Chapter 39: Federal Shame

Isabella’s bold move made Rachel Farris choke with sudden indignation.

If Connie got involved, Rachel would look like a tyrant bullying a rising star over a scheduling technicality.

Rachel Farris glared down at Yuna, a smile spreading across her face.

She nodded slowly and said, "Fine. Since her former master has come all the way down here to claim her, I suppose I can’t just keep her against her will. You were never a good fit for a production of this caliber anyway."

She deliberately emphasized the word "master."

Yuna looked up at Rachel Farris, bowing her head, and said, "Thank you, Rachel!"

Rachel Farris snorted, turned on her heel, and walked away toward the caterers.

"What’s going on? Why is she treating you like this, Yuna?"

Isabella took Yuna’s trembling hand, guiding her toward the exit of the soundstage.

At that precise moment, safely away from the crew, all the grievances Yuna had bottled up finally burst forth, and she began to cry openly. "Just because someone on the makeup team was complaining to me that she’s high-maintenance, I foolishly brought you up and praised you, saying how nice you are and how easy you make our jobs... and she happened to overhear the conversation."

"Just for that?" Isabella was genuinely shocked.

Yuna nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Because of that one incident, she requested that the production coordinator assign me to her side."

"Isabella..." Yuna sobbed, hugging the actress. "Thank goodness you’re here. Thank you so much for saving me. I don’t know how much longer I could have held on out there."

"Okay, no more crying. Go pack your things, get Finn, and come home to the main studio with me today."

Isabella decided not to report the matter to Connie.

If Rachel Farris was bold enough to act this way in front of dozens of crew members, she clearly wasn’t afraid of word getting out to management!

"Finn, are you okay?"

On the golf cart ride back to the executive tower, Isabella made sure to check in on Finn, who had just rushed over from the props department with Yuna’s bags.

Finn shook his head. "I’m fine. I just feel terrible for Yuna. I never thought an actress like Rachel Farris would be so deeply unprofessional behind the scenes."

Yuna, however, looked at Isabella with concern. "Isabella, you went directly against her today for our sake. Someone as petty as her won’t just let this go. I’m worried she’s going to use her industry connections to make things difficult for you now."

"We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I couldn’t just stand by and watch you suffer."

"Okay, let’s change the subject." Isabella patted Yuna’s hand and smiled brightly. "I just landed a new role. Filming starts next month. I’m the second female lead in *Neon Shadows*, and I’ll be working directly with Heather Keaton."

"Really?!"

Isabella nodded. "From now on, you’ll both always be with me on set. I won’t let the company reassign you to anyone else again."

Hearing this, Yuna and Finn exchanged an excited glance and nodded.

***

A week later...

Global Soundwave had spent a fortune to acquire the exclusive online broadcasting rights.

On the day of its premiere, the show dominated the trending topics on all major media outlets and social platforms.

The hashtag for Isabella Frost’s character also quickly went viral after her appearance in the second episode.

Her personal social media account came roaring back to life as she experienced a surge in followers.

Isabella posted several behind-the-scenes photos. Each post surpassed hundreds of thousands of shares and likes.

On the day of the premiere, Harper, as the President of Apex Studios, gathered the executive board and the talent roster at the penthouse corporate suites, making everyone sit down and watch the studio’s debut.

Besides Isabella, Yuna, and Finn, Maya and Director Vance were naturally in attendance...

***

Harper received her first call from Maya three days later.

Harper pressed the answer button on her dashboard console, and the moment Maya said, "They’re here," Harper’s blood ran cold.

When she rushed to the scene twenty minutes later, a dozen black federal SUVs and several marked police cruisers were parked outside the gated corporate estate where Jude Lawson resided.

A crowd of onlookers, reporters, and employees had gathered at the perimeter to watch the commotion.

Just as she pushed her way into the dense crowd near the gates, a hand grabbed her shoulder.

"Harper!"

It was Director Vance.

Rainwater trickled down Harper’s hair and onto her pale cheeks.

She looked at Director Vance, and the executive just shook his head at her with a grim expression. "It’s over. The warrants are signed. All we can do now is watch them take him."

Director Vance had barely finished speaking when a stir went through the crowd of reporters.

"He’s coming out! They’re bringing Lawson out!"

"I thought the guy was untouchable. I heard he had billionaires and politicians in his pocket."

"It’s a direct financial crackdown from the federal level this time. He’s not getting away with the Zenith takeover."

It was as if the curtain of rain muffled all the noise around her...

In the distance, walking down the grand marble steps of the estate, Jude Lawson was led out by two federal agents, his hands cuffed behind his jacket.

Walking behind him, overseeing the arrest, was Agent Shepherd, the man who had questioned Harper the other day... and Saul Thorne!

Standing near the doors of the estate, Maya watched with her eyes brimming with tears.

Harper’s gaze was fixed entirely on Jude’s face, her eyes never leaving him as he walked through the rain.

As if sensing her stare through the sea of reporters, Jude suddenly looked up, and his eyes met Harper’s in the crowd.

Harper didn’t speak, nor did her lips move, but Jude suddenly smiled at her.

The smile lasted only two seconds before the federal agents pushed him into the back of the armored SUV.

Harper looked away from the vehicle, and when her eyes shifted slightly, they fell directly upon Saul Thorne, who was standing in the freezing rain and had also just spotted her in the crowd.

Their eyes met.

Saul Thorne watched Harper for a long moment, the rain soaking through his windbreaker, before a sad smile finally touched his eyes.