Rising From Betrayal Reborn As The Family Outcast novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6 Dream On It

Alicia’s phone lit up with an unknown number. She didn’t even have to think about it. She knew it had to be Haley.

This time, she actually picked up. “Hello?”

She hit the record button at the same time.

Haley’s voice came through, sounding a little frantic. “Alicia, what are you doing?”

She demanded, “Why did you suddenly post those updates on X? And now you’re getting into fights in the comments. Why didn’t you check with me first?”

Alicia shot back, “It’s my account. Why can’t I post what I want?”

She added, “I never said any of that, and I wasn’t trying to get clout from those big shots.

“Alexandra’s been pushing me around. Am I just supposed to put up with it?”

Haley was stunned for a moment. Then, she siad, “But you can’t just go around scaring people with talk of calling the cops or suing them.”

She added, “And it was Alexandra who tagged you first. Why are you picking a fight with Nicole now? You’re just asking for more hate.”

Alicia scoffed, “Why is Alexandra targeting me? She’s just trying to butter up Nicole.”

She continued, “Why am I getting called a clout chaser all over the internet? Nicole’s fans started the whole mess, and they’ve been after me ever since.

“Just because Nicole’s hiding behind all these people, does that suddenly make her innocent? I’m not an idiot. Of course I gotta target her.”

Haley took a deep breath, forcing down her anger.

She softened her voice, trying to coax Alicia, “I know you’ve been treated unfairly, but the company’s really hyping Nicole up right now. Going head-to-head with her isn’t the smartest move.”

She added, “I can talk to the higher-ups and get you a better gig. So let’s back off for now, okay?”

Alicia was baiting Haley for this exact response. She asked, “What do you mean by backing off?”

Haley said, “Delete all those posts you made on X, then post an apology.

“Just say your account was hacked earlier, and none of those posts were actually from you.”

Alicia shot back, “You really think anyone’s going to buy that excuse? Do you think people are that gullible?”

Haley replied, “It doesn’t matter if anyone actually believes it. Just put out the statement, so Nicole and Alexandra can have an easy way out.”

Alicia let out a cold laugh. “So you really do think I’m an idiot, huh?”

She added, “If I post something like that, forget their fans, even the haters and onlookers would be telling me to get lost from the entertainment scene. Even my own fans would probably want me out.

“You already made me take the fall for the other four in LUMIA, and now you want me to take the heat for Nicole and Alexandra too? Just dream on it.”

Haley hadn’t expected Alicia to come back at her like that. She wondered if Alicia had known something.

She couldn’t help but say, “I’m not just your agent, you know. I’m older than you. Everything I do is for your own good.”

She pressed, “Don’t you even trust me a little anymore?”

She’d noticed lately that Alicia was trying to slip out of her grip, but she wasn’t about to let that happen.

Alicia let out a mocking laugh. “Oh, for my own good, huh?”

She added, “If it wasn’t for you, Nicole, and the company stirring things up, with the other four in LUMIA playing along, do you think the whole internet would be out to get me?”

She went on in a meaningful tone, “You were my mom’s college friend and roommate, remember?

“Back then, your ex-husband set you up. You walked away with nothing and got stuck with a mountain of debt.

“You had to keep dodging debt collectors and couldn’t land a job anywhere.

“It was my mom who lent you the money to pay off those debts and helped you land that agent job at Starlight Entertainment.

“And when you asked, she even stepped in and handled your ex’s family for you, so they’d finally stop messing with you.”

Alicia let out a cold laugh. “My mom saved your ass when you were at rock bottom, and now you want to shove me right back down? Is that what you called ‘for my own good’?

“Sorry, guess I have to let you down.”

After Alicia’s mom helped Haley get into Starlight Entertainment, Haley managed to bring up a second-tier starlet.

But before Haley could help her climb any higher, that starlet married a wealthy businessman and dropped out of the spotlight.

Right around then, Starlight was gearing up to create a top girl group, and Haley jumped at the chance to take charge of the group.

Knowing Alicia wanted in on the entertainment scene, Haley asked her to join LUMIA.

After Alicia’s mom passed away, Haley didn’t pull away. In fact, she always cared about Alicia.

Back then, Alicia didn’t know the first thing about showbiz, and she trusted Haley. Plus, since Starlight belonged to Nicolas’s family, she figured it was safe and agreed to join.

But she had never guessed that one choice would land her in a pit that she couldn’t climb out of.

“Am I just meant to be the stepping stone for you and Starlight, so you can prop everyone else up at my expense? Isn’t that just plain bullying?”

Haley was so stunned by Alicia’s comeback that she could barely get a word out.

She also realized that Alicia had known she used to play both sides.

Trying to guilt Alicia into deleting those posts was almost impossible.

Haley paused, then tried to warn Alicia, “If your family or Nicolas finds out, they’re not going to be happy. No matter what you think, I’m really doing this for your own good.”

Alicia let out a cold laugh. “I’ve already cut ties with my family. As for Nicolas, it’s not like we’re close. Why should I care if he’s happy?”

When Alicia first set her sights on showbiz, everyone around her figured she was just trying to get close to Nicolas.

The truth was, Nicolas was only part of it. She just really wanted to be in the entertainment world for herself.

When Nicole first moved in, her body was covered in injuries from her birth father’s abuse, and she was in poor health.

She deliberately acted extremely dependent on Alicia’s family, not only winning their sympathy but also making it seem like she couldn’t get by without them.

After that, Nicole was constantly in the hospital, pretending she couldn’t live without their support.

The Hammonds would take turns staying with her at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Alicia was left all alone at home, either studying or watching dramas.

She’d catch herself copying the actors on TV, wondering how she’d play the part if she were in their shoes.

She loved watching people sing and dance, and was totally drawn to the spotlight. So when the chance to join LUMIA came up, she couldn’t say no.

She was a natural when it came to acting, which was why, in her previous life, she finally made her comeback after quitting the group and going solo as an actress.

In her last life, she and Nicolas used to argue and give each other the silent treatment all the time because of Nicole, but she never bothered worrying about whether he was mad or not.

Now, Nicolas was just a stranger to her. Alicia of course wouldn’t care about his feelings.

She added, “If he’s really unhappy, then let him bury my career for all I care. I’m done playing nice this time. I won’t compromise anymore.”

With that, she hung up and saved the recording.