Soon, a woman's voice drifted out from the studio, her English flawless and confident.

Emily Blair, who had once spent countless nights mastering the language,

understood everything clearly.

“Hello, Mr. Parker. I'm Isabella Austin, and I'm here today as a candidate for the lead role in your film..."

Emily's brows arched in surprise. She turned to look.

The woman was no longer facing away; from this angle, Emily could see her profile clearly.

It was Isabella Austin.

Emily murmured under her breath, "What's she doing here?"

She exchanged a glance with Tristan Davis, who remained silent.

Suddenly, a thought struck Emily. She quickly pulled out her phone and searched for news about Isabella Austin.

For years, she'd been wrapped up in her own world, barely paying attention to the lives of Andrew Lane or Isabella Austin. She'd skimmed a few headlines about them before, but never looked deeper.

Now, the memories came rushing back.

A few quick taps, and there it was—Isabella Austin had transitioned into acting a couple of years ago, thanks to Andrew Lane's financial backing.

Up until now, Isabella had only landed minor roles; nothing remarkable, nothing headline-worthy.

But this time, Andrew was pulling out all the stops.

This was the lead role in a film by the world-renowned director, Mr. Parker. Every actress in the industry would kill for a chance like this.

After all, the lead actress in Mr. Parker's last film had gone on to win Best Actress at an international film festival, launching her into stardom overnight.

Technically, the role Isabella was auditioning for had nothing to do with Emily's

pursuit of the gaming rights. Still, Emily couldn't shake her doubts.

Was it really just a coincidence?

Andrew Lane had refused to sell her the rights. She'd come here to see Mr. Parker, and by pure chance, ran into Isabella Austin.

Emily listened carefully to the conversation inside.

Nothing seemed odd-just the usual back-and-forth between a director and a hopeful actress.

From the tone of his voice, Mr. Parker seemed to genuinely like Isabella, offering her plenty of encouragement.

Emily waited until the voices faded and silence fell. Then she poked her head in for a peek.

Mr. Parker was still seated in the front row. Isabella had taken a seat further back.

From the looks of it, Isabella was the last to audition. There were no other candidates waiting outside, and inside, Mr. Parker and his team were already gathering up their things, ready to leave.

Emily didn't hesitate any longer. She strode inside.

Mr. Parker looked up at the sound of footsteps.

He was a man in his forties or fifties, broad-shouldered and powerfully built, with a thick beard. Despite his rugged appearance, his eyes and expression were gentle, almost kind.

As soon as she entered, one of his assistants sprang up, voice sharp. "Hey, who are you? Auditions are done. Who said you could come in?"

"Easy, be nice to the young lady," Mr. Parker interrupted, raising a hand.

Emily walked over calmly, stopping before Mr. Parker. She dipped her head politely and spoke in fluent English. "Mr. Parker, if you have a moment, would you mind listening to a piano piece?"

He studied her for a moment. Before he could answer, the assistant interjected, "She's not on the audition list."

"I know," Mr. Parker replied, smiling. "I don't know what brings you here, but " He turned back to Emily. "Go ahead, give it a try."

Emily nodded. "Thank you."

She lifted her gaze and met Isabella Austin's eyes directly.

Isabella's look was steady and serene, utterly unruffled.