The Kiss that Sparked it All

Evadne could not believe her eyes; Balfour had laid it out plain as day, and yet Ivy was as clueless as ever. There was a part of Evadne that wanted to shake some sense into her, but another voice whispered that maybe Ivy’s naivety was a blessing in disguise, especially in the shark-infested waters of showbiz.

In the cutthroat world of showbiz, being a bit thick-skinned could be an asset. Those who took things too personally often ended up nursing more wounds than they could handle.

The night of the Golden Feather Awards had arrived, and Ivy was set to walk the red carpet with the cast of “Ballad of Valor.”

Colton, a highly respected figure in the industry, was guiding his two stars, both newcomers, who had been placed at the front of the line-up.

When Ivy arrived, draped in an immaculate white evening gown that made her skin glow under the lights, even the typically brash Ryan blushed.

“Ivy, you’re looking stunning tonight. You’re outshining every other actress here, aren’t you?” he remarked with a mix of jest and awe.

Ryan was always a bit of a loudmouth, and with cameras broadcasting live, Ivy worried he might slip up and stir the pot with the fans of other celebrities.

But the rest of the crew didn’t seem to care, nodding in agreement.

“It’s true, you look like an angel descended from heaven! We’ve only ever seen you in Valor’s goofy school uniforms; I almost forgot how great your figure is,” one of the supporting actresses teased, always one to poke fun at Ivy.

“Cut it out, will ya?” Ivy replied with a veneer of sternness that only made her more endearing.

“This is the Golden Feather Award. If other casts hear us, who knows what they’ll think? Let’s keep it professional!”

The others understood Ivy’s caution. The poor girl had been the target of ridicule more than once, and it had made her all the more careful with her words.

Their cast had weathered many storms together, and it had brought them closer than most.

“Now, please welcome the cast of ‘Ballad of Valor”,” the announcer boomed.

Colton signaled with a wave. “Let’s go.”

Ivy took a deep breath and stepped onto the red carpet with a smile.

The crowd, which had been offering scattered cheers for others, erupted into a frenzy at the sight of the “Ballad of Valor” cast. That summer, who hadn’t heard of “Ballad of Valor”? Who didn’t know Ivy?

The surprise was evident in Ivy’s eyes, but she kept her composure. Tonight, she was determined to shine her brightest.

“Is that an angel?” someone in the crowd gasped in awe.

“Mom, I see an angel!” exclaimed another.

“The ‘Ballad of Valor’ cast is stealing the show tonight. Except for Colton, they’re all looking so radiant!”

Someone nearby quipped, “With box office numbers like theirs, how could they not be radiant? Success is the best makeup!”

Ivy’s fans were making themselves heard, too, chanting her name, “Ivy! Ivy!” over the din of the crowd.

As they signed autographs, Ivy noticed the screams seemed to grow even louder, and she wondered which A-lister had arrived to cause such a commotion. Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Walking towards the interview zone, she couldn’t help but feel a pair of eyes on her. The host was smiling her way, a look that seemed to carry more meaning than the rest.

Ivy was puzzled. While the others had moved on quickly, she was singled out for an interview, leaving her feeling a bit lost.

“This is your first time at the Golden Feather Award, and you’ve been nominated for Best New Actress. How do you feel about that?” the host asked.

“I’m thrilled to be here and honored to be nominated for the Golden Feather Award,” Ivy responded with a genuine smile. “For a newcomer like me, just being nominated is a hug recognition.”