Chapter 2067


    Cicely nced at the time on her phone, not bothering to feign ignorance. She leaned back in her


    chair, crossing her legs with a sly smile. "Look, I know our Crysti is from a rich family, which might


    suggest she''s delicate, but she''s as tough as the rest of ''em. The girl''s been practicing fight scenes


    all afternoon. Sure, she could wait a couple more hours, but she won''t be at her best. So, I propose


    we call it a day and let me take her home to rest up properly."


    The director exhaled with relief. He had expected as much from Cicely. "You''re right, Crysti has


    worked hard enough today."


    Cicely stood, her pale pink dress entuating her perfectplexion. With minimal makeup and a


    dab of lip balm, she looked as radiant as any of the heavily made-up actresses on set. "And Ms.


    Danielle''s makeup alone will take a good two hours. Since everyone''s just hanging around, why


    don''t we all go grab a drink? Crysti''s treating."


    Crysti fell silent. When did she say that?!


    The weary crew perked up at the promise of free drinks, already buzzing with anticipation. The


    director, seeing the mood, couldn''t disagree. After all, the next scene was all Danielle''s, and they''d


    all be waiting on her makeup anyway.


    "Alright then, thanks in advance, Crysti."d2


    Cheers went up from the crowd, but Danielle''s face turned sour. Two hours of makeup meant she


    wouldn''t start shooting until 8 PM, and wouldn''t be done until after 10 PM. She had just offered to


    treat everyone to dinner as an apology, but clearly, she wouldn''t have time now.


    As the set cleared, leaving behind only her agent, a couple of assistants, and her makeup artists,


    Danielle clenched her fists, her face pale with fury. She knew the goings-on at the set even when


    she wasn''t there. She had nned just to show up this afternoon, not to get into makeup or act.


    Crysti, practicing all afternoon, wanted to seize the moment to shine, but it wasn''t going to be that


    easy, not with Cicely as her agent.


    Just for the p that Cicely had delivered and the repeated humiliations that followed, Danielle


    couldn''t act as if nothing had happened.


    Danielle had wanted to provoke Cicely by mentioning Seth''s indulgence and protection, but Cicely


    seemed unfazed.


    Cicely had ordered a bunch of drinks and snacks in Crysti''s name, but she didn''t stick around to


    indulge. With a day''s paycheck in hand, she still had time to earn extra money. She could thank


    Danielle for acting the diva.


    She was off to No. 8 Mansion. Later that evening, she returned to the hotel booked by the crew.


    The next day was business as usual on set, but Danielle was visibly upset, asionally erupting in


    a low cough. With no scenes of her own, Crysti spent the day practicing. After lunch, Danielle''s


    assistant came running, saying Danielle had caught a cold from workingte on the chilly mountain


    and had to go down to the hospital for IV treatment. The afternoon and evening shoots were


    canceled.


    Cicely nced at Crysti, who was also losing her temper, and smirked as she looked over at the


    director, whose face had soured further. Clearly, the director was at a loss with Danielle. This wasn''t


    a request for leave; it was an announcement, implying consent wasn''t optional.


    Closing her game app, Cicely stood and smoothed her hair. "Shall I take Crysti and head out?"


    What else could the director say?


    On the drive back to the city, even Crysti''s usual patience was tested, and she couldn''t help but


    swear. "She’s just relying on her connections, and tantly throwing her weight around. Isn''t she


    taking things too far?"


    Cicely chuckled, "Isn''t it a waste of resources not to y the diva when you''ve got the clout? You


    should do it too."


    Crysti took a deep breath, "That would drive the director insane. Besides, I just want to act, not get


    caught up in petty fights. It''s harmful all around."


    Laughing, Cicely teased, "Look how sensible you are. But I don''t like you being like this. It''s too


    tiring."


    Crysti was speechless, "Why don''t you just find a job where you can make money lying down?"


    "Is there one?"


    Crysti was speechless. Cicely was actually serious!


    Back in the city, as usual, it was No. 8 Mansion for Cicely.


    Danielle didn''t return to the set the next day, and Cicely lingered in No. 8 Mansion.


    On the third day, Chloe called directly. "Why aren''t you on set?"


    Cicely shrugged, "Ms. Danielle is under the weather, and Crysti has no scenes."


    d in a radiation suit gifted by Damon, Chloe sat at theputer, smirking at the trending topics


    on the screen. "That serious? Hospitalized?"


    Cicely scoffed, "Can''t she be a delicate flower?"


    "Sure, but who''s she being delicate for?"


    Cicely was silent.


    Leaning back in her chair, Chloe gently caressed her belly, a faint smile ying on her lips. "I have


    a little mischief for you."


    Cicely arched an eyebrow, "Isn''t it better to use that time to make money?"


    "If Crysti''s poprity rises, a one percent bonus for the uing magazine shoots and


    endorsements."


    "Deal."


    Chloe chuckled softly as she hung up, receiving Cicely’s prompt agreement.


    The next day, with media attention fixed on her, Danielle made a hurried exit from the hospital, full of


    remorse for the dys she had caused. On camera, she expressed her guilt for the inconvenience.


    Arriving on set, Danielle was made up and ready, but Crysti was nowhere to be seen. Her assistant


    whispered that Crysti was feeling unwell and hadn''te. A crease formed in Danielle''s brow. "So


    I''ve been made up for nothing?"


    The assistant was at a loss.


    After a moment''s thought, Danielle said, "Get me my phone." She spoke with her agent, and within


    minutes of hanging up, the headlines were zing across the inte.


    "Danielle Got Stood Up"


    "Crysti ys Diva"


    The top two trending stories were a cascade of one-sidedments.


    Danielle''s illness had caused a dy, and now she was seemingly being retaliated against by


    Crysti, who supposedly stood her up on purpose. With a few pictures of Danielle applying makeup


    looking like death warmed over, and her standing lost on set like a deer in headlights, the rumors


    were swirling.


    The word on the street was that Crysti, though not famous, sure knew how to stir the pot. Despite


    Crysti came from a wealthy family, the fanbase didn''t give a hoot about it. The insults thrown her


    way were as vile as theye.


    The assistant, grinning ear to ear, was hugging her smartphone, watching the online drama unfold


    with glee, eagerly updating Danielle on thetest developments, but within minutes, the call from


    their agent came in.


    The assistant quickly answered, "Hello."


    "Who put us at the top of the trending list?" The agent''s voice was stern.


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    "Uh?" The assistant was baffled for a moment, "Wasn''t it you?"


    There was a pause on the other end, "No, it wasn''t. Something''s off."