Chapter 44
Nicolas and Maxwell were just as lost for words.
They hadn’t expected that even after they’d backed off, Alicia still wouldn’t let it go.
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And hearing her call them strangers, acting like they barely knew each other, really cut deep.
Did all those years growing up together mean nothing to her? They were starting to get pissed.
They exchanged a look, and both knew exactly what the other was thinking.
‘Alright, if she wants to pretend we’re strangers, we’ll play along. Let’s see if she can really treat us like we’re invisible, they both thought. ‘Let’s see how long she can endure.
This time, they’d wait for her to make the first move.
But they knew she was still angry, so they held back from saying anything mean.
Even though they weren’t the ones behind the smear campaign, they were definitely involved, even if not directly responsible.
They didn’t want to get blamed for it, but they had to take the heat from her anyway.
As for Haley, the one who started all this, they could barely stand her. They were literally gritting their teeth in disgust.
Haley was the reason Alicia kept throwing shade at them and threatening to cut ties, so she was definitely on their list for payback.
Nicolas flashed a relaxed smile. “No worries. We might not be close now, but once we spend more time together on the show, we’ll get there p>
Maxwell added, “We know you weren’t trying to stir up drama or chase clout. It’s really not a big deal, so don’t stress about it p>
Alicia smirked. “Well, aren’t you guys generous for not making a big deal out of it p>
‘ It’s easy for them to act all chill when they’re not the ones getting roasted online, Alicia thought.
‘ Just wait till the truth about us comes out. I’d love to see how they spin all that talk about trusting me and not caring,‘ she thought.
Even though Alicia didn’t want anything to do with being the Hammond heiress, she wouldn’t let Nicole, who was always out to get her, had things her way.
Alicia had been dragged through hell for supposedly faking her identity, so one day, Nicolas and Maxwell could see what it was like firsthand.
After all, nothing could beat living through it themselves.
16:48 Sat, May 2
Chapter 42
But Alicia wasn’t going to keep harping on it.
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Mentioning it once or twice might make people feel for her, but if she kept milking it for pity, the audience would just get annoyed and start to dislike her.
Alicia turned to the director, cutting off the conversation, and asked, “Sir, what are we supposed to do now p>
Nicolas and Maxwell were both quick to try and steer the conversation away.
Even if they hadn’t actually caused all the trouble, they couldn’t help feeling a bit uneasy.
They turned to the director in unison. “Yeah, time to get down to business, don’t you think p>
Marley thought, ‘Honestly, I kinda just want to watch them keep fighting for a while longer p>
With all this drama, the show didn’t even need to buy trending spots. Tonight, they’d be blowing up online for sure. The hype was real.
Marley looked at Alicia with stars in his eyes, like she was a walking goldmine.
‘Alicia, you better keep this up. That’s exactly what we need. Just stay fierce and don’t let up for a second,‘ he thought.
Trying to keep things light, Marley flashed a smile and said, “Everyone knows what our show is all about, right p>
Nicole flashed a sweet smile. “Yeah, I’ve looked into it. The whole point is teamwork, right p>
On a reality show, getting screen time was everything. If she wanted to stand out, she had to show off how sharp and quick on her feet she was.
Since Starlight Entertainment had invested in the show, Nicole had a copy of the show’s main mission
statement.
But as for the actual tasks, they hadn’t given her any
details.
Rumor had it that the show was going totally unscripted. They’d just let the guests think on their feet and handle whatever got thrown at them. That was what made things interesting.
So, nobody knew what they’d be doing or what the challenge was until filming actually started.
Nicole’s agent tried to get the producers to spill the details about what they’d be doing in the first episode.
But with Lucent Media backing the show as the biggest investor, the production team shot her down.
They basically told her, “If you don’t like it, there’s the door p>
Nicole had tried probing, but it looked like Nicolas and the rest hadn’t gotten any info either.
Marley nodded. “That’s right. It’s all about helping all kinds of people, with your friends by your side. They could be old friends or new ones.
16:48 Sat, May 2
Chapter 42
“And for our first episode, the people you’ll be helping are all folks you haven’t met before p>
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He didn’t bother with any suspense. “FlowTV is filming an idol survival show, and right now they’re at the crucial 32–to–16 cut.
“We’re teaming up with their crew, so for your first episode, your destination is their filming location.
“Once you arrive, you’ll be joining the 32 trainees and teaming up with them.
“You’ll be right there with them for the big 32–to–16 elimination round.
“Those trainees are the friends you’ll be helping this time.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.