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 Ivyâs 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 âBallad of Valor.â
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.
âIvy, youâre looking stunning tonight. Youâre outshining every other actress here, arenât you?â 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 didnât seem to care, nodding in agreement.
âItâs true, you look like an angel descended from heaven! Weâve only ever seen you in Valorâs goofy school uniforms; I almost forgot how great your figure is,â one of the supporting actresses teased, always one to poke fun at Ivy.
âCut it out, will ya?â Ivy replied with a veneer of sternness that only made her more endearing.
âThis is the Golden Feather Award. If other casts hear us, who knows what theyâll think? Letâs keep it professional!â
The others understood Ivyâs 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.
âNow, please welcome the cast of âBallad of Valorâ,â the announcer boomed.
Colton signaled with a wave. âLetâs go.â
Ivy took a deep breath and stepped onto the red carpet with a smile.
The crowd, which had been offering scattered cheers for others, erupted into a frenzy at the sight of the âBallad of Valorâ cast. That summer, who hadnât heard of âBallad of Valorâ? Who didnât know Ivy?
The surprise was evident in Ivyâs eyes, but she kept her composure. Tonight, she was determined to shine her brightest.
âIs that an angel?â someone in the crowd gasped in awe.
âMom, I see an angel!â exclaimed another.
âThe âBallad of Valorâ cast is stealing the show tonight. Except for Colton, theyâre all looking so radiant!â
Someone nearby quipped, âWith box office numbers like theirs, how could they not be radiant?
Success is the best makeup!â
Ivyâs fans were making themselves heard, too, chanting her name, âIvy! Ivy!â over the din of the crowd.
As they signed autographs, Ivy noticed the screams seemed to grow even louder, and she wondered which A-lister had arrived to cause such a commotion.
Walking towards the interview zone, she couldnât help but feel a pair of eyes on her. The host was smiling her way, a look that seemed to carry more meaning than the rest.
Ivy was puzzled. While the others had moved on quickly, she was singled out for an interview, leaving her feeling a bit lost.
âThis is your first time at the Golden Feather Award, and youâve been nominated for Best New Actress.
How do you feel about that?â the host asked.
âIâm thrilled to be here and honored to be nominated for the Golden Feather Award,â Ivy responded with a genuine smile. âFor a newcomer like me, just being nominated is a hug recognition.â