Broken Bond: Claimed by My Ex-Husband's Alpha Billionaire Uncle-Chapter 55: First Day On Set (1)

Charlotte took a deep breath before stepping onto the set.

For the past week, she had barely left her house, dedicating all her time to memorizing lines, refining her performance, and occasionally chatting with Lily or Ethan over the phone. She had pushed herself relentlessly, determined not to let down the people who had placed their trust in her.

"Good morning, Charlotte." Diego’s voice cut through the quiet buzz of the set as their eyes met.

Charlotte responded with a warm smile. "Good morning, Mr. West. I hope I’m not running late."

Diego let out a light chuckle. "Late? You’re the first cast member to arrive." He gave her an approving nod. "The other producers were right about you—you take your commitments seriously."

"You can head to the dressing room to change and get your makeup done. Take your time. Since this is the first day, I’ll be holding a briefing with the staff before we begin."

Charlotte nodded and made her way to her private dressing room, a privilege that reminded her of the heights of her career in the past. It felt both nostalgic and strangely distant.

Inside, her stylist and makeup artist were already waiting, their faces lighting up when they saw her. One of them even offered to make her a cup of warm tea.

"Charlotte, it’s been so long since I last saw you!" One of the makeup artists, Noella, beamed with excitement as she stepped closer. "I used to do your makeup back then. I know you probably don’t remember me, but I had the best time working with you!"

Charlotte tilted her head slightly before a flicker of recognition crossed her face. A soft laugh escaped her lips. "No, actually, I remember you. You were the one who always brought boba tea to the set, weren’t you?"

Noella’s eyes widened in excitement. "Oh my God! You actually remember me? Yes, I’m that girl! But I’m not a boba tea girl anymore." She lifted her cup of coffee with a playful grin. "I’ve evolved."

Then, with a dramatic sigh, she leaned in slightly. "I still remember how flawless and smooth your skin was back then. Seriously, it was unreal!"

"You know," Mia, the other makeup artist, chimed in as she studied Charlotte’s face, "someone like you is a real challenge for us. Your features are already stunning—one wrong move, and instead of enhancing, we could actually mess things up."

Charlotte let out a small, awkward laugh, feeling warmth rise to her cheeks. Compliments like this used to be a part of her daily life. Now, they felt foreign, almost surreal.

She had once been so sure of her beauty. But now? She wasn’t so certain anymore.

For years, skincare had been the least of her worries. There was no point in pampering her skin when she was constantly covered in bruises, when every product burned against open wounds. Eventually, she stopped trying.

Damon had encouraged her to start taking care of herself again these past few months, even providing her with the best skincare products money could buy. But she still wasn’t convinced she could regain what she had lost.

"I don’t know about that," she murmured, touching her cheek absentmindedly. "I’ve aged since then."

"Oh, please! Are you even listening to yourself?" Noella scoffed, rolling her eyes before spinning Charlotte’s chair toward the mirror. "Look at yourself! You’re still just as gorgeous as ever."

Mia hummed in agreement, leaning closer to inspect Charlotte’s face with the precision of a scientist. "Not a single wrinkle. Come on, spill it. What’s your beauty secret?"

Being a werewolf?

Charlotte let out another small laugh, this one more amused. "I don’t have one."

Noella pouted dramatically. "Liar. Well, I guess it makes sense. A true beauty never reveals all her secrets—too many competitors would come crawling out of the woodwork."

She quickly brushed off the topic with a playful smile. "Alright, I hate to say this, but since Lena has gone through so much in life, I have no choice but to make you look... well, a little less stunning."

Charlotte chuckled. "I’ll leave it in your capable hands."

The team got to work, carefully dimming down her natural beauty. They skillfully added faint wrinkles on her forehead, around her eyes, and near her lips.

Dark circles were brushed under her eyes, and subtle pigmentation was blended into her skin to create the illusion of exhaustion.

Despite the challenge, they were masters of their craft. Within just two hours, Charlotte looked at least ten years older.

She blinked, studying her reflection in the mirror.

If she had been an ordinary woman, would she really look like this after spending five years with Julian?

And if she did ... would Damon still see her the same way?

"Package for Ms. Dawson!"

Mia turned toward the door, where a delivery man stood holding a massive bouquet of pink and red roses.

"Oh, wow," Mia said, peeking at the sender’s name with a grin. "Looks like someone is head over heels for you—It’s from Mr. Sullivan!"

Charlotte stood immediately, her heart skipping a beat as she reached for the bouquet. The scent of fresh roses filled the room, but what caught her attention was the crisp white envelope tucked between the stems.

She slid it out carefully, her fingers brushing against the paper as she unfolded it. Her lips curled into a small smile as she read the words written in familiar, neat handwriting.

My sweet Charlotte,

I hope these flowers bring a smile to your face today.

The letter was short, but it was enough to make Charlotte’s entire face light up with joy.

The room fell into a stunned silence. No one had expected her to react like that.

It wasn’t the kind of smile you gave after receiving a polite gesture from a boss. No, this was something different—something softer, more intimate.

Ah.

A silent realization dawned on them all at once.

Damon and Charlotte.

Of course. It made perfect sense now.