Callen walked toward Jace, his face stormy with rage.
Kyra stepped forward quickly and positioned herself in front of Jace. She raised a hand flat in warning, a subtle signal to back off.
"Please maintain distance," she said calmly.
Callen’s face was red. "What was that?" he shouted, glaring at Jace.
Amelia rushed forward. "Actor Callen, if you’re upset because Mr. Jace improvised, then I apologize on his behalf. But that addition enriched the scene—"
Callen shoved her aside.
Gasps rippled through the crew. The minor actress stepped back in shock. Several staff members froze, eyes wide. Other actors exchanged uneasy glances.
"Callen!" Valentina stepped in. "What are you doing?"
She grabbed Amelia’s shoulder, then looked down. There was already a bruise forming on her wrist.
Valentina’s expression turned sharp. "Why are you being so rude?"
But Callen didn’t seem to hear. "Move aside," he snarled. A vein pulsed visibly on his neck. His fists were clenched tight, trembling.
And why wouldn’t he? The minor actress was his secret girlfriend, after all.
After Callen had insulted Jace and walked off, Jace had quietly instructed Kyra to contact Private Investigator Lena.
An hour later, a report arrived.
In it, Jace saw Callen’s secret girlfriend, Noelle, listed among close relationships.
To his luck, she was the minor actress playing his character’s love interest.
Now Callen stood trembling, his fists clenched, fury etched into every line of his face. But he couldn’t speak the truth. If he revealed the relationship, it could ruin his carefully curated image.
He had debuted as a teenage heartthrob, always playing the charming, romantic lead. His entire fanbase, especially his female fans, adored the fantasy. A public relationship would shatter that illusion.
Worse, if he confessed now, it would only confirm that he’d been hiding the truth, making him look insecure or manipulative, valuing profits and image over honesty.
And people do not think logically. They believe whatever suits them best. To them, it would be nothing but a scandal that could destroy him completely.
Jace placed a hand gently on Noelle’s shoulder, wearing a calm smile. "Callen, is there a problem?"
Callen glared at him. "Motherf—"
Jace’s hand slid from Noelle’s shoulder to her neck. He gently tilted her head toward him.
"I’m sorry you had to see something on..." he glanced back at Callen, "...my set."
Noelle flushed, unsure how to respond. "N-No, it’s fine."
Callen’s breathing grew heavier.
His arm moved. A fist raised.
But before the punch landed, Kyra acted.
In one fluid motion, she twisted Callen’s arm, flipped him, and pinned him face-down into the dirt. His arms were locked behind him, her knee pressing near his neck.
He struggled but couldn’t move an inch.
"Tsk. Tsk," Jace muttered, crouching down.
"Just because you’ve got a gym membership, you think you’re invincible? Kyra’s an ex-special agent. You never stood a chance."
Callen glared at him with wild eyes, full of hatred.
Jace leaned closer, voice lowered. "Noelle is your girlfriend, right?"
Jace smiled, slow and mocking. "Let’s see how much money it takes for her to kiss my feet. Maybe she’ll even lick my—"
"BASTARD! I’LL KILL YOU!"
"DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!"
Callen screamed, his words coming out choked and muffled by the dirt.
Jace stood up and turned to Amelia. "Director, are your injuries serious?"
She shook her head. "No, it’s fine."
Then he turned to Valentina. "Actress Valentina, your shooting is tomorrow, but as you can see..."
He gestured to Callen, still pinned beneath Kyra, his face pressed into the sand.
"The male lead has lost his... sanity. Could you shoot your scene today so we don’t fall behind schedule?"
Valentina nodded without hesitation. "Yes, of course."
Amelia adjusted her wrist. "I can direct too. Let’s move to the next scene."
Before walking off, Jace stepped beside Noelle and leaned in. He whispered in her ear.
"Meet me at Royal Orchid Hotel, Room 908. Nine p.m."
Noelle’s breath caught. Her eyes widened.
Jace didn’t wait for an answer. He walked off, Kyra rising from Callen’s back and following him. Callen wheezed for breath, barely conscious.
Later, the shooting resumed, with Callen sent home by his agency.
That night, in his hotel room, Jace sat on the bed wrapped in a towel, phone pressed to his ear.
"Yes, I’m doing fine," he said.
Maribel’s voice came through the speaker. "That’s good to hear. Where’s your business trip this time?"
"Ah... That’s..." Jace scratched the back of his neck, eyes drifting to the ceiling. "It’s..."
"If you can’t tell me, that’s okay," she said gently.
He exhaled quietly, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "I’ll tell you once I get back."
"Okay," she replied, smiling. Her voice held quiet trust.
Then Camila’s voice came through, light and curious. "Dad, when are you coming back?"
"It might take some time. Is the phone on speaker?" he asked.
"No," Camila replied.
Jace paused, then let out a short laugh. "I’m actually doing some acting."
A brief silence followed.
"...Wait, seriously?" Camila said, her voice rising in disbelief. "You’re acting?"
"Keep your voice down," he said, half-whispering. "And don’t tell your mom."
"Okay," she replied quickly, sounding both stunned and excited.
"On a show called A Dark Destiny, I’ll appear from Episode Six," he added.
"I won’t say a word," she promised. "I’m great at keeping secrets."
Maribel’s voice returned, curious. "What secret?"
Camila stuttered. "I-It’s nothing."
Maribel didn’t buy it. "What is it? Tell me too!"
Jace chuckled under his breath, amused. But before he could say anything, there was a knock at the door.
He ended the call, set the phone aside, and walked over. Still wearing only a towel, he opened the door.
Standing there was Noelle.
She wore a beige trench coat, cinched at the waist, clutching the belt tightly. Auburn hair framed her flushed face. Her pale green eyes met his, uncertain but steady.
"M-May I come in?" she asked, voice soft.
Jace smirked. "Sure."