Chapter 556


    Allison leaned against the corner of the dimly lit room. Her back was against the cold, unforgiving wall.


    The silence of the night was heavy, suffocating. In her eyes, the quiet scorn of the man she had been


    seeing was more piercing than the harshest troll’sments on social media. Somehow, real-life


    indifference cut deeper than any online vitriol.


    The next day came with relentless pace, and the buzz of the photoshoot took over the previous night’s


    woes. Allison spent the morning at the studio. Her face was a canvas for the makeup artist. Her


    reddened eyes, which were the evidence of a night’s crying, could not be fully masked, but the camera


    would never know, thanks to the magic of post-production.


    Throughout the day, Allison changed outfits more times than she cared to count. Her body was moving


    mechanically through the poses. She felt like a marite, whose limbs were pulled by invisible strings


    as photographers directed her every move. She was devoid of feeling, like a soulless doll performing


    onmand.


    The studio was packed with industry insiders. The studio was a veritable hive of activity. Everyone


    knew everyone and everyone knew about the scandal that had unfolded online over the past few days.


    But professionalism reigned supreme; everyone was absorbed in their work, from the nning to the


    styling, as if the gossip was a world away.


    When Allison retreated to her dressing room for a midday break, ss soon as the door closed behind


    her, the studio erupted into whispers.


    “Hey, do you think those photos of Allison are real? I mean, Jack, you’re the expert here. They are


    photoshopped or not?”


    Jack, the team’s retoucher, known for his keen eye, lowered his voice and replied, “They’re


    real.”


    A collective gasp rippled through the group, followed quickly by hushed shushing.


    “Keep it down, will ya? She is just next door in the dressing room. Let’s not have her overhear this.”


    “So what if she does? If she got the guts to do it, she should be able to face the talk. It’s


    not like she’s unaware of what she’s done.”


    “True, but still, she has a good look and pretty nice skin. Shees off all sweet and innocent, but


    underneath, she’s clearly got a wild side.”


    “Yeah, with all those guys in the pictures? That’s just… too much.”


    “Hey, Jack, you guys must want that kind of girl, right? Innocent face, but a wild animal at


    heart?”


    08:53


    Jack grinned sheepishly. “Even if I do, it’s not like I’d stand a chance. With her look and body, I’d be at


    the back of a very long line.”


    “Typical guy,” someone teased.


    “It just grosses me out, you know? She looks so young in the pictures, but she’s with all these guys…


    It’s just messy.”


    “And think about it, she is just starting to heat up in the industry, getting all the good roles. I wonder


    who her sugar daddy is.”


    “If I were her sugar daddy, I’d be disgusted by now.”


    Back in the dressing room, Paige clenched her fists, fuming with anger. “They’re too much! All these


    gossip mongers!” She spun around. “I’m going out there!”


    Allison grabbed Paige’s arm. “And what are you going to do?”


    Paige was indignant. “Just sit here and let them nder you?”


    It was bad enough for her to hear; she couldn’t imagine how Allison felt.


    Allison replied calmly, “Let them talk. It’s not like their words will take a piece of flesh from


    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    me.”


    “But Allison, you’re too kind. These people need to be put in their ce. They need to learn a lesson.


    Howe they only chew on the ones that won’t bite back?”


    Allison smiled wryly. “Isn’t that how the world works? People kick the stones that seem softer. Let them


    be. Their words can’t hurt me.’


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