From Forgotten Wife To Fierce Queen - Chapter 371: Chapter 371

Six months later, the show Paisley worked on with Gary hit the air as planned.
Thanks to Sheela's star power and draw, it got massive attention even before it aired. Once it premiered, though, it wasn't Sheela keeping viewers hooked—it was the story itself.
What really made it the standout of the year was when the promo team dropped a video on the show's channel of Sheela and the writer, Nion, discussing the script.
In the video, Sheela and Nion sat close together. One asked humbly, the other explained earnestly. One was stunning and sultry, the other elegant and timeless.
Sheela gazed up at Nion, her eyes full of focus and admiration. Nion looked down at the script, her slender fingers tracing the lines of text. Then her eyes flicked up, locking with Sheela's in a perfect moment. And right there, the video cut off—pure perfection.
That clip's buzz drowned out every other headline that day. On Instagram, Paisley-related tags took over the top five trending spots.
[Who would have thought the writer behind so many great works, Nion, was a knockout who could hold her own against Sheela?]
[With looks like that, she could've been in showbiz—writing seemed like a waste.]
[Am I the only one who thinks Sheela and Nion are totally shippable?]
[You're not alone—I'm already hooked.]
[See? Beauties belong with beauties.]
Soon enough, Sheela and Paisley got their own fanbase of shippers. The hype was unreal.
Poor Sam, the male lead, ended up totally invisible. The promo team put out that video to show how dedicated the cast and crew were. Even the caption was about their work ethic. They never imagined it'd blow up like this.
Gary scrambled to call the promo team. "What's going on? Was this video made by some Gen Z kid?"
In Harrowfell, at the top-floor president's office of Vanderbilt Group headquarters, Dominick sat alone in his huge office, staring at a screen full of Sheela-and-Paisley fan edits, spiraling into helpless rage.
He didn't finish before Dominick's grim face shut him up. "M-Mr. Vanderbilt—"
'What was wrong? Who'd messed up this time? Wait. No, no, no,' he thought. From what he'd seen, Dominick's mood had been pretty steady lately. Even when Mr. Parker and the others screwed up big last time, he barely flinched.
Julian's brain raced through a quick, sharp analysis in seconds. There was only one answer. The only thing that could throw Dominick off like this was—Paisley.
Julian swallowed hard, inching closer to peek at Dominick's phone. Sure enough, there it was—explosive content.
He wondered if he was seeing things. He thought, 'Why is his phone full of flirty videos of Paisley with another woman? Wait—another woman? A woman?'
Julian's eyes widened, and looking at Dominick's face, he felt like the sky was falling.
"Dom, try to let it go?" He didn't even know what to say. If the rival were a guy, maybe Dom still had a chance, but a woman though—
"Go post this photo from the company account," Dominick said, pointing to a picture on his desk. The photo had four people: Paisley, the two kids, and him.
It was taken during Grayson's summer break when he sent Grayson to Brightmoor to see Paisley and Serena. It was the next day—Grayson's birthday—and Paisley let him stay to celebrate.
A staff member at the amusement park snapped it while they were there. Paisley didn't buy the photo then, but he'd gone back later and got it from the staff himself.
Not long after, Vanderbilt Group's official account posted what looked like a family portrait. Dominick put it up to tell those giddy shippers, 'Your ship's fake.' But he didn't expect the hardcore fans to fire back so fiercely.
[Oh, look, some guy's jealous—I won't say who.]
[Nion's single, 100% confirmed source.]
[Nion doesn't bother with lame guys—our ship's the sweet one.]
[Hey, certain Mr. D, stay out of it. Nion's not interested, thanks.]
Dominick watched his company's account get slammed so hard they had to turn off comments, sinking into a pit of gloom.
Meanwhile, in Montera, inside Godard Group's meeting room, Max sat in the chair. The department heads were giving their reports up front, but he kept his head down, scrolling through something on his phone with a blank face.
The boss looking like that had everyone in the room on edge. They thought, 'Are the reports not cutting it? Why else would he not even listen? And with such a serious face?'
Then, all of a sudden, Max's stern look shifted. His lips curled up, and he let out a chuckle.
The room went dead silent. The guy giving the report trembled, thinking, 'Oh no. Is my department's performance that bad? The boss is sneering now?'
With no sound in the room, Max looked up and saw everyone staring at him.
"What are you looking at me for? Keep going," he said, tilting his chin calmly, setting his phone down as he motioned for them to continue.
His mood wasn't great to start with, but seeing Vanderbilt Group's account get roasted turned it around in an instant. Dominick was still so impulsive, still couldn't keep his cool.
Smirking, he called Leo over and whispered something in his ear. Leo's eyes went from shock to sly in a flash.
Max said, "Go spend some cash—keep Paisy and that actress trending for a few more days."
Just imagining Dominick fuming made Max feel great.
Years later, Paisley teamed up with Gary again, and this time their work hit the big screen. It swept the Christmas box office, crushing the competition and raking in billions.
Naturally, the female lead was still Sheela. When that news dropped, the shippers who'd been making up stories for years went wild again. They knew sticking it out would pay off eventually.
At the celebration party, someone in a fancy custom gown made a beeline for Paisley under everyone's eyes.
"Paisy! What took you so long?" That gorgeous voice, that carefree bubbly personality, that flawless face—it was still her.
Paisley had barely stepped into the banquet hall when this soft, sweet beauty threw her arms around her.
"Sheela, watch yourself lately—keep some distance from me," Paisley said, feeling helpless after dealing with the shippers' intensity.
Even she didn't get how things had spiraled like this. She never thought she'd one day have to tell Sheela to back off.
As their shipper fanbase grew, it started pissing off some of Sheela's fans and Paisley's diehard solo stans. Yep, Paisley never imagined she'd have solo stans either.
Sheela laughed. "Don't worry, don't worry—you'll get used to it."
"What do you mean 'don't worry'? Paisley's got a point. You better behave and stay away from her lately." Nathaniel piped up out of nowhere, grabbing Sheela's wrist and pulling her to his other side. He used his body to block Sheela from Paisley.
"Boss, what are you doing? I haven't seen Paisy in forever," Sheela said, pouting unhappily. That look on her sultry, striking face could make anyone stare. So, naturally, Nathaniel stared.
"Boss?" Sheela blinked, waving a hand in front of his face.
Nathaniel snapped out of it, coughing awkwardly. "I'm your boss. If I say keep your distance from my aunt, you keep your distance. Look at what those shippers of yours have turned into—it's seriously messing with your career, you know that?"
Sheela pouted, "It's not that bad."
"Sheela." Nathaniel got serious. "I paid a fortune to get you out of that contract, and I still haven't broken even. You've got to listen to me and make me some money."
"Got it, you cheapskate," Sheela said, rolling her eyes at him but smiling anyway.
Yep, Sheela's boss now was Nathaniel. Back then, Paisley always thought Sheela's agency and manager were a huge liability—and sure enough, they got worse, squeezing Sheela dry.
It wasn't just propping up other artists anymore—they started forcing her into random scripts she didn't want. Her schedule got packed to the brim—no time to sleep or eat. Even then, the company kept piling on more.
It was because Sheela was their only big success, a cash cow who could rake it in. Eventually, Sheela lost her spark—she wasn't Sheela anymore, just a money-making machine.
The constant grind wore her down—her energy tanked, her acting slipped, and she got blasted online like never before. Even then, her manager kept pushing her to fulfill more work obligations.
Sheela wanted out, but the insane penalty fees crushed her. Later, she sank into depression—serious, physical depression.
When Paisley heard about it and rushed back from out of town to help cover the penalty, someone beat her to it. That someone was Nathaniel.
Nathaniel took the heat from the Beaumont family and paid a jaw-dropping sum to free Sheela. After that, he started an entertainment agency. And that agency only had one artist—Sheela.
Seeing Sheela still trying to sidle up to Paisley, Nathaniel got stern. "Listen, this is your shot to go global right now."
"I don't even want to be some global star," said Sheela.
"Money! You've got to make me money, got it?" said Nathaniel.
Paisley watched Nathaniel drag Sheela off, feeling both amused and relieved.
'When did Nathaniel start calling her aunt?' Paisley thought back as she walked further in. It seemed like it started not long after Sheela recovered from her depression and got back to acting.
"Wow, honey, so many stars here!" Emery said, holding the two kids' hands behind Paisley. "Leonardo—that's Leonardo over there!"
"Sis, take the kids—I'm off to snap a pic with Leonardo," Emery said, handing the kids back to Paisley before darting off toward her idol.
"Mommy, we are gonna play over there," Grayson said. It was break time now, and Grayson had come to stay with Paisley.
"Sure, go ahead," Paisley said with a smile.
Maybe calling them "little ones" wasn't quite right anymore. Grayson was in sixth grade now, and Serena was already a little elementary school girl.
"Nion's here! Our MVP's here! Let's all raise a glass to Nion!" said Gary.
Paisley's arrival turned every head in the room. Gary led the toast to her. Paisley couldn't say no, and as glasses clinked, a tall figure approached her.
"Paisley, a toast to you," said the film's male lead, a hot new A-list actor.
Right then, this heartthrob was staring at Paisley with burning eyes. "I love your scripts so much. I'd kill to act in another one of yours."
In a corner, Grayson dragged Serena off to a spot where no one paid much attention.
"Bro, why'd you pull me over here? There's nothing going on," Serena said, puzzled, until she saw Grayson staring hard at their mom and that actor.
"What a picture—hot guy, gorgeous gal. My mom's just too pretty," Serena said. Even after all these years, her mom-bragging habit only grew.
"You've still got the mood to gush?" Grayson said, his tone sour. "Don't you see that guy's into Mom?"
"Yeah, I see it," Serena said, looking at her brother like he was slow. "Guys liking Mom's totally normal. You're not used to it by now?"
Grayson gave up trying to reason with her and pulled out his phone to call his dad.
Dominick picked up fast. "What's up? Aren't you with your mom at the party?" Dominick's voice still sounded that good.
"Dad, it's bad! That actor's all over Mom again—get over here quick!" Grayson said, glaring at Paisley's direction while tipping off his dad, who was still in the doghouse chasing his wife.
Serena watched her brother's antics, then casually pulled out her own watch phone and dialed Max.
It connected just as fast. "Rena, what's wrong?"
"Uncle, you're in Harrowfell, right? Hurry to Mom's party—that actor's bugging her again," said Rena.
Grayson stared at his sister, dumbfounded. "Rena, who's your real dad here?"
Serena grinned. "Heh, the more, the merrier, right?"