Chapter 202

Sebastian straightened, his tall frame giving him an advantage in scanning the surroundings.

"Nothing unusual in sight. Probably just enthusiastic fans hoping for a glimpse," he said, trying to ease Vivian's nerves.

Vivian gave a distracted nod. "Right, must be."

But the unease clung to her like a second skin, lingering even as she left the studio that evening. Sliding into the backseat of a cab, her phone vibrated violently. Sebastian's name flashed on the screen.

"Where are you?" His voice carried an edge she'd never heard before.

"In a taxi," Vivian answered, watching streetlights blur past. "Nearly home. What's happening?"

"Social media's gone nuclear." His words tumbled out in a frantic rush. "My fault—Harrison already called Lydia. She's handling damage control."

Between his fractured sentences, only two words registered clearly: "social media."

After a quick reassurance, she hung up and opened Twitter.

Her name dominated the trending list:

"Sebastian & Vivian Secret Affair"

"Sebastian Caught Kissing Vivian's Leg"

"Vivian Faking Romance For Clout"

"A-List Star Scandal Erupts"

The attached photos showed mundane moments from Emberglow County and Crestwood shoots—all perfectly professional interactions between co-stars.

One particular image stood out: Vivian seated gracefully on a stool while Sebastian knelt before her. The clever angle created an illusion of intimacy where none existed.

These harmless stills shouldn't have caused an uproar.

Then she saw the comments.

The narrative wasn't about romance—it was character assassination. Someone had weaponized these images to paint her as a scheming opportunist exploiting Sebastian's fame.

The goodwill she'd built with his fans evaporated into toxic outrage. Betrayed supporters lashed out:

"These photos are doctored! I was on set—Sebastian never touched her!"

"Clear setup! He was holding makeup supplies, not kissing her leg!"

"She totally staged this! Look at the unnatural poses!"