LOGIN"Sincere?"Harriett let out a sharp, mocking laugh, her face full of disdain. "She's just trying to butter you up. Who knows what she's secretly plotting? Otherwise, why would she suddenly call her son back for no reason?"Benedict let out a long, tired sigh. His eyes were rimmed with exhaustion, and his voice dropped. "Your stepmother has a terminal illness. She doesn't have much time left."The living room fell silent in an instant.Benedict looked toward the stairs, his voice hoarse. "When Isaac's father died, Isaac was still young. She left the Shore family and married me. All these years, she has barely fulfilled the role of a mother. She knows that Isaac resents her. She just wants to make peace before she's gone. What's so wrong with that?"Harriett had nothing to say.I sat there, taking it all in, and felt my heart sink with a mix of emotions.After speaking about Diana, Benedict turned to Harriett, disappointment etched into his expression. "I haven't even gotten to yo
Timothy adjusted his composure almost instantly. Without so much as a twitch in his expression, he greeted Issac calmly. "Uncle Isaac."Isaac responded with a quiet hum, his gaze drifting toward me.I forced myself to speak. "Hello, Isaac."Benedict couldn't have been happier. "Come, come, everyone sit!" he urged warmly.Throughout dinner, he worked hard to keep the conversation flowing and lighten the atmosphere, but there was still something subtly off about the table.Benedict treated Isaac with an almost excessive fondness, constantly checking on him and offering him food, the corners of his eyes softening with a genuine smile that never once faded."Isaac, have some more. Your mother told me that this has always been your favorite."His voice held an unmistakable note of affection. "Back then, when she married me, I wanted her to bring you over, too. But she kept saying that you were still young and the Shores couldn't bear to let you go. So, I'm thrilled that you're here t
By evening, the driver was already waiting downstairs. Timothy, Daphne, and I headed to Benedict's home together.Even in the car, Timothy wouldn't let me sit with Daphne. He had me in the front passenger seat, while he sat in the back with her.When we arrived at the Green residence, Harriett's car pulled in just behind ours. She saw me get out of Timothy's car and immediately frowned. "Timothy, why did you bring her?"Before he could answer, she turned to me with open contempt. "You really are shameless. Timothy's about to divorce you, and you still have the nerve to show up at our family dinner?"I drew a long breath and turned to leave. I had come mainly for Daphne. But after a few days by Yasmin's side, Daphne had gone right back to treating me like an enemy.Just as I turned away, Timothy caught my wrist. "Granddad invited her. He specifically asked that she come."Harriett pouted and muttered under her breath, "He's getting old. He must be going blind."Then she took Daph
"Alright, Tim. I'll head back," Yasmin said softly, still sounding like she'd just cried. Her steps were slow and reluctant as she made her way toward the door.Timothy suddenly remembered something and called out, "By the way, bring Daphne tomorrow. My granddad's been saying he wants to see her."The granddad he was referring to was Harriett's father, Benedict Green. He had lived abroad for years and had only returned to Seavale two months ago."Are we going to your granddad's tomorrow?" Yasmin immediately responded, her voice laced with excitement. "But my face… How can I show up like this?""Granddad only asked for Daphne," Timothy replied, his voice completely even.Yasmin's smile froze. She didn't know what to do with her hands for a moment.Timothy didn't say anything more. He merely urged, "Go back. It's late."As she turned to leave, she threw me another glare, nearly spilling over with hatred.I had originally thought Benedict's request to see Daphne had nothing to do
Through her tears, Yasmin complained, "Tim, they went way too far. Amy did it on purpose. I used to get all the top luxury endorsements, and she's been jealous this whole time. Now that she finally has a chance, she joins forces with Mr. Gallagher just to humiliate me."Timothy's expression darkened. Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone and called Jason. "Find out who invested in that show. Once you know, offer ten times the price to buy it out. The female lead must be Yasmin."My heart clenched at his words. I knew the other side was a major media company, but no one ever complained about having too much money. If they really agreed to transfer the project to Grant Corporation, Timothy might see the contracts—and the contracts had my real name on them.I wasn't afraid of him knowing that I was the screenwriter. I just couldn't stand the idea of someone like Yasmin starring in my work. The thought alone made my skin crawl.Before long, Jason came to the ward with a folder in
Yasmin and her agent clearly knew what the scene implied and tried to get it changed, but I had the staff deliver the message."Ms. Beech, you're already being publicly condemned and are considered a problematic public figure. We're making an exception by allowing you to audition. If you continue to nitpick, we won't use you at all."To regain her popularity, Yasmin could only agree. She had no idea that I never intended to give her any role in my novel adaptation.Before the audition, the monitor showed Yasmin whispering to Amy, "Remember to fake the slap later."Amy gave a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'll try my best."Once the director, Steven Gallagher, called action, Amy didn't hold back in the slightest. She grabbed Yasmin by the collar and slapped her hard across the face, then kept going with the same force, each strike crisp and real.Yasmin's crying and shrieking wasn't an act. It was pure instinct. I leaned back in my chair, quietly watching every second o







