Chapter 206: Falling More and More in Love

Maggie was surprised by the video's success. While confident in its quality, she hadn't anticipated it trending and generating such high engagement across various platforms.

But with Nathael's involvement, its popularity was hardly a surprise. She wouldn't be shocked if it remained a top trending topic for a month.

She opened the video and watched attentively, admiring its dreamy, youthful aesthetic and perfectly balanced lighting. No wonder they say love is the best photographer; Nathael had captured the exact emotions he intended.

Checking the comments, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with few negative reviews, and those were mild. Maggie found the comments encouraging. Some examples included:

"Aw! That's nice. Reminds me of my first crush! Shame it didn't go anywhere!"

"The piano skills are legit, not staged. And seeing those hand details is cool. But why are you hiding your face?"

"Am I the only one crying? Loved deeply, but we went separate ways."

"You look so stunning and fresh, like the goddess I dream about!!!"

"Goddess? Maybe she's hiding her face because she lacks confidence?"

"Geez, you're jealous. Do women have to look tech-savvy to be considered pretty?"

"Wondering who this pianist is. She's rocking it like a pro!"

"Probably just another internet celeb hype. Bet she'll reveal herself soon."

"Loving it! But who's the gorgeous girl? I want to follow her!"

After browsing, Maggie praised Nathael's skill. The video wasn't just accumulating views and comments; it was being shared by major entertainment influencers. This made her feel slightly guilty, as if she'd become connected to someone too powerful. However, she knew the video's success would ultimately hurt the Camerons. Even her idols retweeted it, sparking further speculation about the woman's identity and intensifying the buzz.

Having achieved her goal, Maggie casually scrolled through other updates. She spotted a headline about a university piano competition, marked as "trending," preceded by a post from Sierra. Clicking, she saw the Camerons were attempting to boost Sierra's image.

Their strategy, however—using the tags "piano prodigy girl" and "rich second-gen"—fell short. With limited material and Ronald's spontaneous decision, the hastily assembled videos lacked highlights. The combination of tags didn't generate the desired attention; instead, it prompted some to investigate Sierra's connection to the Cameron family, resulting in negative feedback.

Maggie suspected this was a test, a cautious approach to avoid overwhelming Sierra. However, she sensed a deeper strategy. Further scrolling revealed her own name trending under the headline: "The Cameron sisters face off on stage!"

The post contained photos of Maggie from past events—mostly screenshots from Luster Corporation and Cameron Group Construction activities. The Camerons' malicious intent was clear: to create trouble for her. While comments weren't numerous, they were inflammatory, fueled by Luster Corporation controversies. Maggie found an article labeling Sierra as an innocent, naive rich kid, while portraying Maggie as the ambitious adopted daughter actively contributing to the family's success, hinting at her influence on Luster Corporation's actions.

Maggie chuckled coldly, anticipating this development. "My role is just to be the scapegoat, huh?"

Before she could investigate further, Nathael gently took her phone. "No need to look at these; it'll ruin your mood," he said.

He briefly glanced at the phone, recognizing the Camerons' schemes. He couldn't imagine how much longer Maggie would have been entangled in their mess without his intervention. He wished he could make the articles disappear, but knew the time wasn't right. The worse the public opinion became, the more beneficial it would be when the truth emerged.

Maggie dismissed the Camerons' actions; after years of their shady dealings, this seemed minor. Looking up at Nathael, she smiled. "When did you wake up?"

"When you were watching the video," he replied, his voice hoarse but warm.

Maggie chuckled. "You edited the video? When did you do that?"

"After you fell asleep," Nathael answered directly.

Maggie, noticing the redness in his eyes, said, "You could've had someone else do it. It's not a big deal."

Nathael gently held her head and kissed her. "Anything concerning you is significant to me."

Maggie, speechless, gazed at him. After a moment, she hugged him and softly kissed him. "Nathael, I adore you more and more. What should I do?"

At 2:00 p.m., the university's piano competition began. Maggie had met with a representative from the First Institute. Six spots were available: three from the School of Arts, one from her School of Design, and two split between the School of Foreign Languages and the School of Business and Trade. Sierra occupied the Business and Trade spot. That school was known for its purchased admissions, but its affiliation with the First Institute offered perks, which Sierra now enjoyed.