My Beloved Has Risen from Death’s Embrace

“Xan, are you alright?!”

As soon as Oliver heard about the motorcycle explosion on the audition set involving Xanthea, he immediately called her in a panic.

“Tm fine, Uncle Oliver, it’s just your beloved Tron light cycle got destroyed.”

“Never mind about the bike, as long as you’re safe. I was nearly scared to death when Ryan called!”

Oliver rambled on, still shaken, and then his tone tumed serious, “Xan, don’t worry, I’ll get to the bottom of what caused the explosion and make sure we sort this out!”

“Okay”

“So, how did the audition go today?”

At his question, Xanthea fell into a long silence, “Not so good.”

“Not so good? How come?” Oliver was puzzled, “Ryan told me you were brilliant today. Your performance stood out among a dozen actresses, and the staff from the ‘Realm of Illusions‘ project seemed really impressed. You should have the role in the bag!”

What did that matter? No amount of effort or high scores could trump the whims of the high and mighty chairman.

“Uncle Oliver, I’m a bit tired. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

“Tired? Well, you better rest up, and if you feel off, make sure you go to the hospital for a check–up!”

“Okay, and let’s not tell Mom, Dad, and my brothers about the accident at the set. I don’t want them to worry.”

After hanging up, Xanthea glanced down at the oversized men’s suit she was wearing and peeled it off in annoyance.

How foolish she had been! To think, because of Orion’s inexplicable actions at the cemetery and his past deeds, she had considered him an ally.

Even though she couldn’t fathom why he’d do that, she had thought, perhaps in his heart, she was at least someone he didn’t despise.

But what was the truth? He was just toying with her!

Perhaps the brawl years ago was long forgotten by him, and he didn’t even remember he had saved her that day. Rescuing her from the bottom of the lake at her coming–of–age ceremony might have just been him acting on impulse, so he didn’t bother to speak to her directly.

Seeing how grateful she was afterwards, bending over backward to help him win the chairman position at the gemstone auction, even obtaining medicine for his wounds and applying it herself, he must have found her cheap and laughable.

Like today at the “Realm of Illusions” audition, she foolishly thought she could compete against Starlight Media’s top star, Isabella! She shouldn’t have been so presumptuous, so full of wishful thinking. She should have stayed as far away from him as before.

At the Lockwood Group’s headquarters, in the top floor office.

འཆལ ཨཅ ཟ ཧ གཽ ཤཎ ན ན་

Jacob walked into the CEO’s office, approaching the rnan standing in front of the large window, who was gazing intensely a piece of black bandage clutched in his hand, lost in thought. He asked cautiously, “Chairman, did you need something?” This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org: ©.

“Investigate the cause of today’s audition explosion. Leave no stone unturned, check everyone who entered the Glory Building and any suspicious traces at the scene, especially anyone who had contact with her.”

Her? Ms. Nightshade?

Jacob replied, “Right away!”

“Hold on.”

Jacob paused, “Anything else, Chairman?”

Orion slowly rubbed the soft black bandage in his hand, “Send the head of the ‘Realm of Illusions‘ project to me.”

Back at Lakeside Manor,

As soon as Xanthea got home, she headed straight for the bathroom, letting the warm shower wash away the lake weeds and the faint scent of pine from the man’s suit that liggered on her skin.