A netizen posted a lengthy analysis on a certain website, dissecting Bonnie Wesley's body language and expression in the photos to infer her psychological state at the time.
The final conclusion was harsh and damning:
Cold-blooded, ruthless, and full of malice.
These eight piercing words nailed Bonnie to the pillar of shame.
…
Cathy seeing the situation spiraling out of control, anxiously called Bonnie. On the other end of the line, Bonnie sounded utterly calm, as if none of it concerned her. "You're asking what I'm doing? Just at home, doing a face mask and watching a movie."
Cathy rolled her eyes. "Are you seriously letting that little b*tch Mandy Brown run wild like this? Come on, Bonnie, do something! Blacklist her! Sleep your way through the problem! Bury her with money!"
Bonnie was no longer the helpless little girl she used to be. She was wealthy, powerful, and untouchable now.
Peeling off the mask, her skin smooth and glowing, Bonnie gently patted her face to absorb the essence. Her tone was serene: "Things are so heated online right now. If I blacklist her, it'll only make things worse. I can't lay a finger on her. In fact, I have to treat her like a treasure."
Cathy fumed. "Why?! She's the one playing dirty tricks! This has nothing to do with you! Why should she be the one getting sympathy?"
"Because she's wielding public opinion like a blade. That night, she orchestrated everything, positioning herself as the victim at the peak of moral outrage. No matter what I say, I'll be labeled a bully."
Anyone who dares defend Bonnie would be dismissed as an accomplice, another shady figure in the industry.
"It's the classic 'whoever looks weaker wins' scenario."
Bonnie's eyes narrowed, her expression unreadable. "Too bad there weren't any security cameras in the venue."
Now, whatever she says becomes the truth.
From across the room, Derek looked up at her, his brows faintly furrowed.
…
Thursday was the day Mandy Brown was scheduled to visit Eastvision Films Media for a partnership meeting. A full week had passed since the incident, during which her fans had continued to stage protests outside the company, creating daily chaos.
Bonnie told the driver to stop up ahead and turned to Cathy. "You really don't have to come with me. There are security guards."
But Cathy shook her head firmly. "With those delicate limbs of yours, I'm worried those rabid fans will tear you apart."
And because Mandy was expected today, the crowd of fans had multiplied.
Bonnie sighed, helpless, and told Cathy to tighten her hat and mask before they got out of the car together.
As soon as her car appeared, the crowd grew restless. Ignoring the security staff, the fans surged toward her.
"Bonnie, how can you be so heartless? Don't you feel guilty seeing Mandy attempt suicide because of you?"
"You're evil and stupid! Even if you destroy Mandy, no one will ever love you!"
"You're disgusting! How can you still show up to work? If I were you, I'd kill myself to apologize!"
…
Bonnie walked toward the company entrance with a blank expression, treating the noise like the barking of dogs.
But the protesters were becoming increasingly aggressive. Enraged by her indifference, they started grabbing at her. The security team struggled to hold them back as the scene spiraled out of control.
Bonnie's face turned cold.
Suddenly, a loud honk pierced the air. A black luxury car sped toward them, showing no signs of slowing even as it barreled toward the crowd. Screams erupted. Several people at the front stumbled and fell.
Derek stepped out of the car and, in the stunned silence that followed, pulled Bonnie away.
He swept a glance over the security guards. Though he wasn't yelling, his voice was enough to make their scalps tingle.
"Are you all dead? Can't even hold back a bunch of lunatic women?"
The guards lowered their heads in shame.
Right in front of the delusional fans, he calmly dialed the police. The patrol cars arrived quickly, and the entire crowd was taken away for disturbing public order.
Bonnie watched Derek's swift and decisive actions, surprised by how cold and sharp his aura had become, so unlike his usual lazy, indifferent self. It was almost intimidating.
"I've taken care of her for you," he finally looked at her.
Bonnie blinked, realizing he was referring to Mandy Brown. There was no doubt about it. His version of "taking care" likely meant making her vanish from the entertainment world entirely.
She quickly said, "That won't be necessary. I have my own plan."
Derek stared at her for a few seconds, said nothing, and turned to leave.
At that moment, Cathy popped out from the side, eyeing him sneakily.
"Bonnie, who *is* that ridiculously hot guy radiating pure alpha energy?"
"…My ex."
"Your ex?! That face could end wars. I was this close to saying, 'Yes, I do! '"
Bonnie laughed. "Didn't you say you had a boyfriend you've been passionately in love with for five years?"
"Haha, yeah, but who doesn't love handsome guy?"
It wasn't until noon that Mandy Brown finally showed up. The staff in charge of the meeting were fuming, but her team strutted in like royalty. nitpicking everything, from the air conditioning being too cold to it suddenly being too hot, driving everyone mad.
"So this is what being a diva looks like," one junior employee muttered. "Barely a B-list celeb and already throwing tantrums like an A-lister."
"She may have the internet on her side now, but once the hype dies down, how long can she actually survive in the industry? Offending someone as wealthy and powerful as Miss Wesley? "
"Well, you said it yourself. She's trending. She's probably using this attention to gain fans or latch onto a sugar daddy. No matter how rich Miss Wesley is, she can't make a move right now without facing backlash."
"If I were Miss Wesley, I'd be fuming. "
…
After the assistant relayed everything, Bonnie simply smiled.
Wearing a sleek, professional outfit, her skin fair and glowing, she stood up with grace and said, "Come on, let's go meet the infamous Miss Brown."
…
Inside the meeting room, Mandy was rubbing her temples, her submissive persona gone. When Bonnie entered, she didn't even bother to look up.
"I'm not feeling well," she told her manager flatly.
The manager asked a few concerned questions, then looked up with a half-smile.
"Apologies, Miss Wesley. As you know, Mandy just got out of the hospital. She's still very weak. Would you mind if we keep this meeting short?"
Bonnie looked at Mandy for a moment, her voice calm.
"Oh? Not feeling well? What's bothering you? Do you need me to call a doctor?"
"No, no need," the manager cut in. "We'd just like to sign the contract quickly so Mandy can go rest."
Bonnie pulled out a chair and sat down. "Sure."
She took the contract from the executive in charge and signed it without hesitation.
Mandy and her manager exchanged smug glances, satisfied.
But just as Bonnie set the pen down, she said casually,
"Just a reminder, our company's penalty for breach of contract is quite steep. I do hope you'll stay true to your word, Miss Brown."
The contract was finalized, and the agent let out a sigh of relief, chuckling as she said, "President Wesley, you must be joking. Mandy has always been known for her professionalism. Everyone in the industry agrees on that."
Bonnie raised an eyebrow and extended her hand. "Good, looking forward to working with you."
"Pleasure working with you."
Outside the company, inside the nanny van, Mandy leaned back against the seat with an arrogant expression. "Told you she wouldn't dare do anything to me."
Her agent burst out laughing. "Exactly! Didn't you see the look on Bonnie Wesley's face just now? Clearly fuming, but still had to smile and pretend to be gracious."
With the contract in hand, the two left, feeling triumphant.
Unfortunately for Mandy, her victory didn't last long.
Three nights later.
At 8 PM, during the peak traffic hour on X, a well-known paparazzo dropped a bombshell scandal.
Matt James had cheated.
Who was Matt James? Only the most iconic heartthrob of the year in the entertainment world.
At 35, he'd spent most of his career under the radar, but this year, he skyrocketed to fame after joining a reality show with his wife.
Matt's wife wasn't a typical stunner. Plain-looking, a bit plump, and noticeably out of place when standing next to the tall, beautiful wives of other stars. From the very first episode, she became the butt of the internet's cruel jokes.
Netizens couldn't understand why a man like Matt would marry someone like her.
But Matt never showed a hint of disdain. On the contrary, he was more attentive, more considerate, more loving than any other husband on the show. As viewers got to know their backstory, the ridicule turned into shock and admiration.
Matt and his wife met at thirteen, both from impoverished backgrounds. After junior high, Matt had to give up school to care for his disabled father. His then-girlfriend sacrificed her education to work, saving every penny to support the two of them, for ten whole years.
Eventually, Matt was accepted into the Film Academy, and as soon as he graduated, they got married. Life gradually improved. They never once fought, becoming the model couple of the industry.
With this image of the perfect husband, Matt gained a fanbase rivaling that of any young idol. And now… he'd cheated?
The internet exploded.
The story shot to the top of the trending list. The paparazzo released a ten-minute video showing Matt with a young, gorgeous woman. The two were incredibly intimate, whispering and leaning into each other affectionately.
The unannounced scandal caught fans completely off guard. The comments section flooded with rage. The woman's face wasn't visible, because her back was to the camera but there was no doubt the man was Matt James.
Matt's X account was instantly swarmed, and the mystery woman's identity didn't remain a mystery for long. Within an hour, enraged fans had identified her based on her clothes, shoes, and accessories.
When they saw the name, silence fell.
Mandy Brown.