Chapter 235

Vivian's mind wandered back to the luxurious yacht they'd been aboard earlier, connecting the dots about Julian's undoubtedly wealthy background.

Across the room, Sebastian stared at the nearly depleted coffee carafe, his expression falling. "No more caramel macchiatos left?"

Isabella pushed forward her untouched drink. "You can have mine," she offered. "Haven't taken a sip yet."

Sebastian hesitated. "You sure you don't want it?"

"Honestly, I just grabbed it without thinking," Isabella replied with a casual wave. "I'm not particular about my caffeine fix."

"Let's trade then," Sebastian insisted, swapping his milk tea for her coffee.

From his seat, Julian observed the exchange briefly before turning his attention to Vivian. "Did you manage to contain that social media firestorm?"

Vivian exhaled heavily, poking at her chicken drumstick. "Mostly. But the damage is done - now I'm branded as some fame-hungry social climber fabricating a relationship with Sebastian."

Sebastian slammed his cup down, anger flashing across his handsome features. "Those aren't real fans! I checked their profiles - half are bots and trolls stirring up drama. I should call them out publicly or sic our lawyers on them."

"Absolutely not!" Vivian cut in sharply. "Remember our WhatsApp conversation? Silence is our best weapon here. Even if those accounts claim to defend you, your genuine fans could get caught in the backlash."

Harrison mopped his brow with a handkerchief before interjecting. "You'll only make things worse for Vivian, Sebastian. The harder you try to protect her, the more your fanbase will resent her. Managing you is like herding hyperactive kittens at a daycare center."

Julian methodically arranged apple slices in his bowl. "What if the production team tweeted about your authentic interactions?" he suggested.

Harrison shook his head. "The crew's endorsement won't carry much weight. Fans would just assume they're covering for Vivian."

"Fair point," Vivian agreed, spearing a piece of honeydew with her fork.

Noticing Julian's apple assortment, she remarked casually, "You're really into apples, huh? Never been my favorite."

Julian crunched into a crisp slice. "Then what about a crew member who's genuinely Sebastian's fan? Someone who witnesses your daily dynamic could provide credible testimony."

"No chance!" The trio - Vivian, Sebastian, and Harrison - responded in perfect unison.

Vivian took a breath before explaining. "Julian, you might not understand. It's extremely rare for production staff to be die-hard fans."

Sebastian added his own cautionary tale. "We had an incident where an obsessed staffer secretly recorded me. Nearly caused major leaks before our film premiere. That's why Ivory Phoenix Productions now bans hiring known fans."

Julian tilted his head, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "But what if one slipped through the cracks?"

Vivian's voice turned pragmatic. "True fans would be active in fan clubs, voting campaigns, and concerts. With today's digital verification systems, it's nearly impossible to hide. And casual fans? Their testimonials wouldn't hold any weight."