Chapter 129
When Lexi stepped out of the director’s office, she immediately spotted Lisa standing nearby.
There was a knowing smile on her face.
“You heard everything p>
Lexi raised an eyebrow.
It was phrased like a question, but the certainty in her voice made it obvious she already knew the answer.
Lisa nodded.
Sunlight illuminated her pale, flawless features, making her eyes seem almost glass-like.
“You know what I think p>
She crossed her arms.
“You should just get together with Sebastian p>
Lexi stared at her.
“It would knock Lauren down a peg p>
Lisa smiled.
“And frankly, that would benefit me too p>
Although Lisa had plenty of industry connections, a strong reputation, and several major awards under her belt, Lauren was still an established award-winning actress.
Compared with Lauren, Lisa was still slightly behind.
“So it would benefit you p>
Lexi sighed.
“It wouldn’t benefit me at all p>
Everyone already believed she and Sebastian were involved.
To them, she and Lauren weren’t merely professional rivals.
They were romantic rivals too.
People were practically waiting with popcorn for the two women to tear each other apart.
Some people simply wanted free entertainment.
Others wanted to sit back and profit from the chaos.
The production crew belonged to the first group.
Lisa, unfortunately, belonged to the second.
“All right, enough about that p>
Lisa waved it off.
“You remember what you promised me, right p>
“I booked a private room p>
“Eight tonight. I’ll be waiting p>
Lexi blinked.
Then she remembered.
She had agreed to be Lisa’s third wheel so she could get closer to Logan.
Apparently, tonight was going to require another round of strategic matchmaking.
Lisa walked away.
A moment later, Lexi’s phone rang.
She found a quiet corner and answered.
“Lexi, I found out p>
Lila’s oice was low.
“Shenna did attend the Golden Eagle Awards p>
Lexi’s heart tightened.
“And Lauren was the one who got her the invitation p>
So Shenna really had lied to her.
Lexi stared at the sunlight outside.
It was warm and bright.
Yet somehow she felt cold.
She wrapped her cardigan more tightly around herself.
Her thoughts scattered like dead leaves in late autumn.
She couldn’t understand it.
How could people who once seemed so innocent end up like this?
Yesterday, they could be friends.
Today, they were willing to destroy each other.
Was it really just vanity?
After speaking with Lila for a few more minutes, Lexi ended the call.
She had no time to dwell on it.
Filming continued.
Throughout the entire afternoon, Shenna never once looked at Lexi.
She didn’t speak to her either.
Whenever Lexi came even slightly close, Shenna immediately moved away, hiding behind Lauren.
The behavior left Lexi feeling frustrated.
And strangely sad.
After filming wrapped, Lexi returned to the dressing room to remove her makeup.
She was about to grab her bag and leave for dinner with Lisa when Lauren walked in.
She ordered all the staff out.
Then she locked the door.
Lexi’s expression hardened.
“Lauren p>
She turned around.
“What do you want p>
The locked room immediately reminded her of the hospital.
Of Lauren walking toward her with that knife in her hand.
That version of Lauren had looked almost inhuman.
Like some demon dragged out of hell.
Murderous.
Consumed by rage.
Lauren’s fake smile disappeared.
Her face turned cold as she folded her arms.
“Last night, Sebastian asked me to dinner p>
Lexi’s fingers tightened around her bag.
“He promised me access to the best projects in the industry p>
“He said I could choose whatever roles I wanted p>
Lauren paused.
“But there was one condition p>
She stared at Lexi.
“Do you know what it was p>
Lexi’s eyelid twitched.
A strange sense of dread settled in her stomach.
“What condition p>
Lauren smiled.
But there was nothing warm about it.
“Sebastian wants me to issue a public statement p>
She spoke slowly, emphasizing every word.
“I have to announce that our relationship has ended because of irreconcilable differences p>
“We’re supposed to say we’ve decided to part ways peacefully p>
Her smile twisted.
“Sebastian wants to break up with me p>
“Lexi p>
Her eyes filled with hatred.
“Are you satisfied now p>
Lexi’s heart dropped.
For a moment, she couldn’t breathe.
She had never expected Sebastian to make such a decision.
The news was difficult to process.
On the surface, asking Lauren to announce the breakup allowed her to preserve her dignity.
But in reality, Sebastian was cutting off the last thread keeping Lauren connected to him.
Sebastian had become Lauren’s obsession.
Her fixation.
Her emotional anchor.
And now he had severed it himself.
The final barrier holding her back was gone.
Lexi slowly exhaled.
“I never wanted to break the two of you apart p>
“I don’t know why Sebastian decided to end things with you p>
“But now that it has happened, you should focus on figuring out how to win him back p>
“Don’t come here and fight with me p>
When she’d first heard that Sebastian wanted to break up with Lauren, Lexi had been shocked.
Now, strangely enough, she felt almost nothing.
Sebastian wasn’t stupid.
Eventually, he would see Lauren for who she really was.
And even if Lauren managed to keep deceiving him, there was still Sebastian’s father to consider.
The Blackwood family was old, powerful, and fiercely traditional.
They were hardly the kind of family that would willingly welcome an actress into their inner circle as Sebastian’s wife.
Lexi had already experienced that attitude firsthand when she met Sebastian’s father.
Lauren gave a cold laugh.
Her expression gradually returned to normal.
“Don’t celebrate too soon, Lexi p>
Her eyes were dark.
“We’ll see who wins in the end p>
Lexi almost laughed.
Love wasn’t a competition.
There was no winner’s trophy.
No scoreboard.
Love was more like an equation.
The person who loved more was usually the one who suffered more.
And the person who loved less?
They were the ones who could walk away freely.
Before either woman could say anything else, a worried voice came from outside.
“Lauren? Are you in there p>
It was Shenna.
“Yvonne is looking for you p>
Shenna had searched the entire production set for Lauren.
When she couldn’t find her, she’d come to Lexi’s dressing room on a hunch.
The locked door told her enough.
And she had heard most of the conversation.
Sebastian and Lauren were breaking up.
If that was true…
Did that mean she finally had a chance?
The door opened.
Lauren stepped out with the elegance of a victorious queen, her chin held high.
Shenna quickly suppressed the excitement bubbling inside her.
She was about to follow Lauren when Lexi caught her by the sleeve.
“Shenna p>
Her voice was firm.
“I need to talk to you p>
Shenna looked at her.
“Lexi, I’m busy p>
She frowned impatiently.
“Can we talk another time p>
She tried to pull away.
Lexi didn’t let go.
“You attended the Golden Eagle Awards p>
Her voice was cold.
“Why did you lie to me p>
Shenna’s eyes immediately hardened.
She let out a quiet laugh.
Her entire demeanor changed.
The timid, soft-spoken woman disappeared.
In her place stood someone proud and ambitious.
“So you found out p>
Shenna looked directly at Lexi.
“Fine p>
“You want to know why p>
Her voice carried years of resentment.
“I didn’t have a choice p>
She stepped closer.
“Why is it that we came from the same place p>
“Why do you always get there first p>
“Why does the world seem to put every good thing in front of you and let you choose p>
Her eyes burned.
“And what am I supposed to do p>
“Stand behind you p>
“Forever living in your shadow p>
For the first time, Lexi saw the truth behind Shenna’s carefully constructed innocence.
The girl who had once seemed timid and helpless had never been as simple as she appeared.