Once they reached the hallway and the door behind them clicked shut, Elaine quickly pulled away from his grasp.

With a mocking smile, Chandler asked, “Lost interest in me after seeing him?"

Elaine chose not to respond.

With a smirk, Chandler continued, "I brought you here for a reason; not for you to live lavishly. Do you recognize that woman? She's from the prominent Fowler family in Duefron, and she's Mark's former spouse. I overlooked her significance earlier and now she's upset because of you. Let me be clear; don't get on her bad side. If things go south, we'll both pay the price. Not only will your acting career be at risk, but you might also find doors in the industry shutting on you.

Elaine, trying to mask her disappointment, questioned, “So why introduce me to Mr. Evans?"

Chandler chuckled.

"He wasn't even intrigued by you."

"Had his former wife not shown up, he might have been. He did smile at me," she retorted.

Chandler only responded with a dismissive look.

He ran his fingers through his hair, stating, “You can't simply deduce his intentions. Just a heads up; don't cross me. Inform Simon that you're on board for that supporting role. Not only do you need to play your part, but you also need to keep Miss Fowler content. Mr. Evans tends to prioritize her wishes."

Elaine remained skeptical.

Chandler's temper flared, and he delivered a sharp slap to Elaine's face before storming out with a string of muttered profanities.

Tears welled up in Elaine's eyes.

She looked over her shoulder at the closed door, resentment building up against the cruel twist of fate.

Inside the room, the children had finished their meals.

Edwin tackled his school assignments, while Olivia reveled in the affection from her father, Mark.

She was quite fond of him. She loved curling up in Mark's embrace.

Engaging him in conversation was one of her favorite pastimes.

With her baby teeth still emerging, her speech was a tad unclear.

And whenever she laughed, her adorable dimples were on full display.