Their Punching Bag Became The Storm novel Chapter 149

Chapter 149 If Only Whitney Were Here

answering Liz’s questions one by one.

With Kayla, who was paid to play along, helping her out, they managed to gloss over all the tough questions.

As for her explanations, some viewers actually bought it and said they understood.

But some viewers thought she was spouting nonsense, trying to whitewash herself.

After all, the videos Whitney’s Sidekick put together were the real deal.

Emily was running her mouth; all talk and no proof. Nobody was buying it.

But no matter how much people argued online. The controversy surrounding Emily was under control.

Brandon watched the stream and tracked the online sentiment. Things were improving, but his frown only deepened.

Brandon thought to himself, ‘Something’s not right.”

Emily’s answers were so perfect, even Anderson Entertainment’s PR team probably couldn’t have come up with anything

better.

Brandon thought, ‘With Emily’s usual ability to handle things, how did she manage to nail it like that?

“And the way things were going online, it was obvious someone was pulling the strings.’

“Is Anderson Entertainment’s PR team managing Emily’s image right now?” Brandon asked directly.

His assistant made a quick call and came back. “No, Anderson Entertainment hasn’t gotten involved.”

Brandon finally realized why something felt off. Anderson Entertainment wasn’t involved.

He thought, ‘So who’s actually controlling the narrative online?

‘And who fed Emily those flawless responses? The only support Emily ever had was the Anderson family, wasn’t it?’

So, there was someone else working behind the scenes for Emily.

That person got her onto the show, fed her those flawless responses, and even steered the online buzz in her favor.

But what was their real purpose? When did Emily ever connect with someone like that?

Why was she hiding it from the Andersons? Was this person targeting Emily, or the Anderson family?

Brandon’s mind was a storm of emotions. His suspicions kept growing.

A few seconds later, he called his assistant over. “Discreetly investigate who Emily has been in contact with over the past few years.”

Meanwhile, on the exposé stream, Liz, clearly frustrated that she hadn’t managed to break through Emily’s defenses, decided to go straight for the jugular.

She suddenly switched gears and asked, “On Real Survival, you mentioned that Whitney was visiting Roynfort for the first time, and that she’d been living with the Anderson family.

“You also said she kept clinging to Chase and wouldn’t let go, and in the end, she forced you all to take her on the show, right?”

This question wasn’t in the script Director Rowe had given Emily. Her face went a little pale.

Back then, she’d only brought up Whitney living with the Anderson family to steer the crowd into thinking Whitney was a heartless traitor who bit the hand that fed her.

And the whole thing about Chase bringing Whitney onto the show was also meant to steer the public into trashing Whitney. But she hadn’t said it so bluntly.

If she admitted it now, she’d expose her own hypocrisy. Her earlier excuse that it was for Whitney’s own good would be a cover for looking down on her.

But if she denied it, it would mean all her previous statements were lies.

As she was trying to figure out how to answer, Liz pressed on, “So, is Whitney still living with the Anderson family? How are things between you two now that the show’s over?”

That gave Emily an opening to respond.

She raised her pale, exhausted face and forced a smile at Liz.

But paired with how drained she looked, that smile was so strained it made her seem even more pitiful.

Emily said, “Whitney did stay with us at the Anderson family at first, and honestly, we got along really well.

“If things weren’t good between us, we wouldn’t have gone on the show together, and Chase wouldn’t have bothered to bring both of us along.

Chapter 148 If Only Whitney Were Here

“I honestly have no idea why, but after the show, everything between us changed.”

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Chapter 149 Your Wish Won’t Come True

Chapter 149 Your Wish Won’t Come True

Emily lowered her head, looking pretty down. “Maybe it’s all because of those misunderstandings. The audience thought! was picking on Whitney, and Whitney ended up thinking the same.

“Whitney probably can’t stand me now. Ever since the show ended, she hasn’t come home. Mom, Dad, and my brothers are all worried sick, but none of us can reach her.”

As she spoke, Emily suddenly looked up at the camera. “This is a live broadcast, right?”

A hint of hope flashed in her eyes. “That means Whitney’s probably watching this right now. I want to say that our whole family wants you to come back.

“Roynfort is so busy and overwhelming. I really don’t want you to do anything to hurt yourself because you’re angry with/

“I want you to come back safe and sound. If you’re unhappy about anything, I’ll apologize, please don’t stay mad at me

Her words were so sincere. Her tear-stained face and those reddened eyes made her look even more sincere. She was the picture of sincerity.

If you really think about it, Emily’s words sounded innocent, but there was something off about them.

Reading between the lines, she was basically implying that Whitney was all alone in Roynfort. Since she hadn’t returned to the Anderson family, she must be resorting to desperate measures, maybe even selling herself to survive.

If this had happened before, most viewers would’ve totally bought Emily’s act. Thinking she was as sweet and innocent as she looked, always relying on Whitney from her family, and still trying to use Whitney’s influence to help herself.

But now, after all the gossip and drama about Emily’s two-faced ways, the online crowd was way too savvy. The moment she spoke, everyone could tell something was off; her words didn’t sit right.

As the viewers were frowning, ready to call out how Emily was throwing shade at Whitney and steering the conversation, a playful laugh suddenly rang out from the side.

It was so unexpected, it made everyone turn their heads.

There stood Kayla, dressed in a sleek, form-fitting teal gown, her lips painted a fiery red as she covered her mouth with a hand, her smile pure trouble, irresistible and full of attitude.

Her eyes, lined with sharp eyeliner, lifted in a teasing arch. “Guess what, Emily? Looks like your wish isn’t happening.”

It was Kayla who spoke up.

As soon as Kayla spoke, Emily instinctively tensed up, snapping her head toward Kayla.

She was worried sick that Kayla, after getting her money, might suddenly go off the rails and spill something she shouldn’t

on air.

Ever since Kayla left Real Survival, she’d been popping up on all sorts of variety shows, plus a bunch of interviews and gigs. On the surface, it looked like her popularity was on the rise, and her opportunities were getting better and better.

But anyone with half a brain could see what was really going on.

Every single one of Kayla’s gigs and interviews was centered around Emily.

As a Real Survival guest, Kayla was always quick to defend Emily, answering all those online accusations and explaining that things weren’t really as they seemed on the internet.

Since Kayla was signed to Anderson Entertainment, her actions made it easy for netizens to start spinning conspiracy

theories.

As a result, Kayla’s reputation took a nosedive.

Everyone remembered those scenes from Real Survival where she was always trailing after Emily, and now the internet was merciless, calling her the Anderson family’s lapdog, Emily’s loyal simp, and dragging her nonstop in the comments.

So the moment Kayla opened her mouth, everyone knew exactly what was about to happen.

Emily was on edge, but everyone else could see Kayla was about to go into full simp mode for her.

Liz immediately threw the question at Kayla. “Wait, Kayla, don’t tell me you actually know where Whitney is right now?” Kayla laughed. “Yeah, I do.”

Liz’s eyes lit up with curiosity, and she pressed for more.

Emily’s heart raced as she glanced at Kayla’s wild look, but she kept up her sweet persona and turned to face her.

Chapter 149 Your Wish Won’t Come True

“Kayla, you really know where Whitney is? Come on, tell me. I want to convince her to come home,” Emily said.

Kayla hooked a lock of hair draped over her shoulder with her finger, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “She’s living at Prestige Manor right now.”

Emily was momentarily taken aback. Even Liz was caught off guard. Prestige Manor? That’s the most luxurious district in Roynfort.

Prestige Manor isn’t somewhere you can buy your way into, even if you’ve got the cash. Whitney’s living at Prestige Manor.

Kayla caught their stunned expressions and turned to Emily. “Emily, did you forget? Didn’t Whitney herself say on the show that she’s got her own villa at Prestige Manor?”

She deliberately emphasized the words herself, Prestige Manor, and her own.

Emily realized what Kayla meant and hesitated, nodding awkwardly. “But Prestige Manor isn’t exactly a place you can move

into…”

She left the rest unsaid, but it was pretty obvious what she was getting at.

Then she shook her head, trying to play it off. “Whitney was probably kidding back then.”

She looked like she was scrambling to make excuses for Whitney.

Kayla let out a soft laugh, then turned to Jason and Bella, who were standing there like props in the background.

“We were filming a show with Mr. Howard and the others this morning,” Kayla said, shooting them a raised eyebrow.

Jason and Bella hadn’t expected to get dragged into the conversation, so they both froze for a second, then nodded together.

“During a break, Nora was on a video call with Whitney,” Kayla added.

Jason and Bella’s faces lit up in sudden realization.

Jason, who was signed to Anderson Entertainment, was always playing the loyal lapdog for Emily on Real Survival. He glanced at Emily and nodded quickly. “Yeah, I saw it too. Nora, Elian, and Mr. Howard were all on a video call with Whitney.

“And then… I heard Nora excitedly shout that she was going to Prestige Manor to find Whitney.”

Kayla smiled and nodded, then turned to Emily. “Looks like you’re going to be disappointed, Emily. Whitney’s got her own place at Prestige Manor.

“Why would she ever want to go back to the Anderson family and being at someone else’s mercy?”

Kayla said it with a soft smile, her tone laced with amusement.

But as Emily listened to Kayla emphasize Emily, Prestige Manor, and be at someone else’s mercy, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Kayla was taking a jab at her.

Emily thought inwardly, ‘That damn woman. She pocketed six point seven million dollars from me, and she still can’t get her act together.’

Even though Emily was fuming inside, she forced herself to keep smiling. “Maybe you guys heard it wrong?”

“Come on, there were three of us, six ears. You really think we all misheard?” Kayla shot back, then added, “After the show wrapped, they all headed straight for Prestige Manor. Mr. Howard, Nora, and Elian, all three of them, together.”

They’d already set off. And it wasn’t one person. They all went together. Seriously, how could that possibly be fake? The comments exploded in the chat.

Everyone was buzzing. Was Whitney really living at Prestige Manor? And did Mr. Howard, Nora, and Elian actually head over there?

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