The anger in Chelsea Raines's voice was unconcealed. She had fought tooth and nail for her career, so she absolutely despised airheads like Naomi Kenway who coasted on their connections. In her eyes, Naomi was inferior in every way, yet the production team always seemed to put her on a pedestal—just like that rookie host who had replaced her at a major station.
Renee Jennings's brows furrowed. She hadn't expected the production team to be so lenient with Naomi Kenway. The rumors just said Naomi had backers, but it seemed those backers were even more powerful than she'd imagined. Still, Renee Jennings wasn't the least bit afraid. After all, her husband wasn't just an A-list actor with a firm foothold in the entertainment industry; his family, the Lynch Family, was one of the most prominent high-society families in all of Veridia.
'Naomi Kenway is dim-witted but loves being the center of attention. She's the perfect person to use as a stepping stone.'
Renee Jennings grabbed the furious Chelsea Raines and tried to placate her. "Chelsea, don't be angry just yet. Maybe we misunderstood. Maybe Naomi really did make this herself, and not with the director's..." Her voice trailed off, losing conviction.
"Naomi Kenway made it herself?!" Chelsea Raines sneered, running a hand through her long, wavy hair. "Renee, you don't even believe that as you say it, do you? Naomi doesn't even know how to use a mop. How could she possibly make furniture? It's obvious the production team is giving her special treatment!"
"That..." Renee Jennings feigned surprise. "No way. Naomi doesn't seem like the type to cheat like that..."
The two of them were putting on quite a show. Naomi Kenway meticulously 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 don't care for all the noise."
"You made it yourself? What proof do you have that you made it?" Chelsea Raines planted a hand on her hip, looking down her nose at Naomi. She favored heavy makeup, and the pose made her look particularly intimidating.
Naomi Kenway picked up a napkin and wiped Ian Shaw's mouth, then gave his head a soothing pat, pulling her hand away the instant before he could protest.
She shifted her gaze to Chelsea Raines, and the gentle look in her eyes instantly sharpened into daggers. Even without a trace of makeup, the aura she projected the moment she looked up completely overpowered Chelsea.
"I did make them, so why should I have to prove it? On the contrary, what evidence do you have for all these accusations? Do you have any proof that I *didn't* make this furniture?"
Chelsea Raines was left speechless. She whirled around to confront the production team. "Director Grant, didn't you say you wouldn't provide any help to the guests? What is this? Are you just saying one thing and doing another behind our backs?"
The director hadn't expected to be dragged into this fight. He explained, "All the furniture here was indeed made by Naomi Kenway's own hands. The production team provided no assistance whatsoever. Also, it's getting late."
That last sentence was his subtle way of telling Chelsea Raines to wrap up the drama quickly.
Naturally, Chelsea Raines didn't believe the director's words.
Renee Jennings chimed in from the side, "We could just watch the livestream replay. That would clear everything up."
"Yes!" Chelsea Raines's eyes lit up. "We can watch the livestream replay!"
The impatience on Director Grant's face grew more obvious. By questioning Naomi Kenway, Chelsea Raines was also questioning the production team, and this whole incident was already delaying the livestream's schedule.
"You all have other tasks, and the other guests have already started," he reminded them.
Chelsea Raines's audacity kicked into high gear. "Don't change the subject! I want fairness! What are you all so guilty about?"
Director Grant's face darkened, but he finally agreed to let Chelsea Raines and Renee Jennings see the replay of Naomi Kenway's livestream.
Renee Jennings's expression relaxed into a subtle smile, while Chelsea Raines flashed a smug, triumphant grin. "Naomi Kenway, I swear I will expose your lies!"
"And what 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 on my knees and apologize to you!!"
Naomi Kenway was actually a big reason for Chelsea Raines's rise from an unknown host at a major station to her current fame. A variety show clip of her publicly dissing the scandal-plagued Naomi had once gone viral, earning Chelsea labels like "outspoken" and "fierce." After that, her career had skyrocketed.
Now that her career had hit rock bottom again, maybe she could use Naomi to make another comeback.
At this thought, Chelsea Raines felt a surge of confidence. She could already picture Naomi's humiliated and furious expression.
Naomi Kenway found this all rather amusing and simply 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 watched the mean, shouting lady not far away, feeling more confused than scared. For some reason, he trusted that his mom would protect him. After all, his mom had given him a little wooden sword, knocked down dates for him to eat, peeled his egg, and warmed his milk...
'The mom from his memories, the one who was always grumpy and scolding, had suddenly become so gentle. Ian loved this mom.'
While enjoying the show, Naomi Kenway didn't forget to pull a tissue from the box to wipe her son's mouth. She asked him softly, "Are you full?"
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. Though Ian was young, his hands were steady, as if he had performed this action countless times before.
Naomi Kenway's mind drifted for a moment.
The next second, a glass of milk appeared before her.
Ian Shaw's eyes were wide and round as he said, in a clumsy attempt to please her, "Mommy, my preschool teacher says milk helps you grow tall."
A warmth spread through Naomi Kenway's heart. She gently pushed the glass back. "Mommy doesn't need it. This is for Ian."
The production team had only given them two cartons of milk in total.
Ian Shaw shook his head, insisting stubbornly, "Mommy drink. We can grow tall together."
'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 Ian at home and at preschool, too.'
At Ian's insistence, Naomi Kenway finally drank the glass of milk.
Meanwhile, Renee Jennings and Chelsea Raines were still with Director Grant, watching the livestream replay. The progress bar crept forward. When they saw Naomi Kenway slice her thumb with a tool, Chelsea laughed out loud. Soon, however, their initially relaxed expressions turned uglier and uglier.
In Naomi Kenway's hands, a few unremarkable planks of wood gradually began to take shape.
Renee Jennings watched until the end with a frown, her astonishment mounting. No one would have ever expected the notoriously lazy Naomi Kenway to have actually come prepared.
Chelsea Raines shrieked, her mortified expression captured perfectly on camera:
"Th-this is impossible!!"
Naomi Kenway chuckled softly, her intense gaze landing on Chelsea. "Isn't it about time you fulfilled your promise?"
Chelsea Raines's expression was ghastly, 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 said with a cold smile.
Renee Jennings, who had just been fanning the flames, now remained completely silent.