The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 147: Naomi Kenway Is a Good, Dedicated Actress
Naomi Kenway regained consciousness after receiving some medical attention. Seeing this, Ruby Preston breathed a sigh of relief. However, Naomi’s fever hadn’t broken, and Ruby insisted on taking her to the hospital.
"What happened to me..." Naomi Kenway’s voice was slurred, and she felt a splitting headache.
Ruby Preston and Lily helped Naomi into the car. Ruby’s voice was filled with concern. "Nicole, this is just reckless. How could you let a fever drag on for so long? What would you have done if something serious happened? We’re not just colleagues; we’re friends. If you’re not feeling well, I hope you’ll tell me in advance. Your health is the top priority. What you did was far too dangerous!"
Her impression of Naomi Kenway reached a new level. Ruby Preston hadn’t expected her to be so relentless. She grew even more certain of her decision to cast her; that initial audition invitation had been the right call. Naomi Kenway was a truly dedicated actress. Even from their brief interactions, Ruby could tell that Naomi was a resilient person—a pearl coated in dust, just waiting to be polished to a brilliant shine.
As Naomi’s muddled consciousness gradually cleared, she recalled the events that had just transpired. She hadn’t expected the fever to last so long. She had a strong constitution; normally, her fever would break shortly after she took medicine. ’What’s different about today?’
"Did we finish filming the last scene? Isn’t the venue rental about to expire?"
Her voice was weak, and she paused several times as she spoke.
"Don’t worry about that right now. Your health is what’s most important!"
Ruby Preston leaned over and fastened Naomi’s seatbelt, then urged the driver, "Hurry, get us to Veridia General Hospital."
As the car pulled away from the set, the remaining crowd began to buzz with conversation. No one was saying that Naomi Kenway was dragging down the production schedule anymore. Her level of professionalism was a rarity in the entire entertainment industry.
"I can’t believe Naomi Kenway’s performance was off because she had a fever. I was wondering how someone’s condition could suddenly get so bad."
"Before every scene, Naomi would sit in the shaded pavilion and study for a long time. And now she’s even insisting on filming while sick. If she hadn’t suddenly collapsed, we might never have known. She’s just so dedicated!"
"Ms. Kenway is pushing herself too hard. She really needs to take care of her health!"
...
Yara Preston sat distractedly on a bench to the side. A pang of guilt hit her as she thought about what had just happened, and she recalled her attitude when she had first started filming opposite Naomi Kenway...
Yara Preston’s brow furrowed in distress.
’Maybe... I should find Naomi and apologize later!’
Ryan Thorne remained standing, his eyes following the car until its rear had completely vanished from sight. Only then did he slowly turn around.
A sense of shock and disbelief washed over him.
’Naomi Kenway is really pushing it just to generate some buzz...’
But he dismissed the thought as soon as it formed. ’No matter how resourceful you are, you can’t fake a fever, right? The crew was all around, and a professional doctor was the one who checked on her.’
If Naomi Kenway had truly planned everything with such precision—from catching a cold to being discovered and sent to the hospital—then Ryan Thorne had to admit he’d be even more impressed with her.
’So Naomi Kenway is actually the real deal...’
*
"Cut!" the director yelled. He walked over, praising, "Rachel, that was an excellent take. It’s clear you’ve put a lot of work into this role. You didn’t train at a formal acting academy, did you?"
Renee Jennings was still in costume. She had a delicate, pure-faced beauty, and the tailored blue-and-white school uniform she wore fit her perfectly.
A bashful expression appeared on her face. "You flatter me, sir. It’s true I don’t have formal training. It’s all thanks to your guidance."
The director nodded. "No need to be so formal, Rachel. Old Lynch and I are friends, so we’re friends, too! You’re genuinely talented." He patted Renee Jennings on the shoulder. "Given time, I’m sure you’ll make a name for yourself in this industry."
Renee Jennings couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride.
’But when she thought of the role of Hugh Chandler, she still felt a pang of regret. It had been so close to being hers. It was all Naomi Kenway’s fault for pulling strings...’
She was seething with resentment.
Renee Jennings never rested during breaks. She studied her script with a fanatical diligence, as if her life depended on it.
The notes on her phone were filled with Nathaniel’s detailed analysis of each scene, breaking down the acting techniques and key points for her.
In truth, Nathaniel wasn’t that generous. He rarely shared his acting techniques, as if one more person knowing his secrets would threaten his career. Even Renee Jennings, the woman he shared a bed with, was no exception. Every time she recalled how stingy he was, Renee would grind her teeth in frustration.
But this time was different. After getting thrashed by Sophia Zobel, Renee had bottled up her anger and given Nathaniel the silent treatment for three solid days. In the end, Nathaniel couldn’t take it anymore and had to humble himself to win her over. These annotated "acting techniques" were part of her reward.
A message popped up:
[Nathaniel: Rachel, have you eaten yet? Is the food on set any good? Need me to bring you a meal?]
Renee Jennings knew this gentle concern was likely Nathaniel’s guilt talking. She considered the crowd of fans gathered outside the set. ’It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have him come visit,’ she thought. ’It would be the perfect chance to do some PR for our ’loving couple’ persona.’
A smile touched Renee’s lips as she sent Nathaniel a voice message. She was just about to switch back to her notes app when a push notification caught her eye.
’Naomi Kenway...?’
She tapped on it. The notification led to a post showing a fan’s photo of Naomi Kenway at the hospital. Apparently, she had been sent there after fainting on set from a high fever.
The comments were almost entirely praise for Naomi’s dedication, not so different from the comments that had been praising Renee herself just a couple of days ago. A few users voiced their suspicions, wondering if Naomi was manufacturing hype, but they were quickly shut down by director Ruby Preston herself, who jumped into the fray. Others claiming to be crew members also confirmed that Naomi had indeed been hospitalized after collapsing from a high fever. Before long, the comment section was a monolithic chorus of awe and praise.
[Nina is going to be a huge star! We’ll always support you! Can’t wait for the movie "Youth" to be released!]
[OMG, get treatment for your fever ASAP! Nina, please take care of yourself. We and Ian are so worried about you.] 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
[How did you suddenly get a fever? Please take care of yourself! Your health is the most important thing; everything else comes second!]
...
’Isn’t Naomi Kenway awake in this picture?’ Renee Jennings thought as she zoomed in on the photo. ’So much for "collapsing." I have to admit, though, the makeup is good. She really does look weak.’
She snorted. ’Naomi Kenway really has to copy everything I do,’ she thought contemptuously. ’I build a sympathetic persona to get fans on my side, and she just goes and does the exact same thing.’
Her eyes returned to the script, but Renee found she couldn’t focus. A sense of unease settled over her. Naomi Kenway was just so infuriating.
