“Wait, Snowpear? The famous novelist?” Tess gasped, her eyes nearly doubling in size.
Tess’s shock was understandable-Snowpear was a literary sensation. Eight years ago, her first novel had caused an uproar in the literary world, launching her into instant stardom. That debut was a sci-fi masterpiece, blending innovative concepts, fresh settings, and deeply emotional storytelling, which captured the hearts of readers. It quickly topped charts on major literary platforms, drew praise from prominent critics, and secured a prestigious literary award that same year. One book was all it took for her to cement her legendary status.
From that point on, each of Snowpear’s releases became highly anticipated events, and she never failed to deliver. Sloane’s journey into the entertainment world began when one of Snowpear’s novels was turned into a movie. She landed the role of the female lead, catapulting from obscurity to becoming a top-tier actress, and her fame has endured ever since. The drama became a cultural phenomenon, its iconic lines quoted endlessly online, with thrilling scenes turned into viral video clips that remain popular even now.
“No wonder Snowpear’s been quiet for three years,” Tess murmured, her words trailing off as Henrik shot her a sharp look. It suddenly hit her that this could be a sensitive subject for Khloe. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring that up.”
Khloe stayed composed, her eyes steady. “It’s the truth; there’s no point in denying it. I’ve always just loved writing novels and never planned on turning them into movies. But at that time, Sloane was having a hard time with her schoolwork, and she tearfully confessed she wanted to break into the entertainment world. Even though I didn’t like her mother, I thought of her as a sister. So, I told her I could get the rights to Snowpear’s work. I used those rights to get her the lead role.”
So, Sloane owed her stardom entirely to Khloe’s assistance. Tess felt a chill run through her as she absorbed the story. It became clear that Khloe had unknowingly paved the way for a betrayer to rise to fame.
Sloane’s mother had framed Khloe, and Sloane herself had stolen Khloe’s fiance-a betrayal that was beyond appalling.
“Tess, knowing all this, do you still think this favor is worth doing?” Henrik asked pointedly.
Tess pressed her lips together, lost in thought. After a few moments, she finally looked up, meeting Khloe’s eyes with a steady and serious expression. “Miss Evans, if you are truly Snowpear, I’ll help. But I need to hear your detailed plan first.”
“I’ve licensed two of my novels. Sloane already used one, and the other, Peaks of Eternity, is a mythological story with a massive budget. It just started filming, and the three-year license is almost up.” Khloe’s eyes glimmered with determination. “My plan is simple. In a week, when the authorization expires, I’ll sign a new deal as the author and take the role of the female lead back from Sloane.”
Tess’ eyes brightened, her mind already racing with ideas for promotional campaigns. The best part was that this felt incredibly satisfying. In the past, Sloane had become famous thanks to Khloe’s novel, and now Khloe was determined to take back the spotlight for herself.
But Tess knew there would be challenges. “If you go through with this, Sloane won’t just sit back, and her fans won’t be easy to manage either.”
“That’s where I need you to come in.” Khloe’s eyes blazed with resolve. “I need you to leverage Starshine Entertainment’s resources to build momentum for me and manage any backlash. But I’ll also give my best effort to show I’m the better choice for the role.”
Tess took a moment to think, then nodded firmly, her faith in Khloe unwavering. After all, who would understand a novel better than the one who wrote it? And Khloe penned her first blockbuster at just 17. She was a true genius!
“Alright, since we’re in this, let’s go all in. But, Miss Evans, there will be many hurdles, so you need to be ready for the challenges ahead.”
Khloe gave a small smile, her face showing confidence and determination. She lifted her chin, her eyes sharp and intense, as if fueled by an inner fire. “Don’t worry. I’m determined to get back what’s mine. Everything Sloane took, I’ll get back and more.”
She straightened up, giving off an energy that made everyone feel she would surely win.
Henrik’s gaze lingered on Khloe, a faint trace of admiration in his eyes. He turned to Tess and said with assurance, “If you encounter anything you can’t manage, go to Rhett. He’ll help.”
Tess was taken aback. For something as trivial as this in the entertainment world, Henrik was willing to call in his top confidant, Rhett Foster. It seemed that he deeply cared about Khloe.
Tess felt a surge of confidence; this time, success was a given. They were bound to make a fortune.
The long-awaited day for Khloe and Sloane to clash once again arrived. Tess picked Khloe up early and took her to the company for a full makeover before heading straight to the “Peaks of Eternity” set.
As they entered the set, Sloane was nowhere to be found, clearly late for her arrival. Tess told Khloe she was going to talk to the producer and director, leaving Khloe to wait on the set. Tess’ assistant offered to set up a beach chair, sunshade, and other comforts, but Khloe politely declined.
She wasn’t looking to draw attention, but the curious stares from everyone around her were unavoidable. There was no hiding it-she was simply stunning. Khloe wore a simple yet elegant white dress, her long hair flowing down her back like a waterfall, and her features seemed to glow in the sunlight.
As soon as she walked onto the set, the bustling scene went quiet. The crew was immediately drawn to her, their eyes wide with surprise and admiration, wondering which company this remarkable newcomer was from.
After standing for a while, Khloe grew a little tired and asked someone to bring her a small stool. At that moment, a sleek, luxurious van pulled up in front of her. The door swung open, and Sloane stepped out, wearing oversized sunglasses and bright red lipstick, flanked by two assistants, one holding an umbrella while the other carried her bag.
Just as Sloane was about to step onto the set, she spotted Khloe and halted, removing her sunglasses with a feigned expression of surprise.
“Khloe? What are you doing here?”
Sloane’s lips curled into a sneering smile, and her eyes were full of obvious disrespect.
“Oh, here to play a background role? Look at you, so washed up. Did your sugar daddy get tired of you and toss you aside?”
Sloane crossed her arms and spoke with unmasked arrogance.
Khloe stayed calm, simply giving Sloane a cold look without saying anything. She understood that the more Sloane acted as if she were above everyone, the more it showed how shallow and clueless she really was. Sloane, however, was infuriated by Khloe’s composed attitude, feeling humiliated. Her glare turned malicious.
“Bitch, what’s with the smug look? Do you really think Karl will always protect you? Be realistic! Come back and apologize. Maybe I’ll let you work as a servant to make a living.”
“How noisy!” Khloe’s eyes turned cold. “Sloane, are you really asking for more humiliation?”
The words hit Sloane hard, reminding her of the humiliating moment when she was crushed beneath Khloe’s foot. She paled and instinctively took a step back.
“Bitch…” Sloane was about to snap back when a male voice called out from behind.
“Sloane, who are you talking to? Khloe?”
Both women turned to see Eric walking toward them, flanked by a group of Starbucks employees carrying coffee bags-clearly a visit to the set.
Sloane’s eyes brightened, and she quickly clung to Eric, feigning weakness.
“Eric, you’re here. I ran into Khloe, and it seems she’s a background actor. I tried to kindly tell her to go home, but she insulted me.”
She played the part of the considerate stepsister expertly, hiding her malice behind a sweet act.
Eric’s gaze flicked over to Khloe at the mention of her name. “Enough, Khloe. You’ve stirred up enough trouble. At your level, trying to break into the entertainment industry is just embarrassing. Stop fooling yourself,” he taunted.
Despite his mocking words, his eyes kept drifting toward Khloe, his gaze lingering on her expression.
He had been secretly reaching out to Karl through his connections to learn about Khloe, but Karl had been silent, and the Russell family denied ever seeing her.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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