A harsh laugh escaped Elliana’s lips. “Are you threatened by my search for truth? Why resist uncovering what really happened? Does guilt haunt you?”
Panic flashed across Paige’s face. “Elliana, stop this nonsense! What possible reason would I have for guilt? I was merely eight when the fire occurred. How could it involve me?”
“Indeed.” Elliana’s lips curved into a dangerous smile, unafraid to expose secrets before millions of livestream viewers. Since Paige was determined to destroy her, she abandoned all pretense of civility. The time had come to shatter this carefully constructed facade. “My parents remained married when the fire devastated our lives, yet you’re three years my senior, being my half-sister. Isn’t that intriguing?” The observation struck Paige’s most vulnerable point. Nothing terrified her more than public discussion of her illegitimate birth. Elliana’s calculated revelation forced her to press her lips together in rigid silence, terrified that further conversation would expose even more humiliating truths.
Though Paige retreated into silence, the livestream chat erupted with speculation.
“I dismissed it as gossip before, but Elliana’s public statement and Paige’s inability to deny it suggest the rumors were accurate. Kiara truly was the mistress!”
“Now Elliana’s hostility toward Paige makes sense. Is Elliana avenging her mother?”
“Paige’s mother destroyed Elliana’s parents’ marriage, so Elliana targets Paige’s relationship. Perfect karmic justice!”
“I loathe home-wreckers and feel zero sympathy for their illegitimate children. Despite Paige’s beauty, she’ll never earn my support!” Witnessing public opinion turn viciously against Paige, Haley frantically signaled the camera crew to redirect focus toward the next guest.
Vivien stepped into the spotlight. The moment cameras captured her, she waved enthusiastically and beamed. “Hello, everyone! I’m Raylan’s sister, Vivien. My mission on this show is protecting my brother and his fiancee’s perfect relationship from any outside interference!”
Vivien’s rehearsed declaration, prepared before Elliana’s explosive revelation about Paige’s illegitimate origin, had been crafted to target Elliana.
The whole crew’s original strategy involved portraying Elliana as harboring designs on Raylan, suggesting she joined the show to steal Paige’s fiance. However, circumstances had shifted dramatically, and Vivien failed to adapt, inadvertently deepening Paige’s humiliation. The livestream chat immediately reignited discussions about infidelity and homewreckers.
Paige shot Vivien a venomous glare, muttering through clenched teeth that Vivien was an absolute imbecile.
Oblivious to her blunder, Vivien eagerly anticipated exposing Elliana’s former supposed feelings for Raylan, salivating at the prospect of humiliating Elliana before millions.
Haley, however, dared not risk another disaster and swiftly directed cameras toward the next guest.
The following introductions proved disappointingly mundane.
Two freshly debuted male artists, Townsend Herrera and Cesar Chapman, clearly hoped to benefit from proximity to the celebrated actor Kent, yet neither possessed any distinguishing qualities.
Two rich girls, Nayeli Byrd and Celine Rivera, alongside a loaded guy, Joaquin Fairclough, similarly failed to capture any meaningful attention.
The final guest, however, offered an unexpected breath of fresh air. Hailee Loftus stood apart-a recent college graduate from modest origins, her background sharply contrasting with the assembled elite. The previously subdued livestream chat suddenly buzzed with renewed interest.
“Hailee radiates authenticity-gentle, unspoiled, her natural appearance feels refreshingly genuine.”
“Wait, isn’t this program titled ‘The Heiress’ Graduation Trip’? How did someone ordinary secure a spot? What purpose does she serve?”
“Will a regular person inevitably suffer among these wealthy heirs and socialites?”
With quiet confidence, Hailee smiled and shared her purpose. “My goal is simple: meet diverse individuals, experience new perspectives, and expand my knowledge. I appreciate your understanding.”
The other guests exchanged contemptuous smirks.
Elliana’s gaze sharpened as she sensed something amiss
Elliana’s mind raced. The show, pretentiously titled “The Heiress’ Graduation Trip,” immediately established its exclusive social hierarchy, leaving no space for commoners. Yet, somehow, Hailee-a girl from a remarkably ordinary background-had inexplicably secured a spot among them. Why?
From Hailee’s first appearance, Elliana’s mind worked to unravel this puzzle. As contemptuous glances cascaded toward Hailee, Elliana swiftly connected the pieces. Beyond the artists-Kent, Townsend, and Cesar-everyone recognized Hailee, though she remained oblivious to their identities. Her presence couldn’t be coincidental. Some hidden agenda lurked beneath the surface.
After the final introduction, Haley reclaimed control with practiced authority and unveiled the episode’s challenge. “Today, we’ll guide our live audience through the Ublento Art Museum, immersing ourselves in masterpieces from renowned artists while experiencing the sublime beauty of refined aesthetics. The evening will culminate on the third floor, where we’ll witness the finale of the Stany Oil Painting Competition. I’m thrilled to announce that we’ve secured legendary oil painter Mr. Luciano Scott as our special guest.”
Before Haley’s final word faded, Vivien erupted with calculated enthusiasm, “Mr. Scott stands as an icon in the oil painting world and currently presides over the Calligraphers and Painters Association. Meeting him has been my lifelong aspiration!”
Haley’s smile glinted with manufactured warmth. “Mr. Scott devotes himself entirely to his craft and rarely entertains strangers. Our show has cultivated this rare opportunity for you all to encounter him personally. Seize this moment-let’s discover who might earn the privilege of becoming his student.”
Paige’s eyelashes fluttered dramatically. “Are we all eligible for consideration?”
Haley nodded with theatrical assurance. “Indeed, though becoming Mr. Scott’s protege demands extraordinary talent. His artistic pursuit knows no boundaries, and his standards for accepting students remain formidably high. Fortune favors you all!”
Paige clutched Raylan’s arm with practiced excitement. “What an exquisite artistic journey awaits us! I’ve nurtured a passion for painting since childhood. I simply must excel and secure my place as Mr. Scott’s student, contributing my vision to the artistic community.”
Raylan gazed at her with manufactured adoration. “Chase your dream. I stand behind you completely.”
Vivien chimed in with saccharine support, “You’ll triumph, Paige, without question!”
Several guests, self-proclaimed art enthusiasts, perked up at the prospect of studying under Luciano’s tutelage, eagerly anticipating their chance.
Only Elliana’s lips curled into a knowing, sardonic smile. In her mind, she’d rechristened this farce “The Heiress’ Dramatic,” a brutally accurate label for the production’s true nature. Haley and the others dressed today’s spectacle in cultural sophistication, yet every segment had been meticulously engineered to glorify Paige alone.
The nauseating reverence for Luciano particularly grated against Elliana’s nerves. Luciano was no devoted artistic purist-behind his cultivated facade lurked countless shadowy transactions entwining money and influence. His appearance undoubtedly came with an exorbitant price tag from Merritt, all calculated to elevate Paige’s social standing.
Elliana could map the coming charade with perfect clarity: Luciano would lavish praise on Paige’s “exceptional talent,” proclaiming her art’s transcendent potential before announcing-with practiced spontaneity-that he’d selected her as his final protege. Regarding the evening’s competition, Paige had certainly submitted her entry long ago, with the championship trophy already engraved with her name. Once broadcast, this episode would catapult Paige’s reputation to stratospheric heights, unleashing a deluge of lucrative endorsements. This supposed cultural exploration masked a shameless vanity project funded by wealth and manipulation, with Paige as its centerpiece. As for whatever traps Paige had set along this carefully choreographed path, Elliana had yet to uncover them.
Having dissected these machinations and noting the cameras focused elsewhere, Elliana discreetly messaged Matthew. “Investigate Luciano’s meetings and activities over the past forty-eight hours.” Matthew’s response arrived instantly. “Consider it done, Lexi.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.