58 Chapter 58

"Are you sure? I mean we are talking about canceling the whole audition are long really sure?" Alvin asked the director.

"I am." The director answered. "But the other lady did just fine. What's the difference?" The investor asked.

"No no he's onto something." The author replied. "It was more….Elna you know." He added. "Exactly. The other one was perfect but this one was more what we are looking for." The director agreed and the investor sighed. "What do you say?" The investor asked and Alvin shrugged.

"Either is fine but this one was indeed special." He answered. The director and the author smiled knowing they had made a decision.

"I'm still not convinced. We can't choose her just like that anyway. Let's do the group gathering first. We will continue a few auditions and choose the other roles. Once that is done we will call them all over and have them perform. If they do well we are all set." The investor suggested.

"That would be too much. It's unnecessary to continue the audition. I know it will be upsetting for those that didn't get to audition but we did choose a third female lead already. I say let's make Miss Sissie Brown the second lead." The director offered.

"That makes sense but call the young lady back. I want her to do something else for me." The author interrupted. He glanced at Alvin. "You want to join in the fun?" He asked and Alvin gave him a nod.

"Bring her back in!" The director ordered.

....

"We need you back in the audition room." The woman informed her and Ashly raised her eyebrows in surprise.

Sissie who was heading her way frowned. She halted her steps and she bit her tongue. 'Why do they want her back in there?' She begged in her heart that Ashlyn's audition had been bad and not good enough to match with hers.

"Oh." Ashlyn rose from her seat and followed the woman inside again.

----

Ashlyn was being stared by the author, the main actor, the director, and the main investor altogether for at least five minutes. She did not understand why but she stayed quiet.

The woman who brought her in whispered something to them and they whispered back. While they talked Ashlyn took a moment to make a small mental report about the male lead.

'If I'm not wrong he should be one of Conner's most trusted partners back in the academy. Sigh* It's only been 2 oh wait almost 3 years now! I wonder if Conner will ever get his ability back.' Ashlyn continued her thoughts not noticing how the male lead was looking at her with a weird sense of familiarity.

'I shouldn't involve myself. Although I'm now his wife it's a secret. For now, I can only wait for the potion to fade away. Unless I find a cure that is….'

Although it's not something Ashlyn should be thinking about somehow her thoughts always went back to Conner. He is involved with her in every way possible which makes it hard for her to avoid him. She should not be thinking about her ability and the academy nor should she be thinking about her life two years ago. Right now she is working on project ASHES and it's something very important for both her and Cameron.

Project ASHES is a silly plan they made together to successfully establish their careers and connections. This silly plan ended up becoming flawless. Two years ago she was supposed to start planning ASHES but after her mother's death, she completely forgot about it. If she really thought about the plan ASHES might have been disrupted by her mother anyway.

After all her mother already had plans for her. She is now the heir, right? After establishing her acting career they will surely come to her and bring her back to that academy, assess her skills, and then only then will she be able to live peacefully….

'Why am I even thinking about this?' Ashlyn sighed.

"Miss Brown, we heard you decided to let your assistants help the other actors is that true?" The director asked. "That is true. I was informed that I could do that." Ashlyn replied and focused her attention back on them.

"I was just wondering why did you do that? Wouldn't it be better if you let them assist you?" He asked again. Ashlyn smiled. "That would be quite selfish of me. I found it unfair that some people had no one to assist them. I might be a lot of things but I am not a selfish person at least I don't think so." She answered nonchalantly.

The director raised an eyebrow. "Hmm alright can you do me a favor then?" He asked. "As long as it's within my capability I will try." She answered. "Great! I want to see some chemistry between you and our male lead if that's fine with you." He clapped his hands with a pleased expression.

"Of course." Ashlyn smiled. She stayed calm knowing they wanted to see if they would work well together for the roles.

The male lead, Alvin rose from his seat and he walked towards her. "Let's do the scene where the leads dance in front of the pond." He offered.

Ashlyn chuckled. 'Another test huh?'

It seems these men have been testing her from the start and they did not plan on stopping. "There is no such scene." Ashlyn smiled calmly.

"Are you sure? Miss Brown, did you even read the script properly?" The author frowned and Alvin joined him. This was done to make Ashlyn think over her answer. They wanted to see if she was dedicated enough to actually go through the whole script of the movie.

"I'm very positive about my answer. Having memorized the entire script I would remember such a scene." Ashlyn replied.

"Perhaps you are mistaken. There is a scene by the pond where the leads are together but they don't dance and it certainly isn't a romantic scene. If I remember correctly it is when the female lead hears the second lead her half-sister confessing her love for the male lead and misunderstands the situation." Ashlyn pursed her lips acting oblivious to all the little tests they were giving her.

"Ah yes, my mistake," Alvin admitted. The author nodded. "Alright then tell me what scene do you think will be best for you two to perform?" He asked.

"It should be the scene after. A day later the female lead decides to ask the male lead about what really went down and if he really has feelings for the second lead. It was quite a sentimental scene and the leads finally have some heart to heart talk." Ashlyn replied wondering how long they plan on testing her.

'Did they do the same to the other's as well?' She wondered.

After her offer, they all agreed and Ashlyn did the scene with Alvin. When the scene was done Ashlyn took her seat and Alvin returned to his.

"That was great! You have great control over your facial expressions Miss Brown." The director complimented her with a bright smile.

"Thank you." After that short reply, Ashlyn waited for what would happen next.

"I don't think there is more to say really. How about we vote?" The author offered which was odd for Ashlyn to hear.

"Vote?" She asked politely.

"Yes, voting! We all agreed that you are perfect for the role but there is someone else just as perfect. I'm thinking we will bring in Miss Sissie and have her perform the same scene. Then we can vote on who suits the role best." He explained.

"That sounds great let's do that then!" After they agreed on that Sissie was brought in and she performed perfectly just like last time.

Both Ashlyn and Sissie were dismissed after the audition and were informed that in 3-5 days they would receive a call or an email with a response.

Ashlyn, Li Zi, Cameron, Luke, and Lake all left and went back to the hotel.

"You guys go to your rooms I'm going to wander around for a bit!" Ashlyn dismissed them and she changed into a comfortable dress.

She walked out of the hotel with a black mask to cover half of her face.

While she walked alone she got to compose herself. 'My secrets….all of them. Why are they being revealed? Why am I meeting these people again? Why? I was supposed to be gone. I should be divorced and remarried by now. Shouldn't I be gone and free?' These thoughts bother her very much.

Especially after she saw Alvin it reminded her of her past again and again. 'Does he recognize me? He and Conner worked together in the Academy! I'm sure he can.'

When she was thinking about that she stopped in her tracts feeling some powerful level 8 aura behind her.

'And he found me.'

"Miss Brown." Alvin called out.

Ashlyn saw everyone around her stop. Time stopped and only both of them could move and talk.

"Conner taught you that?" She asked. "Yes he did." Alvin responded and his lips twitched.

"Why do you mention him? He left the academy and abandoned us. He left just for the riches of his biological family. That bastard."

Ashlyn could feel his anger. "Shut up! You don't know anything so you don't get to talk like that about him." She glared at him.

"Stupid woman! He abandoned you so why are you defending him?" He asked, rolling his eyes.

Ashlyn sighed and removed her mask. Her eyes flashed red even through her contacts. "I told you not to speak about it if you yourself don't know the full truth." She warned him.

"Just because Conner isn't your superior anymore and neither am I…. It doesn't mean it's impossible to beat you." She gave him a smirk.

"Him superior to me? What the heck are you talking about? That coward doesn't deserve my respect?" A yellowish light flashed from his chocolate brown eyes.

Ashlyn's hand had red smoke around it and the red dagger appeared. She placed it on his neck glaring at him. "Watch your damn mouth, Alvin!"

"Now that you are here I need your help." Ashlyn realized time was running out and people would start talking and walking again.

She closed her eyes to calm down. 'I'm still so overprotective of him tsk.' She complained internally.

"By the way hehe. If he wishes to kill you, Alvin you would only be a bunch of ice melting on the ground. You aren't a match for him so I suggest you be more cautious with your words." She reminded him.

'FYI, my husband might have lost his memory but as soon as he does recover them he will be the same badass he was humph!' Inwardly she felt very proud but she tried to concentrate on the current situation.

"Yes yes." Whatever. What do you need?" Alvin asked.

"I can't right now. Let's meet up at 'that' place tomorrow night and at 'that' time. It's important if you don't come I will drag you there myself." She put on her mask once again and the dagger disappeared in another small cloud of red smoke.

Alvin looked calmed but he was silently regretting his words. The woman in front of him js young but very talented among the students in the Academy. If it weren't for the incident that's separated them two years ago she would still be standing at the top of the academy along with Conner.

Just that thought of corner made him clench his fists tightly. When they were in trouble he disappeared! That bastard!

Of course, he would curse him forever because he doesn't know the truth of the situation. To make sure Conner would be safe his grandfather made sure that no one would find out about his lost memories.

So until now, everyone sees him as a coward who ran away when the academy needed him the most.

*******

Hey! I just want to tell you all that I'm really very sorry for not updating in sooo long.

I feel super guilty!

The reason was because I had this much confidence in my work=0 Yup! A big fat zero!

I wrote a bunch of drafts but I could never see it as good enough. Gosh I feel so stupid!

This chapter is longer than usual because I did my best for it to be long. I really hope to release more chapters this week but I'm still trying to build up my confidence. It's one of my babies and I could never drop it!

I hope you guys don't hate me *cries*

I woke up at 1am in the morning and stared at the book for an hour. I kept seeing "1month" and if made me anxious.

At first it started with "1 week" and the. "4 weeks" and so on. Now it's been a month since I last updated. I was feeling super guilty so I was afraid to even update at this point.

My mental state is not the best rn and I'm working on another two novels so losing confidence in this story broke my heart.

I hope you all understand! This isn't an excuse but an apology to my readers!