Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism

Liam chuckled with a hint of scorn. "Do you think I can't match up to Benson and his flashy airs? Even if he returns from abroad, he'll just be another fixture at home. He won't see me coming."

Hayden smirked slightly. "Yeah."

Violeta and Zoren also smiled.

Their long-standing friendship meant they were staunchly supportive of Liam.

In their view, Hannah and her children were unworthy of their regard.

Tonight's reminder from Violeta had come at a crucial moment.

With Hattie's venture into the entertainment industry, the family had somewhat relaxed their vigilance. It seemed prudent to keep a closer watch on her.

Lydia had managed to uncover the source of the complaint.

Someone had indeed reported Violeta's new drama, which had caused delays in its approval process.

Upon reviewing the complaint, the officials found that while the specifics of the complaint differed slightly from the submitted material, the core of 'Nirvana and Rebirth' was inherently controversial. No previous drama had tackled such a sensitive theme.

Nevertheless, the final cut of the series had been deftly edited, with any controversial content removed and the ending left deliberately open.

This 'clean' version of the show created an impression of subtlety, with each episode building anticipation and leaving viewers eager for a resolution.

Once this version aired, it would unintentionally draw attention to the complete overseas version.

The officials were still deliberating whether to approve the series.

Lydia, with connections in the bureau through her young boyfriend-the bureau chief's son-was eager to exploit this situation.

Her goal was to delay the approval process as long as possible, ideally for six months or even a year.

Her assistant looked confused. "Lydia, why not just prevent the show from being approved? Why drag it out?"

Lydia's eyes sparkled with a cunning glint. "Ophelia's new show is scheduled to air in the latter half of the year. Wouldn't it be more advantageous if Violeta's show were competing with hers simultaneously?" Violeta was Lydia's rival, as was Ophelia.

Both had entered the industry around the same time, though Ophelia had moved into film early on and had frequently ridiculed Lydia.

Despite her film work, Ophelia's accomplishments were modest, failing to make a significant impact in cinema.

Hence, she remained active in TV dramas, placing her in direct competition with Lydia.

Pitting Violeta's show against

Ophelia's was a clever

V

tactic watching two of her rivals battle each other was a source of amusement for Lydia.

Her assistant quickly understood Lydia's plan. "I get it now. You're a genius!"

Lydia held up the perfume sample. "It's not just about being smart; it's about luck. I should be thankful to whoever lodged that complaint."

When her boyfriend investigated the complaint, he discovered its submission date.

The complaint was anonymous and had only recently reached the bureau.

Ideally, no outsider should have been aware of this.

Yet Zelena had managed to divulge this information with surprising speed.

It seemed Zelena also aimed to use Lydia to undermine Violeta.

Lydia placed the perfume on the table, her expression one of disdain.

Clearly, with such scheming coming from a newcomer like Zelena, further dealings with her should be approached with caution.

That evening, Violeta and her companions had finished their meal.

While Violeta had abstained from alcohol, the other three men had enjoyed a drink.

Felix waited outside, while Liam and Zoren had their own cars to take them home. Only Hayden lacked a ride.

As Violeta was heading back to Liberty Grove, she offered to take Hayden along.

Although Hayden had had a drink, he was still felatively sober, only unable to drive. He called someone to pick up his car and then joined Violeta's vehicle.

As he got into the car, Felix took a moment to assess Hayden.

Wow, he's really good looking.

Felix had attended numerous high-profile events with Violeta and had seen many attractive individuals from the entertainment industry.

While male stars often wore

makeup, sometimes as much as

female artists, Hayden, who never

used makeup, had striking features with well-defined lines and angles.

Handsome was secondary; it was his impeccable presence that truly set him apart.