Abigail, relishing the drama, joined in, "Such a difficult action scene—who can do it in one take? I think Ms. Kroes is deliberately making it hard. Who knows what Ms. Gruwell did to offend her, prompting this public vendetta."

Recently, Abigail had discovered Stella was not to be trifled with. When provoked, she could be as relentless as a maniac, which left Abigail struggling to keep up.

Abigail also noticed that Stella seemed to harbor some disdain for Rianne.

As the saying goes, an enemy’s enemy is a friend.

Abigail wanted to use this opportunity to sow discord between Stella and Rianne. That way, she could sit back and enjoy the spectacle while also finding more opportunities to make Rianne's life difficult.

However, Stella, overturning Abigail's carefully laid plans, shot her a contemptuous glance and said, "What does the feud between Ms. Kroes and me have to do with you? Stop your snide remarks and get lost."

Not only was Abigail taken aback, but Rianne was also momentarily stunned.

Despite the friction between them, Rianne had expected Stella to at least temporarily align with Abigail against her.

But Stella dismissively pushing aside a potential ally like Abigail revealed her utter disdain for such an alliance. This gave Rianne a new perspective on Stella.

Infuriated, Abigail lashed out, "Stella, don’t be ungrateful! Do you think I’m here to lick your boots? If you can’t handle the scene, just step down and let someone else do it."

Seeing Abigail and Stella clash again, the director felt his headache intensify.

He had never dealt with a leading and supporting actress who quarreled so incessantly. But one was a last-minute replacement, and the other was chosen by the investors. He had no choice but to brave the situation and try to mediate.

Before he could intervene, Stella scoffed, "Who says I can’t handle it? Watch closely, and I’ll show you what professionalism looks like."

Turning to Rianne, Stella asked, "Ms. Kroes, could you please demonstrate and explain the scene again? I need to get the feel for it."

To everyone’s surprise, Stella was genuinely seeking Rianne's guidance.

Rianne’s eyes twinkled as she smiled, "Certainly, I’ll demonstrate and explain it for you, Ms. Gruwell."

Rianne took the sword, her expression serious, as if facing a formidable enemy.

She moved gracefully yet powerfully, her actions smooth and decisive. The sword seemed to come alive in her hands, drawing elegant arcs in the air.

Each move was both fluid and forceful, exuding a unique blend of strength and beauty.

‌Michael, watching from the sidelines, was captivated. He realized how little he knew about Rianne beyond her outward appearance.

The woman he saw now was both stunning and formidable, a far cry from the playful kitten he remembered.

However, on set, she seemed to have undergone a transformation, exuding a blend of beauty and charisma. Every move she made carried an enchanting allure.

Rianne patiently explained and demonstrated the key moves for Stella.

After several attempts, Stella began to improve noticeably.

Encouraged, Stella rehearsed the scene and finally nailed it in one take.

As Stella executed her final, dramatic move, the director called out, "Cut! That’s a wrap! Fantastic!"

With the action scene complete, the crew members sighed in relief, their faces lighting up with satisfaction.

Stella, reviewing the footage, was pleased with the outcome. Rianne’s guidance had indeed enhanced the lead role’s elegance and dynamism.

Stella smiled warmly at Rianne, "Ms. Kroes, though I’m not fond of you, you are exceptionally professional. Thank you."

"You’re welcome. Just refrain from targeting me at work in the future. We’re all here to create the best possible production," Rianne replied, her lips curling slightly.

Stella laughed openly, "Of course."

Then, with a superior glance at Abigail, Stella added, "Ms. Crowe, don’t be too discouraged. The action was difficult. Not everyone can do it in one take. It’s not your fault you lack the talent."

Abigail, infuriated, snapped, "You—"

Meanwhile, the director, noticing ‌Michael’s presence, discreetly led the crew to the next set, leaving Rianne and ‌Michael alone.

Rianne, stretching her shoulders, walked toward the resting area. She felt a pair of intense eyes on her, drawing her attention.

Catching sight of him, she froze momentarily.

His sharp, resolute features and tall, poised figure exuded a natural air of nobility. The scar on his brow reminded her of someone.

For a moment, she was lost in thought.

He resembled someone.

Too much.

‌Michael’s gaze softened, noticing her sweat-dampened forehead and rosy cheeks.

He gently brushed her damp hair aside, treating her as if she were a precious artifact.

His tender gesture, combined with the fragmented light in his eyes, drew her in. Rianne couldn’t help but touch the scar on his brow, feeling a surge of emotions.

"Tired?" ‌Michael asked.

His voice brought her back to reality, a pang of sorrow in her heart.

No matter how alike, he was still an impostor.

"No," she replied curtly, pulling away from his touch.

‌Michael, puzzled by her sudden change in demeanor, tightened his grip on her wrist, pained by her cold gaze.

Rianne's cold and distant gaze deeply wounded Michael, leaving him with an unsettling feeling that events were spiraling beyond his control.

Abigail, having just finished arguing with Stella, saw Rianne and ‌Michael’s tender moment and fumed.

She had gone to great lengths to catch Rianne off guard, not to witness their public display of affection.

Despite having finally grasped evidence against Rianne, not witnessing the desired outcome left Abigail feeling anything but content.

Abigail noticed the bouquet of pink lilies on the bench and let out a soft scoff.

She was determined to expose Rianne's true nature in front of Brother Michael!