Chapter 225

The studio lights glared harshly.

Adrian Valdemar stood before the camera, beads of sweat forming at his temples.

The female director's furious voice echoed across the set. "Cut! Adrian, you're playing a spineless coward, not some martyr with unbreakable pride!"

The clapperboard snapped shut again.

This scene required the male lead to defend the female lead by confronting Adrian's character—a spoiled rich kid.

The script demanded Adrian grovel after being hit.

Yet his eyes still burned with defiance.

"Useless!" The director hurled her script to the ground. "How dare you call yourself an actor? Go home and play the young master where you belong!"

The set fell deathly silent.

Sophia Laurent stood in the shadows, her brow furrowed.

She noticed the lead actors' performances were equally stiff, yet only Adrian received such vitriol.

"Director Chen." Sophia's cool voice sliced through the tension.

The director turned with a scowl. "Who the hell are you?"

"I'm Adrian's legal guardian." Sophia stepped forward. "Why are you singling him out?"

Director Chen narrowed her eyes.

Her gaze raked over Sophia's tailored suit and striking features before smirking. "Ah, the sugar mommy finally shows up."

Whispers rippled through the crew.

"I'm his legal sister." Sophia's gaze turned razor-sharp. "Though I'm curious—if Adrian's acting is so terrible, why cast him at all?"

Director Chen's expression faltered.

Sophia advanced like a predator. "Using his fame for publicity while making him your punching bag? Clever scheme."

Crew members exchanged uneasy glances.

Someone muttered, "No wonder he gets so much hate..."

Director Chen flushed with rage. "He's terrible and you expect me to pretend otherwise?"

"Coaching actors is your job." Sophia's smile chilled the air. "Or can you only direct by screaming to hide your incompetence?"

The atmosphere turned glacial.

Adrian stood frozen, his knuckles whitening around clenched fists.

He never expected Sophia to appear.

Least of all to defend him.