?Chapter 337:


    nche arched an eyebrow. A cold sneer crossed her lips as she set her phone down on the coffee table. “Take a look. See for yourself. Is this you?”


    “Okay.”


    Hadley hesitated before reaching for the phone. The screen disyed a photo of her in costume fromst night’s film shoot. Her stomach twisted.


    “Ms. Nicolson, I…”


    “Is this you?” nche’s eyes locked onto her, cold and unyielding. Hadley’s pulse thundered in her ears. A cold numbness spread through her limbs. There was no escaping it. The proof was right in front of them.


    She clenched her jaw and nodded. “Yes. It’s me.”


    “Wow.”


    nche let out a short, scornfulugh.


    “Unbelievable.” Her voice dripped with disappointment. “Hadley, you broke the rule!”


    nche’s smile disappeared in an instant, reced by a sharp, simmering anger.


    “Ever since I took charge of this studio, no one has dared to break our rules. Yet here you are, the first to take on outside work without permission!”


    “Ms. Nicolson…” Hadley’s face lost all color, but she had to exin herself.


    “I did take an outside job, but it was before I became part of the troupe. I already had a contract with that production team and…”


    “And what of it?” nche snapped. Hadley’s words carried no weight. nche had a reputation for being strict. She never made exceptions once the rules were broken.


    “You were still working on that outside project while you were here with us, weren’t you?”


    Hadley parted her lips, but nothing came out. It was the truth, and there was no way to refute it.


    “How reckless!”


    nche shut her eyes. Frustration and disappointment flickered across her face. Rules were rules. No matter how much regret weighed on her, she couldn’t allow Hadley to stay.


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    nche lifted a hand, her voice sharp and unwavering. “Change out of your practice clothes and leave. Now.”


    Hadley’s head snapped up, her eyes already glistening with tears. “Ms. Nicolson, I…”


    “There’s nothing more to say.” nche lifted a hand, silencing her. “I brought you in, but once you chose to break the rules yourself, I had no way to protect you. If I did, how could I expect to lead this troupe?” She let out a slow sigh and gave Hadley a hard look. “What a waste! You’re the one throwing away your own future.”


    After a pause, something unreadable flickered across her face. “But maybe this isn’t the worst oue. With your talent, you might be better off in entertainment. I’m sure you’ll do well there.”


    “No, Ms. Nicolson…” Hadley shook her head, her voice steady. Acting had never been her dream.


    “Hadley, just leave.”


    nche’s tone was final. “With Eric backing you, you’ll have no trouble finding sess in the industry. Leaving this ce isn’t the end of the world.”


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