The Kiss that Sparked it All novel Chapter 2668

Evadne could not believe her eyes; Balfour had laid it out plain as day, and yet Ivy was as clueless as ever. There was a part of Evadne that wanted to shake some sense into her, but another voice whispered that maybe Ivy's naivety was a blessing in disguise, especially in the shark-infested waters of showbiz.

In the cutthroat world of showbiz, being a bit thick-skinned could be an asset. Those who took things too personally often ended up nursing more wounds than they could handle.

...

The night of the Golden Feather Awards had arrived, and Ivy was set to walk the red carpet with the cast of "Ballad of Valor."

Colton, a highly respected figure in the industry, was guiding his two stars, both newcomers, who had been placed at the front of the line-up.

When Ivy arrived, draped in an immaculate white evening gown that made her skin glow under the lights, even the typically brash Ryan blushed.

"Ivy, you're looking stunning tonight. You're outshining every other actress here, aren't you?" he remarked with a mix of jest and awe.

Ryan was always a bit of a loudmouth, and with cameras broadcasting live, Ivy worried he might slip up and stir the pot with the fans of other celebrities.

But the rest of the crew didn't seem to care, nodding in agreement.

"It's true, you look like an angel descended from heaven! We've only ever seen you in Valor's goofy school uniforms; I almost forgot how great your figure is," one of the supporting actresses teased, always one to poke fun at Ivy.

"Cut it out, will ya?" Ivy replied with a veneer of sternness that only made her more endearing.

"This is the Golden Feather Award. If other casts hear us, who knows what they'll think? Let's keep it professional!"

The others understood Ivy's caution. The poor girl had been the target of ridicule more than once, and it had made her all the more careful with her words.

Their cast had weathered many storms together, and it had brought them closer than most.