"The police are investigating, and the director is coordinating. We just don't have the final report yet."
"Don't worry, Karla. Even if it was a freak accident, the studio will make this right for Sienna."
If it was an accident, the liability payout alone would be astronomical.
And could they even finish the film?
Their leading lady was paralyzed. The project was practically cursed.
Even if they recast her, no A-lister would touch this mess.
The investors were going to pull out. This movie was destined to hemorrhage millions of dollars.
The entire production might just get scrapped.
The assistant director aggressively ran a hand through his hair, overwhelmed by the impending doom.
"Make this right? How exactly?" Karla sneered.
"Did you not hear the doctor?"
"Sienna's entire life might be ruined."
"She's so incredibly young."
Karla was utterly consumed by rage.
Sienna was a true success story.
She had fought her way out of an impoverished, deeply misogynistic household in the mountains. Her childhood was a nightmare, but she had clawed her way to the top.
She wasn't bound by blind loyalty either. With Karla's guidance, she had set boundaries, refusing to let her toxic parents leech off her indefinitely.
She had finally secured her position as a powerhouse in the entertainment industry.
And now, one botched stunt had obliterated years of blood, sweat, and tears. It might have ended her completely.
Who could possibly accept that?
Seeing Karla's fury, the assistant director shrank back, muttering, "We never wanted this to happen."
"Oh, really?" Karla scoffed. "You didn't want it to happen, but it did anyway!"
"It was a major stunt sequence. Did no one inspect the rigging?"
"Isn't the safety harness the most critical part of the entire setup?"
"This is a catastrophic failure of basic safety protocols, do you understand that?"
The assistant director hung his head, taking the scolding like a beaten dog. Just then, Karla's phone buzzed.
She had set it to vibrate to avoid missing updates during the hospital vigil.
"Hello?"
The assistant director silently exhaled as she answered.
Why had the director left him here to deal with Karla?
The woman was absolutely terrifying.
He was just the director's protégé, holding a fancy title but basically functioning as an errand boy.
Boss, you really threw me to the wolves!
The call was from the director himself.
"Karla, please stay calm. I know Sienna's condition is bad, and this is a tragedy for all of us."
"But do you know who tampered with the rig?"
Karla's tone dropped to a deadly whisper. "Who?"
The director's voice was heavy with grim pity. "It was Sienna's own assistant."
Karla's mind went entirely blank. "That's... impossible."
Trixie was literally sobbing in the ICU hallway. There was no way she did it.
"Sienna brought two assistants to set. One was the girl you hired, and the other was her cousin Lillian Cole, right?"
Lillian Cole?
Yes, that was Sienna's cousin, her aunt's daughter.
When Sienna hit it big, Lillian had relentlessly pestered her about wanting to act.
The girl was a masterful
manipulator Sienna had eventually
avent to learn the ropes.
agreeing to let her work as an
.net>
She had even promised to help Lillian secure minor roles if the opportunity arose.
But Lillian was entirely untrustworthy.
Karla had caught the girl trying to
scheme her way into the spotlight
multiple times and had ruthet
shut her down.
She had repeatedly warned Sienna to fire her cousin if she wanted peace of mind.
But Sienna could never quite bring herself to cut the ties.