Deceived into Acting in Mini-series

Chapter 1

[1]

It was summer break, and I decided to find a summer job. Aunt Kyla said waiting tables was too exhausting and introduced me to a job as a stand-in for a short drama.

Without thinking much, I went straight to the location, which turned out to be a hotel. They said they needed to film a scene where the female lead gets strangled to death.

As soon as I saw the room full of men, I was terrified and tried to flee. But they grabbed me by the neck and pinned me down on the bed.

"Acting all innocent, huh? I already gave your aunt 5000 dollars. Trying to escape? Dream on!"

I struggled with all my might, but they tore my clothes and forced me into some strange outfit. I was suffocated to death.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Aunt Kyla introduced me to the job.

Ha, such a wonderful job should be for your own daughter!

[2]

"Oh wow, once school starts, you'll be a college student! Why bother waiting tables? Web series are so popular now. I know a crew that needs a stand-in actress for web series. They pay 500 a day! Mabel, you're so pretty. I'll arrange for you to join them directly!"

I suddenly took a deep breath, tightly hugging my arms as I glanced down at the clothes I was wearing. I was still in shock when I heard Aunt Kyla's words.

I stared in shock at the smiling woman in front of me, uncontrollably trembling. Quickly, I pulled out my phone from my pocket. Seeing the date, I realized I had been given a second chance at life!

In my previous life, as soon as the vacation started, I had planned to find a summer job to gain some social experience and save up some living expenses. Many of my classmates took summer jobs at coffee shops and restaurants. I had intended to do the same. But within a few days, Aunt Kyla found out and came to my house, insisting that I take a part-time job in a web series instead. It paid 500 a day and didn't require working outside.

I was hesitant at first, but my dad immediately slapped me:

"Don't be so ungrateful. Your aunt is very busy but still takes the time to help you. You should agree right away!"

"Your aunt has made a lot of money from web series over the years. You're lucky that she's willing to help you."

"What's the point of going to that useless college? All you do is waste the family's money. Can you make as much money as those social media influencers?"

"Your aunt went through a lot of trouble to find this opportunity for you. If you don't appreciate it, you'll regret it!"

Seeing this, Aunt Kyla raised her hand to stop my father, frowning:

"Mabel is so beautiful. Don't always hit her. Bruises will ruin her looks."

Then she gently patted my head:

"Why work as a waiter? That's all physical labor. Mabel, you're about to start college. College students should use their smarts to make money. You can continue this web series job even after school starts."

Back then, I didn't realize her true intentions. I remembered how my cousin always talked about wanting to make money.

So, I weakly said, "Aunt Kyla, can I go with my cousin?"

Aunt Kyla's face immediately darkened,

"Your cousin is a troublemaker. Forget it! Her SAT scores were so low that she couldn't get into a good college. I still have to find a way for her! Don't tell her about this, or she'll become even more rebellious!"

My dad, growing impatient with the conversation, said:

"It's settled then. Go and perform well, understand? You're old enough to start helping out the family! 500 a day, 300 goes to the family." With that, he gulped down a glass of wine and went back to his room.

I gritted my teeth and put up with it. Once school started, I would live on campus and find part-time jobs. I just had to survive this summer.

But I didn't make it through that scorching summer.

Chapter 2

The next day, Aunt Kyla took me to the hotel and dropped me off at the entrance, telling me to go straight up. She mentioned that today's shoot involved scenes of the male and female leads at home, hence the hotel setting.

"Just be obedient when you get there. I've already spoken to them. If you perform well, they'll even give you a cash bonus. Got it?" Aunt Kyla looked at me with a meaningful smile. At the time, I didn't understand the depth of her smile and nodded obediently.

"I'll be good and do my best!"

As soon as I entered the hotel, I felt something was off. The hotel was too small. If it was a filming location, shouldn't there be a lot of people and equipment? How could they manage in such a tiny space?

I suppressed my unease, convincing myself that it was a low-budget short film, different from the large-scale productions I had seen on TV.

A man wearing a badge glanced at his phone and then at me. He approached directly.

"Mabel, right? Your aunt is Kyla?"

Hearing him mention Aunt Kyla's name, I nodded and followed him.

"First, go change your clothes, then wait inside for the shoot. Oh, and give me your phone. The filming content can't be leaked, and you young people always like to take photos and post them on social media."

I hesitated but handed over my phone, thinking he was someone Aunt Kyla knew.

The man pocketed my phone and then pulled out a pair of stockings.

"Hurry up. Your legs have a different shade than the female lead's. Put these on."

Seeing my reluctance, he urged, "We've already shot several scenes today. Don't waste time!"

He then grinned, "Sweetheart, as long as you cooperate, we'll be done in just over three hours. Then you can take the money and leave."

I paused but eventually took the stockings.

A few minutes later, I emerged from the restroom, having put on the stockings. The man wasted no time and pushed me towards the so-called filming room. The hallway felt eerily empty, despite the bright summer sun outside. I couldn't tell if it was the low air conditioning or something else, but I felt a chill.

My whole body tensed, and I fought the urge to run away.

I suddenly thought of my father, who would hit and scold me for no reason. I silently reminded myself that once school started, I could slowly escape from home. For now, earning some living expenses was more important.

So, I followed the man into the room.

Once inside, I immediately sensed something was wrong. Even for a low-budget short film, there should be more than one camera, right? The room was filled with men, not a single woman in sight. I instinctively tried to run for the door, but they were prepared. The man who brought me in blocked the exit.

He tilted his chin towards the large bed in the room. "Get on the bed and act out the choking scene. Then you can go home."

He sneered, "Don't make us use force..."

I never imagined that people who knew Aunt Kyla would dare do such things to me. Were they insane?

Terrified, I shrank to one side, desperately thinking of a way to escape.

"I-I have a friend waiting downstairs. If I don't go down soon, they'll call the police!"

Another man in the room raised an eyebrow at this.

"Sweetheart, stop playing tricks. Kyla said she brought you here herself. There's no one else."

Five men surrounded me instantly.

I grabbed a vase nearby, but it felt too light.

They laughed even harder. "It's just a prop. It can't hurt anyone."

"If you like this kind of forceful scene, we can shoot it together~"

One of the men pulled me close, and the stench from his mouth made me vomit.

"Sweetheart, you're so disobedient. But that's okay, it adds a certain flavor."

I screamed, struggled, and begged for mercy.

The men in the room only got more excited. One of them picked up the camera.

"Yes! Tear her clothes! Change her into that white outfit." I struggled wildly, but one man's hand clamped around my neck while the other yanked my hair. The more I suffocated, the more excited they became.

Gradually, my vision darkened until I was engulfed in complete blackness.

My soul drifted aimlessly.

I saw my father taking the 100,000 yuan bribe money Aunt Kyla gave him. He licked his fingers and started counting the money.

"Raising this ungrateful girl was just to get more wedding gifts when she graduated college. Now, I don't have to pay for her education, and I got tens of thousands. At least her death had some value."

My cousin, knowing the whole story, laughed, "Mabel was so ungrateful. My mom found her such a good job, and she didn't appreciate it. She caused such a big mess. She had it coming."

When school started, my father casually told the school and neighbors that I had eloped with a man after a fight with him. And that was the end of it.

Chapter 3

Thinking of this, I gritted my teeth and glanced at my scheming Aunt Kyla. Before my dad could say anything, I eagerly chimed in, "Really? Aunt Kyla! That's fantastic! Being a TV drama actress is like a dream part-time job for me!"

Aunt Kyla was momentarily taken aback by my enthusiasm, but then she smiled broadly. "Mabel, I'm glad you