Chapter 22

Backstage at the press conference, Ashton found a few visible scratches on his arm from when Curtis grabbed him. Giselle gently tried to calm him down while cleaning and bandaging the wounds as best she could. It wasn't until Jake's call came through that they realized something was wrong. Somehow, footage from the press conference had made its way online. The video had been edited very cleverly. The contrast was stark—Curtis, looking worn down, pitiful, and heartbroken, versus Ashton, seated on stage, looking polished and composed. The final shot, showing the frail-looking Curtis being dragged out by security, was the emotional gut punch that really lit the fire. Public outrage was already starting to build. The majority of the internet users took Curtis' side, voicing their support for him. "Boycott the homewrecker! A homewrecker doesn't deserve a platform!" "Ew, a homewrecker. Did his mother not teach him basic ethics?" "What a bastard. Everyone at the press conference shoul