Crossroads

"What... What do you want me to do?" Stephanie's voice trembled as she spoke.

Stephanie glanced nervously at Lucy, noticing a hint of a cryptic smile playing on her lips. Lucy smoothly pulled out a colorful brochure from behind her back and offered it to Stephanie. "I like dealing with straightforward people. Why don't you start by completing this little task?"

Stephanie cautiously took the brochure. Her eyes widened in surprise as they landed on the familiar logo of "The Innovate Group".

The company was holding open auditions for a spokesperson for their new product. Participants were required to film a 50-second commercial and had to be fluent in Eldranian, with an outstanding presence. Due to commercial reasons, the product details were kept confidential. The initial auditions were open to all ages and genders.

Stephanie held her breath and looked up at the woman in front of her again. Tve never been a model."

"Ms. Reed, this is your problem now."

Lucy's interest seemed to evaporate. That's your problem now, Ms. Reed. She turned away dismissively, her attention shifting to the hulking figure sprawled half-conscious on the filthy alley floor.

The disheveled man, hearing her approach, scrambled backward in terror, his eyes wide with fear. He dragged his broken body, crawling backward. clearly terrified of the woman before him.

A scream ripped through the alley as Lucy drove her heel into the man's dislocated arm. She glanced down at him with a mocking smile on her lips, but what she did was ruthless, as if the man was nothing more than an object.

Stephanie pressed her lips, watching her steadily. Her hand clenched the flyer for the Innovate Group's audition, tightening her grip silently.

After hesitating for a moment, she couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Who are you! Are you going to kill him?"

VOICE It was already midday, but the sun struggled to break through the clouds, casting a gloomy pall over the narrow alleyway. Stephanie's vo shattered the silence.

Lucy paused her movements and turned her head to look at her. Stephanie shivered under her menacing gaze, but this was a matter of life and death.

"He won't die" Lucy's Aurithian had a thick accent, but her tone was very calm and natural as if she truly didn't care about human life.

She smirked. "Ms. Reed, I know you've got friends in high places, but I'd advise you not to try anything funny. People like me have survived wars and plagues, we're like animals. Your kids are so fragile. But they are safe with me, only for now."

Her tone was casual like she was talking about the weather.

Cleaning up the mess, Lucy bent down and grabbed the front of the man's collar, easily lifting him. He had long since passed out from the pain. His face was slack, lifeless as Lucy dragged him to the end of the alley.

Stephanie's face turned pale as she watched Lucy bend the burly man's limbs and stuff him into the trunk of a car, slamming it shut with a bang.

Stephanie's heart hammered in her chest. Swallowing her fear, she forced out the words "What do you have against me? Why are you doing this?"

"For money, for survival" Lucy turned, her eyes blazing with a cold ruthlessness. But she seemed to dismiss Stephanie entirely, looking at her like she was nothing more than a fragile ant, a cruel smirk playing on her lips. "But sometimes, I have to repay some favors and debts"

Then, Lucy drove away.

Stephanie stood frozen in place, silently watching the direction she left until the car disappeared completely.

The December air was biting cold, but her face remained expressionless. In her hand, she clutched the Innovate Group's open audition flyer, her racing pulse reminding her that this was all too real.

"What did you say?" Molly exclaimed. By evening, after serving Scott and Andy for the whole day, she went to find Stephanie for dinner.

They sat together in the small living room, each with a plate of carbonara in front of them. Molly, eyes wide with surprise, put down her fork. She picked up the colorful flyer from the table and looked at the woman across from her.

"Stephanie, did you just say you're signing up for the Innovate Group auditions?" Molly asked again, her voice laced with disbelief.

12:23 PM C Chapter 278

A worried frown creased Molly's forehead. "Are you trying to get close you to Dominick?" she asked anxiously.

Molly thought she must be relentless.

This woman was always stubborn.

"The Wellington family are all cold-hearted," she said, frustration edging into her voice. It's not worth putting yourself through those public events just for him. Stephanie, you're not even a trained model. What if they humiliate you on purpose! You have no idea how cutthroat the entertainment industry can be... Molly couldn't bear the thought of Stephanie getting hurt again and again.

"I have to make it. Stephanie said, her voice quiet but determined.

She continued to eat her carbonara mechanically, shoveling it in without really tasting it. She was eating just for the sake of living, nothing more.. Life needed a purpose, or one was just a zombie.

And now, her only goal w was to win this audition...no matter what it took.