"What do you mean?" Zoey's arrogance grew even more. "Can't you understand?
Fine, let me spell it out for you. Your lamp might not be broken; it just ran out of power."
"Out of power?"
"Yeah, because Mr. Smith told me to turn off the circuit breaker! This time, last time, every time he comes home, he insists the power must be off!"
Zoey's face was filled with smug satisfaction as she spoke.
"Why?" Julia Avery was puzzled.
"Why? You're asking me why? Mr. Smith doesn't want to see you! To him, you're just a tool for his desires. Your face disgusts him; how could he even bring himself to touch you?"
The words were harsh, but Julia felt there had to be another reason. Although she wasn't exceptionally beautiful, as a drama student, she certainly wasn't unattractive.
Zoey looked at Julia with a triumphant grin. "And another thing, Mr. Smith said that when you're on set, you must be on call at all times, ready for his needs!"
Julia felt her whole body trembling...
"You're nothing more than a blow-up doll. Stop thinking of yourself as the lady of the house! Honestly, you're worse than a blow-up doll. At least the owner knows to inflate and clean it regularly. And you? You have to do everything yourself!"
Julia was so furious that she felt a chill run through her entire body. She grabbed her suitcase and left quickly.
Zoey made a mocking face at her, feeling particularly pleased with herself. Maybe soon, she could replace this so-called lady of the house!
Thinking of this, she quickly picked up the piece of paper Julia had dropped. It turned out to be a WeChat number!
She immediately opened her WeChat app and searched for the number, then sent a friend request.
Julia boarded the bus heading to Swan City Film Base, resting her head against the window. Zoey's words echoed in her mind.
"You're nothing more than a blow-up doll!"
"A blow-up doll!"
"A blow-up doll!"
Julia closed her eyes in pain. Was that man's sudden appearance just to use her for his own desires?
Why did he disappear for a whole year after they got married, only to show up now and treat her like a tool?
Her heart ached terribly.
They were already married, and she felt helpless, thinking only of divorce.
But if she divorced him, he would surely demand the one million dollars from a year ago. Where could she possibly find that kind of money?
The bus bumped along for over an hour before arriving at Swan City Film Base. Julia grabbed her luggage and headed to the hotel designated by the film crew.
The crew was stationed here for filming, and the hotel was almost entirely booked by them. As the third female lead, she naturally had a place to stay.
If the entertainment industry was a big circle, then a film crew was a small one. Even staying at a hotel involved its own set of complexities.
The first female lead, the first male lead, and the director naturally stayed in the best rooms, which were the suites.
The second female lead, the second male lead, and other actors with significant roles, as well as some of the assistant directors and key crew members, stayed in slightly less luxurious rooms.
The rest of the crew had to settle for less luxurious rooms, and those with minor roles might even have to share a room with two or three people.
The rooms were pre-assigned by the logistics team, so upon arriving at the hotel front desk, all they had to do was give their name to receive their room key card.
Julia pulled her suitcase to the hotel front desk, gave her name, and was promptly handed a room key card.
Room 302
Receiving the key card, Julia couldn't help but feel excited. This was her first time officially acting in a TV series. She eagerly pulled her suitcase and headed to room 302.
When she opened the door, she saw a young girl sitting on the bed, applying makeup with a small mirror.
Julia was taken aback. It was a double room?
The girl seemed to have anticipated someone coming in, but she didn't look up and continued with her makeup.
Though a bit disappointed, Julia thought it might be nice to have a roommate for company. She began to unpack her things.
The girl on the bed finally seemed satisfied with her makeup. She had striking features, large eyes, and a delicate face.
"Hey, I'm Unaiza. You can call me Unaiza. I play Georgia's personal maid in the show!"
Unaiza's voice was sharp and high-pitched, and she spoke with pride about her role in the series.
She knew the rules about hotel accommodations. Those in double rooms were usually minor characters. However, her role as the personal maid to the second female lead, Georgia, meant she was in almost every scene with Georgia, which was something to be proud of.
Julia smiled at her. "I'm Julia. I play Tiffany."
"Tiffany?!" Unaiza's eyes widened in surprise. "Isn't that the third female lead?"
Julia nodded.
"But why are you staying here? If you can't get the best room, at least you should have a single room!" Unaiza exclaimed.
Honestly, Julia didn't understand the rules here. She paused for a moment, then continued unpacking her luggage.
Unaiza wanted to say more, but she opened her mouth and then closed it again, swallowing her words. She knew the answer already. Julia was a new face, with no connections or backing. Unlike Bailey, who played the second female lead and got the best room. Why? Because she had Harry Edwards from Artis International behind her. Of course, she got the best room.
Room assignments not only depended on the importance of the role but also on who was backing you.
The two didn't talk much after that and focused on their own tasks. After unpacking, Julia took a few photos around the hotel and posted them on her social media. She was a content person, satisfied even with a room that didn't follow the usual rules. For her, this was a new beginning.
She posted the photos with the caption: "A new beginning. Julia, you can do it!"
That evening, Unaiza, feeling bored, invited Julia to go out for a walk and get familiar with the surroundings. Through their conversation, Julia learned that Unaiza was a professionally trained actress, only twenty years old, and still a sophomore in college.
As soon as they stepped out, they heard laughter and chatter not far away. Curious by nature, Unaiza looked towards the source of the sound and immediately spotted Bailey.
Bailey was surrounded by a group of young girls.
Julia's excitement surged as she waved energetically at Bailey. "Sister Bailey!"
Julia found herself in a dilemma. If she went over, it might expose the complicated relationship she had with Bailey. But if she didn't, it would seem like she wasn't fitting in.
Having just joined the crew, Julia didn't want to give off the impression that she was antisocial. So, she mustered up her courage and walked over with Unaiza.