If her personal charity gained enough reach, plenty of people would come looking to partner with her.
The next day, Scarlett sat before the mirror while the makeup artist swept a final layer of setting powder across her face.
The cramped storage room backstage was stifling. She tilted her chin slightly, signaling for him to prop the door open for air.
The makeup artist was a young man with a slight limp in his right leg, noticeable only when he walked. His eyes reddened as his voice trembled. "Ms. Vale, my younger sister also has ALS. Thank you for creating a charitable project that brings attention to our small community of patients."
Scarlett turned to look at him but said nothing. She simply reached out and gave his tense shoulder a light, reassuring pat.
"I'll make you shine under the lights." The makeup artist sniffed, his eyes burning with something close to reverence. "Today is the launch ceremony for the Hearthlight Initiative. You deserve to stand in the spotlight."
Scarlett's lips curved faintly, though her eyes remained cold.
Out in the corridor, Elowen pressed herself against the wall, her nails scraping across the surface with a grating sound.
The Hearthlight Initiative launch ceremony? She headed toward the executive suite on the top floor.
"Cassian," Elowen said as she pushed open the door, smiling like a poisoned rose. "Congratulations."
Cassian was staring at a report. He frowned at her words. "Congratulations for what?"
"Scarlett has arranged a launch ceremony for the Hearthlight Initiative. I heard she invited media from across the city." Elowen circled behind him, her fingertips tracing suggestively across his shoulder. "Once it's reported, Blackthorne Group's stock will skyrocket for sure."
Cassian's expression darkened instantly. He knew nothing about any launch ceremony.
Elowen blinked her wide, innocent eyes. "Cassian, you didn't know? Why didn't Scarlett tell you?"
A shadow flickered through Cassian's gaze, and understanding dawned. Scarlett was tying the Hearthlight Initiative and her personal image together so tightly that even if he tried to claim the project for Elowen, the public would only recognize Scarlett.
"Where is she holding it?" He seized Elowen's wrist abruptly.
"In the company's grand ballroom."
Cassian let out a cold laugh and dragged Elowen out the door.
Inside the grand ballroom, an enormous LED screen displayed scrolling gold text: Hearthlight Initiative Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony. Media cameras formed a wall, and reporters and influencers packed the space shoulder to shoulder.
Scarlett stood on stage in a custom couture red gown, her presence commanding the room.
"Next, the launch ceremony will officially..."
"Wait!"
A cold, cutting male voice rang out.
The entire hall fell silent.
The crowd parted like a receding tide. Cassian strode forward in a black custom suit, holding Elowen's hand. He removed his sunglasses, revealing sharp, hawk-like eyes.
"Scarlett," he said, his lips curling with mockery, "such a major event, and you didn't notify me? And how could you forget Elowen? Without her, there would be no Hearthlight Initiative."
Scarlett watched his performance with icy detachment.
Cassian pushed Elowen to center stage and stood beside her, monopolizing the spotlight at the heart of the room.
The reporters below caught the scent of gossip and immediately thrust their microphones forward. "Mr. Blackthorne, are you saying Ms. Elowen Frost is the true founder of the Hearthlight Initiative?"
Facing countless cameras below, Cassian spoke into the microphone in a low voice. "Elowen was recently diagnosed with ALS. It is because of her kindness and strength that the Hearthlight Initiative was born. She is the true soul and advocate of this project."
The room erupted in chaos, flashbulbs firing wildly.
Elowen's eyes reddened slightly as she smiled gently at the cameras. "Please, everyone, don't crowd. After the ceremony, I'll be available for interviews."
The live stream chat was instantly flooded by paid astroturf accounts accusing Scarlett of "stealing Elowen's credit."
Scarlett stood off to the side with folded arms, her red lips pressed into a sharp line.
The assistant acting as host looked deeply displeased. He picked up the microphone and enunciated each word. "Mr. Blackthorne, Ms. Frost, please return to your seats. The true director of the Hearthlight Initiative is Ms. Vale."
Cassian's expression turned dark instantly. "Who the hell are you to give me orders?"
"I am today's host," the man replied without backing down. "Ms. Scarlett Vale is the project founder. That is a fact. Please vacate the center position."
The reporters gasped audibly. Was this about to turn into a confrontation?
Cassian reached out to pull Scarlett aside. "Move. Let Elowen stand in the middle."
Scarlett didn't budge, her voice dropping to a level only he could hear. "Cassian, don't forget that this project, from planning to execution, was done entirely by me. Do you really want me to present the evidence in front of all these media outlets and humiliate you both, causing Blackthorne Group's stock to crash?"
Cassian's face changed violently.
Scarlett let out a cold laugh, snatched the scissors from his hand, and cut the red ribbon cleanly in one swift motion.
The scissors snapped shut with a crisp, final sound.
"The Hearthlight Initiative officially launches today!" Scarlett turned toward the cameras, her smile radiant and captivating, her presence utterly overwhelming.
After the ceremony ended, public opinion exploded.
Reporters began crowding toward the front of the stage, all eager to secure first-hand interview material.
Elowen bowed slightly, gently reminding everyone to watch their step so no one would fall.
Scarlett took the microphone, her words crisp and clear. "Everyone, step back! This isn't the time for interviews. We have scheduled a time for that. Return to your places first."
The scene devolved into noisy chaos.
Scarlett's tone grew colder. "Within 10 seconds, any media outlet that hasn't returned to their assigned position will be escorted out."
The crowd quieted and filed back into their places in an orderly fashion.
Scarlett continued, "In 10 minutes, we will begin formal interviews. Please be patient."
"Scarlett, there's no need to be so harsh. If you speak to everyone calmly, they'll understand. We're all adults here," Elowen said softly.
Scarlett replied coolly, "And if there's a stampede, will you take responsibility?"
Their conversation was too quiet for the audience below to hear clearly, though they could see their expressions.
Scarlett still had interviews to attend to. She turned and walked toward the pre-arranged interview area.
Some of the media who knew the truth understood that Scarlett was the project director, but with Cassian present, they didn't dare offend him. They interviewed Cassian and Elowen first before moving on to Scarlett.
The contrast between the two sides was stark.
Scarlett's area was nearly deserted, with only one female reporter asking her sharp, direct questions.
By the time the interviews ended and everything was wrapped up, it was already dinnertime.
Scarlett's best friend Verity slammed her iPad down on the table. "Look at this!"
Elowen had bought traffic to push an edited video onto the trending topics: #ViciousEx-WifeStealsCenterStage, OppressesALSPatient.
The internet was flooded with abuse, with users calling for Scarlett to "get out of the charity world."
The assistant's hands trembled with anger. "Ms. Vale, we need to release a statement immediately to clarify! I'll contact the PR team right now."
But Scarlett stared at the video and suddenly smiled.
She picked up her wine glass and swirled it gently. The liquid gleamed like blood under the lights.
"Why the rush?" She set down the glass and tapped her fingertips three times on the table, producing a crisp sound. She lifted her gaze, her eyes burning with a cold, almost manic light.
Her red lips parted. "Give me admin access to the Hearthlight Initiative's official account."
Verity pressed down on Scarlett's phone. "Are you out of your mind? If you don't clarify now, you'll get dragged into public humiliation."
"Clarify what?" Scarlett's lips curved into a cold smile. "Bad publicity is still publicity. Elowen just handed me massive traffic on a silver platter. Why wouldn't I take it?"
"Use the official account to repost that smear video," Scarlett said, her voice deliberate and cold. "Caption it: A twist is coming. Stay tuned."
"The more they curse, the higher the traffic." Scarlett's gaze sharpened as she leaned forward. "I want every eye on the internet glued to this account."
Aksara