Taking a decisive step forward, Sloane put on a mask of resolve. “You know that’s not what I intended. Please don’t misinterpret me. Fine, if making this promise will settle your mind, I’ll do it. I just hope you’ll stop pushing this further.”
Her performance was flawless, the emotion in her voice heavy with guilt.
Khloe raised an eyebrow, observing her with a calm demeanor.
Sloane bit her lip, her expression growing more vulnerable. “I promise to relinquish my claim to the shares of Genesis Company. If I fail to keep this promise, may my career be destroyed and my dignity lost.”
Khloe cut in once more, her lips curling into a faint smile. “If you go back on your word, may your career crumble, your honor be stripped away, your name destroyed, and you live in shame, even in death.”
Sloane’s complexion drained of color. She had initially assumed that Khloe was just trying to corner her into making a simple vow in front of everyone. She had hoped to brush it off with some vague words, but Khloe had already laid out the exact terms of the oath, leaving her no room to maneuver. And it was such a harsh, binding vow. Though Sloane didn’t believe in the supernatural consequences of such an oath, the weight of it sent a shiver down her spine. Khloe was unrelenting in her cruelty.
Unable to hold it in anymore, Sloane shot Khloe a glare, her eyes seething with resentment. Khloe, on the other hand, stayed calm, even finding the situation somewhat amusing. Did Sloane believe she was malicious? But this was nothing more than fate playing out. When Sloane and her mother had conspired to trap her and push her to the edge, did they ever imagine the day would come when the tables would turn?
“What’s the matter, having second thoughts?” Khloe taunted, her tone dripping with mockery. “Sloane, you’re so fickle.”
The crowd watched in eager anticipation, ready for the drama to reach its peak. Sloane saw a few reporters typing away furiously, no doubt capturing every moment of this scandalous event for their headlines. She had never anticipated being backed into such a corner, but the pressure of the moment left her with no option but to give in.
“Alright, I swear. If I go back on my word, may my career crumble, my honor be stripped away, my name destroyed, and I live in shame, even in death.” Sloane’s words were sharp, but they quivered with the weight of her promise as she gritted her teeth. “Now, will you forgive me, Khloe?”
Khloe’s expression remained cold and unchanged, her tone laced with indifference. “Forgive? Do you really think that’s possible? What you’re going through today is nothing compared to what I’ve had to endure. Don’t expect me to simply forget the past. Now, leave!”
Sloane grabbed Lorraine and left, her heart burning with malice and unspoken resentment towards Khloe.
“Khloe, you really have some nerve. Just wait, I’ll make you regret this,” Sloane seethed to herself, her mind consumed by a blaze of fury.
The mother and daughter finally left the scene, leaving behind a buzz of whispers. The crowd was divided between sympathy and gloating. The launch event had turned into a spectacle, with high-society drama unfolding right in front of their eyes, providing them with ample gossip-worthy material for their headlines.
Meanwhile, the media buzzed with their sensational takes, and Rhett moved forward, his gaze sharpening with a subtle yet undeniable coldness beneath his otherwise composed and warm appearance.
“Ladies and gentlemen, in light of the events that happened today, particularly the false accusations and rumors about Khloe, Evergreen Capital is committed to a full investigation with zero tolerance for wrongdoing. We expect fair reporting from the media. Should anyone continue to spread baseless rumors about her, they will be hearing from our legal team.”
The reporters couldn’t help but shiver as they processed his words. It was crystal clear that Evergreen Capital was standing firmly behind Khloe. Now that Khloe had the full backing of Evergreen Capital’s powerful legal team, no one dared to undermine her. The dramatic scene slowly came to a close.
Once the media cleared out, the film crew got to work. The first scene of the day was a pivotal moment for Khloe’s character, Roselyn, who woke up to find herself drowning in despair after narrowly surviving an assassination attempt and being dragged into scandal. She had to find the strength to rebuild her life from scratch.
Under normal conditions, the first scene would be straightforward, chosen as a symbol of good luck for the production. If they could get it right without needing retakes, it would set a promising tone for the rest of the shoot. However, Elwood had selected a far more complex and demanding scene, one that required Khloe to portray a harrowing near-death experience. Everyone expected the first day of shooting to be tough.
The scene proved to be an especially challenging one. Khloe had already completed her makeup, and to fully embody her character’s profound despair, the prop bathtub was filled with ice-cold water. Despite the sweltering heat of summer, the frigid water made it incredibly uncomfortable for her.
The prop master, visibly anxious, kept apologizing, worried that Khloe might take offense. But Khloe didn’t utter a single word of complaint; instead, she reclined in the tub. Slowly, she sank into despair, embracing the role of the forsaken starlet, willing to let herself be consumed rather than confront the harsh realities of the world.
Her pain was intricate, and conveying it demanded restraint without the help of exaggerated gestures. It was a challenge that few could handle with grace. Yet, as Khloe descended into the cold water, she seamlessly became her character, tapping into memories of her own near-death experience.
Six months after she had been sent to jail, there had been an incident where she had been slapped and forcibly held underwater. She had teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, with no one to pull her back, her limbs sinking like lead.
Now, as the scene unfolded on set, the crew observed Khloe’s deeply engrossed performance: her eyes clamped shut, her forehead creased as though she was reliving every ounce of that torment. Her lips quivered slightly, as though whispering something, but the water swallowed her voice.
Beneath the water, the muscles in her face convulsed subtly, each twitch echoing her profound despair. Her nostrils flared as she struggled for air, but there was none. Tears slipped from the corners of her tightly shut eyes, blending into the water around her.
A barely audible whimper escaped her throat, the sound muted and smothered by the weight of the water. Her face, ghostly pale, radiated a sense of finality as though she had genuinely surrendered to despair. The water around her seemed to drink in her anguish, becoming colder and more oppressive.
For a moment, the entire set was enveloped in an eerie, breathless silence. All eyes were fixed on Khloe’s heartbreaking portrayal, as though they were watching a life slip away before them.
Elwood’s eyes grew wide, his jaw dropping in astonishment, before he quickly regained composure and shouted with excitement, “Zoom in! Get a close-up on her!”
Nobody had anticipated such a commanding performance from Khloe, especially as a newcomer. Elwood had initially envisioned a medium shot, intending to use the gentle ripples of the water and Khloe’s submerged allure to shape the scene-a smart creative choice. Yet Khloe’s gripping performance made all of that superfluous. Her nuanced expressions and delicate movements alone were more than enough to stir the audience
As everyone was lost in the despair and pain Khloe portrayed, she slowly opened her eyes, teetering between life and death. It was as though time itself had frozen; the entire room was transfixed by her gaze. Her eyes were strikingly clear, yet chillingly indifferent, devoid of any sign of emotion. Her eyelashes, once fluttering slightly, were now completely still, as if suspended in time.
In that penetrating and frosty stare, there was a sense of final judgment on the world-or perhaps a complete detachment from all suffering. There was no trace of anger or sorrow, only an overwhelming sense of indifference and distance. The atmosphere on set grew heavier, each person visibly moved by her gaze, as though an unseen force gripped their hearts. Even Elwood was taken aback. It was the same look as Roselyn’s in the book.
Elwood nearly leaped up, shouting, “Cut! That was incredible!”
At that moment, a rich, magnetic male voice whispered in Elwood’s ear. “Those eyes are breathtaking.”
Everyone turned in surprise, momentarily stunned by the newcomer’s arrival.
“Rafael?”
Rafael Carter, the legendary actor, strolled in with effortless confidence. His face was sculpted with precision, features sharp and striking. His eyes, deep-set and captivating, seemed to hold an entire universe within them. His high nose was like a ridge, and his lips formed a faint smile that radiated warmth and nobility.
Rafael’s gaze lingered on Khloe, full of admiration. “Her performance was remarkable. The clarity in her despair, the power in her coldness-it’s incredible. Who cast her as Roselyn? Perfect choice!”
Elwood smiled with pride at the praise. “Of course, it was my sharp eye for talent. But what brings you here? Weren’t you supposed to be overseas for a fashion show?”
Elwood and Rafael went way back, with Rafael’s recent award-winning film being a project Elwood had originally suggested for him. Rafael’s talent was unquestionable, landing him a lead role through an intensely competitive, worldwide casting process. His breakout role in the hit film “Killer” launched him into global stardom. The fashion industry quickly took notice, with luxury brands eagerly competing to have him appear at their shows.
“It’s honestly a waste of my time. Tess told me ‘Peaks of Eternity’ started filming, so I had to come check if you’re doing justice to the book. If it’s terrible, I’d rather skip it and keep the story intact in my mind,” Rafael said without mincing words.
Elwood, well-acquainted with Rafael’s bluntness, just smiled and called for the next scene’s setup.
By then, Khloe had climbed out of the water, her assistant, Joslyn Myers, draping a towel over her to dry her damp hair. Her skin looked even paler from the chill, like a fragile porcelain doll. Droplets of water trickled from her brows, gliding down her arms and skin, creating an allure without revealing any skin. No one could resist sneaking glances at her, each still buzzing over her last performance.
Suddenly, Rafael walked over and, in an uncharacteristic move, crouched beside her. “What inspired you to act like that?”
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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