Ivy was acutely aware that the most crucial thing at the moment was to wrap up Coltonâs film. When it hits the screens, it would be the ultimate gift to her fans.
People were drawn to her for a hodgepodge of reasons. Some were enchanted by her looks, others by her acting skills, while a few had met her in person and found her incredibly down-to-earth.
Regardless of the why, Ivy knew her best way of giving back was through delivering stellar performances.
Meanwhile, Mara was stewing. As the night ticked by, the online chatter about Ivy swung wildly from loathe to love, making her grit her teeth in frustration.
Before the film crew had stepped in with their clarification, the internet trolls had had a field day, and Mara had been one of the loudest voices. Her particularly venomous rants had even garnered her a small following.
Now that Ivyâs fans had the crewâs statement to rally behind, they were haunting Maraâs comments section, suggesting her online vitriol must be the result of a dissatisfying personal life.
Seething, Mara couldnât fathom how Ivy managed to turn the tables so quickly.
She refused to swallow her pride and ended up in a war of words with the fans in the comments.
You flip-floppers are all over the crew now that youâve seen some so-called âevidenceâ. Does your family know youâre out here playing lapdog online?
Well, thatâs rich coming from someone whoâs such a backstabber. Pretending youâre in the know, as if youâre part of the industry. You talk of insider info like itâs a joke, but Dianaâs in custody now. If you donât believe it, why donât you go down to the station and snoop around?
The documents provided by the police were the most convincing piece of evidence shared by the film crew. No one dared to joke about such serious matters.
The crew had won a stunning victory, and the thought of Ivy receiving an outpouring of praise once this blew over soured Maraâs mood even further. She checked Ivyâs profile and, sure enough, the number of followers was soaring.
Honestly, even during the rough patch, I couldnât bring myself to bash Ivy. I mean, how could I with that face? Sorry, Iâm a sucker for good looks. Beauty is justice, and thankfully, Ivy didnât let me down.
That comment was the last straw for Mara. She clicked on the commenterâs profile and fired off a series of scathing private messages.
Beauty is justice? More like youâre a sycophant. Did your parents not teach you how to tell right from wrong? Judging by looks? Iâd be mortified if I were your parents, seeing you talk like this online.
Mára went on a tirade, venting her spleen on any comment that rubbed her the wrong way. It was only after a string of insults that her inner turmoil began to subside.
At that moment, Balfour returned home from the office. Handing the car keys to the butler, he was surprised to find Mara on the couch, engrossed in her phone.
Since Ivy left, Mara had been unusually quiet, not complaining or insisting on leaving. Her behavior seemed to insinuate that Ivy was the one badmouthing her, but Balfour had his own gauge for Ivyâs character.
Upon seeing Balfour, Mara instantly put her phone away and scampered over, all smiles.
âBalfour, youâre back! Have you had dinner? I asked the housekeeper to save some of the steamed seafood custard for you. Itâs really delicate!â
Balfour waved dismissively, lacking any appetite.
âIâm not hungry. You can keep it for a late-night snack. Iâm heading upstairs.â
Without a second glance, Balfour went up the stairs.
Mara stamped her foot in irritation but was ultimately powerless to do anything about it.