Red roses and Exes

It was the first day of filming at the studios on the outskirts of the capital.

The first scene was a gala dinner at a prestigious cultural center, where Ambassador Bertram and several foreign delegates were being welcomed. Prince Harry Berstmoth and his partner, Glinda Clifford, were expected to navigate the evening’s delicate conversations with charm and sharp wit, representing their family with poise.

As the actress playing Devan, Isabella’s role wasn’t as demanding. She wasn’t required to speak or negotiate. Her job was simple: captivate, command attention, and make every eye in the room follow her subtle gestures.

Even so, the outfit she had to wear tested her endurance. Layers of designer fabric clung to her in all the wrong ways, and the ornate jewelry draped across her shoulders and hair felt like a few extra kilograms pressing her down. High heels that were more weapon than footwear forced her to balance carefully with every step.

Yet the moment Isabella stepped onto the set, every discomfort faded under the thrill of the performance.

A slow smile curved her lips as her gaze swept across the room like a predator assessing its prey.

Heads turned without her asking.

Conversations stuttered when she passed by.

Even Prince Harry gave her a discreet, impressed glance.

“Cut!”

As soon as the director shouted, Vanessa’s two assistants rushed forward eagerly to attend to her. One fanned her while the other handed her water. A chair with a cooling mat had already been prepared.

Not a single assistant stood by Isabella’s side.

After filming, she couldn’t even get a sip of water. Since she still had scenes left to shoot, she couldn’t remove the costume either and could only loosen her collar slightly to breathe.

Everyone surrounded Vanessa, praising her performance.

The director offered a few compliments as well. But when he turned back to the monitor, he kept replaying several shots where Isabella had appeared.

Although she had no lines and the camera had only focused on her a few times, her expression was simply too perfect.

She looked alluring and languid even while bored stiff. Beneath the elegance was a faint trace of contempt for everyone around her—as if she was already planning to destroy the entire kingdom with her own hands.

Good.

Now he could finally rest easy.

At that moment, the set errand boy Dan shouted excitedly,

“Miss Vanessa! Your boyfriend is here to visit you!”

Gabriel walked over in casual clothes that somehow still looked refined. Two attendants followed behind him carrying a large box, distributing ice cream to everyone.

“Wow! It’s Haagen-Dazs! Thanks for treating us, Mr. Rowes!”

“Miss Hartley is so lucky. It’s only the first day of filming and her boyfriend already came to visit!”

“God! What about us single dogs?”

“Geez, even giving you something to eat won’t keep you quiet!” Vanessa protested coquettishly before bringing a box of ice cream to Isabella.

“Baby sis, you should eat too.”

“Thanks,” Bella replied politely.

Vanessa always behaved like an angel in front of others—especially in front of Gabriel.

Even if Vanessa wasn’t tired of acting, Bella was already sick of watching the performance.

Fortunately, acting was literally Bella’s profession. Playing along was easy.

After returning to her seat, Vanessa glanced at Gabriel as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Finally she spoke.

“Babe… I’m a little worried about Bella…”

“Hm? What happened to her?” Gabriel asked immediately.

“It was the opening party last night. My dad came, and he met Bella. I’m not sure what she said to him, but he got furious and wanted to remove her from the role…”

“How did that happen?” Gabriel frowned.

“I don’t know either. By the time I arrived, Dad was already furious.”

“What happened afterward? She doesn’t look like she’s been replaced.”

He glanced toward Bella.

She was sitting under the blazing sun, reading her script seriously while sweat trickled down her temples. She looked slightly miserable, but under the sunlight her face was dazzling.

Vanessa continued hesitantly.

“Dad called the production team last night and they agreed to replace her. But this morning someone anonymously invested fifty million into the movie. Their only condition was that Bella remain the supporting female lead.”

She lowered her voice.

“I’m afraid she… you know…”

Gabriel’s expression darkened as he listened.

Finally he said quietly,

“I know Bella. She would never do something like that.”

“Gabe, you’re too naive. What kind of place is the entertainment industry? Who doesn’t change after entering it?”

She sighed softly.

“I’m lucky because I have Daddy and you supporting me. But Bella has such a bad relationship with our family and refuses our help. Don’t you know what can happen to a beautiful girl with no power or backing?”

“Isabella! Someone’s looking for you!”

Dan’s voice rang out again, this time sounding strangely excited.

Everyone immediately turned.

It was impossible not to notice.

Red roses.

An entire sea of red roses was slowly being carried onto the set.

A card sat on top.

“Remember to come pick me up at the airport ~ darkknight24.”

“Miss, please sign the receipt.”

Sign your ass!

“Please take them back. They’ll affect everyone’s work piled up here,” Isabella said, forcing a polite tone.

“We can’t. Our customer told us we can only leave after watching you sign.”

Just then the prop director rushed over.

“Bella, just accept them! Coincidentally we need roses for a scene later. This saves us the trouble of preparing them!”

Since he had said so, Bella sighed and rubbed her temples before signing.

Immediately whispers spread across the set.

“My god, that’s so many roses!”

“So romantic! Who sent them?”

“Do you even need to ask? A suitor obviously!”

“Beautiful women really live differently. Someone sent flowers on the first day of filming!”

Vanessa’s assistant Carol scoffed.

“There are a lot, but they’re not actually expensive.”

Just as she finished speaking, someone else approached Isabella.

This time it wasn’t as dramatic.

A small box.

Everyone craned their necks to watch.

Bella opened it.

Inside was a huge sparkling diamond.

A note read:

“Long time no see, darling.”

Signed:

NS

Bella’s expression darkened instantly.

Were these bastards working together?

She was trying to keep a low profile. Why was it so difficult?

Within minutes she had received roses and now diamonds.

The set erupted again.

“Oh my god that diamond is huge!”

“My eyes are going blind!”

“Her suitors are insane!”

Carol could only mutter bitterly,

“Who knows if it’s even real.”

Meanwhile Bella slumped into a chair like her soul had left her body.

Whatever was coming… would come eventually.

She couldn’t even hide.

After calming herself, she approached the director.

“Sorry, Director Phil. I’ve caused trouble for the crew.”

Phil waved it off with a laugh.

“It’s natural to have suitors when you’re that beautiful! No need to apologize! We even got free roses!”

Across the set Vanessa kept smiling politely.

But her teeth were grinding.

How could she not be jealous?

That village girl who once smelled like dirt could now make men lose their minds with extravagant gifts—while she had to struggle for everything she had.

During a short break before the next scene, Bella slipped into a corner and dialed a number.

“Hello? Did you receive my present, darling?” a lazy voice answered.

“Jason!!!! Fuck you!! Are you crazy?!!!” she hissed.

“Tsk tsk… you’re welcome. I know you loved it.”

“What do you want?”

“Nothing. Just reminding you to pick me up at the airport. You promised.”

“You still dare ask me to pick you up? Aren’t you afraid I’ll bring a forty-meter knife and chop you to death, you bastard?”

“So you’re going back on your word?”

“The condition was you lending me eight million. But I don’t need it anymore. I even texted you!”

“I don’t care. You promised. Even though it was such a huge amount, I agreed immediately. Doesn’t that still count as a favor?”

Bella paced angrily.

“The news of your return is already leaked! The airport will be flooded with media and fans! You want me to pick you up so I can be torn apart? Jason, I only dumped you once! It’s not worth this!”

“This is a free chance for you to become famous.”

“I. Don’t. Need. It.”

“Fine! If you won’t come I’ll tell the whole world you dumped me!”

Bella nearly exploded.

The stupidest decision of her life had been provoking Jason Cardwell.

After a moment she suddenly smiled.

“Fine. You want me to pick you up? I’ll come.”

Jason laughed.

Actually dealing with Jason wasn’t hard. He was just petty about being dumped.

The real headache was the animal who sent the diamond.

“Isabella! Someone’s looking—”

Bella nearly jumped when she heard Dan’s voice again.

Who now?!

Will this never end?!

A shy girl approached nervously.

“Miss… hello…”

Bella softened instantly.

“It’s okay. What is it?”

“I’m here to deliver something.”

She opened a small thermos box.

Cool mist drifted out, revealing three bottles.

Watermelon juice.

Orange juice.

Green bean soup.

“My young master made these himself,” the girl said.

Bella frowned slightly.

“Who’s your young master?”

“Please read the note.”

Bella unfolded it.

Good luck Auntie — from Little Bun, Saviee ♥

Her expression softened immediately.

“So it’s Little Bun…”

The chaos in her heart finally settled.

Why should she care about the opinions of strangers who didn’t care about her?

If she kept worrying about everyone’s judgment in this industry, she’d die from exhaustion.

Once, she had cared too much about the upper-class socialites who looked down on her.

She cared too much about her biological parents’ approval.

And she cared too much about Gabriel’s opinion.

Slowly she had lost herself.

But not anymore.

She only needed to be herself.

Keep a clear conscience.

One day she would prove herself with her own strength.

She wasn’t fighting for the world.

Only for the people who truly cared about her.