The Broken-hearted She And The Icy He

Chapter 22 Not Dead Yet

Lily’s hotel name, her phone number… even her ID number had all been leaked online by the ever-“resourceful” netizens.

All because John was that famous.

And the rumor of her being a mistress? It dominated the trending searches.

The internet was flooded with slander, abuse, and mockery. Strangers from every corner of the web cursed her, told her to go die, even damned her entire family.

Too bad for them–those curses were wasted.

Her family… had already perished sixteen years ago. And she had no plans to die.

She was going to live. Live long, just like her parents had told her to.

Lily could guess with near certainty: the photo of her leaving the marital home had been leaked by Elsa’s people, stirring public opinion and weaponizing the internet mob.

She was still contemplating how to counterattack when her phone rang.

It was the director of God of War.

“Mr. Applebee, good morning. I—”

Just a little incident, she meant to say. I’ll be there soon to sign the contract.

But before she could finish, Mr. Applebee’s voice, cold and full of contempt, cut her off. “Lily, don’t bother coming.Our studio doesn’t work with voice actors who have moral stains. We’ll never collaborate with you again.”

Lily froze. He’d seen the headlines too.

She’d auditioned five separate times to get the role of Athena.

And now, because of baseless slander, it was gone.

“Mr. Applebee, please, there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m not a homewrecker-”

Click.

The call ended.

She redialed.

Busy signal.

He had blocked her.

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black screen of her phone, Lily felt her eyes

took work, talent, perseverance.

someone else had crushed it with the

cry–but she

whispered, “Come on, Lily.

more they want you filthy and broken. The higher you’ll rise above them

Keep going.

All that trash thrown

in place for a long time,

body wash, scalding water—until she

hair was dry, she didn’t rush

louder. The scandal was

was counting on one thing: that John’s bias for her would prevent him from speaking out. Elsa wanted her ruined. Disgraced

what Elsa

had solid evidence she wasn’t

wanted to destroy

she’d wait–wait until this scandal reached its boiling point, and

taste what it meant to be

Lily lay on the bed and soon drifted into

Or so she thought.

her mind

days when she

died, she was

had been too cute, too charming as a child. Within

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adopting her.

Luna Sue, a couple who had just lost their six–year–old daughter and were desperate for

other was the Boltons–Blanc and Nancy–the wealthiest family in the country and James’s

Boltons had three sons and had

adored her. She held her in her arms and called her