The Fake Heiress Reads the Comments

One second ago, I was glad to my upcoming engagement party.

One second later, my world came crashing down.

Three months ago, I personally exposed Scarlett Rockefeller's deception.

This impostor, claiming to be the Rockefeller heiress, had spun a web of lies, trying to steal my place.

With solid proof, I kicked her out of the Rockefeller family, becoming the celebrated "true heiress."

That victory made me famous and finally rid me of that vile woman, Scarlett.

Three months later, I was about to get engaged to Alexander Winthrop, my childhood best friend.

Since we were kids, he'd always been by my side, loving and caring for me.

Now, he was a successful CEO of a hot startup, and I was the woman who understood him best.

In the dressing room before the engagement party, I adjusted my gown in the mirror.

The white silk skirt flowed elegantly, everything was perfect, like a fairy tale.

"If this were a novel," I couldn't help smiling to myself, "I'd be heading straight for the perfect happy ending."

Just then, a blinding flash of white light filled my vision. I blinked instinctively.

Then, bizarre text appeared out of thin air before my eyes.

[Is the story finally starting?]

[Is the heroine about to make her comeback?]

[LOL, does she really think she won?]

My heart plummeted. Streaming comments flooded my vision, one after another:

[Scarlett Rockefeller is the real protagonist of this story, right?!]

[Returning for revenge years later? Love this plot!]

[[What's next? Being abandoned by all, having the male lead stolen, identity usurped...A public humiliation arc?]

My head buzzed. Streaming comments? What the hell? A hallucination?

"Victoria, come on out, the guests are all here."

My assistant knocked, her voice pulling me back from the chaos.

I blinked. The comments vanished, like it had all been a figment of my imagination.

I took a deep breath, and told myself not to freak out.

This was my engagement party. My life was perfect.

I held Alexander's arm, a perfect smile plastered on my face.

Every guest offered congratulations; some whispered enviously, "The Winthrop-Rockefeller union, such a perfect match."

Alexander looked down at me, his eyes full of affection. "Tired?"

"Not at all," I shook my head.

Just then, a commotion erupted at the entrance.

I turned. A familiar figure was walking in, slow and deliberate.

It was Scarlett Rockefeller.

She wore a deep burgundy gown, alluring and utterly composed, like the center of attention.

What was she doing here?

"Victoria," she smiled faintly, her tone cool, "Such an important occasion. Wasn't it a bit rude not to invite your old friend?"

Her sudden appearance sparked whispers around us.

A wave of intense unease washed over me, and I gripped Alexander's hand tighter.

But then, the streaming comments flashed before my eyes again.

[She's here! The heroine's grand entrance!]

[Scarlett's moment to shine!]

[Ooh, this is about to get good.]

The surrounding noise faded, replaced only by those relentless comments.

I clung to Alexander's hand, forcing a smile.

All eyes in the ballroom were on Scarlett as she walked towards me, utterly unruffled.

"Scarlett?" I hissed, my voice low enough only for us to hear. "What are you doing here?"

She smiled, like she held all the cards.

"Just here to congratulate you, of course. After all, we were practically 'sisters.'"

[LOL, 'congratulate'? Yeah right, she's here to wreck the place!]

[Classic opening! Villainess's wedding, heroine returns, battle commences!]

The comments danced mockingly across my vision, unseen by everyone else.

What was this?

"Victoria," Alexander sensed my tension, murmuring reassurance, "Don't be nervous."

Nervous? Of course I was nervous!

How dare she show up at an event like this, and even act like she owned it!

"Sorry I'm late," Scarlett lifted a hand, elegantly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "Just flew in from Paris.

Perfect timing, actually. I have a gift for Alexander today."

With that, she held out a USB drive.

"What is this?" Alexander frowned.

[Classic soap opera move! The 'evidence bomb'!]

[Things are heating up! Get ready, ladies!]

"It's... about Victoria," Scarlett's smile widening as her gaze swept over me.

"What are you playing at?" My voice was a strangled whisper.

She just remained silent. But the comments raced across my vision.

[Showtime!]

[Plug it in! Play whatever's on it! This is so thrilling!]

[The heroine's counterattack has just begun!]

My heart hammered. Sideways glances came from all around.

I had to let go of Alexander's hand, forcing myself to stand tall,

"Scarlett, if you're here to apologize, get on with it. If you're here to cause trouble"

"Victoria, I'm not here to cause trouble," she said softly, but her eyes were pure challenge. "But there are some things Alexander deserves to know, don't you think?"

Alexander's gaze flickered between us.

He didn't move, but someone from the AV team had already taken the USB drive, heading towards the screen controls.

"Don't play it!" I shrieked.

But it was too late.

I held my breath.

The next second, the screen showed footage of me, clearly drunk, arguing with a strange man in a hotel lobby.

My head buzzed again. Cold sweat broke out down my back.

[Whoa, so this is Victoria Rockefeller?]

[Yikes, our 'true heiress'? How scandalous!]

[Is the hero getting cheated on? LOL!]

The comments flashed mockingly before my eyes.

Meanwhile, a wave of hushed whispers swept through the banquet hall.

"Victoria, what is this?" Alexander's low voice shattered my paralysis.

"No! It's fake!" I whirled on Scarlett, "You're lying! This is edited!"

"Is it?" She gave a light laugh. "Whether it's edited or not, people can decide for themselves."

[Haha, the heroine's totally in control now! So satisfying!]

[Look at Victoria's face! Priceless!]

"Scarlett, that's enough!" My voice cracked, almost out of control. "What do you want?!"

"I haven't done anything," she smiled sweetly, turning to leave, her slender figure radiating confidence.

She didn't need to stay. The stares and the gossip were enough to destroy me.

I fled the ballroom, utterly humiliated.

Tears welled up, but I refused to let them fall.

I wouldn't cry. I hadn't lost!

"Victoria," Alexander followed me out. "That video... what was that about?"

"It's fake!" I repeated through gritted teeth, like I was trying to convince myself. "All of it!"

He frowned at me, the trust in his eyes visibly crumbling.

My heart felt squeezed, making it hard to breathe.

The comments, however, kept flashing,

[He doesn't believe her anymore! The hero finally sees the villainess for who she is!]

[He's about to switch sides! Face-slap incoming!]

[Victoria, your childhood sweetheart is leaving you!]

"Alexander, do you believe me?" I ventured, my voice trembling.

He didn't answer. The doubt in his eyes was a stabbing pain.

Suddenly, one of the comments echoed in my mind.

[He's Scarlett's 'hero.' How could you possibly win?]

My breath hitched. I didn't dare ask what that meant.

"I need time," he said flatly, turning away.

From that day on, my life spiraled out of control.

The streaming comments became my only guide, but they relentlessly revealed a brutal truth.

I was a "supporting character."

In this story's original plot, I, Victoria Rockefeller, was just a tool for Scarlett's revenge.

Alexander Winthrop? Ultimately, he belonged to the heroine.

Every day, streams of comments flashed before my eyes.

From the snippets, I pieced together the unfolding plot.

The "female lead" Scarlett and the "male lead" Alexander had a chance encounter.

The "male lead" gave the "female lead" a limited-edition tiara he'd been saving.

The "heroine" was framed at a gala, and the "hero" rescued her, carrying her princess-style to a private room.

[Squeee! They're so perfect together! I'm grinning like an idiot!]

[They kissed already? The pace is fast, and I'm here for it!]

I couldn't win against her. I couldn't...

Seeing these scenes play out in the comments C scenes filled with a tenderness Alexander had never shown me.

Within three days, scandal pushed me further into the abyss.

Videos about how I "schemed to oust Scarlett" flooded the internet, followed by a tsunami of hate.

I tried to explain, but no one listened. Even Alexander chose silence.

In this storm, I had to stand on my own.

[LOL, wasn't Victoria Rockefeller so full of herself? Karma's a bitch!]

[What goes around comes around! Scarlett is clearly the chosen one!]

[This plot is so satisfying! Queen Scarlett slaying the villainess from the start!]

Comments scrolled past, coldly "spoiling" the so-called truth.

They didn't speak tome, but they mercilessly revealed the script.

I started noticing patterns in when the comments appeared.

They always popped up at key plot points, like an audience commenting on a play.

While they couldn't change the plot, they accidentally dropped clues. For example:

[This flashback is killer! Scarlett's past suffering hits right in the feels!]

[Hope she finds the evidence soon and takes Victoria down for good!]

"Evidence?" I frowned, staring at the words.

What evidence would Scarlett find? And who was helping her?

I needed answers.

As the online storm calmed slightly, I tracked down the source of the leaked video clip.

Sure enough, just as the comments vaguely hinted, it wasn't leaked accidentally.

It was deliberately edited.

I tracked down the hotel security guard who originally shot the footage.

His lips were sealed tight, but after some... persuasion... he finally cracked:

The raw footage was given to him by someone named "Evelyn Carter."

Evelyn Carter? The name sent a jolt through me.

She was Alexander Winthrop's personal assistant.

[LOL, the villains are turning on each other! The hero's own people are digging the heroine's grave!]

[Classic soap twist! Maximum drama!]

My scalp prickled.

If the comments were right, then Evelyn Carter and Scarlett Rockefeller were in.

I called Alexander.

Surprisingly, he answered quickly, but his tone was icy. "What is it?"

"Do you know about Evelyn Carter?" I got straight to the point.

Silence on the other end, then a sigh, "She's Scarlett's friend. Helped her out a bit. Victoria, don't make this messier."

"Messier?" I scoffed, "She actively helped frame me with edited footage! How is that not messy?"

"Enough!" His voice turned sharp, "This has nothing to do with you. Leave Scarlett alone. She's suffered enough."

"Suffered enough?" My voice trembled, "She's suffered? What about me, Alexander? I'm your fiance!"

"Not for much longer."

Then came the dial tone. He'd hung up.

[See? Childhood friend always sides with the heroine. He was only with the villainess because she tricked him.]

[Duh, the hero belongs with the heroine. First rule of romance novels!]

[This plot is flying high! So satisfying!]

[Next step: calling off the engagement, right?]