Rebirth vs. Rebirth Tragedy to Triumph by Violeta and Zelena [[Chapters 571, to 580]] – Daisy Novels  

Chapter 571

Violeta called back.

The phone barely rang before it was answered.

“Hello, Shirley.”

Shirley’s cheerful voice came through the line. “Vio, did I catch you at a bad time? I’m in Quinston and wanted to meet up for a meal, but then Polly mentioned you’re filming in another city.”

Violeta replied, “Yeah, I’m not in Quinston. Just finished filming. Shirley, once I wrap up here, we’ll have plenty of chances to grab a meal. How’s Polly’s situation? Any progress?”

Shirley filled Violeta in on the current status of the investigation.

Violeta felt confident in Shirley’s abilities after all, she was an experienced criminal lawyer.

Shirley said, “I can’t guarantee this will bring Zelena down, but clearing Polly’s name won’t be an issue.”

Zelena wouldn’t be foolish enough to have stolen the necklace herself.

As long as she wasn’t the mastermind, Shirley’s hands were tied.

She could only work within the law and couldn’t twist the facts.

Violeta responded, “I understand. I brought you in to help clear Polly’s name. I have other plans for the rest.

By the way, if you have time, why not go see Zelena? It’s been a while since you two met, right? I wonder if she’d even recognize you.”

Shirley chuckled on the other end. “I will. How could I come back without seeing her?

“Vio, what did you mean by other plans? Do you need my help?”

Aster handed Violeta a thermos, and she took a sip of water.

In a calm tone, Violeta said, “Shirley, you’ve played pool before, right?”

“Pool?”

“The cue ball is the one that strikes the object balls to score points. But if the cue ball sinks into the pocket, it doesn’t count.”

Shirley paused, thinking it over, and seemed to understand something.

“Vio, are you saying that Zelena isn’t your real target?”

If Zelena was the cue ball, then who was the object ball?

It couldn’t be Celeste, could it?

Violeta simply said, “Alright, just focus on clearing Polly’s name.

I need to get back to filming. We’ll talk later.”

Shirley replied, “Okay, I won’t keep you.”

After hanging up, Shirley fell into deep thought.

Violeta always had a plan.

Shirley had assumed that this time, Violeta was going after Zelena.

But from what she hinted at on the phone, it seemed she just wanted to use Zelena as a pawn to strike at someone else.

Who was this person?

Who did the “object ball” she mentioned represent?

Was she planning to use someone else to do the dirty work?

After all these years, she was still just as clever.

Shirley thought about it for a while but couldn’t figure it out, so she let it go.

As night fell, Shirley got in touch with the lawyer Zelena had hired.

The opposing lawyer was defending Celeste, so they had their first round of negotiations with Shirley’s team.

Their objective was clear: they wanted to settle the matter with money.

But Shirley had no intention of settling.

“The damage this has caused my client can’t be measured in monetary terms. We’re not interested in a settlement. See you in court.”

Seeing how resolute Shirley was, the opposing lawyer had no choice but to back down and report back to Zelena.

“She refused to settle? Ha, that’s impossible.”

Zelena couldn’t believe that there was anyone in the world who wouldn’t be tempted by money.

If there was, it just meant the offer wasn’t big enough.

This wasn’t some high-stakes case, after all.

Lawyers take cases to earn their fees, don’t they?

“Did you mention any specific amount?”

“No, I didn’t even get to discuss money before she shut me down.”

Hearing this, Zelena narrowed her eyes.

If this stalemate continued, it would be bad for Celeste, and bad for her as well.

After all, Celeste was her assistant. If something happened to her, it would affect Zelena’s reputation too.

Zelena had no intention of letting public opinion turn against her.

After thinking it over, Zelena decided to meet this lawyer in person.

She asked, “Who is this lawyer?”

“Shirley Tillery.”

When she heard that name, Zelena froze.

Chapter 572

She thought she must have misheard. “Who? Who did you say?”

“Shirley Tillery. A top lawyer at Goldspire Law Associates.”

Zelena never imagined she’d hear that name again.

Shirley? Wasn’t she supposed to be scraping by at the bottom of society?

And now she’s a lawyer?

That wretch is still around-and doing well? Unbelievable.

It must’ve taken years of clawing her way up.

Zelena couldn’t help but find it ironic as she recalled the frail, pitiful girl from their past.

“I need to see her myself.”

Zelena hadn’t planned on getting directly involved, but knowing Shirley was the opposing lawyer sparked her curiosity.

Just how much had Shirley changed?

After all, they were old classmates; there was no harm in a reunion.

The next day, Celeste was released following 24 hours of cooperation with the investigation.

Zelena sent someone to pick her up and then went to meet Shirley in person.

Shirley had anticipated this.

She wasn’t at all surprised when Zelena walked in.

Zelena sat across from Shirley and slowly removed her sunglasses. “It really is you, Shirley.

“Before today, I couldn’t believe it. I thought, how could that pitiful girl who couldn’t even finish school suddenly become a big-shot lawyer? My, my, what a surprise.”

Shirley ignored Zelena’s mocking tone, meeting her gaze with calm resolve before delivering a sharp retort.

“You go by Zelena Blake now? I don’t think we’ve met. I don’t know any celebrity named Zelena Blake. I only remember a little delinquent named Zelena Cooke.”

Zelena Cooke.

The surname from her days with her adoptive father, before she returned to the Blake family.

It had been a long time since anyone called her that.

Shirley didn’t hesitate. “So, are you speaking to me as Zelena Cooke or Zelena Blake?”

Zelena’s hand clenched under the table, but she forced a smile. “You really have changed.”

“Everyone changes,” Shirley replied coolly. “You’ve changed too gotten prettier. Money’s a wonderful thing, isn’t it? But while your looks may have improved, your heart’s still as filthy as ever.”

Zelena’s temper flared.

“You! No wonder you’re a top lawyer-sharp-tongued as always.

I wonder if your clients know who they’ve hired-that their high- powered attorney was once a pathetic little nobody.”

She sneered, expecting to provoke Shirley, to make her lose control.

But Shirley remained unfazed, her voice steady. “Yes, I was poor, pitiful, and bullied. But I never had a black heart.

“As a lawyer, I’ve worked hard to get where I am. My clients are just like I was-troubled, oppressed-and I’m glad I can help them.

“It’s been years since we last met, and I thought you’d have improved your tricks. But you’re still the same-cruel and pathetic.

“I’m not who I used to be, but clearly, you haven’t changed at all.”

With that, Shirley stood up.

“If there’s nothing else, I need to get back to work. I’ve already briefed your lawyer. If you want to defend Celeste, the best place to do that is in court.”

Without waiting for a response, she walked out, not once looking back.

Zelena sat in silence for a moment, then slammed her hand down on the table in frustration.

“Wretch! I should’ve finished you off when I had the chance.”

It was clear Shirley wouldn’t settle.

No matter how much money Zelena threw at the problem, it wouldn’t just disappear.

Later that afternoon, after Celeste was released, Zelena canceled her appointments to meet with her and discuss the case with her lawyer.

“If we go to court, how long will it take?”

“It depends. A typical defamation case might take a month and a half. If there’s theft involved, it could be about five months before trial.”

And that’s if everything went smoothly.

If not, it could drag on even longer.

Lawsuits took time, and public interest wouldn’t last that long.

Zelena had already succeeded in labeling Polly a “thief” in the public eye.

Chapter 573

Now, the priority was to protect Celeste.

Zelena’s eyes narrowed as she made up her mind. “Then we’ll go to court!”

A trial could take six months or even a year.

By the time it was over, who would still remember this?

The label on Polly wouldn’t be so easily removed!

But Zelena had miscalculated.

The next morning, a video of Horace’s apology was posted publicly on Facebook.

He apologized to Polly and admitted that he had been paid to spread defamatory lies about her.

The video sparked a new wave of widespread discussion.

Polly was vindicated.

In the entertainment industry, Zelena wasn’t the only one who knew how to buy trending topics and mobilize online support.

Following Violeta’s advice, Polly also spent money to push the narrative, subtly suggesting that Zelena was the one who had bribed Horace.

Zelena’s assistant being taken into custody became a trending topic, and once again, Zelena’s name hit the top of the search charts.

This time, she wasn’t riding the wave; she was being crushed by it.

Previously, it was Zelena who had sent Polly to the top of the trends, making her the subject of widespread online discussion.

Now, Zelena herself was caught in the storm, becoming a target of public scrutiny.

“Didn’t they say Polly stole Zelena’s necklace? What’s going on with her assistant being arrested? Was it the assistant who stole it?”

“Oh my god, could it be that Zelena tried to frame Polly and then paid someone on Facebook to falsely accuse her? What kind of grudge is this?”

“Wow, I didn’t see that twist coming!”

“Honestly, it feels like everyone in the entertainment industry has a hundred hidden agendas.”

Zelena was deeply affected.

She even started losing followers on Facebook.

After all, if it was all lies, who was really innocent?

Besides, Celeste had indeed been taken in by the police-so it wasn’t exactly false information, was it? Ha.

The flames that had started as a small spark now scorched Zelena, burning her to the point where she finally felt the pain.

Zelena urgently instructed Clifford to have someone draft a clarification statement.

But this wasn’t an easy statement to write, considering that Celeste had actually been taken in by the police.

Many people at the company had seen it happen.

So, the clarification statement ended up vaguely stating that the incident had nothing to do with Zelena personally.

Bots flooded Facebook with comments.

“If it has nothing to do with Zelena, then it must have something to do with her assistant, right?”

“Never thought I’d see the day when the thief cries… ‘Stop, thief!””

“Why would anyone want to frame Polly?”

“This is so messed up-trying to ruin Polly’s career by falsely accusing her!”

The online drama was a source of entertainment for the public.

Zelena’s fans still didn’t want to believe she was that kind of person, so they continued to defend her on Facebook.

But the situation was growing increasingly dire for Zelena, and she couldn’t help but start to panic.

Clifford suggested, “Right now, our best hope is for Polly to come forward and help clear your-.”

Before he could finish, Zelena cut him off.

“She’s not going to do that.”

Clifford continued, “Then we can only hope for an even bigger scandal to break and distract people from this.”

A bigger scandal?

That reminded Zelena of something.

She just so happened to have an even bigger bombshell up her sleeve.

It might be time to use it.

But before she did, she wanted to reach out to the other party involved, after all, they had known each other for years.

The drama on Facebook had become common knowledge, and even those far from the action were following along.

Hattie, who was filming in Icroln, was one of those spectators.

No one in the industry really knew what had sparked the feud between Zelena and Polly.

The two didn’t have any known history of bad blood.

But Hattie had a pretty good idea.

Last year, Polly had worked with Nolan on a reality show, and even now, some fans were still shipping them and discussing their chemistry online.

Nolan had been in the industry for years, and there were only a handful of actresses he had been romantically linked with.

Besides Polly, the only other woman who had been labeled as Nolan’s “rumored girlfriend” was Zelena, and that was thanks to a fleeting glance Nolan had given someone at an awards show when he won Best Actor a few years ago.

To this day, no one knows who Nolan had really been looking at that night, but Zelena had capitalized on that moment to earn the title.

Hattie was one of the few who knew the real reason Zelena had started this feud with Polly.

Chapter 574

Because they were rivals in love-and because of Zelena’s jealousy.

Now that things had blown up, Zelena was getting what she deserved, hoisted by her own petard.

Hattie couldn’t wait to see how Zelena would manage to clean up this mess!

The thought of Zelena’s downfall filled Hattie with satisfaction.

This wretched woman was finally getting the ending she deserved.

In contrast to Zelena’s predicament, Hattie was riding high.

In her career, she was filming her very first movie, and she was working with none other than Nolan.

This film had award potential, and there was a chance she could become the next big actress in the industry!

In her love life, Harvey was treating her like a queen, and their relationship was going wonderfully.

Even Hannah was rooting for them, practically already considering Harvey her son-in-law.

They were planning to go on a two-month trip abroad together as soon as Hattie finished filming.

Success in both career and love-she was on top of the world.

But then, Zelena showed up unannounced on set, catching Hattie completely off guard.

In the actors’ lounge, Hattie walked in after hearing the news and saw Zelena casually sitting on the sofa, sipping water.

“Zelena? What are you doing here?”

Hattie was still in her costume from the shoot, and she only had a ten-minute break.

She had been reviewing footage with the director when her assistant informed her that Zelena had come to visit and was waiting in the lounge.

Hattie felt an uneasy twinge and wasted no time heading over.

Their relationship had been over for a long time-they weren’t even friends anymore!

Given that Zelena was currently caught in a scandal, her visit was definitely not out of goodwill.

Zelena set down her water glass and smiled faintly. “You’re here.”

Hattie approached, her expression clearly showing she wasn’t happy to see her. “What do you want?”

Zelena replied, “You’re not very welcoming, are you? I came all the way here just to visit you.”

Hattie crossed her arms. “Ha, others might not know you, but I do. Cut the act and tell me what you’re really after.”

“I’m here to-“

“Whatever it is, say it and then leave. You’re not welcome here.”

Hattie cut her off, rudely telling her to go.

At the last event, Hattie’s dress had been ruined, thanks to Zelena.

She’d spent a lot of time afterward repairing her relationship with the brand, sending gifts just to smooth things over.

Otherwise, she could kiss any future high-fashion collaborations goodbye.

Hattie hadn’t even gotten the chance to settle that score with Zelena, and now here she was, showing up on her own.

If Zelena was here to ask for a favor, Hattie was going to make sure to laugh in her face before kicking her out.

Zelena sighed.

“Hattie, how could you think that of me? Do you really believe I’m here just to ask for your help? Can’t I simply visit you for old times’ sake? After all, we’ve known each other for years.”

A mocking smile spread across Hattie’s face. “Zelena, what nonsense are you spouting?

“Old times? When you sabotaged my dress, did you think about our so-called friendship then? And now you’re trying to play the friendship card? It’s too late for that!”

Zelena replied, “Sabotaged your dress? Hattie, that was just my counterattack. I’ve never started anything against you.”

Counterattack?

Hattie didn’t quite understand what she was hearing.

What did Zelena mean by her “counterattack”?

Hattie had never intentionally targeted Zelena. Sure, their teams competed for brands and resources behind the scenes, but Hattie had never openly plotted against her.

Hattie narrowed her eyes. Was Zelena trying to pin something on me?

Zelena continued, “The Ophelia dress incident you’ve already forgotten?”

Now Hattie was even more confused.

What did Ophelia’s outfit have to do with me?

Hattie started to say, “You think I—”

But Zelena waved her off.

“Never mind, it’s not worth arguing about. Let’s just say we’re even.

“I came here today to show you something.”

Zelena pulled a stack of photos out of her bag and placed them on the table.

These photos were the ones Zelena had taken of Hattie and

Alaric is in the underground parking garage.

合

Chapter 575

Zelena had considered playing this card before but had held back.

This time, she was ready to use it to save herself from the mess she was in.

When Hattie saw the photos on the table, her expression

changed instantly. She strode forward and snatched them up to take a closer look.

The more she looked, the paler her face became.

“Where did you get these photos!?”

Zelena replied leisurely, “I took them.”

Hattie furiously flung the photos at Zelena’s face. The pictures scattered through the air, and a few strands of hair fell across Zelena’s forehead.

“You wretch, you were following me?”

Zelena closed her eyes briefly but kept her expression calm.

She reached out and picked up one of the photos that had landed on her lap, a slight smile playing on her lips.

She looked at Hattie, her voice cold. “I wasn’t following you. I just happened to see Alaric picking you up in the parking garage after that brand event, so I snapped a few shots.”

Hattie clenched her fists, her eyes widening as if she was ready to tear Zelena apart. She lowered her voice, but her anger was barely contained. “What are you trying to do? Alaric has already left the industry. Are you trying to blackmail me with these?”

The scandal involving Alaric had blown over when he left the public eye.

Hattie had never imagined that Zelena had kept this in reserve!

Zelena said calmly, “You’ve got it wrong. I’m not trying to blackmail you, I’m here to make a deal.”

Hattie was puzzled.

Zelena stood up from the sofa and spoke clearly. “You’ve probably seen the latest trending topics on Facebook. I need a bigger scandal to overshadow mine.”

Hattie said, “You want to use-“

Zelena interrupted, “Yes, just like you taught me, remember? The campus competition.”

Back then, when Zelena was disqualified from a competition, it was Hattie who had taught her to use a bigger scandal to cover up her own.

It was bitterly ironic to have that advice thrown back in her face now.

If Hattie had known things would turn out like this, she would never have helped Zelena back then!

Hattie’s face was almost cracking with anger as she gritted her teeth.

“What exactly do you want?”

“You figure it out.

“I’m giving you the control. You come up with a scandal to help me.

“After all, we’ve known each other for years. If I were the one to leak something, wouldn’t that seem a bit too cruel?

“You must have plenty of juicy secrets, right?

“Alaric’s mistress? Or the illegitimate daughter of the Ridges? Neither of those would be great for you. A single call to the media, and you’d be the one under fire.”

Zelena’s tone was calm, but her words were chilling.

Hattie’s shoulders trembled slightly.

Zelena took a step closer and patted Hattie’s shoulder. “Alright, take your time and think about it. But not too much time I can only give you one day. I’ll be waiting for your good news.”

Zelena left the lounge.

Inside, there was the sound of a cup shattering on the floor, but Zelena didn’t look back.

As she passed through the set, Zelena paused and looked over toward the director’s tent on the outskirts of the shoot.

The director was talking to Nolan in that spot.

Nolan, dressed in a brown plaid shirt and worn-out jeans, had a slightly rebellious look. His longer hair nearly covered his eyes, and his profile was striking, with a high nose and sharp features.

Zelena’s gaze lingered on Nolan, perhaps too obviously.

Nolan turned and met her eyes.

Zelena couldn’t manage a real smile, but she forced a stiff one at him. Nolan gave her a polite nod before turning back to his conversation with the director.

Zelena turned away and walked slowly toward the exit.

This path was getting harder and harder.

For some reason, she felt like she and Nolan were drifting farther apart.

Maybe some things just weren’t meant to be.

As Zelena left, a crew member on set pulled out his phone and made a call.

“Hello, Mr. Scott? Zelena just left.”

Moments later, Eugene sent a text to Violeta.

After Violeta finished filming a scene, she saw Eugene’s message and made a call.

The phone rang a few times before it was answered.

Violeta spoke, “Mrs. Ridge, it’s me. The plan worked. You can move forward now.”

Chapter 576

On the other end of the line was Liam’s mother, Amber.

“Vio, thank you,” Amber said.

Violeta replied, “No need to thank me, Mrs. Ridge. I’m glad I could help. Let’s proceed according to plan.”

Amber was deeply grateful to Violeta. “Alright. I know you’re busy, but when you have time, come over to the house. I’ll make sure to treat you well.”

After they hung up, Violeta set her phone down and looked into the distance.

Her eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and a bright spark flickered in her eyes.

This plan had been in motion for over a year.

It all started when Benson returned from abroad and joined Ridge Group.

As the matriarch of the Ridge family, Amber couldn’t openly confront this brother-and-sister duo without risking public scrutiny.

Hattie and Benson had been accepted by Carl, and, officially, they had to call Amber “Mom.”

For the sake of the Ridge family’s reputation and her own position, Amber had no choice but to tolerate them, even though she saw them as a thorn in her side.

If Carl’s mother found out about any hostility, it would only lead to more arguments.

Amber also understood human nature well.

If she went after Hattie and Benson directly, it would only strain her relationship with Carl further.

It might even backfire and drag Liam into the mess, further fueling Carl’s sympathy for the siblings and making him even more inclined to favor them.

Hannah, that seductress, was always ready to capitalize on any rift between Amber and Carl.

Amber was in a difficult position.

What good is an unfaithful husband?

But divorce in middle age is no simple matter, especially with the complex web of interests tied to Ridge Group.

So, Amber wasn’t planning on divorcing Carl.

She had to secure the future for Liam and ensure he got what he deserved.

Besides, leaving would only play right into Hannah’s hands.

As long as Amber was alive, Hannah would never be allowed into the Ridge family, nor would she ever have the chance to get her name on Carl’s household registry.

Hannah would forever be the scorned mistress, unworthy of sitting at the family table.

After weighing her options, Amber ultimately reached out to Violeta.

Amber wanted Violeta to help her take down Hattie.

Without Hattie’s support, Benson wouldn’t stand a chance and would be overshadowed by Liam for the rest of his life.

Amber and Irene had been close friends for many years.

Helping Amber was a huge favor for Violeta.

Violeta had already planned to get back at Hattie, so if she could do that while earning Amber’s gratitude, why not?

So, the two quickly came to an agreement.

Violeta would craft the plan, and Amber would simply need to cooperate and give it a little push at the right moments.

Harvey’s appearance was a stroke of luck, a gift from the heavens for them!

Violeta shared the flawless plan with Amber.

Amber, in turn, provided Violeta with a crucial piece of information: Zelena had evidence of Hattie being with Alaric!

Although Amber couldn’t openly go after Hattie, nothing Hattie did in the entertainment industry escaped her notice.

Amber knew about Hattie and Alaric’s relationship.

When Amber’s people were keeping an eye on Hattie, they happened to witness Zelena taking pictures of her and Alaric in an underground parking garage.

After learning this, Violeta remarked how perfect the situation was!

Dealing with Hattie wouldn’t require them to get directly involved; they only needed to guide things in the right direction.

Just as Violeta had previously guided Zelena and Hattie into becoming enemies.

So, Violeta adjusted the plan slightly and strategically nudged things along at every twist and turn, easily directing Zelena’s anger toward Hattie.

Now, Hattie’s downfall was inevitable.

She was caught in a trap she couldn’t escape.

Amber followed Violeta’s plan to the letter.

She flew all the way to Icroln under the pretense of attending an art exhibit, but her real purpose was to set the plan in motion.

The news of Amber’s visit to the exhibit was deliberately leaked to Hattie.

As Amber is her “stepmother,” Hattie would be expected to meet with her in the evening; anything less would be considered disrespectful.

✩

Chapter 577

Hattie was already feeling upset, and when she heard that Amber had come to Icroln, her mood worsened. She had no intention of hiding her displeasure and vented her frustration openly to Harvey.

“That old h*g has never liked me. At all times, she chooses now to come! She’s just here to make my life miserable!”

When Harvey heard that Amber had arrived, he quickly saw an opportunity. What better chance to meet the family?

He immediately suggested joining Hattie to meet Amber that evening.

“Hattie, don’t worry. I’ll go with you to see her. She won’t give you a hard time.”

Hattie looked at him skeptically. “You want to come with me? Ugh, this is such a headache. She’ll probably give you the cold shoulder too. Every time she sees me, she acts like I owe her a fortune.”

“Why would she do that? Trust me, Hattie, she won’t treat me that way. After all, I’m not exactly a nobody.”

Harvey’s words made Hattie think.

Right, Harvey had international connections. If she brought him along to meet Amber, Amber might be more cautious about how she treated her. She’d have to take Harvey into account.

“Alright, Harvey, you can come with me tonight.”

Harvey smiled with satisfaction, wrapping an arm around Hattie’s shoulder. “Hattie, trust me. I’ll take good care of you. I love you so much.”

That evening, Amber waited for Hattie to arrive.

When Hattie showed up with Harvey, Amber’s eyes quickly sized him up.

Violeta’s words echoed in her mind. Harvey might have foreign connections, but his company was on the verge of bankruptcy.

He was just looking for someone to bail him out.

A man searching for a scapegoat and a woman trying to snag a wealthy husband, what a perfect match.

A hint of mockery flickered in Amber’s eyes.

She cleared her throat and asked, “Hattie, who is this?”

Hattie replied, “Mom, this is Harvey Webb, my boyfriend. He’s a businessman overseas.”

Amber responded, “Oh, really? Harvey? Have a seat.”

Hattie noticed that Amber’s tone was indeed more relaxed than usual.

She felt a surge of joy, thinking that Amber must be wary of Harvey’s status.

Ha, Amber must be worried that having Harvey as my boyfriend would give Benson an edge, threatening Liam’s position.

Hattie suppressed the smile threatening to spread across her face, feeling even more pleased with Harvey.

Harvey was an incredibly skilled con artist. Although Amber had seen through him, she couldn’t help but admire how well he played his part.

No wonder even Hannah, that money-obsessed woman, had fallen for his tricks.

Amber continued to chat with them casually for a while.

All three of them were playing their roles: Harvey was pretending to be a wealthy and influential man, Hattie was feeling smug but trying not to show it too much, and Amber was putting on a show of being wary of Harvey.

As they were about to leave, Hattie was inwardly thrilled.

“It’s getting late, Mom. We’ll head out now,” she said.

Amber took a sip of water and asked casually, “Hattie, you two aren’t thinking about getting married, are you?”

Hattie froze for a moment.

Harvey’s expression also stiffened slightly.

They were both surprised this wasn’t something they had expected Amber to say.

Amber glanced at them and suddenly smiled. “Oh, I was just saying. It seems you haven’t thought about marriage yet. That’s probably for the best. After all, Hattie, you’re still young, you can enjoy life a bit longer. Haha, go get some rest.”

Hattie suddenly felt a surge of defiance.

She sensed a strong undertone of disdain in Amber’s words.

Did Amber think Harvey would never marry me?

Did she really look down on me that much!?

“Why not get married? Harvey treats me very well. If two people are compatible, marriage is perfectly normal, right? Harvey, haven’t you thought about marrying me?”

Harvey quickly replied, “Of course, I’ve definitely thought about it.”

Hattie added, “See? He’s planning to marry me. Mom, you don’t need to worry about these things. We’ll be going now!”

With that, Hattie pulled Harvey along and left.

Amber watched them walk away, her gaze shifting to one of pity mixed with a touch of mockery.

Chapter 578

She was deceived, yet she still had the nerve to show off her love?

Did they even know what love was?

Does the girl Hannah gave birth to even deserve love?

As they left the hotel, Hattie vented her anger in the car.

“She did that on purpose. She thinks I’m not good enough for you. She thinks you’ll never marry me.”

Harvey gently put his arm around Hattie’s shoulder and said, “Hattie, that’s not true. Wasn’t your mother just fine before?”

Hattie snapped, “Don’t call her my mother! She’s just an old hag. My mom is Hannah! She looks down on me. Harvey, we’re going to get married, right?”

Married?

Harvey was all for it!

“Of course, I’m definitely going to marry you.”

Hearing Harvey’s firm words, Hattie felt much more at ease.

But it didn’t take long for her to get restless again.

They might have dealt with the old h*g, but there was still the Zelena mess to handle!

Zelena only gave her a day, but Hattie still hadn’t come up with a plan to distract from all the attention Zelena was getting.

She grabbed her phone and dialed Hannah to ask for her advice.

But just as the call went through, a lightbulb went off in Hattie’s head; she’d just thought of the perfect way to steal the spotlight!

That d*mn old hag thinks Harvey won’t marry me, right?

Well, what if we suddenly announced our engagement? That would be the hottest news on the internet!

And it’d be the perfect way to put that old h*g in her place!

Hattie’s smile widened as she hung up the phone. “This is great! I’ve got an idea!”

At that moment, Hattie thought she had come up with a brilliant plan.

Little did she know, it was actually a trap set up by Violeta and Amber, just waiting for her to fall into it.

The next morning, an unexpected trendy search suddenly took over the top of the charts.

“Hattie Announces Engagement.”

As a popular star in the spotlight with millions of fans, Hattie was at the peak of her fame.

And now she’s even working with Nolan on a movie called The Silent Whisper.

As soon as this news broke, it completely overshadowed the story about Zelena’s assistant supposedly stealing jewelry.

This was way bigger news-way more explosive than the whole assistant theft scandal!

Hattie’s Twitter post showed off her and Harvey’s photos together, plus their couple’s rings.

The fans were going wild in the comments section.

“Whoa, seriously?”

“What’s happening? You just announced this out of the blue?”

“Is this guy not from the industry? When did this happen? Ahhhh!”

Hattie’s engagement announcement caused a big stir, but it also made her lose some fans.

A few of her career-focused followers were disappointed.

“Seriously, you’re at the peak of your career, and you announce your engagement? It’s like you don’t care about your work. Unfollowing, bye.”

“Such a love-struck mentality. So speechless…”

“Getting engaged so young when you have so much potential? Not sure what to say. Guess I can only wish you happiness. Goodbye.”

“She didn’t really have any big hits to start with. She just started gaining some popularity with Firelight, and now she’s pulling this? Plus, she was already involved in that Alaric romance drama. Totally lost interest. Unfollowing.”

“From the looks of this guy, he seems like a ruthless man. Hope he’s not a jerk. Announcing a relationship is one thing, but getting engaged? That’s a whole other level.”

Even though she lost a few fans, Hattie didn’t really care about the small drop.

The huge buzz from her announcement kept her popularity soaring high.

At the same time, Zelena’s team made sure to push the theft scandal out of the spotlight, taking Zelena out of the media storm.

Hattie, on the other hand, was deeply caught up in it all.

Zelena hadn’t expected Hattie to use this method to make headlines-talk about being determined. But who was the man she’s engaged to?

It didn’t take long for netizens to dig up information about Harvey being a CEO and wasn’t someone from the industry.

A female star with a CEO?

On the surface, it seems like a perfect match, or at least gives off a very glamorous vibe.

Some netizens had their say.

Chapter 579

“Female star and CEO, this is straight out of a romance novel.”

“Plus, Hattie is at the top of her career right now. Announcing her engagement so boldly takes some courage. She must really be into this guy.”

“If the dude wasn’t good to Hattie, she probably wouldn’t have made their relationship public, right?”

“Everyone has the right to choose who they love. It’s not like being in a relationship makes someone a love-struck fool, you know? Some people in the comments just can’t stand to see others happy.”

Online comments were mixed.

Some people were supportive, while others were critical.

This just made Hattie even more determined. She figured that the people criticizing her under the guise of “looking out for her” were really just jealous haters who didn’t want to see her happy or successful.

She decided to stand up for her love.

So, in the middle of the night, she posted another photo of herself with Harvey.

What Hattie didn’t realize was that her move only made Harvey think he had her completely wrapped around his finger.

Making such a big deal out of their public relationship meant that if things didn’t end well, it’d be a mess to handle!

Hattie’s choice to announce their relationship unsettled their family.

Amber watched the drama unfold with a cold, indifferent attitude, while Carl was irritated.

Hattie was still part of the Ridge family, and yet she made such a big decision without even talking it over with them.

And who was this Harvey guy anyway?

Did he even have the right to be the Ridge family’s son-in-law?

The Ridges weren’t just a family; anyone used to climb the social ladder!

In the morning, Carl lost it and called Hannah, berating her for raising such a daughter. He complained that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree!

When Hannah received the call early in the morning, she thought that Carl was coming to Harbor City to see her, but she was scolded right from the start.

She was feeling frustrated and didn’t know how to respond.

Even though Hannah was okay with Harvey, she was furious that Hattie made such a huge announcement without even consulting her.

So, Hannah, still furious, picked up the phone and called Hattie.

“You made such a big decision and didn’t even talk to me about it? Do you still consider me your mother?”

“Mom, you were fine with Harvey, right? Yesterday, I took him to meet that old hag, and she made fun of me, saying Harvey would never marry me. That’s why I just went ahead and announced it.”

Hannah said, “So you’re acting on impulse! After more than twenty years, you still can’t use your brain. You think it’s okay to make decisions like this? Your Dad knows about it now, and if he doesn’t approve, have you even thought about what you’ll do?”

Hattie replied, “What can I do? If it comes down to it, we can just have a quick wedding. The announcement’s already been made. Besides, Harvey isn’t a bad guy. He treats me well and could also help my brother in the future.”

Hearing Hattie’s childish response, Hannah closed her eyes in frustration.

She felt like everything was getting out of control.

The situation had veered far off the course she had set.

Now, she found herself powerless to change things.

All she could do was hope that Carl wouldn’t get dragged into this mess.

However, if Harvey really loved Hattie, and they did end up getting married, his support might calm Carl down eventually. He’d probably be mad for a bit, but it wouldn’t last for long.

Hannah said, “You know your dad’s temper. Find some time to go home and apologize to him. Now that things are already like this, you need to hold on tight to Harvey. Don’t let a sure thing slip away!”

Hattie said, “Got it, Mom. He can’t do without me now.”

Hannah said, “I hope that’s the case.”

With the Ridges’ internal conflicts, Violeta had done all she could.

Now it was up to Amber.

But Amber probably knew what needed to be done. All that was left was to let Hattie and Harvey get married and watch her dig her own grave.

Hattie’s trendy search on Twitter stayed up for four days before being replaced by the release of Ophelia’s new drama.

Recently, another noteworthy event in the entertainment industry was the rise of actress Callie.

Her new drama, Burning Skies, had announced her as the female lead.

Since the airing of Spring in Moon City, the actors who gained the most followers were male lead Nolan and female lead Violeta, with Callie also seeing a significant increase in followers as the third female lead.

Chapter 580

It was all thanks to Zelena. If Zelena hadn’t given up her role, Callie’s rise would have been delayed by two or three years, even if she eventually made it big.

Callie had already made a mark in several film and television works before this. Although her roles were limited, her exceptional acting skills left a lasting impression on the audience.

Years of hard work finally paid off. Callie hit it big with her role as Emily Cantrell, the third female lead!

After years of taking small parts, she finally made it to the top.

She landed the lead role in the new drama “Burning Skies.”

And Violeta’s help to Amber wasn’t for nothing.

Amber had a cousin who ran a high-end perfume brand in Northern Orion, called Eau Amore.

As a luxury brand in the perfume industry, Eau Amore had never used a spokesperson and had no interest in doing so.

Because their target audience wasn’t the general public but rather the elite, wealthy class.

Perfume could last a long time if kept properly.

Some old bottles still sold for millions at auction, even hitting over a hundred million.

Eau Amore wasn’t a commercial fragrance but an artisan one, so it didn’t need to be super famous and had never used a spokesperson.

A few years back, Eau Amore released a perfume called Bamboo Eau de Parfum.

It was still super hard to find on the second-hand market, and prices had gone through the roof.

One bottle cost almost as much as a down payment on a house in a small regional city, and it was probably going to keep increasing.

For Kaylee’s birthday, Violeta gave her a bottle of Bamboo Eau de Parfum. Kaylee was so reluctant to use it that she was just storing it safely.

Violeta had done Amber a favor, so Amber wanted to repay the favor.

She strongly recommended that her cousin make Violeta the first global spokesperson for their brand.

Clara, her cousin, had been super close with Amber since they were kids–they were so close that they practically grew up sharing everything.

Even though Clara wasn’t the founder of Eau Amore, she was the Chief Perfumer and had a significant influence on the company.

Amber was so eager to push for Violeta that it almost made Clara wonder if Violeta was being considered as a future daughter-in-law.

On the phone, Clara joked, “With all this praise about Violeta, should I start thinking of her as my future niece-in-law?”

Amber said, “No, I’m not thinking of that. I just want to repay Violeta for all she’s done for me. The only way I can do that is by asking you to step in.”

Clara replied, “Oh? With such high praise, now I’m really interested. Actually, I need to go back to Chesia next week to pick up some essential oils in person, so it’s perfect timing.”

A few days later, the news that Eau Amore was looking for a spokesperson spread like wildfire through the fashion world.

Anyone who knew anything about fashion knew about Eau Amore’s prestigious status in the perfume industry.

The fact that Eau Amore, which had never used a spokesperson before, was now seeking one was a huge deal!

Such an honor was sought after not just by the entertainment industry in Chesia but by top-tier global celebrities as well.

And the even better news was soon followed.

Rumors started circulating that Clara, the chief perfumer, would personally arrive in Chesia next week.

There was a strong possibility she’d be here to select the spokesperson.

If an artist from the Chesian entertainment industry caught Clara’s eye and became the first-ever spokesperson for Eau Amore, their fame would skyrocket globally and easily boost their international profile.

Their status would shoot up overnight.

This wouldn’t just be hitting the jackpot-it’d be like winning the cosmic lottery, practically making them the favorite of fate!

It wasn’t just actors and celebrities eyeing the Eau Amore spokesperson spot, even top supermodels from the fashion. world were also interested.

Supermodels always had great fashion connections. Their style and fame made it easier for them to break into the international market. So, it wasn’t a surprise they were interested.

No one wanted to miss out on this golden opportunity, so many entertainment companies were scrambling to gather profiles of their top-tier artists, ready to send them over for Clara to review at any moment.

Easier said than done, though.

Chief Perfumer Clara left Chesia thirty years ago, and hardly anyone here knew her, let alone had connections with her.

Without the right contacts, it was tough to make things happen.

No one really knew her preferences either, so everyone was just feeling their way through this, trying to figure it out as they went.

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