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.

1/3

at the black screen of her phone,

hard. So hard. It took work, talent, perseverance. She’d clawed her way to that

had crushed it with the flick of a

cry–but she forced herself to

whispered, “Come on,

more they want you filthy

Keep going.

All that trash thrown

for a long time, then finally returned

herself over and over–shampoo, body wash, scalding water—until she could no longer smell

she didn’t rush to post her proof or clear

getting louder.

on one thing: that John’s bias for her would

Elsa hadn’t

that Lily had solid evidence she wasn’t the

wanted to

scandal reached its boiling

Elsa taste what it meant to be

Lily lay on the bed and soon drifted into

Or so she thought.

but her mind

days when she was

died, she was

too cute, too charming as a child. Within days of her arrival, two families showed interest

2/3

adopting her.

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

and Nancy–the wealthiest

and had always longed for a

adored her. She held her in her arms and