Chapter 1119: Chapter 1029 Requesting Leave
I just got back from a trip and I’m really too exhausted to keep my eyes open. I’ll try to update earlier tomorrow.
Ever since I got sick in April, my health suddenly took a downturn, and I’ve been feeling listless every day.
Sorry.
Good night~
……
“Bertha, you’re trending.” Kelly said straight to the point.
Bertha Swift quickly answered the phone while opening the trending app on her phone, scrolling all the way to the sixties before finally seeing her na #BerthaSwiftWithMaleCast#.
There aren’t many comnts yet, indicating that this trend is not natural and has been deliberately purchased.
The ghostwriters have just begun to enter the field, planning to catch Bertha off guard while she was resting. By the ti the news fernts overnight, even if the truth cos out later, the tumult will have already risen.
Moreover, they indeed captured so suspicious photos. With ghostwriters pointing out that the male actor was the fourth male lead in the crew, they could brand Bertha Swift with a scandalous personal life, triggering a backlash from netizens. Even if the director favored Bertha Swift, what would it matter?
For the sake of the crew’s interest, the director would replace Bertha Swift.
Once the scandal label sticks, whenever Bertha Swift tries for a role, the crew will have to reconsider whether she can be used or if it would affect the crew’s reputation. Although Bertha debuted with the title of Director Locke’s Muse, she has shallow roots without substantial accomplishnts. For other well-established actresses, this isn’t a major scandal, but for Bertha, it’s fatal.
Their intentions are despicable.
“I saw it.” Bertha Swift glanced through it and answered Kelly.
Kelly responded, “Charles likely planned from the beginning to ruin you. It’s unlikely to work if we seek him out to clarify. We’ll have to find our own ways to clear your na. I’ve just asked the hotel for surveillance footage, but they aren’t very cooperative here, so it might take so effort. But don’t worry, I can handle this. Just ignore the comnts online.”
Bertha acknowledged, listening as the other side hesitantly continued, “I heard from lanie that your boyfriend ca over?”
“Huh? Oh.” Bertha Swift was caught off guard by the sudden change of topic and could only nod in response. She felt embarrassed thinking about Adam’s actions earlier when lanie was around.
Hearing Bertha’s reply, Kelly felt a slight heaviness in her heart. Although her words might not be appropriate, she still advised, “Bertha, your career is just starting. It can’t withstand too much gossip. I’m not saying you shouldn’t date, but try to be discreet and protect yourself however you can.”
Though Kelly hasn’t been in the entertainnt industry for three years, she knows how it operates now. If a female star dates soone with good character, it’s manageable. But if the person lacks integrity and boundaries, it could easily ruin the star’s career.
Once, she managed a promising young actress who, although talented, was naive in love. Enamored, she followed everything her boyfriend said, getting convinced into taking private photos and videos. When they broke up, he blackmailed her, making outrageous demands. Out of fear of exposure, she kept giving in, but ultimately the video got leaked by rivals. She couldn’t handle the cyber violence, developed depression, attempted suicide several tis, and is now in a psychiatric ward.
Kelly didn’t want Bertha Swift to face such a nightmare.
Bertha Swift could feel the worry and goodwill in Kelly’s words, softly acknowledging and thanking her, solemnly promising, “Kelly, don’t worry. I understand. We’ve agreed not to announce anything for now.”
“That’s good.” Kelly sighed in relief.
Unlike lanie Quinn and Joy Polly, who had been with Bertha for a while, Kelly only joined yesterday and didn’t know much about Bertha and Adam Piers’s relationship. She just learned from lanie that Bertha had a boyfriend but not who he was.
After hanging up, Bertha turned to see Adam on the phone, curious as she approached and overheard him say, “Copy it and send it over.”
Bertha looked at him puzzled, “Copy what?”
Adam hung up the phone and raised his eyebrows, “What do you think?”
Bertha was instantly thrilled, “Is it the hotel surveillance?”
“What do you think? How are you planning to thank for this?” His gaze was deep and wolfish, like a hungry wolf in winter.
Bertha instinctively stepped back. Could she refuse his help?
Chapter 1026: Bertha, have you decided how to thank ?
Ten minutes later, the hotel video arrived on Bertha Swift’s phone.
Bertha forwarded the video to Kelly, who, surprised at Bertha’s capability, abandoned the previous rush strategy.
Initially, Kelly wanted to solve the issue quickly because she knew Charles Carter wasn’t acting alone, and the opposing side would have prepared thoroughly. She wasn’t confident she could get the footage from the hotel. If the situation escalated without solid evidence and no tily clarification, they’d be passive.
But now it’s different. With the hotel video and from a very favorable angle, they’re no longer at a disadvantage and can observe the other side’s next move.
Kelly had known Jocelyn Spencer for years and was played out of Starlight by her, well aware of her tactics. Today’s incident had Jocelyn’s style all over it.
Always despicable, always malicious.
Kelly explained her plan to Bertha, who understood but felt concerned, “Could it backfire?”
“I’ll make an official statent through the studio for you in the morning, then send letters from lawyers to the leading Twitter celebrities. We’ll wait for their counterattack, and then release the video. But…” Kelly paused, sighing softly, “It ans you’ll definitely be insulted online for a night. You should be ntally prepared for that.”
She understood that the morning’s clarification wouldn’t convince netizens of Bertha’s innocence. It would spark even more discussions and insults. However, only under mass attack can the release of evidence turn the tide, leaving netizens feeling guilty and regretful, lifting Bertha’s popularity.
It’s a high-risk move, but success ans double the reward.
Then Jocelyn would have laid out the plan only for them to claim the victory in the end.
If this was earlier, Bertha would never agree, but now with Adam’s uncertain future and her understanding of his expenses, if others were scheming against her, retaliating to gain traction wouldn’t seem a loss.
This industry allows for growth in skills, but without popularity or visibility, one won’t even get the chance to hone skills.
If she wants to establish herself in this business, she must advance.
“Alright, Kelly, rest assured, I won’t look at those comnts.” Bertha’s voice was soft but firm, expressing her resolve to Kelly.
After hanging up, she noticed Adam staring at her.
She touched her cheek, “There’s nothing on my face, right?”
“You’re really not afraid of getting cursed at?” Adam Piers had just co out from taking a shower when he heard Bertha Swift speak, his face remained calm, but his eyes were already tinged with concern.
Bertha Swift realized this man was worried about her and shrugged lightly, “It’s just insults, painless and harmless, what’s to be afraid of?”
Though she said that, Adam Piers disagreed, no one knew better the feeling of enduring cyber violence than him; his first experience of it made him almost want to crawl through the internet to beat everyone up.
He actually did just that once, but there are millions of users online, impossible to beat them all; he only tracked down a few who cursed him maliciously and had them severely beaten, even broke their arms, preventing them from going online.
Now Bertha Swift saying it’s painless and harmless, Adam Piers didn’t believe it, but he also knew that after entering this industry, there were many things Bertha Swift couldn’t completely avoid.
Since it was unavoidable, then out of sight out of mind, Adam Piers directly took away Bertha Swift’s phone, silenced it, and tossed it aside, his eyes deep and serious, “Bertha, have you figured out how to thank ?”
Bertha Swift whimpered, why is this man being so relentless?
That night, Bertha Swift couldn’t escape Adam Piers’ clutches, but it did make her forget to pay attention to the online frenzy related to herself and Charles Carter, and the malicious insults pouring in from all directions.
In the morning, Bertha Swift struggled to get up from bed, the man’s figure long gone from her side; she checked the parts of her body that needed to be exposed, ensuring there were no marks before heading in the direction of the bathroom to wash and groom.
Despite Adam Piers being sowhat restrained last night, Bertha Swift was still sore all over and terribly tired, making her look very listless, as she arrived on set facing Jocelyn Spencer and Loona Kin’s gleeful gazes, she just stifled a yawn without reacting to their attention.
Kelly stepped up in the morning at eight, on behalf of the studio, to clarify the rumors about Bertha Swift and Charles Carter and sent legal letters to several Twitter celebrities who maliciously defad Bertha Swift as a warning.
But just as Kelly predicted, because in recent years celebrity clarifications look like jokes to the public and lack credibility, instead made everyone believe the affair was real, not only did it not convince others about Bertha Swift, but due to Charles Carter’s ambiguous response, the insults grew even louder, so even bluntly called Bertha Swift fake and dirty, a so-called socialite or high-class escort?
This wave of attacks made Bertha Swift, an eighteen-line star, rush into the top ten of trending searches, the initial ghostwriters were long replaced by passers-by, many netizens even shouted to crowdfund to have “Grand Sche” crew replace the second female lead.
Bertha Swift had faced much gossip ever since playing the female lead in “The Doctors,” about having financial backers, forcing Director Locke to compromise; now “The Doctors” hadn’t even premiered yet, Bertha Swift had no work shown to the public, and the only thing people rembered was the sanitary pad ad she shot the other day.
Now she’s squeezed out many first-line young female stars to act as the second female lead in “Grand Sche,” naturally she was the subject of much controversy, and just one day into the crew such a scandal erupted, it was imaginable how much discontent it would stir among netizens.
Plus the other actresses who’d been eyeing her second female role, though outwardly silent, inwardly, who knows how much they resented Bertha Swift, seeing her about to sink, naturally wouldn’t miss the chance to hit her when she’s down.
With the concerted efforts of several groups, Bertha Swift successfully climbed to the top, purely cursed there.
With the issue blowing up so much, it was impossible for the crew not to have heard of it, Bertha Swift could feel the gazes cast onto her, contemptuous, loathing, gleeful or even so sympathetic ones, but no matter what type, all were uncomfortable.
Bertha Swift tried her best to ignore the gazes glued to her, until she t Charles Carter’s smug face, she finally revealed a trace of disgust, avoiding him like dodging flies.
But the trouble was, she had scenes with Charles Carter today.
The other party plays her senior disciple brother in the script, and has quite a few scenes with her.
If it were yesterday, Bertha Swift would definitely throw herself into the plot professionally, but today was different, she was unsure if she could team up well with Charles Carter.
No matter how Bertha Swift felt, once Director Noyes arrived, he called for the crew to take their places.
Bertha Swift tried hard to make herself imrse in the role, but as Charles Carter placed his hand on her shoulder, Bertha Swift involuntarily showed disgust as a physiological reaction.
Director saw this and imdiately called cut, looked at Bertha Swift with displeasure, “What kind of expression is that? Right now, you should feel guilty towards your senior brother, what’s with the look like you’re seeing shit?”
“Hahahahaha…”
After the director spoke, the whole set erupted in laughter.
This crew might only have the director not knowing about the two’s rumors, but everyone working in the crew is savvy, wouldn’t believe the two who just joined the crew have anything, if anything, one party was sched.
From seeing Bertha Swift’s expression, people could guess sowhat what’s going on.
Director Noyes was perplexed by the laughter, snapped in dissatisfaction, “What’s so funny? Everyone continue, Bertha Swift watch your emotions!”
After saying this, filming resud.
Charles Carter had an unpleasant expression after hearing the director’s words, felt humiliated from everyone’s laughter, glared fiercely at Bertha Swift, warned in a low voice, “Cooperate a bit, or don’t bla for being ruthless.”
Bertha Swift already felt nauseous by the person in front of her, felt even worse after being threatened, didn’t want to let the other party touch her at all.
Predictably cut again.
Yesterday Edmund Noyes praised Bertha Swift, but in just one night her acting had regressed back to its original level, frustrated with his hands on his hips, “Bertha Swift what’s going on with you? Can you still act?”
“Director, he ate garlic this morning, I’m allergic to garlic, it’s grossing out.” Bertha Swift, like a school child, timidly raised her hand amid the director’s frustration and said.
Edmund Noyes choked, then looked at Charles Carter, “Are you eating garlic in the morning to disgust soone?”
The air around suddenly stagnated, everyone wanted to laugh, but feared the director and stifled laughter distorted their expressions.
Charles Carter, “…”
He didn’t expect the pretty and genteel Bertha Swift would say such a thing in public, imdiately turned pale, wanted to explain, but how could this be explained? Only made it worse.
Glared viciously at Bertha Swift, turned around to touch up makeup.
At this mont soone quietly asked looking at his back, “Where’s Mr. Carter going?”
“To rinse his mouth?” another quietly replied, Bertha Swift could hear it was Joy Polly’s voice.
Though spoken softly, the scene was quiet, so most people heard the sentence, soon they couldn’t hold back, didn’t care if the director would scold them and laughed out loud.
Director Noyes was quite furious, finally glared at Bertha Swift, then quietly asked the deputy director, “What’s up with them?”
Being one of the top directors in the industry, Edmund Noyes certainly wasn’t stupid, could clearly sense the wrong vibes between Bertha Swift and Charles Carter, and everyone seed to know the reason.
But yesterday clearly the two acted a scene together, had a quite good rapport, how within one night did they start to confront each other?
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