While thinking, Bill wanted to add more, but the phone's busy tone prevented him from doing so.

Anthony abruptly disconnected the call.

In the Jenkins family residence.

Bill was down in the dumps, but Vivian and Patricia, who were seated next to him, seemed hopeful.

“How's it going, Dad?" There was nothing Vivian wanted more than to ask that. It was clear that Patricia was also waiting for something.

She failed to make Jeremy change the chief director the Last time. Even worse, Jeremy nearly kicked her out of the show. Consequently, she refrained from engaging in any risky antics.

“Well...

The shock on Vivian's face was palpable. "Maria's refusal is incomprehensible. Has she forgotten that she is your adopted daughter?”

Bill seemed ashamed.

Julie had just come downstairs at this point.

Vivian turned her head and complained to her, “Mom! Maria refused to add me any more scenes. She's so ungrateful, it's ridiculous." Ungrateful?

For a few seconds, Julie was totally taken aback. Exactly what it was that the Jenkins family had done for Maria that she should feel grateful, she couldn't recall.

She stood at the staircase and observed Bill, Patricia, and Vivian as they sat on the couch in the Living room.

She had an instant delusion that the three of them were a real family, while like Maria, she was just an outsider.

In Broome, the Smiths had a prominent place in society.

The Smith family's oldest daughter was named Julie. Once she wed Bill Jenkins and moved to Sheffield, she and her family gradually grew apart.

The current head of the Smith family...

Maria instantly glanced through the information on her cellphone's display.

In reality, she was already acquainted with the material since she had read it several times.

After yawning, she stowed her phone.