Clarissa’s mood turned more sullen after she stepped onto the plane.
She did not wish to get into a fight with Matthew.
She hated the fact that she had just ruined the weekend by speaking “the truth”.
Prior to her departure, Clarissa wanted to kiss him goodbye, but the man just returned her a perfunctory peck on the cheek.
He knew what I said to be true. Sometimes the truth hurts but that doesn’t mean that I should start lying. He is always the more rational one and should know this better than anyone else. Besides, he only has himself to blame for this obstacle between us! What right does he have to be mad at me? Urgh!
After she arrived at her hotel, Clarissa called Matthew to check in with him. However, the man’s aloof attitude had gotten under her skin again, causing her to reciprocate in bitterness before hanging up the phone.
Who does he think he is!
Brushing her unpleasant phone call with Matthew aside, Clarissa sorted out her stuff in the hotel room before heading out to check in with Justin. She also brought with her some snacks from D City to share with the crew.
Clarissa went into Justin’s room to catch up with him and a few other crew members regarding the filming progress. She was told that not long after she left, Shermaine, too, had taken some time off to go back to D City. They were said to have come back to the set around the same time.
Upon hearing that, a strange feeling flashed across Clarissa’s mind, but she did not dwell on it.
As they were leaving Justin’s room, he stopped and asked Clarissa, “When you were at D city, did Matt mention anything?”
“What is it?” She was baffled by Justin’s question.
Justin shook his head and smiled in return. “Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just afraid that Matt may be mad at me for keeping you here.”
Clarissa let out a chuckle; her brows arched in a way that was refreshingly pleasant. “This is my job. There’s nothing he can say about it. Besides, I’ve never complained once when he gets busy with his work. It’s an era for gender equality now!”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
After sending Clarissa off, the smile on Justin’s face faded away as he walked back into his room.
His expression grew grim as he recalled his earlier conversation with Jeremy and felt bad for Clarissa.
Clarissa inevitably bumped into Shermaine when she was on her way to send some garments for the set.
“Ms. Smallwood, here’s your new costume.”
Shermaine turned around and gazed at Clarissa. Her eyes appeared more slanted and apparent than usual due to the makeup.
Clarissa thought something was discernible in Shermaine’s eyes.
Is that…probing? Or suspicions in her eyes?
Without intending to engage with Shermaine, Clarissa was quick to leave the room and was glad that the woman did not come after her.
“Mindy, come here,” Shermaine called for her assistant. This was yet another new assistant of hers.
The assistant who answered to the name “Mindy”, was Sasha Parks. But she did not bother to correct Shermaine.
“Yes, Ms. Smallwood”
“I need you to…” Shermaine then told Sasha what to do in a lowered voice.
Sasha thought it was a very peculiar order from Shermaine.
Nevertheless, she still carried out her order dutifully, considering it was not something illegal or harmful to anyone.
Clarissa, on the other hand, was unaware of what had taken place.
Instead, her attention was partly occupied by all sorts of gossips flowing out from the crew members.
For example, award-winning actor Quentin MacNeish actually had a girlfriend; an actress with impeccable public image spoke nothing but vulgar languages off-screen. She apparently cursed so much she could pass for any neighborhood thug.
Yaala was right when she said that all actors only put up a show on-screen for the benefit of the public. When they are not in front of a camera, they will swear, fart, joke, and have fetishes like ordinary people.
Clarissa thought Yaala’s observation was quite spot on. The more she was exposed to the showbiz environment, the more she felt intrigued by it.
Clarissa was not interested in becoming an actress herself. Rather, she thought she might try writing a showbiz-themed romantic comedy novel in her next project. It would be something different from her usual style, but not too heavy.
On that note, she had been busy keeping an eye out for gossips during her free time on the set. She even went out of her way to treating the crew members to meals and drinks just so that she could get them to spill the beans.
Nevertheless, gossip was a two-way street: people, too, had been gossiping about her in the studio.
There were rumors regarding the relationship between Clarissa and Justin. Because of Justin’s special treatment of her, all the staff members also treated Clarissa like a special guest. When workers from another studio came for a visit, they would not fail to get their curiosity thirst quenched with gossips about Clarissa. When they realized that the screenwriter was such a beautiful young lady, they seemed convinced that she deserved the special treatment from the director.
As with all rumors, this one started to spread swiftly.
Meanwhile, another piece of news had also started to gain traction in D City.
It was reported that Matthew and Shermaine were very close to tying the knot. This potential union was widely anticipated to have a synergetic effect on both the Tysons and the Wynters family businesses. The most recent hearsay being circulated was that the two of them had already privately engaged. The initial speculations started to gain momentum when more news emerged that Shermaine Smallwood had made multiple appearances in D City of late.
Given her role as the supporting actress in the film, Shermaine’s part was not as much as the lead actress. As such, she had taken time off from the studio to attend many public events with Matthew in D City. Those in the upper-class circle were now convinced that they were a pair.
Although many in the showbiz circle dared not disclose the personal life of an award-winning actress, some media still chose to risk it.
One media company had decided to expose the identity of the man behind Shermaine. Multiple articles with photos of Shermaine and Matthew arriving and leaving together on public events had made instant headlines on many social media platforms.
The news went off at midnight like a bomb and was keeping many people awake.
But Clarissa was not one of them; she had slept through the night.
It was not until the next day when she entered the studio did she realize the atmosphere was different from usual.
Clarissa could hear the crew members exchange hushed whispers in every corner. But before she could make out their content, Justin ordered everyone to zip their mouth and mind their own business.
Nevertheless, the director’s executive order did not manage to shut all the windows.
Clarissa finally caught wind of the rumors and fished out her phone to start scrolling on internet news articles.
She had not logged into her Twitter account since morning. When she did so with a trembling hand, she was met with an overwhelming coverage of Matthew and Shermaine’s pending nuptials.
This time, it was no longer some blurred pictures with largely speculative suggestions; they were all of high resolution that no one would have mistaken the two of them for other people.
Matthew and Shermaine could be seen walking shoulder to shoulder or arm in arm in the photos. Moreover, a few prominent Twitter account holders also joined the others to verify the news. Since the two families were compatible in terms of finance and business scale, the majority opinion was that the union would serve to optimize both the families’ businesses in the foreseeable future.
There were a few versions of the reason behind this union. It was either out of true love or purely due to business considerations – any of which was capable of sending Clarissa down the river of heartbreak.
Still scrolling the news articles of Matthew and Shermaine, Clarissa recalled the last time she was back in D City. So, on Hannah’s birthday celebration back then, the two of them were already unofficially engaged? Was that the reason Matthew came back so late that night? That will also explain why Matthew got so worked up when I spoke about the stark difference in our family backgrounds. No wonder Ellie said I’ll regret this.
Finally putting down her phone, the woman smiled bitterly to herself.
Actually, I have no regrets. We’ve already been through this. I already knew what I was getting into from the start. It’s just that, I didn’t expect this day to come so soon. And Matthew didn’t even bother to tell me the truth. Is he planning to only notify me on the day of their wedding?
“Clarissa, are you okay?” Justin walked up to her and asked.
Clarissa looked up and smiled at him. Well, look at me, I can still smile.
“I’m okay. I suppose you already knew, didn’t you?”
Justin and Matthew were good friends. Clarissa believed Justin was already aware of this.
“Clarissa, I don’t think you should take this kind of entertainment news seriously.”
“You’re right. So, I’ve decided to wait for Matthew to give me a final answer.”
Seeing as Justin was hesitating to say something, Clarissa continued to speak, “That’s okay, Justin. I’m well aware of our differences. Even if this means breaking up with Matthew, I won’t feel sorry for myself.”
Justin’s eyes dimmed for an instant as he gazed at the woman before him. “Clarissa, I think you’re perfect.”
“Thanks, Justin. You’re too kind. I’m really fine. You should get back to your work.”
No crew members dared to disturb the two as it appeared they were gazing at each other in an affectionate manner.
It was not until the two walked away that the staff’s mood lightened up and convinced themselves that Justin and Clarissa were into each other.
Shermaine was in an elevated mood the next day; she smiled at everyone and accepted a slew of congratulations offered to her as she waltzed into the studio.
Buoyed by the good news, Shermaine even managed to exchange some pleasantries with Yaala and a few other supporting actresses.
Clarissa was the only one whose presence still elicited a strange yet inexplicable look in Shermaine’s eyes.
Clarissa wondered if Shermaine had already learned of things between her and Matthew.
Oh, well. If she knows, she knows. The fact that she’s still so joyful only proves that the rumors are probably true. It seems like now I’ve become the outsider in this relationship. How about that…
“Ms. Quigley, you look very beautiful today.”
Clarissa was rendered speechless by the smiling woman’s casual remark. Even those standing within earshot also had their jaws dropped upon hearing the same.
Shermaine Smallwood is giving compliment to Ms. Quigley?
This is weird…
Clarissa tried to suppress her emotion but the corner of her mouth still twitched a little when she spoke, “Thanks, Ms. Smallwood. That’s very kind of you. We’ve heard of your good news. Congratulations to you! When did the engagement take place? And have you decided on a wedding date?” Clarissa tried to probe.
Shermaine, on the other hand, took the questions for real and replied shyly, “Thanks so much. We just got engaged not long ago. But we have yet to set a wedding date. It will be soon though. We’re thinking about the end of the year. You’re so young and beautiful; I hope you’ll meet someone soon!”
Clarissa’s heart sank when she heard the reply.
It’s all true then. They really are getting married. And yet, I seem to be the last to know.
