Liam stood rooted to the spot as Jason stormed through the crowd, fury and frustration written across his face. The paparazzi circled like vultures, snapping photos of the unfolding chaos. Flashes went off in rapid succession, blinding and disorienting Liam as he tried to make sense of it all."What's going on?" a voice from behind him asked, and Liam turned to see the director standing there, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with an unreadable expression.Liam opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by Jason's shouting. "This is my movie! Mine! You think some wannabe actor can just walk in and replace me?" Jason's voice cracked, his mask of confidence slipping as the paparazzi egged him on.Liam's pulse quickened. Jason wasn't just angry—he was unraveling in real-time, and the whole world was watching. The crowd that had formed around the set whispered, murmuring Jason's name, and snapping photos with their phones. It was chaos, and Liam knew that one wrong move could land him in the middle of a scandal he wasn't ready for.The director stepped forward, cutting through the noise. "Enough!" His voice boomed with authority, silencing the reporters and freezing Jason mid-rant. "Jason, you need to leave. Now."Jason's eyes widened in disbelief, his face reddening. "What? You're really doing this? For him?" He pointed a trembling finger at Liam, his words dripping with venom.Liam's heart pounded in his chest, the weight of Jason's anger heavy on his shoulders. But before he could respond, the director's voice rang out again. "Yes, Jason. We're done here. I gave you enough chances. Now you're just embarrassing yourself."Jason looked around wildly, his breathing ragged. For a split second, Liam felt a pang of sympathy for him. The guy was clearly spiraling, and the cameras were catching every second of it. But just as quickly, Jason's face hardened, and he turned on his heel, shoving through the crowd.As Jason disappeared down the street, the paparazzi followed, still hurling questions at him. The alleyway quieted, the tension lingering like smoke after a fire. Liam swallowed hard, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins."Are we really doing this?" he asked, turning to the director. "I mean… do you really want me to step in?"The director shrugged, his demeanor calm despite the storm that had just passed. "You're here, aren't you? And I've got a movie to make." He clapped Liam on the back, his eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement. "Let's see what you've got."Max appeared by Liam's side, his grin practically splitting his face. "Liam, this is it! Your big break!"Liam tried to smile back, but his mind was racing. Was this really happening? Jason Cross—Jason Cross, the guy everyone thought was untouchable—had just imploded in front of a live audience, and now Liam was being handed the role he had only dreamed of. It was surreal.Before he could second-guess himself, a flurry of activity surrounded him. The crew sprang into action, repositioning cameras, adjusting lights, and shouting directions at each other. It was controlled chaos, and Liam felt like he was being swept up in a whirlwind."Liam! Over here!" The assistant director waved him over to the makeshift set. "We need to get this shot in before we lose the light."Liam blinked, still trying to wrap his head around the situation. Just a few hours ago, he had been sitting at his desk, buried in spreadsheets, and now he was about to take center stage in a film. It was everything he had ever wanted, and yet, he couldn't shake the nagging voice in the back of his mind: Are you really ready for this?The assistant director handed him a script, her expression focused but kind. "We'll do a quick rehearsal, but don't worry. The scene's pretty simple—it's more about the emotion. You're confronting the main antagonist. Just let it flow."Liam glanced at the lines, the words blurring for a moment before they snapped into focus. He could do this. He had spent years preparing for moments like this, and now it was here. No more doubting himself. It was time to prove he was more than just a guy stuck in a dead-end job.As the cameras rolled, the set fell into a tense silence. Liam stood in his spot, heart pounding, eyes scanning the crew around him. They were all watching—waiting. He could feel the pressure building, but instead of crumbling under it, he let it fuel him.The moment the director called "Action," Liam stepped into the scene, his character's rage bubbling to the surface. He threw himself into the performance, locking eyes with his co-star, delivering the lines with a raw intensity he hadn't felt in years. The emotions poured out of him, his movements fluid, his voice steady. The adrenaline, the fear, the exhilaration—it all meshed into one powerful burst of energy.When the director finally yelled, "Cut!" the crew erupted into applause. Liam stood there, breathing hard, his chest heaving. The reality of what had just happened began to sink in. He had done it. He had actually done it.The director approached, a satisfied grin on his face. "Not bad, Morgan. Not bad at all."But just as the words settled in, Liam's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen, expecting a congratulatory message from Max or someone on set.Instead, it was a notification from a news site. His blood ran cold as he read the headline:"Jason Cross Meltdown: New Actor Takes Lead Role Amidst Scandal."And beneath it, a picture of Jason's wild-eyed, furious expression—alongside a shot of Liam, stepping into the spotlight.Liam's hands shook as he stared at the screen. His dream was finally coming true, but at what cost? The scandal was brewing, and whether he liked it or not, he was now a part of it.And deep down, Liam couldn't shake the feeling that Jason Cross wasn't going to let this go without a fight.