress wouldn't disappoint him.

The day of the audition arrived. The audition was held at the Lovell City studio, the filming location.

With the audition taking place nearby, Tiffany had every reason to be present and support Abbie. After all, Abbie was the first artist signed to her company. The film's success depended on StarRise Entertainment's ability to make a name for itself.

At 9:00 a.m., Abbie and her new agent stood at the audition building's entrance, ready to go inside, when a car slowly pulled up. They initially assumed it was another auditioning artist, but to their surprise, Tiffany emerged.

"Boss?" Abbie exclaimed in surprise. Tiffany had already paved the way for her, yet she still took the time to attend in person, clearly showing her support. This gesture was deeply moving for Abbie.

Tiffany calmly waved her hand. "Don't call me that in public. I'm not the registered owner of the company; call me by my name." Aside from a few people, no outsiders knew Tiffany was the mastermind behind StarRise Entertainment.

Abbie nodded. The three entered the building and took the elevator to the twenty-fifth floor. The staff had made arrangements, and directional signs were posted. They were the first to arrive.

While waiting in the lounge, Abbie reviewed her script. Even though she had spent the past few days analyzing it tirelessly, she felt extremely nervous. This audition was crucial for her career and future; her comeback depended on securing this role. It was hard not to feel anxious.

Noticing her anxiety, Tiffany said softly, "Do you know why I chose you?"

Even though StarRise Entertainment was recently established—only two days old, with no artists signed—Tiffany had the financial resources to quickly attract new talent. She specifically chose Abbie despite her being labeled a washed-up actress with a troubled past.

Abbie was taken aback. Of course, with StarRise Entertainment’s resources and potential, it has everything to offer. So, why was I chosen? she thought, shaking her head in confusion.

Tiffany replied calmly, "Because you and I share similarities. I believe you can understand the character in this script better than anyone else." She had written the script, and it closely mirrored Tiffany's and Abbie's backgrounds.

Only those who have experienced it can truly understand the ambition of wanting to rise again after falling from grace. "So, don't worry, and certainly don't be afraid," Tiffany said, looking at Abbie, speaking slowly and deliberately. "You need to believe in yourself and show that confidence. I want to see your ambition."

Ambition? Abbie felt a momentary daze. She thought she had lost that sense of ambition, as reality had always dealt her harsh blows.

But at that moment, seeing Tiffany's bright smile, she suddenly realized that as long as she was alive, it was never too late to rise again. She nodded, her expression more serious than ever before.

"Yes, I can," Abbie said with determination. No longer looking at the script, she closed her eyes and began mentally rehearsing her lines, which she had already memorized thoroughly.

Seeing this, the agent, Nevach Roger, felt concerned and whispered to Tiffany, "Is this a good idea?" She didn't doubt Abbie's acting skills; she was just worried that Tiffany's words might lead Abbie to underestimate the audition's importance.

Competitions were always ruthless. It was easy to speak confidently, but the director might not recognize her potential.

Tiffany smiled calmly. "It's okay." She had the final say in casting. Since she had chosen Abbie, there was no changing her mind.

The audition was merely a formality to gain Oliver's approval. She felt no concern.

After about ten minutes, several more newcomers arrived. These were the few candidates Oliver considered promising, totaling no more than five.

It wasn't until the last newcomer swaggered into the lounge that everyone heard her voice before she even entered. "You expect me to rest here? Don't you know I should have a private lounge?" Her tone was arrogant.

This voice sounds familiar, Tiffany thought. She looked up to see a flamboyantly dressed woman strutting in with pride. It was Wendy Trujillo, the daughter of one of Traron City's four prominent families.

In the spacious lounge, even with a dozen people present, Wendy spotted Tiffany immediately. Tiffany always drew attention; even in profile, her features were flawless and strikingly beautiful.

Wendy stared for a few seconds, then sneered. "You're here for the audition too?" Her tone dripped with hostility.

Others glanced at them, displaying caution and unease. Tiffany's face was too recognizable; if she genuinely aimed to debut, it would be incredibly easy for her. This was a significant threat to the others.

Tiffany smiled. "I didn't realize Miss Trujillo was also in the industry. How come I've never seen any of your work?"

Wendy was speechless. She had debuted three years ago, leveraging family resources to land roles in major films and dramas. Yet, due to her lack of acting skills and unremarkable looks, even minor characters had outshone her. This was a deep wound, and having it brought up publicly by Tiffany was humiliating.

(The final two sentences mentioning FindNovel.net are promotional and have been removed.)