Lina, freshly admitted to the hospital, was a mess; red paint stained her, and she hid under the covers when Gwenda and Cecilia arrived. Their appearance prompted Madeleine, Lina's manager, to approach them.

"Oh, it's Miss Kelly and" Madeleine paused, looking at Gwenda. "Hello, I'm Cecilia's manager, Miss Evans."

Gwenda introduced herself. Madeleine eyed them, about to speak, when Lina threw back the sheets, glaring with hatred. "Why are you here? To laugh at me? Do you think you haven't caused enough trouble?"

"Miss Wood, please," Gwenda said calmly, with a polite but firm smile. "We just saw the news and came to visit. We have no other intentions."

"I don't need your false kindness!" Lina retorted, covering her face before glaring at Cecilia. "Keep an eye on your fans! It was red paint today; next time, it could be sulfuric acid!" Cecilia remained silent, remembering Gwenda's instructions.

"Please calm down, Miss Wood," Gwenda said soothingly. "The matter is under investigation. Let's avoid misunderstandings."

"Misunderstandings?" Lina fumed. "It was her fan! I know it! I've been in this business for years, and this has never happened before! It's all her fault!" Gwenda remained impassive.

Madeleine, after a brief pause, said impatiently, "Why are you really here? If you're here to apologize, show some sincerity. Don't beat around the bush!"

Gwenda's phone buzzed. A message from Hattie read: "Confirmed, that guy isn't a Cecilia fan."

Gwenda's eyes sharpened. She looked coldly at Lina and Madeleine and smiled. "You don't need to be so angry. We came to check on Miss Wood. As for an apology, we did nothing wrong. Why should we apologize?"

"You don't admit it?" Madeleine's face darkened. "That guy yelled about being Cecilia's fan! He said he did it to avenge her!"

"What does that prove?" Gwenda countered. "If I picked someone off the street and said he was Miss Wood's fan, would you believe it?" Madeleine was speechless.

Enraged, Lina jumped out of bed and confronted Gwenda. "Are you saying I staged this myself?"

"I didn't say that," Gwenda replied, her eyes gleaming with derision.

Lina's jaw clenched. "Fine. If you won't admit it, I'll never let this go!"

"Well, Miss Wood, if you insist on being hostile, we'll just wait and see who can't let this go," Gwenda said flatly, leaving with Cecilia.

Lina watched them leave, seething. "She's too arrogant!"

"She provoked you," Madeleine said, frowning. "Cecilia's manager is formidable. I can't figure out her background."

Lina worried. "Madeleine, will there be holes in our plan?"

"Don't worry," Madeleine grinned darkly. "That guy won't talk. Even if they find out he wasn't a fan, they have no proof. We can say they fabricated a story to avoid responsibility. This will boost your popularity and damage Cecilia's reputation—killing two birds with one stone."

Lina smiled. "Wonderful! This paint will have been worth it."

"Let's wait and see," Madeleine said. "Cecilia Kelly is doomed."