Chapter 28

Three days passed. Bella received no calls from directors or investors. She felt frantic. Her situation had changed overnight. What was wrong?

"Bella," her assistant said, entering the dressing room.

"What? Is there good news?" Bella asked eagerly.

The assistant sighed, and Bella's face fell. "Bella, you should see today's headlines."

Bella frowned, immediately opening her phone. Several headlines screamed:

• Eight well-known companies have jointly terminated their cooperation with actress Bella Wyatt and are seeking a replacement spokesperson!
• Top actress rumored to have underworld ties; suspected of being a gangster's mistress.
• Major film crews terminate contracts; Bella Wyatt may be out of work.

Bella's face darkened. Fury surged through her. Not only directors and investors, but also her endorsement deals were collapsing. She was bewildered. Rumors and wild speculation flooded the internet.

"Damn it! Why is this happening?" she cried, breaking down.

Her phone rang. It was her eldest sister, Amara.

"Amara"

"Bella, what happened? What did you do?" Amara demanded.

"Amara, I don't know" Bella sobbed.

"If you did nothing wrong, why this explosion? You're damaging the Wyatt family's reputation. Mom is furious. Fix this!" Amara said sternly.

Bella was speechless. She didn't know the problem, much less how to fix it.

"Think! Did you provoke anyone recently?" Amara pressed.

"No" Bella stammered, then said, "I met Dustin, Simone, and her sister at the studio that day, and he was talking nonsense"

"Dustin? Dustin again! Could he have done this?" Amara exclaimed.

"No, he couldn't. He doesn't have that kind of power," Bella insisted.

"Whatever it is, fix it, or face the consequences!" Amara hung up.

Bella felt uneasy. She recalled Dustin's words that day—that her career was over and Camille would replace her.

"Hmph! How arrogant! Who does he think he is?" Bella sneered, refusing to believe it.

As days passed, Bella's initial calm morphed into anxiety. Even the online rumors began to subside. Unable to bear the loss of attention, she decided to take action.

"Mr. Leonard, I'm Bella Wyatt. Didn't you want me for a role? I'm available now What? You've already found someone?"

"Mr. Walker, you were keen to work with me. I'm free now What? You're not interested in movies anymore?"

"Mr. Zimmer"

Call after call, Bella's frustration mounted, her face reddening. Those once-deferential people were now indifferent, even hanging up on her. No one wanted to work with her. The producers she once scorned now dared to dismiss her.

Bella felt her world crumbling. Days ago, she was a top celebrity, showered with flattery. Now, in a matter of days, she was utterly alone.