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Her contemplation was abruptly interrupted when the door behind her swung open with a rude force. The sudden intrusion of the director and his entourage sent a jolt through the room. Alicia and Mabel turned, their expressions shifting from confusion to surprise.

The director entered with an air of exuberance, flanked by his followers, some of whom carried bouquets of flowers, while one held a professional camera. His unsettling smile was as prominent as ever, directed solely at Alicia. Mabel, despite her presence, seemed to fade into the background.

"Ah, my beautiful Alicia Queen," the director\'s voice boomed, his teeth bared in an overly enthusiastic grin.

Mabel rose to her feet, her initial shock replaced by a polite but tightly controlled smile. She was ready to greet their unexpected visitors, only to find herself ignored. The director\'s unwavering attention remained fixated on Alicia, a trend that had become all too familiar.

"Why was I not informed of her awakening sooner? I would have hastened my visit," the director chided Mabel, his words dripping with a thinly veiled reprimand. His eyes, however, never strayed from Alicia, who was attempting to sit up on the bed.

Mabel\'s protective instincts flared, her hands instinctively curling into fists at her sides. She was ready to interject, but before she could, the director\'s hand shot out, his gesture commanding Alicia to remain still. "No need to rush, my dear," he purred, his voice dripping with an almost patronizing sweetness. "Rest and recuperate. We have something truly remarkable in store for you."

One of his subordinates materialized behind him, presenting a file with a flourish. The document was promptly handed over to Mabel. "This," the director declared, his tone a mixture of triumph and excitement, "is the opportunity of a lifetime. A role worthy of your triumphant return."

Mabel\'s shock and dismay were palpable. The audacity of the director knew no bounds—to spring such news on Alicia, oblivious to her fragile state, was beyond reprehensible.

"You know what? We are going to take a few pictures and make your name number one on every blog

—"

"This... has to be a joke... Director Phillips, right?" Mabel\'s voice, though controlled, carried an undercurrent of displeasure. Her frustration was a tightly coiled spring, ready to unleash at any moment. "Firstly, Alicia is not okay. Secondly, she had no idea about this as her manager! How could he spring it upon them from nowhere without having a discussion with her?

She turned to the photographer who was about to take pictures, and one glare from her made him compose himself.

"A joke?" Director Phillips asked "This joke is the current sensation in the country! Have you not been following the news for the past 8 months? It\'s the life story of one of the greatest queens to ever exist, and Alicia here... would be playing the main lead of the story, yet you think it\'s a joke? It wasn\'t easy to snag this opportunity. This is—"

"SHE IS..." Mabel took a deep breath to control her temper, and then her voice grew lower. "Can we at least have a conversation about this outside?" Mabel asked politely.

Mr. Phillips didn\'t like her tone, but then he glanced at Alicia, who was just staring at them blankly, as though none of this concerned her. With a curt nod, they retreated to the hallway along with his entourage, leaving Alicia inside the room.

With the room now quiet, Alicia turned her gaze to the file that Mabel had left behind. The title held her in its grip. Curious, she picked it up, wondering what \'T-C-P-S-B\' meant.

*****

The hallway offered a temporary reprieve from the charged atmosphere in Alicia\'s room. Mabel\'s frustration simmered just beneath the surface, her determination to protect Alicia\'s well-being evident in her stern expression.

"Director Phillips, I understand the importance of this opportunity, but Alicia is not in a state to make decisions like this. Her recovery is delicate, and pushing her into something like this could be detrimental." Mabel spoke quietly so that even his entourage behind them wouldn\'t hear them.

"You\'re being overly cautious, Mabel. Alicia is a talented actress, and this role could be a turning point for her career."

"I\'m not disputing her talent, but she\'s grappling with a lot right now. She needs time to heal, both physically and mentally."

"We can\'t put everything on hold indefinitely. The entertainment industry moves fast, and opportunities like these don\'t come often."

"I understand that, but Alicia\'s health should come first. We can revisit this once she\'s stronger."

"Fine, we can delay the decision for a little while. But I need you to understand that this role could be a game-changer for her. It\'s a chance to show the world her resilience."

"I appreciate your concern for her career, but Alicia\'s well-being is my priority. We\'ll discuss this further when the time is right."

Back in the room, Alicia\'s gaze remained fixed on the file, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. For some reason, she could not bring herself to open it after turning the first page, where the title was spelt out in full.

THE CURSED PRINCE\'S STRANGE BRIDE.

As Mabel re-entered the room, Alicia\'s eyes shifted from the file to the figure before her. Mabel looked concerned as she started to talk. "You don\'t have to do it—"

However, Alicia interrupted as she dropped the file without looking further at it.

"I wish to give up acting."

Alicia\'s voice was quiet but its impact on Mabel was anything but that.

This greatly shocked Mabel, who turned still and looked at her with wide eyes.

"But... acting... acting is your life. Y-Your dream." She reminded Alicia.