Part 1Blood is Thicker than the Spotlight

I was photographed getting into a car with the world’s biggest superstar, and the internet immediately tried to burn me alive.

The "it-girl" of the moment was the first to twist the knife: "Some people are just so desperate for fame, they’ll crawl into any man’s bed."

The superstar in question almost lost his mind. He didn't wait for his PR team. He logged onto X in the middle of the night.

"Holy shit, I’m her literal brother!"

"I’m begging you, stop poking the bear. I’m the one who’s going to get a lecture from our mom when we get home. Are you guys going to pay my medical bills?!"

* * *

The day after those photos went viral, my manager was still tearing her hair out, trying to find a way to spin the damage. Meanwhile, I had to show up for the filming of a high-stakes reality show.

My manager had worked herself to the bone—and probably promised away her firstborn—to get me this slot.

The cast was stacked with A-listers and icons.

Compared to them, I was just a one-hit-wonder from a sleeper-hit drama. I was basically an extra in my own life.

The second the cameras turned on, eagle-eyed viewers started dissecting my outfit. They realized I was wearing the exact same brand of hoodie, joggers, and sneakers as the global superstar, Leo Brooks.

Then came the clip from the day before: me, standing on a curb, flagging down a car. Leo’s SUV pulled over, I slid into the passenger seat like I owned the place, and then—according to the edited narrative—I was "kicked out" and left on the sidewalk.

The internet came for my throat.

[I’ve never seen a pick-me girl this delusional. Flagging down his car on the street? Really?]

[Shameless. Absolutely disgusting. Everyone thinks they can ride his coattails.]

[Look at that hoodie. It’s probably a knockoff. There’s no way she can actually afford the real thing.]

I ignored it all. I let the comments slide off me like water.

Until the first game started.

The host told us we had to call someone in the industry and ask to borrow $100,000. If they said yes, we passed.

I was genuinely stuck.

Leo was the only person I knew well enough to ask for that kind of money... but he had just sent me cash for a new designer bag a few days ago. I wasn't sure if his "sibling generosity" had a daily limit.

While I was agonizing over the choice, the "it-girl" next to me, Sierra Vance, had already dialed.

"Hello?"

A deep, velvet-smooth voice echoed through the speakers. It was the kind of voice that belonged in a sold-out arena.

I knew that voice. It was the voice that told me to do the dishes every other Tuesday.