Rebirth vs. Rebirth Tragedy to Triumph by Violeta and Zelena [[Chapters 501, to 510]] – Daisy Novels  

Chapter 501

Violeta stood still and dialed Hayden’s number.

As soon as the call connected, Hayden’s voice came through. He said, “I see you. Don’t move.”

Violeta was holding her phone, and she turned slightly to the side.

There he was, strolling toward her from the path beside the main gate. He wore a light gray jacket and appeared casual yet stylish. Even from a distance, his posture was straight, exuding an air of elegance. He carried something with him.

Violeta hung up the phone.

As he approached, she fixed her gaze on the item in his hand and asked, “What’s that?”

“Fruit tea. It’s passionfruit flavor. I got it just for you.”

Hayden handed her the thermos bag. Violeta’s eyes lit up at that. Just as she was about to say something, he cut her off.

“I know, a superstar has to watch her sugar intake. It’s sugar-free, so it might taste a bit tart.”

“Amazing, you know that? Impressive, really.”

Unfortunately, Violeta was wearing a face mask, which made it inconvenient to drink.

There might be paparazzi lurking around. Therefore, she slouched a bit, took Hayden’s hand, and together they slipped away.

Hayden had made a reservation at a nearby rotisserie restaurant.

There were no private rooms, but the ambiance was relatively

quiet. Screens separated the tables, providing a decent level of privacy.

They chose a discreet corner, surrounded on all sides by partitions.

The table was small and square, with seating on all four sides, but Hayden opted to sit to Violeta’s left.

As she reached for the bagel dinner rolls, Violeta felt a bit cramped.

“Why are you sitting next to me? You could sit across.”

“I wanted to be closer to you.”

Violeta smiled. She picked up some butter to add to her roll. As she wrapped it up, she said, “I’ve been so busy lately dubbing over eighty episodes of drama that it has left my head spinning. I checked the calendar and realized it’s only June. Why are you here already?”

Hayden replied, “Am I not allowed to return early?”

Violeta quipped, “And why did you come looking for me first? Weren’t you supposed to report in?”

Hayden shrugged and said, “No rush. I have time to have a meal with you.”

Violeta glanced at him, guessing that the first thing Hayden did upon returning to Quinston was to find her. He hadn’t even gone home first, and the thought filled her with joy.

It meant that she was his top priority.

After a peaceful and cozy meal of smoked duck, they still had some time, so their driver took them to a nearby lake where there were fewer people to take a walk.

As they strolled by the lake, time seemed to slow down.

She asked, “Hayden, it seems like you don’t smoke.”

“I do, occasionally.”

Violeta lowered her head in silence, saying nothing.

“Do you not like that I smoke?”

“Not really. If smoking is a way to relieve stress, there’s no harm in doing it occasionally.”

“Then why aren’t you saying anything?”

Violeta smiled and said, “I was just recalling. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smoke before.”

“Hmm, you won’t be in the future either. I don’t want you to breathe in secondhand smoke.”

As they were about to return, Hayden took Violeta’s hand and suddenly pulled her into an embrace.

Violeta placed her hand on his back, then felt a warm kiss land on her cheek.

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly. She cupped his ear and leaned in closer.

Thump, thump, thump.

It was the sound of a quickening heartbeat.

After returning from the lake, Violeta was in high spirits as she continued her voiceover work.

Hayden went to report to his office.

For the next few days, Violeta was busy finishing up her voiceover work, while Hayden started his new job at the branch.

Apex Entertainment had organized a fan meet-and-greet for Evelina, creating quite a buzz that even landed them on the trending search lists.

The comments were filled with well wishes from netizens, hoping that after all she had been through, her career would now sail smoothly.

Evelina was relishing the benefits of having the support of a large corporation.

In the past, she would’ve had to rely on luck to make it onto the trending searches. There was no way she could afford to buy a spot.

After all, a single trending story was quite expensive.

Apex supported their new talent. The company secured Evelina with a decent endorsement deal and a photoshoot for the magazine.

Perhaps because of this, Evelina’s confidence had grown.

Her cousins, who also worked as her assistants, embodied the phrase bullying with power to the fullest extent.

One day, Aster went to the lounge to get some water and unexpectedly ran into two staff members who were moving the water dispenser from the room.

Chapter 502

“What are you doing?”

Aster stood there holding a glass of water, staring at them in surprise.

“Don’t mind them, just keep moving.”

Finally, Aster noticed a short-haired woman of small stature sitting on a nearby chair.

She was none other than Shania Mayton, one of Evelina’s assistants.

Shania was also Evelina’s second cousin, with an older sister named Jenny Mayton.

Shania stood up from the chair and cast a disdainful look at Aster, who was still holding her water glass.

“Who are you?” Shania asked.

Aster frowned and asked, “Who are you? Who gave you the right

to boss people around in Ms. White’s lounge? Where are you taking the water dispenser?”

Shania let out a cold snort. Her tone was haughty, “I’m Evie’s assistant!”

Evie?

Who’s Evie?

Aster thought for a moment, then realized she must be talking about Evelina.

How typical of this family-run team! In this industry, assistants usually refer to their artists as “Ms. or Mr. So-and-so” out of respect.

But Shania? She just went with Evie as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Not only did she lack respect, but she made it seem like she was the big star herself.

What an oddball.

Trying to stay patient, Aster asked, “You’re Evelina’s assistant. What are you doing in Ms. White’s lounge?”

Shania responded, “There’s a broken water dispenser next door. My sister told me to come over and get this.”

Aster tightened her grip on the glass, trying her best to hold back. In the end, she couldn’t.

“Are you out of your mind? What’s wrong with you? You come in here without saying a word and start taking our water dispenser -where do you think this is? Your family’s house? Put the dispenser down and get out of here!”

The two individuals operating the water dispenser instantly froze.

After being scolded, Shania was fuming, and she flared her nostrils like an angry bull. She asked, “What did you say? Who do you think you’re telling to leave? You should be the one leaving! This lounge will belong to Evie soon. Who do you think you are, telling us to get out?”

In all her years in the industry, Aster had never encountered such a rude assistant.

Not one to back down, Aster fired back immediately.

The two engaged in a heated argument in the lounge.

At that moment, Violeta was growing impatient from waiting.

She finally pushed the door open and walked in.

“Aster, what’s going on here?”

The argument came to an abrupt halt.

Aster turned around; her eyes, which had been wide with anger, suddenly softened.

“Ms. White, I was just getting some water when I saw them trying to take our water dispenser. This person here is Evelina’s assistant, and she’s claiming that this lounge will soon belong to Evelina.”

Shania’s eyes widened when she saw Violeta. Her first thought was about how stunning Violeta was.

She quickly snapped out of it, and her thoughts turned scornful. Must be plastic surgery-there’s no way someone could be born looking like that.

Shania placed her hand on her hip and scolded, “Yeah, didn’t you get the memo? This lounge will soon be ours. Naturally, we’re taking the water dispenser.”

Violeta glanced at Shania and the people moving the dispenser.

“You’re Evelina’s assistant?”

“That’s right.”

Violeta had heard from Eugene that Evelina’s agent had a big mouth and a strong personality.

She hadn’t expected Evelina’s assistant to be so aggressive and unreasonable.

Violeta turned to Aster and said, “Eugene did mention that our lounge would be moved upstairs, so it seems this one will indeed go to Evelina.”

Aster replied, “Oh, I see.”

Shania became even more haughty and added, “Exactly! Did you hear that? Violeta, your assistant has no manners.”

Violeta shifted her gaze, now cold and piercing, back to Shania.

“But for now, this lounge remains mine. If I don’t want to move, no one can make me. You’ve barged in here and taken my things without my permission. Is this your idea, or Evelina’s?”

Shania had no idea how to respond. She said, “If you refuse to move, you…”

She didn’t finish her sentence because two more people entered the room, Evelina and Jenny.

“Shania,” Evelina called out.

As soon as Shania saw the arrival, she stepped forward and complained, “Evie, they won’t let me take the dispenser!”

Chapter 503

Violeta turned around, and her dark gaze fixed on Evelina.

Sensing the tense atmosphere in the room, Evelina quickly guessed what was going on and smiled at Violeta. She said, “Violeta, I’m really sorry. Did my assistant say something wrong?”

Violeta smiled slightly and said, “She didn’t say much, really- just mentioned that my dressing room is soon going to be yours. Funny how I wasn’t aware of that.”

Evelina blinked innocently, immediately shifting the blame onto her manager. “Oh? Is that so? My manager told me that they would vacate this room for me. There must be some misunderstanding. I’m so sorry, Violeta. I’m new here and don’t know much yet. Please don’t hold it against me.”

When it came to status and commercial value, Evelina was inferior compared with Violeta.

In terms of age, Evelina and Kaylee co-starred in the same movie, making her likely the same age as Violeta, or close to it.

She was politely addressing Violeta, but there was a hint of pretentiousness, even a subtle jab.

Violeta’s expression remained unchanged as she spoke in a calm tone, “Even if I were to move, I haven’t done so yet. Your assistant already started moving things out of my dressing room. Evelina, do you think that’s appropriate? Or are you just so eager to take charge before I even leave?”

Evelina quickly waved her hands and denied the accusation, “No, it’s not like that. I didn’t mean it.”

She appeared to be flustered, and her face turned red, making her look pitiful.

Even though she was in the wrong, the situation made it seem like Violeta was bullying her.

“Violeta, this must be a misunderstanding. Shania, quickly apologize to Violeta.”

Shania reluctantly muttered, “Sorry.”

Regardless of whether it was sincere, Evelina did show some

humility, and her assistant apologized too. Violeta wasn’t one to push things unnecessarily, so she let them go.

After Evelina and her group left, Aster fumed and grumbled, “She accuses me of having no manners, but she’s the one without manners! Without her boss’s orders, would an assistant barge into another’s lounge to move things? Evelina pretending to be unaware is just too fake!”

Violeta patted her shoulder and comforted, “Go fetch some water. Felix is still here.”

After the recent speculations with Eugene, Violeta knew better than to underestimate Evelina. Signing with Apex wasn’t something a naïve little girl could easily accomplish.

Violeta wouldn’t underestimate her.

Today’s incident was likely a test from Evelina. She was probing whether Violeta was someone she could easily push around as the top star.

Violeta was surprised to learn that the company had decided to give Evelina her lounge after she moved upstairs.

Whether this was a deliberate arrangement by the company or something Evelina fought for herself, one thing was clear-

Evelina was quite ambitious.

Meanwhile, Evelina returned to the narrow temporary dressing room next door with her team.

As the door closed, her expression subtly shifted. Her innocent features showed a subtle hint of darkness.

Shania immediately spoke up, “Evie, you wouldn’t believe what just happened.”

Evelina intervened with a sharp reprimand, “How many times do I have to tell you? From now on, you call me Ms. Drayton! What’s with the “Evie”? What do you take this place as?”

Evelina’s harsh tone surprised Shania.

Jenny quickly defended Shania, “Evelina, how can you say that? We grew up together, and now that you’re a star, you think you’re better than us? You’ve forgotten how you got your start, haven’t you?”

Jenny seemed to know some of Evelina’s secrets.

Upon hearing her words, the anger on Evelina’s face subsided slightly.

“Jenny, Shania, this is the company! Please understand the situation.”

Jenny retorted, “What’s wrong with calling you Evie? I don’t see the problem.”

Evelina gritted her teeth and said, “Fine. If I don’t make it, we all go down together. If you won’t listen to me, then do as you please. Shania, that designer bag you wanted? Forget about it, I won’t be able to afford it!”

Shania quickly tugged on Jenny’s sleeve and then turned to Evelina. She said, “Evie, I’m just used to calling you that. I’ll change, okay? Starting now, I’ll call you Ms. Drayton in front of others. Jenny, you should also refer to her as Ms. Drayton. There’s no need to let money slip away.”

Chapter 504

Jenny hummed in response, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

The tension in the room lightened a bit.

Evelina said, “Go talk to those employees who moved the water dispenser earlier. Spread the word that Violeta and I had an argument in the lounge today. Let’s start a rumor that she’s bullying newcomers. Consider it my little welcome gift to her.”

Shania nodded and said, “I understand.”

Evelina despised Violeta.

Though Violeta had never wronged her directly, Evelina had long harbored a grudge against her.

The reason was simple. When the popularity of ‘The Lies in Winter’ was at its peak, Evelina, as the lead actress, was supposed to be the star of the show. Surprisingly, Violeta swooped in and stole the spotlight by promoting Kaylee.

As a result, Evelina was overshadowed by the third female lead, Kaylee.

That incident marked the beginning of Evelina’s grudge.

She believed that if it weren’t for Violeta’s interference, she wouldn’t have faded into obscurity after that movie. Evelina had blamed it all on Violeta.

Evelina’s goals at Apex Entertainment were clear: anyone in her way had to go.

Not only was Violeta her enemy, but Tracy was also her enemy.

Whether it was the top or the second-best, they all had to move aside for her.

To rise to the top, one must be ruthless, something Evelina knew all too well.

She had finally secured a rare opportunity, stepping on Alaric to do so, and she wasn’t about to let it slip away.

As the atmosphere eased, Jenny spoke up, “I heard from Lilian that Tracy only made it big because she latched onto someone powerful. The rumor is that it was a deputy head of channel.”

Shania added, “Many people in the industry have benefactors- not just women, but men too. If Tracy can get in with a deputy head, good for her.”

Evelina knew what they were implying.

She needed to find a benefactor and someone to back her up.

Evelina had thought about it before and even made some connections. But a reliable, long-term backer wasn’t straightforward to find. These days, trustworthy ones are difficult to come by.

Aster and Violeta left the company together. They got into a car and headed to a dubbing session.

The month was almost over, and the script was nearly complete.

With a red carpet event early next month, Violeta needed to start her skincare routine beforehand.

As soon as they were in the car, Eugene called Violeta, asking about the incident in the lounge.

Aster must have complained again.

Aster’s seemingly silly demeanor should not fool you-she wouldn’t hold back when she was wronged. Back when she first started working with Violeta, Tracy’s assistant bullied her, and she immediately told Eugene, who then stood up for her.

It was kind of cute.

At least when Aster got bullied, she knew to run home and tell the grownups.

“Hello, Eugene. Yeah, are we really giving that lounge to Evelina? Okay, I got it.”

Over the phone, Eugene explained that they were moving to the larger lounge upstairs, leaving Evelina’s team to take over the downstairs lounge.

Evelina’s team had likely known about this in advance, but Eugene hadn’t expected them to boldly come in today and start moving things.

Eugene said on the phone, “That lounge doesn’t have a great view anyway, so it’s no big loss. By the way, Beauty, our junior boss is coming back. I got the news today that his flight’s next Friday. He’ll be back just in time for Hyena TV’s film festival at the beginning of next month. I’ll introduce you two-he’s quite the looker.”

Junior boss.

Jasper.

A handsome guy.

Violeta laughed and said, “I know him. Jasper Weekley, isn’t it?”

Since graduation, Jasper has been in Wiltonshire on his own. It had been several years, and he was finally coming back.

It was a good thing.

Violeta was looking forward to him coming back and supporting her.

Eugene chuckled and said, “Oh, silly me. I forgot you went to the same school, and your families are close. Of course, you know each other. That’s even better. He’s going to be in charge of the company soon, it’ll be simple to get resources through him.”

Violeta agreed, “Yeah, it’s been a few years since we last met. I’ve missed him.”

Jasper didn’t want to come back, but his family had sent people to Wiltonshire several times to persuade him.

It took a lot of effort-three separate trips-to finally convince him to return.

After all, Jasper was his father’s only son. Considering his age, it was about time for Jasper to take up the mantle.

Chapter 505

When his father retired in a few years, it would be too late for Jasper to return and take over the company. It would have been better for him to come back earlier and start adjusting.

Therefore, they brought Jasper back from Wiltonshire with swift and decisive measures.

Once everything was in place in Wiltonshire, he would officially assume control.

The news of the junior boss’ return spread quickly among Apex’s top executives. As soon as Eugene heard about it, he immediately informed Violeta.

Within an hour, the group chat started buzzing again.

Both Zoren and Liam heard about Jasper’s return and tagged him in the group.

For a long time, the group chat had been silent and buried at the bottom of the list.

When it suddenly popped up, it caught Violeta off guard.

Zoren wrote, “Yo, Yo, Yo! Mr. Jasper finally decided to return, huh? We heard they begged for you three times before bringing you back. What’s the matter? You couldn’t bear to separate yourself from the girls abroad?”

Liam replied? “Who? Which Mr. Jasper are we talking about?

Zoren, what are you babbling about? Do we even have someone like that in our group? All I remember is a traitor who abandoned his own brothers.”

A few minutes later, Jasper’s profile picture appeared in the chat.

He sent a voice message. His voice was lazy and deeper than before, as if he’d just woken up.

“You idiots! What are you arguing about? Make sure to come and pick me up at the airport on Friday.”

Zoren rebuked, “You motherf*cker! You think you’re all that now? Liam, we should beat this guy up when he gets here!”

Liam taunted, “Oh, listen to that voice. It sounds like the Wiltonshire girls drained you dry. Tsk, tsk, you’ve had it good, haven’t you, Jasper?”

Jasper answered, “Huh?”

Violeta was sipping water when she saw the conversation. She nearly spat it out.

Before she could respond in the chat, Hayden popped in.

Hayden wrote, “What a coincidence, Jas. I’m being transferred

back, too. Let’s grab a meal when you’re here.”

Zoren replied, “Hade’s the boss. Vio, you coming too?”

Violeta leaned against the table and replied, “Sure, it’s a great opportunity to meet the junior boss. How could I miss it? Jasper, I’ll be counting on you to look out for me at the company from now on, hehe.”

It was unclear whether Jasper had seen the message, for he didn’t reply.

Zoren teased, “We’ve got special bonds. He had to look out for you.”

After a while, Jasper sent another voice message.

“Don’t be silly, Vio. With your status, you don’t need my help. You’re the company’s cash cow; I’d be the one sucking up to you. If you ever need anything, just drop me a message. We’re all pals here. Zoren, that pet sanctuary of yours looks pretty lovely in the photos. Take me there when I get back. If I’m in a good mood, maybe I’ll throw a few bucks your way so you can expand a bit.”

Zoren grumbled and sent a voice message back, “Jas, after all these years, your ego’s really skyrocketed. You better get back here quick, or I’ll build a shrine at the airport just for you.”

Liam said, “You guys keep on chatting. I’ve got work to do.”

Three days later, Violeta moved to a new lounge on an upper floor with a panoramic window view.

This new lounge was probably the best one for any artist in the company.

It made sense; Violeta was the company’s top star. Only a lounge like this matches her status.

Soon, rumors began to spread about Violeta bullying new talent.

It seemed to stem from her confrontation with Evelina when they tried to move the water dispenser out of the lounge.

Evelina had just signed with the company and was a nobody.

Violeta clashing with Evelina made her seem petty, as if she were bullying a newcomer.

You’d expect such gossip to upset Violeta. Surprisingly, she wasn’t bothered at all. She didn’t even try to stop the rumors.

She let them spread.

It seemed she didn’t care about her reputation at the company.

Evelina started to feel like she might have played her hand wrong, or maybe Violeta was just too dumb to realize she should clear her image.

In any case, Evelina benefited from Violeta’s tarnished reputation.

Soon, it was Friday.

Jasper had returned to Apex.

Violeta had just finished recording the post-production voiceover for her drama.

That day, Wade came to oversee the recording. Violeta took the opportunity to gift him a chess set.

Out of courtesy, even though Violeta could easily find out where Wade lived, she didn’t visit unannounced. She didn’t want to bother him.

Chapter 506

To begin with, dropping by someone’s house unannounced? Violeta probably hasn’t reached that level of familiarity with Wade.

Their relationship was more like that of a talented student and a talent scout, nothing deeper.

“Mr. Wade, please accept this gift,” Violeta said politely.

Wade took off his headphones and accepted the box Violeta handed him. Opening it, he chuckled and said, “You folks really love giving me chess sets.”

Violeta smiled warmly and said, “I know you enjoy playing chess, so I thought it would be a fitting gift. Has someone else given you a set, too?”

Wade ran his fingers over the chess pieces and felt the smooth, warm texture.

The material seemed like it was carved from amber. It was a rare and exquisite find.

“Yeah,” Wade nodded. “Nolan also recently gave me a chess set. Violeta, you’ve really put some thought into this. Thank you, I love it.”

Violeta smiled and said, “I’m glad you like it. Maybe someday we can play a game together.”

Wade smiled back and agreed, “Absolutely. We’ll find a time, no rush.”

Wade had a whole room dedicated to his collection, almost entirely filled with chess sets made from various materials.

He had a passion for collecting antique chess sets, especially those that had once belonged to ancient kings. These sets, marked by the passage of time, held immense historical and collectible value.

Of course, finding a complete antique chess set was nearly impossible due to the passage of time.

Most auction houses only sold individual pieces, and even those had to be in good condition.

If Wade ever managed to obtain a complete set, he’d be so ecstatic he wouldn’t be able to sleep for days-and his appetite would double.

Meanwhile, Zoren and Liam had gone to the airport to pick up Jasper.

Their trip was in vain. Jasper had changed his flight without informing them.

Furious, Zoren and Liam vented in their group chat.

“Jasper, you d*ck! Change your flight without telling us! We wasted half an hour in the freezing cold. You’re on our list now!”

Soon after, Jasper sent a photo.

The picture showed a room from the perspective of someone lounging on a sofa, with long legs propped up on a coffee table.

He was wearing black sweatpants, exuding an air of casual defiance.

“It wasn’t me,” Jasper explained. “My old man changed the flight. I only found out at the last minute. My mom wanted me home early to have lunch with her. Hope you guys understand.”

Liam replied, “And you motherf*cker didn’t think to tell us?”

“Come on, Liam,” Jasper teased. “I was just messing with you guys. Let’s meet up tonight for dinner at the Majestic Hotel. My treat. I’ll drink three glasses as a penalty, promise. Vio, you need to come too.”

Zoren chimed in, “Three glasses? That’s it? You think you can get away with that? Make it three bottles, or I’ll bring my baseball bat tonight. You better be ready to leave either walking or crawling.”

Violeta was leaving the dubbing studio when she saw a flood of messages from the group chat on her phone.

The early ones were filled with Zoren and Liam’s bitter complaints, but toward the end, she saw the plan for dinner.

She replied, “Got it; see you all tonight.”

About ten minutes later, Hayden must have seen the messages too.

He didn’t respond in the group but instead messaged Violeta directly.

“Vio, should I pick you up tonight?”

Violeta thought about it, but decided against it. She replied, “No need. I’ll go by myself. Too many people at the office. It wouldn’t look good if we were seen together.”

Hayden typed for a moment before responding, “Alright, see you tonight.”

Violeta sent back a heart emoji.

As night fell, Felix dropped Violeta off at the Majestic Hotel. She slipped in quietly and told him he didn’t need to wait.

The Majestic Hotel was one of Quinston’s most upscale hotels, known for its privacy.

Even if a paparazzi managed to follow her, they’d only be able to snap photos of the hotel entrance. They wouldn’t be able to follow her inside.

Violeta entered through the back door, where someone was waiting to escort her. The staff led her to a private room on the third floor.

When she entered the room, Zoren and Jasper were already in the middle of a drinking challenge. Liam was helping Zoren pin Jasper down so he could drink a bottle. Violeta arrived just in time to see all three of them freeze mid-action.

“You’ve made it, Vio! Come here,” Zoren called out.

Violeta took off her mask and hat. For a recent shoot, she had cut her hair short, tucking the strands behind her ears, and showcased her delicate features. Violeta had remained unchanged over the years.

“What are you guys doing?”

Violeta asked, scanning the room. Hayden wasn’t there, so he probably hadn’t arrived yet.

“We’re making Jas drink,” Zoren said.

Liam added, “He has to finish three bottles.”

Chapter 507

With a twist of his elbow, Jasper shrugged off Zoren’s grasp, freeing himself from the clutches. He muttered, “Hade hasn’t even arrived yet; why are you guys in such a rush?”

Violeta pulled out a chair and casually placed her hat on the table.

She glanced at them with a cheerful smile.

“Jasper, you’re finally back. How was Wiltonshire?”

Jasper adjusted his collar. He wore a black knit vest over a gray checkered shirt, torn open during the playful scuffle with Zoren and Liam. His face hadn’t changed much over the years, sharp eyes, thin lips, but his air had become mature.

Of course, that was only when he wasn’t speaking.

In front of his close friends, his composure would vanish in an instant.

“It was alright. Ended up doing some post-grad program while I was there.”

Zoren popped a peanut into his mouth and teased, “Haha! I bet you didn’t miss a chance to chase after a few girls either!”

The past few years had been quite the adventure for Jasper overseas. He had a habit of spending a lot, usually seven figures per year. When he first arrived in Wiltonshire, he splurged on a property worth eight figures.

His pace of changing girlfriends remained just as brisk.

In Wiltonshire, he managed to wreck three supercars-life was smooth sailing, to say the least.

After all, it was simple to live large when you weren’t spending your own money.

Liam sighed and said, “Compared to your life, mine is barely alive!” If I’d known, I would’ve taken a couple of years off after graduation too.”

Zoren snorted and said, “Come on, cut the act. I’m the one who actually built something from scratch, okay?”

Liam retorted, “That was your choice.”

Zoren’s eyes narrowed, and he rebuked, “Hey! That’s not something I want to hear!”

Before he could say more, the door to the private room swung open again.

Hayden walked in. He wore a light brown blazer. His tall frame carried a sense of quiet authority, accentuated by the frameless glasses perched on his high-bridged nose. He wore black casual pants that highlighted his long legs, and his posture was straight and poised.

He had clearly come straight from work.

“Hey, Hade.” Jasper looked up, grinning as he rose to greet him with open arms. “I missed you, man.”

They hugged briefly. Hayden gave Jasper’s shoulder a light pat and smiled softly.

“Finally decided to come back, huh?”

“Of course, I had to return. This place is my home.”

The two walked over to the round table.

Hayden pulled out a chair and sat beside Violeta. Finally, the four of them were together again.

Violeta leaned on one hand and listened to their conversation.

It had been a long time since the four of them had gathered. Naturally, there was a lot to catch up on, mostly about the changes in their lives since graduation.

Aside from Jasper, the other three had their own careers and goals.

Liam was now a senior executive at Ridge Group. If everything went as planned, he’d likely become the general manager by next year.

Benson had returned from overseas and joined the company.

Although Carl allowed him to join, he started as a regular employee in the marketing department.

Carl made it clear that if Benson wanted to rise, he had to climb up from the bottom, just like Liam.

If Benson ever became a threat to Liam’s position, Carl wouldn’t interfere.

If he failed, it would only prove that he wasn’t capable, even when given the opportunity.

Zoren had managed to push through the hardest part of establishing his pet charity. The Pet Haven app had officially launched a few days ago.

The downloads exceeded a million on the first day. The daily active user data was also impressive.

The money he had invested was slowly returning.

His venture seemed to be a success.

He started this business without family help. His family recognized his efforts and acknowledged his capabilities.

Next, Zoren planned to develop his own line of pet food and start selling it. His family’s chain of supermarkets could lend him a hand with distribution.

Hayden had been steadily progressing toward his goal. He was now a deputy branch manager, a significant achievement at such a young age with a promising future ahead.

That left only Jasper without any notable accomplishments.

Compared to his friends, he was lagging behind, but it wasn’t too late for him either.

He was destined to follow in Liam’s footsteps and take over his family business.

However, Jasper had an advantage; he didn’t have a half-brother like Liam did, nor did he need to compete for the family’s wealth. He was the sole heir.

Chapter 508

Jasper would undoubtedly inherit the company.

….!

He naturally acted with a sense of entitlement because his family favored him.

From the moment Jasper stepped into the office, he had already secured the top spot.

Moreover, Apex was only one of the Weekley Group’s subsidiaries.

The Weekley Group was active in a variety of other

entertainment industries. Such an extensive empire was the backbone that supported his extravagant lifestyle in Wiltonshire.

Once he took over the family business, Jasper could no longer be the carefree rich kid he used to be.

It was time to leave behind the reckless days of youth and transform into a mature man.

As the waiter wheeled in the cart with their food, the five of them raised their glasses. Violeta couldn’t help but sigh; time really flew by.

The last time they had fondue together, Violeta was reminded of when they first met and shared broth together.

She did the math almost ten years had passed.

Violeta still remembered the last dinner they had together after graduation, where they had raised their glasses in celebration.

“To make a name for ourselves!”

“To a bright future!”

“To climb the ranks quickly!”

This time, the scene was just like back then, except the innocence had faded from everyone’s faces.

Five glasses clinked together gently.

“To success in everything!”

“To soaring achievements!”

“To steady progress!”

Violeta added with a smile, “Lasting friendship!”

Hayden glanced at Violeta, then at the others. He said, “May all your dreams come true.”

That evening, Violeta was the only one who didn’t drink.

The rest had drunk quite a bit. Though Hayden drank less, he still indulged.

Violeta was the only one sober. She called drivers to take each of them home. Then she put on her face mask and hat and helped Hayden leave.

It was almost eleven at night.

Outside, the streets were nearly deserted, with orange streetlights lining the road.

The driver took them back to Liberty Grove.

It was unclear if Hayden was drunk or not. He had been quiet since getting in the car, leaning back in his seat with his eyes closed, holding Violeta’s hand tightly.

A breeze entered through the slightly cracked window.

Violeta glanced at Hayden and reached over to remove his glasses. It left two faint red marks on his nose.

Hayden’s eyes fluttered open, fixing on Violeta. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, his gaze a mix of confusion and mistiness after being drunk. He released her hand and raised it to touch her face.

His gaze held a deep sincerity in the dim light of the cramped car.

Violeta looked at him and asked, “What?”

Hayden’s hand lingered on her face as she smiled. He said nothing, just leaning in to plant a light kiss on her cheek. Then he traced his lips toward the corner of her mouth.

The driver kept his eyes on the road.

In that moment, the night breeze was gentle, and the air was filled with affection.

The tender kiss carried a hint of rich, mellow wine.

Two days later, at the Hyena TV Fashion Gala.

Jasper made his first public appearance as the head of Apex Entertainment.

After the celebrities walked the red carpet, Jasper arrived with the event director, only making a brief appearance. The media managed to capture a blurry shot of his profile and figure from inside the venue.

Jasper didn’t like having his photos spread all over the internet.

Given his notorious reputation in Wiltonshire’s academic circles, he didn’t want to become the subject of idle gossip among netizens.

He made it clear that no media outlet could publish the pictures of him.

Despite this, a slightly blurred profile shot of him still made its way online, causing a minor stir in the industry.

“Apex’s new CEO is actually this handsome! D*mn!”

“This is what they call a real-life heir to a wealthy family. No wonder Apex’s artists are all attractive, turns out their CEO is a stunner himself.”

“Handsome, I suggest you make your debut as an artist yourself.”

After taking over the company, Jasper quickly collaborated with Invinne Group.

After three days of high-level discussions, they finally confirmed the production of the film The Golden Age.

Chapter 509

Apex Entertainment, in collaboration with Invinne Group, invested heavily in their first major film project. The movie received a substantial 1.5 billion. The director in charge is none other than Mason, the industry’s most talked- about new director.

A few years ago, Mason burst onto the scene with The Lies in Winter. That movie earned widespread acclaim for its unique cinematic style.

Some of the landscape sequences and shot composition in the movie even won him the Best Cinematography Award at the Oplen Film Festival.

Winning such a prestigious award with his very first film made Mason the youngest rising star in the industry.

Many actors dream of working with him someday.

Surprisingly, after that film, Mason went silent for three years. Instead of rushing into his next project, he took time to study art abroad.

He was rumored to have made connections during his time at the Oplen Festival that led him to expand his studies overseas.

When Apex was considering signing Evelina, they took into account that she had played the lead in Mason’s previous movie.

Being the lead in a film that won the Oplen Best Cinematography Award carries significant weight.

After retreating from the limelight during the peak of his career, Mason finally returned and announced the filming of a new movie.

As soon as the news broke, every actor eagerly anticipated the release of the script, along with details about audition dates and locations.

Mason’s success back then was largely due to his innate talent. The arts thrive on raw talent, and if Mason could win awards with his first film, the company expected him to be even more impressive after further honing his skills.

Moreover, with such a large investment in the movie, the industry had high expectations for this script.

Once released, this film might just become a new era-defining classic.

Many had a strong premonition that it had the potential to go international once it was released.

If Mason could use this film to break into the Oscars, it would be nothing short of legendary.

Eugene was the first to get his hands on a third of the movie script.

He immediately rushed to the lounge to show Violeta.

The Golden Age was an ensemble film.

While it had a male and female lead, every character’s role was equally significant, with almost the same screen time.

The story centers around a couple on the run for smuggling alcohol who seek refuge at a private hotel near a train station.

The couple had to stay at the hotel for five days due to the severe snowfall.

During these five days, the couple, along with the family of four that run the hotel, had experienced a series of both hilarious and heartwarming events. The movie was filled with suspense, humanity, and intrigue.

Every character in an ensemble film, whether a lead or a supporting role, had a fully fleshed-out persona, making the characters rich and complex.

Such a film demands a high-quality script, an exceptional director, and outstanding actors.

The estimated shooting time was two years.

The script was the work of a team of three industry-leading screenwriters.

Despite the confirmed film production, the script remained unfinished.

In fact, there was a 70% chance that the script would be a work in progress, with changes made during filming.

There’s even a possibility that the initially planned two-year shooting schedule might be extended.

For actors, this was an exciting challenge, as it could be their best shot at reaching the pinnacle of their careers and winning major awards.

But for a current top-tier star, this means taking a huge gamble with a few years of their career.

That was a few years in their careers.

Additionally, during filming, the actors must sign confidentiality agreements, preventing them from appearing in public during this time.

Even the top stars would struggle to stay relevant after two or three years of absence.

Mason had complete control over the cast, but the company still had a crucial recommendation vote.

Naturally, the top pick was Violeta, who recently renewed her contract.

As the company’s leading actress, she was definitely their priority.

Of course, characters would also be offered to Tracy and Evelina to ensure all the stars under contract were given a fair shot.

Mason’s choice ultimately determined the cast.

Eugene had brought the script to Violeta to gather her thoughts.

“Beauty, do you have any thoughts on this film?”

Chapter 510

Violeta looked at the script on the table. She rested her chin on one hand, her index finger lightly tapping her cheekbone as if deep in thought. She asked, “Two years, huh?”

Eugene sighed and said, “Indeed, that’s a long time. It’s a disadvantage for us.”

Violeta was at the peak of her popularity right now.

Disappearing from the public eye for such a long time, two years, was a huge gamble.

The future of winning an award for that movie was uncertain; no one could say for sure.

If the film’s release proved to be underwhelming, it would be a significant loss.

Violeta lowered her eyes and tried to recall the details.

She didn’t have much memory of the movie being a success.

Violetta quickly did the math in her head. The movie’s shooting period coincided perfectly with the time she spent learning her craft in the mountains during her previous life.

It was just the right few years where she had nothing else going on and coincidentally overlapping with the shooting schedule.

Violeta was certain of one thing: Zelena had no involvement in this movie. At the time, Zelena was likely focusing on winning over Nolan.

Nolan was the ideal husband Zelena had hoped for.

From an actress’s perspective, the movie had a good script that

Violeta didn’t want to miss.

The idea of a few years’ gap was also a deadly risk.

In her previous life, by the time she came down from the mountain, she was already nearing thirty.

Although she had gained skills, it was unfortunate that they

made little impact on her circumstances.

Reality wasn’t something that changed easily.

The world was harsh, with social classes firmly entrenched. For an ordinary person without connections, climbing the ladder was nearly impossible.

The skills she learned in the mountains only made her stunt double career smoother and introduced her to the world of stunt acting.

Living was hard, but the thought of death terrified her. She had once spiraled into a cycle of self-destruction.

What she remembered most vividly was the night of Christmas one year, when Zelena and Nolan made their relationship public, causing a massive uproar online.

Perhaps the movie did win an award in her previous life and even succeeded at the Oscars.

But at that time, Violeta was too exhausted to care.

So, she had no choice but to take a gamble.

“Eugene, when does the movie production start?”

When Violeta asked about the start date, Eugene knew Violeta was likely interested in taking part in the movie.

“They’re still building the sets. Production won’t start anytime soon; I’d say it’ll be at least another three or four months.”

The film’s primary location was a hotel and didn’t have a suitable real-life counterpart.

Therefore, Mason decided they needed to construct one.

Despite the significant investment in the film, the lodge served as the setting for 75% of the scenes, necessitating the perfect portrayal of every detail.

Mason and the directing team personally oversaw the location selection. They had chosen the site, started construction, and estimated that the set would be ready in about three to four months.

With construction ongoing, there was plenty of time to cast the actors.

After receiving his answer, Violeta asked, “Have you heard of The Lodge variety show?”

Eugene replied, “The Lodge? I’ve heard a bit about it. Why do you ask?”

Blue Channel recently launched The Lodge, a period-style variety show that retained its core entertainment elements.

They featured several comedians as regular hosts.

Each episode featured different artists as guests, with the script casting them as various warriors or chieftains of the warrior world that were visiting the lodge.

The regular hosts had different tasks each episode. The guests had to participate in the show for 24 hours. The cameras would roll non-stop. The production would edit the footage into a collection of jokes and humorous highlights that were popular with the audience.

That was the show’s concept.

When it first aired, the ratings were good, mainly because the period theme was fresh.

Some dark industry secrets came to light halfway through, due to some unreasonable salary disputes and regular hosts threatening to leave. The ratings for the show began to decline.

Now, it was barely holding on.

Violeta had been in the industry for a while, acting in dramas and movies, but she had never participated in a variety show.

She had received invitations but didn’t want to go. Eugene didn’t think much about variety shows either, so they never accepted the invitation.

Violeta believed that an actress needed a certain level of mystery.

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