Chapter 184

Serena's POV

Eleanor's words caught me off guard. "You and Drew went to the same high school, and you were athletic too. I think my brother might have liked you even back then."

My heart raced and my fingers unconsciously traced the edge of the documents, a subtle tremor betraying my composed exterior, unsuring how to process this unexpected information.

"Of course, I'm just guessing," Eleanor added casually. "My brother's such a closed book - he never talks about these things." She seemed to find it hard to believe herself that her ice-cold brother could have been so secretly sentimental at such a young age.

Before I could dwell on it, Eleanor changed the subject. "Serena, I have my final scene to shoot tonight. It should have been done ages ago, but I've been too busy with other commitments to get back to the set. Once it's wrapped, I'm having my agent clear my schedule. I want to be here with you through the trial."

"You don't need to do that. I don't want to interfere with your work..." I tried to refuse, but Eleanor wouldn't let me finish.

"This is entirely my choice, so don't try to talk me out of it," she insisted. "My assistant's taking me to the set soon. We should finish around two or three in the morning. Just wait for me here, okay?"

Faced with such genuine concern, I chose silence. Sometimes, rejecting someone who truly cares for you is its own form of cruelty.

After Eleanor left, I sat alone on the couch, lost in thought. I knew I couldn't really find peace - not with the legal battle hanging over my head. I wasn't that carefree. Yet my mind kept circling back to Eleanor's words about "love at first sight."

My fingers trembled slightly as I finally reached for my phone and dialed his number.

"Hello, it's me." I said softly.

"What's wrong?" His voice carried a hint of restraint, almost like he was surprised but pleased by my call.

"About my case," I said, deciding to focus on our shared concern, "I think Nina should be our primary suspect."

"Agreed," he responded immediately. "I'm having people look into the connection between your company's finance department and Nina. We need to find some trace evidence. Either Jessa has something to hide that Nina's using as leverage, or the incentive was significant enough for them to sacrifice themselves."

I considered this carefully. "The first scenario seems more likely."

"I'll work on getting more details about the financial officer's situation."

"Since this was clearly orchestrated," I cautioned, "any movement on our part could tip them off."

"I'll ensure the investigation is discreet."

"Thank you," I said formally.

There was a pause on the other end before he replied softly, "It's the least I can do."

After hanging up, I could feel that subtle distance between us, professional yet charged with unspoken emotions. Taking a deep breath, I leaned back against the couch, feeling more lost than ever.

Eleanor's POV

As I stood watching the stunt preparations, my frustration grew. A stunt double was getting rigged up for my final scene - a high-wire sequence that was supposed to be my dramatic exit from the show.

"What's going on?" I turned to my assistant, not bothering to hide my annoyance. After years of doing my own stunts, this felt like a step backward.

"Director Gillard's decision," she replied cautiously. I could sense her tension - she was probably worried I'd storm off to confront Jace like I had in the past.

My assistant rushed to explain, seeing my darkening expression. "Eleanor, he's just looking out for you. The jump is from the wall - almost thirty feet up. And you've mentioned your fear of heights before. The double really looks like you, no one will be able to tell. You'll just need to film a few close-ups."

I had to admit, she had a point. While I'd done wire work before, it was usually just to enhance fight sequences. I'd never filmed anything from this height. And yes, I did have a fear of heights, though I hated admitting it. As much as Jace irritated me, I couldn't deny he was the director. Plus, I didn't want to be responsible for holding up production.

"Let's take a look," I said finally, swallowing my pride as I headed toward the main set.

The scene was set up in the largest soundstage, with massive green screens surrounding a partial recreation of the wall. The stunt team was helping my double adjust her harness while Jace gave her detailed instructions. I studied her carefully - she did look remarkably similar to me, around the same age with a sweet, earnest demeanor.

Watching her, I felt an unexpected twinge of empathy. With her looks and work ethic, she could probably make it as an actress herself with the right breaks. The entertainment industry was always hungry for fresh talent.

When they hoisted her up into position, I noticed her trembling. Despite her brave face, she was clearly terrified. My irritation melted into guilt as I watched her shaking form suspended in the air. I made a mental note to treat her to dinner after the shoot and get her a thank-you gift. It couldn't be easy literally putting your life on the line to make someone else look good.

A deafening crack shattered my thoughts.

My heart stopped as I looked up to see the double swaying precariously, one of her support wires suddenly snapped. Screams erupted around me as she began to fall. I stood frozen, watching in horror as she plummeted directly toward me.

Everything seemed to slow down, yet happened too fast to react. The sickening thud as she crashed into me, the impact knocking us both to the ground, the sharp pain shooting through my body - it all blurred together in a moment of pure chaos.

Lying there stunned, my mind went completely blank. The studio lights above swam in and out of focus as shouts and running footsteps echoed distantly. Someone was calling my name, but I couldn't respond. The weight of the double's unconscious body pressed against me, making it hard to breathe.

Blood trickles down my forehead, warm and sticky. The metallic scent fills my nostrils as crimson droplets blur my vision. I gingerly touch the wound, wincing at the sharp pain. My fingertips come away red, confirming what I already knew.

"Eleanor! Eleanor, can you hear me?" My assistant's face appeared above me, pale with panic.

I tried to speak but could only manage a weak groan. Every inch of my body screamed in protest as I attempted to move.

"Don't try to get up!" Jace's voice cut through the chaos. "Someone call an ambulance!"

This is the last thing I heard.