hapter 184 Retreat And Reckoning
They, too, had heard about Sidonie’s behavior during the mission and had long felt she was unworthy of today’s guest seat.
Sidonie staggered, as though her legs might buckle, then covered her face and suddenly bolted backstage.
“Sidonie!” Trent sprang from his chair and hurried after her.
Quinn watched the pair leave with cool detachment, then sat back down. “Honestly, I believe the true heroes are the rescue workers seated here. They risk their lives to save others; such spirit is worthy of our respect and emulation.”
With that single sentence, she steered the show neatly back to its original theme.
The Host seized the cue and continued the interview.
Meanwhile, when Sidonie burst into the green room, Trent rushed in right behind her.
“It’s all Quinn’s fault–every bit of it!” Sidonie raged. “She set me up on purpose. She recorded me, then aired it during the taping just to humiliate me in front of the whole country!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything for you,” Trent said.
Sidonie’s heart lurched, and she clutched Trent’s sleeve as though she had just seized a lifeline. “You have a way?”
“The show is prerecorded,” Trent explained. “Once we’re done, I’ll have a word with the production team and tell them to cut every single frame and topic that mentions you. Problem solved.”
Sidonie’s eyes flew wide as the obvious finally hit her. That’s right–it’s a taped show, not a livestream.
“But will they agree?” she asked, the hesitation clear in her voice.
“With enough money, nothing’s impossible,” Trent replied. In his view, the issue was hardly complicated, and if all footage of Sidonie were deleted, then her public claim that the two of them were engaged would never actually be revealed.
At last Sidonie exhaled, the tension easing from her shoulders.
“Stay here and rest for a bit; I’m going to look for whoever’s in charge of the production team,” Trent said.
“Alright,” Sidonie answered softly.
After Trent left, she was alone in the green room.
Just then her phone rang. The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number, but the moment she tapped the answer button, the voice that spilled through the speaker drained all color from her face.
The caller was using a voice changer. “Murderer… Sidonie Stonehurst, you’re a murderer. Did you think no one would ever find out what you did? Plenty of people know. I’m placing the evidence inside the studio right now. Once the show starts, everyone will see you’re no firefighting hero at all…”
Panic clawed at Sidonie’s chest. If that person really has evidence…
No–I absolutely cannot let them bring it into the studio.
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