Chapter 79
“Zander, I’m coming right now.” When Zander emerged from the audition room and called her, Sylvia nodded and walked over
Angel’s eyes darted toward Zander, her voice laced with disbelief as she turned to Joanna. “Oh my? Was that really Zander?“.
Joanna bit her lip. “Yeah, that’s him. Zander is one of the casting directors for this audition.”
Angel gasped in surprise, “Wait? Why did Zander call Sylvia over? Isn’t that the audition room up ahead? Sylvia’s not even an actress. What’s she doing going in there?”
Joanna watched Sylvia walk into the audition room, feeling a pang of discomfort herself. After a brief pause, she said to Angel, her tone dripping with envy, “Angel, guess what?
“Zander is Sylvia’s boyfriend now. Even if her acting is really bad, with Zander pulling strings for her, it doesn’t matter at all.”
“Sylvia’s dating Zander?” Angel’s eyes widened in shock, then she huffed indignantly, “It’s too unfair. I can’t believe Zander is that kind of person, even used to binge–watch his shows.”
Both Angel and Joanna assumed Sylvia had gone in to audition, but she never came out, while the other actors were called in one by one for their auditions.
Angel and Joanna exchanged glances, both wondering aloud, ‘What on earth is Sylvia doing in there? Why isn’t she coming out yet?”
Sylvia was now seated at the casting table, right next to Zander. Along with the two of them, a few other key crew members, including the assistant director whom Zander had brought in for the new production, were also present.
The actors entered one by one. Each was handed a different script excerpt to perform on the spot, putting their acting skills to the test.
Since Sylvia had written the script, she had the final say in the casting process. She carefully observed each actor as they came in, jotting down the numbers of those who showed promise.
After all the auditions were completed, she would review her notes and decide who would advance to the callback auditions.
The auditions were proceeding smoothly.
With so many candidates, the entire morning wasn’t enough. By noon, Sylvia had just grabbed a quick lunch before resuming the auditions, barely taking a break.
Meanwhile, outside Francisco Memorial School, a luxury car pulled up to the curb. Stepping out with effortless confidence was Byron, the man at the pinnacle of high society.
It was noon dismissal at Francisco Memorial School, but most students chose to stay on campus for lunch.
“Zack, I’m at the school gate. Come out with Ruby.” Byron pulled out his phone and made a call, his voice icy.
Before long, the two little ones came running out of the campus hand in hand, their small feet pattering against the pavement.
Ruby tilted her head up and chirped brightly, “Byron, are you taking us somewhere yummy to eat?”
Zack wasn’t nearly as cheerful as Ruby. When he spotted Byron, his eyes darted away, awkward and a bit nervous, already bracing himself. ‘Will Dad be mad at me for sleeping over at Mom’s last night?‘
“Lunch can wait,” Byron replied tersely.
Byron studied Ruby for a long moment, recalling what the man at the zoo had said. Now that he looked closer, he couldn’t help but notice a certain
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Chapter 79
resemblance between them the shape of her eyes, the curve of her features.
Maybe it was just his imagination, but the more Byron looked at Ruby, the more he saw himself in her.
Byron said calmly, “There was a gas leak at the zoo you visited yesterday. I’m taking you both for a check up.”
Ruby nodded sweetly and chirped, “Okay, Byron.”
Seeing that Byron showed no intention of scolding him, Zack nodded happily. “Dad, after the check up, can you take Puby and me to KFCT
Byron shot him a frosty glance. ‘How dare he make requests? I still haven’t settled the score with him for last night. I’ll deal with him when we get hante! he thought.
Byron didn’t even spare Zack a glance. Instead, he scooped Ruby up and carried her straight to the back seat of the car.
Zack seemed to sense he might get a spanking tonight. His mood instantly took a nosedive. With his head hanging low, he dragged his feet as he climbed
into the car.
Byron took the two little ones to a private clinic.
Truth be told, Byron was genuinely concerned that the gas teak during yesterday’s zoo visit might have affected the kids‘ health, so he arranged for a thorough check–up.
Byron stood silently outside the blood draw room, watching as Zack and Ruby had their blood drawn.
Though Zack was scared of the blood draw himself, when he saw Ruby sitting in the chair, her fists clenched and looking so nervous, he couldn’t help but step up and act like a proper big brother.
Standing on tiptoe, he gently covered her eyes with his hand, trying to shield her from the sight and comfort her. “Ruby, don’t be scared. It won’t hurt at all”
Byron gave an approving nod at the sight.
Zack had changed a lot lately. He was a lot more cheerful and outgoing, and had grown much more responsible, really starting to act like a man.
Zack had to admit all these changes were because of Sylvia. But if Sylvia thought she could use this as an excuse to regain full custody of Zack, Byron would never allow it.
“Draw my blood.” Byron looked at the doctor beside him, his slender fingers gesturing toward Ruby. “Run a paternity test with her.”
This was the primary purpose of his hospital visit. He needed to confirm once and for all whether Ruby was truly his daughter.
The paternity test results would take a week to process, but the little ones‘ medical checkup reports came back almost immediately, all clear.
-Byron didn’t take them to KFC as they wished. Instead, he brought the kids to a hotel restaurant for a proper meal. In his view, KFC was just junk food.
“Byron, you know what? Sylvia is with Zander right now. How shameless can she be? Zander’s holding auditions for actors, and she just keeps hanging around him like glue and refuses to leave,” a voice said.
Byron had just dropped the two kids off at Francisco Memorial School and was barely back in his car when his phone rang. It was his sister, Angel.
At first, Angel thought Sylvia had gone into the audition room to score a part through her connections. After all, she was dating Zander now.
But after Sylvia went in, she never came out. Angel changed her mind again. Now she was convinced Sylvia was just clinging to Zander.
Angel couldn’t help but wonder, ‘What does Zander even see in Sylvia?‘
Byron snapped, “Angel. Stop meddling in Sylvia’s business and quit reporting her every move to me.”
Chapter 79
Just that one piece of news was enough to ruin Byron’s good mood and leave him imitated.
Angel got an earful on the phone and grumbled irritably, “Fine. If you don’t want to hear it, then don’t. I won’t ever tell you anything again.
Just as Angel was about to hang up, Byron abruptly.
ged his mind. “Send me her location,” he demanded.
Byron yanked at his tie, his face livid, a twinge of jealousy creeping into his chest. He thought, “Doesn’t she have anything better to do? Why is she starts hanging around Zander? If she’s got all that free time, why isn’t she contacting me?”
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