Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism
Chapter 434 Lydia's Scandal

In truth, Zelena wasn't passionate about acting.

She simply enjoyed the fame and the admiration that came with being a celebrity, much like how she used to admire Violeta in her past life.

Because of that, Zelena was committed to improving her acting skills and even took private lessons from the Film Academy.

Hattie, on the other hand, had a slight edge over Zelena. With an actress mother, she had some natural talent in her genes. Privately, Hattie often mocked Zelena for lacking in talent.

The director often had to spend extra time teaching her, which made some wonder if Zelena was the one acting or if it was the director.

However, Hattie wasn't much better. Despite her talent, she didn't put in the effort required.

As time went on, her natural talent began to wane. Even if she had opportunities, she didn't make the most of them.

...

On the weekend, Violeta had dinner with Kaylee.

Kaylee was probably Violeta's only real friend. After Violeta's debut, she struggled to form deep connections in the industry, feeling that something was always lacking.

They enjoyed a meal of foreign cuisine, took a photo together, and posted it on Facebook.

Violeta also helped promote Kaylee's work. The low-budget film 'The Lies in Winter' was about to be released. Initially, it didn't generate much excitement since the director and actors weren't well-known. Perhaps it was fate that Violeta ended up helping.

Mason Clarke, the director of 'The Lies in Winter', saw Violeta's promotion and was thankful. He sent her a private message, but she didn't see it. Meanwhile, 'The Nirvana and Rebirth' had concluded its run.

Instead of a typical happy ending, it featured the female lead achieving revenge and emerging unscathed, which left the audience feeling satisfied. That ending improved the show's IMDB rating by 0.2.

Violeta's two shows, 'The Quiet Ode' with a 9.3 rating, and 'Nirvana and Rebirth' with a 9.5 rating, were undoubtedly top-notch in the industry.

With such successes, she once again made headlines.

In contrast, Lydia, who was featured in 'As Soon As We Meet', had a brief spike in popularity when the show first aired but was later overshadowed by 'Nirvana and Rebirth'.

Lydia's show received a mediocre rating of 8.4, only above the passing mark, and didn't become a hit.

Lydia's confrontation with Violeta ended in her defeat.

Moreover, by the end of the month

Lydia was

on a date with her

boyfriend when they were caught by paparazzi, who leaked a teaser about their relationship.

The photo, though vague, suggested a romantic scandal and nearly revealed her boyfriend's identity.

Her team quickly settled the matter by paying off the paparazzi, but the buzz on Facebook persisted. Many people speculated about her boyfriend's identity.

Since he came from a special background, exposing him could lead to serious repercussions.

Even though only a few knew who he was, Lydia was anxious about their relationship being exposed, which caused her considerable stress.

At an offline brand event, both Violeta and Lydia were present.

Eugene encountered Lydia backstage. They stood on opposite sides of the corridor, exchanging silent glances. The assistant awkwardly greeted Eugene.

When Lydia was still under Eugene's

Ine

management, he had repeatedly-

advised her not to get can't

romantically. It was clear heeded his warnings.

He stepped closer and asked lightly, "Is that guy Hollis Zachman?"

Lydia's slight flutter of her eyelashes served as confirmation.

Eugene smiled. "You're still involved with him. You bring it on yourself, so be ready for the consequences."

With that, he walked away without looking back.

As former allies who had once worked together, it was sad to see them reach this point.

The assistant watched Eugene disappear around the corner, while Lydia walked in the opposite direction. "Lydia ..."

"Let's go."

Lydia held up her dress and walked away without looking back.