Love in the Limelight (Astrid and Elio)

[Hey, you got a problem? Sure, they don't exactly click, but when has Astrid ever given Joana a hard time on the show?]

[Exactly, Joana's just being petty. Astrid is way above all that.]

[Astrid's so tough, right? So how come she's not pulling out all the stops to find Joana? You just know she's hoping something bad happened to her!]

[I'm so over this. Scaredy-cat Joana runs off by herself and somehow it's Astrid's fault? As if my girl Astrid doesn't have enough fans to stand up to this nonsense!]

...

Some rival fans were chomping at the bit to stir up trouble, and they seized this chance to fan the flames.

The fans and haters quickly got into a spat, and that's when Astrid, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up, "Joana's not in trouble. She left with someone on her own. Look at this place, it's crafty. There are cameras everywhere except this one path because it's too rugged for cameras. The crew said none of the cameras caught her, which means she deliberately avoided them and left this way."

Astrid's words clicked for Clyde.

Joana was a master at drumming up publicity. She was probably faking her disappearance to get some buzz.

The other guests exchanged knowing looks.

The online crowd, oblivious to the truth, erupted in chaos. [Listen to what Astrid's saying. Is that something a kind person would say? Joana's missing and she claims Joana just left herself? How is that even possible?]

[Why isn't it possible? If someone had taken her, wouldn't there be some kind of noise?]

[Joana's disappearance in the woods is trending. I think I'm starting to get it.]

A comment floated by and Jack had a lightbulb moment. He immediately called Maddox.

When Maddox saw Jack's call, he thought they had found her. "What's up? Did you find her?"

"Boss, I've been reading the comments, and I have a bold theory. Could Joana be hiding on purpose for a publicity stunt?" Jack swallowed nervously after saying this. "Astrid pointed out how Joana avoided all the cameras. It's obviously premeditated. If it was just a casual stroll, she would've been caught on camera."

"If Joana was really in trouble, the news of her disappearance would've reached her agent by now, and they wouldn't just sit back and do nothing, so the agent must be in the loop."

Maddox frowned at the revelation. "Got it."

He didn't return to the set but went to join Astrid and the others.

He knew that no matter who among them spoke, it would invite criticism. But it was different if he said it.

Astrid had likely seen through it all but chose to keep quiet. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Astrid, you guys head back. I know where Joana is." Maddox's admission baffled the online crowd.

To prevent further speculation, Maddox was blunt. "Folks, this whole situation is a farce directed and performed by Joana herself. I respect every actor, but I can't tolerate someone using my show as a platform for personal PR stunts."

"Joana hasn't disappeared. She's right down here!"

After his declaration, Maddox carried a camera and headed down the concealed path. It wasn't long before he spotted a faint light ahead.

The people over there noticed someone approaching and quickly snuffed out the light.