Chapter 5 Shattered illusions

Aether Entertainment

The sprawling studio of Aether Entertainment was alive with the sounds of chaos. Bright, blinding lights clung to the ceiling, illuminating the massive set constructed to resemble the grand ballroom of a forgotten palace. Ornate chandeliers-mock jewels shimmering under artificial light-hung precariously, suspended from thick steel cables that groaned faintly in the air.

The crew buzzed with nervous energy, trying to make sense of the disarray that had unfolded in the first thirty minutes of rehearsal.

Ixora Laurent stood in her Swan Queen costume, a vision of icy grace with her wine-red hair braided into a regal crown. Her pale blue eyes scanned the chaos with a mix of calm and tension. She had come here to reclaim her place, to prove her worth, but the day was testing every ounce of her resolve.

Suddenly, a loud crack shattered the fragile calm.

The enormous chandelier that hung directly over the center of the ballroom scene snapped loose and crashed onto the floor just inches from where Ixora had been moments before. The heavy structure sent a tremor through the air, splintering wood and shattering crystal.

Gasps and cries echoed throughout the studio.

Elliot Zhao stormed onto the set, his dark eyes blazing with fury.

"Who approved that rigging?" he barked, voice sharp as a blade.

The crew was silent.

Zhao's fury simmered, barely contained. He was young but commanding, known for his cold brilliance and perfectionism. This sabotage-because it had to be-was threatening everything he had worked for.

"If one more thing goes wrong," he snarled, "I swear, the person responsible will never work in Silicone City again."

Whispers floated like poison through the crowd.

"Maybe she's cursed."

"The red-haired lead has bad luck."

Ixora's stomach twisted, but she forced herself to breathe deeply. She wasn't here to crumble.

The rumors didn't stop there.

By midday, social media was ablaze with explosive headlines:

"Identity Theft Scandal Rocks Ravencourt Family!"

"Allessia Adeline Ravencourt is said to be Stanley Besseti illegimate daughter,the brother of the late Mrs Charlotte Ravencourt Named as Fake Ravencourt Heiress!"

" True heir of the Ravencourt family. Wealthiest old money dynasty from Valenhall City. Thought dead after a house fire seventeen years ago."

"The former female lead cast of Black swan Celeste Ran was said to be cursed by the new female lead appearances,Ixora Laurent, Emerges Amid Aether Entertainment Drama"

Screenshots of scandalous posts, gossip blogs, and viral tweets overwhelmed every platform. The media frenzy centered around a woman named Alessia Besseti a socialite from the rival Besseti family-known for their cutthroat power plays and shadowy connections.

Who had orchestrated the deception? The question lingered in hushed tones and headlines alike.

Yet amid the frenzy, Ixora Laurent's name was spoken only as the new Swan Queen, the actress stepping into a role no one expected her to fill. No one knew the real story-least of all Ixora herself.

Zhao called an emergency meeting as the crew gathered in a cramped, dimly lit room backstage.

"We cannot afford any more accidents," Zhao said, his voice low but fierce. "Sabotage threatens this production, and it will end if I find who's behind it."

The room was thick with tension. Eyes darted suspiciously. The murmurs continued in low tones.

One assistant muttered, "It's the new lead. She's bringing the curse."

Zhao's glare silenced the room.

"Enough," he said coldly. "We work as a team, or this ends here."

Later that afternoon, Ixora found herself alone in the canteen, her tray pushed aside. Her mind spun with the weight of the day's chaos.

A shadow appeared beside her.

Matteo-the production assistant she'd met days ago, the boy with sharp hazel eyes and a quiet demeanor-sat down across from her.

"Not hungry?" he asked softly.

Ixora shook her head.

"People can be cruel here," Matteo said, voice low. "Especially when someone new shows up and shakes things up."

She looked at him, surprised at his quiet empathy.

"Why do you stick around?" she asked.

Matteo shrugged.

"Because I want to see this film finished. And because sometimes, you find people worth fighting for."

Ixora smiled faintly, feeling the warmth of connection amid the coldness around them.

"Tell me about you," she said.

He laughed softly.

"Not much to tell. Just trying to survive this crazy industry."

They talked quietly, sharing small pieces of themselves, a rare moment of normalcy.

Meanwhile, in a dim office far from the studio, Domenico Vincenzo Augustus Marchese sat behind a massive desk, the thick smoke from his expensive tobacco curling into the air. His sharp gaze scanned reports and social media feeds littered with the scandal surrounding the Ravencourt identity theft.

Viola, his personal assistant, stood nearby, fingers flying over a tablet.

"We've confirmed the takeover of the Ravencourt identity by Alessia Besseti and her associates," she reported. "Their connections to some powerful media owners are helping them cover tracks."

Domenico's eyes narrowed.

Besseti Group is a powerful company owned by Stanley,in Valenhall City and combined with the Ravencourt it's almost like a empire difficult to uprooted and to deal with them we take time,they are trying to surpress the news but they haven't been able to and many media are asking if the real heiress is dead or not ,who would take over the hug empire.

Stanley said in his interview that his sister plan to adopt her child because her mother is dead before the incident happens,which make people less suspicious of the couples death and more less curious ok where the real heiress was.

"Within 24 hours, I want every media outlet to know the truth-that the real heir has been replaced and that the Ravencourt legacy will be restored." also don't destroy them completely yet because I still don't her to be noticed also makesure the real heiress's whereabouts is rooted in the people of Valenhall City heart and strip Alessia all her rights and duties and have the Besseti return everything that has been spent on Alessia also in-between investigate and restore every penny,then find someone trusted to keep it moving.

Viola nodded, already coordinating the exposure.

In the shadows near the door, kael-Domenico's handsome, lethal bodyguard-stood silently, watching and listening. His presence was a reminder that power had its protectors.

Back on set, as the sun began to set behind the towering Silicone City skyline, Ixora prepared for the day's final scene-the Swan Queen's moment of defiant revelation.

Her heart pounded as cameras rolled, lights shone, and Zhao's piercing eyes scrutinized her every move.

The scene demanded more than just acting-it demanded her soul.

As she delivered her lines, every word carried the weight of the struggle she felt inside-a battle not just for a role but for her own identity.

When Zhao finally called "Cut," the studio held its breath.

Whispers stirred:

"She's more than a replacement."

"She might just be the fire this film needs."

Ixora caught Matteo's approving nod from the sidelines, a small beacon of hope.

But the true storm was yet to come.