The Trending Topic Herself: The Villainess is the Superstar!-Chapter 45: Wrap Party

"This scene was excellent!" Shane Morgan beamed, "Let’s give it one last push. Once we wrap up this afternoon’s shoot, I’ll take everyone out for a celebration dinner tonight!"

Immediate cheers erupted, praising Shane Morgan’s generosity and declaring him a great director!

Shane Morgan also wore a broad smile on his face.

Maya Monroe got up from the ground, dusting off the dirt on her body. She was covered in fake blood, sticking uncomfortably to her skin. Despite that, she was unusually cheerful as she finally finished all her scenes.

Scott and a few other assistants rushed over to help her up, "Sister Maya, you’ve worked hard, let’s get you changed now!"

She waved them off, "None of these are real injuries, no need to hold on to me."

She turned back to glance at Leo Lancaster, who was still sitting dazed on the ground.

Surprised for a moment, she dusted herself off and left.

Over there, Lancaster had already been helped up by his assistants.

"Brother Lancaster, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell? Do you need a break?"

"I’m fine..." Lancaster only just realized how dry his voice was.

Shane Morgan approached, patting Lancaster on the shoulder, laughing, "What’s up, Lancaster? Got too into character?"

Lancaster regained his composure, "Maya’s acting was just too powerful, I was unknowingly drawn in by her."

Shane Morgan nodded in agreement, "Monroe is such a talented actress, truly born to act! Hahaha, though you should get changed, Monroe left a while ago."

Lancaster chuckled, lowering his eyes, "I saw..."

After getting changed and freshening up, Maya Monroe donned her casual clothes and leaned against the RV, cracking sunflower seeds.

Scott and the others headed to the hotel to pack up her luggage, and she needed to wait for them for a while.

Ryan Spencer approached, "Aren’t you tired of eating sunflower seeds every day? Doesn’t your mouth hurt?"

Monroe shook her head, boasting, "You don’t understand. Genuine love never gets boring."

Given Monroe’s impressive performance earlier, Ryan Spencer smiled, "Your acting has improved significantly, and your performance was excellent. Even Director Morgan couldn’t stop praising you. I’ll treat you to dinner tomorrow!"

Monroe’s focus was only on the last part, and she nodded with a smile.

There’s nothing more delightful than tonight’s wrap party and tomorrow’s dinner with Ryan Spencer.

*

Lancaster still had scenes in the afternoon, so he took a short break in the RV after a quick tidy up.

He couldn’t help but think of Maya Monroe, wondering what she was doing now. Perhaps she’d packed up and gone home by now. Home... to the house she shares with Ian Rowe.

Suddenly, there were footsteps, and Lancaster looked up to see Rose Adler.

"Sister Rose, come have a seat."

Rose Adler’s face was as stern as ever, though there seemed to be an added layer of coldness. She surveyed the outside before looking at Lancaster, her gaze deep and thoughtful, "You lost your composure during today’s shoot."

Others might think Lancaster was just improvising, but Rose Adler had worked with him for years and knew him personally as a friend. How could she not understand?

Lancaster’s hand paused on the cup, then tightened. He feigned nonchalance, "You noticed? Sorry, I couldn’t control my emotions."

"Tell me honestly, do you still have feelings for Maya Monroe?"

Lancaster traced a circle around the smooth cup, looking intently at Rose Adler, "Yes."

Rose Adler took a breath, "What is it about Maya Monroe that you like? An unsmart nature coupled with a knack for trouble."

"You know, none of that matters."

"You need to be aware that you’re a public figure with countless eyes watching you, let alone... Monroe is already married..."

Lancaster interrupted her, "I know what you mean. Rest assured, I’ll never cross the line until she gets divorced. I’ll wait until she’s single before making a move."

For the first time, Rose Adler found Lancaster’s stubbornness terrifying, "Divorce, are you so sure Monroe will get divorced?"

Lancaster’s gaze was vacant, "Their personalities don’t match. The conflict will only grow by the day; divorce is inevitable eventually."

"Do you realize how dangerous your thoughts are right now..."

Lancaster suddenly smiled, with that familiar gentle grace, "Dangerous? You might not know, but it was because Monroe mentioned she liked handsome actors that I entered the entertainment industry..."

Rose Adler’s lips twitched, but ultimately she said nothing.

It seemed the long-standing puzzle was finally answered: why Lancaster, born into a wealthy family, chose the path of acting, not out of passion...

*

The wrap party was in the evening, and Maya Monroe left an hour early.

She stood at the door, but because it was too cold, she retreated into the villa. Picking up her phone, she called Scott, who was supposed to pick her up.

Scott answered quickly.

"Sister Maya, what’s up?"

"Isn’t there a wrap party tonight? Why aren’t you here yet? It wouldn’t do to be late!"

Scott hesitated for a moment, seemingly surprised by Monroe’s rare eagerness, finding it hard to imagine someone like the chronically late Monroe saying, "Being late wouldn’t be good."

Monroe heard honking from Scott’s side and was about to say something when Scott’s voice came, "Sister Maya, we’re on our way, almost there! Almost there! Give us fifteen minutes!"

Why so long...

"Scott, if it’s a hassle, don’t come. I’ll just take a cab. I’m pretty close to the location Director Morgan gave."

Scott didn’t expect Monroe to be so impatient that she couldn’t wait a second, "Sister Maya, it’ll be troublesome if someone recognizes you on the road. Just wait a bit; we’ll be right there."

If it were any other celebrity being recognized, it might just lead to autograph and photo requests, but if it were Maya, it could very well escalate into a full-blown violent incident.

Monroe thought it over and agreed, then casually said, "Okay, just drive safely."

Scott was surprised that Monroe was suddenly concerned about them, feeling a warm glow in his heart, unaffected by Kyston’s biting cold wind.

After hanging up, Monroe headed back inside the villa. Maybe she should grab a bite and line her stomach.

"Maya, where did you run off to in such a hurry just now? Were you off to do something shady?" Vincent Summers chimed in, his tone still cheeky.

Monroe sat on the sofa, picking up a few cherry tomatoes.

Their tangy sweetness was to her liking...