The One Who Gets Triggered

Chloe’s tear-filled gaze hardened with unyielding resolve as she stared at the imposing man resting in the shadows. A fiery ambition ignited in her chest. She was determined to win Gael Montgomery.

*Gael must be getting pestered by that bitch Sienna right now,* Chloe thought frantically, her mind spinning with a rapid plan. *If I step in, help Gael out of this messy situation, and reveal Sienna's true, vulgar colors to him, he will definitely appreciate me.*

She felt confident that her carefully curated beauty, gentle talent, and elite status could easily bring the untouchable star down from his pedestal. It would be effortless.

Standing just a few feet away, Sienna observed the micro-expressions shifting across Chloe's face. She instantly saw through the elaborate charade. Back in her previous, tragic life, Chloe had harbored the exact same thoughts. She had claimed Gael as her own the moment she laid eyes on him. Chloe was adept at using Sienna as a convenient stepping stone, a favorite tactic to make herself look like a flawless angel while claiming whatever prize she desired.

Supported by a glaring Declan, Chloe limped dramatically into the open tent area. She put on a soft, deeply apologetic facade.

"Mr. Montgomery, I am sorry. I didn't expect you to join the show. Gideon, the director, was so tight-lipped and didn't tell any of us," Chloe began, her voice trembling just enough to sound genuine.

Then, she let her gaze shift toward Sienna before looking back at the man. "Mr. Montgomery, I know you prefer peace and quiet. You hate being disturbed. I want to apologize for Sienna."

She bowed slowly and deliberately. As she bent down, she made sure the cameras captured her wincing through the supposed flaring pain in her injured leg. She drew in a sharp breath but stubbornly kept bowing. It was a masterfully calculated move, painting Sienna as a desperate, bothersome nuisance while elevating her own image to one of selfless, forgiving grace.

The livestream chat immediately caught fire. Fueled by Chloe’s pre-hired internet trolls and her army of blind fans, viewers furiously slammed Sienna.

[Who is this woman, daring to hit on Gael?]

[Yesterday, during the livestream, I already felt Sienna was acting weird. She kept clinging to Declan. Now that Gael is here, she is all over him. Does she have any shame?]

[She is just a nobody who came on the show to hook up with guys, huh?]

They branded her a shameless, attention-seeking man-chaser. None of the raging netizens knew the underlying truth behind her presence. Even though Sienna had been brought back to the Lancaster residence, the wealthy family explicitly refused to publicly recognize her. They claimed announcing her true identity would ruin Chloe's fragile reputation in Brampton's elite socialite circles. They cruelly forced Sienna to still use her old surname, Lockwood, on the broadcast to avoid any public association with them. They promised she could only take the Lancaster name once Chloe felt ready to accept her.

On screen, the viewers remained oblivious to the infuriating injustice of it all. Sienna had only been filming for a day, and the hatred was already pouring in by the thousands.

Watching his precious, delicate sister bow through her apparent pain, Declan’s anger boiled over. The recent shifts in Sienna's attitude toward him had been awful, and seeing Chloe suffer because of her made his temper snap.

"Sienna, you tried to seduce Mr. Montgomery, and now you expect Chloe to apologize for you? Do you even deserve her help?" Declan snapped, his voice echoing in the small space.

He aggressively pulled Chloe protectively into his strong arms, his heart aching at the sight of her trembling form. He shot Sienna a commanding, disgust-filled glare.

"Go apologize to Mr. Montgomery, thank Chloe for covering for you, and then get lost."

The comment section became a vicious battlefield of hate. Chloe milked the "Declan's little sister" persona for all it was worth, riding on his massive popularity. Yet, amidst the flying vitriol, a few rational voices questioned Declan's bossy, aggressive entitlement.

[Declan's bossy attitude is rubbing me the wrong way. Why is he yelling at her like that?]

[I wanted to ask this yesterday. Did Declan and Sienna know each other before? The way he orders her around is way too natural, like he knows she won't refuse.]

[Gael hasn't even said a word yet. How do you know Sienna is trying to hit on him?]

[Seriously? Sienna actually has fans now? Don't tell me you guys believe in pretty privilege.]

While the online world tore itself apart in a frenzy of insults, Sienna kept her cool. Her untouchable calmness contrasted sharply with the chaotic scene around her. Her striking gaze remained flat, icy, and emotionless as she looked at her biological brother.

"If you've got issues, go get them checked. Don't yap around here," she retorted. Her voice sliced through the heavy tension like a scalpel, steady and unbothered.

"Yap? Who are you trying to insult?" Declan demanded. His face turned grim at her blatant, public defiance in front of millions of viewers.

Sienna had stood up to him when the cameras weren't rolling, and now, with everyone watching, she still dared to challenge him. He scoffed inwardly, assuming she was begging to be hated by the rest of the Lancaster family who might be watching the stream. He vowed that even if she begged him on her knees later, he would never put in a good word for her with their parents.

Sienna didn't even bother to look at him anymore. She turned on her heel and began to walk out of the tent area, her posture relaxed and unhurried.

"If you're the one getting salty, then yeah, I'm insulting you."

Furious beyond belief, Declan nearly lunged after her. He wanted to grab her arm and physically force an apology out of her mouth right then and there.

But Chloe quickly and firmly grabbed his sleeve.

"Declan, don't let this affect everyone's relationships. We're on the same show, so we should be helping each other," she urged softly. Her voice dripped with artificial sweetness, playing the role of the ultimate peacemaker.

Declan instantly melted. He affectionately ruffled her hair, his anger toward Chloe vanishing in a heartbeat. He marveled at Chloe's endless capacity for forgiveness. Even after everything she had been through, she still worried about preserving his relationship with Sienna. His intense dislike for his biological sister deepened further. He wished fervently that Chloe were his real sister.

Fiddling nervously with the hem of her white skirt to look perfectly innocent, Chloe sidled closer to where Gael stood. Her eyes softened, attempting to look even more pure and delicate in the harsh light.

"Mr. Montgomery, please don't hold it against Sienna. I'll try to get her to apologize to you..."

But before Chloe could even finish her honeyed sentence, Gael—who had been standing there acting like a laid-back bystander with one hand shoved in his pocket, looking as lazy and detached as ever—finally made his move.