Chapter 89: Their decision backfired.
Director Rhodes’s voice didn’t just bring the scene to an end —it reminded everyone that this was not a full performance, but merely a segment for an audition. So, what they were waiting for unfold, wouldn’t really unfold at all.
The spell broke.
The panelists slowly came back to their senses, exchanging glances —each at a loss for words.
The scene had been undeniably difficult —especially without props, choreography, or supporting actors.
And yet ...
When Adelyn performed it, nothing had been lacking.
Her control over emotion had been flawless.
But what truly unsettled them were her movements.
Precise.
Sharp.
Effortless.
So natural that it almost felt unreal.
There had been no hesitation ... no uncertainty. As if her body already knew what to do —every step, every strike, every turn.
If she were to join the cast ...
They wouldn’t even need to choreograph her fight scenes.
With minimal guidance, she could carry them on her own, saving them both effort and time.
"Ms. Grace," one of them suddenly spoke, unable to hold back, have you trained in swordsmanship before?"
Adelyn met his gaze calmly.
A faint smile touched her lips as she nodded. "I am a little familiar."
"No wonder," he said with a light chuckle. "That was impeccable. With a bit more refinement, you’ll be able to execute it perfectly."
Adelyn raised a brow at the latter half of his comment.
But she didn’t take offense.
She did hold back her skills earlier, but nothing to the point that it seemed insufficient for the act.
So, she knew what he was doing.
He was making a deliberate understatement —to keep her grounded, to imply room for growth.
"I’ll keep that in mind," she replied simply.
The rest of the panel remained visibly impressed. But none of them spoke further.
Because they couldn’t.
Not when Camden had explicitly instructed them to look for the reasons to disqualify her.
Now, they were caught in a dilemma.
Did he truly want her out?
Or was he ... testing them as well?
One by one, their gazes shifted toward him.
But Camden didn’t acknowledge them.
His eyes remained fixed on Adelyn —steady, assessing —lingering for a moment longer than necessary.
Then —
He nodded.
"You didn’t disappoint."
A simple sentence, but it carried an undeniable weight.
Without another word, he marked something on the sheet in front of him before adding casually, "If anyone has further comments, go ahead. Otherwise, we’ll proceed."
The panelists were taken aback.
That was it?
No indication.
No direction.
Nothing to hint at his decision.
They exchanged uncertain looks.
In the end, one of them cleared his throat and turned to Adelyn.
"Well, Ms. Grace ... you did very well. But we still have a list of artists to review before selecting the most suitable one. You may step out for now. The results will be conveyed to your manager after all auditions are completed."
Adelyn smiled and nodded, her expression calm.
She had expected it to be like this.
There was no disappointment.
No anticipation either.
She had done what she could.
That was enough.
Inclining her head slightly, she said, "Thank you for your time."
Before leaving, her gaze flicked briefly toward the investors seated behind.
Their expressions were ... complicated. Not approving. Not satisfied.
But no longer dismissive either.
She could tell something in their perspective had changed about her.
But she didn’t care to dwell on it.
Turning, she walked off the stage.
The investors remained silent for a moment after she left.
What they had just witnessed ... was far from what they had expected.
They had come with a clear intention — to ensure that the so-called cursed start of the entertainment industry never made it into the cast.
And they had been quite confident —confident in her lack of ability.
Confident that she would fail.
But now, that confidence had cracked.
Because what they saw ... was undeniable.
Not only did she possess acting skills —
Her swordsmanship alone had been enough to command attention.
With just those two aspects, her selection was no longer debatable.
It was likely.
Uncomfortably so.
They could no longer persuade Camden Rhodes otherwise.
"Talent alone doesn’t guarantee success," one of them muttered, his brows tightening. "We can’t let Director Rhodes make such a decision for a project like this."
The others fell into uneasy agreement.
Earlier, they had welcomed the last-minute change only because they realized it would relatively increase the difficulty level of the audition.
Increase the chance of her failing.
But now, looking back, they realized —
That very decision might have backfired.
"What do we do if he insists on choosing her?" another asked, his tone edged with serious concern. "We’re investing too much to take that risk."
A brief silence followed.
Then —
"It’s not over yet," someone said calmly.
All eyes turned toward him.
"We just need someone better."
His brows were drawn as well, but his gaze was slightly calculating.
"As long as another actress outperforms her, we can still influence the decision. Director Rhodes values talent —but he also values results. Give him a better option, and he wouldn’t refuse."
The tension eased slightly.
That made sense.
"Yes ... I heard several top actresses are here today."
"There will definitely be someone who can surpass her."
Their confidence began to return —fragile, but present. But what they didn’t realize was —
Once someone had witnessed something exceptional ...
Everything that followed would inevitably be compared.
And most would fall apart.
Camden watched as Adelyn stepped off the stage.
His gaze followed her for a brief moment. A flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes.
Then, almost imperceptibly, the corner of his lips lifted into a smile. Just slightly. Not enough for anyone to notice, but enough to reveal satisfaction.
He lowered his gaze soon after.
"Next," he said.
—————
Outside the hall —
Clara had been informed that she was next in line and stood ready to enter.
As soon as the door would open, the previous candidate would exit —and she would step in.
She had been anticipating this moment for quite a while.
However —
The moment the door opened, she froze ...