Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Marrying Her, Just a Figurehead

"He really should see a psychiatrist!" Claire Lawrence shook her head, speechless.

Yvonne Sutton gave a wry smile. "Actually, after thinking about it, I agree that our two families really aren’t suited to be living across from each other."

"But that doesn’t mean you and Wyatt Shaw should be the ones to move out."

"That’s why I said to him: Why don’t you and Wendy Winters move out?"

"What did he say to that?" Claire Lawrence asked, her face full of curiosity.

Yvonne Sutton sighed. "He said he’s lived there for eight years, that it holds a lot of memories he can’t just abandon."

"He’s obviously just trying to disgust you on purpose!"

"That’s why I just shut the door on him and didn’t bother with him anymore."

After speaking, Yvonne Sutton looked around. They were on Director Sherman’s film set.

"Are you wrapping up your scenes today?"

"Yeah, just the last scene."

"What are your work plans after this?"

Claire Lawrence sighed. "The company can’t give me many resources, so I have to find them myself."

"Take your time."

The two chatted for a while until it was time for Claire Lawrence’s scene. They had made plans to go shopping together after she finished filming.

Yvonne Sutton walked out of the dressing room. As she reached the door, she saw Monica Lynch and another actress in the lounge. She was about to walk past when she heard Monica Lynch mention her name.

"Yvonne Sutton, hah. She probably thinks she’s some reincarnation of Cinderella who married a prince and is going to live a fairytale life from now on," Monica Lynch sneered.

"The Rhodes Group’s Crown Prince... I heard he’s no rich playboy. The tech company he founded himself is incredibly successful, involved in gaming, AI, and even space exploration. A great family background and immense talent are one thing, but he’s also exceptionally handsome. We’ve seen all kinds of good-looking men in our circle, but that Crown Prince is so stunning he makes even us feel inadequate," the other actress said.

"Exactly. So why would someone like Wyatt Shaw marry a woman like Yvonne Sutton?"

"But they’re already married. The internet is full of their wedding photos."

"Did you know? Wyatt Shaw is the man even Jean Bell rejected."

"Jean Bell? Wow, the queen of mystery novels, the eldest daughter of the Bell Conglomerate’s main branch, known as ’the greatest beauty of the literary world’."

"If Wyatt Shaw married Jean Bell, that would make sense. Him marrying Yvonne Sutton can only mean one thing: he needed a wife, and it didn’t matter who she was or what her status was. She’s just a decoration."

Yvonne Sutton shook her head and smiled. ’If I’m just a decoration, then what is Monica Lynch so worked up about? What is she so jealous of? How ridiculous.’

She went outside to wait for Claire Lawrence. She ran into a few actors who had drunk her tea before, and they all chatted for a bit.

After waiting for over two hours like this, she still hadn’t seen Claire Lawrence come out. Yvonne Sutton grew worried and walked toward the studio.

"What’s going on? It’s just one scene! How many takes has it been?!"

When Yvonne Sutton got there, Director Sherman was fuming.

She looked inside and saw that the scene was between Monica Lynch and Claire Lawrence. A mocking smile played on Monica Lynch’s lips, while Claire Lawrence’s entire head was soaked, and she was gasping for air.

"Let’s go again! All departments, get ready!"

Before the take started again, Claire Lawrence took a deep breath and submerged her face in the water. As the slate clapped, Monica Lynch gritted her teeth, reached out, and forcefully pushed Claire Lawrence’s head down, holding her under the water.

"CUT, CUT, CUT!" Director Sherman shot up from behind his monitor, furious. "Quincy Sharp! She’s not some irredeemably evil person! The one she’s about to kill is a handmaiden who’s served her for over a decade! Her heart is conflicted! There’s a process, from reluctance to resolve!"

Monica Lynch let go, and Claire Lawrence shot out of the water, sputtering and collapsing onto the floor.

"Director, I’m sorry. Let’s do another take. I’ll definitely get the emotions right this time," Monica Lynch apologized.

Director Sherman was seething, but he couldn’t just explode. He waved his hand and said, "Take a break for now. Think carefully about the character."

"Okay."

Just then, Yvonne Sutton rushed in and took out a tissue to wipe Claire Lawrence’s face.

Her face had turned slightly purple, likely from holding her breath for too long over and over again. No one could endure that.

"I... I’m fine," Claire Lawrence said.

Yvonne Sutton stood up and looked at Monica Lynch. "You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?"

Monica Lynch crossed her arms. "If that’s what you want to say, then yes, I am."

"Then let’s go to Director Sherman right now and have him be the judge. I hope you don’t change your story!"

Monica Lynch’s eyes darkened for a moment, and she let out a cold laugh. "Look at you. Marrying into the Rhodes Family really has given you a different air. Yvonne Sutton, you can be smug all you want now. There will come a time for you to cry."

It was time to start filming again. Monica Lynch huffed, turned her head, and spat into the water basin.

"You’ve gone too far!" Yvonne Sutton said angrily.

"Mrs. Shaw, how about you take a sip? If you do, I won’t make things difficult for her anymore," Monica Lynch said with a raised eyebrow.

The stage manager was already calling for all departments to get ready and for all non-essential personnel to clear the set.

Yvonne Sutton and Claire Lawrence exchanged a look of perfect understanding. Claire Lawrence grabbed Monica Lynch’s shoulders while Yvonne Sutton seized her by the hair on the back of her head and violently shoved her into the water basin.

Monica Lynch tried to resist, but she was no match for the two of them.

"You spit in it, so you can be the one to drink it!" Yvonne Sutton said furiously.

The set fell silent. Everyone turned to look in their direction.

Director Sherman had just walked in and saw the whole scene. He kicked a stool in anger, then turned around and walked straight out.

Yvonne Sutton and Claire Lawrence released Monica Lynch. Her head shot out of the water basin, and she pointed at them, coughing. "You two just wait! I won’t let you get away with this!"

The director had stormed off, so filming had to be suspended.

Although Yvonne Sutton and Claire Lawrence felt a moment of satisfaction, they still had to go and dutifully apologize to Director Sherman.

The two of them brought a fruit basket to Director Sherman’s hotel room and knocked. After a few knocks, the director opened the door. When he saw it was them, he took a deep breath before letting them in.

"Have a seat. I’ll go make some tea."

"No need, we’re not thirsty," Claire Lawrence said quickly.

"I’m just worried you’ll shove my head into a water basin later and say I have no sense of hospitality."

Director Sherman said this as he headed to the kitchenette. Claire Lawrence hurriedly followed him to explain what had happened on set.

Yvonne Sutton placed the fruit basket on the coffee table. She casually glanced across the way and her eyes widened at the scene opposite them.

"What are you looking at?" Claire Lawrence asked as she came out of the kitchenette.

Yvonne Sutton quickly waved her over to take a look.

"Holy crap, it’s Stanley Lynch and Wendy Winters!" Claire Lawrence’s interest was immediately piqued. She leaned against the window to get a better look, then quickly took out her phone to take pictures.

"A married woman and a married man. Those two are absolutely shameless!"

"AHEM!" Director Sherman emerged from the kitchenette carrying tea.

Claire Lawrence quickly put her phone away and began apologizing to Director Sherman.

"Was what you said earlier true?"

Claire Lawrence nodded eagerly. "It was bad enough that she was making mistakes on purpose, forcing us to reshoot over and over. But the last time, she spat in the water. That’s when Yvonne and I couldn’t hold back anymore."

Yvonne Sutton also said, "That’s exactly what happened."

Director Sherman snorted coldly. "To think something like this would happen on my set. Tell her to pack her bags and leave immediately!"