The Trending Topic Herself: The Villainess is the Superstar!-Chapter 34: Earth-Shattering Change

Ryan Spencer sat in his office, carefully examining the photo for a few moments, his thoughts drifting far away.

In just a few short months, Maya Monroe’s transformation had been dramatic; her acting skills had become refined, her fashion sense had improved greatly. Although she still had the same flamboyant personality, there was now a touch of charm to it.

Ryan Spencer let out a slow sigh, a slight smile on his lips. His eyes behind the glasses moved until they finally landed on Maya Monroe’s "iconic photo."

No matter whether Maya Monroe had been through something shocking or otherwise, the current situation couldn’t be better. The comment section of Maya Monroe’s social media account was no longer filled with abusive comments but had a wave of fans defending her. Ryan suddenly thought that maybe Maya Monroe’s path to redemption wasn’t impossible.

Maya Monroe’s popularity was high, and she was often talked about. All of this was due to her many scandals, which made her the typical "scandal-ridden artist." She had the attention, but without a good enough reputation, she was doomed not to go far on the path of an actor.

Maya Monroe needed to clean up her image.

*

An assistant helped open the door of the nanny van, and Leo Lancaster bent down and got in.

He stretched out his hand to rub his slightly aching temples; this schedule was too rushed, and he had only slept for three hours.

The assistant handed him a cup: "Brother Leo, have some water."

"Thank you." Leo glanced at the cup of tea, which had a golden hue. "What kind of tea is this?"

"Amber Tea, it’s calming."

"Amber Tea..."

"Brother Leo, if you don’t like it, I can get you another cup. What kind of tea do you want?"

"No need." Leo came out of his daze and gently reassured the assistant: "This is fine, I like it."

In less than two minutes, manager Rose Adler got into the van. She was a very capable-looking woman with her hair tied up high and a navy floral silk scarf around her neck.

"Leo, you’ve worked hard. There’s no schedule this afternoon, so you can rest for a while."

Leo had a friendly relationship with Rose Adler. When Leo debuted, Rose Adler was still an unknown manager. Over the years, Leo had won several Best Actor awards, and Rose Adler had become a well-known top manager in the industry.

Leo nodded.

"The recent trending topic should have been your spotlight, who knew Maya Monroe would suddenly appear," Rose Adler said, lowering her gaze.

Leo replied nonchalantly, "It’s all the same show; it doesn’t matter who is at the top. Besides..." Leo’s eyes softened a little, "those photos are indeed quite beautiful."

Rose Adler didn’t know how to respond for a moment. She recalled another issue: "Did Maya Monroe cling to you during the filming?"

Leo’s voice carried a hint of melancholy: "No..."

Rose sighed in relief and reminded him, "Except for necessary shoots, try to keep your distance from Maya Monroe. She’s bought off the tabloids multiple times to stir up scandals, and your reputation is too good to be dragged down by her."

"Actually, Kiki..."

Rose saw his usual stubbornness resurfacing and quickly cut him off: "Okay, okay, I know you want to say that Maya Monroe isn’t what I think, just keep it in mind. I trust you have your judgment."

Leo opened his phone’s album, looking at the saved photos of Maya Monroe, his previously agitated mind calming down.

His gaze slowly moved over Maya Monroe’s face, faintly finding traces of her childhood features.

She had grown up.

*

Maya Monroe didn’t have any scenes to shoot today; she returned to the villa early, only to hear a heated argument as she entered the living room.

"Why!? Why are you holding me back like this!? I’m already twenty-two, don’t I even have the right to make my own decisions? Why do I have to obediently follow your planned path!? Isn’t it enough to have you in the company? Why can’t I pursue what I want?!"

Eric Rowe’s voice was full of rage, like a lit firecracker, restless and agitated.

Another voice, calm and composed, yet it suppressed Eric Rowe’s roaring momentum: "Your personality isn’t suited for the entertainment industry. I will never harm you. Just listen to me, and you’ll succeed."

"How do you know if you won’t let me try? Why does everyone think I can’t do it? Eric, I’m no longer the indecisive child I once was. I have my thoughts, my path to follow! You and grandma suffocating me like this only makes me feel trapped!"

"Don’t make meaningless struggles. You’ll go to work at the company tomorrow. If you want to pursue another career, discuss it with me first."

"I’m like a bird in a cage!!"

What followed were hurried footsteps.

Eric Rowe had barely taken a few steps when he bumped into Maya Monroe at the entrance.

The anger on Eric Rowe’s face couldn’t be concealed immediately; he pursed his lips tightly: "Sister-in-law."

Maya Monroe nodded, not asking what had just happened: "It’s almost time for dinner, why don’t you stay and eat?"

Thinking of Ian Rowe inside, Eric Rowe looked displeased: "No, sister-in-law, you and my brother eat. It’s getting late; I need to rush back to the old mansion."

Maya Monroe remembered the last time she saw Eric Rowe, he was a sunny, handsome young man. Now, Eric Rowe seemed depressed, as if he had been crushed under some weight.

"I heard you’re planning to move out from the old mansion?"

Eric Rowe nodded: "It’s more convenient to live outside; besides, I should become independent."

"I see," Maya Monroe said. "Take it easy on your way back."

Eric Rowe responded and hurriedly left.

The large living room only had Ian Rowe left. The scattered light cast on him added a touch of loneliness. He had a freshly lit cigarette in his hand, the crimson glow flickering faintly.

Through these times, Maya Monroe knew that Ian Rowe only smoked when he was feeling agitated.

"You’re back?"

Ian Rowe raised his eyes, those calm and unwavering eyes looked straight at her.

Maya Monroe smiled, teasing him as usual: "I was just a little late coming back, but it seems like you missed me so much that you resorted to smoking to ease your worries. Were you waiting for me here? How sweet."

"You heard everything just now, didn’t you?"

Maya Monroe didn’t intend to pretend: "Eric? I heard you guys talking earlier."

"Then do you think, my approach is right or wrong?" The faint scent of tobacco and mint mixed, creating an indescribable pleasant aroma. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Maya Monroe didn’t expect Ian Rowe to ask her this question, given that he had a strong desire for control and disliked others meddling.

According to the storyline, after several attempts, Eric Rowe successfully achieved his dream of entering the entertainment industry, where the scheming and dirty dealings rapidly honed him. In the end, Eric Rowe quickly rose to fame with his good looks and the persona of a wealthy second-generation, and he developed mutual affection with Kiki Monroe.