CHAPTER 212: CHAPTER 213: ACTING STORM (3)

Looking around and seeing no one, and noticing the bloodstain on the wall, Maggie Clarke fixed her gaze on Vera Wave’s door and stepped up to knock.

Vera pulled the door open. Seeing Maggie, she feigned a look of confusion.

"Auntie, is there something you need?"

Maggie snorted coldly, pushed Vera aside, and walked into the room. She glanced around, pulled open the bed curtains, then walked over to the wardrobe and yanked it open, only to find it empty.

She turned towards the slightly ajar window and headed for it.

A look of panic flashed across Vera’s face. She quickly stepped forward to block the window, forcing a chuckle as she asked, "Auntie, what are you looking for?"

"Get out of my way!" Maggie shoved her aside. The force was so great that Vera stumbled back two steps and fell heavily to the floor. Maggie strode forward and grabbed Vera’s hair. "Where is he?!"

This, of course, wasn’t in the script; it was Maggie Clarke improvising.

Her scalp ached sharply where Maggie gripped her hair. Tears threatened to spill from Vera’s eyes as she spoke, her voice trembling, "Auntie... Auntie, who... who are you talking about?!"

"Where is Mr. Wu?"

Vera shook her head, tears streaming down her face. According to the script, Maggie was supposed to hear a noise outside at this point and rush to the window, with Vera grabbing her leg to stop her.

However, Maggie, having seized this chance, wasn’t about to let Vera off so easily.

Gripping Vera’s hair tighter, she snarled, "You dare say you didn’t see?!"

"CUT!" The director’s voice boomed, filled with anger. "Miss Clarke, what do you think you’re doing? Who told you to add lines?"

Maggie gave Vera’s hair another vicious tug and shot her a cold smirk. Then, she stood up and turned to the crew, her expression instantly morphing into one of apology.

"I’m sorry, Director, I... I got a bit too immersed in the scene..."

The director frowned. "Again!"

And so, they started from the top.

The make-up artist helped Vera fix her hair and touch up her makeup for the reshoot.

The beginning of the take went smoothly. However, when it came to the scene between Maggie and Vera, Maggie once again used it as an excuse to go off-script. She grabbed Vera’s hair and deliberately flubbed her lines.

Her gaze, filled with cold mockery, fixed on Vera’s small face. The corners of her lips curled up slightly as she turned to the director.

"So sorry, so sorry... I corpsed! Let’s do another take!"

She’s already pulled my hair twice, and she’s still not satisfied?

Vera got up from the floor. Noticing the icy glare Maggie shot her way, she turned and walked over to the make-up artist.

Merlin Bradley watched from the side, concerned. "Vera, are you all right? It really looks like... she’s targeting you on purpose."

Vera forced a smile. "I’m fine."

The make-up artist simply shook her head as she helped Vera with another touch-up.

Even an outsider like Merlin Bradley could tell something was amiss, let alone the seasoned crew members. But who among them would risk offending the second female lead for a rookie like Vera?

The director, of course, had noticed long ago. He cleared his throat, his expression turning stern as he announced, "Everyone, pay attention! Let’s try to get this in one take!"

His words clearly carried a warning for Maggie Clarke. Regardless of anything else, she was an artist under the Imperial Entertainment Group. One had to consider the master before striking the dog, and even this renowned director couldn’t afford to disregard Imperial Entertainment’s prestige.

And so, they started the third take.

The initial parts of the third take went smoothly, and they soon arrived at the problematic scene again. Maggie shoved Vera aside, her hand reaching out once more to grab her hair.