Rising From Betrayal Reborn As The Family Outcast (Alicia Delaney) novel Chapter 4

Chapter 4 Get The Clout For Herself

The actress who came to Nicole’s defense was Alexandra Barton, a third-tier celebrity.

Her post wasn’t just about sucking up to Nicole. She was also trying to get in good with the big shots behind her.

Besides, she planned to throw shade at Alicia and ride the wave of drama for some free clout.

Every time the other LUMIA members played the victim or put on a pitiful face, Alicia would get dragged online.

And every time, they’d get a wave of sympathy and attention.

Sure enough, after Alexandra posted it, Nicole’s fans flooded her with likes and praise.

On top of that, a bunch of people called her genuine and bold for speaking up for her friend.

Even some celebs hit like on her post.

Alexandra was feeling pretty smug about how well her little stunt was going when her agent walked in, looking seriously pissed.

“Alicia just responded. It’s a bit of a mess,” her agent said.

Alexandra immediately opened X. She saw Alicia had posted something and tagged her.

AliciaDelaneyOfficial: [I’ve never, not once, said or even hinted that I’m a Hammond, the Delaney brothers’s cousin, or Nicolas’s childhood sweetheart. Anyone who spreads this crap stays broke forever.]

[If you’re the one hiring trolls to slander me, I’ll track you down and hit you with a lawsuit.]

[If you can’t be bothered to get your facts straight, you don’t get to run your mouth. You’re a public figure. Slandering me in public is unacceptable.]

[Being a bootlicker isn’t as easy as you think. I’ve already called the cops, and I’m taking you to court. That’s illegal. @AlexandraBarton]

Alexandra was totally caught off guard. She never expected Alicia to go this hard and actually call the cops and threaten a lawsuit.

Alicia even called Alexandra a bootlicker. That was way over the line, and it seriously pissed Alexandra off.

Alexandra shot her agent a look and asked, “Has she lost her mind? How did the company even let her post something like that on social media?”

Both Nicole and Alicia were signed to Starlight Entertainment, but Starlight was all about hyping up Nicole and deliberately sidelining Alicia.

Alexandra was sure that Starlight would never let Alicia do something like this.

That was exactly why Alexandra had felt safe enough to tag Alicia on X.

Alexandra figured even if Alicia got pissed, she wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

After all, without Starlight’s backing and PR muscle, Alicia was no threat at all flying solo.

Alexandra’s agent looked exasperated. “I just got off the phone with her agent. They seriously had no idea she was going to post that on X.

“But I’ve already talked it over. They’ll get Alicia to delete the post.

“As for the cops and the lawsuit, they said Starlight will shut it all down.”

The agent herself never thought Alicia would go this far, totally breaking the usual playbook and ignoring all the unspoken industry rules.

Going to the police and threatening to sue over a few online comments? Alicia was seriously the first one to ever do this.

Hearing that, Alexandra breathed easier, the tension finally melting away.

She flashed a sly grin. “Once she deletes that post, the real show begins.”

Deleting it would make Alicia a total clown, and she would get roasted alive online.

The handful of fans she got left probably wouldn’t stick around for the embarrassment.

So instead of deleting her post, Alexandra fired back, tagging Alicia right back.

AlexandraBarton: [I’ve got nothing to fear. Bring it on!@AliciaDelaneyOfficial.]

Everyone watching the drama unfold got another surprise when Alexandra clapped back on X.

Nobody expected Alexandra to go this hard, either.

The comments under both Alicia and Alexandra’s posts started blowing up, racking up thousands in no time.

Markd82: [Who are we supposed to believe here?]

Tommy94: [Both of them are so savage. Let’s see who can outlast the other.]

Chris_y: [Come to think of it, Alicia never actually claimed or even hinted she was a Hammond.]

Juststeve: [She wouldn’t have posted something like that unless she was totally fed up with all the hate.]

Nooot: [Reading her post, I really feel like someone set her up.]

Idkben: [Yeah, and wishing for the rumor-spreader to stay broke forever? That’s brutal. Seriously, who would jinx themselves like that if they were faking it?]

Okmatt: [If that’s really the case, Alicia’s got it tough. She’s been roasted nonstop over this.]

Randomname: [You guys just buy whatever she says? Come on, this is clearly her way of trying to clear her name.]

User472: [Yeah, I still don’t buy that she never said or hinted at it. And talking about a lawsuit? Anyone can say that online.]

Anyway, Alicia was already public enemy number one online, getting roasted from all sides. She wasn’t afraid of more hate at this point.

Now that she’d been given a second shot at life, anyone who pissed her off was gonna get it right back.

Honestly, everyone enjoyed the drama online.

The fake peace and phony friendship act couldn’t get people’s interest.

Nothing could grab attention like a straight-up online fight.

Back then, they rode Alicia for clout and attention. Now, Alicia could play the same game right back.

Besides, would Nicole really dare to flex her status and try to freeze Alicia out of the industry? No way. She didn’t have the nerve, and she sure didn’t have the pull.

If she did, Alicia wouldn’t have been able to stage a comeback and rise up again in her last life.

And if Nicole actually ran to the Hammonds and tried to get them to blacklist Alicia, that would just wreck the whole perfect good-girl act she puts on for them.

Nicole wouldn’t have the nerve to pull something like that.

And seriously, who was the real Hammond heiress? The fans might not have a clue, but Nicole definitely knew the truth.

After clapping back in the comments, Alicia pulled another ballsy move.

She tagged Nicole in a new post: [Bitchy Nicole, why don’t you flaunt your Hammond princess status and get your big-shot backers to blacklist me? Come on, wipe out the villain in your story once and for all.]

From now on, Alicia would be the loose cannon of the entertainment world, ready to tear into anyone whenever she felt like it.

If anyone came for her, she’d come for them even harder.

If she was gonna get roasted anyway, she might as well roast them right back and enjoy every second of it.

Besides, a lot of people were really into her bold, straight-shooter attitude.

Sure, Nicole had her fans, but she wasn’t the kind of star everyone loved like cash.

Alicia wasn’t the only one who didn’t vibe with Nicole. There were plenty of folks, both online and offline, who couldn’t stand Nicole.

Plus, with Starlight Entertainment and the Hammond family supporting Nicole into the spotlight, she’d ruffled a ton of feathers in the industry, stepping on the toes of other rising and established actresses, and messing with the profits of the companies backing them.

If Alicia and Nicole started going at it, tons of people would be glued to their screens, eating up every second of the drama.

And nothing could go viral like a feud between two celebrities. This time, Alicia was ready to get all that clout for herself.