The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 205

Jake's eyes lit up with delight at Citrine's words.

"Thank you, Obsidian." He pressed his hands against the seams of his pants and bowed repeatedly, gratitude tumbling out in waves.

Even as he left the room, Jake was still reeling from the shock of such unexpected good fortune.

Before coming here, he'd half expected Obsidian's promise from a month ago to be nothing more than empty words. After all, he was signed with Eclipse Pictures, and after the messy fallout between Obsidian and the company, it seemed almost impossible she'd actually cast him.

Yet he couldn't forget the way she'd walked away from Eclipse Pictures a month ago—her resolve, her refusal to compromise. In the end, he'd decided to take the gamble.

He never imagined she'd truly give him a chance.

That afternoon, after watching a parade of auditions, Citrine was fighting off sleepiness. The drowsiness clung to her until Jake's turn came. The moment he delivered his first line, Citrine's eyelids fluttered open; she straightened in her seat.

Jake had never played a leading man before, but there was no denying his talent and intuition. He'd studied the character of York inside and out.

he didn't just play York-he

hands balled into fists, anxiously searching Citrine's face for any

silence dragged on, and hope slowly faded from

as he'd resigned himself to disappointment, Citrine turned to the director and

"Jake is York. The lead role

Innocent set; the director respected every casting choice she

Jake, leaving him breathless

them. "Thank you, Obsidian. Thank you, director.

no less. In that moment, Jake felt that every bit part

cast,

run-down neighborhood

she broke down in sobs, clutching a kitchen knife to her throat. She glared at her father, Fabian Lawson, and her mother, Cindy

younger brother had fallen from the stairs, hitting his head. The diagnosis: severe