The internet was a storm of opinions that night.
"Oh my god! Is she really a 'White Lotus' like that?"
"My poor Amanda, she actually fell into the lake because of her..."
"Amanda is too arrogant, though. Someone comes to apologize and she doesn't show any respect."
"Who cares who's right? Spilling your own coffee to frame someone else is psychotic."
"Is this the end of the Amanda-Elena era?"
Amanda scrolled through the comments, her legs crossed and her heart racing with excitement. She ignored the curious, judgmental glances from the crew around her. Her finger hovered over the 'Like' button on the last comment, but she was interrupted by Winter scurrying over.
"Miss Amanda, Mr. Vance is on the line."
Amanda clicked her tongue. "I'm not answering." If she picked up now, she'd be deafened by his lecture.
Winter looked apologetic as she simply tapped the speakerphone. Vance Walter's booming voice instantly exploded into the air. "You've got some nerve! Making a mess like this and then turning off your phone? If you go one day without causing a disaster, will you actually die?! Just stay on set and film! Don't you dare post anything else, do you hear me?!"
Amanda's expression soured. She shot a wounded glare at Winter, who immediately shrank back and bolted. Even though Amanda had been kinder lately, Winter still didn't have the courage to stand in the splash zone of her temper.
Jasper, who had been dozing in the chair next to her, was jolted awake by the noise. He stretched his long legs and glanced at her. "Why are you bullying your little assistant again?"
Amanda shot him a freezing look. "Watch it, Jasper. The karma from that big mouth of yours is starting to pile up."
She wasn't worried about Elena's sudden "sick leave" today. It made the production look messy, but she didn't care. Jasper just pouted, shrugged, and tossed her a small packet. "Try this one. It's a new formula."
After a few days of working together, she had grown used to Jasper's narcissistic vanity and sharp tongue. She smiled and tore open the sheet mask. But before she could apply it, a deep, familiar voice resonated from behind her.
"Amanda."
Amanda's entire body went rigid. The color drained from her face as if a plug had been pulled. Jasper noticed the change, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the tall, imposing man standing a short distance away.
In a secluded corner of the set, Amanda felt like a turtle retreating into its shell. She couldn't bring herself to look at Diego Solis.
"It's been six months," Diego said softly. "Do you really hate your brother so much that you won't even look at me?"
He smiled gently, reaching out to tilt her chin up. He expected anger; instead, he found her eyes swimming with tears. She looked at him with a mixture of hesitation, agonizing pain, and self-loathing.
Diego's heart sank. He fumbled, his composure breaking as he awkwardly wiped her tears. "Don't cry. Shh... Brother's here."
Amanda's tears fell like a torrential rain. She surged forward and threw her arms around him, clinging to him as if he were a life raft. Since her rebirth, she had been desperate to see her family, but the shame of her past life—the memory of seeing her brother's cold, lifeless body—had kept her away.
She breathed in the scent of his coat, the warmth finally thawing her frozen heart. "Brother... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
I'm sorry I let that vixen into our lives. I'm sorry I stood by while she poisoned you, and I'm sorry you died still loving her.
Diego gave a bittersweet smile. He assumed she had just suffered some hardships while living on her own. He patted her back soothingly. "If you really know you were wrong, then come home with me. Mom and Dad are worried sick."
Amanda sobbed and nodded fervently. "Yes. Take me home."
After Diego cleared it with Director Mark—who was more than happy to oblige a major investor—he led Amanda to the car. As they walked, Diego couldn't help but glance around the set.
Amanda didn't need to guess who he was looking for. Her face darkened. "Are you here to see me, or are you looking for Elena Lewis?"
Diego pulled his gaze back and focused on the road. "What kind of nonsense is that?"
"I'm warning you," Amanda snapped, her voice sharp with protective fear. "Put whatever thoughts you have about her aside. If you involve yourself with her, you can consider this sister dead to you."
Diego chuckled, shaking his head. "Did you two have a falling out?"
The frustration in Amanda's chest boiled over. Seeing him defend Elena, even casually, was more than she could take. "She tried to kill me, Diego! There is no 'misunderstanding'!"
The easy smile vanished from Diego's face. He pulled the car over and looked at her solemnly. "Amanda, what do you mean she tried to kill you?"
Amanda took a ragged breath and met his eyes with a cold, piercing intensity. "If there was only room for one of us to live—me or Elena—who would you choose?"
Before he could answer, she looked away. "Forget it. I don't want to talk about it anymore."
The silence in the car was heavy. Diego realized his sister had changed. The bratty, impulsive girl was gone, replaced by someone who looked like she had seen the end of the world.
When they arrived at the Solis villa, Amanda stepped out of the car, her legs trembling. The house looked exactly as it had in her memories—familiar, grand, and safe.
"Amanda!"
Two figures appeared at the door. Amanda's breath hitched. She wanted to run to them, but her feet felt like they were made of lead. Her vision blurred. "Dad... Mom..."
Milena Solis reached her first. Despite being in her late forties, she was elegant and youthful. Her eyes were red, and she gave Amanda a sharp, scolding swat on the arm. "You bad girl! Do you even remember the way home?"
Amanda wiped her eyes and pulled her mother into a tight hug. "Mom! I was wrong. Please, forgive me."
In her previous life, she had moved out after a screaming match about her acting career. She had been too stubborn to apologize, and by the time they reconciled a year later, the seeds of their destruction had already been sown.
"Don't cry, baby," Milena whispered, wiping Amanda's lashes. "Look at you. Let's get you inside. I can't have you standing out here in the cold."
Kevin Solis hovered nearby, wanting a hug but being outmaneuvered by his wife. He settled for a warm smile. "Come in, Princess. Your mom made those cakes you like."
As the three of them walked inside, hand-in-hand, Diego was left standing by the car, completely ignored. He looked up at the sky and sighed. "Yep. It's definitely a daughter-first household. I'm practically a ghost."
Inside, Amanda was treated like royalty.
"Amanda, honey, have some cake."
"Princess, are you thirsty? Have some water."
She accepted it all, tears pricking her eyes again. She sat between them, eating and drinking quietly, making a silent vow: In this life, I will be the shield. No one will touch them.
"Princess," her mother said, her tone shifting. "I saw the news online. That Elena girl... she's not who we thought she was."
Even when Amanda was "estranged," her parents had never stopped watching over her. The coffee incident was too big to miss.
Amanda's smile dimmed, but before she could explain, Diego cut in. "Mom, it might just be a misunderstanding. Lena and Amanda have been friends for years—"
"Mom," Amanda interrupted, her voice trembling with feigned hurt as she looked at Diego. "Does my brother hate me? Elena pushed me into a lake, and he's still defending her over his own sister."
Milena's face transformed instantly. She grabbed a half-eaten cake and hurled it at Diego. "You! You're her brother, yet you're taking the side of that girl?!"
Diego ducked, caught the cake, and sighed, popping a piece into his mouth. "I'm sorry, Mom. I was wrong."
Though he was acting submissive, his eyes had gone dark. If what Amanda said was true—if Elena had really tried to drown her—then "friendship" was the last thing Elena Lewis had to worry about.
"Good," Kevin said, his voice stern. "If she isn't a good person, stay away from her. Now, let's eat. Our Princess must be starving."
The family of four sat down together, the warmth of the dining room a stark contrast to the cold rooftop where Amanda had once died. This time, the ending would be different.