Chapter 4

One week later, at the ‘Daylight’ project launch conference.

The biggest streaming platforms in the country live-streamed the event, and online viewership had already surpassed ten million.

I sat in a dressing room backstage, watching the spectacle unfold on the monitor screen.

On screen, Lucas Thorne stood confidently at the center of the stage, basking in everyone’s attention.

Beside him, Daisy, in a pure white fairy-tale dress, her makeup exquisite, leaned shyly against him, already the industry’s rising star, the ‘Most Talented New Screenwriter of the Year.’

“...The story of ‘Daylight’ was born from countless late-night conversations between Daisy and me,” Lucas said, clutching the microphone, looking at Daisy with deep affection. “She’s like a fairy born for drama, her mind full of wild, unbridled imagination. She’s the one who gave ‘Daylight’ its true soul.”

Applause thundered through the hall.

“And here, I also want to announce some good news.” He paused, then knelt on one knee, pulling a velvet box from his pocket and opening it.

Inside was an enormous diamond ring, sparkling blindingly under the lights.

It was the design I’d once seen in a magazine and pointed out to him.

I’d said, when we get married, let’s get this one.

He’d said yes.

“Daisy Miller, marry me. Let’s create our film and television empire together.”

“Yes!” Daisy cried with joy, extending her hand to him.

Flashbulbs popped wildly, capturing this “fairy-tale romance.”

The entire hall erupted. The live chat was flooded with ‘locked it down’ and ‘happily ever after.’

The host stepped forward at the opportune moment, his voice playfully teasing: “It seems today we’re not only witnessing the birth of an epic project but also the beginning of a beautiful union! But Lucas, I heard ‘Daylight’ previously involved another screenwriter?”

This was clearly a pre-planned segment, designed to completely nail me to the pillar of shame.

Lucas stood up, a perfectly placed look of regret on his face.

“Yes. But unfortunately,” he sighed, “when inspiration runs dry, some people resort to tired clichés and shortcuts. And even worse, when they see more talented newcomers emerge, they become jealous, they try to suppress them, and they resort to unsavory tactics…”

He didn’t mention my name, but everyone knew who he was talking about.

These words irrevocably sealed my fate.

I, Willow Hayes, became the industry’s negative example—jealous of talent, suppressing newcomers, and utterly devoid of inspiration.

The investor representatives walked onto the stage, beaming, ready for the signing ceremony.

Now.

I took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the dressing room.

The click of my heels on the polished marble floor was sharp and resolute.

As the heavy doors of the venue swung open, all eyes turned to me.