Chapter 556

Natalie smiled. “I knew you asked me out for this.”
“I’ve got my hands on an amazing script, and it’s perfect for you.”
Natalie paused for a moment. “I really like my life now, it’s quiet and peaceful. So, I’m sorry, you’ll have to find someone else.”
Dylan sighed. “I know you love acting, and you want to act. You’re just afraid of that person.”
“I don’t want to take the risk, and I don’t want you to either.”
Dylan knew exactly what she was thinking. He had been prepared to take that risk when he came to her, but he was also afraid of pushing her back into the spotlight.
Dylan sighed again. “This film is still in the early stages of planning. If you change your mind, just give me a call anytime.”
After a long chat with her good friend, Natalie was in high spirits when she returned to the hospital.
Kristin was also doing much better. The doctor came by to say she could be discharged the next day.
“We’ll go back to our town tomorrow. We’ve only been gone two days, but I’m already so homesick. I miss those neighbors who play cards at our door all day, and the smell of our neighbor’s baking.”
Natalie chattered on as she packed, wishing they could leave that very night.
Penelope was scrolling through her phone, sighing repeatedly.
“What are you sighing about?” Natalie asked, turning around.
Penelope looked up. “You said you were having dinner with a good friend. Is this friend a director?”
“Yes.”
“A married man in his forties?”
Natalie laughed. “Is there a problem with that?”
“Normally there wouldn’t be, but some people can’t resist digging for dirt.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’d better check what’s trending.”
Natalie quickly put down the clothes she was holding and pulled out her phone to open a news site.
#Natalie and Dylan Seen Holding Hands Late at Night, Rumored Romance Exposed#
Seeing the headline, Natalie felt her mind go blank with a roar.
“When did we ever hold hands!”
She quickly clicked on the trending topic and saw the photos inside. They were clearly taken by paparazzi from a distanc and the quality was
poor. She zoomed in and saw that it did took a bit like they were holding hands, but in reality, she had slipped while going down some steps, and Dylan had just steadied her.
One photo like that shouldn’t have meant much, but someone had dug up pictures, from years ago of them entering and leaving a hotel together, as well as traveling together privately All of them were paparazzi shots, deliberately chosen
to create a misunderstanding.
The truth was that the hotel visit was for a script discussion with other actors and crew members present. The trip was with Dylan and his wife, but the photos had conveniently filtered his wife out.
Right below this topic was another one about Dylan’s wife having just given birth. Then there was another one calling Natalie the other woman, filled with insults against her. That topic was gaining traction fast and quickly shot to the top of the trending list.
Maria’s fans were the most vocal in all of this. Not only did they spread those photos and boost the topic, but they also brought up the time she allegedly bullied Maria, claiming it was proof of her true nature.
“You’ve been out of the industry for six years. Who would be waiting around to take pictures of you? It’s obvious someone is trying to frame you and completely ruin you,” Penelope analyzed.
Natalie pressed her lips together. “I can only think of one person.”
“Maria.”
It could only be her.
Natalie clenched her fists. “I’ve backed down again and again because of her. What more does she want? Does she want to drive me to my grave?”
Penelope narrowed her eyes. “The moment you started backing down, she knew you were an easy target. She’ll just keep bullying you again and again. If you never fight back, she’ll bully you for the rest of your life!”