Chapter 255 Chapter 255
But the girl’s desperate cries only fueled Claire’s sadism. As she looked at that tear-streaked face, she saw the image of Caroline standing triumphant in the hospital the previous morning. With rage boiling in her veins, Claire raised her open hand, ready to deliver an even harder blow.
At that very millisecond, the studio’s heavy door creaked open.
One of the producers from the broadcast team poked his head out of the hallway. He froze instantly, eyes wide, at the sight of “Sweet and Peaceful Claire” with her hand raised to beat a defenseless employee on the floor.
Claire caught the movement out of the corner of her eye.
The blood ran cold in her veins. She froze for a split second, but her survival instinct and sheer falseness kicked in immediately.
The hand raised to strike came down with an unnerving gentleness, suddenly transforming into a tender caress. She began desperately wiping away the assistant’s tears. The fierce, murderous expression melted away in the blink of an eye, replaced by the flawless mask of an empathetic, deeply concerned older sister.
“Oh, dear... please don’t cry anymore, it breaks my heart!” Claire said in a trembling, compassionate voice, loud enough for the producer to hear. — If your family is having such serious financial problems, you should have told me sooner! I’ll definitely help you pay off those hospital bills, I promise!
The assistant, her cheek still throbbing and her fingernail scratches stinging, was completely dumbfounded. Claire’s level of psychopathy was Oscar-worthy.
“We’ve worked together for so long… I’ve always treated you like a little sister.” Claire continued the charade, wrapping her arms around the frightened girl’s shoulders. “You don’t need to feel humiliated for asking me for help with your personal problems. We’re family!”
It wasn’t until the girl noticed the producer’s shadow watching them from the doorway that she understood the script. Fearing she would be fired, sued, or even killed by her boss backstage, she swallowed her sobs of pain, raised her trembling hands to wipe away her own tears, and bit her lip hard, forced to play along with Claire’s sickening lie.
“T-Thank you, Claire…” she stammered, her eyes filled with terror. — It’s nothing, it’s just… just family stress. You don’t need to worry about me. I… I can handle it on my own.
Claire smiled sweetly, stroking the assistant’s hair with the same fingers that had cut it seconds earlier. — That’s good to hear. But remember: if it gets too hard, my door will always be open to you.
“Okay. I… I’ll remember.”
The TV crew’s producer was completely baffled, scratching the back of his neck as he watched the touching scene of moral support unfold before his eyes.
Did I just see things a moment ago?, he thought, shaking his head in confusion. I swore she was going to slap the girl in the face… How crazy.
Had he completely misjudged the situation just now? In fact, was the sweet and compassionate Claire just trying to comfort an assistant with personal problems instead of attacking her?
The producer shook his head, feeling guilty for having thought the worst of the “Nation’s Sweetheart,” and returned backstage. Claire’s mask had worked perfectly once again.
...
Minutes later, with the discreet help of the network’s security team, Claire was hurriedly escorted out of the building through a back emergency exit, bypassing the main throng of journalists.
She got into a van with tinted windows, and the driver sped back to StarColi Entertainment headquarters.
But hell was already waiting for her there, too.
At the main entrance of the agency’s imposing skyscraper, dozens of reporters, paparazzi, and cameramen were already crowded together, blocking the street like a pack of hungry wolves waiting for blood.
The company’s security chiefs had already set up a tactical plan. As soon as Claire’s car screeched to a halt at the entrance, a wall of bodyguards in black suits advanced, surrounding the vehicle’s door to protect her and create a corridor to the lobby.
But as soon as the van’s door slid open and Claire’s feet touched the ground, absolute chaos erupted.
All the reporters surged forward like a wild wave.
Flashbulbs went off blindingly. Microphones, recorders, and cameras were shoved violently toward her face. If it weren’t for the physical and brutal barrier of the elite security guards, she would have been crushed and trampled by the press.
The reporters shouted over the security guards’ shoulders, asking increasingly incisive and lethal questions:
“Claire! Can you say a few words about the leaked dossier?! Do you confirm that you were the mistress in the relationship?!”
“Claire! Is it true that President Edward Collins was your half-sister’s legitimate fiancé?! Were the two of you set to marry?!”
“He announced his engagement to you on the very same day their breakup was announced! Does that mean you were sleeping with your brother-in-law while they were still together?!‘’
”Did you steal your sister’s fiancé out of pure jealousy?! Your mother destroyed a marriage to join the Ford family as the second wife, so were you jealous of Caroline because she was the true legitimate daughter?! Did you decide to steal her billionaire fiancé to prove you were better?!"
The aggression of the questions cut through the air. None of them cared about Claire’s mental health or fragile image. The scent of scandal attracted the worst of tabloid journalism, and everyone wanted the most sensational headline for the next day.
“Claire, look this way! According to inside sources, you were terrified at the possibility of your sister becoming more famous than you, since she’s much more talented and attends the same college! Is it true that you orchestrated that cyberattack on the forum to sabotage her contracts?!”
“Did you make up the abortion rumor to destroy your own sister?!”
Claire, answer! Claire!"
The bodyguards were breaking out in a cold sweat, using brute force to push the cameras back and keep the human barrier intact.