If I missed it, it would mean a breach of contract, and I would face a penalty.
Three minutes before the show was set to air, the makeup artist finally returned, accompanied by Sophia, who was dressed in my exact outfit.
She claimed she had taken my makeup artist out for a photoshoot to update her social media.
This excuse was something only Ethan would believe. What a coincidence that she decided to borrow my outfit at such a critical time!
Ethan, trying to downplay the situation, said, "Since you're back, let's get Nancy ready."
"It's too late; I'd rather just accept the penalty," I replied bluntly.
It would take at least fifteen minutes to get from the company to the filming location, and the show was only thirty minutes long.
Given that the program featured big-name stars, it was unlikely they would reshoot just for my minor role.
Ethan knew this as well.
In the past, I would have braved any storm for the company's sake, enduring the doubts and criticisms of others, and apologizing to minimize losses.
But now, I didn't want to do that anymore.
"I'll drive you there; no one will say anything," Ethan urged.
"Go entertain yourself," I replied coldly.
Then I turned to Sophia, "Since you love to steal the spotlight, why not take the ride?"
With that, I walked out of the company.
The moment I stepped outside, I felt an immense sense of relief.
In the past, I had always prioritized Ethan's career as if it were my own, often sacrificing my own needs to maximize profits for the company.
After Sophia's arrival, my resources had shifted to her, leaving me with only the leftovers of her choices.
Even when the roles weren't suitable for me, I forced myself to accept them.
But now, I saw things clearly.
From now on, whoever wanted to be a fool could do so; if they wanted those undesirable gigs, they could take them.
The explosion incident was classified as an accident, and the insurance company compensated for it.
However, I knew Sophia's words at that time were not just empty talk; there had to be something suspicious behind it.
But now that the matter was settled, investigating it would be complicated.
I tried to find the demolition expert privately, but he was nowhere to be found.
Ethan received the compensation and organized a team-building event, claiming it was to help me and Sophia unwind.
When I arrived, I realized it was at a restaurant we used to frequent during our dates.