Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 331: Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire (1)
As one of the investors in the film Time After Time, Adrienne was invited to attend the launch party along with her mother-in-law. She arrived with Abigail, dressed in an elegant black gown adorned with sparkling diamonds.
The two women turned heads as they entered the venue, radiating confidence and grace. Behind them were their bodyguards, ensuring that no one would dare come too close. The film’s director welcomed Adrienne and Abigail and thanked them for their support while praising their impeccable sense of style.
Cameras flashed as photographers captured their glamorous entrance, eager to capture their pictures. Adrienne and Abigail gracefully made their way through the crowd, graciously accepting compliments before joining the rest of the cast and crew of the film.
Sofia smiled at her benefactor, while Ayla was confused at the sudden attendance of her cousin. Ayla thought Adrienne was merely accompanying CEO Li tonight and didn’t consider that Adrienne was the mysterious investor who cemented Sofia’s casting in the film.
Ayla couldn’t help but feel jealous of her cousin’s influence, and now she had another reason to resent her. Ayla had auditioned for the lead role in Time After Time, but Sofia had been given the part instead, courtesy of Adrienne’s involvement.
As the night progressed, Ayla watched as Adrienne mingled with the cast and crew, charming everyone with her wit and elegance. Even Sofia seemed to be in awe of her, hanging on to her every word. Seeing how popular Adrienne was to her co-stars, Ayla couldn’t help but feel annoyed by her cousin’s presence.
But Ayla was determined not to be overshadowed. She approached Adrienne and put on her best smile.
"It’s so great to see you, Addie. I had no idea you were involved with the film."
"Oh, it’s not worth mentioning," Adrienne responded with a glint of mischief in her eyes. She knew what Ayla was trying to imply, but the director and the producers were aware that Adrienne was the one who made this film possible. Because of her massive investment in the movie, they didn’t have to worry about financial difficulties and focus on the tasks at hand.
"You seem to be spoiled by your in-laws," Ayla snarked at her, while Adrienne’s smile only went wider.
"They are wonderful people. How about you, Ayla? How do you find your married life?"
Ayla’s expression turned sour, but she tried to hide it. "
Oh, it’s fine, I suppose. There is nothing as glamorous as your life, Addie."
Adrienne laughed, seeing through Ayla’s facade.
"Oh, please. Married life isn’t always glamorous. I just choose to make the most of every situation."
Ayla rolled her eyes, realizing that her cousin wasn’t going to be knocked down easily. "Well, I hope you can make the most of your marriage with Mr. Qin. I hear he’s a tough one to please."
Adrienne let out a laugh behind her hand.
"Rumors exaggerate things about my husband, but Lennox is thorough, especially when dealing with business transactions. He barely had time for other things. You must understand since you are now married to Mr. Han."
Ayla’s expression darkened at the mention of her marriage. "It’s fine, I suppose. But my husband can never compare to your dear husband."
Adrienne tilted her head slightly, amused by Ayla’s bitterness.
"You just got married. Don’t tell me Alistair is already giving you a cold shoulder.
Of course, Adrienne was aware of Ayla’s circumstances. She heard from Myrtle’s mother that Alistair and Ayla had moved out of the Han mansion and found a place to live. It was the same in Adrienne’s past life. She did not doubt that Ayla was living in the same manor that Adrienne used to live with Alistair in the past.
The mistress had become the wife, and Adrienne wanted to see how Ayla would handle the same challenges she faced in her previous life.
Ayla forced a smile, not wanting to show any weakness in front of her cousin.
"No, he’s just busy with work, like always."
Adrienne didn’t need to probe further because she knew Alistair was deliberately punishing Ayla by leaving her to her own devices. Ayla had forced him to marry her by using the child in her womb, and Alistair resents her for it.
Adrienne could see through Ayla’s facade and decided to push a little further, knowing that her cousin was hiding something.
"Is that so? Well, I hope he doesn’t get too busy to give you the attention you deserve."
Ayla stiffened, her eyes narrowing, before she spoke through gritted teeth.
"I don’t need your advice, Addie. I can handle my problems." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
Adrienne smiled, knowing that she had struck a nerve. Ayla had also shed all the cordiality between them and didn’t bother to hide her displeasure.
"Then you better keep that child, or else you might lose the Han family’s favor as well." She chuckled.
Ayla glared at Adrienne, but before she could respond, the director called out for everyone’s attention. He thanked Adrienne and Abigail for their generous support of the film and announced that it was time for the premiere screening.
As everyone took their seats, Adrienne made her way to hers, feeling satisfied with her encounter with Ayla. She knew that her cousin was fuming mad at her, but she didn’t pay Ayla any more attention. What she said earlier was true.
Knowing Old Madam Han, she would force Ayla to produce an heir for the Han family. If Ayla lost the child now, it wouldn’t be easy for her to seduce Alistair into bed for the second time; however, giving birth to her child could pose a problem for her in the near future.
Sofia’s performance in the film was spectacular. The director was confident she had a chance to get a nomination for Best New Actress for the upcoming awards season. As Adrienne watched the film, she couldn’t help but feel proud of Sofia’s work. She had made the right decision by investing in this film and bringing Sofia on board while obstructing Ayla’s path to stardom.
But as the film progressed, Adrienne’s mind started to wander, thinking about Ayla and her situation. She knew firsthand how difficult it was to be a mistress and then become a wife. It was a transition that required finesse and a great deal of patience. But Ayla didn’t strike her as someone who had either of those qualities. She was impulsive and selfish, always trying to get what she wanted without thinking about the consequences.
Adrienne shook her head, trying to push those thoughts out of her mind. She had her problems to deal with, and Ayla was not one of them. She was aware that Ayla would rather discard her unborn child than risk her husband catching her. As to what method Ayla would use, Adrienne still had no idea.
As the film ended and the credits rolled, the cast and crew erupted into applause, cheering for each other’s hard work. Abigail turned to Adrienne and said, "Let’s go congratulate everyone."
Together, they made their way over to the group, hugging and congratulating each other.
Adrienne’s eyes landed on Ayla, who was standing in the corner in deep thought. Despite the cold temperature in the room, Ayla broke into a cold sweat and was slightly shivering. Ayla spotted her and walked over to her with a wicked smile.
Adrienne narrowed her eyes in suspicion. She had a bad feeling about this. She straightened her back while everyone around them was busy chatting and congratulating each other.
Ayla was dressed in a tight-fitting white evening gown that showed off her growing baby bump. She walked up to Adrienne with a confident stride, her eyes locking onto hers. However, even before Ayla could reach Adrienne, her high heel caught on something, and she lost her balance.
Adrienne instinctively reached out to steady her cousin, but Ayla jerked away, a faint smile gracing her lips. Ayla then let out a loud scream that effectively got everyone’s attention. They saw Ayla several steps down from where Adrienne was, crying in pain as she held her midsection.
Someone screamed from the crowd as they saw blood trickling on Ayla’s thigh. People rushed over to Ayla’s aid, but Adrienne stood frozen in shock. She knew that Ayla would do anything to avoid having the child, but this was not what she expected.
Adrienne’s eyes darkened as she realized what Ayla was up to. Abigail appeared next to her and glanced at the weeping actress.
"What happened, Addie?" She asked.
However, even before Adrienne could utter a single word, Ayla cried out to her.
"Addie, why? Why did you do this to me?" Ayla burst into tears while Adrienne sneered inwardly.
"What are you talking about, Ayla?" Adrienne asked, feigning confusion.
"My child! I’m bleeding, and it’s all because of you!" Ayla cried, pointing an accusing finger at Adrienne.
Adrienne’s eyes narrowed as she realized that Ayla had intentionally caused her to lose her balance and hurt herself. This was Ayla’s last attempt to get rid of the child and keep her hold on Alistair.
"I did nothing, Ayla. Why are you so certain I did this to you? Shouldn’t you get a medical intervention first before you point a finger at me?"
Adrienne chose to remain calm despite sensing everyone’s eyes on her. She knew things weren’t in her favor now, as everyone would suspect she was the one who pushed Ayla, leading to her miscarrying her child.
Her words effectively brought everyone back to their senses. They all thought Ayla was being unreasonable by accusing her cousin first before asking someone to save her baby. They immediately called the paramedics and rushed Ayla to the nearest hospital.
