Chapter 2106


    Chloe had a way about her, an undeniable maism. Nathan trusted her implicitly, enough to


    leave his own kin in her care without a second thought. Rose was on the horn every other day,


    fussing abouting to see her. Cicely didn''t even bother heading home after Seth took off. She


    picked up Hugo from school and made a beeline for the Harper household.


    The house was bustling with activity. Hugo and Anya, in their soft and clean pajamas, were ying


    around with Little Sun and Little Moon.


    Cicely, hugging a throw pillow, loungedfortably on the plush sofa in the home theater, with a


    half-eaten fruit bowl nestled in herp.


    "All in all, not too shabby." After finishing the movie, Cicelyzily gave Chloe the long-awaited


    review.


    Chloe chuckled, "This flick''s been pegged for a few awards. Crysti''s likely to nab Best Supporting


    Actress."


    "Shouldn''t be a problem. Crysti''s performance really sparkles. But the lead actress is a bit off the


    mark."d2


    While Cicely wasn''t a film buff, she had an audience''s intuition for when empathy fell short, turning


    scenes cringe-worthy and breaking the spell.


    Chloe pursed her lips, "We did cut some key scenes from the lead. You''re spot on. The footage just


    didn''t work."


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Cicely nced at the lead actress on the screen and snorted softly, "Compared to other flicks this


    year, she''s riding her luck. Dodged a bullet there."


    Chloe nced at Cicely strangely, hesitating as if she wanted to say something but held back.


    Cicely arched an eyebrow, "What’s that look?"


    "The entertainment biz thrives on gossip and journalists stirring the pot. If you''ve got doubts, best


    clear them up with Seth directly. Don''t let outsiders brew unnecessary misunderstandings."


    Cicely let out a soft chuckle, "What misunderstandings could possibly be unnecessary?"


    Chloe watched Cicely for a moment, her fingers brushing her brow, then pointed to the woman on


    the screen, "Xenia, Wave Entertainment''s rising star fromst year."


    "Mhm," Cicely hummedzily, a veil of lethargy in her gaze, "Danielle''s heir in many ways."


    Chloe''s delicate brow twitched subtly, a fleeting glint in her eyes.


    Yulia, observing this, quietly turned away her gaze. Though brief, Yulia sensed that Chloe had


    something on her mind.


    The next day.


    Cicely, descending the stairs after waking up, paused at the sight of another woman in the living


    room. She leaned on the banister with azy smirk, "Am I mistaken about your hubby, Mr. Harper?


    He''s quite the host, isn''t he?" The man seemed jealous to the point of not distinguishing between


    genders. Could he really allow Chloe to be so weing?


    The visitors were indeed a constant stream.


    Crysti coughed discreetly, "As if you''re not the one squatting here while he''s away."


    Cicely tilted her head, pondering. Yeah, fair point.


    A maid swiftly prepared breakfast, and Cicely took a seat on the sofa. "Aren''t you busy


    skyrocketing? What brings you here?"


    Crysti inhaled deeply, then suppressed it, "I was up for a role recently but got sniped midway. I''m


    here to see if Chloe might have some wiggle room for me."


    Cicelyughed softly, "Who''s bold enough topete with our mighty CEO Chloe for resources?"


    At this, even Crysti''s good temper frayed, "Xenia, your artist."


    Chloe remained silent, her lips curling into a subtle smile as she sipped water, her gaze veiled.


    Crysti continued, incensed, "I barely interacted with her on set, and now she''s clearly targeting me.


    The role I had was minor; what interest could she have in it, given her status?"


    Taking a sip, Crysti spected, "With a new film to promote, we''re ted for a variety show. Who


    knows what petty moves she''ll pull?"


    "And what''s with your husband''s taste? There were plenty of gorgeous, talented actresses out


    there, so why pick another drama queen?"


    The emphasis on "another" was shrewd.


    Cicelyughed coldly, "Who knows? Maybe he finds drama more entertaining."


    Crysti shivered discreetly and snuck a nce at Chloe. Crysti wondered if she had gone too far.


    Chloe set down her ss and mused, "Here''s what we''ll do. I''ll call Noah and let him know that I''ll


    join you on the variety show tomorrow."


    Crysti''s eyes brightened.


    The show, a hot ticket produced by Noah''s HC Television, was a major draw. With Noah''s clout and


    connections, his favors were sought after as much as Chloe’s and Seth''s.


    The show, 1+N, invited guests to bring friends or family for a casual cookout and chat, aiming for


    authenticity and virality. HC Television would ensure star power if needed.


    Though not a celeb, Chloe was a social media titan. Her presence would be a boon for Crysti—and


    a shield against Xenia''s antics.


    "Fantastic. I''m already excited for the air date."


    Chloe smirked at Cicely, "Joining us?"


    Cicely locked eyes with Chloe for a beat, then quirked an eyebrow, "Sure."


    -


    The next day, the financial news buzzed with an imageden alert.


    At the towering skyscraper''s entrance, sleek ck cars lined up, each with two umbre-wielding


    bodyguards escorting someone out.


    The men stood tall and imposing, their faces obscured by the shadows of ck umbres or the


    hulking figures of their bodyguards. d in crisply tailored suits, their perfect proportions exuded an


    air of nobility and power that was palpable.


    The buzz was all about Obsidian Group''stest meeting—it was the talk of the town. Every capitalist


    worth their salt knew the deliberations of these individuals could signal the next big investment


    opportunity.


    The entertainment section of the news had taken to hyping up the usually low-key Seth, painting


    him in grand strokes.


    Where Seth was concerned, there was no escaping the gossip that trailed him in the celebrity world.


    His private life, his stable of artists, his once-favored sweetheart, and now Xenia, thepany''s


    rising star, rumored to have had a fling with him, all made for juicy stories.


    Xenia''s fans wanted their idol to live a life a million times better than their own, fiercely defending


    her from any perceived rival seeking to leech off her fame. They were tant in their desire to see


    Xenia "marry for love," with P City''s golden boy Seth bing her husband.


    And the person involved never came forward to rify the matter. Even when the topic about Seth


    arose, a post closely followed shortly after. It was a photo of Xenia and Seth outside a restaurant.


    It was a time when spring met summer, and Seth''s jacket hung casually over his arm. His ck


    shirt, with the top two buttons undone, revealed a skin slightly paler than that of other men, made


    even more striking by the visible marks that adorned it. It wasn''t hard to imagine the intimate night


    that might have left them.


    Below, Xenia''s fans were in a frenzy.


    Cicely nced at the screen with a hint of disgust at the sight of the countlessments.


    Chloe, who was driving, had seen the notification Cicely was looking at. Seeing Cicely''s reaction,


    she teased, "Jealous much?"


    Cicely let out augh, "If only it had a different ship name, I might have looked a bit longer."


    Chloe was familiar with that ship name.


    -


    Chloe, in a loose-fitting white suit, towered over most, her stride creating a stir wherever she went.


    Cicely, on the other hand, wore a simple whitece dress with a cinched waist, her voluminous hair


    framing a beautiful, fair face half-hidden behind oversized sunsses.


    Upon entering, the staff didn''t dare to neglect them and led them straight to Crysti''s dressing room.


    With some time before the shoot, the staff suggested that Chloe and Crysti take a tour of the set.


    Chloe thought it wise to greet the director personally and took Crysti with her, leaving Cicely who


    couldn''t be bothered to join.


    Shortly after their departure, the dressing room door swung open.


    The neer didn''t recognize Cicely, nor did Cicely recognize her. Assuming Cicely was Crysti''s


    assistant, the woman barely gave her a nce before turning to the staff behind her, "The lights


    around this mirror are working, aren''t they? We''ll take this room. Get Xenia set up here."


    The staff member hesitated, "But this is..."


    "Sorry, we''ll have to switch dressing rooms. The mirror light next door is out."


    The tone was dismissive, belying the courtesy of the words.


    Cicely''s eyes flickered as a familiar figure appeared at the door—her husband''s rumored love


    interest.


    Raising an eyebrow, Cicely stood, her pride palpable as she approached Xenia. She peered closely


    at Xenia through herrge sunsses, and when Xenia''s smile began to falter, Cicely''s lips curled


    into a smirk, her chin tilting up, "Go ahead."


    Her demeanor and tone were almost charitable.


    Xenia''s brow furrowed, but she maintained a polite smile, "Thank you for your generosity. Please


    thank Crysti for me."


    Cicely stepped aside, her gaze amused, "No thanks needed. Our Crysti is a natural beauty, and a


    little touch-up is all she needs. But you—make sure your foundation is wless. If it creases or


    cakes during the show, it''d be embarrassing for you. It would also spoil the show and inconvenience


    others."


    Xenia''s expression turned stormy.


    After Cicely tossed her hair and walked away, Chloe and Crysti arrived to find her casually browsing


    her phone. They had heard about the incident from the staff, and Crysti was trying to contain her


    laughter. "It''s annoying to give up the room, but well done. Just walked into that dressing room, and


    Xenia was already giving her makeup artist an earful about the thick foundation, haha."


    Cicely downyed her role, "Just stating the facts. Her excuse for changing rooms showed some


    self-awareness, didn''t it?"


    Crysti''sughter grew louder.


    —


    The shooting was about to begin, and guests started arriving. The staff efficiently ushered the artists


    out of the dressing rooms and into the waiting area.


    Crysti was very diligent and enthusiastic about her work. When Xenia and her entourage came out,


    Crysti had already been waiting with Chloe and Cicely in front.


    Xenia and her group chatted as they walked, and Cicely raised an eyebrow subtly, a faint trace of


    coldness ying on her slightly curved lips.


    Just as the director signaled for everyone to head out, a sharp p echoed through the area.


    Everyone was taken aback and rushed to the scene.


    Xenia was on the floor, hand to her cheek, looking up at Cicely with eyes that shifted from shock to


    fear to tearful indignation.


    There Cicely was, her light-colored dress bearing arge, brown, liquid stain, and a crumpled paper


    coffee cupy on the floor.


    Chloe draped her jacket over Cicely, casting a cold nce at Xenia. "Every industry has its rules.


    Ambition is one thing, but underhanded tactics are another; as peers, we turn a blind eye. You''re


    just starting out. You''re not at the level where you cansh out without repercussion."


    "You''re just a pawn in someone else''s game. How long have you been in the industry? Do you think


    we''re all blind to your scheming? The only reason we''ve spared you any dignity is because you still


    hold value to yourpany, and that''s the extent of it."


    Xenia felt a shiver run down her spine at Chloe''s icy, blunt words. "I didn''t mean to, it wasn''t on


    purpose."


    Chloe just gave a soft chuckle, "Spare me the sob story, Xenia. I''ve seen more tears than an Oscar


    night."


    "What''s important isn''t whether you did it deliberately or not. It''s about who you''ve crossed." Chloe


    paused, a chill filling her eyes, and her next words fell like ice shards onto Xenia. "You''re in deep


    water now, Xenia."


    Xenia''s face turned ghostly pale.


    Her assistant, jolted back to reality, spoke to Chloe with restrained frustration.


    "Ms. Summers, Xenia is a star at CP Entertainment. Even if she identally crossed you, Mr. Diaz


    wouldn''t let anything happen to her."


    Xenia''s show was gunning for awards, and regardless of anything else, even just for her market


    value, Seth couldn''t afford a scandal.


    But Chloe just smiled, "You should be praying that Seth doesn''t tear her apart."


    Cicely tightened her coat around her and took a couple of steps towards Xenia, looking down at her


    with an air of superiority. "I thought I''d have to work harder to p you with some sense, but here


    we are."


    Xenia froze, not quite understanding.


    Chloe, however, slightly curled her lip with a smirk. This was an unexpected turn.