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nEvelyn’s tactics were swift and decisive; she threatened to bankrupt Starline Media within ten minutes, and in just three, Diane was nearly on the verge of begging for mercy.

nHowever, Diane wasn’t a major shareholder of Starline Media. She was merely a minor stakeholder, simply a figurehead of sorts.

n“Miss Taylor, Starline Media… it’s not up to me,” Diane hurriedly explained, “But I assure you, Mason will never be seen in public again. He’ll be blacklisted throughout the industry.”

nMason, still reeling from the slap Diane had given him moments earlier, was shocked to hear her promising his complete professional downfall.

nIn a panic, he grabbed Diane’s arm, his voice hoarse, “Diane, you can’t do this to me! Over these two years, I’ve sacrificed so much for you!”

nDiane, already under pressure, snapped at Mason’s plea, violently shaking off his grasp.

nShe slapped him again, shouting, “What have you sacrificed? With your mediocre performances that last at most two minutes? Maybe it’s better off removed! Now, apologize to Miss Taylor!”

nDumbfounded, Mason couldn’t believe the turn of events. At the New York Film Festival, he should have been the shining star. How had things gone so awry?

nNo one intervened, even as Diane assaulted and berated him so brazenly. Security guards looked on, seemingly indifferent. The big shots who had once praised him were merely distant spectators, some even wearing mocking grins, treating the scene as mere entertainment.

nNo one stood up for him.

nA celebrity?

nIn front of these true elites, he was just a tool, a plaything. When their interests were threatened, disposing of a tool or a toy was more satisfying than discarding an old pair of shoes.

nEvelyn slightly furrowed her brows, glancing at Diane, “If you don’t have the authority, have someone who does speak to me. And, while you can treat your associates however you like, I don’t want to see either of you right now. Understood?”

n“Yes, of course!” Diane replied with a sycophantic smile towards Evelyn, then gave Mason a kick. “Well? Get out!”

nMason hurriedly supported Diane, now seeing her as his last lifeline. No matter how she treated him, he dared not show any signs of displeasure.

n“My apologies for the disturbance, Miss Taylor,” Diane said with a bow towards Evelyn, then led Mason away.

nOnly then did Evelyn make a call, “Don’t let Starline Media go bankrupt just yet. I’m considering acquiring it.”

nThe surrounding moguls observed Evelyn’s every move, feeling once again the pressure this woman exerted.

nStarline Media might not be the biggest company in the entertainment industry, but several influential figures stand behind it. The fact that Evelyn could make Diane act so subservient with just one phone call speaks volumes about her power.

nNot far away, Joseph was watching the entire scene unfold.

nMason’s popularity was not much lower than his before, with more than 20 million fans, and he also had the support of big shots behind the scenes. But what’s the situation now?

nPublicly slapped like a dog by Diane, and with just a word from Evelyn, he was set to be blacklisted.

nRegardless of everything, Joseph couldn’t help but feel a tinge of melancholy.

nIf he couldn’t secure a place among the true elites, one day, he might end up like Mason.

nTo truly become an elite… ．

nPerhaps the present Lucy was the golden opportunity.

nIf someone as formidable as Evelyn had a close friend, that friend must come from a privileged background. Of course, with his capabilities, if he could woo both Lucy and Evelyn, his life would reach its zenith.

nIndeed, he must be the chosen one!

nWith this thought, Joseph chuckled, and the way he looked at Lucy changed, appearing more enigmatic.

nWilliam, throughout the whole situation, remained seated, silent. Alice, watching Evelyn, was taken aback.

nThis must be the legendary dominant heroine!

nJudging by Evelyn’s change in attitude towards William, it seemed she was making her move.

nEven though William had mentioned that Evelyn wasn’t his future wife, when it came to matters of the heart, who could predict the outcome?

nIn such a situation, if she were always around William, would Evelyn see her as a rival?

nEvelyn noticed Alice’s gaze, locked eyes with her, and gave a narrow-eyed smile. Alice was taken aback, wearing a forced grin, unsure of what to say.

nThis New York Film Festival had essentially become Evelyn’s personal showcase, giving all the powers that be a taste of her dominance.

nThat very night, scandals about Mason’s dubious personal life, including being sponsored by wealthy older women, were exposed, along with concrete evidence. Major media outlets declared they would permanently blacklist such morally corrupt artists.

nSuddenly, Mason found himself at the eye of the storm, becoming a hot topic for netizens. The once-popular influencer was now universally derided, becoming the internet’s villain overnight.

nThe heads of major media companies didn’t mind seizing this opportunity to milk one last surge in web traffic, squeezing out the last ounce of utility from Mason.

nJoseph, glancing at the trending topics on his phone, felt a whirl of emotions. At this moment, he had managed to get Lucy alone with him. He had to win her over quickly!

nLucy was still entirely immersed in the joy of meeting her idol. However, a bit shy by nature, she continuously shared her elation with Evelyn while seated in Joseph’s sports car.

nSuddenly, Joseph’s hands landed on Lucy’s shoulders. Gazing deeply into her eyes, he softly asked, “Lucy, do you like me?”

nLucy blinked in surprise and replied, “Yes, I like !”

nJoseph pressed on, “Then, would you want to be with me?”

n“Huh?” Lucy’s phone slipped from her grasp onto the car seat. With wide eyes, she stuttered, “Wha… what did you say?”

nJoseph didn’t give her much of a chance to react. Like the romantic leads in movies, he held her face firmly and planted a deep kiss.

nLucy reflexively bit Joseph and then pushed him away before rushing out of the car.

n“Lucy, don’t you feel anything for me?” Joseph was caught off guard by her reaction.

n“The ‘liking’ I mentioned doesn’t mean I want a deeper relationship with you!” Lucy said, her eyes downcast. “Just like in Hollywood movies, the male lead is usually the female lead’s, while the secondary male character is adored by everyone. You might be the lead, but that doesn’t mean you’re ‘mine.'”

n“What?” Joseph was puzzled. What kind of logic was that?

nRegardless of Lucy’s reasoning, the bottom line was she had rejected him! He had thought they were making progress, but now it seemed they were back to square one.

n“I’m sorry!” With that, Lucy hurriedly ran off, even leaving her phone in the car.

nJoseph watched Lucy’s retreating figure with a mix of frustration, then picked up the dropped phone.

nLucy had been chatting with Evelyn, and their conversation was still open. Out of curiosity, Joseph took a glance and then smirked. It seemed Lucy wouldn’t be escaping his grasp that easily.

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