CEO's Reborn Wife

Chapter 88: Chapter 96 Audition for the Drama

The man had been talking to someone next to him and seemed startled by a word he heard; his turn was rather sharp. First, he glanced at Jane Sampson, nodded, and then asked King, ”Where is she?”

”She hasn’t come in, she’s waiting outside.” King wouldn’t dare to relay Rock Bell’s exact words to anyone.

Daniel Taylor pushed up the glasses on his nose bridge, hummed in acknowledgement without saying much, and then put the notebook in his hand on the tabletop. Clapping his hands together, he said, ”Okay, everyone quiet down. I want to introduce to you all—this is Jane Sampson, my wife’s sister, which makes her my sister too. She’s auditioning for the role of Evelyn Woods. Please give the little miss lots of encouragement later.”

Jane Sampson was stunned, standing there frozen by the unexpected turn of events.

Where was the strictness she had been prepared for? Why did this atmosphere seem a bit off?

The room was full of sharp minds, all eager to take advantage of Daniel Taylor’s good mood to flatter him. Compliments like, ”What a lovely name the little miss has,” ”The little miss is beautiful,” and ”Her outfit is especially charming.”

Overwhelmed by the praise, Jane stood there with a continuous, sheepish giggle, not knowing what else to do.

”Enough,” said Daniel Taylor, seeing that the flattery was getting more exaggerated. He smiled at Jane Sampson and said, ”Don’t be nervous. Your brother-in-law is here backstage to cheer you on. Just go up there and audition—try the scene where Evelyn wakes up after being saved.”

After speaking, Daniel Taylor called King again, ”Bring back the actor who just auditioned for the role of Evelyn’s brother to act with her.”

Daniel Taylor was really taking care of Jane Sampson, knowing it was her first audition and that she had no acting experience, so he was worried she wouldn’t be able to get into character by herself. Therefore, he had the actor who just auditioned come back.

Jane was surprised; the actor called back was Matthew Chip. A singer-turned-actor, he had just entered the entertainment industry in the past two years, but already had noteworthy acting skills and a considerable reputation in the circle.

The role of Richard Woods, Evelyn’s brother, was quite important to the show, definitely aligning with a third lead male character. Having Matthew Chip play the part was fitting for such a newcomer.

The one inconvenienced by being called back to act opposite Jane Sampson was Matthew Chip.

Luckily, Matthew Chip didn’t show the slightest displeasure. Knowing that Jane was a newcomer and it was her first audition, he took three minutes before the start to chat with her, helping them to get acquainted. He also gave her some pointers on gaze and subtle movements; only then did they start the scene together.

Daniel Taylor instructed them to act out the moment Evelyn just wakes up saved by Richard, caught in the joy of reuniting with her brother and being cherished like a treasure, only to be suddenly informed that her awakening was on the backs of the tormented, dying populace. The kind-hearted Evelyn was in immense pain, feeling unworthy to reproach her beloved brother, while at the same time, tortured by guilt over those innocent lives lost. And then she fell into the tragic news of her brother facing imminent heavenly punishment.

Daniel Taylor chose this scene for Jane Sampson because it was the most demanding of acting skills in the character of Evelyn.

At first, Evelyn was portrayed as naïvely happy, running wild through Spirit Mountain with her brother, just like in their childhood—clear eyes, carefree smiles; these were key points. Without sufficient acting, this part would just look embarrassingly awkward on screen.

Then there were the complex emotions of pain, guilt, self-blame, and helplessness that arose from her awakening that caused others to suffer—all of which required the actor to express those feelings silently through their gaze and expressions.