Forbidden Passion
Chapter 468 Taking Grace to Audition

Evan had been shooting a crime drama lately, and the whole crew was camped out at a studio in Kedora. Phoebe pulled the car over to the side of the road. Phoebe said, "Alright, we're here. Hop out."

Grace unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out. She saw the set all lit up in the distance and felt a mix of excitement and awe.

Phoebe walked over and said, "Let's roll."

Grace gave a shy smile and followed her towards the set. As they got to the entrance, a slightly chubby young guy, Ulysses Xavier, came up to them all enthusiastic.

"Ms. Ziegler, Evan's shooting a night scene and asked me to fetch you. Is this the new talent Queen Entertainment just signed? What a stunner," Ulysses gushed over Grace. Grace blushed and looked down, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Phoebe laughed. "Ulysses, you always know how to flatter. This is Grace Sullivan. Make sure she's taken care of on set."

"Don't sweat it, I'm glad I could help! Ms. Ziegler. This way, let's head to Evan's dressing room and wait for him." Ulysses led Phoebe and Grace across the lot to Evan's dressing room. Evan's dressing room was spacious and cozy.

After they sat down, Grace nervously glanced around. The makeup table was loaded with high-end beauty products, and there were tons of costumes hanging on a rack nearby. Phoebe and Ulysses started chatting. "When's this show wrapping up?" Phoebe asked.

"In another two or three months. Vincent Abbott is super strict with filming, especially crime dramas. Every detail's gotta be perfect. Getting through one or two scenes a day is already a win," Ulysses whispered.

Phoebe had heard of Vincent and smiled. "Strict is good. His stuff always gets great ratings, but it's tough on the actors."

"Yeah, Evan's thinking about switching it up. He wants to do more serious dramas. He can't keep doing these idol dramas forever; he's maturing, and it's not a good fit," Ulysses said, glancing at the door now and then, worried Evan might catch him talking.

Phoebe nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense."

Grace observed in silence, recognizing that even the most prominent stars face the pressure of reinventing their image. They hadn't been seated long when the door to the dressing room swung open. Evan walked in, wearing a military coat. Evan exuded a commanding presence, and as he entered, the room seemed to brighten as if basking in his aura. Despite his imposing vibe, he was holding a hot water bottle with bunny ears, which was super cute. Grace was taken aback. Evan walked up to Phoebe, a hint of accusation in his voice. "You heartless person, you tricked me into signing with Queen Entertainment, and then you bailed."

Phoebe stood up and apologized, "I'm sorry. I didn't expect to be transferred so quickly. But my leaving doesn't affect you."

"How does it not affect me?" Evan stared at her. "I signed because of you. If you're not there, why should I help Queen Entertainment boost their performance?"

Phoebe was caught off guard by Evan's bluntness. She avoided his gaze and said, "I've been transferred to the Reynolds Group, where I can get more brand partners. Don't worry, whatever Queen Entertainment can't provide, I can help you get."

Evan stared at her intently. "Do you really think I went there for business resources?"

The conversation was getting tense. Phoebe instinctively glanced at Grace and changed the subject. "By the way, this is Grace Sullivan, the new talent of Queen Entertainment. When can you introduce her to Vincent?"

Evan squinted, knowing Phoebe was dodging his question. He turned to Ulysses and said, "Ulysses, take Miss Sullivan to see Vincent. Let him know it's on my behalf."

"Got it." Ulysses motioned for Grace to follow him out.

Grace looked at Phoebe, feeling uneasy. Phoebe smiled and reassured her, "Go on, I'll be here. Don't stress, just do your thing."

Grace nodded. "Okay."

Ulysses led Grace away, leaving Phoebe and Evan alone in the dressing room. Evan sat down next to Phoebe, still holding the hot water bottle.

"I heard you went on some poverty alleviation trip with a government team. How was that?" Evan asked, looking at her.

Phoebe said, "It was quite an experience."

Evan raised an eyebrow, waiting for more.

"There was this place full of elderly folks who had lost their kids. Their lives were tough, but they didn't show any resentment. They lived with such positivity. At that moment, I thought, if these people can still be so passionate about life, how can we, being so young, be defeated by life's hardships?"

Evan was moved by the brightness in Phoebe's eyes. The first time he met her, he was drawn to her fresh and lively vibe.

In the entertainment industry, Evan had seen many faces that screamed excessive desire at first glance. In comparison, he preferred Phoebe's type.

It wasn't that Phoebe was extraordinarily beautiful or unique, but she just fit his aesthetic perfectly, making him want to get closer to her.

"That's deep." Evan smiled.

Phoebe looked around the dressing room and then at the hot water bottle in Evan's hand. She reached out and poked it. "Didn't peg you for liking such girly stuff."

"It was a gift from a fan. Not using it would disappoint them," Evan said, looking down and noticing Phoebe's frostbitten fingers. He frowned. "What happened to your hand?"

"I got frostbite during the poverty alleviation trip. It's nothing, it's slowly healing," Phoebe said, glancing at her hand, not paying much attention.

Evan pursed his lips and placed the hot water bottle in her hands. "Hold this."

Phoebe obediently held the hot water bottle. It had just been charged and was warm. As her hands warmed up, her fingers started to itch slightly.

Phoebe rubbed the hot water bottle and said, "Do you still have to film tonight? It's been really cold lately, and it is freezing in Kedora. Filming night scenes must be tough." "It's okay, I'm used to it," Evan said.

Before he became famous, Evan had to film a rain scene in the dead of winter. He was drenched for an hour, had a high fever for several days, and still had to continue acting while sick. Things had improved a lot now, but he had become more sensitive.

Phoebe played with the bunny ears on the hot water bottle, occasionally pinching them as her hands itched. "You need to keep warm. I noticed your costume is quite thin. Make sure Ulysses keeps you warm. If you catch a cold in this weather, it will take at least ten days to recover."

"Don't worry, they are more concerned about my health than I am. But you, you need to apply some ointment on your hands, or you'll get frostbite again next year," Evan said, feeling a strange sense of pity as he looked at Phoebe's fingers. Phoebe tucked her hands inside the cozy warmth of the hot water bottle and murmured, "Quit staring, they look terrible."

Evan chuckled softly, "I'm just checking, no need to act like it's life or death."

Caught off guard, Phoebe found herself momentarily captivated by the charisma in Evan's smile. It was no wonder fans dubbed it lethal; the charm was undeniably potent.