The second-choice lead, now simmering with jealousy, couldn’t help but feel a pang of resentment.


    When he had arrived earlier, his reception had been far more subdued—nothing like the enthusiastic wee Xavier was getting.


    He scoffed, a hint of disdain in his tone. "So, you finally decided to show up? I thought you were going to ignore this film altogether." His words were sharp, deliberately stirring the pot as his simmering resentment boiled over.


    Thement caught the attention of everyone in the room, and they turned their eyes to Xavier, curiosity flickering in their gazes as they waited to hear his response.


    Xavier, a man who had long since proven his talent and whose sole reason for being there was his desire to act alongside Hera, dismissed the snide remark with the ease of someone unfazed by petty provocations.


    Instead, he turned his full attention to the director, calmly exining the recent changes to his schedule.


    Though his voice was measured and quiet, the ever-savvy Director Nick seized the opportunity to clear the air.


    He repeated Xavier’s exnation aloud, as if confirming the details for everyone present. The move was deliberate, silencing any lingering doubts or disappointment in the room.


    With the atmosphere shifted, Director Nick smoothly redirected the focus, sidelining the second-choice actor without ceremony.


    He invited Xavier to sit beside him to assist in choosing the female lead who would act alongside him.


    After all, Xavier’s skills were beyond question—his reputation as one of the best in the industry preceded him.


    For Director Nick, the choice was clear: Xavier was his top pick, even if it meant offending the other actor initially brought in to fill the role Xavier had almost turned down.


    Xavier took the time to subtly and patiently exin his scheduling conflict, ensuring that no one misinterpreted his presence as solely an act of support for Hera.


    He was determined to prevent anyone from dismissing her talent by attributing her sess to his influence.


    By framing his arrival as a mere coincidence, he aimed to align perfectly with Hera’s goal: to earn her role through her own skills and merit, free from the shadow of his reputation.


    Hera, meanwhile, had arrived at the waiting area where the other candidates were gathered.


    A staff member guided her to her seat and handed her the final number, marking her as thest to audition due to herst-minute addition.


    Scanning the room, Hera’s eyesnded on Alice, seated a little farther away.


    Despite being the target of subtle harassment from a few of the other actresses, Alice maintained herposure, quietly engrossed in her script.


    Her demeanor, while reserved, exuded a quiet grace that starkly contrasted with the petty antics around her.


    The actresses trying to provoke Alice seemed more focused on unsettling theirpetition than preparing for their own auditions.


    Unlike Alice, who was fully immersed in her script, these women had long since memorized their lines and were using the remaining time to distract others rather than refine their performances or calm their nerves.


    Their attempts to unnerve Alice, however, seemed to have little effect, as she remained steadfast in her preparation.


    However, not everyone resorted to underhanded tactics. Some candidates focused entirely on their preparation, exuding confidence in their readiness.


    These were the well-established actresses with strong connections or impressive backgrounds, making others wary of crossing them.


    Their status alone seemed to shield them from petty distractions, ensuring they could concentrate fully on the task at hand.


    Their tactics were underhanded but undeniably effective in diminishing some of thepetition.


    Hera, however, chose to remain unobtrusive. She quietly slipped into a seat hidden from view, ensuring she remained out of the spotlight.


    Without drawing any attention, she opened the script and immersed herself in it, her focus intense and undisturbed.


    Fully immersed in the script, Hera shut out everything around her, her focus honing with each turn of the page.


    She didn’t simply memorize the lines—she stepped into the character, imagining herself as the female lead.


    Every line, every emotion, was carefully considered, as though she were rehearsing a scene that was taking ce inside her head.


    As she breathed life into the role in her mind.


    Hera tried to envision what it would be like to be the female lead in a world consumed by desperation, where danger lurked at every turn—not only from the zombies roaming the streets, but from other humans, unrestrained byw or morality.


    How would she react in such a world? How would she fight to survive?


    Lost in her own thoughts, she didn’t realize that Alice had noticed her arrival. Without a word, Alice subtly directed the women who had been harassing her toward Hera’s quiet corner.


    "Why don’t you just stop? What do you hope to gain from targeting me? I’m just a neer with no connections, likely to be eliminated anyway without your distractions." Alice’s voice was steady, but her eyes sharp as she continued.


    "Instead of bullying me, why don’t you focus on that woman over there, the one who’s clearly been parachuted in by her suitors?"


    She pointed toward a corner of the room, partially hidden by arge indoor nt and the pir.


    The others followed her gesture, but when they looked, there was no one to be seen.


    Confusion swept over them, followed by frustration and anger. They exchanged nces, their faces twisting with irritation, as if Alice were mocking their intelligence.


    "Behind the pir," Alice added, her tone unwavering.


    Among the candidates, only a handful were neers—most were established, veteran actresses.


    Some wondered if these neers had been hired just to stir up trouble, perhaps with the promise of some benefit in exchange for causing chaos and distracting thepetition.


    After all, there was only one female lead role, and many were desperate to im it.


    While some would continue to fight for their chance, others might seize the opportunity to sabotage the rest, knowing they stood little chance themselves.


    With no staff around—everyone was inside the room attending to the needs of the other contestants—there was no one to intervene.