Chapter 923 - 917: The Perfect Counterattack 2

Chapter 923: Chapter 917: The Perfect Counterattack 2

Vernon Zane heard the clear note of vengeance in her tone and, for a moment, didn’t know what to say.

Tiana Thorne looked at the sofa he was sitting on, and her eyes grew a few degrees colder.

Vernon Zane immediately stood up, not daring to keep sitting.

Jenna Quinn simply couldn’t believe it—such a famous director was actually shrinking back in front of this woman, looking like a man facing execution.

She looked again at Tiana. She had to admit, the woman was indeed somewhat attractive.

Jenna Quinn complained, "Vern, don’t tell me she’s another one of your lovers? How can you compare her to me? I’ve got two good legs, I can do any position with you. She’s a cripple—what is it you like about her?"

Tiana arched a brow and smiled, her gaze on him growing ever deeper. "Vernon Zane, your little mistress here doesn’t seem to know how to learn her lesson, huh?"

That very loaded line jolted Vernon.

He raised his hand and slapped Jenna hard across the face. All the tenderness he’d shown her moments ago vanished. He roared, "Shut the fuck up! What lover, what bullshit?"

Jenna Quinn had just gotten hit by someone who’d said he was going to make her a star—the director himself—and she burst into angry tears.

Tiana’s eyes grew even colder. "All that sniveling is messing with my hearing."

Vernon was terrified. In this industry, the one person you could never afford to offend was Tiana. His mind in turmoil, he slapped Jenna again and snapped in rage, "Can you fucking stop crying? Need me to tape that filthy mouth of yours shut?"

This time Jenna didn’t dare cry anymore, only sobbed quietly.

Even as much of a newbie as she was, she could vaguely feel something was very wrong.

Vernon had always been high-profile and domineering. Since when did he listen to someone else like this?

This woman in the wheelchair was very likely some big shot.

But how could a crippled bitch possibly be?

She looked Tiana’s face over carefully. It felt familiar somehow, but for the moment she just couldn’t place where she’d seen her before.

Tiana toyed with the right hand she’d just used to hit someone, and asked in a low voice, "I’ll ask you one last time—why did my best friend end up being beaten half to death by you?"

"This..."

Tiana lightly lifted a brow, her voice edged with threat. "Think carefully before you answer. When Claudia wakes up, I can ask her myself. Weigh your own worth before you open your mouth, understand?"

At her words, Vernon shuddered with fear, not daring to meet those razor-sharp eyes.

Her meaning couldn’t be clearer: if he tried to cover for anyone or gloss over what happened, once she learned the truth from Rosalyn Rooney, she’d make his life worse than death.

He nodded, hesitating, unable to get the words out.

Off to the side, Jenna Quinn was trembling too. The aura coming off this woman was overwhelming. Anyone who could talk like that had to be someone big in the business.

Ignoring the pain in her face, she held her breath and stared at Vernon, her eyes full of desperate pleading.

Tiana’s patience seemed to be wearing thin. She arched a brow. "Talk."

"I–It’s like this..."

Rosalyn Rooney was playing the second female lead, Jenna the third.

Because Jenna Quinn had been sleeping with Vernon Zane since the day she joined the crew, he’d always been extra protective of her.

Backed by that "privilege," Jenna got arrogant and domineering. She refused to take the work seriously, yet still claimed every problem was Rosalyn’s fault.

Because of that, every scene between Rosalyn and Jenna kept stalling. Rosalyn was unhappy about it and tried to discuss it with Jenna several times, but Jenna just brushed her off.

To avoid delaying the schedule, it was Jenna who suggested they jump ahead, and she was the one who pushed to shoot the prison scene where Rosalyn’s character is tortured into confessing.

The night before, Jenna had gone to Vernon’s room.

She hadn’t come out all night.

Anyone could guess what they’d been doing.

Early this morning, Rosalyn Rooney was dragged into the cell to shoot the torture scene.

They’d been beating her for real from the start, all to "teach her a lesson" about who the real queen of the set was.

When he finished, May Sloane was seething inside. "Running your lines properly is the most basic professional standard for an actor, isn’t it? Vernon, you know very well Rosalyn has never been in the wrong in this, don’t you?"

Vernon Zane ducked his head in fright, not daring to speak.

Tiana clenched her fists tight, then slowly relaxed them. Her eyes were icy to the extreme, and the corner of her mouth curved into a dangerously cold smile.

"Vernon Zane, you assaulted an actress under Galaxy Entertainment, and you breached the contract first. Rosalyn Rooney will not be shooting this drama anymore. Get ready to pay the penalty and cover all financial losses."

At that, Vernon’s face turned chalk white.

The penalty clause was ten million.

"If you don’t want to pay, that’s fine. We can meet in court. You can choose between prison and paying the penalty to terminate the contract. Your call."

There was no way Vernon dared disobey. He nodded quickly. "I understand. I’ll transfer the penalty fee to your company’s account."

He could only hope the matter would end there.

Tiana’s deep gaze shifted back to Jenna Quinn. "As for you..."

Jenna was already falling apart. She had never imagined she’d inadvertently enraged someone this powerful. Her face grew greener by the second as she stumbled back in terror. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. I-I was wrong, I really know I was wrong."

Tiana let out a low, mocking laugh. "I’ve heard ’I’m sorry’ too many times. Just knowing you were wrong—what good is that?"

"I-I..."

In her panic, Jenna dropped to her knees. "I’m sorry, I really know I was wrong."

"Vernon Zane, however many wounds Claudia has on her body, you’re going to put the same number on this bitch. That demand isn’t excessive, is it?"

Vernon thought that as long as Tiana would spare him, he’d do anything she wanted—never mind beating the whore who’d just cost him ten million.

He grabbed Jenna by the hair and dragged her into the cell, showing her no mercy at all.

"Please, I’m begging you, don’t hit me. I really know I was wrong."

Vernon threw her heavily to the ground, picked up the whip soaked in salt and chili water, and started lashing Jenna Quinn.

Jenna screamed in agony and begged for mercy, but no one dared to speak up for her.

When Vernon got tired, he paused to rest.

Jenna crawled on her knees to Tiana’s feet and kowtowed again and again. "I’m sorry, I know I was wrong. Please, I’m begging you, tell him to stop, I really know I was wrong."

Beside them, Rosalyn Rooney watched the scene, tears still brimming in her eyes.

Tiana kicked Jenna aside, her voice utterly devoid of warmth. "When Claudia begged you to stop beating her, did you tell them to stop?"

Of course she hadn’t.

Since she’d been that vicious, how could she expect others to show her mercy now?

"Besides, the person you should be apologizing to isn’t me."

From start to finish, Jenna Quinn hadn’t apologized to Rosalyn. Deep down, she simply didn’t think she’d done anything wrong.

"I’m sorry, Rosalyn Rooney, I was wrong. Please, I’m begging you, speak up for me, let me go, ah—"

Tiana’s lips curved in leisurely disdain. "Still able to talk? Looks like he’s going too easy on you."

Vernon heard that and didn’t dare slack off. He swung the whip down again.

Through the pain, Jenna Quinn cried out, "Who the hell are you?"