Semua Bab The Ugly Duckling: Rise of the Forsaken Wife: Bab 71 - Bab 80

“My cousin was only recently found,” Sophia began softly, her tone laced with concern. “Grandpa must be feeling guilty about it, so he’s been supporting whatever she wants. She said she wanted to become an actress and join the academy, and of course, Grandpa showed his full support.”Sophia sighed as if in worry. “But I’m not sure if she can actually get in. The academy’s standards are really high. If she doesn’t make it, Grandpa might be disappointed—I am worried he might get sick over this. His health isn’t good to begin with. Besides, the family asked me to take care of her, but I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do if she fails.”Her words immediately stirred unease among the seniors. They hadn’t even met Danice yet, but just from Sophia’s lament, irritation already bloomed in their hearts.“The Roan family has already done enough to help her audition. If she can’t pass, that’s on her lack of skill,” one senior muttered.“Exactly. Even if you’re part of the council, it’s not li

"So you were missing for seventeen years and were just found?" Aldrin asked.Danice: "...." This was the third time he had asked.Regina reached out for her drink and took a frustrated sip. "Do you have something in your ears? She already told you twice."Aldrin, clearly still in shock, replied, "This is the first time I’ve encountered someone with such a melodramatic past. A young miss from a prominent family, lost for seventeen years. When everyone gave up and thought she was dead… she had been found."Shaun, not making a fuss about her “melodramatic past,” was more curious about the sack beside her. "What’s in your bag?""This?" Danice knocked on the hard surface of the sack, producing a crisp thud-thud. "These are my props for my audition.""That’s a big prop," Regina said, placing a bottle of water in front of her. "Most props are usually this size. I think you’re the only one who brought something this big."Aldrin, finally setting aside his shock, grew curious about the sack as

"I will give you three minutes to read and absorb the script. After the time is up, you four will perform the scene."She turned off her mic, and the timer started running at the top-right corner of the screen.Danice read the script on the monitor. There were four dialogues—one for each of them.It was a funeral scene.[1: Mother, why did you leave us so early? I haven’t repaid you for all the things you did for me and my siblings.2: Brother, you should let go. They will bury Mother now.3: It’s only the four of us now. We only have each other.4: What will I do without you, Mom?]It was just four lines, under the title Funeral Scene. Each line was only one or two sentences, with no further instructions. The four of them were not allowed to speak to each other during the five minutes—they had to act solely according to the scene they imagined.Danice looked at number 4. Seven words. Easy to memorize. Yet within those few words, she had to show her best acting, convey her emotions, c

When Aldrin finished his performance, the panelists gave him a round of applause. Their comments were filled with praise, and their positive tone made it clear that Aldrin’s slot was secured.Next was Regina. She performed a melodramatic scene, pouring a bottle of water over herself as she displayed raw, intense emotion—the kind she couldn’t show earlier because of Aldrin’s dominant performance. Like him, she received glowing remarks from the panelists.Even the strict Director Choi gave her a few words of praise. Regina returned to the waiting couch; though she maintained her composed demeanor, a hint of satisfaction showed in her eyes.Shaun, on the other hand, pulled out a prop gun and acted out an action scene. Despite performing alone, he conveyed the tension and intensity he aimed for perfectly. Mrs. Lorraine was full of admiration for his creativity and execution.All three performances were met with enthusiasm, and it was clear the panelists loved them. Danice was sincerely ha

When the four of them came out of the audition room, Aldrin threw an arm around Danice’s shoulders. “Hey, don’t be disappointed,” he said gently. “The school hasn’t completely rejected you yet. Being on the waiting list isn’t necessarily a bad thing.” Regina wanted to argue—everyone knew that being on the waiting list was just a polite way of giving false hope. But seeing Danice’s face, she couldn’t bring herself to say it. She pressed her lips together and stayed quiet. Shaun patted Danice on the back. “I heard that if you’re on the waiting list, you can still join next semester. There are inter-school competitions. If you manage to win one of the finalist spots, you’ll get admitted without having to go through another evaluation.” Danice’s eyes brightened. “Really? I didn’t know that!” Aldrin grinned. “That’s true. But that’s a secret method—only people with big connections like me and Shaun know about it. If you are still willing, I'll grab a spot for you.” He winked playfull