The sun peeked gently through the curtains, nudging Verena awake. She blinked a few times, stretching lazily before jolting up.
"Oh no… work!"
She jumped out of bed and quickly washed her face, still groggy. As she stepped out into the hallway, patting her face dry with a towel, she halted in surprise.
Standing right outside her room, like a little soldier, was Little Benny.
"Good morning, my bunny!" she beamed, immediately crouching and pinching his soft cheeks.
Little Benny's face flushed with pride, his eyes darting toward his father who sat silently at the dining table. That look clearly said: See? She adores me.
"Come on, let's eat something before I go." Verena took his hand and led him toward the table.
She began spreading butter on a piece of toast with casual ease and slid it onto Little Benny's plate.
Louis, who had been silently sipping his coffee, frowned slightly. He doesn't like butter on bread, he was about to say—until his son grabbed the toast with both hands and took a big bite.
Louis froze.
"Ah! So cute…" Verena gushed, watching his cheeks puff up adorably as he chewed.
Benny polished off the bread and then reached for the jug of juice. It was a bit heavy, and he struggled, but he managed to pour it without spilling a drop.
"Let me help you…" Verena started, but paused when she saw he'd already filled the glass. Benny pushed it toward her with a proud grin.
"For me?" she asked, surprised. Her heart melted instantly. "Thank you, my darling!"
Louis, mid-bite, choked silently on his toast.
My darling?
His glare burned holes into his son's smug little head. Wasn't this getting out of hand?
Grumbling internally, Louis shoved another piece of toast into his mouth, perhaps to stop himself from making a very undignified comment.
Verena ignored Louis throughout the breakfast.
Once breakfast was done, Verena grabbed her coat from the couch. She knelt in front of Little Benny.
"My bunny, come here," she said softly. "Auntie has to go back to her apartment to get ready for work. Today is important for me, so I can't play with you much. Is Little Benny angry with me?"
Louis watched closely, eyes narrowed, trying to read his son's reaction.
Benny looked down at her shoes for a moment, struggling with his emotions. Then he glanced up at her and smiled sweetly, shaking his head.
"Thank you," Verena whispered, touched by his understanding. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
Then, with a warm smile, she turned and walked toward the front door.
"Give her a ride."
Louis raised an eyebrow and looked at his son.
Little Benny didn't even look at him. His eyes were fixed firmly on Verena's retreating figure like a little gentleman watching his beloved leave for war.
Louis sighed.
Outplayed again… by my own kid.
…
Verena went on for an audition. The script was latest webnovel. It was a top novel of this year. Of course she didn't think about choosing the character as main protagonist. She bravely chose the antagonist.
She went inside the hall and looked at the lines of young women. She frowned her brows, she shouldn't be surprised that so many wanted to be part of this drama.
She just hoped her audition would go good. Unfortunately, it didn't take time for her to see Melina standing in the row.
Her brows frowned when she saw Verena and then, as if she saw a big joke. She started laughing attracting attention on her.
"Look at her! God. It's so hilarious to see you here. Ariana did told me you came out of prison but how dare you came here for audition at the same place as us."
"What?"
"She went to jail?"
Verena ignored her and pulled her cellphone out.
"How dare you ignore me? You criminal!" Melina was so angry watching her acting nonchalant.
'If I get her out of here, Aria will be happy. Then, I can ask for the latest gucci bag from her.' She thought as she smirked evilly.
"Did you say something to me miss?" Verena looked at her in confusion.
"Oh so now you are acting as if you haven't heard me?"
"I am sorry, do I know you?" Verena asked and looked around at the other women like she had seen her for the first time and was very confused.
"You don't remember me?" Feeling offended Melina glared at her.
Verena shake her head.
Melina clapped her hands together. "What a good acting! You can pass this audition very well."
"T-Thank you?" Verena said and looked at the time.
Seeing her really not recalling who Melina was made everyone to think Melina was deliberately provoking the young girl.
"Stop it!"
"Don't spout nonsense."
"You lied about her being criminal. Why would a criminal be here with us?"
Melina glared at the innocent women and chuckled. "She indeed went to jail. She killed someone!"
Everyone eyes again fell on Verena but they saw how innocent she looked listening to some music.
She was wearing simple yellow outfit today with a small scarf on her neck.
Verena couldn't be bothered with some flies. She wasn't listening to music instead she was just acting as listening some.
She could hear Melina talking to someone on the phone and could understand who it was.
"Yes. She had the audacity. You should have banned her! What did she think of her? I know how she treated you in the school. Why would you take side of her? Yeah! I can understand. I am waiting for you to marry into Heisenberg."
She ignored every word but the last sentence made Verena uneasy. Why was Ariana so stick to marry Louis? They were cousins, blood related. It's not good to marry but Ariana didn't care about these things.
Verena got impatient and could feel angery shimmering in her body.
'So this is what you desire the most? If I take it from you what will you do then?' Verena smirked but of course she wouldn't do it.
Soon, audition started and she was shocked when first girl came out crying. What was happening?
"Director Mark is very upset!"
"I heard he wants real talent this time!"
Verena eyes was glued to the girl came out of the room. She was crying on shoulder of her friend. The girl was looking so innocent her eyes were doe, her face was small.
Verena frowned her brows in disbelief that this beautiful lady wasn't accepted. Maybe, her acting was terrible.
It was Melina's turn who stood up and looked at Verena with a smirk before going in. Verena held her breath this drama was very important for her.
Melina came out, she wasn't crying neither smiling. She may have understood that she can not be selected or underestimated herself that she will be chosen no matter what.
Soon, it was Verena's turn. She walked towards the door but stopped and looked behind her to the rows of girl looking cute, well dressed and polished.
She looked at her outfit which was long shirt and jeans. If she recalled the villain wasn't wealthy instead she was working jobs after jobs. Before she became villain.
She pushed the door in. The first person she saw was Director Mark, Director Miller and beside him assistant Chen. She greeted them and straightened her back.
20
"Good afternoon." Verena greeted politely, but her words were met with judging looks from the assistants and producers.
She didn't flinch, nor did she feel ashamed. Instead, her calm eyes studied the director, who showed little reaction to either her presence or her modest outfit.
"Why are you dressed like that? I checked the list you're here to audition for Charlotte's character, right?" the producer asked, his gaze skeptical as he looked her up and down.
"Yes," Verena answered evenly. "I am indeed here for Charlotte's character. She wasn't wealthy when she lost everything."
The director raised a hand, uninterested in further discussion. "You can start acting."
Verena gave a small nod, then stepped back to prepare.
Her role was Charlotte, the young mother who had just stopped running and found herself in front of a glass window, staring at her baby lying inside. Except, the baby was no longer breathing.
They had told her that her son was sick and needed to stay in the nursery with an inhaler. Charlotte had been discharged, but her baby remained in the hospital. She never left, she stayed outside the nursery every day. But one phone call had forced her to step away.
When Charlotte returned, she was informed that her baby had died. Worse, his father had already buried him without her knowledge.
The shock tore through her. She cried, broken and disbelieving. How could this happen? Did the child's father even know the baby existed at all? Or was this his way of erasing both mother and child from his life?
On the stage, Verena let Charlotte's grief consume her. Her eyes welled with tears, her shoulders shook, and when she collapsed to the floor, it wasn't acting, it was raw, aching pain.
When the scene shifted and Charlotte's tears finally dried, Verena didn't rise. She remained on the ground, her red-rimmed eyes burning with a hatred so real it silenced the entire hall. She looked directly at the director, her voice trembling but fierce:
"I will find you… and take everything away from you, just like you took everything away from me."
The director felt a chill run down his spine. Yes. This was Charlotte. This was exactly what he wanted.
He stood up, clapping, quickly followed by the producer and the assistants.
"Well done," Producer Miller said with approval.
"Welcome aboard," the director added, extending his hand.
Verena accepted the handshake with a small smile. She wasn't surprised she had landed the role, deep down, she knew she would.
It wasn't arrogance. It was because Charlotte's pain was her own.
Her stillborn son had been taken from her too soon. That wound had never healed. A mother never forgets.
"Thank you," Verena said softly, her lips curving as she shook his hand.