Elizabeth's eyes sought Elijah's, searching for confirmation. His face taut with tension, Elijah remained fixated on Sandra, oblivious to Elva's harsh accusations. Overlooked, Elizabeth felt a sharp pang of neglect, a frigid chill spreading through her.

With a faint, self-deprecating smile, she lowered her gaze. Expecting anything different from him, she reflected, was folly.

She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a syllable, Sandra, deathly pale, interjected anxiously, "Elijah, I'm really not feeling well. Is the ambulance on its way yet?" Her fingers clung to his sleeve with desperate gentleness.

This plea jolted Elijah from his reverie. He turned to the director, his tone resolute. "Double the investment," he declared. "The James Corporation will ensure every Parisian scene from the novel is faithfully realized. Sandra is the only one fit to play this role."

The original narrative had placed the characters in Paris, weaving their story around the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Versailles. Budget constraints had initially shifted the setting to a less glamorous location near Orkset. Despite Elizabeth's superior skill, Sandra's star power, bolstered by the promise of increased funding, swayed the decision.

The director cast Elizabeth a remorseful glance and, without further consultation, declared, "Very well, Sandra will assume the lead role."

A sardonic smile flickered across Elizabeth's lips. She felt no resentment; in the ruthless world of commerce, profit reigned supreme. No one would sacrifice significant advantages for a mere acquaintance.

From his arrival, Elijah had been there for Sandra, not for her. Was there any hope of anyone taking a stand for Elizabeth? Dismissing the thought, she gestured for Ruby to bring the car and trudged toward the exit.