Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Rachel, You Are Not Suitable for This Role

“Mr. Lynch, does your wife always enjoy making sarcastic remarks about people?” Naomi Kenway smiled, seemingly unfazed.

Renee Jennings froze. “Nathaniel, I…”

Nathaniel Lynch had also noticed Renee Jennings was being passive-aggressive. Since they were supposed to be friends, Renee shouldn’t be treating her so rudely.

“Rachel just spoke without thinking. I apologize on her behalf,” Nathaniel Lynch said. He looked at Naomi Kenway, who stood opposite him, and felt a strange sense of familiarity, though he couldn’t recall where he might have seen her before.

“Rachel has never been good with words. I don’t blame her.” Naomi Kenway smiled and turned to leave.

Nathaniel Lynch frowned, wondering how Renee Jennings could have a friend like that.

Once Naomi Kenway was out of earshot, Renee Jennings threw a fit. “Naomi Kenway has bullied me so many times! I can’t stand the sight of her, so how could you take her side? Don’t give me that lecture about being courteous and having manners. She’s walking all over me, and you’re telling me to be polite?”

“That… was Naomi Kenway?” Being in the same entertainment circle, Nathaniel Lynch knew of her, but the Naomi Kenway in his memory was completely different.

Renee Jennings yanked her hand away. “Have you never once watched my reality show? How could you not even recognize Naomi Kenway?”

Tears welled up in Renee Jennings’s eyes. Nathaniel Lynch always fell for this act. He coaxed her, “I’ve been busy filming lately. Rachel, don’t be angry. Don’t you really like that sapphire necklace set? Let’s go buy it right now.”

Renee Jennings was still crying in frustration. “It’s always filming, filming, filming! You don’t even know that I’m being completely walked over and bullied on my show?” The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she sounded. “All those promises you made about how you’d do anything I wanted… I haven’t seen a single one of them come true…”

“Hey, look, isn’t that Best Actor Lynch and Rachel? They really are the model couple, always so inseparable!”

“Why is Renee Jennings turned away like that? Does it look like she’s… crying?”

“You must be seeing things. They’ve always had a great relationship. Best Actor Lynch would never let Rachel cry.”

…

Hearing the gossip from the people around them, Nathaniel Lynch’s face flushed. Since his debut, he had always been admired, never tainted by scandals or rumors. He lived a respectable life and hated being pointed at and talked about.

“Stop making a scene, Rachel. Let’s talk about this at home. So many people are watching.”

“So you think I’m making a scene?”

“No, that’s not it, Rachel, you…” Nathaniel Lynch looked mortified and glanced around.

Renee Jennings noticed Nathaniel Lynch’s expression had soured. He was a stickler for propriety and obsessed with his public image; she had probably upset him by making a scene in public.

Renee Jennings hadn’t married Nathaniel Lynch because of her looks or some fated connection between their souls. He was attracted to her because of her gentle and considerate nature, and her ability to always soothe him and cater to his feelings.

Renee Jennings knew when to back down. She pouted playfully. “You can’t go back on your word about that jewelry you mentioned.”

Nathaniel Lynch breathed a sigh of relief and took her hand again.

“Nathaniel,” Renee Jennings asked suddenly, “isn’t the movie *Youth* in pre-production? I heard it’s expected to be an awards contender. You have so many connections in the industry—what did you find out for me?”

Nathaniel Lynch looked troubled. “The male and female leads are already set. The chances of replacing them are slim.”

Renee Jennings said sullenly, “This is supposed to be my debut film. Am I really going to be a supporting actress for someone else?”

“This is a highly anticipated film. Landing a supporting role would still be great. It’s more prestigious than being the lead in some ordinary TV drama.”

Renee Jennings thought about it and realized he had a point, so she nodded.

Nathaniel Lynch asked her, “How about we try for the second female lead?”

Renee Jennings scowled at the thought of that character. “The second female lead is constantly fighting the main character for the male lead, and her tactics are despicable and vicious. If I play a role like that, I’m afraid people will chase me down the street cursing me out.”

Then she seemed to remember something. “The third female lead is good, though. Her character is really likable.”

Nathaniel Lynch frowned. “Rachel, the third female lead is a special case. I heard Director Preston is very fond of that character and plans to pick the most suitable actress from open auditions.”

’Ruby Preston?’ An idea sparked in Renee Jennings’s mind. They had known each other for a long time from that reality show; surely they were familiar enough. ’It shouldn’t be a problem to ask Ruby Preston to bend the rules a bit,’ she thought. ’I’ll even give her a gift.’

Renee Jennings couldn’t contain her excitement. As soon as she got into the car with Nathaniel Lynch, she dialed Ruby Preston’s number.

They had exchanged contact information after the first season of the show. She knew it would come in handy one day.

The call connected quickly. Renee Jennings started with a few pleasantries before getting to the point. “Ruby, I love the movie you’re preparing, *Youth*. Do you think I’d be a good fit for the third female lead?”

“You’re not a good fit,” Ruby Preston said. “Given that you haven’t been professionally trained, your image doesn’t quite match the character of Cheryl. Of course, that’s just my personal opinion. If you’re interested, you can come in for an audition. I have something to take care of, so I’m hanging up now.”

The call was disconnected.

Renee Jennings was furious. She had thought their acquaintance meant it wouldn’t be a big deal to ask for a small favor. Who knew Ruby Preston would be so cold and heartless toward her? ’Have I been trying to get on her good side all this time for nothing?’

’And she was so harsh about it! “Not professionally trained” and “your image doesn’t fit”… wasn’t that just a polite way of saying I can’t act and that my looks and general vibe are all wrong for the part?’

Nathaniel Lynch couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation. When she hung up, he asked, “How did it go?”

“She didn’t agree,” Renee Jennings scoffed. “She looks down on me now, but on the day of the audition, I’ll make her see me in a whole new light. I’m going to prove her wrong!”

Nathaniel Lynch comforted her, “Ruby Preston is known for being strict and inflexible. She’ll see what you’re capable of on audition day.”

Renee Jennings nodded, her gaze shifting to the window. ’Sooner or later,’ she vowed, ’whether it’s Naomi Kenway or Ruby Preston, I’ll make them pay the price for looking down on me!’

A look of determination and ruthlessness flashed in Renee Jennings’s eyes.

「 」

Other than picking up Ian Shaw from school, Naomi Kenway spent most of her time holed up at home, studying her role. Ethan Shaw had accompanied her to pick up their son a few times. Perhaps what Teacher Hilton had said had an effect on him, because he now went with Naomi to get their son at least once a day.

The happiest one of all was Ian. He skipped and hopped around with his little backpack on.

Ian was building with blocks on the carpet while Naomi Kenway studied the script nearby. To fully understand the character, she had bought the original novel to read.

’Regarding the character of Cheryl,’ she mused, ’her transformation is the most difficult part to portray. Her unyielding spirit, the reasons for her change…’

CRASH! Ian’s tower of blocks scattered across the floor. His first reaction wasn’t sadness or disappointment; instead, he simply gathered the blocks, put them in their bag, and started to walk away with it.

Naomi Kenway called out to him, “Ian, where are you going?”

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