As a token of appreciation, she handed over ten precious pills in exchange for a simple car ride. The gesture was extraordinarily extravagant.

Sidney, of course, wasn't naive. The medicine, though given as a token of gratitude, was essentially a safeguard for Richard. If Richard were ever poisoned or faced another perilous situation, this medicine could save him.

She claimed to have cut ties with Richard, to leave his world entirely. Yet, before departing, she had already accounted for this possibility. It was a thoughtful precaution.

Sidney carefully stored the porcelain bottle, taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart. After a while, he accelerated and drove away.

He didn't notice Melody emerge from a store across the street, where she sat in her wheelchair after finishing her shopping. She watched his car disappear, her gaze then drifting to where Tiffany had vanished. She smiled, a smile of indecipherable meaning.

A female student approached, asking, "Melody, are you done shopping?"

"Yes," Melody replied.

"Let's head back," the student said.

As she pushed Melody's wheelchair, the student asked curiously, "What were you looking at just now? You seemed really focused."

Melody smiled lightly, replying offhandedly, "Oh, nothing. Just watching a stray cat struggle."

"Okay." The student didn't think much of it and continued pushing Melody back to school and into the classroom, where the atmosphere remained unchanged.

The recent drama surrounding the script had been resolved, thanks to Kenneth's intervention. StarRise Entertainment issued a statement explaining the incident as a misunderstanding, emphasizing that there was nothing to it. They even expressed admiration for Melody's talents and hinted at future collaborations. With this explanation, the plagiarism accusations dissipated, and everyone moved on.

Kenneth further sweetened the deal by sending an abundance of desserts to the school, ensuring every student received some. This was a thank-you to everyone on behalf of Melody. With Kenneth's involvement, no one could object. Of course, the class responded positively, and unity was restored.

The only ones who didn't eat the desserts were Zoe and Ged. They disliked them.

After returning to school, Tiffany took the day off, retreating to her apartment where she slept soundly. By the end of the day, she felt refreshed, and even her wounds had healed remarkably quickly. She realized a big revelation would come out that night and decided to visit Abbie. Since the upcoming scandal involved her, Abbie needed to be prepared.

Tiffany headed straight for the film set, where Abbie was scheduled to film an emotional scene with the male lead that evening. However, due to internal resistance, Abbie couldn't get the scene right. After more than a dozen retakes, Oliver called a halt to filming. He was at a loss, and the entire crew was exhausted from a long day. Raising his hand, he dismissed them, saying, "Go home. Find the right mood, and we'll continue tomorrow."

"Okay," Abbie nodded, giving her co-star an apologetic smile.

When she returned to her car to change, she was surprised to find someone lounging in the seat—Tiffany.

"Ms. Kelley, why are you here?" Abbie asked, pleasantly surprised.

Tiffany yawned lazily and waved her off. "I've told you, no need for 'Ms. Kelley'! Just use my name."

Abbie, a best actress award winner at age 20, had experienced both fame and obscurity. Now, at 27, she was nine years older than Tiffany.

Abbie smiled, her usually aloof expression softening into a breathtaking display of icy beauty. "Alright, I'll call you Tiffany," she said, her tone more affectionate.

Tiffany nodded, then added, "Let's grab some food." After a whole day without eating, she was ravenous. She slumped in her seat, too tired to move. Nevaeh instructed the driver to take them to a restaurant.

Before changing out of her costume, Abbie reached into her bag and pulled out a chocolate bar, offering it to Tiffany. "Try this. It's pretty good."

Tiffany took it, unwrapped it, and began eating. The flavor was rich, indulgent, and not too sweet. It was indeed good.

Halfway through, Tiffany couldn't help but ask, "Aren't actors supposed to watch their figures? And yet, you're eating this?"

Now that Abbie no longer treated Tiffany like a superior, the tension had lifted. She spoke with the ease of an older sister.

"Do I look like someone who makes a living off my looks?" Abbie asked with a grin.

Tiffany studied her. With flawless skin, striking features, and a face tailor-made for the screen, Abbie was effortlessly beautiful. There was an alluring frostiness about her, a cold elegance that made her stand out.

"Absolutely," Tiffany responded, nodding.

"Then I guess I'm one of those actresses who could coast on looks but insists on proving my acting chops instead?" Abbie replied.

"Exactly," Tiffany agreed, playing along. Abbie laughed.

She reflected on past mistakes that led to her being despised and cast out. She felt a moment of sadness, but then found comfort in her resilience.

Shaking off the melancholy, Abbie looked at Tiffany for a long moment before saying sincerely, "Tiffany, if you ever joined show business, your face alone would make you a sensation."

Tiffany's beauty was undeniable, a mesmerizing quality unlike any other. She possessed an effortless grace and a captivating aura. Her eyes, luminous like a starry night, held a quiet but undeniable allure. Calling her captivating was an understatement; she was a living work of art.

Tiffany chuckled lazily. "Are we just showering each other with compliments?"

Abbie laughed, unconcerned about her image.

As Tiffany nibbled on her chocolate bar, she reminded Abbie, "We're almost there. Hurry up and change." They had been chatting so long that Abbie had forgotten about her costume.

"Right," Abbie said, finally pulling the curtain closed to change. By the time she finished, the car had stopped.

"Let's go eat," Tiffany said, leading the way into the restaurant.

As they entered, they encountered a couple exiting—Freddie and Milly. It was an unfortunate encounter.