Chapter 87: Destined to cross paths.
Adelyn’s earlier image flashed through Clara’s mind.
She had seen her earlier in the crowd —but when she tried to look again, she couldn’t find her. At that time, she had dismissed it as an illusion.
But now ...
Hearing her name being called —
Clara could no longer brush it off as a coincidence.
Before she even realized it, she was already walking in that direction.
"Ms. Scott," Maria called out when she noticed, her brows knitted. "It’ll be your turn next. Where are you going?"
Clara didn’t stop to answer.
Only when she reached the crew staff did she pause.
"Excuse me," she said.
The man looked up and immediately smiled in recognition. "Ms. Scott."
Clara returned the smile, though there was clear urgency in her expression. Her gaze dropped —briefly but deliberately —to the list in his hand.
"Sorry, but could you confirm the name you just called?"
The staff’s brows furrowed slightly in confusion, but he didn’t question it.
"Sure," he said, glancing down at the sheet. "I called for Adelyn Grace. And ...," he paused, looking toward the audition hall beside him, "she has already gone in."
Clara’s frown only deepened. "She ... has already gone in?"
The man nodded.
At that, Clara instinctively stepped forward to confirm for herself —but just as she moved, the staff extended his arm, blocking her path.
"Ms. Scott, I’m sorry. You can’t go inside."
Clara didn’t like being stopped like that.
But she kept her composure.
"I’m not trying to go in," she said, pointing in the direction she had come from. "My audition is that way. I just came to take a look."
"But ma’am ..." the staff still shook his head, "that could disturb the ongoing audition. We’ve been strictly instructed not to allow that."
"It won’t be a disturbance," Clara insisted softly. "I just want to take a glance —to see if she’s the person I think she is. Please ... just one look."
The staff hesitated.
Her request —and the way she said it —put him in a difficult position.
He couldn’t easily refuse her, especially when she sounded so earnest.
"Do you know her?" he asked, referring to the person inside.
Clara shook her head. "I’m not sure. But she might be ... a family member we’ve been looking for."
Framed that way, her reason felt genuine.
After a brief pause, the staff relented. He withdrew his arm, taking a small step aside.
"Just a quick glance," he said.
"Thank you," Clara replied quickly, already moving forward.
Her body trembled —and it was hard to tell whether it was from anticipation or unease.
Mistaking it for excitement was easy, but the stiffness in her expression told a different story.
She was on edge ... almost afraid of what she might find.
As she drew closer, she finally pushed the door open slightly to peek inside —
And her expression froze.
She ...
Right at that instant —
"Ms. Scott," Maria’s voice came from behind, care to not cause any loud disturbance. "You need to come back now. It’s already your turn —they have called your name and asked you to be ready."
Clara turned.
Maria paused the moment she saw her face. "Ms. Scott ...?"
"It’s not her," Clara muttered under her breath. Then, as if regaining control, her eyes cleared, and she looked at Maria with visible ease, repeating her words again.
"It’s not her." This time, a little louder.
Maria frowned, confused. "Who is not her, Ms. Scott?"
But Clara didn’t answer.
She simply shook her head and dismissed the thought that had pushed her to the edge of nervousness. "Nothing. Let’s go. Didn’t you say they’ve already called my name?"
Maria nodded. "Yes, they did. I came to get you."
Clara gave a small nod. "Then ... let’s go."
Without staying any longer, they walked away.
The crew staff watched her leave, a hint of confusion crossing his face. He has closely observed Clara’s expression, and something about it didn’t seem what he had previously perceived.
However, just when he would have dwelt over it, another screw member approached him. "Are you keeping track of who’s inside and who’s next?"
"Yes," he replied, showing the sheet in his hand. "Adelyn Grace has gone in, and next is Zanet Zosh."
"Adelyn Grace?" the second staff member repeated, frowning as he took the list to check himself. "How could that be?"
"What do you mean?"
"Adelyn Grace isn’t auditioning for a supporting role anymore," he explained. "Director Rhodes made a last-minute change. She’s in the other hall, currently auditioning for the lead role."
The first staff member froze.
He slowly turned to look at the door behind him.
"Then ... how is inside right now?"
"It must be another artist," the second staff member replied. "Make sure to record her details properly once she steps out. Double check before sending anyone in."
The first staff nodded. "Understood. I’ll be more careful."
Giving him a few more instructions here and there, the second staff member also walked away.
Left alone, the first member glanced in the direction Clara had gone, his expression turning conflicted.
If the person inside isn’t Adelyn Grace ... then Ms. Scott saw the wrong person? Should I inform her?
He hesitated.
But before he could decide, someone called him away.
He figured he would tell her later if gotten a chance.
After all, when Adelyn would finish her audition and come out, Clara would still be outside.
And then —
She would see for herself.
Thinking it that way, he thought it would be fine.
And he was quite right to think it that way — because people who are destined to cross paths couldn’t avoid it forever.
—————
Meanwhile, inside the audition hall —
Adelyn stood on stage.
Her posture was upright, and her away restrained yet undeniable.
She faced the panel with a polite yet sharp gaze.
Director Rhodes observed her carefully and couldn’t help but feel impressed.
Once again, the way she carried herself intrigued him enough to test her personally.
"Ms. Grace," he began, greeting her briefly before continuing, "do you have any complaints about the last-minute change I made for you?"