The anger in Chelsea Raines's voice was impossible to hide. She worked herself to the bone fighting for screen time and despised airheads like Naomi Kenway who relied on their financial backing. They were clearly inferior to her in every way, yet the production team always fawned over them. The rookie host who had replaced her at a major network was a prime example.
Renee Jennings furrowed her brow, seemingly surprised that the production team would be so lenient with Naomi Kenway. Rumors had only ever mentioned that Naomi had a backer, but now it seemed this backer was even more powerful than she had imagined. However, Renee Jennings wasn't the least bit afraid. After all, the award-winning actor she was married to not only held a prominent position in the entertainment industry, but his family, the Lynch Family, was also one of the most powerful and prestigious families in Veridia.
'Naomi Kenway is dim-witted but loves the spotlight. She's the perfect target to use as a stepping stone.'
Renee Jennings grabbed the furious Chelsea Raines and tried to placate her. "Chelsea, don't be so angry yet. Maybe we misunderstood. Maybe this is what Nina made with her own hands, not something from the production team..." Her voice trailed off, losing its conviction.
"Naomi Kenway made it herself?!" Chelsea Raines sneered, fluffing her wavy hair. "Rachel, even you don't believe what you're saying, do you? Naomi Kenway 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!"
"That..." Renee Jennings feigned surprise. "No way. Nina doesn't seem like the type to cut corners like that..."
'These two were quite the pair, playing off each other perfectly.' Naomi Kenway carefully peeled a hard-boiled egg and placed it on Ian Shaw's plate. Only then did she deign to give them a glance, her tone indifferent. "I made all this furniture. If you don't have anything important to say, please leave. I'm not a fan of noise."
"You made it yourself? What proof do you have that you made it?" Chelsea Raines planted a hand on her hip and looked down her nose at Naomi. She favored heavy makeup, and the posture made her look particularly intimidating.
Naomi Kenway picked up a napkin and wiped Ian Shaw's mouth, then reassuringly ruffled his hair, letting go a second before he might have pulled away.
She shifted her gaze to Chelsea Raines, her previously gentle expression instantly turning sharp as a sword. Though she wore no makeup, the sheer force of her presence as she looked up completely overwhelmed Chelsea.
"I *did* make it, so why should I have to prove it? You, on the other hand, keep making accusations. What proof do you have? Do you have any evidence that I *didn't* make this furniture?"
Chelsea Raines was speechless. She whirled around to confront the production team. "Director Grant, didn't you say you wouldn't provide any assistance to the guests? What is this, then? Are you being two-faced, saying one thing and doing another?"
The director hadn't expected to be dragged into this fight. He explained, "All the furniture here was indeed made by Naomi Kenway. The production team provided no help whatsoever. Also, it's getting late."
That last sentence was his subtle way of telling Chelsea Raines to wrap up the drama.
Of course, Chelsea Raines didn't believe the director.
Renee Jennings chimed in from the side, "You could look at the livestream playback. That would clear everything up."
"Right!" Chelsea Raines's eyes lit up. "We can watch the livestream playback!"
Director Grant's impatience became more obvious. Chelsea Raines wasn't just questioning Naomi Kenway; she was questioning the integrity of the show itself. Moreover, this whole affair was delaying the livestream's progress.
"You have other tasks to do. The other guests have already started," he reminded them.
Chelsea Raines's audacity was on full display. "Don't change the subject! I want fairness! What are you so guilty about?"
Director Grant's face darkened, but he finally agreed to let Chelsea Raines and Renee Jennings review Naomi Kenway's livestream playback.
Renee Jennings's expression relaxed, and Chelsea Raines flashed a triumphant smile. "Naomi Kenway, I'm going to expose your lies, no matter what!"
"And what if I'm not lying?"
"How could that be possible?" Chelsea Raines found this hilarious and blurted out, "If you're really not lying, I'll get on my knees and apologize to you!"
Chelsea Raines's rise from an obscure host at a major network to her current fame was, in no small part, thanks to Naomi Kenway. Back then, a clip of her publicly dissing the scandal-ridden celebrity Naomi Kenway on a variety show had gone viral. Chelsea successfully earned labels like "daring" and "fierce," and from then on, her career had skyrocketed.
Now that her career had hit another low, perhaps she could use Naomi Kenway to stage a comeback.
This thought bolstered Chelsea Raines's confidence. She could already picture Naomi Kenway's embarrassed and resentful face.
Naomi Kenway found this slightly amusing. She just smiled without saying a word.
Ian Shaw obediently finished the egg on his plate, then picked up the glass of milk Naomi Kenway had poured for him and took a couple of sips.
He looked at the shouting mean lady in the distance, feeling a little confused but not scared. 'Somehow, he believed his mom would protect him. After all, his mom had given him the small wooden sword, picked jujubes for him to eat, peeled his egg, and warmed his milk…'
'The grumpy, scolding mom from his memories had suddenly become so gentle. Annie loved this new mom so much.'
While enjoying the show, Naomi Kenway didn't forget to pull a tissue from the box and wipe her son's mouth. She asked him softly, "Are you full?"
Annie nodded obediently. "The egg Mama peeled was the yummiest!"
He then took the last carton of milk on the table and poured it into his cup. Annie was young, but his hands were steady, as if he had performed this action countless times.
Naomi Kenway's thoughts drifted.
The next second, a cup of milk appeared before her.
Ian Shaw's eyes were wide and round as he awkwardly tried to please her. "Mama, my preschool teacher says drinking milk helps you grow tall."
Naomi Kenway's heart warmed. She gently pushed it back. "Mama doesn't need it. This is for Annie."
The production team had only given them two cartons of milk in total.
Ian Shaw shook his head stubbornly. "Mama drink. We'll grow tall together with Annie."
'His preschool teacher said that well-behaved children are the most lovable. If he was this good, surely his mom would love him a little more. Not just in front of the cameras—he hoped his mom would love Annie at home and at preschool, too.'
At Annie's insistence, Naomi Kenway finally drank the cup of milk.
Meanwhile, Renee Jennings and Chelsea Raines were still with Director Grant, reviewing the livestream playback. They scrubbed the progress bar forward. When they saw Naomi Kenway cut her thumb with a tool, Chelsea Raines laughed out loud. But soon, their initially relaxed expressions turned increasingly sour.
A few unremarkable planks of wood gradually took shape in Naomi Kenway's hands.
Renee Jennings frowned as she watched to the end, her astonishment growing. No one would have ever expected the notoriously lazy Naomi Kenway to have actually come prepared.
Chelsea Raines shrieked, her ugly expression captured perfectly by the camera:
"Th-this is impossible!!"
Naomi Kenway let out a soft laugh, her intense gaze shifting to Chelsea. "Isn't it time to fulfill your promise?"
Chelsea Raines's face was a terrible sight, her hands clenched into tight fists.
"What, are you going to go back on your word now? Or are you going to claim that livestreams can be faked, too?" Naomi Kenway sneered.
Renee Jennings, who had been constantly fanning the flames just moments ago, now remained silent.