Chapter 426
Chapter 426:
“Isn’t it funny how small the world can be?” Janice gave a casual shrug, a trace of resignation in her expression. “Well, at least I don’t need a tour to get my bearings.” She had once called this villa home for a time. Its serene ambiance and clever design had drawn her in, aligning perfectly with her taste.
Yet, just as she was settling in, the Edwards family claimed the villa was theirs. Reluctantly, she packed up and returned to them.
The irony? Back at the Edwards family residence, she found herself relegated to a storage room—a humiliating twist of fate that felt like a slap in the face.
“Excuse me, are you Janice Edwards?” A staff member approached cautiously, his tone betraying a mix of curiosity and nerves.
From a distance, he spotted Janice and her entourage. Her striking beauty and effortless grace set her apart, commanding attention even in a crowd. Rumor had it Janice was a close confidante of the CEO of Freak Design, a major sponsor, which made him tread carefully.
“That’s me,” Janice replied, stepping forward with a warm smile.
The man blinked, pleasantly surprised. He had braced himself for someone aloof, but her kind expression and approachable demeanor melted away his reservations. She wasn’t just beautiful—she was utterly disarming. In that moment, the staff member felt certain Janice would be the centerpiece of their show.
“I’m handling logistics and task coordination. You’re the first to arrive, so feel free to relax in the lounge, get your makeup done, or grab some breakfast. Or, if you’d prefer, you can head straight into the villa and wait for the others.”
“I’ll go to the villa,” Janice said with a nod. Her makeup was flawless, and she’d already eaten. “Leah, you and the others can take a break. I’ve got it from here.”
“What? Absolutely not!” Leah protested, her brows knitting in concern. “I’m your manager, Janice. I need to stay close in case anything goes sideways. Don’t worry, I’ll be keeping an eagle eye on things. If anyone dares to cross the line, I’ll make sure they regret it.”
The staff member’s smile faltered as he shivered slightly under Leah’s scrutiny. “Ms. Sugden, there’s no need for concern! Our show values the guests’ autonomy. Aside from assigning tasks, we keep out of the way.”
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“Alright, lead the way. I need a quick word with Devin,” Leah said, motioning for the group to follow.
“No problem at all.”
Leah and the others followed the staff member.
Janice turned her attention to the villa. She took a deep breath, savoring the familiar sight, and strolled inside. She quickly found a pair of slippers in the shoe cabinet and slid them on, relishing the soft comfort. From there, she made a beeline for the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water with practiced ease before settling into the living room sofa.
Devin, perched in the control room, watched the live feed from hidden cameras with a furrowed brow.
“Have you noticed? She seems unusually at ease in this villa, as if it’s her personal retreat.”
“Exactly! We never tipped her off about the filming location, yet she moves around like she’s lived here all her life.”
“For a second there, I thought we were trespassing on her property,” someone quipped, drawing a few awkward chuckles from the crew.
Devin shrugged off the strange vibe, deciding it wasn’t worth overthinking. Whatever Janice’s connection to the villa, it wouldn’t throw a wrench in their shoot.
.
.
.