Chapter 244
When the Harvey family returned to the Harvey residence, they saw a figure.
"Frederick?" When Ashley saw Frederick, she thought she was seeing things. Overjoyed, she rushed over and threw herself into Frederick's arms. "Frederick, it's really you. You're back? I miss you so much!" "Not just me. Look who else is here?" Frederick winked at the crowd.
Immediately, Lloyd emerged.
"Lloyd!" Ashley exclaimed.
"Ashley, it's been a long time." Lloyd smiled at Ashley and then handed her a gift with delicate packaging. "This is the limited edition Chanel I bought abroad. It's for you."
"Really? Thank you, Lloyd!" Ashley said ecstatically. Compared to the gift from Lloyd, his action showed that he hadn't been completely engrossed by Selina and that he still cared about her.
Frederick smiled. "Lloyd and I came back with gifts for all of you this time. They're in the living room."
Quinton grumbled, "You two, why didn't you tell us you were coming back to Clusia? We just went to pick up Joseph and Ashley at the airport. We could've picked you up as well."
Frederick explained, "I'm sorry, Dad. I told Lloyd not to tell you because I wanted to surprise you. The project he was in charge of just wrapped up, and I was going back to Sokovis, so we come back together."
Sara smiled happily and said, "It's good to see you back. Regardless, this is something worth celebrating. Darling, this house hasn't been so lively since the New Year."
"All right, let's not have the chef cook tonight. We're going out. My treat!" said Quinton.
"Thanks, Dad!" the sons and daughter cheered.
As night fell, Manuel was still the one driving, and the four brothers were sitting in the car.
As they chatted about what had been happening in their lives, Joseph gradually felt better. However, they still couldn't avoid mentioning one person, which was Selina.
Manuel pursed his lips and asked, "Frederick, did you hurry back to Sokovis after hearing about what happened with Selina?"
"Speaking of Selina, she really surprised me. In the variety show Joseph was on, she completely stole the spotlight and revealed her real identities. Not only is she Meteorite Queen, but she's also the apprentice of a national-treasure level opera singer. She's so amazing that I feel inferior as her brother. I'm starting to wonder if I was adopted." Frederick didn't hold back his praise for Selina, feeling joyful and proud, which left his three brothers in silence.
"What's with you guys? You look like you've seen a ghost. Ar
you upset because I praised Selina? You can't lose your dignity!" Frederick frowned.
"No... Frederick, I'm just envious of you. You can talk about Selina unrestrained, but we're not allowed to do that anymore," Manuel said what Lloyd and Joseph had in mind.
Instantly, the atmosphere in the car became even more somber.
"You and Lloyd conceded defeat for losing to Selina and making her real identity get exposed. I can understand that. But what about you, Joseph? Don't tell me that you took a tumble because you secretly competed in something with Selina?" Frederick teased. "I-It's not what you think, Frederick. I still can't forgive Selina for venting her anger on others. It's just that..." muttered Joseph. He then continued inwardly, 'How could I explain that fact that Selina had saved Mom?'
He couldn't tell Frederick and Lloyd about this for the time being, lest the two slip up in front of Sara and Quinton.
The fewer people who knew, the better.
It's just that you've also been influenced by Selina. I saw your performance on the variety show, Joseph. It's no use deceiving yourself even if you want to. Everyone can see that your attitude toward Selina has completely changed from the beginning," said Frederick. "Selina is indeed very impressive, but what I can't stand is the fact that she's my own sister, and I've never done anything to her. She treats me like an enemy, yet she can smile so happily and be so tolerant to others!" Joseph complained, not knowing what had gotten into him. His behavior became unusual because of Selina.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.
Eventually, Joseph decided to let the matter of him being disliked and targeted by Selina pass. He didn't want to make a mess of himself and even take out his anger on others because of her.
1:10PMC
"I will go to see Selina. That's the reason I came back this time." Frederick intertwined his fingers, a surge of emotions rippling through his eyes. "At the same time, I plan to give the female lead in a new movie adapted from my novel to Selina." "What?" Manuel and the others looked at Frederick in surprise.
"Frederick, didn't you say that the female lead in the new movie adapted from your novel was for Ashley..." Manuel stuttered.
"That was my original plan, but in order to get Selina back to the Harvey family, I had no choice. As for Ashley, I will compensate her in other ways." Frederick scratched the back of his head as he said, "As long as it's for Selina, I believe Ashley will understand. To be honest, given Selina's character, I don't think she will agree to take the role even if it's adapted from the bestselling novel worldwide."
If any other woman starred as the female lead in such a globally anticipated movie adaption, as long as her acting skills were on point, not only would she have shot to stardom and become the new top star in the entertainment industry in Clusia, but she would also gain significant recognition worldwide. This wasn't just any random adaptation; it involved the most renowned international directors, screenwriters, visual effects artists, and fight directors.
The male lead was played by the best actor in Mumzik, and the female lead was set as a Clusian. With the well-rounded characters, the convoluted and unpredictable plot, and the ending that added a crowning touch to the movie, it was Frederick's proudest work and also a stepping stone for him to become a globally recognized best-selling novelist.
This novel alone had cemented Frederick's position in the world of historical fiction, and he achieved it entirely through his own efforts and talent, without any intervention from Harvey Group.
"Besides, I personally think that Selina will be able to portray the essence of the female lead. I've seen her opera performance. Her gestures, line delivery, and actions were impeccable." Frederick's words were not polite remarks; they were visceral. What truly made Frederick decide to cast Selina as the female lead in the movie was the fact that he was the author of the novel. He was like the father of the characters. No one would know the leading characters better than Frederick.
From the moment Frederick first saw Selina, coupled with the insights he gained from her real identities, he felt that Selina was the living embodiment of the female lead. This was one of the reasons why Frederick rushed back to Sokovis to meet her.
"Since we've decided to do this, we have to do it right. The selection of the male and female leads is crucial. The male lead is already a perfect choice, but the female lead... By working with Selina, we can achieve a win-win situation and let go of the grudges between us. I don't think