Chapter 38

“Matthew?” Demarion was just about to go downstairs for some water when he found a suspicious man sneaking around in the corridor outside the study. With a frown, he said, “It’s so late already, what are you doing here?” Matthew froze momentarily. Taken aback, he hastily shushed the little fellow and pointed at the study. “Don’t make a sound! Your daddy is inside with your new mommy.” Demarion’s frown deepened and he quickly caught on after some thought.

The little guy pursed his lips and tugged at Matthew’s sleeve. “Since I can’t bother them, you can’t either.”

“Let’s go, I’ll treat you to some plain water!” 3 Matthew fumbled for a reply.

He stopped in his tracks and said, “You can go ahead.” “Your cousin brother Matthew has an important task to complete.” Demarion blinked in confusion and echoed, “Task? What task?” “Of course it’s to…”

Matthew pulled out a pen recorder with an evil cackle. “Grandpa has always been doubting Uncle Beau’s sexual orientation… If I were to secure a recording, I would be able to ask him for an allowance…”

Before the man could finish speaking, a large hand with slender knuckles swiped the pen recorder from him. At the same time, a low and indifferent masculine voice drifted into his ears, “Well, then, I’m sorry for disappointing you.”

Matthew turned stiff on the spot and turned around abruptly.

Behind him stood a man in a white shirt. He leaned against the door frame of the study and his gaze on him was elegant yet lazy. He held the pen recorder between two pinched fingers as he said, “Matthew, it appears to me that you no longer need Eliza’s help.” The color instantly drained from Matthew’s face.

“Uncle, you must have misheard me. “This pen recorder of mine… It was in fact to record Aunt Eliza’s voice analysis of my script.” “What script?”

A crisp female voice sounded from behind Beau.

Eliza emerged, still donning the bold nightgown, except that she now had Beau’s grey blazer over it.

The coat was huge and it dangled off her shoulders all the way to the middle of her thighs, entirely concealing her enticing figure from view.

“Here’s the thing.” Matthew pursed his lips. “Aunt Eliza, I heard from Roseane that you have extensive abilities at understanding and analyzing scripts…” He smiled sheepishly. “I’ve been looking into becoming the male lead for a movie lately…” As he spoke, he quickly picked up the script from one side and shoved it into Eliza’s hands. “So, I was wondering if I could trouble you tonight to help me analyze and understand my character.”

Eliza took the script, feeling a little overwhelmed. A moment later, she turned toward Beau. “When you said… you were going to occupy me for the whole night…” “It’s for this idiot’s script.” Beau began nonchalantly. Eliza could not find her tongue. Alright, then. She had completely misunderstood…

“However...” The man’s inky eyes swept over Eliza’s burning little face. “There will be more chances in the future.” Eliza found herself wordless. She dared not meet his eyes. She could only bite the bullet and stride back into the study with the script in hand. “I’ll take a look for you.” Beau looked at her sullen figure and smiled. “Does that mean that mommy will have to work overtime tonight?” Demarion stared at Eliza with wide eyes. “That’s right.” “That’s too hard on her.” The little boy sighed and said, “I’ll ask Braint to make her some milk tea.” ‘Milk tea?‘ Matthew’s eyes lit up. “I’ll have a cup too.” Demarion looked up at him and said, “We only have plain water for you.” 12 Matthew’s script was not actually that long, hence it only took Eliza a little less than two hours to finish reviewing it. She was on the sofa with pen and paper as she drafted out an analytic figure of the relationship between the characters.

Occasionally, she would raise her head and steal a glance at Beau. He was sitting in his dedicated seat in the study with his nose buried in his work.

This was the first time Eliza had seen Beau hard at work in such proximity.

In contrast to his usual laziness, this preoccupied man before her eyes looked particularly handsome and charming. From where she sat on the sofa, she could see his long, curved eyelashes, his angular nose bridge, his cool, thin lips, and his chiseled jawline. Unbeknown to her, she began to zone out. “Aunt Eliza?” Matthew spoke, breaking her trance. Only then did she get pulled back to reality. “Is there really any connection between the murderer and this character I’m portraying?” He traced his finger on her diagram and asked curiously. “Yes. It’s not too obvious; I had to read the script twice to figure it out.”

“Sigh.” Matthew exhaled loudly. “I hate the actress who plays the murderer. I don’t feel like working with her.” Eliza lowered her head and continued to note down the psychological process of the characters.

She stated indifferently, “A good actor places himself in the character’s shoes. Once you’re immersed in the role, you won’t hate her anymore.”

Matthew pouted slightly but remained silent.

Another hour soon ticked past and Eliza finally concluded her analysis of the emotional aspects of each character and their intertwined relationship. Besides, she also wrote down several pages worth of notes about them. She stretched with a yawn and handed the script to Matthew. “I’ve heard of this movie before. Didn’t they decide on Jay Carr as the male lead? How did you make your way into the position?”

He retrieved the script and chortled wickedly. “The female lead of this movie is drop-dead gorgeous. “I’m thinking of wooing her, so I snatched the position from Jay.” Eliza was rendered speechless. How was this possible? It could not have been that easy to snatch a position that had been assigned to someone, could it?

“It took about three or five words.” The pen in the hand of the man beside the office desk halted quietly.

He lifted his gaze and fixed it on Eliza. “Just let me know if you happen to be eyeing any upcoming projects.” Eliza was dumbstruck. She shrugged. “I’m just a stuntwoman. I don’t need such privileges!”

She stretched again. “It’s getting late. If that’s all, I’m off to bed.” With that, she turned and strode away.

Matthew stood rooted to the spot and glanced in Eliza’s direction. He furrowed his brows slightly and asked, “Uncle, are you really not going to look into Aunt Eliza’s past? “I could tell that she loves acting, so ardently too! What’s more, she’s super experienced. “What kind of dark history does she possess that makes her steer away from the career of a recognized actress?” Beau’s head dipped again and he resumed writing his document. “Perhaps she has something on her mind.” He was not too keen on digging into her past. He did not care if she was good or bad before; he did not care what she had been put through. As long as she was willing to be his wife, no such thing was important at all. Matthew puckered his lips and remarked, “It’s such a pity.” “It’s not a pity. As long as she likes her job, she will shine brightly sooner or later.” “But she doesn’t want to be an actual actress.” Beau kept his head lowered as his eyes scanned the documents. Calmly, he spoke, “Do you think she can stay out of acting just because she’s unwilling to act?”