Chapter 368 Ella Injured and Withdraws from the Circle

Chapter 368 Ella Injured and Withdraws from the Circle

Tessa lost a bunch of endorsement deals, and Ella managed to snag one with a luxury brand. But her excitement didn't last long; she had an accident while filming a reality show. Unlike Victoria, she couldn't compete in acting, and she didn't have the fashion connections Jasmine had, so she relied heavily on reality shows to stay popular. This time, she joined a sports-themed show and, while learning to ski with an instructor, she veered off the high-speed slope and slammed into a tree.

Even though she was wearing full protective gear, the speed of her descent caused another fracture in her spine. Allowing a skiing newbie on an advanced slope just for the show's dramatic effect was a blatant disregard for her safety, leading to an outcry from her fans against the production team. But no amount of backlash could fix the damage Ella suffered. This injury was worse than when she fell off a horse. The doctors said she needed to stay in the hospital for at least six months. Her spine was already fragile and couldn't take another hit, so even after being discharged, she would need to rest and avoid strenuous activity.

With such a severe injury, Brian and Joan rushed to her side. In the hospital room, Joan clung to the side of the bed, crying. Brian stood with his hands on his hips, fuming, "I'm gonna sue that production team! How could they let my daughter Ella get hurt this badly? Do they think a few million dollars in appearance fees are enough to make up for her pain?" They had only just found out that this was Ella's second hospitalization after her previous injury was kept from them.

Joan held Ella's hand tightly and said, "Ella, being a star is too risky, and our family doesn't need the money. Why are you pushing yourself so hard?"

Tears welled up in Ella's eyes. "It's not that I want to be a star. I just don't want to be overshadowed by Victoria. She's so outstanding, I'm afraid you'll regret bringing me back. The harder I try, the more miserable I become. Now I'm half-disabled..." She began to cry harder, unable to continue. Joan hugged her tightly, "Silly girl, how could you think that? No matter what, you are my beloved daughter. Even if you don't work, your father and I will take care of you forever."

As soon as Ella got injured, Jasmine wasted no time in taking over her upcoming engagements. When news broke that Ella would be hospitalized for six months, all the brands she was working with prepared contract termination agreements, waiting for the initial buzz to die down before releasing them. Although they felt sympathy and regret for Ella's injury, she couldn't fulfill her contractual obligations, so canceling the partnerships was the best option. They were already being kind by not asking her to compensate for their losses.

Jasmine was feeling pretty pleased with herself lately. Tony had graduated and returned to the country, immediately becoming the general manager of a subsidiary company, introducing her to many resources. She also met a wealthy man from Aquilonia, who pursued her fervently after meeting her during his trip to Riverdale. Jessica had helped her investigate his background; he was in real estate and owned a large company. Not only was he wealthy, but he was also relatively young at 35 and reasonably good-looking, making him a suitable marriage prospect.

In contrast, Ella's situation was pitiful. Injured during a crucial career period, by the time she recovered, few would remember her. She had only a handful of works, with mediocre ratings around 6 out of 10, leaving little for people to miss. Regarding reality shows, once Brian sued the production team, no director would dare to cast Ella again.

Ella knew her acting career was pretty much over, while Victoria was working on an art film that could win awards. She would never have the chance to stand on equal footing with Victoria again.

When Victoria heard about Ella's injury, she raised an eyebrow in surprise, a hint of a smile creeping onto her face. Serafina, next to her, sighed, "Ella is really unlucky, injuring her back twice. She's so young, but she might have lasting issues."

In fact, Ella's previous horseback riding injury was indeed Victoria's doing. She had exploited Ella's possessiveness and her tendency to show off. But this time, Ella's injury during the reality show had nothing to do with Victoria. She had merely disrupted Ella's negotiations for two scripts, steering her towards more reality show appearances. Many reality shows favored thrilling activities to attract viewers, and given Ella's tendency to overexert herself, she was prone to injury. Victoria had only increased the likelihood of her getting hurt.

When Ella first got injured, many fans rallied to seek justice for her. But two months into her hospital stay, only a few loyal fans remained, as most had moved on to new favorites. Realizing she would never again enjoy widespread adoration and attention, Ella felt a deep sense of despair. Those accustomed to being surrounded by flowers and applause find it hard to endure loneliness. If her career was ruined, she decided Victoria's should be too.

On Friday afternoon, during the end-of-week rush when many people were online, Ella posted a heartfelt article.

She detailed her childhood hardships, the joy and apprehension of reuniting with her biological parents, and how Victoria, who had enjoyed eighteen years of their love in her place, had treated her. She recounted how Victoria had always made things difficult for her, even threatening to run away to make their parents abandon her. 

Fortunately, her parents chose her. But she hadn't expected Victoria to continue targeting her at school and in the entertainment industry. She revealed that her horseback riding accident was linked to Victoria, but she had kept quiet for the sake of the production team. Now, as she planned to leave the entertainment industry, she felt it was time to speak out.

At the end of the article, she addressed Victoria directly: "I've decided to quit. I won't compete with you anymore. Victoria, are you satisfied now? Can you come home to see Mom and Dad? They miss you."

A popular actress quitting the industry was big news, especially when it involved a top star like Victoria. Without any paid promotion, the story quickly trended, with headlines like “Ella: Victoria Stole My Life” and “Ella's Farewell Message.” Many were struck by the dramatic life swap, and numerous people sympathized with Ella, expressing outrage at the human traffickers.

"Am I the only one who thinks Victoria owes Ella an apology? Whether she wanted it or not, she enjoyed eighteen years of luxury. Instead of feeling guilty, she thinks the true heiress Ella shouldn't have come home and targets her constantly. Is this the character of your favorite top star?"

"Ella's life is so tragic. She was supposed to be a rich heiress but ended up in a poor family, suffering so much. Yet she always stayed positive and never gave up. She worked so hard in her acting career, even directors praised her dedication. She just had terrible luck."

"Wait, isn't Victoria the heiress of the Hamilton Group? If that's true, she should have returned to the Hamilton family long ago, meaning she should have led an even more privileged life. Victoria's luck is incredible—wealthy, and the most popular actress. Honestly, I'm really jealous."

The internet buzzed with discussions from various perspectives, each gaining significant support. Victoria undeniably had some faults; the Scott family had raised her for eighteen years, yet she never visited her adoptive parents, making her seem ungrateful. And compared to Ella's misfortune, Victoria's success seemed too easily won. If she had grown up in a poor family, would Victoria still be so outstanding and beautiful? Probably not.