Leaving the Harris estate, Amanda went straight back to the set. Over the next few days, she caught glimpses of Elena, but the girl seemed to be pointedly avoiding her. It was a relief; it saved Amanda the effort of having to watch her fake act.
"Hera... I'm sorry. I can only choose one: love or power."
In a field of wildflowers, a man in crimson robes gently kissed the eyes of the woman sleeping soundly in his arms. Sadness and agony swirled in the depths of his gaze. He lifted a hand, casting a spell to erase her memories, a single hot tear rolling down his cheek.
"Cut! Great take! We're moving on."
Director Mark shouted with excitement. The moment the cameras stopped, however, the man in red—Jasper—suddenly slapped his hand onto the sleeping girl's face.
"What?! Who?" Amanda, who had actually drifted off, jolted awake only to find Jasper glaring at her with pure resentment.
"Amanda! How dare you actually fall asleep during my big monologue?"
Amanda sat up, yawning. Between the grueling night shoots and the emotional stress of her "new" life, she was exhausted. Today's scene only required her to lie still with her eyes closed, and her body had simply given up.
The more Jasper looked at her, the more frustrated he became. He had just delivered a heartbreaking, romantic performance, and she had treated his lap like a reclining chair. He growled, dumping her unceremoniously from his arms onto the grass.
"Ow! Jasper, you jerk!" Amanda scrambled up, rubbing her side.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the entrance of the set. Amanda looked over and saw Javier walking in with a practiced, gentle smile, with Elena chatting intimately by his side.
Amanda's expression darkened. Before she could move, Jasper stepped close and hoisted her up by the collar. "You really do attract them like flies to honey, don't you? One guy after another. Hmph." He dropped her and walked away before she could even retort.
"I came to take you and the crew out to dinner," Javier said, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "Still angry with me?"
Amanda frowned, wordlessly dodging his touch. "I'm going to change."
Javier let his hand fall, a flicker of disdain crossing his face as he watched her walk away. A little coaxing, and she's already back in line, he thought arrogantly.
Javier had reserved a private room in a lavish five-star restaurant. Amanda found herself sandwiched between him and Jasper. Naturally, Elena sat on Javier's other side, playing the part of the "sweet friend" to perfection.
"Here, have some shrimp," Javier said, peeling one with practiced grace and placing it in Amanda's bowl. He looked every bit the doting boyfriend.
Amanda's hand paused. "Thank you," she replied curtly.
She didn't touch it. Javier had no idea she was severely allergic to shellfish. In her previous life, she had been so desperate for his affection that she would eat whatever he gave her, even if it meant being hospitalized in the middle of the night for an allergic reaction. She had spent years covering for his ignorance. Never again.
"This fish is way too fatty," Jasper's biting voice rang out. He dropped a perfectly de-boned piece of whitefish into her bowl.
Amanda almost laughed. This guy's mouth is toxic, but at least he isn't trying to kill me. She happily ate the fish.
Suddenly, Elena stood up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, drawing the attention of everyone at the table. "Mandy... I'm so sorry for the misunderstandings of the past few days. I want to offer a toast to make amends. I hope you can still find it in your heart to forgive your friend?"
The fish in Amanda's mouth instantly lost its flavor. Before she could speak, Javier nudged her shoulder. "Go on, Mandy. Stand up and have a drink with Lena. We're all friends here. Why hold a grudge?"
Amanda curled her lips into a cold, sharp smile. She pushed his hand away and stood up, staring directly into Elena's eyes. She drained her glass in one go, then slammed it onto the table.
"I'm not a narrow-minded person," Amanda said, her voice dropping to a chill. "The past is the past. But as for 'friends'... I've realized I don't have much use for two-faced ones."
Elena's face turned paper-white. She let out a sob, covered her face, and sank back into her seat. The table erupted in whispers of sympathy for Elena and judgment for Amanda.
Javier's smile vanished. His eyes turned icy as he grabbed Amanda's arm and hauled her out of the room.
He dragged her into an empty hallway and shoved her into a corner with enough force to make her shoulder thud against the wall.
"Amanda! How can you be so disrespectful?" Javier roared, his face contorted with rage. "Lena is your friend, not a servant for you to trample on!"
Amanda looked at his "superior" expression and laughed mockingly. "If I wanted her to be a servant, do you think she'd have a choice?"
Javier's jaw tightened. Without a word of warning, he raised his hand and delivered a sharp, stinging slap across Amanda's face.
The force of the blow sent her head snapping to the side. Amanda's eyes widened in disbelief. This was the first time he had ever laid a hand on her.
Realizing he had lost control, Javier took a deep breath. He reached out to caress the cheek he had just struck, his voice returning to a terrifyingly gentle tone. "Mandy... you're becoming far too disobedient."
Amanda's blood boiled. She couldn't hold it back anymore. She slapped his hand away and, before he could react, she put her entire weight into a return blow.
SMACK.
Javier stumbled back, stunned.
"Don't you dare forget who I am," Amanda hissed, her voice trembling with fury. "You attack me over her? Do you think I'm weak, or do you think the Solis family is useless? Try me again, Javier Harris. I dare you."
Javier licked the blood from the corner of his lip, a cruel, predatory glint flashing in his eyes before he buried it under his mask. He forced a smile.
"I'm sorry," he said smoothly. "Tonight's outburst... let's call us even. Grandpa's birthday is in two days. I'll pick you up then. I have business to attend to now."
He turned and walked away, his heart full of venom. He needed the Solis family's support for now, but he vowed that one day, he would break her.
Amanda stood in the hallway, her face throbbing. She pulled out her phone and checked her messages. As she read, her eyes brightened with a dark satisfaction.
"Vance," she said, calling her manager immediately. "I have a job for you."
As she strode away, the door to the emergency exit creaked open.
Quentin Harris stepped out, his shadow long against the floor. He dropped a half-smoked cigarette and crushed it under his heel. His usually stoic eyes were burning with a cold, barely contained rage. He had seen everything.