Bianca didn’t want to waste any more time with them. She turned to the reporter, addressing the camera as if speaking to the audience.
She knew their argument would soon make the headlines.
“I trust Reese. She’s not ungrateful at all. Please don’t buy into a biased narrative. Our company will look into Reese’s situation and explain everything to the audience and her fans. If anyone tries to twist the truth or spread lies, both our company and Reese will take legal action!”
Bianca’s words were so firm and sure that they made Reese’s aunt and uncle-in-law uneasy.
While the reporter continued to interview Bianca, Reese’s aunt stepped away from the crowd and made a call.
“Hello, Miss King. You said we could make money from this, but Reese’s agent just threatened to sue us for spreading rumors. Okay… Okay. Got it.”
After hanging up, she straightened her posture, noticeably more confident.
She pushed through the crowd to face the reporter. “You may not know this, but Reese had another commitment during the last episode’s recording. She barely made it back in time. Many scenes were filmed later. Neither she nor her company cared about the show. They were just chasing hype and profit! Money always comes first for them!”
The reporter quickly handed her the microphone.
“How do you know Reese had other commitments during the recording?”
Reese’s aunt uttered proudly, “Because we saw her at an event that day! It was a promotional event for a weight-loss product. You can find proof of it online!”
She almost missed this detail, but luckily, “Miss King” had reminded her just in time.
Bianca frowned. Reese’s aunt claimed to have seen Reese at the event that day.
Was it a coincidence? How did they know so much about Reese’s schedule? Could her lateness be connected to them?
“Miss Scott, is Reese’s aunt telling the truth? Was Reese involved in other activities during the filming of the last episode?” The reporter pushed.
This was definitely a mistake, but in the entertainment industry, such things can’t be ignored, especially for newcomers like Reese. It made her seem overly ambitious, wanting quick success, which could damage her reputation.
Bianca thought hard about how to handle this situation. As she stayed silent, Reese’s aunt turned bolder.
“Hey! Do you have anything else to say? I suspect collusion with the production team. There might even be some foul play in the competition results! She must have bribed the director! Maybe there’s something inappropriate going on between her and the director!”
“Miss Scott, could you please answer our questions?” the reporters asked her.
Bianca calmly pressed her fingers together before responding, “Reese did have another commitment that day, but it was simply an oversight. When we finalized the contract with the event organizers, the timing wasn’t aligned. We received the schedule right before filming. I reached out to them several times to align the timing with the filming schedule, but there was still a small overlap. Reese arrived at the venue shortly after filming began and quickly got ready for her performance. She showed no disrespect for the show.”
“Liar!” Reese’s aunt shot back. “I was told Reese’s segment was the last one of the day. She wasn’t there before then. She only arrived after several videos were played. When we saw her at the event, it was already 4 pm. If we check with the production team, they can confirm when she arrived!”
Reese’s once harsh aunt now spoke clearly, making Bianca suspicious. She narrowed her eyes and thought carefully.
“I’m curious. How did you find out this information? The shooting schedule for the last episode is confidential. How can you be so sure about Reese’s arrival time? Unless you have an inside source. But why would you be connected to the production team? Or is someone helping you?”
“I… I just made an educated guess! You can always check with the director to find out the truth!” Reese’s aunt quickly explained before turning away.
“It looks like we’ll need to speak with the director of Star Search to get to the bottom of this.”
The reporters quietly whispered among themselves, and their words reached Bianca’s ears.
If they could track down the director and verify the timing, it would prove whether Reese had really arrived near the end of the show’s filming.
Bianca knew she needed to move quickly.
Finding a moment, she slipped away from the reporters. In a quiet corner, she called Bruno, the show’s overseer.
Bruno’s relaxed voice answered, “Miss Scott, what’s this about?”
“Mr. Foster, there’s something urgent we need to discuss in person.”
“Are you talking about the live broadcast?” Bruno asked, getting straight to the point.
It seemed he was already aware of the situation. Bianca quickly replied, “Yes, it’s about the live broadcast…”
Before she could finish, Bruno cut in, “The show must continue, but I can ask them to avoid anything about Reese. But why should I help you? I’m still waiting for the gratitude you promised for the last favor.”
“I’ve been waiting for the right moment to thank you properly, Mr. Foster, but you’ve been busy! Don’t worry, if you help me now, I’ll definitely show my appreciation.” Bianca knew she had no choice but to take a chance.
She needed to resolve this issue quickly and figure out a plan later.
The fastest way to solve this was for Bruno to issue an internal order, keeping the shooting schedule confidential and stopping reporters from asking about specific times.
“If that’s the case, I’m looking forward to it,” Bruno chuckled.
“Why not join me at the winery? I’m here with some friends, having drinks. It’ll be a good chance for you to show your gratitude.”
Bruno’s words made a chill run down Bianca’s spine. His intentions were clear, and she understood exactly what he meant.
He wanted her to entertain them.
Bianca knew she couldn’t afford to upset Bruno, so she agreed to his request.
“Sure, I’ll head over now. But don’t forget your promise.”
“Of course,” Bruno assured her.
Bianca got into a taxi. After a brief pause due to a power outage, the live broadcast resumed, and the focus returned to the studio.
Thanks to Bruno’s help, the host avoided bringing up Reese, giving Bianca a moment of relief.
The taxi soon pulled up to the winery. Bianca put her phone in her purse and walked inside.
The winery, shaped like a castle, greeted her with shelves lined with different wines.