Chapter 37

Serena Blake's triumphant smile froze the moment she saw Aria Bennett and her team return with arms full of supplies. Suppressing the jealousy boiling inside her, she forced a casual tone as she stood up. "Mr. Cross, Ms. Bennett, you've finished selling your items too?"

Damian Cross didn’t even glance her way, walking straight to the sofa area and pouring himself a glass of water with deliberate elegance.

Aria took the glass he handed her and replied nonchalantly, "Yeah."

Unwilling to let it go, Serena pressed further, "You bought so many ingredients—you must have earned a lot, right?"

The livestream chat exploded instantly:

[Damian's ice-cold attitude is legendary]

[Why is Serena so annoying?]

Aria swirled her glass, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "Trade secret."

Serena's smile stiffened, her nails digging into her palms. Desperate to shift the conversation, she asked, "Are you two teams cooking together?"

"Yep." Aria suddenly seemed amused, tilting her head. "And you're teaming up with Mr. Reed?"

Serena immediately straightened, pride lacing her voice. "We helped Mr. Reed sell his items before shopping together." She deliberately emphasized the words, stealing a glance at Aria’s reaction.

Nolan Reed frowned slightly but stayed silent.

Aria chuckled. "You two seem close. Old friends?"

Serena’s pulse spiked. The question was a trap—if she claimed familiarity, fans would accuse her of clinging to his fame; if she denied it, it would ruin her plans.

"We met on set," Nolan interjected coolly.

Serena quickly added, "Mr. Reed is very kind to all his co-stars."

Aria toyed with her glass, feigning indifference. "I thought you'd known each other longer."

A cold sweat trickled down Serena’s back. She sensed the danger but had no choice. "You and Mr. Reed go way back, don’t you?"

She smirked inwardly—if Aria denied it, she could later paint her as a liar.

To her shock, Aria nodded easily. "We grew up together. Our mothers are best friends."

The room erupted in murmurs. The livestream chat went wild:

[Bombshell revelation!]

[So the scandal was just childhood friends fighting?]

Serena paled. Everything was spiraling out of control.

"Is that so?" She forced a smile at Nolan. "You never mentioned it before, Mr. Reed."

Nolan, unusually, smiled. "Aria and I have twenty years of history."

"Pity," Aria sighed dramatically. "One scandal was all it took to sink twenty years of friendship." Her gaze slid pointedly to Serena. "I still wonder who that mysterious informant was."

Nolan’s expression darkened. He opened his mouth but faltered under Aria’s icy stare.

Serena squirmed, nails biting deeper into her palms. She realized with dread that the trap she’d set was now snapping shut around her.