Chapter 29

Chapter 29

I walked into the hall, feeling one hundred percent confident. But the moment I finished reading the full script—the story, the message—it made me want to back out.

It wasn’t that I doubted my ability. It was the weight of the story. It hit too close to home.

Carrying the script, I quietly left the room. We still had two hours before the audition officially started, and some of the staff allowed us to step out for a break. I found a bench and sat, hoping the fresh air would calm my nerves.

A few minutes later, Fabian arrived, carrying France in his arms, worry written all over his face as he approached me.

“What’s wrong, honey? You look pale.”

He gently cupped my cheek. I held his hand and handed him the script.

“I just wanted to ask you something about the script… Is it okay if I take the female lead? It’s just—”

“No.”

Fabian’s firm tone stopped me mid-sentence. But moments later, his expression softened.

“No, it’s not okay... not as your husband.”

My heart sank. I looked down, but he continued in a gentle voice.

“But this is your life, Sonia. Your passion. And it’s a huge opportunity for your comeback. You need this.”

I gripped the script tightly and looked down at the lines. Fabian chuckled and wrapped his arms around me, making my heart race.

“I’m glad you called me to ask for my opinion. That means a lot.”

I frowned at him. “Of course I would. You’re my husband. Your opinion matters.”

Especially since... in the second season, I’d have more scenes with Victor.

“Do you need help?” Fabian asked, noticing the way I held the script.

I smiled and nodded. He sat me down on the bench, gently reminding France not to wander off too far.

I asked him to stay in the car, saying I didn’t want any attention—but that quickly became impossible. A few trainees passed by, followed by some auditionees who immediately recognized Fabian and asked for pictures.

“Sorry,” Fabian said politely, “but I’m helping my wife review a script right now.”

The aspiring actors—who looked fairly new—glared at me before walking away. Instead of getting annoyed, I just laughed.

“What was that about? Why did they glare at you, Mommy?” France asked, frowning as she watched them leave.

“It’s okay, France,” I said, chuckling softly when I saw Fabian watching them too, as if memorizing their faces.

I returned to memorizing the lines, focusing on each scene. For thirty minutes, I drilled the lines into my mind, preparing for every emotion, every turn.

Finally, I exhaled and turned to Fabian. “Let’s start.”

Fabian looked surprised. “You memorized it already?”

I smiled. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

—

Fabian couldn’t believe it. In just thirty minutes, Sonia had memorized almost half of the drama’s script. He chuckled and whispered under his breath, That’s my wife.

France sat on the bench, quietly watching her parents stand in front of her. Fabian and Sonia took three minutes to prepare, looking in opposite directions—silent, focused.

“Florence… how could you do this?” Sonia’s voice broke the silence.

She dropped to the floor, tears in her eyes, looking up at Fabian—who momentarily froze.

“I wasn’t the only one who lost a child! I’m not the only one hurting! Why are you blaming me? Am I the only one who failed?”

Fabian clenched his fists as he steadied himself from the emotional blow.

“Why, Alice? Who left the house without a word? Who ran off with another man?” His voice was cold, emotionless.

Tears continued to fall down Sonia’s cheeks.

“Our baby wouldn’t have died if you had trusted me—if you had just listened. You didn’t want this to happen, but because you were selfish… we lost the child.”

Fabian stepped forward and held Sonia’s jaw firmly. His eyes burned with pain and resentment.

“No matter what you do, I will never forgive you. Your tears, your apologies, your begging... none of it will bring back our child—or my trust.”

He let go of her and stood straight.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he picked up the script and reviewed it casually. He glanced at Sonia still kneeling on the floor and reached out his hand to lift her up.

Once she was on her feet, she looked into Fabian’s eyes—and then suddenly broke down in tears again.

“I can’t stop crying!” she groaned.

Fabian laughed and pulled her into a comforting hug. “It’s alright. You don’t have to cry anymore.”

He was still chuckling when a round of applause suddenly echoed through the hall. Fabian turned, startled.

“Oh my—am I really seeing this? Sonia Salazar and Fabian Martinez?”

Sonia turned. The woman wasn’t familiar to her. She glanced at Fabian.

“That’s Clara Dyson,” he whispered. “CEO of KGC.”

Sonia’s eyes widened. She immediately straightened and bowed respectfully, but Clara just laughed.

“I can’t believe this day has finally come,” she said. “The moment I saw Fabian step out of the car, I came rushing. I heard rumors Sonia was auditioning today and returning to the entertainment industry.”

To Sonia’s shock, Clara confessed she had been a longtime fan. She even admitted how disappointed she was every time Sonia turned down their company’s offers.

Sonia bowed again, humbled. “I promise to do my best.”

Clara smiled, pleased. “That’s still the Sonia I knew years ago.”

From what she had just witnessed, Clara was convinced the drama would be a hit. She welcomed Sonia back into the industry in advance—leaving Sonia wide-eyed in disbelief.

Fabian only laughed and slung an arm around her shoulder.

As Clara walked away, Sonia turned to Fabian, embarrassed. “That was the actual CEO who just welcomed me back herself... I feel so shy.”

“Why?” he said. “More people admire your talent than you think. Many have been waiting for your return—supporting you in secret.”

Sonia smiled, her heart full.

They rehearsed a few more scenes. And in Fabian’s eyes, even after all the years Sonia had been away from the spotlight, her acting hadn’t dulled—not one bit.

—

I couldn’t help but feel nervous again as I saw how many people were auditioning for the female lead role. Some of them came fully dressed in costume, clearly having studied the character in-depth.

Several were popular actresses.

Across the room, three people were talking quietly. I recognized one of them immediately—my lips curled into a smile. He was the same person who criticized my acting the first time I auditioned. If the other two casting directors hadn’t agreed back then, I wouldn’t have even gotten a minor role.

But instead of feeling discouraged, I was excited to see him again. He was one of the three directors I truly admired.

I took a deep breath. I had to give it my all.

The auditions started—and, just my luck, I was the last one.

As I waited, my nerves grew. I glanced at Hirayu, who was watching me, and she gave a small smile. I gave a weak one back, then buried my face in my hands. Not a single applicant had passed the standards of the three directors. Some cried, some got angry, others laughed nervously—but no one was good enough.

“Number 34.”

I froze as Themarie entered, with Victor right behind her. What the fuck?

Themarie smiled sweetly and greeted the directors—but none of them smiled back. They immediately told her to begin.

“Why should I be scared? What is there to fear?” she said, staring into a full-length mirror.

“I’m beautiful. All men adore me. So why would I be afraid?”

It was the same monologue I had picked.

To be fair, she held the character well. Two of the directors nodded, but Hirayu frowned and Jessica remained expressionless.

After her performance, Themarie beamed at them. Two directors approved her for the initial round. Jessica, as usual, neither agreed nor disagreed.

“That wasn’t natural,” Jessica finally said. “Let me tell you something—actors have two or three minutes for briefing, not two months. If you’re cast, make sure you can maintain the role for the whole season.”

Themarie’s cheeks flushed. The other two directors shook their heads slightly.

It was obvious the Valencias used their influence again to prepare her for the role.

“Number 35.”

I stood and walked forward. I felt Victor and Themarie’s eyes on me. Jessica looked up and smirked.

She sat straighter, crossed her arms. “You may begin.”

—

Sonia closed her eyes tightly, wiping all expression from her face. Slowly, she walked to the director’s table and picked up a tissue.

“How funny,” she said coldly, dabbing her face. “How people used to scream when I stepped on stage... how co-models admired me... how men worshipped me.”

“How talent agencies chased me... how projects poured in like rain.”

She stepped in front of the mirror, her makeup smudged—not to hide scars, but as part of the scene.

“I’m beautiful. All men adore me. So why would I be afraid?”

She smiled—but it slowly disappeared. She suddenly smashed the mirror with her bare hand.

The directors jumped in their seats. Even Fabian, watching from behind the scenes, was stunned.

Sonia let out a loud, haunting laugh before sobbing, clutching her own hair.

“Why give me everything, only to take it all away!”

“I have nothing left to fear.”

She turned to the directors, her voice low and heavy with emotion.

“My child is gone. My family is gone. You can take everything else—even my life—and I still won’t be afraid. I’ve already been abandoned by the world. My husband left. My child left. What else do I have to lose? This beauty?”

She wiped her face roughly and showed them the tissue.

“This? All of it... just makeup. Just a cover for the scars.”

She threw it to the floor, laughed, then bowed her head.

“I’ll trade it all—my career, my fame, my money—if only I could have my husband and child back. I’d even give my soul... just give me a chance to make things right.”

Silence blanketed the room.

Jessica cleared her throat, snapping everyone back to reality.

“It’s suddenly hot,” one of the directors muttered, asking staff to bring cold water.

Jessica placed her logbook on the table and asked Sonia what she planned to do about the broken mirror.

“My husband’s a billionaire. He can replace it as many times as you need,” Sonia replied with a big smile, subtly saying hello to Jessica.

Fabian grinned. “That’s my wife.”

Even the staff watching chuckled. “We’ll wait for your ‘little sunshine’ to officially join the cast,” one of them said.

For the first time, Jessica said nothing negative. All three agreed: Sonia passed the initial audition.

The directors left first. Only Hirayu remained.

“If Sonia doesn’t get the female lead, I’m not submitting this manuscript to KGC. No next project,” she declared.

Sonia laughed. “That’s impossible. I’ll always give it my best.”

Just then, Fabian arrived with wipes and a makeup removal kit.

“You can leave now, Hirayu. You’re not needed anymore,” he teased.

Sonia playfully slapped his arm. “Stop it.”

“She almost hugged you earlier. It was annoying.”

Sonia just laughed and kissed Fabian’s cheek.

“Have some respect for us single people,” Hirayu muttered as she left.

“Please take off my makeup. I’ve been uncomfortable for hours,” Sonia complained.

Fabian chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”

He gently applied cream on her face before carefully wiping off the makeup.

“Well, well… no wonder you passed the audition,” Victor said with a smirk. “Turns out the writer of the drama is your friend now.”

Sonia paused, then turned to Themarie and Victor. She gripped Fabian’s wrist and stared at them—her eyes cold and unreadable.