Chapter 3

Shortly after I left, news alerts started blowing up on my phone.

Angela and Julian had officially gone public.

Originally, this PR stunt was something she and I had planned to hype up our movie.

Only now, I had been replaced.

Except, it didn't go the way she wanted.

Julian was a boyband idol whose entire career relied on obsessive female fans.

Announcing a relationship out of nowhere triggered an absolute riot online.

Hordes of toxic fans directed all their rage onto Angela, spamming her accounts with death threats.

Angela didn't sleep a wink that night, frantically deleting hate comments until dawn.

I didn't sleep either. Early the next morning, I arrived at the studio.

"Wait, Vincent actually showed his face?"

"Didn't he act all tough yesterday and walk out? He couldn't even last twelve hours before crawling back!"

"Does he think Julian and Angela are pushovers? You don't just leave and come back whenever you feel like it!"

Most of the crew members were Julian’s diehard fanclub, and the rest were industry opportunists who knew whose boots to lick.

I ignored their snickers and walked straight toward Angela’s trailer.

"Vincent, so you finally came to your senses."

Julian stepped out of hair and makeup, draped in a custom-tailored designer suit.

"Where's Angela?"

He smiled smugly, dodging the question.

"You're here for the supporting role, right? Honestly, I’d love to help, but you really made Angela mad yesterday."

"So, you need to show some real sincerity before I can put in a good word for you!"

The crew members around him chimed in:

"Julian, you're way too nice! He won't appreciate it. Just throw him out!"

"Seriously! He’s a nobody! Giving him the supporting role is a waste anyway. You should give those parts to your bandmates so this movie actually blows up!"

"Yeah, Julian, don't let him walk all over you!"

I let out a cold laugh at how braindead they sounded.

Did they really think the box office audience was this stupid?

Julian was riding high on his pedestal. Crew members were massaging his shoulders, bringing him iced lattes.

He leaned back lazily on a director's chair the assistant director had dragged over, crossing his legs.

"Look, seeing as we're old acquaintances, I'm willing to give you a chance."

He smirked, pointing down at his feet. "How about this? Get on your knees and buff my dress shoes clean."

"Then maybe I'll think about asking Angela to toss you a bone."

A production assistant instantly chimed in like a loyal dog:

"What are you standing there for? Take the offer!"

I kept my hands in my pockets, looking down at him like a piece of trash. "You? Who the hell do you think you are?"

Julian rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers.

The assistant director and production assistant lunged forward, trying to force me to my knees.

Caught off guard, my knee hit the floor, their hands pinning my shoulders.

Julian laughed out loud, lifting his leather shoe and stomping it right onto my chest. "Oops, you missed your chance."

"Now, you only get to lick the sole."

Several crew members pulled out their phones, sneaking videos while whispering and snickering at my expense.

Veins bulged along my temples, my jaw clutched so tight my teeth nearly shattered.

Just as he lifted his foot to grind it into my face, I ripped free with every ounce of strength I had.

I grabbed Julian’s ankle and yanked with all my might.

Julian shrieked like a pig, tipping backward off the chair, sending hot coffee splashing all over himself.

"Fck! Do you know this suit costs over a hundred grand?!"

I didn't give him the chance to finish. I tackled him to the floor, my fist slamming squarely into the face he was so damn proud of.

Chaos erupted. People screamed, trying to pull me off.

Nobody could move me an inch.

Julian wept and begged beneath me, but I tuned it all out.

Fist after fist rained down until I caught the wind of something heavy swinging toward the back of my head.

I ducked instinctively.

The wooden chair Angela had swung came crashing down—smack into Julian’s stomach.

"Julian!"

Angela dropped the chair in horror, frantically kneeling beside Julian, whose face was swollen like a bruised peach.

"Vincent! What the hell is wrong with you?!" she shrieked like a banshee.

"Do you want this supporting role or not?!"

For the first time in years, I felt pure, unadulterated relief. I pulled out my termination contract and flashed it in her face.

"No, I don't."

"I came here to sign my release. You can sign it now, or we can go to court. You'll lose, and you'll owe me a massive payout."

Angela gritted her teeth. "I thought you’d use your brain after a night of cooling off, but you're completely hopeless!"

"You're older than Julian, you don't have his fame! Once you leave my production, who the hell in this town will ever hire you?!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Don't lose any sleep over it."

Julian groaned from her arms, begging her to kick me out.

After a beat of hesitation, Angela scribbled her name onto the paper.

"Have it your way! Don't you dare come crying to me when you're blacklisted from the entire industry!"

Snatching the contract, I sneered, "Let's see who ends up begging whom."

As I turned to leave, two voices rang out simultaneously from the hallway:

"Vincent! Finally! The entire crew is waiting on you to start shooting!"

"Angela, we have a disaster! The investors found out you replaced the male lead—they're pulling all their money!"