Seeing that Mia Kendall and Charlotte Vaughn were on the verge of a fight, Eve Vaughn worried that an argument on set would reflect poorly on Mia.

So, she said to Mia Kendall, "Don’t waste your breath on people like her. It’s beneath you. Remember, you’re the second female lead, and she’s just some minor character. Why would you sink to her level?"

Charlotte Vaughn was so furious at Eve Vaughn’s backhanded mockery that she could have died.

She clenched her fists, furious that the main branch of the Lawson Family was so useless and couldn’t provide her with any advantages.

At home, she was suppressed by the third branch of the family, and now, out in the world, she had to endure being bullied by Mia Kendall. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Just then, Julian Lawson’s voice rang out.

"Charlotte."

He walked toward her nonchalantly.

Charlotte Vaughn jumped, her face turning pale. She had no idea if Julian Lawson had overheard what that damned Mia Kendall had said.

Just as her heart was pounding with anxiety, Julian Lawson took her hand, seemingly in high spirits.

"What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy I came to visit you on set?"

Julian Lawson put on the air of a perfect husband.

Charlotte Vaughn forced an unnatural smile. "What brings you here all of a sudden?"

Of course, Julian Lawson wasn’t about to tell her his mother had ordered him to come. She’d insisted, saying she was worried Charlotte Vaughn might get bullied on set and that he needed to show up to back her.

After all, he was The Lawson’s Eldest Grandson. Once people knew who Charlotte Vaughn was married to, they wouldn’t dare bully her just because she wasn’t a big name.

Mia Kendall saw this and said mockingly, "Evie, let’s go talk somewhere else. This scumbag and his bitch are a real eyesore!"

Julian Lawson’s gaze landed on Eve Vaughn, deep and searching.

’Could it be?’ he wondered. ’Was the person who donated their liver to me really Eve Vaughn?’

’Did Charlotte Vaughn really take her place?’

’If that’s the case, why would Mother help Charlotte deceive me?’

Right then, Julian Lawson’s mind was a complete mess; he couldn’t make sense of any of it.

But Mia Kendall noticed Julian Lawson staring at Eve Vaughn and snapped, "What are you looking at? You have the nerve to stare?! Keep looking and I’ll gouge your eyes out!"

With that, she grabbed Eve Vaughn’s arm and pulled her away.

Frightened and guilt-ridden, Charlotte Vaughn had lost all the fire she’d had when arguing with Mia Kendall earlier.

She let out a small sigh of relief as she watched Eve Vaughn and Mia leave.

"Julian, you... when exactly did you get here?" Charlotte Vaughn asked tentatively, linking her arm through his in a coquettish manner.

’Did Julian hear what Mia Kendall said?’ she wondered.

But Julian Lawson just kept smiling. "I just arrived. What’s gotten into you today? You don’t seem happy to see me at all."

Charlotte Vaughn finally let her guard down.

’After all,’ she thought, ’Julian used to be so in love with Eve Vaughn. He still hasn’t forgotten her.’

’If he’d heard what Mia Kendall said, he’d never be this calm. He certainly wouldn’t be speaking to me so pleasantly.’

With that thought, Charlotte Vaughn finally broke into a genuine smile. "Of course I’m happy, just pleasantly surprised! Come on, let me introduce you to my colleagues on the cast and crew."

Saying this, she linked her arm through Julian Lawson’s and headed toward the film studio.

Charlotte Vaughn was incredibly vain. Since Julian Lawson had taken the initiative to visit, she was determined to seize the opportunity to flaunt their relationship and remind everyone of her status as the young mistress of the Lawson Family!

And so, Julian Lawson waited in the studio for Charlotte Vaughn.

Everyone who saw him there couldn’t help but envy Charlotte Vaughn.

Although Charlotte Vaughn wasn’t a big star, she had a habit of acting like a diva, which most people found quite obnoxious.

But seeing her husband waiting so patiently for her—a handsome scion of a wealthy family, no less—many of the women on set couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy and jealousy.

This made Charlotte Vaughn ecstatic, her vanity thoroughly satisfied.

But whenever she wasn’t looking, Julian Lawson’s face was grim, his mind clearly occupied with some deep thought.

A little after ten o’clock that night, Charlotte Vaughn finally finished filming her scenes.

Since she wasn’t a major character, her role was small. After just a few days of shooting, her part was wrapped.

But since she wasn’t the female lead, there wasn’t even a wrap party to celebrate the end of her shoot.

On the way home, Charlotte Vaughn said resentfully, "Sooner or later, I’m going to be the female lead! I’ve worked so hard for this show, suffered so much, and when I finally wrap, there isn’t even a cake."

At that, Julian Lawson turned the car around. "What’s the big deal? If they won’t celebrate you, I will."

Charlotte Vaughn asked in surprise, "Where are we going?"

Julian Lawson smiled. "To a bar. The kind of place you used to love."

Charlotte Vaughn’s heart skipped a beat. ’How does he know that?’

Ever since she got together with Julian Lawson, she had carefully maintained a prim and proper image, terrified he would find out how wild she used to be.

But now, it seemed Julian Lawson had found out something after all.

Charlotte Vaughn quickly tried to explain, "That’s not really true. I haven’t been to a bar once since I got together with you."

Julian Lawson’s smile deepened. "Then let’s go relax tonight. After all, my wife has been working so hard. Now that you’ve finally wrapped, we have to celebrate."

Charlotte Vaughn suddenly looked at him, touched. "Julian, why are you being so good to me? I... I’m honestly a little overwhelmed."

It wasn’t that Julian Lawson had been cruel to her since their marriage, but he was always polite and distant. They were like two roommates living under the same roof.

Even their intimate moments were perfunctory, with Julian Lawson showing not the slightest interest.

But today, Julian Lawson was being so thoughtful and sweet-talking her. It was something Charlotte Vaughn had never expected.

She basked in this newfound happiness, completely oblivious to the darkness lurking in Julian Lawson’s eyes.

And so, the two of them went to a bar.

The bar was a blur of neon lights and packed with a throbbing crowd, the speakers blasting exhilarating music.

But Charlotte Vaughn put on a demure act, leaning against Julian Lawson’s chest. "Julian, now that I’m a married woman, I feel so out of place here. Maybe... we should just go home."

"Since we’re already here, let’s sit down and have a couple of drinks before we leave. It’s been a while for me, too."

As he spoke, Julian Lawson was already leading her by the hand toward the VIP section.

While Charlotte Vaughn was in the restroom, Julian Lawson called a waiter over and whispered something in his ear.

When Charlotte Vaughn returned, two cocktails were waiting on the table. Julian Lawson raised his glass, a gentle look in his eyes. "Congratulations on wrapping your shoot."

"Julian, you’re so good to me!" Charlotte Vaughn said, deeply moved.

Julian Lawson watched, unblinking, as she drank the entire cocktail.

Before long, Charlotte Vaughn grew drowsy. "What... what kind of drink was that? It has such a strong kick..."

The gentle expression on Julian Lawson’s face vanished, replaced by a dark, gloomy look.

Only when Charlotte Vaughn collapsed onto the table did he hastily pay the bill, put his arm around her, and leave.

This time, Julian Lawson had even sent his own driver home and hailed a taxi instead.

He knew that even his driver answered to his parents.

Wherever he went, the driver would report back to them.

"To the hospital."

Julian Lawson instructed the taxi driver.

Half an hour later, the taxi arrived at the hospital.

Julian Lawson checked her into the emergency room, and soon, it was their turn.

"What are the symptoms?"

the doctor asked Julian Lawson while examining Charlotte Vaughn.

Julian Lawson recited his prepared lines: "This is my wife. She had one drink tonight and passed out. She has a history of liver problems, though. I don’t know if that could be the cause?"

The doctor ordered a liver function panel and a liver ultrasound. "Take her to get these tests done first, then come back for the results."

Holding the test request form, Julian Lawson eagerly took Charlotte Vaughn to get the ultrasound.

As the truth drew nearer, Julian Lawson’s heart was in his throat.

Standing outside the ultrasound room, he didn’t dare let his thoughts go any further.

’If the person who donated their liver to me really was Evie...’

’Then what have I done to her all this time?’

Just then, the door to the ultrasound room opened. "Family of Charlotte Vaughn," the doctor said, "come get the report."

A layer of cold sweat had already formed on Julian Lawson’s palms as he hurried inside.

The doctor handed him the report. "The patient’s ultrasound results are completely normal."

Julian Lawson asked nervously, "Um... she donated part of her liver to someone a few months ago. Would that show up on the scan?"

The doctor looked at Julian Lawson in astonishment, even performing the ultrasound on Charlotte Vaughn a second time. "That’s impossible," the doctor said. "Her liver’s shape and size are completely normal. There are no signs of a liver resection whatsoever."