?strongChapter 88:/strong

Carrie, who had been quietly observing, sensed something brewing between them. Her suspicion crystallized: Asher seemed to have a specific agenda regarding her.

With studied nonchnce, she responded, “I’m adaptable. Choose whatever you’d like.”

Soren surveyed both participants, his gaze weighted with unspoken understanding. “Since you’re in agreement, I’ll select a scene at random.”

Though technically conducting the audition, Soren remained skeptical of Carrie’s potential. Future coborations demanded diplomacy, and he was reluctant to be overly critical. His primary hope rested on her meeting the fundamental acting requirements.

With Asher having escted the challenge, Soren was quietly eager to witness the unfolding dynamics.

After shuffling the scripts methodically, he randomly selected one and distributed copies to Carrie and Asher.

Carrie rapidly scanned her lines, her posture transforming as she prepared herself. “I’m ready,” she announced with quiet confidence.

Asher’s expression darkened. “Every line in ‘Agarwood’ is meticulously crafted,” he criticized. “How can you possiblyprehend the nuances with just a cursory nce?”

Carrie was momentarily surprised. Did he not realize she was the script’s original author? Revealing her identity now would feel awkward and contrived. Instead, she responded with controlled sharpness, “My capabilities will be evident during the performance. Are you iming some extraordinary insight into myter performance? Wait, are you unprepared yourself? If that’s the case, I’m happy to wait.”

Her politeness masked an underlying steel. Asher’s persistent provocations had awakened herpetitive spirit.

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“You’re incredibly presumptuous,” Asher muttered, a flicker of dissatisfaction crossing his eyes. He set down the script. “Let’s proceed.”

Having dissected the script numerous times, Asher knew every scene intimately. From the outset, his intention was clear: create obstacles for Carrie, hoping she would falter during the audition.

Recognizing his strategy, Carrie responded by channeling her entire artistic arsenal into the performance. As the scene unfolded, Carrie’s interpretation surpassed Asher’s most pessimistic expectations. Her line delivery and emotional resonance betrayed no hint of amateurism.

Their interaction possessed an unexpected fluidity—each moment precisely calibrated, their chemistry electric and authentic.

When the scene concluded, Asher was captivated, wanting more. True to his principled nature, he acknowledged his earlier misjudgment.

Approaching Carrie, he offered a sincere apology. “I never anticipated your profound understanding of Katrina’s script. My initial perspective was embarrassingly narrow. I’m truly sorry.”

Asher’s motivation stemmed not from personal bias but from a genuine desire to protect the artistic integrity of his idol’s work. Contemporary romantic dramas often prioritized actors’ appearances and social media poprity over genuine talent. Previous auditions had featured influencers whocked substantive acting credentials, resulting in disappointingly superficial performances.

Consequently, when an unknown actress like Carrie arrived—beautiful and seemingly inexperienced—Asher had initially dismissed her as another well-connected, aesthetically pleasing performer.

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