Stella appeared calm and compliant on the surface, but deep down, her heart was burdened with a suffocating sorrow.
If she truly always got her way, she wouldn’t be here now—bound to Weston like a prisoner, her freedom nothing more than an illusion.
Weston hadn’t given her explicit permission to act in the movie, but his behavior last night told her enough. He might not have said the words, but his actions had granted her silent approval—at least for now.
The next morning, Stella woke up early and sent Weston off to work, just as she always did. The moment he was gone, she rushed to the film set.
Because her absence had delayed the shooting schedule yesterday, Bradley Lane didn’t greet her with much patience.
“You asked for leave on your very first day?” he said coldly, eyes narrowed. “That’s pretty bold of you.”
“I’m so sorry,” Stella apologized at once, bowing low in genuine remorse. “Something unexpected came up. I couldn’t make it yesterday, and I truly regret it. I’ll do everything I can to catch up from now on.”
Bradley could see that she wasn’t pretending. Her sincerity softened his stance. He waved her off without another scolding.
“The acting coach is over there,” he said. “Go rehearse with him. Once you’ve memorized most of your lines, come back to me and I’ll walk you through the blocking.”
“I’ve already memorized all my lines,” Stella replied quickly.
Bradley raised an eyebrow.
“Well, looks like you came prepared,” he said, a touch of approval in his voice.
“I already wasted time yesterday,” she added, still visibly ashamed. “I don’t want to hold everyone back again.”
Bradley didn’t comment further, simply saying, “Go then. After they teach you the movements for your scene, come find me.”
Stella nodded and headed toward the acting coach—someone she had already worked with during earlier training sessions. Their previous familiarity made the rehearsal go smoothly and efficiently.
The cameras were already set up. The lights and set design were ready to go. All that was left was for Stella and the actor in the next scene to take their places.
Her scene partner was a moderately popular young actor named Caspian. He’d played supporting roles in numerous dramas, earning a solid reputation for his talent, though he wasn’t yet in the league of the industry’s top-tier stars. He didn’t chase trends or strive for viral fame, preferring steady progress over instant stardom.
With good looks, solid skills, and a reliable network, Caspian had carved out a niche for himself. While he hadn’t taken on many lead roles, directors trusted him—often casting him in roles as romantic second leads or heartbroken heroes. That had become his signature on-screen image.
Despite Stella being a complete newcomer, Caspian greeted her with warm enthusiasm.
“Hey there!” he said, flashing a bright smile. “Looks like I’ll be your senior on and off screen.”
In the period drama they were filming, Caspian’s role was indeed Stella’s senior—they both played disciples under the same martial arts master, destined to share many scenes.
As the story progressed, Caspian’s character would fall for the heroine and, blinded by love, begin neglecting Stella’s character entirely. In the end, his obsession would drive him to betray his sect, and the two former allies would become enemies—both consumed by darkness for different reasons.
To Stella’s character, he was a traitor. But in his own mind, he was simply doing whatever it took to protect the woman he loved. Tragic and complex, their characters mirrored each other—both led astray, both driven by pain.
This would be Stella’s first real scene on set. Though she’d practiced her lines countless times alone, facing an actual actor made her heart race. Acting in isolation was one thing—safe, controlled. But performing opposite a real person felt intimidating.
They went through their lines together once. Stella clung to her composure.
Then Bradley called out, “Action!”
Stella drew a deep breath and slipped into character.
“I heard Master just brought back his old disciple who went missing a long time ago! Shall we go take a look?” she asked.
“What for?” Caspian replied, already in character. “Didn’t I say we’d be practicing sword fighting by the mountains later?”
His performance was smooth, technically proficient, but lacking a certain spark. Acting alongside a rookie like Stella, Caspian seemed slightly off-balance—perhaps even holding back, unsure of how much to invest in the scene.
But Stella was determined. Nervous or not, she had stepped into this world for real now—and there would be no turning back.
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