Chapter 38

Serena Blake's hand trembled slightly as she gripped the kitchen knife, its blade scraping harshly against the cutting board.

She never expected Aria Bennett to publicly cut ties with Nolan Reed during the livestream. It completely ruined her carefully laid plans.

"Serena, should I slice or dice these potatoes?" a fellow contestant asked cautiously.

Serena snapped out of her thoughts and forced a smile. "Just slice them."

She willed herself to stay calm. Grant Mercer had assured her that all nearby surveillance footage had been erased. As long as she denied everything, no one could prove she was the woman in those photos.

Laughter drifted in from outside the kitchen. Through the window, Serena saw Aria chatting and laughing with Damian Cross.

Thud. The knife slammed down onto the board.

"Serena?" The contestant beside her flinched.

"Sorry, my hand slipped." Serena managed another weak smile, though her mind was in turmoil.

That bitch Aria had publicly severed ties with Nolan in front of millions. Now, Serena's meticulously crafted plan was falling apart.

The livestream chat exploded:

[Holy crap! Aria and Nolan were childhood friends?!]

[Nolan’s such a jerk for making his best friend take the blame!]

[My heart breaks for Aria—she’s been getting hate for so long.]

[So who is the woman in those photos?]

Serena bit her lower lip hard. She couldn’t panic. She just had to endure these next few days...

"Serena, come help with the barbecue!" Jonah Pierce called from the yard.

Taking a deep breath, Serena plastered on her sweetest smile and stepped outside.

In the courtyard, Aria was teaching Damian how to marinate skewers. They stood close, and when Damian leaned in to listen, his gaze was so tender it could melt ice.

The sight stung Serena’s eyes.

"Oh, Serena, you're here." Aria glanced up, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "Perfect. Want to take over grilling these vegetables?"

Serena accepted the tongs with a strained smile, though she secretly wished she could shove Aria into the fire.

Meanwhile, social media had erupted.

#AriaAndNolanChildhoodFriends

#NolanMadeHisBestFriendTakeTheBlame

#SerenaBlakeSignedWithGrantMercer

All three hashtags trended at the top.

[Serena signed with Grant Mercer already?]

[That’s way too convenient.]

[Is she the woman in those photos?]

Grant scowled at his phone and dialed a number. "Initiate Plan B."

Back at the farmhouse, the aroma of barbecue filled the air.

"Aria, how did you make this marinade? It’s amazing!" Jonah sidled up to her.

Before Aria could answer, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the notification, her lips curling slightly.

"What is it?" Damian murmured.

Aria showed him her screen. "The show’s about to start."

A breaking news alert flashed: [EXCLUSIVE: Intimate Photos of Serena Blake and Nolan Reed on Set Leaked!]

Damian raised a brow. "Need help?"

"No." Aria chuckled. "I’ve got this."

She turned toward the grill and called out, "Serena, your phone’s been buzzing nonstop."

Serena’s heart lurched. She fumbled for her phone—and went pale.

The livestream chat went wild:

[Check Pulse! Proof just dropped!]

[It is Serena in those photos!]

[Damn, she’s such a good actress!]

Serena’s hands shook, and a skewer tumbled into the coals, sending up a shower of sparks.

"What’s wrong?" Jonah asked.

"N-Nothing..." Serena stammered.

Then her phone rang—Grant glaring on the screen.

Everyone turned to look.

Aria tilted her head. "Aren’t you going to answer? Might be important."

Serena clenched her phone so hard her nails dug into her palms. She finally realized: she’d walked right into Aria’s trap.

And this was only the beginning.