When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 119: Breaking through

Chapter 119: Breaking through

Lopez Digital Studios held a prestigious place in the entertainment industry. For years, their reputation was built on successful projects and a track record of creating some of the biggest stars.

Being number one came with standards. Because of their popularity and demand, they had never needed to look beyond their own contracted artists. They took pride in giving their own talents every opportunity to shine, carefully planning each debut and role.

That had always been the way things worked. No outsiders, no open auditions. Everything was kept in-house. But the industry had changed, and new faces were emerging, with fresh energy and potential to reshape the landscape.

Finally, Lopez Digital Studios decided it was time. They made an announcement: for the first time in years, they were opening auditions to artists outside their contracts. People from all walks of life, dreamers and strugglers, were being given a chance.

Trish’s name was on the list. She had become familiar in the entertainment world, though not in the way she’d dreamed. After countless auditions, people knew her as the girl who kept trying, even if her talents never seemed enough.

One evening, Trish was cleaning up the small, cluttered apartment she shared with her mother. Her mother had stepped out to buy groceries, leaving Trish in the stillness of her own thoughts. The shrill ring of her phone broke the silence. She wiped her hands on a towel and grabbed the phone.

"Hello?" she answered, her voice carrying the fatigue of years of disappointment.

A warm voice spoke on the other end, bright and professional. "Good afternoon. Is this Trish Watson?"

Trish felt her heart skip a beat. "May I know who this is?" she replied cautiously. It wasn’t unusual for unknown numbers to call her, but she had long learned to temper her hopes.

"I’m Hannah from Lopez Digital Studios," the woman said. "I’m calling with some good news."

Trish’s eyes widened. Her hand trembled as she gripped the phone tighter. She had dreamed about this company for so long. "Lopez Digital Studios?" Her voice sounded almost breathless.

The woman chuckled softly. "Yes, that’s right. We have you on our list of artists to contact for our upcoming open audition. We’re giving new talents the chance to make their debut. Would you be interested?"

Trish’s mind raced, her emotions swirling between disbelief and excitement. But after so many rejections, a part of her whispered that this was too good to be true. "You’re sure it’s... me?" she asked hesitantly, her doubt clear.

Hannah responded kindly, understanding the disbelief in Trish’s voice. "Yes, we are sure, Miss Watson. We’ve heard of your perseverance and the dedication you’ve shown over the years." She paused. "So, will you be attending?"

Trish swallowed, her throat dry. A thousand thoughts crossed her mind. Memories of every failed audition, every heartache, every promise to her mother. But there was a flicker of something new—a fragile hope. "I... Yes. Yes, I will," she finally said.

"Wonderful!" Hannah’s enthusiasm was almost contagious. "The audition details will be sent to your email shortly. Please prepare your best material. We look forward to seeing you."

"Thank you," Trish whispered, still not quite believing what had just happened. When the call ended, she sat on the couch, phone clutched in her hand, eyes wide with disbelief. "Lopez Digital Studios," she repeated to herself. This could be her break.

---

The day of the audition arrived. Trish stood in front of the towering building of Lopez Digital Studios, clutching her worn-out script. The bustling crowd of hopefuls made her feel small, but she had faced tougher moments. She took a deep breath.

"Here we go," she whispered, stepping forward. She couldn’t let doubt win. She had promised herself that every opportunity deserved her full heart, no matter how broken it had felt in the past.

The audition room was a large, bright space, buzzing with energy. Trish waited for her turn, trying to calm the nervous fluttering in her stomach. When they finally called her name, she stepped onto the stage, swallowing the lump in her throat.

She gave it everything she had. Her voice, her expressions, the pain and joy she’d carried for years—all of it poured into her performance. She couldn’t control the outcome, but she could control her effort. When she finished, she stood breathless, waiting.

The panel exchanged glances. She tried to read their expressions but found nothing clear. One of the judges, a man with kind eyes, nodded. "Thank you, Trish," he said. "We’ll be in touch."

Walking out of the room, Trish couldn’t decide if she should feel hopeful or defeated. She’d been here before, this moment of uncertainty. Still, she knew she had done her best. Another rejection wouldn’t hurt as much. She had become almost numb to it.

---

Days later, Trish received another call. This time, her heart barely dared to hope. She answered, bracing herself for whatever would come.

"Miss Watson?" It was Hannah again, sounding more excited than ever. "Congratulations. You’ve secured a role. You’ll be making your debut as an actress."

Trish’s knees went weak. "I... I did?" she stammered, barely believing the words. Tears sprang to her eyes.

"Yes," Hannah confirmed. "Your hard work has paid off. We’ll be in touch with more details soon."

When the call ended, Trish sank onto the floor, tears streaming down her face. Her mother walked in at that moment, grocery bags in hand. "Trish?" she asked, concern etching her features.

Trish looked up, her face lit with a smile she hadn’t worn in years. "Mom, I did it," she whispered. "Lopez Digital Studios chose me."

Her mother dropped the bags and rushed over, hugging Trish tightly. They cried together, tears of joy and relief, tears that washed away years of struggle.

---

The following weeks were a whirlwind. Trish threw herself into rehearsals, training, and script readings. She knew this chance was rare, and she wasn’t going to waste it. She worked harder than she ever had, determined to make her dream a reality.

Her debut came, and everything changed. Her name was suddenly known, her face recognized. The struggle wasn’t over, but her life was no longer filled with only rejection. She finally felt like she belonged.

Lopez Digital Studios became a home to her. The company truly lived up to its reputation. Unlike the others she’d encountered, they treated their artists fairly. There was no room for dirty tactics or favoritism. Everyone had to work hard and earn their place.

But one day, as she was walking through the company’s halls, she noticed a young woman talking to Marcos, the chairman’s assistant. The girl had an air of mystery about her, and Trish’s curiosity was piqued.