Chapter 123

Vivian stretched across the plush sofa, her fingers dancing nervously across her phone screen. As she scrolled through the flood of notifications, a slow smile spread across her face. The internet was ablaze with excitement - and most comments were glowing with anticipation for the new project. Fans raved about Sebastian's previous roles while a smaller group recognized Vivian, their compliments subtly reinforcing Sebastian's impeccable taste in co-stars.

"Sebastian Hartwell is back! I've rewatched his entire filmography three times - nobody does romantic tension like him."

"Any hints about the plot? The secrecy is killing me!"

"Ivory Phoenix always works with Vivian Hartley. Since Sebastian openly admires her, could this be his dream collaboration?"

"That stunning face was made to share the screen with Sebastian."

"Wasn't she the one who auditioned for 'Blazing Horizon'? Sebastian really prioritizes talent over industry connections."

Choosing not to read further, Vivian retweeted the announcement with a simple caption: "Honored to be working with you, Mr. Hartwell."

Moments later, her phone buzzed - a WhatsApp notification. Sebastian had sent a friend request through their mutual contact Damien Vaughn. After exchanging pleasantries, he extended an invitation: "A friend's opening a new restaurant. Would you join me to celebrate the start of 'Ambermyst'?"

Caught unprepared, Vivian typed a hesitant reply before she could overthink it: "I'd love to."

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Vivian, another trending topic exploded on Twitter.

"Serena Whitmore: A Star Who Built Her Own Empire"

The post featured carefully edited clips of Serena performing motorcycle stunts on the set of Blazing Horizon, praising her for doing her own stunts and achieving success through hard work. Yet the footage lacked context - tight shots that could have been easily faked without actual riding skills.

Internet memory is fickle. The whispers about Serena's past scandals had nearly faded when her name suddenly resurged alongside Vivian's in the trends, reviving memories of her leaked audition tape. Though Adrian Blackwood had scrubbed it from the web years ago, some diligent netizens had preserved copies and chose this moment to resurface them.

The internet connected dots that didn't exist. Outright accusations might be dismissed, but when users "discovered" patterns themselves, they clung to them as absolute truth.

As speculation grew, more people questioned Serena's rise to fame, interpreting Sebastian's past refusal to work with her as evidence of undisclosed drama. Serena's team had likely orchestrated the trending topic to curry favor, unaware it would backfire spectacularly. The intended narrative - showcasing Serena's independence while subtly undermining Vivian - collapsed under scrutiny of Serena's limited acting range and persistent rumors about wealthy benefactors.

Even Sebastian's comment section began shifting tone:

"Vivian should send flowers to the Blazing Horizon team. Their rejection led her straight to Sebastian - and with his golden touch, stardom is guaranteed."