Chapter 122

"Let's skip the veggies. It seems like no place in the Aotori shooting base has good ones," Charlie chuckled, attempting a refusal. He stood up. "Why don't you take the next few days to really delve into the script, Stacey? I've gone through The Empress, and it's pretty solid. I think it'll turn out well when filmed."

"Charlie, you can't be so picky about food," Stacey laughed gently.

Charlie looked at his sister with a melancholic expression.

"Balanced nutrition is key to good health," Stacey added, exasperated.

"Don't worry, I take my vitamins regularly. I'm not lacking in nutrition," Charlie waved his hand dismissively, sounding like an old man.

After spending a little more time in Stacey's room, Charlie left. Lynn also took her leave; there was nothing more to do. Stacey was alone.

She took out her script and began to memorize her lines. However, she hadn't been studying long when her phone rang. An unknown number. Stacey was wary of unfamiliar numbers lately, due to Theodore's repeated calls from new ones.

After hesitating, she answered. She and Theodore were divorced; she had no reason to fear him. More importantly, this could be work-related. But when Theodore's voice came through, she instinctively hung up and blocked the number. It wasn't work-related; it was Theodore bothering her.

After ending the call, Stacey felt unsettled. She closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and let it go. It was all in the past. There was no Rebecca Mitchell anymore; she was Stacey Carter. She no longer needed to let Theodore affect her. Soon, another unknown number called. Stacey didn't answer; she simply blocked it.

In Hivalis, Theodore made call after call, only to be hung up on and then blocked. His expression darkened. He realized Rebecca wanted nothing to do with him. Why? Had he hurt her too deeply?

In the middle of the night, Theodore stood by his hotel window, memories flooding his mind. He recalled Rebecca's pain, her breakdowns, and the times he had driven her to despair. He had caused her immense sorrow.

Suddenly, his phone rang. It was Jenny. His brows furrowed in annoyance, but thinking of the ongoing projects with the Smith family, he reluctantly answered.

Back in Aotori City, at the shooting base, after blocking several numbers, Stacey's phone finally went silent. She waited, feeling peace return. Calmed, she picked up her script and resumed memorizing her lines. But after two sentences, her phone rang again.

Irritated, Stacey frowned, picked up her phone, and turned it off. As she pressed the power button, she realized the caller ID seemed familiar—her mother. Her heart raced. She waited for the phone to shut down, then quickly powered it back on.

Chapter 122

After the phone rebooted, she checked the call log. The last call was from her mother. Thinking of her mother, Stacey was delighted. She quickly video called her back.

The call connected, and she was greeted by a baby's face—Lily's.

"Mom," Lily said, holding the phone. Her voice was sweet and joyous.

"Yes, it's Mom," Stacey responded with a smile.

Soon, the phone was in Debra's hands.

"Mom," Stacey smiled and greeted softly.

"Hey," Debra responded happily. "Why did you hang up earlier? I tried calling back but couldn't get through."

Stacey explained, "Theodore called me multiple times from unknown numbers. I didn't want to answer, so I kept hanging up and blocking them. But he had so many numbers and kept calling, so I turned off my phone. I didn't realize it was you."

Hearing that Theodore was still bothering her daughter, Debra's face darkened.

"Becky, don't worry about him. You're divorced now and even got the divorce license. As long as you ignore him, he can do nothing to you," Debra reminded her.

Stacey nodded. "Yes, I know."

Debra added, "I'll ask your father to find a way to create trouble for the Edwards family in business. That should keep them too busy to bother you."

Stacey felt gratitude towards her parents.

"Thank you, Mom. But if doing that doesn't benefit the Carters, don't waste your efforts. It's not worth it," she advised. She wanted her family to thrive, unburdened by the past.

Sensing her daughter's concern, Debra became cheerful. "Don't worry. Your father is smart. He won't do anything that's a waste of effort. If he's going to target the Edwards family, it will be in a way that benefits us. You don't need to worry."

Stacey remembered her family's vast business empire. Maybe her mother was right? Her father had managed the business so well that he surely wouldn't let the Edwards family take advantage of them. Her worries eased. She nodded happily. "Okay."

"Mom," Kev squeezed his head into the frame, joyfully calling out to his mother. He reached out his chubby little hands, trying to grab the screen.

Seeing her baby, Stacey reached out her hand, almost as if she could grasp his soft little hands.

"Becky, how about I bring the kids to the shooting base in a few days?" Debra suggested casually, smiling. "I don't have much to do at home anyway, and the kids really miss you!"

Stacey hesitated. "Wouldn't it be too tiring for you to keep following me around?"

Debra raised an eyebrow. "Why would it be tiring? The places where the crew shoots usually have nice scenery. I can take Lily and Kev along as if we're traveling. Why not?"