Samuel would never give Charles a chance to rise above him. He was determined to show both Charles and Skylar that the Williams family had absolute authority in Jipsburg. They were nothing more than peasants who had come to the city—small fish in a big pond.
Challenging the Williams family head-on? It was like bringing a knife to a gunfight.
As Samuel exited the building and made his way toward the set, the assistant director called him. Samuel smirked, thinking everything had been settled. “Have you gotten rid of Charles?” he asked, expecting good news.
“Cut the crap and answer me straight,” the assistant director replied sharply. “Does Charles have someone backing him? Is he just playing the role of an extra to experience life? What’s his background? Are you deliberately making things difficult for me because you don’t like me?”
Samuel was caught off guard. “What?”
“Fuck you, Samuel!” The assistant director stormed up to him, clearly furious. “I’ve been in this industry longer than you. I’m tired of your tricks! Are you trying to replace me with your own people? Let me tell you, the director is a family member of mine, and he won’t let you succeed.”
“I have no grudge against you! Why would I target you?” Samuel snapped, his anger rising. “The person I have a grudge against is Charles!”
Samuel was lucky to dodge the punch that followed. If it had landed, it would’ve been a public embarrassment.
The assistant director finally calmed down, his frustration still evident. “You don’t know?”
Samuel furrowed his brows. “What?”
“I suggested to the director that we replace Charles, saying he might be a risky actor. But the director scolded me. Now he’s thinking of giving Charles more scenes.” The assistant director’s tone turned frustrated. “He warned me to steer clear of any trouble with Charles. If anything happens to him, I’ll be out. I asked again, but he refused to explain further. Charles must have someone backing him. So, tell me, do you know who’s backing him?”
Samuel scoffed. “What background could he possibly have? He’s just a country bumpkin. Could the director have been fooled by him?”
The assistant director looked skeptical. “You think the director is easily fooled?”
The assistant director considered buttering up to Charles, hoping to benefit if Charles rose to stardom. But the director had stopped him from making a mistake.
“I’ve transferred back the 20,000 dollars to you,” the assistant director muttered, before storming off in a huff.
Later that night, Samuel was left with a bunch of unanswered questions. As his mind raced, a realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. He clenched his jaw in anger.
“Skylar, you keep denying this ‘sugar daddy’ business! Who are you trying to fool? You used your sugar daddy to back Charles up, didn’t you?” Samuel seethed, his anger boiling over.
Meanwhile, the film crew’s group chat was buzzing with talk about Charles. Despite being the male lead, Samuel barely received any attention.
“Charles, do you know Mr. Querbach personally?” the female lead asked.
“If Charles didn’t know him, why would they arrange a villa for him?” the second female lead chimed in.
“Charles, let’s have a drink tonight,” the second male lead suggested.
Charles, though mentioned in every message, didn’t respond—not out of aloofness, but because he was stunned. The butler had personally escorted him to the villa. He barely had any belongings—just a bag and the shopping bags filled with clothes and shoes Skylar had bought him.
Wasn’t he supposed to stay in the apartment with the other crew members? Why was the butler so attentive in arranging a villa for him?
“Mr. Sullivan, are you satisfied with the villa?” the butler asked with a smile. “If not, I can arrange another one. There are still three villas available.”
Charles swallowed hard, nerves on edge. “It’s not that. Did you make a mistake? I’m just the fourth male lead. I should be staying in that apartment.”
The butler smiled even wider. “You’re Mr. Charles Sullivan, right?”
Skip to content