It's time Tess' fans accept that their idol isn't on Effie's level."

“Effie is truly remarkable! Despite her influential background, she chose to make her own way in the industry."

“Tess' fans are at a loss now. It's amusing to see. Despite her reputation, she doesn't match up. Effie earned her role fair and square!"

"I'm tired of Tess' fans. They act as if Tess should always win, and if she doesn't, it's foul play. How ridiculous! They must feel pretty foolish now. Effie doesn't need to play dirty to succeed."

Faced with these sharp criticisms, Tess' fans struggled to form a rebuttal. Yet, despite the pressure, they couldn't bring themselves to admit that Tess had been surpassed by Effie.

“Effie is a Harris, so she must have gotten the role through her family," someone commented sarcastically.

In defense, Effie's fans pointed to her varied audition history, demonstrating her journey from minor to major roles. "If she depended on her family, why bother with small parts? And would Mr. Harris have revealed her identity if Tess hadn't attacked her?"

"Tess' fans are clueless. I'm done explaining. I'm here to support Effie, the true star!"

This defense swayed the opinions of many, tipping the scales in Effie's favor.

Meanwhile, Tess vented her frustration by shattering a vase at home.

Marlene, startled and dropping her facial mask, asked, “Mom, what's wrong? Who upset you?"

"It's Effie," Tess fumed, recounting the fashion show debacle.

Marlene was taken aback by the revelation.

Damn it! Why was Effie so lucky to be from such a powerful family?

Marlene thought, wishing she was born into the Harris family.

"Mom, don't worry. Effie probably won that role through her family connections. You're the real talent here," Marlene consoled.

Tess nodded in agreement, and then her face broke into a chilling smile, sending a shiver down Marlene's spine.

“Even with her Harris background, Effie can't match my experience in show business," Tess declared.

She recently received a message from a scriptwriter friend offering her a role in an upcoming TV show, clearly a maneuver to compete with A Fond Dream for overshadowing her awards.

"A Fond Dream was foolish to pick a new actress. The lead role of my new play is perfect for showcasing your talents. Do you want to give it a try," her friend's message read.

Quickly getting acquainted with the script and noting its concurrent release with the drama adapted from A Fond Dream's book, Tess saw it as a golden chance to reaffirm her prowess. She was determined to demonstrate Effie's reliance on her family name, contrasting it with her own self-made success.

The next day, news of Tess’ latest venture was abuzz, stirring discussions about the competition between the two shows given their thematic overlap and release proximity.

Lilah, while working with Saul, regularly received updates and provided her input, fueling Saul's drive.

He suggested revealing her identity to boost the project's profile, given the intrigue surrounding the mysterious scriptwriter. However, Lilah firmly refused.