Playing The Victim

Jason glanced at her, lowering his voice.

“You know they’re still talking, right? The scandal isn’t going away.”

Isabella adjusted her sleeve calmly.

“Who said I want it to go away?”

Jason blinked.

“…What?”

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes drifting toward where Vivienne stood.

“If they’re going to watch me,” she said softly,

“then I might as well give them something worth watching.”

His gaze followed hers.

Vivienne.

Coincidentally, most of Isabella’s scenes were ones where she acted as Vivienne’s adversary.

Jason left her side, and Isabella moved to the shade of a tree, flipping through her script. A sarcastic voice suddenly drifted into her ears.

“Yo, isn’t this our big star? Miss Isabella Hartley, you’ve really become famous. Everyone knows your name now!” Vivienne sneered. “And they know all the scandalous things you’ve done too! You’re so shameless—you actually have the guts to come back on set after creating a situation like this!”

She gloated openly at Isabella’s misfortune.

As long as Isabella was forced out of the production, she would be able to take her place and act with Jace.

Isabella bit her lip, her body trembling slightly as she remained silent, wearing a pitiful expression.

Vivienne grew even more pleased at the sight. She stepped closer to Jason and spoke coyly,

“Jace, you should stay away from people like her! Otherwise, she’ll ruin your reputation! You’ve already started losing fans because of her!”

As Vivienne approached, a strong wave of perfume hit the air. Veins bulged faintly on Jason’s forehead. He wanted to snap right then and there, but remembering Isabella’s warning, he forced himself to take a deep breath and endure it.

Seeing that Jason ignored her, Vivienne assumed his mood had been affected by the scandal. She continued gently,

“Jason, don’t worry. The production team will give in to the pressure and replace Isabella sooner or later.”

“You’re so noisy.”

Jason had to exhaust every ounce of self-control just to hold back his curses and spit out those three words.

“I’m sorry… I won’t disturb your rest anymore,” she said, looking wronged as she stepped away.

Though unhappy with his cold treatment, she quickly recovered. After all, once she became the second female lead, she would have plenty of chances to get close to him.

Thinking about those intimate scenes made her heart race with excitement.

Still…

Why was the director asking her to continue filming with Isabella? What a waste of time!

That said, she quite liked today’s scenes.

One of them involved slapping Isabella across the face.

Hmph. When the time came, she would make sure Isabella was thoroughly humiliated.

“Director,” Vivienne spoke up, unusually proactive, “I think this scene would look more realistic if I actually slap her. What do you think?”

Phil knew exactly what she was thinking. His expression turned serious.

“The key is camera angles. At most, just make light contact.”

“Got it,” she replied obediently.

But she had no intention of listening.

She had already decided—she would slap her for real. More than once, if possible.

It wouldn’t be the first time she had taken revenge during filming. And every time before, she had succeeded.

Once everyone finished preparing, filming began.

In this scene, Natalie had just entered the palace under the alias Nyla Wuthers. She was only a low-ranking palace maid, but after catching the Emperor’s attention, Concubine Katherine became jealous and summoned her to teach her a lesson.

“Shameless slut, you dare seduce the Emperor right under my nose?”

With that, she raised her hand and struck.

The moment Vivienne moved, Isabella’s eyes narrowed.

She tilted slightly, cleverly evading the direct angle of the camera and dodging the slap entirely.

But outwardly—

She looked like she had taken the hit full force.

Her body was thrown violently to the ground. Then she turned her head and spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Bella!!!”

Director Phil shot to his feet in shock. The rest of the crew rushed over immediately.

“Vivienne, is this your first day filming? You can’t even control your strength?” Phil snapped, his temper finally breaking.

He usually stayed calm—but this crossed the line.

He couldn’t interfere in off-set matters, but he would never tolerate something like this during filming.

“I—” Vivienne panicked. “I only slapped her lightly! I barely used any force! She’s acting!”

But with her terrible reputation and obvious hostility toward Isabella…

No one believed her.

“Director, I’m fine,” Isabella said softly. “It’s just a cut inside my mouth. Ice will fix it.”

She lowered her gaze slightly.

“Miss Kade probably just wanted the scene to feel more real. Please don’t be angry…”

Her expression was gentle, restrained—like someone swallowing injustice without complaint.

It was devastatingly effective.

Even the crew felt sympathy.

Jason, watching from the side, twitched.

This woman… really knew how to act like an innocent flower.

Vivienne stared at her, fury exploding.

“Isabella, stop pretending! You did that on purpose! You bit yourself! Did you hide blood capsules in your mouth?!”

“Miss Kade, that’s enough!” the director snapped sharply.

Her assistant quickly rushed forward, pulling her back.

“Miss Kade, please let it go! Don’t anger the director further—we’re already in the wrong here…”

Vivienne turned and slapped her.

“Stupid low-life! When has it ever been your place to talk?!”

The assistant fell to the ground, blood appearing at the corner of her lips.

Gasps spread through the crew.

Several people rushed forward to help her up. The looks directed at Vivienne were filled with disgust.

Yes, Isabella might have a messy reputation—

But she had never dragged others into her mess.

She was professional. Respectful.

Vivienne?

A complete shrew.

It was the first time Vivienne had been falsely accused—and completely disbelieved.

Her face flushed red with rage, her body trembling as if she might explode.

Just as she was about to lose control and attack Isabella outright—

Someone grabbed her wrist.

“Vivienne,” Vanessa said calmly, “I know you wanted to impress the director, but you didn’t have to go this far. People who understand will call it dedication… but what about everyone else?”

Vivienne turned as if seeing salvation.

“Nessa! This bitch is trying to frame me!”

Vanessa quickly pulled her aside, lowering her voice.

“Why couldn’t you hold back a little longer? Isabella will be removed sooner or later—why cause trouble now?”

Vivienne clenched her fists.

“I didn’t even touch her! She dodged it and still acted like I hit her hard enough to make her spit blood!”

Vanessa glanced toward Isabella—now being comforted by the director, her expression calm and forgiving.

She understood immediately.

Then quickly said,

“Vivienne, it doesn’t matter if I believe you. The problem is—no one else does. Even if you explain, it won’t change anything.”

She leaned closer.

“The best way out right now… is to apologize.”

Vivienne exploded.

“What?! Apologize to her?! No way!”

She shook her head violently.

“Nessa, how can you take her side and speak for her?!”