Chapter 816
Chapter 816
Brittany stepped out of Grace’s room, feeling the quietness of the house settle around her. Daniel had already retreated to his own sanctum upstairs.
She descended the stairs, noting the absence of Joie, who had evidently slipped away while everyone else was preoccupied.
In the kitchen, Brittany warmed herself a mug of milk, a comforting ritual before heading back up to her room.
But the next morning came with an abrupt awakening.
Her phone’s shrill ringtone pierced the silence. Groggily, Brittany answered. “Hello?”
“Ms. Dustin, we’ve got a situation.”
Brittany was instantly alert. “What’s going on? The studio or the office?”
“Neither. It’s Joie.”
Brittany was puzzled.
“Joie leaked a video last night, showing moments of her alone with Mr. Salter,” the assistant hesitated before adding, “there were also some suggestive scenes.”
The assistant’s voice trailed off, leaving the obvious unsaid. To anyone paying attention, Joie clearly hadn’t given up on Isaac.
Brittany opened Twitter and was greeted by a high-definition video that had gone viral.
It was from last night’s banquet.
Isaac, tall and dashing, entered with Joie on his arm, a vision of grace beside him. Together, they were the picture of a perfect couple.
Another clip showed Isaac shielding Joie from an aggressive toast, their body language stirring whispers of intrigue among the guests. Text © owned by NôvelDrama.Org.
The comments section buzzed with approval of the pairing.
Yet, there were those who remembered Isaac’s connection to Brittany, sparking a wave of speculation.
These voices were quickly drowned out by Joie’s fans, who launched a virtual onslaught, driving the dissenters almost to the point of making their accounts private.
Brittany closed the app, realizing the call was still connected. She cleared her throat, “I see.”
“Mr. Dustin, what’s our move?” The assistant sounded concerned about the potential scandal affecting Brittany’s marriage.
“No need to intervene.”
Brittany ended the call, preparing to rise from her bed when the door burst open.
Isaac rushed in, his approach urgent as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “The video online-it’s not what it looks like,” he said, his normally composed face tinged with desperation, as if fearing she had misunderstood.
Brittany, initially irked, found Isaac’s abrupt return from his trip and his evident agitation to be a rare occurrence.
He was flustered. “I wasn’t covering for her. It’s just the angle they caught-that was my drink…”
Catching the scent of his hurried journey, she instinctively embraced him, a light laugh escaping her lips. “Why the panic? I’m not jealous.”
His reaction was immediate, a mix of annoyance and disbelief. “You’re not jealous?”
He had raced back, worried sick she’d be upset, and here she was, claiming indifference?
If she wasn’t jealous, did that mean she didn’t care?
Reading his thoughts, Brittany nuzzled closer. “I trust there’s nothing between you and Joie.”
His lips tightened, a hint of hurt in his voice. “I came back overnight for this.”
And yet, she was unfazed by the video.
“I saw the video. I’m not jealous; I’m just angry!”
Those videos weren’t something regular reporters would dare to release; it had to be Joie’s doing.
Brittany’s eyes narrowed. “So, I’m thinking it’s time she faced some consequences.”
Isaac had no objections. He carried her to the dining room, his hands planted firmly by her side. “What’s your plan?”
“Didn’t she like to leak videos? Well, I’ve got a few of my own.”
Brittany wore a sly and knowing smile; she held a sufficient amount of scandals involving Joie that could potentially turn the tables, and how it seemed they would come in handy.
Isaac bent his head, capturing her lips with an urgency that brooked no argument, “Do as you like.”
Isaac didn’t rush home just to offer explanations. His hands slipped beneath the thin fabric of her clothing, and Brittany had no choice but to endure.
He had been away on business for a week.
Brittany missed him fiercely too, her hands climbing around his neck, responding with equal fervor as Isaac’s sweeping gesture sent everything crashing from the dinner table!
“Easy there…”
Brittany gasped in surprise.
“Got it,” Isaac murmured, leaning in once more.
Their passion subsided only briefly.
Isaac rested for a mere two hours before he was gone again. He still had unfinished business matters.
After his departure, Brittany, through the network of paparazzi, released a high-definition video.
The recent scandal involving Joie and a director had caused a stir, but she had claimed to be deceived. However, this video showed Joie in an intimate situation with two popular young actors.
The paparazzi were stunned by the video.
“Ms. Dustin, are you sure you want this video to go public?”
Joie had always maintained a pure and innocent public image. Such a scandal could potentially end her career.
“Release it,” Brittany said without a trace of mercy, especially after being provoked.
The paparazzi holding the video felt a chill run down his spine.
The rumors were true; you shouldn’t mess with Brittany.
The video of Joie’s rendezvous with two heartthrobs exploded online!
With its high-definition and explicit content, it reached over a hundred million views within an hour!
The comment section was in uproar.
[Holy smokes, what’s this? Joie’s dating two guys at once?]
[Pfft-Dating? Looks more like a threesome!]
[Disgusting… Joie always acted so pure, turns out she’s the complete opposite!]
[Talk about playing the field!]
[Joie, get out of showbiz!]
[Out, out!]
[They blurred the guys’ faces in the video but left Joie’s visible? Someone’s out for revenge, huh?]
[Could this be the work of a certain leading lady?]
[Play the field, pay the price!]
The evidence was irrefutable.
Joie’s remaining reputation was in tatters.
Within the second hour of the video becoming public, Joie received an indefinite suspension from her agency. “All previously scheduled shoots are postponed indefinitely.” Joie was livid, “Are you trying to blacklist me?”
“Joie, you should be well aware that with such a scandal, you’re finished in this industry.”
The executive had always known about Joie’s messy private life and had subtly warned her before. But Joie, confident in having the Salter family as her backing, was utterly unafraid!
Joie slammed her hand on the table, “Have you forgotten that I am part of the Salter family? Are you trying to go against them?”
She had barely convinced Grace of her innocence in the previous scandal, and now this debacle unfolded before she had a plan.
“The evidence is undeniable. What do you expect us to do?” the executive said v throbbing headache. Had he known Joie would cause such a mess, he would ne signed her.
“I don’t care, I won’t leave showbiz, and you’re not going to blacklist me!” Joie gritte teeth. “I’ll bury this news fast, and if you don’t want to offend the Salter family, you’d b stay in line!”
With those harsh words, Joie stormed out.
The executive watched her leave, his face a mask of disgust.
Over the years, Joie had been throwing her weight around, backed by the Salter family, and now she was giving him attitude! If he could have stood against the Salter family, he wouldn’t have to swallow such indignity.
Joie immediately sought to suppress the media storm, but the industry’s influencers and paparazzi seemed to have rallied together, continuously leaking negative stories about her.
Her on-set tantrums.
Her diva-like demands.
Her script alterations.
Her mistreatment of assistants, dragging her name through the mud of workplace bullying.