Chapter 232

"Oh, Mrs. Blackwood," Gwendolyn stuttered, hastily slipping her phone into the pocket of her starched apron. "Just a message from my daughter. I wanted to see if you required anything."

Vivian's piercing gaze lingered for a moment before drifting away. "What's available for dinner?" she asked, her voice cool and detached.

"We received a shipment of lobster tails this afternoon." The housekeeper's smile faltered slightly as she realized her mistake - those were meant for her own family's special occasion.

"Lobster will suffice."

"Bring it to my suite when prepared," Vivian commanded, already turning away.

Gwendolyn forced a tight-lipped smile. "Certainly, Mrs. Blackwood," she murmured with a stiff nod.

The door clicked shut without further acknowledgment.

Vivian never wasted energy on meaningless courtesies, particularly not with staff members whose false smiles couldn't mask their resentment.

The moment the heavy oak door closed, Gwendolyn's pleasant expression shattered.

Her face twisted into a scowl as she glared at the polished mahogany. "Ice queen," she hissed, fingers curling into fists at her sides.

The hot shower had worked wonders on Vivian's tense muscles, steam still clinging to her skin as she wrapped herself in a plush cashmere robe.

Settling onto the velvet chaise lounge, she opened her laptop with a sigh.

Against her better judgment, she navigated to Instagram.

The viral hashtags targeting her had disappeared from the trending section.

Adrian must have intervened with his usual ruthless efficiency.

Yet her notifications told another story entirely.

Dozens of hateful comments flooded her mentions, accusing her of using Sebastian Hartwell for clout.

Several warned the actor about her "gold-digging ways," complete with snake emojis.

Her jaw tightened as a dull ache pulsed behind her temples.

With an irritated swipe, she closed the app and switched to Messenger instead.

To her surprise, her inbox overflowed with unread messages.

Concerned colleagues, relieved friends, even distant acquaintances had reached out during her absence.

A genuine smile softened her features as she scrolled through the heartfelt notes.

The outpouring of support eased the tightness in her chest, if only slightly.

Damien Vaughn's message stood out among the rest.

"Minimum one week's rest before returning to set!" it read in all caps. "Doctor's orders! Violate this and I'll deduct 300K from your next paycheck!"

She chuckled despite herself, responding with a playful middle-finger emoji.

Beneath his gruff exterior, the studio head's concern was palpable - though the financial threat still stung.

After several heated exchanges, they compromised on five days of mandatory rest.