True Tycoon Her Empire, Her Rules

The assistant frowned at Mae’s words.

“Seriously, Mae?” she said, “Anny told you to lay off the internet drama for a while. She was already peeved when you went rogue and hired some trolls to trash–talk Winnie. Now this…”

“And what? You’re blaming me too?” Mae glared at her assistant. Normally, she would maintain her starlet composure, but today, her fury cast aside any semblance of emotional control. She was about to rip into her assistant again when a sharp toothache seized her, causing her to clutch her cheek.

“Whatever. My tooth is killing me. Just go and make me a dentist appointment.”

Ever since Mae’s fiasco at the Ghostly Guidance event, it seemed her luck had taken a nosedive. First her manager had a go at her, and now even sipping cold water triggered a

toothache.

The assistant, though skeptical, couldn’t help but offer some advice.

“Should I get you some painkillers for now? Anny said that ever since the show announced your departure, the paparazzi will be on your tail. You really should avoid going out…”

Mid–sentence, the assistant remembered something else and hastily added, “And, uh, the show sald

guy who was using dark magic to harm people got caught, but since you were one of his victims, you might still be in for a string of bad luck. Better stay in-”

Before she could finish, a half–empty water bottle hurled through the air, hitting her shoulder. She winced in pain.

Mae, her face once adored by fans like the moon in a clear night sky, was now twisted with a sinister scowl. “You think you can tell me what to do? Believe me, I can fire you in a

heartbeat!”

Mae wasn’t in the mood to listen to any advice.

Not that she’d be scared even if she did. After all, she still had that Protection Charm she snagged from the show’s set!

It was the same charm that was supposed to protect her from the dark magic she o protect her from the dark magic she encountered. If only she hadn’t been so angry with her manager for going over her head to cancel her contract with the show, she might have asked about it. She might have learned that the charm’s power was spent after shielding her that one time.

But Mae completely disregarded her assistant’s warning, who, intimidated by her glare, obediently went to book the dentist appointment and informed Anny afterward.

Anny, rubbing her forehead with a sense of frustration, muttered, “Let her go if she wants. This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

12-20

She’s beyond help.

She had hoped Mae could turn things around, but you can’t save someone from themselves.

That very afternoon, Mae, fully incognito with a mask and sunglasses, stepped out the door.

She had no choice but to leave the house. The morning’s toothache was nothing compared to the swelling in her cheek after her nap.

Accompanied by her assistant, she visited a big dental clinic in downtown.

However, as soon as they left the house, they were spotted by lurking paparazzi.

The morning announcement of Mae’s exit from Ghostly Guidance had sparked a variety of online comments. While a few sympathized with her, suspecting the Bryant family of using their influence to oust her, the majority thought she got what she deserved.

With her fan base dwindling after a massive unfollowing, Mae’s online reputation was plummeting. But the paparazzi were eager to capitalize on this last wave of interest.

After waiting outside the clinic for over an hour, Mae and her assistant finally emerged. The paparazzi swarmed them, desperate for fresh footage.

“Mae, with your departure from Ghostly Guidance, what do you have to say?”

“Mae, are you stepping out today for some plastic surgery?”

Mae nearly exploded with anger at their questions but knew better than to confront them head–on. With clenched teeth, she replied, “I’m just here to see the dentist.”

She brushed off further inquiries and quickened her pace.

But the paparazzi weren’t satisfied with such a mundane answer and kept pestering her.

Annoyed and desperate to reach her waiting car, Mae suddenly took off running.

The paparazzi, taken by surprise, gave chase.

In her hurry, Mae tripped right before she reached the car and took a hard fall, face–planting into a nearby step.

The paparazzi, realizing the situation, immediately shouted, “We didn’t touch her! We didn’t cause her fall!”

Mae felt as if her entire face was numb with pain. As she tried to get up with the help of her assistant, she tasted blood and spat out something.

The paparazzi, now cautiously filming, captured the moment Mae spat out a tooth, her mouth bloody and missing a front tooth.

By evening, that shocking image had gone viral.

12:20

How bad was it? Mae’s fans unfollowed in silence, and online commentators harshly dissected the dental implications of her missing tooth. Even If repaired, the image of her without a front tooth would haunt her career like a bad omen.

Winnie, reviewing the day’s online frenzy, noticed that the dark aura lingering over Mac had dissipated somewhat after the bloodshed. Yet, with the internet ablaze with mockery, Mae’s streak of misfortune was far from over.

Fame, as they say in showbiz, is like a nurturing flame–It can elevate one’s aura. To Winnie, this ‘flame‘ was the luck bestowed by fans‘ support, akin to the strength of their belief. The deeper the devotion, the stronger the personal fortune.

But conversely, for Mae, her luck seemed to dwindle with her fading stardom.

If someone gets universally slammed online, they end up catching bad vibes like a cold.

These vibes, once they pile up, can turn a person’s luck sour.

In short, if you’re just going through tough times but the whole internet is waiting for your fall, you’re basically cursed.

And, as luck would have it, Mae’s caught in that exact storm right now.

But, none of that mess has anything to do with Winnie at the moment.