Reborn as the Villainess

Eleanor couldn't quite figure out why Gregory was so excited about her just returning a bracelet. She thought, 'Put in a good word for him? To who? Could it be Stephen?'

The more Eleanor thought about it, the more it made sense. After all, the Lloyd family's entertainment company was quite influential. Gregory was probably hoping she'd introduce him to Stephen and help him get valuable connections or projects. If distancing herself from the Lloyd family wasn't a problem, this was a favor she could handle. She nodded. "Alright."

Gregory practically leaped into the air, excited as he squealed. "Ms. Vanderbilt, you're the best. Don't worry, I'll keep your mission secret. I won't tell a soul." His face was flushed with joy.

Gregory thought, 'Oh yeah. The sect leader's going to promote me. What does that mean? It means I can strut around Ghost Sect without a care. No more getting mocked by the other divisions for failing to complete missions! Meanwhile, Eleanor, sitting beside him, furrowed her brows, looking at the ecstatic Gregory with a bit of confusion.

She thought, 'Is it really that big of a deal? With his current fan base and status in the entertainment industry, surely he could secure great projects without relying on the Lloyd family, right? Could the opportunities from the Lloyd family be that much better?' She just couldn't wrap her head around it.

The first scene involved Eleanor, Gloria, and Zane. It was straightforward. Eleanor's character, Megan, harbored an admiration and affection for Zane's character, Joe. She was even willing to give up her ballet dreams for him. But Joe fell for another girl, Willa, played by Gloria.

Megan walked in on Zane and Willa in a close moment, confronting them, only to leave heartbroken in the end.

Victor held the script as he explained the scene to the trio, "This scene is tricky but simple at the same time. The biggest emotional tension comes from you, Eleanor. Your character has the largest emotional swings in this scene, so make sure to capture the emotional depth properly.

"As for Gloria and Zane, you two don't need any emotional burden. Just speak like you normally would."

Victor glanced up, seeing that the lighting and set were ready. He waved them into place. "Alright, take your positions. We're starting soon."

Gloria followed behind Zane, her tone soft and sweet. "Zane, this is my first time acting. Can you guide me a little during the shoot?"

Zane beamed brightly, "Of course, Gloria."

Gloria replied, "Zane, you're the best."

Eleanor, completely ignored by the two, stood there thinking, 'Really? You're just now asking for help when we're about to shoot? As if some last-minute advice is going to make a difference

The two continued their sugary banter when Gloria suddenly seemed to remember Eleanor's presence. She turned and smiled at her, "Eleanor, do you need Zane's help, too? He's really amazing."

Zane, who couldn't resist flattery, blushed instantly, his posture straightening with pride. "Ellie, how about I help you get into character later?"

Eleanor thought, 'Ellie? Since when have we been close?' She replied softly, "No, thank you."

Just as Gloria was about to start her little performance of coyness again, the clapperboard crew stepped forward. "The Nameless Sea, scene one, take one, Action!"

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Eleanor let out a breath, quickly getting into character. The uncertainty in her eyes vanished instantly, and when she saw Joe, her face lit up with the joy of a lover. But the next second, she caught sight of the other girl standing intimately by his side. instant, a devastating wave of heartbreak washing over her. Her legs trembled, and she

It felt like her world shattered in stumbled toward the pair in a panicked rush.

Victor, watching through the

Cam nodded firmly. "This girl's got talent,' he thought. For her first time acting, she was

nailing the emotional shifts, and she even had the instinct to move aside for the cameraman while running. He might've thought she was a seasoned child star if he hadn't personally scouted her in high school.

Megan stopped before Joe and Willa, her eyes red and filled with hurt. "Joe, tell me. Who is she?"

Joe, taken aback by Megan's sudden appearance, his expression faltering. "Megan, what are you doing here?"

Megan was panting, her breathing ragged, as if struggling to comprehend the scene before her. Her face crumpled, on the verge of breaking down, her tearful gaze so genuine that even Zane, the actor, felt a tug at his heartstrings. His eyes naturally softened with a hint of pity.

"Cut!" Suddenly, Victor yelled out, calling an abrupt stop to the scene. Furious, he turned to Gloria, who stood there frozen. "Gloria, what's going on? You're supposed to look confused, unsure of what to do at this moment. Why are you glaring at her like you're about to pick a fight? She's not the one stealing your man. You're the one stealing hers."

Eleanor and Zane were both doing great, but Gloria's emotional control was completely off.

Stunned by Victor's shouting, Gloria snapped out of her daze and quickly bowed in apology. "I'm sorry, Victor, I got distracted."

Seeing Gloria's sincere attitude and considering it was her first time acting, Victor let it go. "Alright, let's do another take." The clapperboard crew called out, "The Nameless Sea, scene one, take two. Action!"

Eleanor closed her eyes briefly, slipping back into character. Her tears came effortlessly. In the blink of an eye, transformed into the pitiful, heartbroken Megan. "Joe, tell me. Who is she?"

Joe quickly explained, "Megan, it's not what you think. We're just friends."

she

"Cut!" Victor, now thoroughly exasperated, slammed his script or the table. "Gloria, what's going on? Where are your lines? Why aren't you saying anything?"

Gloria was at a loss. Then, they did another take.

Victor shouted, "Cut! Gloria, your emotions are off."

Then again, Victor shouted, "Cut! Gloria, what happened to your blocking? You're completely blocking the camera. Who are we supposed to be filming?"

"Cut!" Six or seven takes later, Gloria ruined every single one. At this point, not just Victor but even the crew was losing patience.Exclusive content from NôvelDrama.Org.

Zane, though irritated, managed to keep his temper in check, After all, Gloria was a Vanderbilt. He couldn't afford to show it, no matter how annoyed he was. "Gloria, just focus on urgently delivering your lines, and you'll be fine."

Gloria hung her head in dejection. "I understand, Zane." After so many failed takes, she started to feel embarrassed. But when she glanced over at Eleanor, she caught a glimpse of a faint, mocking smirk playing on Eleanor's lips. Gloria fumed internally, 'How dare she? What gives her the right to look at me like that?' She clenched her teeth, a flash of malice glinting in her eyes.

Just then, Gloria caught sight of a familiar figure from the corner of her eye. Instantly, the venom in her gaze evaporated,