When Abigail thought about how men could be jerks, she immediately recalled a recent scandal that had exploded on the internet, providing plenty of gossip fodder over the holiday season. "You've heard about the BBDD couple scandal, right?"BBDD, a couple in the entertainment industry known for their loving image and for profiting from it, were recently exposed for infidelity. And not just once; it seemed that in every city they visited, there was a new affair.The kicker? Even though the husband was caught red-handed, the wife, in a desperate move to save face and cash, posted a statement online:[My husband just made a mistake that any man could make. He realizes his wrongdoings, has turned over a new leaf, and returned to our family. As the saying goes, 'Every marriage has its ups and downs, but it's working through them that makes it stronger'. Please give us some time, and we'll return to you as a stronger couple than ever.]It sounded as if she was blaming the public for tryin
Abigail eyed Stella. "Do you really think we can make a move without Ron catching wind of it?"Stella's heart sank, and she dropped her gaze, feeling defeated. "Does this mean we'll never get to see Emma again?""There's always a way if it's meant to be."As Stella was about to respond, she and Abigail were distracted by a commotion. Customers hustled in the opposite direction, buzzing with excitement."Why is everyone running like it's the end of the world?""You two aren't into the whole celebrity chase, are you? What star has got you this worked up?""Celebrity? We're heading to see Lucas White, the CEO of White Corporation," another onlooker chimed in."Word is he's downstairs grabbing an iced tea. It's a frenzy down there!""A CEO? What's the big deal?""It's not just any CEO," someone quipped, "He's the rare combo of good looks and deep pockets. When you have a chance to see a guy like that up close, you don't just walk, you run!""What, do you think seeing his bank acc
Rolling in cash, Stella spent like there was no tomorrow, never wincing at the price tags.Abigail was momentarily lost in thought, and by the time she snapped back, the counter was stacked with several designer bags.Stella examined each one, nonchalantly tossing them back onto the counter. "Wrap this one, and this, and definitely this one."In just a few minutes, over one million dollars vanished.Every cent of Abigail's wealth was hard-earned, painstakingly accumulated through her artwork.Even though she was now the wife of the CEO of Hart Corporation, with Nathan transferring a hefty fortune under her name, she could not shake off the habits ingrained since childhood. She was frugal to the core, ensuring every penny was spent wisely.Stella and Abigail were polar opposites.After Stella made a name for herself in the entertainment industry, money came fast. The first couple of years were golden; she could make billions from a single film. In just a few years, she amassed a
Stella asked, "What's going on?"Julie shot her a link on WhatsApp. "Check this out. I've sent you the details."Stella flipped open WhatsApp, and her eyes locked onto a glaring headline that screamed for attention.[Rumors Suggest Stella Dawson Secretly Bears Tycoon's Child, Describes Her Body and Face as Ugly as a Swine.]"Who's the sorry SOB trashing me like this? They've got another thing coming," Stella fumed. The insult cut deep - no woman took being compared to a pig lightly.She clicked the link, and her photos popped up. They showed her in casual attire, the same outfit she was wearing today. The photos were clearly recent, yet she knew she did not look as hideous in reality. At nearly five feet and seven inches and just a hundred and forty pounds, she was slim, not the monstrosity these photos portrayed."Abigail, take a look. Do I look like this to you?"Grabbing the phone, Abigail said, "Hell no! You're not even close to what they show here."Abigail zoomed into the
Stella snapped her phone shut and immediately locked eyes with Abigail's worried gaze. She flashed a grin at Abigail and said, "I'm fine, no need to worry."Abigail said, "Should we head back to that store and ask around?"They both had noticed it - the background of the photo was unmistakably the boutique where they had just bought bags.During their shopping spree, they had been the only customers, which led Stella and Abigail to deduce that the culprit who had snapped the photo and posted it online must have been one of the store's employees.A surreptitious snapshot uploaded to the web could be a minor issue or a major scandal, depending on how far Stella decided to push it.Stella, with a determined look, said, "That's exactly my plan. I need to find out who's behind this hideous picture, and who dared to call me as fat as a pig. I can tolerate being secretly photographed, but being insulted like that is a whole different story.""I'm with you on this."Together, they made
The shop assistant hurriedly took out her phone and opened a Facebook group chat, named "Stella's Die-Hard Fans".The group chat members were very active, and the shop assistant's message had already been buried. It took her a while to scroll back up to find the picture she had sent.Stella looked natural and great in the picture the shop assistant took. She did not edit the picture to make Stella look ugly. She had even sent two text messages after she posted the picture.The shop assistant had texted: [Everyone, this is Stella, right? She's so much more beautiful in person than on the screen. Especially her skin, it's flawless.[Not only is she gorgeous, but she's also very kind. She didn't have any airs of a celebrity when she bought things from me. She was very friendly.]These two text messages proved that the shop assistant was indeed Stella's die-hard fan.Many people started replying to her after she sent the two text messages.[It's Stella! It's definitely her! Look at
The shop assistant did break the company rules, but Stella, considering the challenges of working as a staff member, decided to let it go. She said to the store manager, "I'm letting this matter go. Can you just let her stay?""If you decide to let it go, we can spare her from any punishment," the store manager replied. Their company made it clear that if customers did not want to make a fuss, they would not punish their staff.Stella responded, "All right." After resolving the matter, Stella left with Abigail.Since Stella's location was already exposed, she believed if she did not leave soon, it would be difficult for her to leave when her fans nearby came.What Stella did not know was that after she left, the shop assistant took out her phone and logged into another Facebook account.In that Facebook account, there were several groups with names insulting Stella such as "Ugly Stella Dawson" and "Make That Ugly Stella Leave the Entertainment Industry".The shop assistant then r
Stella's fans' power was massive. She did not need to worry about this matter at all. She would soon be able to know who was behind causing all these troubles.Unexpectedly, before she got to know who caused the trouble, a video was posted online showing Stella getting angry at a shop assistant.Stella was famous, so once the video was released, it quickly trended on social media.It turned out that the scene where she went to confront the shop assistant was recorded, edited, and uploaded.Stella chuckled. "People are afraid to be kind and good because of trash people like this."Abigail, who was driving, glanced at her. "What's wrong?"Stella smiled. "I got fooled by the shop assistant just now."Abigail asked, "How are you going to handle it?""I can't be bothered with her." Stella did not care about a clown like the shop assistant. However, when she was about to reply to a great comment from a fan, there was another revelation online: [Rumors say that Stella's financial back
Emma turned and dashed into the bathroom. She cranked the faucet on and splashed water on her face, aiming to soothe her nerves.Although they were engaged, they were still too young, with countless uncertainties looming over their future. The possibility of actually walking down the aisle was up in the air.Decisions made in a rush of happiness could eventually become sources of regret. And Emma knew all too well that she couldn't afford any regrets.She thought that fortunately, Ron hadn't pushed things further, which gave her time to cool off.After freshening up, Emma stepped out to find Ron on the balcony, a cigarette in hand.She couldn't resist chiding him, "I've told you to cut down on smoking. Why can't you seem to remember?"This time, Ron complied, snuffing out the cigarette. "We should get some sleep. We've got to put our best foot forward when we meet your family tomorrow.""Okay, I'll sleep on the couch. You take the bed," Emma responded.Ron simply replied, "As y
Ron looked at her dawdling pace with disdain. "If you, a lady, can handle it, why can't I, a grown man, stay?"His words sounded noble, but Ron regretted them the moment they arrived at the hotel.Despite now earning a decent income, Emma was still reluctant to spend money.This place was hardly a hotel; it was clearly a budget inn charging only a few dozen bucks a night. The hygiene was questionable at best, and safety seemed like a gamble.Ron turned on his heel, dragging her suitcase behind him. "We're leaving, now.""It's too late, and we can't get a refund for the room.""Are you trying to get us killed?"Emma fell silent, her thoughts a whirlwind of frustration. 'I told him he wouldn't be used to cheap places. He insisted on coming with me, and now he won't even let me stay here alone. Why is he so annoying?'However, considering Ron had rushed over in the middle of the night to help her, Emma decided not to hold it against him.Ron picked the best hotel in the area—the
Rebekah glanced over at Ron; she exchanged a knowing look with him before saying, "I'll have someone tidy up the rooms. Why don't you two stay here tonight and keep me company?"Ron replied simply, "Sure."Emma had purchased a midnight flight back to South Florivera, necessitating a rush to the airport, which made staying over after dinner impossible.Yet, she found herself at a loss for words, struggling to decline Rebekah's kind offer.As she hesitated, Ron stepped in to clear the air. "Mom, I've got something on tonight. After dinner, I'll drive Emma back to her dorm."Rebekah raised an eyebrow. "What's so important?" she wondered aloud, thinking, 'Wasn't he the one insisting Emma stay over? What's he up to now?'Ron kept it mysterious. "Life stuff."Rebekah could not help but chide him lightly, "You, always the joker."Right after dinner, Ron insisted on leaving to take Emma back to her dormitory. But as soon as they were out of the gated community, he asked, "So, you reall
Ron chuckled. "I didn't know you were aware that even a cornered rat will fight."Emma shot him a glare. "Are we going or not?"Ron quickly said, "Of course. When Miss Blue commands, how can I dare not obey?"Fearing another of his notorious driving escapades, Emma hastily buckled her seatbelt as she settled into the car.Thankfully, this time Ron kept it smooth, driving steadily.As they neared their destination, Ron finally spoke up, "You know, that Tucker guy is a married man. Don't let his kindness fool you into being the other woman."Emma's gaze on Ron was fiery, seething with anger. "Do you even hear yourself? Is that what you think of me? For the last time: Tucker and I share nothing more than a mentor-mentee relationship. There's nothing else between us.""I'm just looking out for you, worried you might get deceived," Ron said, witnessing Emma's fury for the first time. Yet, he could not help but find her anger not at all intimidating, but rather endearingly foolish.R
The two sisters had a pact: no cell phones at home to keep their secrets from the prying eyes of the Blue family. Thus, Emma could call only at prearranged times, the sole window for Rihanna to catch up.Rihanna's voice bubbled with excitement over the phone, as she chattered away about her life's minutiae.Knowing Rihanna was doing well eased Emma's mind.Just as Emma was about to end the call, she heard Rihanna's voice, soft and wistful. "You're really not coming home for the holidays? If you don't, I'll be all alone."Emma's heart clenched at those words, and she made up her mind in an instant. "I'll come back the day before New Year's Eve."The Blue family had their hands full with festivities that day, too busy to notice Rihanna's absence. Emma figured slipping back unnoticed then would be her best shot.After hanging up, Emma immediately booked a flight from Valtara to South Florivera. With her ticket secured and her last bit of work finished, Emma prepared to leave her off
Emma had no interest in romance, let alone the audacity to dream that Ron might fancy her.This time, she did not pick up the thread of conversation.After dinner, Ron, as usual, drove Emma back to the university.Before parting, Ron said, "Winter break is almost upon us, and the dorms might be off-limits. Are you sure you don't want to stay at my place for a couple of months?"Emma offered a smile in response. "Thanks for the offer. I've spoken with the dorm supervisor and submitted an application in advance. I'll be able to stay over the holiday period."Ron paused before saying, "Well, if you need anything, just let me know. I'll text you my number in a bit; make sure you save it."Emma nodded. "Sure."Without further ado, Ron drove off.Upon returning to her dorm, Emma saw Evelyn and Cassie, busy packing their bags, surrounded by gifts for their parents bought from Valtara.Evelyn asked Emma, "Are you really not going home for the winter break?"Emma replied, "No, I won't
Emma did not have the guts to risk failure because she did not have a safe haven to fall back on.Lucas kicked Ron in the shin. "Come on, if you fancy her, out with it. No Hagrid heir dithers like this."Ron glared at him. "Mind your own business." In his head, Emma was already his. The thought of losing her was unimaginable.Lucas said, "Without my meddling, she'd never be yours."Ron changed the subject. "I called you here for a serious discussion."Lucas replied, "No matter how serious, it can't outweigh the matter of your lifetime happiness."Ron was exasperated. "Lucas!"Lucas relented. "Alright, alright, you talk, I'm all ears."Ron spelled out Emma's music venture with Tucker. After hearing it all, Lucas could not help but see Emma in a new light."Never pegged Emma as such a dark horse," Lucas said.Silently listening to their conversation, Emma was thrilled to have her work recognized.Lucas said, "But, getting back to it, whether a song makes money, and how much, d
Ron barked, "Lucas!"With a chuckle, Lucas responded, "Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing Emma. I'm starving. Let's grab some food and talk business while we eat."Ron snapped, "Get lost!"Lucas could not help but revel in Ron's frustration. "Ron, have you fallen so quickly? Who was it that told me they would never accept an arranged marriage?"Emma was increasingly confused by their banter. "If it's inconvenient for me to be here, I can just take a cab and leave."Ron said, "Call you dumb and you won't admit it!"Emma thought to herself, 'I didn't want to be a third wheel, cramping their style. Was that really so wrong? No good deed goes unpunished, apparently.'Suddenly, Ron grabbed Emma's hand and led her inside. "It's cold out; let's go inside."Emma had to quicken her pace, practically being dragged along.Seeing them together, Lucas laughed heartily from behind. "Ron, oh Ron, never thought I'd see the day.""Don't laugh too soon. Your day is coming," Ron shot back.Th
Emma said, "Okay."Ron asked, "Have you won over your crush?"Lucas responded, "Secret."Ron replied, "Looks like you haven't won her over."Lucas said, "As long as I make a move, there's no girl I can't win over. But I haven't made a move yet because the timing isn't right."Ron asked, "Is it because of the Sandow family?"Lucas answered, "The Sandow family wants to marry their daughter to me, and my family wants me to marry her too. But I've told them long ago that I'm not willing to do that. Nobody can make me marry a girl I don't like."Emma remained silent. 'I didn't expect that Lucas would also have the same problem as me and Ron.'It seems like the wealthier the family, the more they'll arrange marriages based on social status without considering personal preferences.'Lucas seemed to sense Emma's thoughts. "Emma, my situation with the Sandow girl is different from yours and Ron's. Don't lump us together."Ron looked at Emma and suddenly said, "There isn't any other gi