Chapter 54
When the doors opened, Isabella and the investor emerged, wrapped in robes, blood on his forehead—likely from an object she had hurled at him.
“Everyone, please, it’s a misunderstanding. Return home, and we’ll issue an explanation tomorrow,” Lauren’s manager tried to appease the crowd.
The reporters didn’t care—they wanted the scandal: a rising actress trading favors for roles.
Lexi’s heart pounded.
If that had been me in there…
Lauren appeared beside her, raising a hand as if to strike.
Lexi caught it firmly.
“This is on you. If you hadn’t schemed, Isabella wouldn’t have fallen for it p>
Lauren froze, realizing the truth.
The suite key, the setup—it had all been her doing.
“Go. Comfort your little sister,” Lexi said, voice steely.
Lauren’s sister, unaware of much of the backstage politics, had nearly sabotaged everything.
And the scandal had already started to affect filming.
Lauren’s PR team now worked overtime to cover it up.
In the makeup room, Isabella pointed a trembling finger at Lexi.
“Why did you set me up p>
Every actor in the room froze, eager to witness the drama unfold.
Lexi set down her brow pencil, eyes cold.
“I didn’t. Don’t forget—you were the one who insisted we switch rooms. How was I supposed to know the investor would end up there p>
Isabella’s face went pale.
“It was supposed to be mine p>
“Isabella, stop embarrassing yourself,” Lauren said, her smile hard and brilliant.
“Now, Isabella is the investor’s girlfriend. Whatever schemes you had, Lexi, they’ve failed p>
The situation was spinning out of control, and there was no turning back.
Lauren had no choice but to release a public statement, claiming that her sister, Isabella, and the investor were in a romantic relationship.
Any whispers of illicit favors were pure fabrication—malicious rumors designed to tarnish reputations.
“That’s a stroke of luck for Isabella, then. I should congratulate her,” Lexi said, a cruel smile curling at the edge of her lips.
“Lexi, don’t think you can fake concern here. I won’t let this go,” Lauren snapped, her voice haughty and sharp.
Now that they were on the same production, and with the investor publicly playing the role of her sister’s “fiancé,” Lauren had countless ways to make life impossible for Lexi.
Lexi wasn’t worried.
Whatever they threw at her, she was ready.
She had faced worse.
The very first scene of the shoot felt like a warning.
The director gave Lexi a humiliating role, forcing her into countless retakes and making her look foolish on purpose.
By the end of the day, her head was spinning with exhaustion and anger.
Lexi trudged back to the lounge, only to hear Isabella’s high-pitched chatter immediately.
She barely had time to sit before Isabella snatched the script from her face, letting it crash to the floor with a dramatic slam, then stamping on it twice for emphasis.
Lexi’s blood boiled.
Standing up, she fixed Lila with a cold stare.
“What the hell are you doing, Isabella p>
She scoffed, chin raised in arrogance.
“My boyfriend gave me a bracelet—a solid gold one. I’ve searched everywhere and it’s gone. I haven’t checked your stuff yet. Mind if I p>
Lexi’s lips curved into a thin, icy smile.
This wasn’t about a bracelet—this was about picking a fight.
“What’s the matter? Afraid I’ll find it? Or did you see a chance at profit and decide to pocket my bracelet?” Isabella’s tone dripped with venom, her arrogance spiking.
Lexi’s patience snapped.
“I didn’t steal it, and I’m not letting you rifle through my stuff. If you can’t keep track of your own things, that’s your problem, not mine p>
Her nonchalance infuriated Isabella further.
Red-faced, Isabella reached out to strike her, but Lexi shoved her lightly—enough to make her stumble.
She gasped, clutching her arm, tears springing to her eyes.
“Sweetheart, why are you crying?” The investor, coincidentally checking on Isabella’s scenes, rushed over, bending to help.
She flopped into his arms like a fragile blossom, incapable of facing the slightest storm.
“It’s her! Lexi pushed me! Everyone saw it!” Isabella buried her face in the investor’s chest, pointing at Lexi.
Everyone on set had witnessed the scene.
But most would not risk offending the investor, so they nodded, playing along with the false narrative.
Lexi’s jaw tightened.
She didn’t want this conflict, but these two were like snakes—they wouldn’t let go.
“You need to explain yourself, Lexi,” the investor demanded, eyes wide with outrage.
That night, the investor had expected Lexi in his suite—but Isabella had shown up instead.
It ruined his plans and Lauren’s carefully orchestrated schemes.
A woman who schemed in secret deserved a lesson.
“I didn’t take the bracelet, and I didn’t push her. That’s the truth. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do,” Lexi said flatly, refusing to play into their manipulations.
Lauren, ever the schemer, tried one final trick.
“Of course, Lexi, it’s likely you stole it. Poor girl, orphaned, struggling with no income… a little greed is understandable. Just hand over the bracelet, and I’ll let it slide p>
Lexi couldn’t help but laugh at Lauren’s absurdity.
Only Lauren would always try to dig up dirt on her.
And for all Lauren’s lofty background—how impressive could it really be?
“I didn’t steal it. End of story. You have no proof, and if you keep accusing me, I’ll see you in court for defamation,” Lexi shot back, her patience gone.
“Proof? Search her!” Lauren snapped.
She signaled to the investor and Isabella.
Isabella, wiping her tears, pushed aside the unsuspecting Lexi and began rifling through her bag and drawers.
Lexi’s personal items—makeup, keys, small trinkets—spilled across the floor, trampled underfoot.
Lauren sneered at them, noting how cheap they were, not even enough to cover a meal.
For an actress, privacy was sacred.
To have her things searched so brutally, under everyone’s eyes, was unbearable.
Within minutes, Isabella triumphantly held up her bracelet from the deepest drawer.
“So you say you didn’t steal it? How about I call the cops, thief p>
Everyone else lowered their heads, whispering among themselves.
Lexi knew instantly this had been premeditated—a setup to frame her.
She looked at the bracelet, then smiled faintly.
“Call the cops. Let’s see if my fingerprints are on it p>