Chapter 646:
Upon entering the gymnasium, Carrie found Arion already there, greeting her with a coffee in hand. “Carrie, how come you arrived after me?”
“I got delayed because I got lost and had to ask for directions,” she said, sipping her coffee, perfectly sweetened. The Morrisons always remembered how she liked her drinks.
Hitting his forehead with his palm, Arion expressed his oversight, saying, “Shoot, I forgot you weren’t familiar with the way.”
“It’s okay, I managed,” Carrie reassured him, smiling. “I’m off to watch the auditions now. If you find yourself getting restless, go ahead and look around. We can catch up over dinner later.”
“Sounds good, I’ll catch a few games. I’ve yet to start ranking in the new season,” Arion said, settling beneath the basketball hoop and pulling out his phone.
Leaving Arion to his games, Carrie moved towards the newcomers. Deciding to lead by example, she assumed the role of the female protagonist. Facing the group, she asked, “Who’s up for the role of my counterpart in the male lead?”
The group of recent college graduates shared hesitant looks before stepping back in unison. Carrie’s reputation for stellar performances preceded her, earning accolades even from Asher, which intimidated anyone thinking of sharing the stage with her. Her skill would unintentionally highlight their inexperience.
“Carrie, what about me?” Arion, who had been distracted by his phone, noticed the awkward silence. He quickly put down his bags, raised his hand, and stepped forward, concerned that Carrie might feel embarrassed.
Camille turned to Arion, her eyes narrowing with skepticism. “Since when did you get into acting?”
“Do not underestimate me,” Arion shot back, a spark of defiance in his voice. His posture straightened as if to emphasize his point. “And for the record, I am older than you. You might want to show some respect and stop treating me like a kid.”
Camille crossed her arms and tilted her head, a teasing pout forming on her lips. “You look so youthful, though. If we walked down the street together, people would think I am your older sister.”
Carrie watched their playful bickering, a faint smile tugging at her lips. It was almost nostalgic. Not too long ago, Camille and Albin had sparred in the same way.
The memory brought a fleeting ache, bittersweet and heavy. So much had happened in such a short span—it felt like a lifetime ago.
She shook her head, banishing the creeping sentimentality, and mustered a bright smile. “Alright, big brother,” she said to Arion, her tone light. “I am counting on you.”
What followed was nothing short of remarkable. Arion’s performance shattered all expectations. His ability to memorize his lines after just two readings left the crew stunned, and his acting was natural, immersive—far beyond what one might expect from a newcomer.
For so long, the Morrison family had dismissed him as little more than a pampered rich kid, and Carrie and Camille had unknowingly bought into that perception.
But watching him now, it was clear how wrong they had been. From an early age, Arion had received the finest education money could buy. He was anything but a failure.
The only reason he had seemed less remarkable was because he stood in the shadows of brilliance—his grandfather, father, and brother, all titans in their fields, left little room for anyone else to shine.
As the room erupted into applause for Arion and Carrie’s performance, no one noticed the faint shadow that slipped away from the second-floor balcony.noveldrama
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