Chapter 1185

As dawn approached, the director called a wrap. He instructed everyone to take a break; more filming was scheduled for the afternoon.

The crew began tidying up, but Natalie lingered. She joined Andrea and Hayden, deciding to help clean before heading home to rest. While wiping down a table, she sensed someone nearby.

Without looking up, she assumed it was Andrea or Hayden. "Once you're done cleaning, you can head home," she said. "I'll reimburse your cab fare."

The person remained motionless. Curiosity piqued, she looked up. Her heart leaped—Austin Powell stood before her. "Mr. Powell? You're still here?"

A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. "Don't you have any questions for me?"

Channeling her inner fan, Natalie blurted, "Uh, are you planning a comeback? Aren't you going back to inherit the family business?"

She hoped to see her idol in new projects. Their dedication inspired a sense of shared accomplishment in their fans.

Austin's gaze remained unreadable. Natalie's heart raced under his scrutiny, making her uncomfortable. She swallowed hard. "Um, you don't have to answer if you don't want to, Mr. Powell."

Andrea and Hayden, having finished cleaning, approached timidly. Hayden exclaimed, "Mr. Powell, I admire you! I've seen all your work! We're all fans! Can we have a picture?"

Their excitement was palpable, especially realizing the café's male lead was Austin. This job, they felt, was truly worthwhile.

After a thoughtful glance at Natalie, Austin agreed. Following a quick photo, Andrea and Hayden left, but Austin remained.

Natalie, unsure of his intentions, awkwardly continued wiping the table. "Do you not have anything else you want to say to me?" Austin asked.

Setting down the cloth, Natalie met his gaze. "Mr. Powell, welcome back! I'm so happy to see you again. I haven't been to the cinema in three years because I couldn't get into any films other than yours. Now that you're back, I finally have something to look forward to."

A smirk played on his lips. "As long as my return makes you happy, that's all that matters."

Natalie blinked, surprised. Something about his words felt off. "Wait a minute. What did he mean by 'as long as my return makes you happy'?"

Before she could ponder this, Austin turned and left. Natalie stood dazed. After a long pause, she shook her head. "What was I thinking? I need to get home and get some sleep."

At Galaxy Villa, Skylar, having slept only five hours the previous night, awoke at dawn. After breakfast, she checked the time and called Aiken. "Can you help me find someone?"