The Hollywood Mean Girl Tried to Cancel Me on Live TV. She Didn't Know I'm a Billionaire Heiress. Chapter 1

I, Chloe Sterling, was the internet’s most hated rising star.

Right as my career was supposed to be taking off, I was booked on a massive celebrity reality-talk show alongside another Gen Z "It Girl" from my agency.

During the segment, the topic shifted to industry connections.

To manufacture some viral drama, the host challenged the guests to call a friend—in or out of the industry—and ask to borrow money on speakerphone.

The amount? Exactly $100,000.

In this economy, asking for a hundred grand out of the blue is an incredibly sensitive issue. Plus, the person on the other end wouldn't know they were on live television. Anything could happen.

We were all public figures. The producers were purely looking out for their own ratings, completely disregarding whether this might ruin a guest's career.

Just as I was hesitating, Harper Quinn flashed a sickly-sweet smile.

"Chloe, you look a little pale. Do you not have anyone you can call?"

She looked at me with undisguised contempt.

Harper was, for all intents and purposes, my ultimate rival. We were signed by the agency around the same time, which meant we constantly competed for the same roles and brand deals.

Because of her innocent, "girl-next-door" aesthetic, her first lead role blew up globally. Her status skyrocketed.

Meanwhile, since my debut, I had only managed to land lukewarm supporting roles. I guess I partly blamed myself; I wasn't hyper-ambitious and felt perfectly content with where I was.

But I never expected that even after hitting the A-list, Harper still wouldn't let me breathe. She had to fight me for everything.

I glanced at Harper in her flashy, haute-couture gown. Her smile felt like daggers.

"Don't worry about me, Harper."

Choked by my immediate pushback, Harper didn't get angry. Instead, she smirked, leaning in to whisper so only my mic would pick it up:

"Keep faking it. Let's see how long you can hold this front."

I lowered my eyes and stayed silent.