Chapter 447
The mini-dramas continued to grow in popularity, and with Trevor’s new series launching, the excitement only increased. Aubree suspected that Trevor was intentionally using marketing accounts to compare the mini-dramas to his TV series, thereby hindering its success. She believed he had likely paid for some online influencers to stir up controversy.
Since Trevor’s new series had premiered, marketing accounts had been fueling drama between them. Initially, it hadn’t been a problem. Most of Trevor’s series had been filmed before airing began, which ensured high quality and a solid plot. With his looks and acting both strong, the show had received rave reviews and seemed poised for success.
Aubree had never imagined that the mini-dramas could compete with anything Trevor created, and since it didn’t concern her, she hadn’t intended to get involved. Yet, unexpectedly, Trevor ended up sabotaging himself.
To keep up with the broadcast schedule, the later episodes began to lag. The plot had to be altered, and the special effects no longer met the initial standards. Fans started calling it a scam, leading the show into an awkward transition period. Amid all this, mini-dramas unexpectedly stole the spotlight, at least maintaining consistency throughout their duration.
Aubree visited Royal Bay today. Alvin had been away for some time, tracking people from the list he obtained at the orphanage, but he had just returned, just in time to see her mini-drama project achieve great success. Bowen took the initiative and invited her to join him for a meal to celebrate together.
When she arrived, Alvin was lounging on the couch with a game controller in hand, immersed in a video game. “Hey, you’re here! Feel free to take a seat,” he said.
“Where’s Bowen?” she asked.
“Uncle Bowen’s in the kitchen,” Alvin replied.
Aubree’s smile grew stiff. “Is Bowen cooking for us?”
“According to Uncle Bowen, he’s been learning to cook lately. Says he’s gotten pretty good at it,” Alvin said.
Aubree thought, “Yeah, right. Like I’d ever believe that!”
“Why don’t we just order some takeout instead?” she suggested.
In the kitchen, Bowen, busy with cooking, couldn’t help but let out a laugh of exasperation. These two ungrateful kids. So many people would love to try my cooking, and here they are, turning their noses up at it, he thought.
“Even if you’re going to talk smack about me behind my back, at least have the decency to do it out of earshot,” Bowen called out, waving a spatula in one hand and with an apron tied around his waist. “Come in here and help me bring the food out,” he instructed Alvin.
Soon, the food was on the table. Aubree looked around and smiled, though tears began to well up in her eyes. Once, all she ever wanted was to gather with family and share a simple home-cooked meal like this. “By the way, Alvin, how did everything go on your end?” Aubree asked.
At that, Alvin’s hand twitched slightly, but his expression stayed calm. “Everything went smoothly. I found the little girl my parents saved all those years ago. She apologized to me. She lives far from Rithol City now, so unless something unexpected happens, we probably won’t cross paths again.”
Bowen kept a close eye on Alvin’s expression but didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. The bodyguard who accompanied Alvin was one of his own and would intervene if necessary. He wanted to protect Aubree, but that didn’t mean he would allow unrelated people to get hurt for no reason.
The people on the list he gave Alvin were indeed all from the orphanage, but he had chosen someone who lived the farthest from Rithol City and whose background was the best fit to stand in for Aubree.
He recalled how, when Alvin had said he’d found her, he’d instructed him to ensure she never returned to his life. Concerned that Alvin might act on impulse, he had arranged for the bodyguard to keep watch. If Alvin lost control, the bodyguard was supposed to intervene. Maybe this would finally help Alvin untangle the knot in his heart.
Bowen let out a quiet sigh of relief. “Once we find those human traffickers, they won’t get off easy.”
Alvin didn’t doubt that for a second. “That couple disappeared into thin air after they came to Rithol City. Someone must be helping them behind the scenes.”
“As long as they don’t vanish into thin air, we’ll find them sooner or later,” Bowen said, placing some food on Aubree’s plate.