Elizabeth’s eyes sought Elijah’s, searching for his confirmation of the situation.With a face taut with tension, Elijah fixated on Sandra, entirely oblivious to Elva’s harsh accusations.
Elizabeth, utterly overlooked by him, felt the sting of neglect as keenly as a dagger twisting deep within her chest, sending ripples of anguish and a frigid chill coursing through her.
With a faint, self-deprecating smile, Elizabeth cast her gaze downward.
Indeed, she reflected silently, expecting anything different from him was nothing short of folly.
She opened her mouth to voice her thoughts.
Before she could utter a syllable, Sandra, her complexion deathly pale, interjected anxiously, “Elijah, I’m really not feeling well. Is the ambulance on its way yet?”
Her fingers clung to Elijah’s sleeve with desperate gentleness as she spoke.
This plea seemed to jolt Elijah from his distant thoughts. He turned firmly to the director, his tone resolute and authoritative. “Double the investment. The James Corporation will ensure every Parisian scene from the novel is faithfully realized. Sandra is the only one fit to play this role.”
The original narrative had the characters traversing Paris, weaving their story around the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the splendor of Versailles. Budget constraints had initially shifted the setting to a less illustrious locale near Orkset.
Though Elizabeth surpassed Sandra in skill, Sandra’s star power, bolstered by the promise of increased funding, tipped the scales yet again.
The director cast Elizabeth a remorseful look, and, bypassing any consultation, declared, “Very well, Sandra will assume the lead role.”
Elizabeth, momentarily frozen by the announcement, let a sardonic smile flicker across her lips.
She bore no resentment toward the director’s choice. After all, in the ruthless realm of commerce, profit always reigned supreme—no one would sacrifice significant advantages for a mere acquaintance.
From the moment of his arrival, Elijah had been there not for her but to safeguard Sandra.
Was there any chance at all that someone would take a stand for Elizabeth?
Not wanting to dwell on it, she gestured for Ruby to bring the car around and trudged toward the exit.
