Under the Veil I Rule
Chapter 218

The most influential person at the table was undeniably Finnian, the investor.

Director Cedric and producer Louis were sitting next to him, engaging in conversation while Finnian barely touched his food.

Keith, despite being the leading actor and a top star in the industry that commanded high regard, couldn't care less about engaging with the others. He was either chatting with Amara or attending to her needs.

Most of the food on Amara's plate had been placed there by Keith. Not only that, but he was also peeling shrimp and cracking crab claws for her.

When Amara lifted her mask to eat, Keith watched over her, promptly handing her a napkin to wipe her mouth as soon as she was done. His attentive care drew frequent glances from around the table.

As the evening wore on and more drinks were consumed, many people became drunk, including producer Louis, a man in his forties, who was usually cheerful and easygoing, but when he drank, he became clingy and outspoken.

He was evidently plastered now and noticed that Finnian's glass was almost untouched, so as his food, and that Liliana, sitting beside him, had hardly eaten either. With a chuckle, he pointed at Amara and Keith, saying, "You two seem really close, huh? Keith, the way you look after Amara, you're so nice to her. You and Amara seem more like a couple than Mr. Everly and Liliana do."

The moment those words were spoken, the lively chatter at the table came to a halt, and all eyes turned to the small group.

Amara furrowed her brow. Louis must have had too much to drink, speaking so carelessly. The situation was beyond awkward, and she had no idea how to brush it off with a casual remark.

Right across from her sat Liliana, who had maintained an elegant and composed demeanor, smiling all along, though her expression was clearly strained.

Finnian's face was one of indifference, even colder than before.

Amara thought for a moment and then addressed Cedric, "Mr. Zade, do you think Louis might have had a bit too much to drink? Perhaps someone should help him get home?"

"Ah, yes, yes, Louis has definitely had a bit too much. When he drinks, he tends to ramble and loses all sense of direction."

Cedric, looking flustered, immediately stood up and took the opportunity Amara provided to defuse the situation.

After a moment's thought, he directed the lighting director and the director of photography to help Louis out of the room.

Then, wiping the sweat from his forehead, he turned to Liliana and said, "Liliana, you know how Louis is. Once he starts drinking, he can't keep his mouth shut. He's been advised not to have much alcohol but never listened. He's gotten into more trouble with that mouth of his than I can count.

But it's just because he's been so stressed and tired lately that he drank a bit more than usual. He's been the busiest of us all these past few days. Just trying to drown his stress in alcohol. Please, don't hold it against him."

Cedric offered a few words in Louis' defense. Liliana's smile was starting to falter, but she had to keep it up nonetheless. Despite Cedric's excuses, she could see right through them.

In fact, Louis wasn't wrong. From

the moment the meal began, Finnian hadn't paid her much attention. Other than initially asking the waiter to bring a couple of

pregnancy-friendly dishes father, Finnian had been completely disengaged.

Meanwhile, Keith's attentiveness to Amara was incomparable. The difference between how Keith treated Amara and how Finnian treated her was like night and day. Amara was clearly the one up in the stars, and she was the one stuck on the ground.

She had already been feeling uneasy watching them, and now Louis had brought

the issue into the open, making her the subject of laughter among the twenty- some people in the crew. It was infuriating.