Chapter 3

That night, a nightmare jolted me awake.

I dreamed that Holly tripped on the red carpet and had a wardrobe malfunction. Then the trending headline screamed: "Annalee Hill faked a fall for publicity."

I woke up with a start at 3 a.m., only to find Holly swaying drunkenly in the living room.

There she was, wearing my headphones and my silk nightgown.

Six empty beer cans were scattered across the coffee table.

I snapped, "Are you out of your mind? We have an appearance tomorrow!" She snatched the beer can out of Holly's hand.

Holly spun around with a cheeky grin and said, "Just getting into character early!"

I caught the reek of booze and cigarettes on her.

I gasped, "You're smoking now too?"

"Gotta maintain the persona," she said with a wink. "How about tomorrow's press release: 'Annalee Hill's Stunning Transformation'?"

Fuming, I shoved Holly into the bathroom and roared, "Shower and brush your teeth, now!"

Holly, clinging to the doorframe, poked her head out. "Oh, Anna," she chirped, "Joslyn just texted. They've added a livestream segment!"

My vision went black for a moment.

Livestreams are a total disaster waiting to happen.

I snapped, "Cancel it!"

"Too late, I already said yes," Holly hummed a little tune as she closed the door. "Audience Q&A and a giveaway—what better way to drive the fans wild?"

The shower started, and I slumped onto the sofa.

The phone screen lit up with a text from Joslyn: [Wear that black lace tomorrow—turn up the sex appeal.]

I replied, [But didn't we agree on a conservative look?]

Joslyn from marketing says, "We can't let all this nightclub buzz go to waste."

I stared at Holly's blurred silhouette moving behind the frosted glass of the bathroom.

I could hear Holly inside, humming an off-key tune like she didn't have a care in the world.

Then it hit me that this might be a trap.

Did Joslyn know about this all along?

On the day of the event, I holed up in the café directly across from the hotel.

Disguised in a baseball cap and face mask, I stared at the livestream feed like some creepy stalker.

And then, there she was, wearing that black lace dress I'd never dared to try on—a plunging V-neck that dipped all the way to her navel.

The live chat exploded instantly.

"Is that really Annalee Hill?"

"Wow, what a transformation after that club night!"

"Queen, slay me!"

My hands were shaking so badly I nearly dropped my coffee cup.

She sashayed forward with a sensual sway, a striking contrast to my usual demure walk.

In front of the autograph board, Holly suddenly spun around, locked eyes with the cameras, and slowly ran her tongue over her lips, pure mischief in her gaze.

A blinding barrage of camera flashes erupted.

I nearly crushed my phone in my hand.

But the livestream? That was a whole new level of disaster.

The host asked, "Your style has changed a lot recently. Was this a deliberate transformation?"

Holly flipped her hair with a smirk and said, "Well, everyone's gotta grow up sometime."

The live chat exploded with a flood of screams.

The host asked, "A fan asked this: was that guy you were seen with at the club your boyfriend?"

Holly pressed a finger to her lips with a teasing smile. "That's my little secret."

That suggestive attitude was bound to send the rumor mill into overdrive.

I watched in helpless despair as Holly just winged it.

At the final giveaway, Holly suddenly announced with a wink, "And here's the best part—our lucky darlings will get a personal video call with me."

Was she insane? Video calls were strictly prohibited by company policy!

Within just two hours of the event, the news "Annalee Hill Alluring" topped the trending charts.

My followers skyrocketed by 200,000.

My DMs were flooded with racy confessions.

Joslyn called, her voice cracking with excitement. "Annalee! Three new endorsement deals are practically knocking down our door!"

I numbly gave half-hearted responses, barely registering Joslyn's words, as I watched Holly skip energetically into the hotel room.

"How about that?" Holly twirled around with a smirk. "Way better than your stiff little act, don't you think?"

I asked Holly coldly, "What's going on with the video calls?"

"Just screening for sugar daddies," she said, opening the minibar. "A coal boss already splurged thirty grand on virtual gifts."

I lunged over and snatched the drink from her hand. "Are you cashing in on my name?"

Holly scoffed, "Just sharing resources, you know. Do you have any idea how many D-list celebrities would kill for a chance like this?"

I couldn't take it anymore. "Game over! Switch us back—right now!"

Holly suddenly went quiet, her eyes piercing into mine. "Getting jealous?"

I froze.

Holly smirked, "Hurts, doesn't it? Watching me get more famous just goofing off than you did in four years of grinding?"

Her words cut right through me.

My phone wouldn't stop buzzing. Joslyn was already sending over a new endorsement contract.

It was a lingerie brand—the kind I never would have considered in a million years.

"They love the real me," Holly said, waving her phone with a teasing smirk. "Or should I say... the real you?"

I stormed out.

Out on the hotel rooftop, I pulled out my phone and dialed Mom's number.

"Annalee?" Mom's voice lit up with surprise. "What's made you call at this hour?"

My nose tingled as I fought back tears. "Mom, Holly has been..."

"Oh! Did she finally reach out to you?" Mom cut me off, her voice a mix of surprise and exasperation. "Holly hasn't bothered to call home in six months."

I gripped her phone tightly. "Does she often stay out?"

"Ever since she moved out last year, she's been ghosting us," Mom sighed. "But you're the thoughtful one—wiring money home every month without fail..."

My blood ran cold.

I'd never sent any money home.

I hung up and immediately pulled up my bank statement.

On the 5th of every month, exactly 7,000 dollars was transferred to Mom's account.

And it was my card being used.

But I didn't make those transfers.