Chapter 4

Liam didn’t disappoint me.

Three days later, he registered for the “Emerging Talent Director Program” with the original screenplay of ‘The Cage’.

In the preliminary round, the judges only reviewed the screenplays.

I knew better than anyone how undeniably strong that script was.

It effortlessly stood out from hundreds of other projects, advancing to the semi-finals.

This news quickly spread through the industry.

An unknown young director entering a competition with a screenplay sharing the same name as popular actress Serena Thorne’s “posthumous work.”

It was inherently sensational.

Serena’s team reacted immediately.

Her studio posted a statement on Ins.

[Some clowns are always trying to ride coattails with clumsy, laughable tactics. We have already instructed our lawyers. We advise certain individuals to act wisely. @LiamReed]

Attached was a photo of a legal letter.

The implication was clear: Liam was a plagiarist.

Serena’s fans swarmed Liam’s Ins account, tearing into him online, relentlessly slamming him.

[Shameless! Exploiting the dead for clout?]

[Do you know how hard our Serena worked to organize her best friend’s legacy project? And you plagiarize it?]

[Get out of the directing world! Scumbag!]

Liam’s Ins account was overwhelmed within a day.

He called me, his voice trembling with suppressed rage and a hint of panic.

“They… how can they spread such lies!”

“You’ll get used to it,”

My tone was calm.

“This is just the appetizer.”

“So, what do I do now? Should I respond?”

“No,” I said.

“You don’t have to do anything. Just focus on preparing for your semi-finals. I’ll handle the rest.”

After hanging up, I logged into an old, rarely used social media burner account.

I used this account to discreetly monitor competitors; it had few followers, and no one knew it was me.

I drafted a post and published it.

[Interesting. Whose screenplay is it really? One says it’s a best friend’s legacy, the other claims it’s their original work. One is already successful, the other is a newcomer. On the surface, it looks like the newcomer is just trying to ride someone else’s fame. But what if? What if the newcomer is telling the truth? Now *that* would be a story. Waiting for the results of the Maxwell Group competition. Money talks, right?]

I didn’t mention any names, just posed a possibility.

But the internet never lacked for drama-lovers and self-proclaimed online sleuths hungry for justice.

My post was quickly picked up and shared by several gossip accounts and influencers.

[Intriguing, whose script is this anyway?]

[Chilling thought… if a celebrity really stole from a rookie, that’s seriously messed up.]

[Ava Hayes is gone, so there’s no way to confirm anything. It’s all up to her ‘best friend’ now.]

The tide of public opinion began to shift subtly.

Of course, this level of public speculation wasn’t enough to shake Serena’s foundation.

Her team’s PR was highly effective, quickly suppressing these “dissenting voices.”

But it didn’t matter.

I never expected to take her down with a few guesses alone.

I just needed to muddy the waters.

To draw everyone’s attention to the Maxwell Group competition.

I wanted this showdown to play out on a completely public, authoritative stage.

I wanted Serena to be utterly disgraced in front of the entire world.

A week later, the semi-finals began.

The format required directors to present their screenplays in person to the judges.

And this time, there was an additional judge.

Julian Maxwell.

He was personally presiding over the judging panel.

This instantly elevated the competition’s profile even further.

I didn’t go to the venue.

But I had people on the inside.

Not long after Liam entered, I received a message.

[Serena Thorne is here too, with her legal team.]

I looked at the message on my phone, a faint smile playing on my lips.

She’d come.

The fish had taken the bait.

She probably thought that by showing up, by adopting the stance of the original creator.

And by having her lawyers pressure the Maxwell Group, that nobody, Liam, would be scared into withdrawing.

Unfortunately, she miscalculated one thing.

Julian Maxwell, of all people, absolutely detested being threatened.

Another thirty minutes passed.

My phone rang.

It was an unknown number.

I answered.

“Miss Miller?”

A clear, cold male voice came from the other end.

It was Julian Maxwell’s assistant.

“That’s me.”

“Mr. Maxwell would like to meet you. Now, in his office on the top floor of the Maxwell Tower.”

What had to come, would come.

Julian wasn’t foolish.

With such a commotion, it was impossible he wouldn’t investigate.

Given his resources, it was only a matter of time before he uncovered Lynn Miller’s identity and my connection to Liam.

“Alright,” I replied calmly.

“I’ll be there in half an hour.”

After hanging up, I changed my clothes.

A simple white blouse, a pair of jeans.

I washed off the freckles and put on a pair of gold-rimmed glasses.

It made me look sharper, more formidable.

I was going to meet the biggest player in this game.

I had to make him believe that the cards in my hand were stronger than Serena’s.