Chapter 136

Aria Bennett and Malcolm Rhodes exchanged contact information. Just as she tucked her phone away, Director Gideon Marsh and Adrian Foster walked into the room.

After the dinner concluded, Malcolm personally opened the car door for Aria, watching her van drive off before turning to leave.

"Did it work?" Adrian glanced at Aria through the rearview mirror, unable to hide his surprise. In the span of a single meal, Malcolm's attitude toward her had completely changed.

Aria nodded lightly. "Yes." She paused. "But Valerie Knox won’t let this go. Keep an eye out, Adrian."

Adrian scoffed. "Without Malcolm backing her, she’s nothing."

The next day, Director Gideon officially announced the audition results.

Valerie was at a spa when her agent called. Hearing that Aria had landed the supporting role, she jerked upright, her face mask crumpling.

She immediately dialed Malcolm’s number, only to be met by his assistant. The man coldly handed her a termination contract and a check.

"I won’t sign!" Valerie threw the papers on the floor. "I want to speak to Malcolm!"

The assistant picked them up without expression. "He said if you keep making a scene, the check disappears too." He lowered his voice. "If you still want a career, be smart about this."

Gritting her teeth, Valerie signed, her nails digging into her palms.

That night, her assistant whispered that Aria had dined with Malcolm. Valerie’s eyes burned with fury. "That bitch! She must’ve seduced him!"

Her assistant leaned in with a suggestion. A smirk curled Valerie’s lips as she posted on Starfeed:

@ValerieKnoxV: The power of money is terrifying. Some people steal roles with their sugar daddies, while small-time actors like me just have to accept it. #ShowbizDirtySecrets

At first, the tweet went unnoticed—until Owen Archer’s influencer accounts reposted it, unleashing a flood of trolls.

Soon, "eyewitnesses" claimed to have spotted Aria and Malcolm at a hotel, sharing carefully cropped photos.

[WTF! Aria is Malcolm’s mistress?]

[No wonder she stole the role—she’s got a sugar daddy!]

[Homewrecker! Malcolm’s married!]

[Boycott unethical actors! How blind is Director Gideon?]

The scandal exploded. #AriaTheMistress rocketed to the top of trending.

Adrian watched the hate comments multiply, rubbing his hands anxiously. "Should we clarify now?"

But Aria calmly scrolled through her feed. "Wait. Let the fire burn a little longer."

When the backlash peaked, Director Gideon dropped three audition clips. The internet erupted.

[Her acting is insane! That villainous breakdown gave me chills.]

[Valerie calls herself a serious actress? She can’t even remember her lines!]

[Director Gideon knows talent! Can’t wait for Aria’s dark sorceress!]

Trolls scrambled:

[Good acting excuses being a mistress?]

[Disgusting morals! Ban her!]

Then Malcolm stepped in, posting Valerie’s termination contract. He detailed the truth and released full surveillance images proving it was a four-person dinner.

Next, Valerie’s past was exposed—stealing her best friend’s husband, sleeping with wealthy businessmen, tantrums on set—each accusation backed by irrefutable proof.

Netizens were stunned:

[This plot twist is wild!]

[Valerie’s the real homewrecker!]

[Poor Aria, dragged into this mess for no reason.]

Within two hours, Valerie went from "victim" to public enemy, her scandal surpassing a billion views.

Meanwhile, Aria’s followers skyrocketed by a million overnight.