Chapter 744 Molly, I Came for You 1
There was a photograph of Molly standing on a dim street corner, smoking a cigarette.
Her young face wore an expression of complete indifference. She was only sixteen then, but she already carried herself like a street-smart troublemaker.
This was worlds apart from the star Molly everyone knew now, yet her features were unmistakably the same.
Entertainment headlines exploded with over twenty trending stories about Molly. Negative reports crashed down like an avalanche, and overnight she found herself nailed to a pillar of shame. In the torrent of abuse, she was painted as barely human.
Her teenage romance with Elliot was dragged into the light. Molly was branded a delinquent, a gold-digger. Her reputation crumbled to dust. Her upcoming film faced boycotts before it even hit theaters.
In an instant, everyone knew: Molly was finished.
While the world erupted in chaos, where was Molly?
She was curled up alone in her apartment, huddled on the small sofa, staring into space. Beside her, Celine clutched her phone, unleashing a stream of curses at the company's PR department, calling them incompetent wastes of space who couldn't produce a single viable strategy when it mattered most.
After finishing her tirade, Celine looked at Molly and spoke softly, "Molly, I don't care if that photo is really you. I don't care what kind of past you have. At the press conference later, you deny everything. The company and I will fight tooth and nail to protect you. If we can't save you, then none of us deserve to keep our jobs anyway."
Molly buried her face in her knees. "But that is me."
Celine's voice cracked with frustration, "Molly, are you deaf? Why are you being so stubborn? If you admit it, you're done. Finished. Do you understand? No career, no money."
She added, "Everything will be gone. You'll become a pariah, hunted wherever you go. No one will ever offer you roles again. No one will ask for your autograph. No one will be at your beck and call twenty-four seven. You'll be worth nothing. You'll lose everything you've built."
"I know." Molly smiled bitterly. "I don't want to lie anymore. I lied once before, and I lost the most important thing in my life. Being honest is what I should have done five years ago. I can bear all of this. Fame, status, wealth and luxury were never what I wanted."
Celine stared at her, eyes bloodshot with exhaustion.
Suddenly, Celine exploded, "Molly, you're so stubborn! You just walk away as if nothing matters. As long as you have love, you're ready to lose everything. But where is that jerk Elliot now? What's the point of your devotion when he's not even here? It doesn't mean a damn thing."
But Molly refused to lie. That was her real past, and she was done hiding it. She would rather leave the entertainment industry, rather lose everything she had.
Celine lost her temper and kicked over the coffee table.
The assistant nearby didn't dare make a sound.
But unexpectedly, Celine backed down. "Fine, stop looking like a kicked puppy! Worst case scenario, the whole company backs you. Worst case, I'll be out there selling sandwiches for a living."
Molly's lips trembled as she whispered, "Thank you, Celine."
Celine's words were sharp, but her heart was soft. She pulled Molly close and cursed fiercely, "Growing up in that environment, how did you end up being such a hopeless romantic?"
She was scolding, but her heart ached. There were other photos she had buried, ones that would have been truly devastating for Molly. One photo had cost Celine five million dollars, but she felt every penny was worth it.
Celine thought to herself, maybe she should just go all in. Roll the dice.
She wasn't old yet. If she lost, she could start over.
She was betting on whether that bastard Elliot had any conscience left, whether he would step up and act like a man.
What Celine hadn't expected was that some people would actually support Molly.
The first was Walter, director of "Endless Echoes," who posted on Twitter. He said that while Molly had caused the crew some minor troubles, he believed she would handle things properly. He called Molly an exceptionally dedicated actress who didn't sleep around for roles or chase money, describing her as a person of integrity.
Walter was taking a huge gamble too!
Celine had to organize a press conference for Molly, scheduled for three days later. She needed those three days to gauge public opinion and decide on the best approach. As for Molly, she assigned people to watch her closely.
Before leaving, Celine said harshly, "Don't expect Elliot to swoop down like some white knight. Times have changed. If he admits to being with you, M&E Technology's stock will probably hit the limit down for days. Smart men always protect themselves."
Molly said quietly, "I understand."
Celine retorted, "You understand nothing."
Celine worked with ruthless efficiency, keeping Molly confined to the apartment while she hustled outside, pulling strings and calling in favors.
What else could she do? Molly was her protege, and Molly wasn't what the media painted her to be. Molly was genuinely kind-hearted, a good girl.
After all this time together, Celine had developed real affection for her.
The second person to support Molly was Blake.
Blake's Twitter post was devastatingly direct: [A year ago, I met you on a train. You donated over a hundred million dollars to children in need, dressed simply, and quietly returned to Evergreen City. I love you, Molly. Even if the whole world turns its back on you, I will still love you. You didn't accept me, and you love someone else, but I have no regrets. If I regretted it, how could it be called love? @M&E Technology Elliot]
When Blake posted this, the entire world exploded.
The tide turned instantly.
[My God, Molly actually has ties to Elliot, and Blake, who's never involved in any scandals, is actually going after Molly—and getting turned down.]
[What kind of main-character energy does Molly have?]
[Catastrophic beginning, goddess-level second act. What does Molly have that we don't?]
[Let go of Blake and Elliot, let me have them!]
[I want to ask you: do you have Molly's looks? Do you have Molly's slender legs? Do you have Molly's flawless skin?]
The internet war left Celine completely stunned.
This generation of netizens was different. Why were their thought processes like this? Weren't they supposed to be attacking Molly? How did it turn into discussions about legs and skin? Was that envious tone genuine?
That day, an interesting hashtag trended: "To be a woman, be like Molly."
But there were still plenty of critics, calling Molly a slut and questioning the authenticity of her donations. Walter said Molly wasn't money-hungry, so where did that money come from?
The trending topic hung there, demanding answers about Molly's hundred million dollars.
That evening, M&E Technology's official account replied: [Molly's hundred million dollars? Mr. Elliot Windsor gave it to her! @Molly @M&E Technology Elliot]