Ch. 3121..3130

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3121

An Assistant For Jacinta

“Ms. Luna, I can do anything as long as it’s within my capabilities.”

Megan understood that she couldn’t expect Luna to expend any resources on her behalf. Thus, she resigned to her fate of becoming Jacinta’s assistant.

On the bright side, she could use Jacinta’s connections to get in touch with a certain someone. In the past, she’d missed this opportunity. Megan was determined not to let the chance slip past her again.

Seeing that Megan agreed, Luna signaled to Dominic. He turned to give her a once over. Despite her average looks, she looked hard working and capable. “Follow me. I’ll explain Jacie’s daily habits,” he instructed Megan.

Jacinta had two full-time assistants assigned to her. One of them was Dominic, whilst the other was Donna. Megan pitied Donna greatly.

In the previous life, Jacinta fell heads over heels for a trainee in Sky Entertainment – Jonas. She sent him countless love letters to profess her love. However, those messages were leaked to the internet and became a trending topic for over a month. This scandal nearly cost Jacinta her career. In an act of desperation, she pushed all of the blame to Donna and managed to salvage her reputation.

As a result, Donna was fired due to this accusation and even blacklisted from working in all corporations.

Dominic was responsible for picking up Jacinta. Along the way, he began to ramble on about Jacinta’s preferences and habits. Jacinta only drank tea to maintain her figure, and she only ate medium-rare steak… Despite her odd quirks, Megan memorized all of the information diligently.

To an ordinary person, such elaborate demands might seem extreme. In her past life, Megan had made the mistake of overlooking the details. Once, she’d accidentally served Jacinta tea that was too hot. Enraged, Jacinta had hurled the tea in her face. The scalding water nearly disfigured her face.

Now that she experienced Jacinta’s wrath, Megan was extra careful. In the pantry, she coincidentally bumped into Donna.

“Hello Donna,” she called out. “I am Megan. I recently signed with Starling Media as an artist.”

“You are an artist?” Donna exclaimed loudly in a jolt of momentary shock. Quickly, she covered her mouth in order to stifle her voice as Jacinta was right outside.

As she boiled the tea, Megan noticed that Donna’s friendly behavior was much more approachable in comparison to Dominic’s stern attitude.

As Megan brought the freshly boiled tea out of the pantry, she caught sight of Jacinta immediately. Jacinta picked at her manicured nails as she talked to Dominic. “What is Jonas’s schedule today?”

“This is his schedule for today,” Dominic replied politely and handed her a phone.

Seizing her chance, Megan stepped forward to serve the tea. “Ms. Jacinta, here is your tea.”

Jacinta was in no hurry to drink the tea. Instead, she swiped a crimson red nail across the screen as she read Jonas’ schedule. “Why has he paired with her for the drama again?” Jacinta snarled in displeasure as she hurled the phone away. After her outburst, Jacinta finally noticed the tea. As she picked the cup up for a sip, Jacinta’s piercing gaze landed on Megan.

“Ugh, why are you serving tea right now? Can’t you see that I’m in a bad mood? Are you even competent?” Jacinta set the tea aside and reprimanded Megan out of the blue.

Megan remained silent in the face of Jacinta’s reprimanding. She knew that Jacinta was merely using her as a source to vent her frustrations. Of course, she couldn’t expect Dominic to defend her too.

“Should I visit him?” Jacinta suggested on impulse.

“You need a valid reason to visit him on set. You shouldn’t act rashly,” Dominic rambled in panic as he tried to advise her. With Jacinta’s current reputation, the paparazzi were hounding her every move.

Maybe Jacinta felt enraged as her plans to visit Jonas on set had been forcibly canceled. Or maybe, Dominic had whispered insults about Megan into Jacinta’s ear. Megan’s days as Jacinta’s assistant became increasingly difficult as she suffered under Jacinta’s torment.

She would order Megan to mop the floor, clear the vanity, and do countless other jobs. Yet, Megan executed her tasks with perfection. Jacinta was unable to find any faults with Megan.

“You, come here and help me with my shoes,” Jacinta called and beckoned Megan over in an attempt to humiliate her. Now that she was in a bad mood, Jacinta planned to vent her anger on Megan. Furthermore, her new assistant had an unattractive look that was unpleasant to her eyes. Looking at Megan’s face seemed to add fuel to Jacinta’s furious flames.

“Come here, put on my shoes for me!” Jacinta called out again and lifted her leg in anticipation for Megan to tend to her needs. Yet, Megan remained rooted firmly in spot. She wants me to help her with her shoes? Isn’t such a lowly act too humiliating?

Naturally, Donna understood that a young woman like Megan wouldn’t be able to endure such embarrassment. “Jacinta, why don’t you let me handle it? She might injure you by accident,” Donna replied on behalf of Megan. Just as she was about to assist Jacinta, Jacinta landed a harsh kick on Donna that sent her tumbling backwards.

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3122

Jacinta Against Mia

“I asked her to help me, not you! Don’t act without my orders! Megan, get out of here if you aren’t going to help!” Jacinta snapped.

Despite Jacinta’s elegant beauty, Megan only felt disgusted when she witnessed her revolting behavior.

“How can assistants these days act so boldly? Dominic, didn’t you tell Luna that I want a proper assistant? Instead, I have a wannabe star serving me!” Jacinta grumbled endlessly.

Immediately, Megan felt a hint of unease. It seems like Dominic had meddled with something behind the scenes.

Jacinta had taken an instant distaste towards Megan as she was a new artist scouted by Luna. Yet, Megan refused to be an easy target of Jacinta’s bullying.

Megan stepped forward and picked up Jacinta’s high-heeled shoe. “Ms. Jacinta, you think too highly of me. I am just an ordinary assistant. On the other hand, my younger sister has the true talent of an actress.”

“Mia? What sort of talent does she even have!” In a haze of rage, Jacinta slammed her hand on the table as she stared maliciously at the commercial flyer on the table. It seemed like Jacinta imagined Mia’s face plastered on the paper, and would set it on fire if Mia’s face appeared on the flyer.

Megan managed to twist the situation in her favor. With a few meager words, she managed to pit Jacinta against Mia.

How could an arrogant superstar like Jacinta allow another person to surpass her? Naturally, Jacinta shifted the brunt of her fury from Megan to Mia instead.

Dominic was helpless. He wanted to prevent discord, yet Megan had brought up Mia. Angrily, he gave Megan a ferocious glare. Yet, Megan remained unruffled. Who cares if he hates me? As long as I can turn Jacinta and Mia against each other, his hatred means nothing.

Without Jacinta making her life difficult, Megan finally had the chance to come home early. When she reached their rental home, she bumped into Mia by coincidence. Mia had gotten a makeover, and no longer resembled a village girl. Instead, Mia’s new appearance gave her a very fashionable and sleek style.

Seeing Megan’s exhausted state, Mia couldn’t help but jeer at her cruelly. “I would have left if I were you! You came here to chase your dreams of becoming a star. Instead, you’ve become a lowly assistant. To put things bluntly, you are nothing more but a servant! I feel sorry for you.”

“Really? I don’t think it’s that bad to follow Jacinta around. Do you know who I met today? I met your favorite male idol- Jonas,” Megan replied airily. Her nonchalant response ignited Mia’s fury.

“What’s so great about that? One day, I’ll crush Jacinta under my feet. How dare that old hag even talk to Jonas!” Mia shrieked. With that, she stormed to her room and slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

The next few days went by without a hitch for Megan. Occasionally, Jacinta raised a few questions about Mia. It seemed like Megan managed to secure the knot of hatred between Jacinta and Mia.

As Mia hadn’t risen to a high position in the company yet, it would be like taking candy from a baby for Jacinta to deal with her. Yet, both women didn’t meet very often. Naturally, Jacinta wouldn’t fixate all of her energy on someone she couldn’t meet. After a few days, Jacinta had shoved Mia to the back of her mind and nearly forgot about her entirely.

Now that Jacinta had lost interest, Megan was cornered and was left with no other options. Regardless, I will never allow Mia to rise to fame before me!

In her moment of despair, an idea began to form in her head. In the previous life, Mia had risen to fame after she starred in a perfume commercial that originally belonged to Jacinta.

Due to the commercial that Felix directed, Mia earned the public’s attention and countless fans. As a result of her popularity, Mia earned the title as the Official Representative of Starling Media. At that time, Jacinta had botched the perfume commercial. In an act of desperation, the investors urgently pushed for Mia to act in her place. Because of the commercial’s success, Mia rose to fame.

After her appearance, she received countless invitations to appear on television and variety shows. Following that, she began to star in more commercials… When Jacinta wanted to bring Mia down, Mia had already become an irreplaceable artist of Starling Media. She was literally untouchable due to her immense fame.

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3123

Princess Madeline From Transcendent

In order to prevent Mia from rising to fame, all Megan needed to do was to cut off any potential endorsements.

Yet, Megan was not in a particularly favorable position. Not only was she a lowly assistant, but she also did not have the fame nor looks. The investors would be utter fools if they allowed her to shoot the commercial.

There were still six months before Mia would obtain the commercial. It’s February now… A brilliant idea struck Megan’s mind. All of a sudden, she recalled the famous drama, Transcendent, that had begun airing in October previously.

Transcendent rose to extreme fame in the drama industry. In fact, its fame was on par with Friends from A Nation. It was considered one of Felix’s most famous works. If she had the chance to star in the drama, Megan was sure that she wouldn’t land the role of the female lead nor a likable character. If she wanted to leave a memorable impact on the audience, the role of a villainess would suit her perfectly.

The second villainess in the drama was particularly memorable as the audience came to hate her with a burning passion. Her wickedness resembled the Devil himself.

Besides, part of Transcendent’s explosive popularity could be associated to the superb acting skills of the antagonist. Because of her immersive and realistic acting, the audience felt genuinely terrified when the female lead was tortured by the villainess.

Megan had done an analysis of the character of Princess Madeline in her past life. The actress who played the role was relatively unknown before the drama. Instead, she relied on her solid acting skills and became an international sensation with the release of this drama.

In the original novel, Princess Madeline had a very extensive description. Although she was an antagonist, the author had written the character with detailed descriptions. As a result, the character stood out in the story. Princess Madeline gained both fans and haters due to her pitiful backstory; she had become a villain after being mercilessly bullied by others.

If she could land the role, Megan wouldn’t have to worry about endorsements anymore. Yet, Megan was aware that she could not participate in the drama with her current status. Even if she rebirthed again, it would be difficult for her to even play the role of a background character, let alone the main villainess.

“What on earth is wrong with this director? I should just quit.” Jacinta seethed in anger as she threw another tantrum. The crew couldn’t meet Jacinta’s acting requirements as her schedule was already arranged until next year.

Hearing Jacinta’s statement, Megan thought of Felix. I might have a chance if I earn Felix’s recommendation!

As Megan had saved Felix’s number in her phone, she quickly contacted him.

Megan had managed to purchase a phone by taking out part of her savings. Although the phone wasn’t particularly modern, it contained basic Internet functions. The software had also preinstalled Twitter. These apps were more than sufficient.

Felix?

Hearing his name, Megan beamed in delight. How could I have forgotten about Felix?

Megan had been pondering over the casting selection for a few days now. She didn’t have any fame nor did she recognize anyone powerful in the acting industry. How am I supposed to land the role of Princess Madeline? Yet, Jacinta’s tantrum reminded her of Felix. He had always given her special treatment. With that, Megan made the decision to contact Felix.

As a person working in showbiz, it was difficult to obtain the number of a director. Megan stared at the strings of numbers on her phone before she made the hefty decision to call him. Yet, her phone call went to voicemail after a long moment.

Despite that, Megan did not give up. Instead, she drafted a short message: Dear Felix, I’d like to ask about the cast for the upcoming drama – Transcendent. Do you know if they are in the midst of selecting the cast right now?

Without rambling on, Megan cut straight to the chase.

Right at that moment, Felix was in the midst of a grand banquet. With a smile, he patted on the shoulder of the director responsible for Transcendent. “Allow me to introduce a person for the role of Princess Madeline! I’m confident that she’ll be the perfect cast!” On the other hand, Jacinta went on a strike after she received the call as her requests weren’t met.

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3124

Meeting Someone From The Past Life

“What are you waiting for? Go and inform Luna and ask her to think of a way,” Dominic instructed Megan as he tried contacting other people.

Jacinta sounded as if it was an easy task, but to Megan, she knew Luna would never agree to it because Jacinta obviously had an ulterior motive.

“Come on! Get going.” Jacinta was peeved when she saw Megan hesitating instead of taking action.

Megan had no other choice but to go. Luna is an experienced manager. There’s no way she’ll say yes just because of your own selfish interest. It’s not just about the production budget, but it’s also about the whole visual effect of the film. Luna is definitely gonna give me a good scolding for even making such a request.

Gloom settled over Megan’s face as she walked out of the studio. Just as she was about to reach the entrance, she felt a familiar and yet scarring presence from afar. Herman?

They met a few months earlier than they did in the past.

Megan froze on the spot when her gaze located that man.

Herman noticed a piercing gaze directed toward him and he lifted his head. He then walked past Megan, heading toward Mia instead.

“Morning.”

His voice called Megan back to reality although he was actually greeting Mia. By the time Megan snapped out of her daze and turned to look at her sister, Herman already had his arm over Mia’s shoulder.

Herman’s voice betrayed a hint of flattery, but Mia did not seem excited to see him at all—not until she spotted Megan.

“Megan, meet Herman, my senior.” The way she introduced him sounded as if she was bragging.

Past memories came flooding back and a wave of bitter sadness engulfed Megan as she beheld the familiar face. Her emotion gripped her so she was unable to move an inch. “Hi, we meet again.” Herman waved at her.

Wait… Is he waving at me? How did he even know me? If her memory about her past life served her right, he should be a famous celebrity by now already. There was no way he would know a nobody like herself. “Hi.” It was not until a cold voice rang behind her that she understood what was going on.

Megan turned around and saw Mia. So he’s talking to her… It seems like they also knew each other very early in this life too.

Mia’s tone was dismissive at first, but when she saw Megan, her face suddenly lit up in feigned enthusiasm. “Meghan, this is Herman. He’s another celebrity in our company. He’s our senior,” she introduced, “Herman, meet my sister, Megan. She’s working under Jacinta now.” Her tone was conspicuously belittling, so much so that it elicited a lofty smile on Herman’s face. He shot her a brief nod and looked back at Mia with a sweet smile.

Megan felt an urge to spring toward him and kill him right away. She wanted him to taste all the pain she had gone through in their past life. There was no way she would feel appeased without returning to him ten, or even hundredfold what he had put her through.

Megan could not bear looking at those two despicable faces any longer. She would puke anytime.

“Nice to meet you,” Megan said tritely and walked off. She could hear both of them making remarks about her as she turned away.

“She’s your sister? Please forgive my honesty, but she’s no way close to you though.”

Mia chuckled softly as the people around them started gossiping as well. “She looks like she’s from the slum. Are you sure you guys are from the same family, Mia?”

“Well, we’re not, actually.”

“I see. I didn’t know Starling Media has a buy one get one free policy.”

Megan ignored their snarky comments. She simply waited inside after she asked when Luna would be back. Over on the outside, something interesting seemed to be happening.

After some time, a young woman made a grand entrance into the pantry. Megan could recognize her. She could not believe an insignificant figure like Yara would one day become someone so important to Starling Media.

Yara’s eyes were red as she looked at Megan after she rushed in with a cup of coffee in her hand. It went without saying someone just scolded her. Megan held out a piece of tissue toward her without asking her what happened. “Be careful. Your coffee looks hot.”

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3125

An Unexpected Opportunity

“Thanks.” Yara was surprised Megan took the first step and showed her kindness. No one in showbiz had ever been nice to her.

Gratitude sparkled in Yara’s eyes without Megan herself noticing.

“I’ll get going first.” Megan left when she heard Luna’s voice from the pantry.

Behind her, Yara almost broke out in tears again because of Megan’s small act of kindness.

Jacinta had already been waiting for some time when Megan came back. As expected, Luna could not promise them anything because Jonas was not under Starling Media and he was also an equally sought-after celebrity.

When Jacinta found out nothing could be done, a gush of anger overtook her. “What a useless piece of sh*t. What’s the use of having a good-for-nothing like you around me?” She got on her feet and pinched Megan on the arm, but that was not enough for her to vent her frustration. She stomped her platform heels on Megan’s foot in anger, and the latter felt like Jacinta was drilling a hole through her foot.

When Dominic had finally gone off with Jacinta, Donna quickly ran over and helped Megan to the ground. “Are you okay? What a b*tch. You should just stop working here.”

Donna had been getting along well with Megan throughout the past few days. Donna’s heart raced every time she saw Megan being bullied.

After some time, Megan finally got on her feet and looked at her with her lips pale. “I’m fine.” Just you wait and see.

When Megan reached home at night, her foot was all swollen and she could not even walk normally without limping.

Why does she keep torturing me in this life too? She might as well just sack me, but she just doesn’t want to!

Now I have to put up with all this just because I want to get revenge. I’m not gonna back out now. I’ll see to it that you pay for what you did to me.

Ring! Megan’s phone rang when she was deep in thought. She wondered who it was since there were not a lot of people on her contact list, but the name on the screen alerted her. Felix?

“Hi, Felix, Megan speaking.” He was the only person she could count on now.

“Do you know Transcendent?”

“Yeah. I’m actually interested in auditioning for one of the characters in the movie, but I’m not sure if…”

“Which character do you want to try?” Felix seemed more enthusiastic than Megan was.

“Madeline!” It did not take Megan a second thought to blurt out Princess Madeline’s name.

This was the character she could relate to the most. Princess Madeline had her own ego and bottom line.

Megan waited over the phone for Felix to reply after she gave her answer, but a long pause ensued. She was beginning to worry that Felix might not agree to her trying out that role.

Little did she know, Felix fell into silence because that was exactly what he had in mind. She definitely came off as a suitable candidate who could pull off Princess Madeline’s character when he first met her at Summerbank.

Megan was left anxious as she waited in silence. “Why did you choose Madeline? She’s not one of the favorite characters. Don’t you know a lot of celebrities’ careers had a bad start because they chose a less popular character?”

What Felix said made sense. The first appearance before the audience mattered. It was a matter of failure and success for a star.

Even if Megan managed to pull off the role, she still would not be liked by the public because the character was an evil second lead. It would be difficult for her career to take off if she chose this role.

That was why most celebrities avoided playing the antagonist.

“I’m aware of that, Felix, but I think she’s the person I can resonate with the most.”

Megan had already made up her mind. She knew playing Princess Madeline would only make her career skyrocket.

“Alright then. I’ll arrange an audition for you,” Felix finally agreed, “But I’m telling you in advance that Adam has very high standards. All I can do is recommend you. You’ll have to seize the opportunity and showcase yourself.”

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3126

Jealousy

“I will. Thanks, Felix.”

Megan was extremely grateful for such an opportunity. She was not expecting Felix to agree to her request so readily. She was finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

It was understandable that Adam set his bar high. This was the only way directors could ensure the quality of their production.

Early the next morning, Megan went to work with a limping leg. Although Jacinta was still reluctant to act, there was no way Luna would let her withdraw from the cast.

The show was about positive workplace culture. Although Luna knew this would not turn out to be a big hit among the younger audience, Jacinta needed an optimistic role like this to advance her career.

Mia was also under Luna’s guidance in the past life. There were a few crises in her acting career, but she managed to turn things to her advantage and grew in popularity because of Luna.

When Megan arrived at the company, Luna and Jacinta were already not around. Megan felt relieved at their absence and she went to get some things ready for the filming later on.

“Megan, have you ever thought about being an actress?” Donna asked her during the break. It was clear as day that there was no future for Megan if she continued staying in Jacinta’s shadow.

“Yeah, I did, but it’s just not the time yet.”

“Good for you. Take your slow.”

When the two came outdoors again in the afternoon, they heard a shrill voice reverberating through the air.

“You screwed up the endorsement deal?”

It seemed like Teresa was lashing out at Yara because she messed up an endorsement. Yara stood in front of her with her eyes red.

All the celebrities at Starling Media were known for their impetuous temper. This was nothing new for Donna already. As for Megan, she had been through a similar situation herself.

Her adversary, however, did not make her a mean or cold person. Megan was still able to comfort other people when she herself was suffering. That made a good impression on Donna.

After Teresa went off, Megan went over. “It’s okay. You’ll become better next time.”

Although Yara did not say anything, Megan understood the appreciation in her wet eyes.

Soon after, Jacinta came back together with Luna. Luna seemed to be in a good mood, but Jacinta pulled a long face coming back. Likewise, Dominic looked equally dismayed.

“Where were you, lazy bum?” Jacinta snarled at Megan when she saw her.

When Luna saw her, an inexplicable glint shone in her eyes as she took out a document from her bag. “Megan, you have an audition tomorrow. Make sure you practice well for it.”

“An audition? Her?” Jacinta scowled, “She’s just a country girl. What can she do?” Speaking, she snatched the document out of Luna’s hands.

“Ha! A villain who frames the female lead but refuses to admit it even when people find out about it? Suits you!” A ridiculing smile curved on Jacinta’s face as she threw the document on the floor. “But, Luna, I need to go to the set in two days’ time. I need someone to attend to me.”

Jacinta was throwing a tantrum because she was jealous.

“Jacinta, we’ve already got everything ready,” Donna interrupted.

Luna looked at everybody and made up her mind. “Donna and Dominic will be making sure you have everything you need. Megan needs to focus on her audition.”

The truth was, even Luna herself was perplexed Megan landed a good opportunity like this.

Megan did not have what it took to secure resources or pull some strings, yet the director of Transcendent called and named her specifically. Luna did not see why she should reject the offer, but she really had no idea how Megan ended up being nominated.

Megan ignored the fuming actress beside her and looked at Luna in the eyes. “Thanks for giving me this opportunity.” Luna knew full well she did nothing to help Megan.

“Who do you think you are? Can you even act? Please don’t embarrass yourself.” Jacinta insulted her and walked off without turning back. Following behind her, Dominic shot her a condescending glare and whipped his head dramatically as he went away.

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3127

Running Into An Old Rival

“All the best, Megan.” Donna assured her before leaving with Jacinta.

After everyone was gone, Yara came over and congratulated her softly. “I’m sure you’ll ace it.”

Megan looked at the woman before her and smiled. She could not imagine how Yara would turn out to be one of Starling Media’s biggest pillars in the future. “You can do this too,” Megan told her.

When Megan arrived at the set the next day, there were already a lot of other celebrities there. Some of them were familiar faces she had seen from the past life. She could tell with just a glance that everyone present had both the looks and talent. None of them would be here if they could not meet Adam’s impossible standards.

Not long after Megan was seated, she spotted Mia coming in with an assistant.

“Hey, Megan, I didn’t know assistants get to come too.”

Megan looked away without replying, wondering why Mia got a chance to try out this role.

“Are you dumb? You should be ashamed of the ad you took. I’d hide at home if I were you.”

Now that Mia mentioned the advertisement with Felix, Megan finally understood how Luna secured a spot for Mia at this audition.

Megan sensed many eyes were on them. “I bet Luna doesn’t like too much negative publicity among her celebrities.”

Yet Mia showed no sign of relenting. She grabbed the script from Megan’s hands and browsed through it. It did not take long before her blood raged in anger.

“Luna recommended you?” Mia’s face was contorted with jealousy. She thought Luna only thought highly of herself. She even told her how this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Turned out, Megan was also here.

“Yeah.” Megan’s trite answer provoked her sister. “Well, it’s just Madeline. You won’t even get a chance with me around.”

Mia had always had the upper hand over Megan. Garret preferred her over Megan, and Luna seemed to like her more as well. This emboldened Mia and she felt she would win this time for sure, but Megan kept giving her the cold shoulder, so she went off after teasing her.

Since Megan still had some time before her turn, she took out her phone and checked Felix’s commercial.

Wow. Look at this girl. She’s really got what it takes.

She looks so pure and sweet!

Look at the girl at the back. She’s not bad too.

Oh my gosh, this girl is so damn pretty. I’m obsessed. Her beauty is timeless.

Megan scrolled through all the comments and realized Mia had totally overshadowed her. Everyone was looking at her face and her body.

It went without saying that this commercial brought Mia to fame. It was only reasonable that she was given a chance to come today, but Megan did not seem perturbed at all. This was also how life was in the past life. Mia’s appearance had always brought her innumerable benefits.

But I wonder which role is she trying for? Don’t tell me she’s also auditioning for Princess Madeline.

The audition for the male and female lead was yesterday, and they were choosing the side characters and the antagonists today.

“Number 36 from Starling Media—Mia Rockford!”

Mia walked past Megan with her nose high in the air, trying to show off that she was given special treatment to cut the queue.

After she got on stage, she spread her gaze across all the judges before making a simple self-introduction. Her gesture was enough to win the hearts of many, not to mention her irresistible looks.

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3128

Mia Messing Up

Some of the investors were already nodding at Mia since the very beginning. It was clear that she left a good impression.

Right after, Mia told them she was interested in trying out Princess Madeline’s character.

The adjudicators’ eyes glimmered in approval. They had earlier on heard that the director had recommended a certain Ms. Rockford. It seemed like she was really someone promising.

Their reaction made Mia feel confident. She surveyed their expressions and was certain that she was just a step away from having her casting confirmed, but to her dismay, Adam still asked her to proceed on with the audition.

She thought she already nailed it when all the investors looked impressed.

Even for her other projects where she was invited for an audition, it was just all for the sake of formality. The directors had never really required her to compete for a role.

Mia was taken by surprise when Adam insisted on her acting at the audition, yet she quickly collected herself and accepted the challenge. What’s the big deal? It’s just an entitled and pampered princess. I’m gonna pull this off.

Mia played the princess naturally and she even altered some of the lines because she was so in the role. “Do you want her or do you want me?” she projected her voice coquettishly with a shy face. She pointed her shaky fingers into the empty space, imagining the male lead in front of her.

Her acting struck a jarring note. All the judges—except for a plump middle-aged man—looked at her with their eyes wide open in disbelief. They were far from being satisfied, especially Adam.

What is she doing? Madeline is supposed to be a powerful nation’s princess. She’s not some girl next door! She’s supposed to be talking to the enemy’s son, who also happens to be the person she loves.

The panel stared at her speechlessly as she butchered the role.

“Ms. Rockford, please try out the lines on the next page of the script.”

Although Adam was still talking in a polite manner, his patience was already wearing thin.

“Of course!” Mia replied readily with a smile. She thought she had already passed this scene.

She took a deep breath to adjust her mood. “Are you casting me aside now? Don’t you know I’m a princess?”

As expected, Adam stopped her before she even finished acting out that scene. “Ms. Rockford? You may leave first. We’ll notify your manager in three days’ time.”

Mia was still totally clueless. She walked out of the room with her head held high, thinking she would get the role for sure.

As for Megan, she had no idea what happened in the audition room. All she knew was that Mia came back out again far sooner than she expected.

“Don’t try too hard, Megan, cause I’m gonna get the role,” Mia goaded.

Megan ignored her and read through the script again to make sure she understood the character clearly.

“Number 37 from Starling Media, Megan Rockford!” Someone called out her name just as she was done reading through.

“Good luck getting another extra role,” Mia said offensively as she walked away, making sure everybody could hear her. As she planned, all the actors and actresses turned their heads toward Megan.

Megan went into the room without minding those people, but she was immediately taken aback when she got in. All the directors and investors were seated neatly in a row, and they looked solemn and stern. Am I in the right place?

“Hi, my name is Megan Rockford. I’m here to try out Madeline’s role,” she introduced herself softly.

She saw their facial expression darkened as she spoke. This was because everyone was having a hard time finding a suitable cast for this character, especially after Mia completely misinterpreted that character.

This was not an easy character to play. To most of the investors, they wanted to settle for just anyone popular to drive up viewership, but Adam was picky. Megan knew he had his own set of criteria.

“Megan Rockford? Are you related to Mia Rockford?”

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3129

Vying For The Role

A man’s severe voice came from the middle of the row after Megan’s self-introduction.

Beside him, Adam did not even lift his head to look at her. He seemed like he could not wait to get it over with.

“I’m Mia’s older sister.” Adam finally looked up briefly.

“Didn’t we say we’re not casting rookies?” The investors were unhappy about it. They felt this was a compromise of their production quality.

They cast their questioning glare at Adam, wondering what he was thinking. Their reaction was understandable. Megan did not have an appearance that stood her out among the others. Besides, Mia’s performance did not give the judges a good impression.

“Ms. Rockford, I think we’re done for the day. You may leave now. We’ll let you know the result soon,” Adam suddenly said. He did not seem keen on letting Megan have a go.

Megan was dumbfounded. If they had already predetermined a candidate, Megan could totally understand why Adam asked her to just give up, but they were the ones who asked her to come in.

To the director, he might have the luxury of choosing from a pool of talents, but to Megan, this was her only chance, and she would not give in so easily.

“Three minutes. Give me three minutes, Mr. Kennedy.”

There was no legitimate reason for Adam to deny her a small favor like this, so he relented.

“Make it quick.”

Adam disregarded the disapproving glares of the investors and waved his hand dismissively to hurry her up. He actually did not want to give her another chance, but somehow, he could not resist her compelling gaze.

Maybe the two sisters are really different.

Adam was far from being disappointed. Everyone held their breaths in astonishment when they saw Megan’s sudden change in expression as she got ready to play the role.

She was dressed in humble apparel, yet her demeanor was like no other. If she was a harmless puppy just now, she would be a fierce tiger right now.

Her bloodshot eyes fixed unwaveringly at the people as incipient tears rolled in her eyes.

Even the producer who was watching from above felt a chill run down his spine. He looked at the back from the corner of his eyes as he sensed the air turned cold behind him.

It was as if Megan was possessed and suddenly became another person. Grit and agitation sparkled in her otherwise painfully common eyes.

It was as if Princess Madeline suddenly came to life, and she was facing up with the prince of her rival country. Her lips parted without her noticing as the prince interrogated her on why she framed the female lead. Words stuck in her mouth and the veins on her forehead became increasingly obvious. She had her dignified gaze stubbornly fixated on the prince.

Her impeccable acting skills managed to soothe the frown on Adam’s face, and for the first time since the first actress came in, a smile played on his lips.

“Madeline…” one of the investors blurted out without even himself realizing as he watched Megan closely.

Megan was so immersed in the role she did not even realize someone coming on stage. Time went on as she waited for the prince to reply, but her wishful anticipation waned off as the man stayed silent. Her face gradually turned cold and heartless until she looked back up at him again. The glimmer of hope subsided in her eyes as she drilled her icy glare into the prince. “Are you casting me aside now? Don’t you know I’m a princess?”

Madeline was not looking for an answer, but rather, she was reminding the prince who he was dealing with.

“Bravo! Bravo!”

Adam stood up and applauded. It was not that there were no other actresses who managed to pull this off, but their take on this scene was totally different. All of them saw this as a hopeful scene, but not Megan.

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3130

On A Quest

Princess Madeline was brought up in the palace and she was a lady trained in all the royal etiquettes. When she reminded the prince that she was a princess, she was putting an end to her childish wish of falling in love with the prince. All that was left between them was revenge and animosity.

Megan finally stopped her performance and resumed her real self. She was the same village girl again, and the determination in her eyes was gone.

Among the panel of judges, she spotted a middle-aged woman who smiled in satisfaction.

It was none other than the author of the novel. From her reaction, Megan knew she did a good job.

She waited as the producer and investors whispered among themselves. After some discussion, they turned toward her.

“Megan Rockford, right? Tell us more about yourself, like what other movies or dramas you have starred in previously.”

Megan knew what they were trying to get at. In order for a drama to take off, it was not just about having the acting skills. One would need a certain level of popularity too.

Mia was not a gifted actress in the past life. Most of her works were merely adaptations of novels.

“I’m a celebrity under Starling Media. I’ve not taken part in any show,” Megan answered honestly since she knew the investors could easily do a background check on her.

Her answer put a disgruntled frown on many brows because a lack of exposure meant casting her was not a profitable option.

“Ms. Rockford, I believe you’re aware of the risks of casting a newbie. A celeb without any juicy stories won’t be good publicity for the drama.” The investors were candid with regard to their concerns. If not for her outstanding performance, Megan would not have even stayed till now.

“Am I right to assume that you’ve already approved of my acting?” Megan was quick to point out the hidden meaning.

To be honest, getting public attention was not a problem for Megan. Back then when Jacinta bullied her, she had already had a plan laid out. She had always wanted to give her a taste of her own medicine. It was about time Megan used this to her advantage.

“You know a drama’s success does not totally rely on the actors’ acting skills.”

“What if I’m able to attract the public’s attention? Does that mean I’ll get the role?”

“Of course,” Adam answered before the investors said anything. He was completely bought over by this girl Felix recommended after seeing her act for himself. If it were not for the investors, he would have agreed to cast her right on the spot.

“Thanks, Mr. Kennedy. Thanks, everyone.” Megan nodded at all the judges and went out. Behind her, the investors were talking among themselves about Megan’s courage.

“So, how did it go? I hope you’re not disappointed.” Mia was already waiting for Megan at the door when she came out.

She was totally clueless about what happened in there and she still thought she would win the role. That explained her snobbish remarks when she saw her sister.

Megan spared her a cursory glance and ignored her as usual.

She had better things to do, like putting her plan into action so she could secure the role as soon as possible. She could still remember from the past life that it was about late October this year that Jonas got into a heated scandal.

He was wasted and drunk when he ran into a girl. This hit the news and everyone started talking about it. The netizens found out she was just a commoner and Jonas himself even came out to explain that everything was just a pure misunderstanding, but none of the netizens bought it.

The woman instantly became famous after she got a Twitter account. Back then, Mia also mentioned this incident to Luna when she wanted to direct some public attention to herself.