Her Precious Baby

Chapter 74

She forced a smile. “Can you bear seeing Angeline with another man? It’s half the battle won if we work together.”

Jacob set down his cutlery and dabbed the corners of his lips. “Sorry to disappoint, but I won’t do anything to harm Angie.”

I have spent many years searching for Angeline, besides doing everything I can to join the film crew to repay her kindness all those years ago.

“Please, Olivine. Have some self-respect,” he said with a heavy emphasis on the final two words while leaning forward, both hands bracing the table before him, to glare at her.

Olivine only regained her composure after Jacob left. I can’t believe I was embarrassed by a kid like that!

It was already too late when she thought of a rebuttal as Jacob had disappeared from her sight.

Evander sent Angeline to her door and drove off after she exited the vehicle.

He had scowled the entire way there without saying a word to her.

Meanwhile, Angeline watched his car disappear with an innocent expression as she puzzled over the cause of his anger.

I am only a humble artist. How would I dare to deduce the CEO’s thoughts? Just as well. I didn’t want to keep waiting in that restaurant, anyway.

As Angeline entered her house, she was determined not to give the matter any more thought after she removed her shoes. Instead, she immersed herself in a scented bath.

Exhausted after spending the entire day on set, she yearned for nothing more than a good night’s sleep.

Over the following fortnight, Angeline directed almost every ounce of her energy on set to shoot The Journey.

Since it was already popular as a novel, the Internet became ablaze with speculation when filming of its adaptation was announced to commence.

However, public opinion on the matter was divided as many thought the cast was too young and inexperienced on screen.

The reviews toward Angeline were even more malicious. They believed that she, who had attained fame via being the subject of tabloid gossip, would not be skilled enough to bring her character, Alleria, to life.

Nevertheless, Angeline did not have the company issue a statement. Instead, she kept her head down and worked hard on set.

The film crew, however, edited a promotional teaser containing only Angeline and uploaded it.

The trailer revealed a scene of her engaged in battle. Clad in a long white skirt adorned with flowers as vividly crimson as splashes of blood, the wind whipped her hair as she brandished a longsword.

Every maneuver was crisp and deadly. Despite the indignity of her predicament, her gaze remained unyielding.

That scene made the vivid portrayal of her character truly shine.

The teaser was Twitter’s most popular clip within just ten minutes of its release and had also gone viral.

The netizens were impressed, to say the least.

One conceded: I apologize for my derogatory remarks against Angeline from before. She is born to play Alleria.

Another gushed: Wow, is that really Angeline? All my expectations of her had been indeed defied. I never knew she was such a talented actress. NôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.

A third wrote: I can’t even. Share this clip, everyone. She’s a perfect match with my crush, Jacob. I can’t choose!

Angeline found the clip while lazing around after shooting the entire day, listlessly browsing Twitter. She wondered if the film crew had intentionally edited the promotional clip to make her and Jacob look like a couple.

The female fans online branded them as a couple and, picturing themselves in her role, indulged in their fantasies.

“Here’s some watermelon juice I blended myself, Angie. The weather has been sweltering.” Jacob appeared at that moment with a cup.

He was still clad in the gray armor of his role, which made his frame look large and imposing. Though solemn in character, his smile was radiant when the cameras stopped rolling.

“Thank you.”

Angeline received the juice and gazed fondly at him as if he was her younger brother. “You should take it easy in this weather, too, instead of exerting yourself to do these things for me.”

Jacob scratched his head and blushed abashedly. “I’m happy doing things for you, Angie. I’m not tired at all.”

“How lucky of you, Angeline!” Nancy’s voice suddenly sounded. She had an appointment to visit Angeline at work that day.

Jacob did not wish to intrude when he saw Nancy arrive, so he excused himself.

“Hey, watch what you say! You’re scaring him,” Angeline exclaimed in exasperation. She twisted open the lid and took a sip of watermelon juice.

Though it was sweet, she ruminated upon the careless nature of men when she bit into several watermelon seeds.

At the thought of Jacob’s generosity, she was not worried about him being bothered by the comments on the Internet as she was not planning on clarifying matters.

Why shouldn’t I fan the flames of my popularity?

After a brief rest, Angeline returned to the set, script in hand, and saw a woman approaching her.

Denise!

Angeline looked up from the script upon seeing the woman and snickered inwardly.

What a small world!

Denise was dressed in a brightly-colored outfit of antiquity which accentuated her beauty. At that moment, she was strutting toward Angeline.

“Long time no see, Ms. Sorelle,” she greeted merrily after a glance at the crowd around them.

It was not until she reached Angeline’s side and inched closer to her ear that she employed her vicious provocations.

“You godd*mn vixen, Angeline. How many of them did you have to spend the night with to have earned this role? Do you think you deserve it?”

Angeline chuckled at those words.

Amused by Denise’s jealous scowl, she replied lazily, “You flatter me, Ms. Campbell.”

Then, she reached into the side pocket of Denise’s robe and swiftly extracted a recording pen.

“What is the meaning of this?” Angeline raised the device without a trace of surprise in her eyes.

“H-How did you know?” Denise demanded incoherently in her shock.

Angeline’s gaze turned grim; she had suspected it the moment Denise pushed open the door.

Who would pick a fight immediately upon arrival? Good thing I discovered it in time, or our recorded conversation would be exposed the following day, and the relentless reporters would have something to write about if I said something wrong.

Angeline dropped the recording device at that thought, and it cracked beneath the impact of her heel. Her tone conveyed undisguised contempt.

“You are indeed Joseline’s bosom friend, Ms. Campbell. You learned her trick exactly as she would have done.”

“Shut your mouth!” Flushed red with anger, Denise stomped her feet.

Without another word, Angeline gave her one last disdainful glance before departing.

Nancy caught up not long after and gaped in surprise at the defeated figure of Denise behind them.

“What did you say to her, Angeline?”

“Nothing.”

“Forget it. I’m here to remind you that the company cast Denise as Belladonna, which is a minor role, and she shares many scenes with you. Be on your guard.”