Chapter 128
“I have nothing to prove to you p>
Lexi’s voice was cold.
“I know my own heart better than anyone p>
Her gaze sharpened.
“Lauren, don’t push me p>
Lauren’s face darkened completely.
Her eyes became feral.
Like a starving wolf that had finally cornered its prey.
She took one step toward Lexi.
Then another.
The hatred rolling off her was so intense that Lexi instinctively moved backward.
Inside Lauren’s handbag was a small fruit knife.
All it would take was one slash across Lexi’s throat.
One.
Then everything would be over.
Consumed by jealousy, resentment, and obsession, Lauren could no longer see where the line was.
All she could see was red.
“Lauren p>
Dominic’s voice suddenly rang through the room.
Before Lauren could react, he seized the knife from her hand.
His expression was cold.
“What are you doing p>
Lauren froze.
For a second, she couldn’t speak.
Then she forced a smile that looked more painful than tears.
“Nothing p>
“I just wanted to peel an apple for Lexi p>
She glanced at Dominic.
“Since you’re here, I’ll leave you two alone p>
She steadied herself and hurried out of the room.
The moment she reached the hallway, Lauren leaned against the wall and released a long, shaky breath.
She had almost lost control.
If Dominic hadn’t arrived when he did, she might have committed an irreversible mistake.
The realization only strengthened her resolve.
She and Dominic were now standing on the same side.
If she wanted to survive the battle for Sebastian, she needed an ally who understood the darkness of the world they were entering.
“Lexi, are you all right p>
Dominic hurried to her bedside.
“I’m fine, Big brother p>
Lexi shook her head.
Her voice was exhausted.
Lauren had frightened her.
The look in her eyes had been terrifying.
For a moment, Lexi genuinely believed Lauren was going to kill her.
If Dominic hadn’t arrived…
She didn’t want to imagine what might have happened.
Dominic’s expression grew heavier.
“Lauren is targeting you because of Sebastian p>
He paused.
“I also heard that Sebastian personally took a team into the mountains to search for you p>
“He searched for hours before they found you p>
“He brought you to the hospital immediately and even dragged the best doctors out of their homes in the middle of the night to treat you p>
His brows furrowed.
“He was terrified p>
Dominic sighed deeply.
“Normally, I wouldn’t interfere in something like this p>
“But, Lexi p>
His voice dropped.
“Sebastian’s feelings for you aren’t normal p>
“What do you really think about him p>
Lexi had only known that Sebastian had brought her to the hospital and stayed by her side all night.
She hadn’t known everything he had done before that.
A faint warmth spread through her chest.
She was grateful.
But Dominic’s words were like cold water poured over her.
Sebastian was still Lauren’s boyfriend.
No matter how she looked at it, the amount of effort he had put into saving Lexi was difficult to explain.
“Big brother, don’t worry p>
Lexi gave him a faint, bitter smile.
“I’ll take care of my own heart p>
“As for Sebastian p>
Her voice was quiet.
Almost emotionless.
“There’s no possibility between us p>
“Lexi, why don’t you find yourself a boyfriend p>
Dominic’s voice was gentle.
“Someone you can trust with that heart of yours p>
His eyes burned with an intensity that made Lexi’s chest jolt.
For a fleeting second, something stirred in the back of her mind, as though a thought was trying desperately to break free.
Lexi quickly turned her face away.
“Big brother, I’m not ready to think about that right now p>
If Lexi had given him even the slightest opening, Dominic had intended to confess his feelings.
But her answer shut that door completely.
Dominic nodded slowly.
“That’s fine p>
His voice remained calm.
“But there’s no harm in thinking about it p>
“Whoever you choose, I’ll support you p>
He paused.
“Anyone except Sebastian Blackwood p>
Sebastian had too much power.
Too much influence.
And far too much aggression.
Unlike Julian, he wasn’t gentle or patient.
Dominic’s words had been casual.
But they struck Lexi hard.
Her heart sank.
Apparently, no one wanted her to be with Sebastian.
Maybe that was a sign.
A relationship that received no one’s blessing was probably better abandoned before it hurt everyone involved.
After leaving the hospital, Lexi quickly gathered her things and rushed back to the filming location.
As expected, the attitude of everyone on set had changed dramatically.
Several makeup artists who had previously whispered about her behind her back were now bringing her drinks and treating her with exaggerated courtesy.
Lexi wasn’t stupid.
She knew exactly why.
It wasn’t because they suddenly liked her.
It was because of Sebastian.
That realization left her both helpless and frustrated.
After trying several times to explain that there was nothing between them, Lexi finally went directly to the director.
“Director, Sebastian Blackwood and I have absolutely no relationship p>
She stood before the seasoned director with a firm expression.
“You don’t need to worry about offending him. Just treat me the same way you did when I first arrived p>
The special treatment was making her uncomfortable.
She wasn’t here to be pampered.
She felt more like a VIP tourist being shown around than an actress participating in a reality show.
The director looked uncomfortable.
“Miss Lexi, that’s not something I can decide p>
“You should speak to Mr. Blackwood yourself p>
“Whatever he says, I’ll do p>
He paused deliberately.
“You understand how this industry works p>
He didn’t need to finish.
The message was obvious.
Blackwood Entertainment was one of the most powerful forces in the industry.
The director depended on people like Sebastian to keep his production company alive.
He wasn’t about to risk his livelihood because Lexi wanted everyone to stop treating her differently.
“All right p>
Lexi nodded.
“I’ll talk to Sebastian p>
“But please don’t give me extra screen time or any other special treatment p>
Her voice remained cool and firm.
“It’s unfair to the other contestants p>
The entertainment industry was a murky place.
Lexi knew that better than most.
But she still wanted to remain clean.
She wanted to be free to succeed—or fail—on her own.