Chapter 65 FILMING BEGINS
Dandelion.
"Cut! That was perfect, Dandy. Let's take five."
I released my breath I had been holding and stepped away from the mark on the floor. My hands were still trembling from the emotional scene we had just wrapped. Playing an abuse survivor hit closer than I had expected.
"Here." Ethan appeared beside me, holding out a bottle of water. "You were really incredible in that take."
I accepted it gratefully, managing a small smile. "Thank you Ethan. You weren't so bad yourself."
He grinned, his boyish features lighting up visibly. At twenty four, Ethan Cannon was quickly becoming one of the industry's most promising talents. The fact that he didn't treat me like damaged goods meant more than he could know.
"I'm serious," he continued, lowering his voice. "The way you channeled that pain, it felt real. This film is going to launch you back to the top."
Before I could respond, I caught two crew members whispering near the lighting equipment. Their eyes were fixed on me, and I didn't need to hear their words to know what they were saying.
"Ignore them," Ethan said quietly, following my gaze. "Half these people believed whatever the internet told them without thinking twice."
"And the other half?"I asked, my gaze not leaving them.
"They are too busy doing their actual jobs to care about gossip." He nudged my shoulder gently. "You've got this, Dandy. I believe in you."
The kindness in his voice made my throat tighten. After months of being treated like a pariah, having someone in the entertainment industry who shows me basic human decency felt like a lifeline.
"Places everyone! Let's run scene forty three!"
I handed the water bottle back to Ethan and moved toward my mark. As I passed the hair and makeup station, I heard their words clearly this time.
"I heard she slept with three producers just to get this role."
"Probably why she's using a fake name in the credits. She thinks we're all stupid."
My steps faltered, but I forced myself to keep walking. Don't react. Don't give them the satisfaction.
"Hey." Ethan caught up to me, his expression hardening. "Want me to say something to them?"
"No." I shook my head firmly. "It'll only make things worse. Let them talk."
"They're overstepping, and that's not fair to you."
"Life isn't fair." The words came out sharper than I intended. "But thank you for caring."
We took our positions for the next scene. The director called action, and I slipped back into character, feeling grateful for the escape. At least when I was acting, I could be someone else for a while. Someone whose life wasn't falling apart.
Three takes later, we finally stopped for lunch. I grabbed my phone from my bag, half expecting messages from Lilian asking how filming was going.
Instead, I found a text from Alexander.
Alex: How's the set?
I stared at the message, really surprised he had bothered to check in. We had never spoken through phone, and I don't even remember giving him my number.
Who am I kidding, he always gets any information he wanted no matter what.
I decided to reply his message.
Me: Fine. Some people recognize me, but the director is happy with my work.
I hit send before I could overthink it. Three dots appeared immediately.
Alex: Good. Just Focus on your performance. The rest is noise.
A small smile tugged at my lips subconsciously.
Coming from Alexander, that was practically a pep talk.
"Dandelion!" The assistant director waved me over. "We're setting up the next shot. Can you check the blocking with Ethan?"
"On my way!"
I pocketed my phone and headed toward the soundstage, where Ethan was reviewing the script. He looked up as I approached, flashing that easy smile again.
"Ready to make me cry on camera?"
"Always," I teased back, feeling some of the tension ease from my shoulders.
We spent the next twenty minutes walking through the scene, adjusting our positions based on the camera angles. Ethan was a generous scene partner, always making sure I had what I needed to deliver my best performance. It reminded me why I'd fallen in love with acting in the first place.
"Alright, let's run it!" the director called out.
I settled into position, waiting for action to be called. The scene required me to break down emotionally, revealing my character's deepest trauma. I closed my eyes, letting myself sink into that vulnerable space.
But I suddenly felt something unusually familiar. The prickle of awareness at the back of my neck.
It was the same sensation I got whenever......Alexander was nearby.
My eyes snapped open, scanning the dimly lit area beyond the cameras.
And there, he was.
Half hidden in the shadows near the equipment crates, stood Alexander. Arms crossed, expression unreadable, those green eyes locked directly on me.
What was he doing here?
"Action!"
I jerked my attention back to the scene, my heart suddenly racing for entirely different reasons. Focus, Dandelion. Don't mess this up.
Ethan delivered his line, and I responded naturally, but I could feel Alexander's gaze burning into me.
Gosh Why now? Why here?
The scene required Ethan to comfort my character, so he hugged me gently in his arms. It was completely professional, entirely appropriate for the moment.
But when I glanced toward the shadows again, Alexander's jaw was clenched tight enough to crack steel.
"Cut! Beautiful work, you two. Let's do one more for coverage."
We reset, and I tried to ignore the fact that my husband was watching me work. No, Fake husband, I corrected myself. Contract husband who has no right to look that bothered by a scripted scene.
Still, as we ran the take again, I couldn't deny the secret thrill that ran through me when I caught his possessive glare.
He was jealous. Actually jealous.
"Perfect! That's a wrap on this scene. Thirty minute break, everyone!"
The crew scattered, and I immediately started walking toward the shadows where Alexander stood. But Ethan caught my arm first.
"Hey, want to grab coffee? There's a good place two blocks from here."
"I---"
"She's busy."
I spun around to find Alexander directly behind me, having materialized like some kind of avenging angel. His eyes were fixed on Ethan, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.
Ethan blinked, clearly taken aback. "Oh. I---I didn't realize you had plans."
"She does," Alexander said flatly. "With me."
"Alex," I hissed under my breath. "Don't be rude."
He finally looked at me, one eyebrow raised in challenge. "I came to take my wife to lunch. Is that a problem?"
The possessive emphasis on 'wife' wasn't lost on anyone within earshot. I watched several crew members' eyes widen, whispers immediately starting up again.
Great. Just great.
Ethan who was also dumbstruck recovered quickly, extending his hand to Alexander with a polite smile. "Ethan Cannon. I'm Dandelion's scene partner."
Alexander stared at the offered hand for a long moment before shaking it briefly. "Alexander Graham."
Recognition flickered across Ethan's face. Of course he had heard the name. Everyone in Greenville knew who Alexander Graham was.
"Well, it's -- it's nice to meet you, Mr. Graham. Dandelion is the best actress I have had an opportunity to work with, You must be proud of her."
"I am." Alexander's tone suggested the conversation was over. "If you'll excuse us."
He placed his hand on my waist, guiding me away before I could protest. I caught Ethan's confused but understanding expression as we walked off.
Once we were outside the soundstage, I yanked away from Alexander's grip.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was in the area."
"Liar. Your office is on the opposite side of the city."
His lips twitched in something that might have been amusement. " I just wanted to see.....how filming was going."
I raised a brow in disbelief, "By glaring at my co-star like you wanted to bury him alive?"
"Was I glaring?" He had the audacity to look innocent. "I thought I was being perfectly pleasant."
"Alexander---"
"He clings to you a lot."
The accusation hung in the air between us. I stared at him, trying to process what I was hearing.
"It's called acting. We're filming a movie."
"I know what it's called."
"Then why are you acting like a jealous husband when we both know this marriage is fake?"
The words were out before I could stop them.
Alexander's expression darkened, and for a moment, something flickered across his face.
"Right," he said quietly. "Fake."
The single word carried more weight than it should have. We stood there in the hallway, the sounds of the busy set muffled around us, neither of us willing to back down first.
"Dandy! We need you for costume adjustments!"
I broke eye contact first, hating myself for the relief I felt at the interruption.
"I have to go."
"Dandy---"
"Thank you for checking on me, But I'm fine. You can go back to work now." I said stiffly, already walking away.
I didn't look back, even though I could feel his eyes following me all the way down the hall. My hands were slightly shaking again, but this time it had nothing to do with the emotional scenes I'd been filming.
What was happening between us? Why did his jealousy make my heart race? And why did calling our marriage fake feel like a lie when I'd said it out loud?
I pushed through the costum department door, forcing a smile for the wardrobe assistant waiting for me.
Focus on work. The rest is just noise.
Except Alexander Graham was the loudest but silent noise I had ever tried to ignore.