REBIRTH : Chasing The Limelight

Chapter 101: Accident.

Relanie’s eyes then drifted down to the folder in Elara’s hand and her gaze stayed there for a second longer. "Still carrying that around?" she said casually.

Elara’s hand tightened around the folder, already aware that Relanie had misunderstood everything.

"Not everything is what it looks like," she said quietly, a faint smile resting on her lips.

A brief flicker of confusion crossed Relanie’s face, but it disappeared almost as quickly as it came.

"We should go," her assistant muttered while she gave a small nod and made to leave.

Just as she did, Elara’s gaze moved past her, toward the direction she had come from.

A young man with aqua colored hair was walking toward them, a lady beside him. His presence calm but impossible to ignore.

Elara’s eyes narrowed a bit in surprise.

Carris Riole.

She knew him well, or at least, she knew of him.

He’s a young and widely recognized singer from Valmont, someone whose name had long crossed borders.

"Carris," Relanie called suddenly.

She had turned back and the change in her expression was immediate. Her smile had grew warmer, as if she had been expecting him all along.

Carris walked up to her and gave her a small hug.

"You’re early," he said with a small smile.

"And you’re late," Relanie replied smoothly. "I thought we agreed not to keep each other waiting."

Carris gave a quiet laugh. "I had to finish something on the way. But it seems we’re right on time."

"Hm... let’s go in." Relanie nodded, already turning toward the office door again.

But Carris did not move immediately. His gaze had shifted.

Elara, who had already been preparing to leave, felt it before she fully noticed. She paused for a second.

"Who’s this?" Carris asked, looking at her.

Relanie followed his gaze, then she smiled again.

"Oh... just one of the singers trying for a small role." She said casually. Her eyes moved briefly over Elara again. "She’s been coming in for minor casting. Still... figuring things out, I suppose."

Elara looked at her, her brows lifting slightly in amusement. Then she opened her mouth... but she stopped halfway anyway.

There’s no need.

Carris eyes stayed on Elara for a moment longer. "Hi, I’m Carris" he said calmly, extending his hand towards her.

Elara looked at it for a second, then reached out and shook it. "Elara," she replied simply.

Carris nodded once, a small smile forming on his lips. But before anything more could settle, Relanie spoke again.

"She’s quite persistent," she said lightly, her voice as smooth as ever. "Keeps coming back. Not everyone has that kind of patience."

It sounded like praise.

Elara’s gaze moved to her briefly, then back to Carris. "I just do what I can," she said.

Ziva, who had been watching everything quietly finally stepped in. "We should go," she mutterred quickly while Elara gave a small nod.

She let go of Carris’ hand and turned without hesitation, walking past them. Ziva followed after her immediately.

Unknown to Elara, Carris’s eyes lingered on her back for a long time as she left. His brows furrowed a bit, then he looked away.

–

Adrian pressed the brake as the traffic light turned red. The car came to a smooth stop. Inside the quiet space, the only sound was the voice coming from his phone, which rested on the holder fixed to the dashboard.

"You know... most people would have spoken by now," the man said softly. "Even a simple no. But you? Nothing. It’s quite rude, you know."

Adrian did not respond. His fingers tapped lightly against the steering wheel, as if the voice meant nothing at all.

The light changed and he drove forward again without a word.

On the other end, the man gave a small chuckle, as if amused by the silence. "They say you’re difficult," he continued. "Well.. I don’t agree. You’re not difficult... just stubborn." He paused for a second before adding, "Or maybe thickheaded."

The words fell into the car and disappeared without a reply.

"Since you refuse to accept my generosity," the man went on in a playful tone. "let’s do something simple. I’ll give you three minutes."

He laughed softly.

"Three minutes. You either agree... or there will be a little show to watch."

A short pause followed.

"I’m very patient. Are you?"

Adrian’s lips pressed together slightly, a faint sign of irritation. Then he finally spoke calmly.

"Finished."

He reached out, ended the call, and returned his full attention to the quiet road ahead. Then something caught his eye in the rearview mirror and his gaze stayed on it.

His lips pressed together.

So this is their persuasion.

His hands adjusted on the steering wheel, but before he could do anything–

A truck suddenly burst from the side without warning.

Metal crashed into metal with a loud, violent sound. The side of the car caved in instantly under the force. The front windows shattered at once, glass spraying outward in sharp fragments. The car was thrown off its path, dragged sideways across the road before slamming hard into a thick concrete barrier at the roadside...

*****

Elara walked along the roadside at an easy pace, one airpod in her left ear while the other ear remained free.

Her phone was in her right hand, and her left hand rested inside the pocket of her pants. Her gaze moved calmly between the road ahead and the screen in her hand.

"Since most of the filming will be in Crelou, you’ll have more than enough time to check on your grandfather." Ziva’s voice came from her phone.

"Mm." Elara replied, giving a small nod out of habit.

Ziva continued in a thoughtful tone. "We’ll need to sort out a few things before that. The schedule is not very clear yet, and I don’t trust how they arranged it."

Elara glanced down at her phone for a second, then back up at the road. "We’ll adjust when it starts."

The call continued as she walked, her fingers loosely holding the phone while her other hand stayed in her pocket. The music in her ear played softly, blending with Ziva’s voice.

Then—

A loud deafening sound suddenly ripped through the air.

Elara’s heart hammered against her ribs as she stepped back. She lifted her head slowly, her brows drawing together as she strained to see into the haze ahead.

"Elara?" Ziva’s voice came through the phone again. "Did you hear that?"

Elara didn’t answer. Her eyes stayed fixed forward.

At a distance, a car had been forced off its path, its shape uneven, almost bent. A large truck stood at an angle not far from it. Its front was tilted as if it had just come to a violent stop. Faint smoke hung in the air between them, making the scene harder to see clearly.

Elara narrowed her eyes a little, trying to make sense of what she was seeing.

And when she saw it properly... Her fingers tightened around her phone without her noticing.

The car.

Even in that condition, even at such a distance–

She still recognized it at a glance...