Behind The Spotlight Chapter 189
The fans cheered as the car gradually disappeared, leaving behind echoes of screams and applause. Alice was stupefied as she watched hundreds of people go crazy just because Princess Chantal sent them a flying kiss, an action that lasted only a second.
She cringed because she knew Chantal better than they did, or at least, she thought she did. Back when they still lived together, Princess Chantal was not the type of person who would do something like that.
'Although I haven't seen her for three years, perhaps she has changed.'
Alice admitted that her older sister was incredibly charismatic when she stepped into the airport. Just her presence alone drove the entire crowd wild, as if they were enchanted.
Alice returned to her parents, who were also stunned after witnessing the scene, their expressions stiff. Their expectations had been shattered. Princess Chantal was no longer the person they remembered, nor someone they could control.
"I'm sorry, Mom. There were too many people. I was scared I might get hurt if I tried to get through them."
"Tch, never mind."
Stufedia clicked her tongue, clearly irritated. She couldn't admit that she had been overwhelmed as well. Stufedia and Simone exchanged looks. They hated to admit it, but they had lost a good egg.
They also hated to admit that they didn't know how to face their eldest daughter after everything they had done. That was why they wanted Alice to meet her sister first, to test the waters and gauge Princess Chantal's reaction without risking humiliation.
"It's your fault. You said being a singer was a low profession, that only a few lucky ones could succeed, and that she wasn't one of them." Simone gritted his teeth.
"Hmph! You're also at fault. You never trusted your daughter even once."
Before things could escalate further, a tall and handsome man approached them, interrupting the tension. He had a sharp jawline, striking features, and green-brown eyes that immediately drew attention.
"Hello, are you perhaps Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont?"
"You are…?" Simone narrowed his gaze at Collin suspiciously.
"I'm Collin East. I'm Princess Chantal's talent agent and legal representative. This is my business card." With a calm smile, Collin handed his card to Simone smoothly.
"You're from Apex Network Talent?"
"That's correct, one of the top agencies in Hollywood."
"Very well." Simone nodded. He had done some research about Princess Chantal and knew her agency was ANT, one of the most powerful talent agencies in Hollywood. She truly had it better than they had ever imagined.
While Simone scrutinized Collin, Stufedia was distracted by his appearance, her eyes lingering on him. He was undeniably attractive, refined and polished. Even Alice blushed. She had only seen handsome men on television or in magazines, not up close in real life. To her, Collin's looks were almost unreal.
"Princess Chantal doesn't want to see you."
"What are you talking about?" Simone frowned, caught off guard.
"I'll represent her and speak to you instead, as instructed. How about we leave this place and find somewhere private to talk?"
Collin was an agent. His job was to resolve issues before they turned into bigger problems.
"Mr. East, I think there's a misunderstanding. We want to see Chantal because we miss her very much." Stufedia tried using her tears. Unfortunately, Collin merely smiled, unmoved.
"Princess Chantal and Isabella have told me a lot about you. I'll repeat myself, I am Princess Chantal's representative. If you have something to say to her, you must speak to me first. Sorry, but that's how business works. Rules are rules. I was hired for this kind of job."
The family fell silent for a few seconds, digesting his words, before Simone finally made a decision.
"Let's talk."
"That would be great. I'm glad we're on the same page. I know a nice restaurant nearby. How about we have lunch there?"
Collin led them to a prepared car, and the family followed with mixed emotions. Stufedia glanced at Simone, curious and uneasy about his decision, but Simone didn't look back at her.
The driver started the car, and it didn't take long for them to arrive at an expensive restaurant in Paris. The family had never set foot in a place like this before, it was far beyond their usual social class.
A reservation had already been made in a private room, ensuring privacy for their discussion.
"Let's eat first before we talk. It's better to have a proper conversation without distractions. We can't think straight when we're hungry, right?"
Collin was attractive in more ways than one. His composed smile, a skill he honed during his modeling days and refined over the years, rarely failed him.
Even Simone nodded in agreement. Though nervous, once the food arrived, they began eating in silence.
While eating, Stufedia couldn't hold back her curiosity.
"Mr. East, may I ask how you know my daughter? Did she hire you, or were you the one who discovered her and brought her to the United States to mold her career?"
"Mrs. Beaumont, I'm not inclined to answer that question."
"…" She blinked, offended.
"Then how did she become famous? She didn't sell herself, right? I've thought about it many times. I don't understand how she suddenly became famous. I admit she has a nice voice, but many artists do. That alone isn't enough to stand out."
"Stufedia! What are you talking about!?" Simone raised his voice, glaring at his wife in embarrassment.
"I'm just saying."
"Mrs. Beaumont, you look like a bloated frog, croaking nonsense." Collin jabbed coldly, gritting his teeth behind his smile. No wonder Princess Chantal didn't want to see her parents, they were heartless and ignorant.
"Excuse me!?" Stufedia flushed with anger.
"Anyway, how about we finish eating first?" Collin said calmly, as if nothing had happened.
'The fact that you never believed in your daughter disgusts me to the core.' Collin couldn't taste the food at all.
After a few minutes, lunch ended in awkward silence.
Collin wiped his mouth with a napkin before finally speaking.
"I'll make this clear. Princess Chantal never did anything disgusting. She became famous because she's talented and hardworking."
"Of course, of course." Simone agreed quickly. The idea of his daughter engaging in sexual transactions with rich old men conflicted with his principles, however flawed he might be. He might not have loved his children properly, but he still had boundaries.
"I'm Collin East. You may have heard of Lawrence Terrence, Axel Gunner, and Jennifer Randon, I'm their talent agent. I also represent Wyatt Bray, the director of The Accidental Wedding Crashers, Week on a Cruise Ship, and Frightening Movie, all box office hits. I'm not a simple person. I have strong influence in Hollywood. With my help, Princess Chantal rose to stardom. She never did anything disgusting. She simply followed my plan."
Collin decided to make things clear.
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[Author's Note:]
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