too late for a second chance novel (Lila and Dorian)

Ryan cast a cautious glance at Dorian and gave a small nod, signaling Julian to tread carefully. He tried to hint that Dorian was in no mood to discuss the matter further.

Unfortunately, Julian either missed the cue or lacked the sense to heed it. With indignation, he blurted out, "How could someone with Dorian's acting skills not be chosen? There must be something fishy going on!"

Dorian shot him a cold glare. He couldn't fathom how the company had saddled him with such an oblivious agent. Rowan wasn't one to be influenced by outside forces. Landing a role depended purely on talent, and Dorian knew his own failure had nothing to do with any conspiracy.

It was his own fault for letting Lila throw him off balance.

If he hadn't encountered her at the airport, hadn't heard Michael's taunting remarks that used Lila as leverage against him, or hadn't noticed Michael's audition emulating Lila's habits, Dorian wouldn't have lost his composure.

Julian, however, grew more incensed upon learning that Michael had secured the role. "Everyone knows how talented Dorian is. His acting skills are undeniable. Could it be that Magi Pictures pulled strings through the Morgan Group's deep pockets to give Michael an unfair edge? Everyone's aware of how similar their roles are, and the rivalry between the two companies over resources. It's obvious they threw money at this just to one-up Dorian!"

Julian's voice grew louder with every word, and he seemed increasingly

convinced by his own reasoning. He failed to notice Ryan's visible discomfort and hesitations.

Ryan couldn't say if backdoor dealings were involved, but based on their audition performances, it was clear to any observer that Michael had outshone Dorian. He glanced at Dorian, whose expression remained stormy, and tugged at Julian's sleeve. "That's enough. Stop talking."

"Get out!" Dorian snapped, his icy gaze cutting through them.

Ryan awkwardly left the room, and Julian, after a moment's hesitation, seemed to have a sudden idea and followed suit.

The next morning, Michael and Lila landed in Northridge City.

"Good thing Mr. Morgan flew back a day earlier. Just imagining being on the same flight as him makes my back ache," Michael remarked, pulling two suitcases as they made their way out of the airport.

"Let's grab a meal first, then we'll head to the office," he announced enthusiastically.

"Huh?" Lila raised a brow. Since when was that decided?

Michael ignored her confusion, bounding ahead like an unleashed puppy wagging its tail. The thought of beating Dorian at something left him feeling triumphant. That idiot didn't realize what a gem Lila was and had thrown her away like she was nothing. One day, he would regret it so badly he would want to punch himself.

"Don't worry, it's on me. I'm not short on cash."

"Liam is going to scold you again," Lila pointed out.

"If neither of us says anything, who's going to know? Besides, we landed the role -we deserve to celebrate!"

She thought about it and decided he had a point. The dark cloud over her mood lifted, and she followed him to the restaurant.

While waiting for their food, Lila habitually checked the latest entertainment news. As soon as she opened the app, a particular headline made her frown.

"What's wrong? Are those two rookies of yours causing trouble on a variety show?" Michael asked, sensing her shift in mood.

Lila shook her head, taking a deep breath before replying. "The news of you landing the role is out in the open."

"And that's a bad thing? Free publicity," he replied cheerfully, buttering a slice of toast and taking a bite.

"You got the role, but Dorian didn't

1.n

His agent posted a vague yet insinuating Twitter post suggesting foul play and implying that your casting wasn't above board."

Michael paused mid-bite, his fork hovering over a plate of scrambled eggs. "How

would I even pull off something shady like that?"

"We know that, but his fans are in

uproar. The comments are

overwhelmingly filled with

an

accusations. Now the backlash has

reached the directors has

you."noveldrama