Vera Wave squinted, recognizing the approaching figure, and her lips curled into a cold smile. When the person was a few steps away, she abruptly turned her head.

Irene Spencer, who had been approaching, was startled and stopped abruptly.

"What is it?" Vera eyed her with a cold smile. "Are you planning to push me over?"

"You..." Irene was taken aback and tried to laugh it off nervously. "Vera, what are you talking about? I...why would I push you? I just wanted to come over and congratulate you."

Vera chuckled lightly. "I was just joking with you, Irene. Why are you so nervous?"

"I...I’m not nervous!" Irene immediately tried to cover it up, extending her glass. "Vera, congratulations...on your upcoming marriage."

Pretend, keep pretending!

Vera smirked inwardly, raising her glass to clink with Irene’s.

"Thank you, Irene."

Irene’s gaze fell on Kris Cooper, who was climbing the stairs with a tray of pastries and fruit. She immediately raised her voice.

"I was wrong about the past. Don’t take it to heart."

"You’re too polite, Irene. Do you really think I’m that petty?" Vera smiled innocently and looped her arm through Kris Cooper’s. "Although Kris doesn’t like you, I believe you’ll find your Mr. Right someday."

Irene was furious inside but forced a smile onto her face.

"Well, I’ll take your word for it! I won’t bother you two any longer. I’ll head downstairs first."

"Irene, be careful on your way down. Don’t fall," Vera called out with a chuckle as Irene walked away.

Kris Cooper watched Irene Spencer’s retreating back with a slight frown. "Did she provoke you again?"

"No." Vera withdrew her gaze, her eyes landing on the tray in his hands. "Ah, I’m so hungry..."

Watching her eyes light up, Kris Cooper simply curled his lips into a slight smile. "Let’s go sit over there. Have some fruit to tide you over. We’ll go home in a little while. I’ve already called Aunt Zhang to prepare a late-night snack for you."

The two of them walked over to a sofa in the rest area and sat down. Vera speared a piece of fruit and popped it into her mouth, then glanced upstairs.

She immediately saw Irene downstairs, looking up in her direction. Noticing Vera’s gaze, Irene quickly averted her eyes.

Watching that figure, Vera squinted slightly. The faded name from Anabel Wilton’s bedside in prison flashed before her eyes.

Irene Spencer?!

Was she truly the one who wanted to kill me?!

That night, the premiere of "Flame" was packed to the rafters.

The director’s reputation, the fame of the leading actor and actress, the extensive pre-release publicity, and the large production budget all drew people to the theater.

Among all this, Vera, playing the second female lead, garnered even more attention than the main stars.

At the premiere, she had humbly described herself as a "decorative vase" with "mediocre acting skills," even asking people to "go easy" with their critiques. Naturally, everyone was intensely curious about her actual performance.

People entered the theater intending to find fault. However, after watching the movie, they discovered this wasn’t the case.

Both her portrayal of the delicate girl and her acting skills were commendable. Her image and temperament also perfectly matched the film’s vibe.

The revised script significantly highlighted the second female lead. Her character wasn’t entirely a villain but rather a victim of her circumstances.