Chapter 7 - Many Faces

Nicky's slow, deliberate claps echoed through the mic, freezing the atmosphere in both livestreams. Comments flooded in, hungry for drama:

[The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife 🔪]

[Sisters? More like sworn enemies.]

[Go Nicky!! Don't fall for Nina's fake tears!]

Nina grew even more flustered but clung to her wounded act, voice trembling with forced composure. "Fine. I overstepped. I bought both these properties myself. How I made the money is none of your business."

She paused, eyes glistening, playing the victim perfectly. "Your uncle—my father—worked tirelessly for your company. If I'm honest, I was always a little jealous of how much he doted on you." She lowered her head, shoulders shaking slightly, embodying the "misunderstood but too noble to explain" look.

The chat split instantly:

[So Nina is actually that successful? Self-made Beverly villas? Respect.]

[I feel bad for Nina… She tried to help and got attacked for it.]

[Am I the only one who thinks she's lying? Since when does anyone just "buy" Beverly property?]

[Team Nicky all the way. I wish I could clap back like that 😭]

"Helped me?" Nicky's laugh was cold and sharp. "You mean the kind of 'help' where he becomes an exec after my parents died, and a year later I'm bankrupt and in debt?"

Her words cut straight through Nina's performance. The chat stalled briefly, then exploded—everyone understood what Nicky was implying.

But just as tensions peaked, Nicky's expression shifted. A knowing smile touched her lips. "Oh, I get it. My company must've already been failing. I'm sure Uncle went through hell and back just to keep it alive that one extra year. How noble of him."

With that, she stripped Nina of any possible rebuttal. Whatever Nina said next would only prove Nicky's point.

Nicky's smile didn't fade. Instead, she turned politely toward Nina. "Well, dear resident, if that's all, Carlos and I have packages to deliver. Whether I sleep under a bridge tonight depends on these last few boxes."

She then turned to the deliveryman, her tone instantly warm and casual. "Carlos, let's head down. These boxes aren't gonna deliver themselves."

"Right, right—stairs are this way!" Carlos quickly pointed, then glanced down at his dusty uniform. "We… probably shouldn't take the elevator. Don't wanna dirty it up."

His words traveled clearly through the mic. The chat couldn't handle it:

[TAKE THE ELEVATOR!! You have every right to 😭]

[This hits home… My dad does construction and always avoids "nice" places because he's scared of dirtying them.]

[Carlos is so pure 🥺 Nicky better look out for him!]

Nina stood frozen, watching them go. She wanted to say something, but Carlos's humble words felt like a slap across her performative kindness.

On the way down, Nicky returned the phone and walked alongside Carlos, making easy small talk.

"Carlos, you have a younger daughter too? A son and a daughter—you're truly blessed!"

"Back home, the corn must be shoulder-high by now, right? Almost time for harvest?"

"How's the rainfall this year? Will it affect the yield?"

Carlos, initially reserved, lit up at the familiar topics. A rough but sincere smile spread across his face. "Yeah, my daughter's in middle school now… does well in class. And the corn—this year's crop is strong. Rain's been good. Should be a solid harvest."

The livestream chat was completely disarmed:

[Is this really the same Nicky?? She just went from savage to sweetheart 😲]

[Omg she's chatting with him like my grandpa back in Nebraska 🌽]

[Okay I'm officially stanning. Roasts haters and is kind to humble people? That's my kind of energy.]

[I used to hate her but now I'm a fan. She's so real.]

Back in the warehouse, Nicky took her phone and smiled at the camera. "Alright, just 18 boxes left. Once these are delivered, we're clocking out." She hoisted a box effortlessly onto her shoulder. "As a legit 'debt-paying streamer,' let me share the benefits of delivery work while we're at it."

She moved with practiced ease as she spoke. "First: it's a great workout. Check out this arm muscle—just one day in and it's already taking shape. Second: you meet genuine people. Folks like Carlos are way more real than the fake personalities in entertainment. Third—and most important—it pays! Every box delivered means I'm one step closer to being $137 million debt-free. Now that's what I call progress."

The chat was filled with support. Some even started gifting "Go Nicky!" donations.

A faint warmth flickered in Nicky's eyes. She was slowly rewriting her "cannon fodder" fate—on her own terms.

Upstairs, Nina watched Nicky's rising popularity from her own livestream, her nails digging hard into her palms. She never imagined her carefully crafted "poor me" act would end up being the very thing that made Nicky go viral.