Love in the Limelight novel Chapter 496

In the heart of the woodlands, the trees stood like uniformed soldiers, their canopies merging into an unbroken sea of green. A mist curled around the trunks, casting an enchanting spell that seemed to lead the wanderers in endless circles.

Joana's pulse quickened with panic. She called out to Naylor, who was forging ahead confidently, "Mr. Naylor, are we lost? I swear we've passed this spot before!"

Parrish nodded in agreement. "Deja vu, right? But we've been walking straight; we couldn't possibly be walking in circles, could we?"

"Don't worry, we aren't walking in circles. Stick with me, and don't touch anything on the trees," Naylor advised, his last comment clearly directed at Joana.

Joana bit her lip, suppressing the urge to argue. She knew she had to start playing nice according to the script Emily had laid out for her. She had to begin her transformation into the darling of the crowd if she wanted to stay afloat in the ruthless entertainment industry.

With her reputation on shaky ground and the scarcity of quality roles, Joana was aware that her star could dim as quickly as it had risen. The relentless cycle of fame meant that even if she felt wronged, she had to swallow her pride and endure.

Meanwhile, Astrid, armed with a dagger, had been discreetly marking the trees they passed. She was confident they weren't moving in circles. But this place, with its ancient towering trees, blocked out the sunlight with its dense canopy, always giving off a sense of darkness and oppression.

"Here, take a swig of this." Elio offered his water bottle to Astrid.

"I've got my own, thanks," Astrid declined, reaching for her backpack.

Elio circled behind her. "Let me get that for you."

"Sure." Astrid accepted the water bottle he handed her and immediately felt her backpack grow lighter. Whirling around, she saw Elio putting her belongings into his own pack.