CHAPTER 82: FAIL OR WIN?

After hearing everyone’s words, the director turned, scowling, before he looked at the technician to know what the people on the stream were saying.

"They are neutral so far, sir," the technician answered. It wasn’t a good thing. This was supposed to hype them or at least give some kind of opinion.

With a sigh, his eyes flicker towards Ekara as if she were some kind of prop that didn’t work like it was supposed to and should be discarded. He was about to dismiss her when Producer Li chimed in, his voice calm and firm.

"Director Han, even the most seasoned actors take time to get into the character. Especially challenging ones. Maybe her scene is difficult. Let her proceed. Don’t forget her voice and song brought the most attention to the stream last time," Producer Li mentioned.

The director grunted but didn’t argue before signalling Beatrice to let Elara proceed.

Beatrice grumbled inwardly. Her plan failed. She thought the director would throw her out after she hesitated about the female lead’s scene in the script, but it looks like she’ll need to try something different.

It was okay. Seeing Elara cry pitifully to enact the scene would be worth it nonetheless.

Elara looked at the script again. A mother mourning her dead child.

She knew all of this was wrong. She shouldn’t have been given this, made to relive the sad memory of her life. After all, she had come to sing, but if that were what they wanted from her, she would do it.

Her chest tightened as she pulled the scarf from around her neck and wrapped it into a ball to make a quick prop for the baby.

Everyone looked at her, confused, but didn’t interrupt.

"I am ready," she told the cameraman.

The lines on the script blurred as her eyes teared, transforming into memories and all the plans she had started to create for her baby, who could never see this world.

"I am sorry, my love. I promised you so many things, but maybe you knew I wouldn’t be a good mother to you. That’s why you decided to leave me, no?" Elara asked the scarf ball that she treated as her child.

Her emotions turned raw, her voice hoarse with feelings and remorse that almost felt too real to everyone.

The cameraman focused on Elara’s face, something the director neither asked for nor allowed. However, he felt this shot was too important to let go just like that.

People around paused what they were doing, holding their breaths as they heard her silent plea and conversation to her lifeless child before she let out a scream that shook everyone’s hearts.

It was a mother’s cry that no training could mimic. In the audience, Andrew felt as if his heart was suddenly ripped apart, and his body shook when he saw her shoulders shaking as she continued to cry.

Then, as if someone was taking away the body of her lifeless baby, she suddenly pretended to stand before stumbling on her foot and falling.

"Elara," Andrew rose from his seat, fearing she would fall from the stage. His shoulders visibly relaxed when he noticed she was still on the stage.

"No... please, stop. Don’t take my baby away—just a few more minutes. Let me please... I beg you," Elara choked on her saliva as she continued crying.

The crew froze. Producer Li stared at the girl on stage, and for the first time, he regretted his decision to choose the wrong female lead.

The director’s pupils dilated as he felt the goosebumps on his hands rise, disbelief written all over his face.

Beatrice’s gaze flickered to where Andrew stood with his eyes focused on Elara, and she couldn’t help but clench her fingers.

Seeing Elara cry was worth it for Beatrice, but everything was ruined now because she had seen the concern on the face of a man who was supposed to have his eyes on her alone.

Elara finally lifted her face, wiping her cheeks, and walked away from the stage after nodding to conclude her scene.

Beatrice’s turn came next, and as everyone expected, she enacted her scene through practiced brilliance, her movements graceful and sharp. Despite not having an acting background or a degree in theatre, Beatrice’s acting was top-notch, almost on par with those who had trained for years.

Carla followed the next scene, her acting appearing too simple and monotone after two marvelous performances back-to-back. However, she played it well, and that was all that mattered.

Once all the acts concluded, the audience cheered loudly, and the host returned to the stage.

They announced a quick break for the judgment, and though the stream was put on hold, the comment section was bombarded with people talking about contestant number three, who even made the cameraman tear up.

The contestants rushed to get refreshments, touch up their makeup, or ask their relatives over the call how they did, but not Elara. She walked straight to the judge panel and looked straight at Producer Li.

"Sir, I understand I am an outsider with no prominent backup, but must you test me like this? Why was my script changed and turned into that of the female lead’s scene that I haven’t even read before?" Her words were clear, her eyes sharp.

Producer Li looked at her. He had found it odd the moment she had started acting. Now that she mentioned it, he looked at the script in her hands, and his brows arched.

This scene, so descriptive, wasn’t even from the set they were using.

"Who gave you this?" He asked in a hushed voice, not wanting to create much noise.

"The assistant," she said.

"This wasn’t supposed to happen. It must be a mistake—" Producer Li started, but Elara cut him off.

"Why always me? Why am I being pushed like this just because I am a newbie? I just wanted to sing. That’s all I came for: to let my voice reach people. What’s wrong with that? Do people like me with no background not supposed to dream big?" Elara asked, her voice firm.

Producer Li’s eyes softened.

"Miss Elara, it’s not like that. I will look into it. Trust me," he said.

What they didn’t know was that the technician checking the retention rate had accidentally turned the live stream on, and what she said was heard by thousands of viewers.

"Why are they bullying her?"

"She isn’t even an actor. Why give her such scenes?"

"Support the contestant number three. We middle-class people should be allowed to dream too!"

"It’s not the world for riches only!"

"We saw the performance. She deserves the lead!"

Director Han, who was talking to the other crew members about preparations for the third step while the judges deliberated, looked at the tabloids and stream comments when his assistant rushed to him.

His brows arched, and he turned toward Elara, who was standing with Proucer Li, his eyes troubled.

He quickly signaled his assistant before walking to Elara.

"Miss Elara, we are sorry for what happened with you. There must have been an error. We will ensure it doesn’t happen again," the director said, and Elara looked at him, confused.

"You should have some rest." The director ushered her away.

Elara nodded and lowered her gaze, a little amusement dancing on her lips.

Why? Because they didn’t know.

None of them knows.

This was all her plan from the start.

She had asked Justin to hack the technician’s computer and start the stream just before she walked to Producer Li. She knew exactly what needed to be said to cause the ruckus and what their reaction would be.

Since Beatrice loved seeing her cry, this was her return gift. Beatrice wanted to sideline her. Thus, she tried to show Beatrice and others just how loved she already was.

"Thank you," she whispered in a timid voice before stepping back, her gaze meeting with Beatrice, who was already looking at her with hatred.

And her? She looked back with a calm confidence that couldn’t be touched or messed with so easily. She wasn’t the Elara from before who would resort to crying helplessly at just a minor inconvenience. She was the Elara from before she married Andrew and turned timid.

And she was ready to show them just how fierce she could be.