When Chloe got the message from Kendall, she was still fuming from being scolded by Alan. Ever since she came home, Alan had pinned huge hopes on her. Right out of the gate, he appointed her executive president of the company.
Previously, Esther had only been a finance clerk—officially “starting from the bottom” since she wasn’t a biological daughter. Of course, the company’s key roles wouldn’t go to her. Even if Chloe never came back, he still had a son, so the family fortune was never meant for her.
But when Chloe returned, Alan felt like heaven was smiling on him—two kids, a boy and a girl. He immediately handed her the executive president title, planning to retire soon and pass the chairman role to his son. That way, the family wealth would all stay “in-house.”
Since his son was young and clueless, the real responsibility fell on his daughter. The moment Chloe took office, Alan entrusted her with the huge task of negotiating financing—trusting his own flesh
Alan feared she wouldn’t cooperate, so he didn’t give Esther what she asked for immediately. Instead, only after they entered the Westvale family’s estate did he hand her a key—one for a bank deposit box where her mother’s belongings were kept.Esther didn’t ask why she was only receiving it now; she knew some answers aren’t found by asking.The Westvale family’s old mansion.The servants came and went with strict solemnity. Seeing this, Alan straightened his back and glanced at his own daughter Chloe.“It looks like the Westvale family still values our visit. Watch your manners, don’t say anything reckless. Remember, you’re a lady, not a shrew!”“I know, Dad!”Having already lost face because of her uncontrollable temper around Esther, this was Chloe’s golden chance to turn things around. She had to behave well and change her fate.Alan thought the Westvale family would be fully present, but to his surprise, only the matriarch was in
Inside the car, Zoe hugged the phone, pouting as she complained to Evander, “Then Daddy, hurry up and marry Auntie so I don’t have to keep bothering her, okay?”Evander hummed in response, unsure how to answer his precious daughter. After a while—the car had been driving for some time—he said, “Alright, but you’re not allowed to cause trouble during this time!”“Okay!”Seeing that Daddy had agreed to pursue Auntie, little Zoe quickly agreed, “I’ll give you half a month!”Evander: “...”Why not just say one day?!As soon as Esther got home, Élodie’s call came through. “You leave right away?”“So what?” Esther gripped the steering wheel, eyes on the road, “I’ll find you again when I have time, maybe to slap you once more!”“Esther!!!”Hearing that, Élodie instantly exploded in anger, “You bitch, how dare you bully me! My brother won’t let you off! My boyfriend’s coming back soon—just wait! That slap? He’ll repay you t
Esther gave the kid a look, half amused, half exasperated. “Come on, tell me—why are you playing the victim?”“Because I don’t have a Mommy!”The little girl’s voice was soft and sweet. Her big, bright eyes blinked shyly, and her long lashes fluttered almost brushing her nose like she was afraid Esther might get mad. Then, her head dropped and the hands around Esther’s neck slowly loosened.“I’m sorry, Auntie. Did I make you dislike me?”Then she struggled and slid out of Esther’s arms. “I won’t make your life harder. I just want to help you…”The simple words I don’t have a Mommy pierced Esther’s heart. What had started as annoyance at the kid’s little con softened instantly. She bent down and knelt before the girl. Reviewing the conversation with Mathieu, everything clicked.“You want to help me get that lead female role, don’t you?”Mathieu had first picked her. The little girl was just a bonus, but only if that face got f
As soon as he spoke, the whole room stirred.Did he just openly say he liked Esther’s name? Wait—could he actually be interested in that ugly girl?This man was a global icon. In the entire capital, only Evander’s circle could rival his. With so many gorgeous women standing around, how could he be interested in the least attractive one?Élodie dug her nails so hard into her palm that they nearly pierced her skin.“Get away!”Zoe, whose head had just been pushed aside, snapped it right back into place like a fighter jet locking onto a target. She firmly blocked Roger and Esther’s line of sight, her wide black-and-white eyes full of fury. She puffed up fiercely like an angry kitten. “One more creepy move and I’m calling the cops!”Roger: “…”So young… Cough, no need to stoop to a kid’s level.“Why call the police over this?”For some reason, Roger actually felt like bantering a bit with
The crowd of stunned women snapped out of their daze.“Sabine,” he barked, “explain. Now.”“That woman—” Sabine pointed dramatically at Esther. “She came out of nowhere, claiming she’s here to audition for the female lead. Élodie told her her face wasn’t suitable and then… things just got out of hand.”She plastered on an innocent look, playing the part of the reasonable friend. “You know how women can get when they argue—things get nasty real fast.”“You want to audition for the lead role?”Mathieu walked up to Esther, narrowing his eyes and giving her a once-over, hand resting thoughtfully on his chin. Just as Esther instinctively reached into her bag to pull out proof, he tilted his head and said, “Actually… she might work.”Esther: “…”“Mr. Laurent—!”Élodie’s voice spiked an octave. Relying on her identity as the wealthy Mills family heiress and her personal acquaintance with Mathieu, she immediately protested. “Look
Originally, everyone had been reading their scripts or spying on the competition. After all, there were only so many roles to go around, but a whole pack of wolves vying for them. Before fighting for the meat, they had to tear each other apart first—any less competition was good competition. So when Élodie shouted like that, everyone’s firepower instantly turned toward Esther.“What’s up with that face? Got beaten up for being a homewrecker, huh?”“This clown-faced thing dares to compete with us for the lead role? Isn’t she just wasting the director’s time?”“Someone call security and get her out of here already…”“Throwing her out isn’t enough!”The jeering hadn’t even faded when Sabine snapped, “What is this, some amateur street play? No audition invite, yet you sneak in like you’re owed something. These days, every girl thinks she can be a star—cling to someone famous, ambush the director in the bathroom, and boom, she lands the role. How’s that