The fury in Chelsea Raines's voice was undisguised. She fought tooth and nail for exposure and hated nothing more than "vases" like Naomi Kenway who relied on their backers. Naomi was clearly inferior to her in every way, yet she was always being propped up and catered to by the production team—just like that rookie host who had replaced her at Channel M.
Renee Jennings furrowed her brow, seemingly surprised that the production team would be so lenient with Naomi Kenway. Rumor had it that Naomi had a powerful backer, but now it seemed they were even more influential than Renee had imagined. Still, Renee wasn't the least bit intimidated. After all, her husband, a remarried film emperor, was not only a major figure in the entertainment industry, but his family, the Lynch Family, was also one of the most prominent and wealthy families in all of Veridia.
'Naomi Kenway is dim-witted and a show-off,' Renee thought. 'She's the perfect stepping stone.'
Renee Jennings held back the furious Chelsea Raines and coaxed, "Chelsea, calm down. Maybe we misunderstood. What if Nina really made this herself, and not through the production team..." Her voice trailed off.
"Naomi Kenway made it herself?!" Chelsea Raines sneered, tossing her voluminous curls. "Rachel, you don't even believe that yourself, do you? Naomi doesn't even know how to use a mop. How could she possibly make furniture? It's obvious the production team gave her special treatment!"
"Well..." Renee Jennings feigned surprise. "I can't believe it. Nina doesn't seem like the type of person to cheat like that..."
'This little duet of theirs is quite a show,' Naomi thought. She meticulously peeled a hard-boiled egg and placed it on Ian Shaw's plate before finally deigning to give them a look. Her tone was nonchalant. "I made all this furniture. If you don't have anything important to say, please leave. I don't like all the racket."
"You made it yourself? What proof do you have?" Chelsea Raines planted a hand on her hip, looking down her nose at Naomi. Her heavy makeup only added to the intimidating posture.
Naomi Kenway picked up a tissue to wipe Ian Shaw's mouth, then gave his hair a soothing pat, letting go just a second before he could protest.
She shifted her gaze to Chelsea Raines, and the gentle look in her eyes instantly turned as sharp as a sword. She was bare-faced, but the sheer force of her presence as she looked up completely overwhelmed Chelsea.
"I made this. Period. Why should I have to prove it? You, on the other hand, keep making accusations. Where's your proof? Do you have any evidence that I *didn't* make this furniture?"
Chelsea Raines was left speechless. She whirled on the production crew. "Director Grant, didn't you say you wouldn't provide any help to the guests? What is this, then? Are you being two-faced with us?"
The director hadn't expected to be dragged into this battle. He explained, "All the furniture here was, in fact, made by Naomi Kenway. The production team didn't provide any assistance. Also, it's getting late."
That last part was a subtle hint for Chelsea Raines to end this farce quickly.
Naturally, Chelsea Raines didn't believe a word the director said.
Renee Jennings chimed in from the side, "We could watch the live stream replay. That would clear everything up."
"Yes!" Chelsea Raines's eyes lit up. "We can watch the live stream replay!"
The impatience on Director Grant's face grew more obvious. Chelsea Raines wasn't just questioning Naomi; she was questioning the integrity of the entire production team, and this whole affair was holding up the live broadcast.
"You have other tasks to do," he reminded them. "The other guests have already moved on."
Chelsea Raines's obtuseness was on full display. "Don't change the subject! I want fairness! What do you have to hide?"
Director Grant's expression darkened, but he finally agreed to let Chelsea Raines and Renee Jennings review Naomi Kenway's live stream replay.
Renee Jennings's features relaxed into a subtle smile, while Chelsea Raines broke into a triumphant grin. "Naomi Kenway, I swear I'm going to expose your lies!"
"And if I'm not lying?"
"How is that even possible?" Chelsea Raines found this hilarious and blurted out, "If you're really not lying, I'll get down on my knees and apologize to you!!"
Chelsea Raines's rise from an unknown host at Channel M to a household name was, in no small part, thanks to Naomi Kenway. A clip of her publicly dissing the controversial celebrity on a variety show had once gone viral, earning Chelsea tags like "outspoken" and "refreshingly bold." Her career had been on a fast track ever since.
Now that her career was in another slump, perhaps using Naomi Kenway could be her ticket to a revival.
At this thought, Chelsea Raines's confidence swelled. She could already picture Naomi's humiliated and furious expression.
Naomi Kenway was starting to find this rather amusing. She just smiled without saying a word.
Ian Shaw obediently finished the egg on his plate and took a couple of sips of the milk Naomi had poured for him.
He watched the mean, shouting lady nearby, feeling confused but not scared. For some reason, he trusted his mom to protect him. She had given him a little wooden sword, shaken dates from a tree for him, peeled his egg, and warmed his milk...
The mom from his memories, who was always cranky and quick to scold, had suddenly become so gentle. Ian really, really liked this new mom.
While watching the spectacle unfold, Naomi didn't forget to pull a tissue from the box and wipe her son's mouth. "Are you full?" she asked softly.
Ian nodded obediently. "The egg Mommy peeled was the best!"
He then took the last carton of milk on the table and poured it into a glass. Ian was young, but his hands were remarkably steady, as if he'd performed the action countless times before.
Naomi's thoughts began to drift.
A moment later, a glass of milk appeared before her.
Ian Shaw's eyes were wide and round. He offered it to her, a clumsy attempt to curry favor. "Mommy, my teacher at preschool says milk helps you grow big and tall."
A warmth spread through Naomi's chest, but she gently pushed the glass back. "Mommy doesn't need it. You drink it, Ian."
The production team had only given them two cartons of milk in total.
Ian Shaw shook his head, insisting, "Mommy drink. We can grow big and tall together."
'His teacher said good kids are the most lovable. If I'm a good boy, maybe Mommy will love me a little more. Not just in front of the cameras. He wanted Mommy to love Ian at home and at preschool, too.'
At Ian's insistence, Naomi finally drank the glass of milk.
Renee Jennings and Chelsea Raines were still with Director Grant, reviewing the live stream replay. As the progress bar crept forward, Chelsea scoffed out loud when she saw Naomi cut her thumb on a tool. However, both of their relaxed expressions soon began to sour.
Under Naomi's hands, a few plain wooden planks gradually began to take shape.
Renee Jennings watched to the end with a deep frown, her astonishment growing with every second. 'Who would have thought that the notoriously lazy Naomi Kenway had actually come prepared?'
Chelsea Raines shrieked, her unsightly expression captured perfectly by the camera:
"This... how is this possible!!"
Naomi chuckled softly, her heavy gaze falling upon Chelsea. "Isn't it time to fulfill your promise?"
Chelsea Raines's expression was ghastly, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.
"What, are you going to back out now?" Naomi sneered. "Or are you going to claim live streams can be faked, too?"
Renee Jennings, who had been fanning the flames just moments ago, was now conspicuously silent.