I looked Clark up and down, a mocking smile curling on my lips. “Not bad. Looks like you’re doing better now than you used to.”
He stiffened. “What nonsense are you talking about? Do I know you?”
His eyes darted with panic. I simply raised an eyebrow and said nothing. He remembered me—how could he not?
A few years ago, before he ever made it into the entertainment industry, I kept him around for two months. He was barely out of school, immature, and arrogant for no reason. I paid his rent, bought his clothes, but he couldn’t even be bothered to pour me a glass of water. If I hadn’t been too busy back then, I would’ve kicked him out long before the two months were up.
Before I could say more, the door to the room swung open.
“Sis!” my sister cried, eyes lighting up. “When did you get back? I missed you so much!”
She threw herself into my arms like a wounded deer seeking shelter, her frame trembling slightly. I hugged her tight, then shot Clark a cold glance over her shoulder. A silent warning.
But the netizens had their own interpretation.
[Oh damn… do both sisters like the same man? That’s messed up.]
[Cara Hartman doesn’t look innocent at all. This is going to be fun.]
Inside the room, Stella didn’t say much about the bullying. Instead, she looked up at me with confusion. “Why are you here?”
“I’m a guest now,” I said simply.
She blinked. “Really?” Then, remembering we were still on live broadcast, she fell silent.
Not long after, there was a knock on the door. Clark and Paula stood outside.
“Stella,” Paula chirped sweetly, “I convinced Clark to help you with the task. Since I earned today’s reward, I thought I’d treat everyone to dinner. Would you and your sister like to come along?”
Paula’s tone was light, friendly—even generous. But I knew what she was doing. This was a subtle flex, a show of dominance disguised as kindness.
Stella, ever the sweet and trusting one, didn’t see it. She smiled brightly. “Thank you so much, Sister Paula! I haven’t eaten all day.”
Cue the barrage of hate again.
[Seriously? Paula was just being polite. Does Stella really not get it?]
[Taking your sister to tag along too? What a third wheel.]
[Starve for a day and act like it’s someone else’s fault? She didn’t even try in the challenge.]
Still, my sister pulled me along. We followed them down to the parking area, but just as we approached the car, Paula suddenly stopped.
“Ah… this is awkward,” she said, feigning concern. “The car’s only a four-seater, but there’s five of us…”
I scrolled lazily through the comments on my phone. Netizens were busy gushing over Paula’s “grace” and “generosity.”
I arched an eyebrow, locked my screen, and looked up.
“If I remember correctly,” I said coolly, “this car was a reward for Stella completing her task, wasn’t it?”
Paula faltered. “Yes, but… I did invite you, right? You wouldn’t stop me from joining, would you? I mean, I can always take another car. It’s really fine.”
Retreating to gain sympathy—how textbook. She knew netizens would start rallying around her again.
My sister looked like she wanted to smooth things over, but I beat her to it, flashing Paula a polite smile.
“Oh, I think you misunderstood. I just meant I can’t let you treat us to dinner for free. I’ll drive.”
Then I opened the back door and added casually, “Love teams should sit together, right? You and Clark take the backseat. Stella will ride shotgun.”
Paula froze.
Her screen love interest on the show was Adam Holloway. Pairing with Clark publicly would sabotage her carefully crafted on-screen romance. But backing out now would be even more humiliating. So, with a stiff smile, she nodded and got in the car.
Once everyone was inside, Clark realized he was the odd one out—with no seat left for him. He rushed toward me, a little flustered.
“I’m Stella’s partner. I should drive.”
He reached for the keys, but I leaned back casually against the driver’s side door, smiling coolly.
“My sister may have picked you, but you said you were forced into it. No need to force yourself again, right? It’s better for everyone.”
I had used his own words against him. His face turned pale.
