Chosen Mate of the Beastmen Empire by Lewis Reed

Chapter 426

11

Nyx quietly looked away. The taunt didn’t get the reaction she wanted, and Joanna got all huffy about it. The man next to her noticed something off and frowned, “What’s up?”

“Terry.” Joanna said, softening her tone and flashing a smile, “nothing much, just saw someone I can’t stand.”

She had plenty of people she didn’t like, and Terry gave a vague chuckle, “Alright, got it. What’s her name?”

Truth was, he wasn’t clueless–his little starlet had a nasty temper, always starting trouble, looking down on this one, sneering at that one. Her reputation was trash.

But he didn’t care who was right or wrong–he wasn’t some judge. As long as she stayed pretty and kept him happy, he’d back her up, let her strut around the industry like she owned it.

Joanna leaned into his shoulder, pleased as punch. “Terry, you’re so good to me.”

She pointed at Nyx. “That’s the one–Nyx. She stole the role I had my eye on!”

Someone nearby overheard, frowned, and looked like they wanted to say something but held back. Joanna didn’t care who heard–she had her sugar daddy right there, so she glared at them one by one.

Terry followed her finger and caught just a glimpse of a figure from behind. That graceful silhouette looked like a one–in–a- million beauty. Dressed in a plain white skirt, she had an extra touch of innocence.

Terry lingered on that back view a little too long, suddenly recalling the “world’s greatest beauty” role that got snatched–he started feeling a spark of interest.

Joanna didn’t notice, still whispering in his ear, “She’s basically done filming–just cut her scene today, that’s all.”

It wasn’t out of kindness that she didn’t want Nyx totally crushed–if she asked to chop all of Nyx’s parts, the director, writer, and editor would flip, and it’d get messy.

Just axing today’s scene would be easy enough and still kill Nyx’s big moment. In the other scenes, she’d been swinging around in that ugly bronze mask–no way she’d blow up from that once the show aired.

“Please, Terry?” she cooed, nudging him.

Terry nodded absently, not bothering to head for the director. After a few more rounds of her wheedling, he yanked his arm free, annoyed, “Enough!”

Seeing her teary, panicked eyes, he softened a bit and said, “Hold on a sec. Let her shoot it first, then get the director to cut it.”

Zachary was a professional–getting a scene perfect meant tons of retakes, and Nyx’s bit involved wirework, falling from a tower. It wouldn’t be a breeze,

Letting Nyx go through all that hassle, only to trash the footage later, would really twist the knife. Joanna thought it over, wiped her tears, and broke into a grin.

The crew had already set up the outdoor tower to look war–ravaged–charred beams, crumbling tiles hanging by a thread. When Nyx’s turn came, it was dusk, the setting sun bleeding red across the tower’s weathered bricks. Everything was ready, and the camera locked on Nyx.

The vermilion palace gates hung crooked and wide open, rare flowers trampled into the mud, screams and shout from every direction as servants grabbed gold, silver, jewels, and silks, fleeing with whatever they could carry.

oing

Nyx wore a lavish cloak, its hem dusted with dirt but still elegant, her hair neatly pinned, a floral mark glowing between her brows–she held onto the dignity of royalty.

1/5

59%

Chapter 426

“Hurry, Princess! Get to the carriage!” a loyal guard urged, “The gates are breached–there’s no time!”

into the distance, her eyes drifting from the grand hall to the concubines‘ quarters, then she moved–not

had fallen, her people scattered, her

pulled her gaze back and stepped toward the gate. She sped up, her hair ornaments jangling loose—a guard lunged to grab her robe, but she unfastened it, flung the cloak off, and left

troop of cavalry with the rebel king’s banners galloped through the streets, charging straight for the palace. From the tower, she could see them–maybe

be a hell of a prize.

her pale cheeks, her delicate skin–their eyes

out the pin and drove it into her throat! The pin shattered as it hit

crane with broken wings, she spun and plummeted from the tower, her robes fluttering in tragic red streaks.

Zachary called it, laughing

need for a redo. Nyx had pulled

of ancient times,” he

the wires, peeled off the busted fake

vibe, huh. Maybe because I actually lived in the past for a

caught up in Nyx’s

natural, even her fall from the tower flowed perfectly–no stiffness in her limbs or body. It pulled you right in, made you forget the wires were even there.

but most people there were industry pros–they knew how tough

the praise, Joanna’s face went pale. She clutched Terry’s

Nyx held an admiration and fascination he’d never shown her. Forget dealing with Nyx for her–he clearly wanted Nyx to take her

said, prying her hand off and smoothing his wrinkled sleeve, “You’ve been with me this long. Stay sensible, and I

his pocket, too. Keeping two lovers at once was

with her from now on, don’t make trouble for me, got

wasn’t about to let his backyard catch fire and spend

Tue, 18

Chapter 426

59%

11

tossed the old–Nyx was

Even if she swallowed it and stopped stirring the pot, if Nyx hooked up with Terry, she probably wouldn’t let

“You can’t go after Nyx—Zachary and the writer really like

obvious attention she got at auditions, during filming, Zachary seemed extra fond

her? She’s still just a no–name sidekick, isn’t she? Besides, who

equals–no way he’d stick

director might protect her?” Terry sneered, shaking her off.

boldly. Dragging out the director and writer now was just a bluff to scare him off

got some patience for you, get lost–don’t ruin my plans.” With that warning, Terry strode through

done her look had gone out to watch her shoot, too, and now her already

walked in, and the whole room went quiet. The chatter cut off like

set, and Joanna wasn’t exactly subtle–word of her sugar daddy Terry visiting had been everywhere. His face was no secret. Everyone even knew he was a big

a sudden?‘ she thought. The makeup

Joanna herself—if that girl wanted to stir up nonsense anyway, she’d

adjusting his tie and holding out a hand, “I’m Terry Blanchet

his irritation just yet. He sized her up, grinning.

my girl a bit–she’s got a temper, might’ve been rude to you. But I really admire

gorgeous, talented–with the right script, you could snag some awards, maybe even become a best actress,” he said, raising a brow, hinting, “I’ve been in this game a while, got some connections, resources. I

privately,” he added, handing her a business card.

was dead silent–everyone was

hadn’t seen this coming at all. She’d thought he was there to hassle Nyx not

not exactly good news, though–if Nyx didn’t play the casting couch game. The artist glanced

anna,

Tue, 18