Chapter 539


    “Gracie, do you really think I''m the kind of person who would bad-mouth my own son?” Astrid was at


    Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    her wit''s end. It seemed the truth no longer held any weight these days.


    Gracie nodded and then shook her head. “You''re not one to nder your son, but our little Roman isn''t


    the type to y games with his dear mom either. Besides, he''s just a kid. What could he possibly do?”


    Astrid was momentarily speechless, recalling the cunning look on Roman''s face when he had tricked


    her, and it gave her a headache. “Let me tell you, you can''t let that kid''s cute faces fool you.”


    Gracie rolled her eyes, clearly showing her bias towards Roman.


    Knowing further exnation was futile, Astrid changed the subject and hurriedly changed clothes to


    head to the set of the show she was recording.


    Astrid and Gracie arrived at the studio to find the other guests had already gotten there.


    They weren''tte, but there was no time left for makeup.


    They were immediately called on stage for the rehearsal.


    Her new movie was about to premiere, and the press tour was hectic, but it was all part of the


    promotion routine.


    At the event, Astrid was bound to run into a bevy of rising starlets, and there was an unspoken


    The other actresses were all dolled up, aiming to outshine the rest. Astrid, on the other hand, had


    quickly applied some basic makeup at home and thrown on an outfit before heading out.


    Yet, standing amongst a sea of heavily made-up starlets, she stood out with her effortless chic.


    The crew members couldn''t help but gossip among themselves as they watched the young actresses


    waiting their turn. “Astrid''s got such an incredible presence. She just stands out without even trying!”


    “Did you see thatment online? They said Bernice turned heads in showbiz thirty years ago, but if


    she and Astrid had started at the same time, Bernice might not have be the nation''s sweetheart.”


    “I''m totally obsessed with Astrid''s look; her skin is wless. I was up close when I gave her the


    schedule, not a single blemish in sight, and her voice is so captivating!”


    “Astrid''s riding high now because Mr. Lampard''s got her back, but if they ever split, one word from him


    and she''d be cklisted, no doubt. She wouldn''t have a leg to stand on in this industry then!”


    Overhearing this, an intern piped up, curious. “Mr. Lampard adores Astrid. He''d do anything for her.


    You''re telling me they might split up?”


    “You don''t know the half of it. High society is a tangled web. Trust me, it''s only a matter of time before


    Elio and Astrid break up. And don''t be fooled by Astrid''s clean image; there''s more to her than meets


    the eye. Johnnie''s been a wreck ever since their encounter.”


    “To say Johnnie''s downfall has nothing to do with her? That I don''t buy!”


    “Shut it! Who allowed this idle gossip?” The executive producer''s icy voice cut through the chatter,


    silencing the group of women, who dared not speak another word.


    During the show, everyone kept to themselves. When it came time to shoot the promotional poster, the


    starlets huddled together, conspicuously excluding Astrid.


    The photographer, noticing the gap between Astrid and actress Linda, instructed, “Ms. Linda, could you


    move a little closer to Ms. Irvine, please?”


    Linda replied with a hint of sarcasm, “Oh, I couldn''t possibly. She''s thedy of Morgenster Corporation,


    after all. We''re hardly worthy to stand beside her.”