Chapter 3 The Shadow by the Bed, Live
They thought her body should be in better shape than Tiana’s.
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Tiana looked frail and delicate—that’s why when the footage of Isabelle pushing her into the lake came out, the internet erupted with outrage.
“You’re always getting sick because you don’t eat. Weak immune system,” Libby nagged.
“Enough. If she doesn’t want to eat, then don’t make her,” Roy cut in impatiently. “She’s a pampered rich girl–how could she stomach food like ours?”
Libby went quiet. It was obvious she feared Roy, the so–called head of the house.
“Where’s my room?” Isabelle wanted to get a sense of this place before making any decisions.
“You’ll take Tiana’s room. It’s up in the attic.”
“Come on, I’ll take you.” Libby set her plate down again.
“Thanks,” Isabelle said quietly, following her upstairs.
The attic stairs creaked loudly with every step, and there wasn’t even a light.
Isabelle had to use her phone’s flashlight.
“Can’t see, huh? We’re used to going up in the dark.”
“There used to be a light, but it’s been broken forever,” Libby explained, playing the part of a thoughtful mother–even though Isabelle had only just arrived.
Tiana’s room was tucked away in the back, barely large enough to turn around in.
The attic ceiling was low, not even high enough for a bed frame–easy to bump your head.
So the room just had a mat on the floor.
It was at least clean. A blanket with little floral prints was spread across the mat, girlish and cozy.
“Do you have a new set of sheets and covers? I don’t like using bedding that someone else has already slept in.”
What Isabelle didn’t know was that this moment was being livestreamed.
The moment she arrived at the Fryes, the stream had gone live.
The production team had set up hidden cameras after learning Tiana and Isabelle would be switching homes.
Tiana had been informed and agreed to the setup. The crew was also filming her return to the Powell household.
Watching the rich and famous wasn’t enough–what viewers really wanted was contrast.
The production had chosen Tiana, the unknown nobody, as a foil to Isabelle.
But now it was hard to say who was the foil for whom.
The livestream had already started.
Viewers saw Isabelle walk into the cramped space, expressionless. They immediately assumed she was disgusted.
And when she asked for fresh bedding, the audience was furious.
The comments exploded:
“What’s her problem? She lived in luxury for years and now she looks down on people?”
“Tiana said on the show that this was her happy little room. Isabelle makes it sound like a doghouse!”
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Chapter 3 The Shadow by the Bed, Live
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“Isabelle must not know she’s on camera. She actually asked for clean sheets? Tiana said she already changed them for her!”
“But damn, she’s so pretty. Can’t stop staring!”
“Pretty? She’s vile. Who cares what she looks like?”
The crew had informed Isabelle’s agent earlier that filming would start tonight.
But since Isabelle had pissed him off at the hospital, he’d completely forgotten.
And Tiana, who knew about it, conveniently didn’t tell Isabelle either.
So no matter how hard the chat tore her apart, Isabelle remained clueless.
Libby frowned at the request for new sheets, but quickly relaxed her face.
“These were just changed before Tiana left. They’ve been washed, they’re clean.”
“If you really want, I can go buy a new set right now?”
She looked at Isabelle carefully, waiting for her reaction.
The chat blew up again:
“This is ridiculous! She’s such a drama queen! What’s wrong with those sheets?”
“She should be grateful to have a place to sleep! And now she wants Mama Frye to go shopping at night? She’s evil!”
“I can’t stand Isabelle. Tiana is the real deal–beautiful and kind!”
“Five bucks says she makes her go buy them.”
“No need,” Isabelle shook her head.
New sheets that hadn’t been washed would smell worse than these. She’d rather deal with it.
Libby looked at her again. “Alright, I’ll get new ones tomorrow. Just make do for tonight.”
“Mm,” Isabelle replied.
Her head was pounding, and her face looked pale.
Libby thought she was just in a bad mood–and the viewers thought the same.
“You can go now. I’ve got a headache.”
“Okay. Come down if you get hungry.”
Libby was still eyeing her own dinner, so she left quickly.
Isabelle placed her suitcase near the door, took off her shoes, and lay down on the bed fully clothed.
She started massaging pressure points to relieve her cold symptoms.
More and more people were entering the livestream–most of them just to hate on her.
“What’s Isabelle’s deal? She doesn’t know she’s being filmed?”
“She must. Why else wouldn’t she even change clothes?”
“She looks sick… maybe she caught something after falling in the lake?”
“New here? Her face looks like that because she’s mad Libby didn’t change her sheets!”
Chapter 3 The Shadow by the Bed, Live
Isabelle reached over and switched off the bedside light.
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The room went dark, and the stream turned pitch black. Viewers started cursing and bombarding the production team.
Even the crew was confused. They hadn’t expected Isabelle to turn in so early.
The director was livid. “Call her! What the hell is she doing?!”
But Isabelle’s phone was on silent,
The crew was running in circles.
“Contact her agent, Get him over there, now!”
The director forgot that Tiana could’ve been a faster contact–she had ways to reach the Frye family directly.
The agent finally got the call and found out what Isabelle had done.
He was still furious.
She’d sent him out for food, and by the time he got back to the hospital, she’d already checked out. The food was still sitting in the car.
“Got it. I’ll head over now,” Lennon said, driving straight to Downtown Village.
Meanwhile, Isabelle drifted off after massaging herself for a while.
Most of the livestream viewers left once the light went out, but a few diehards stuck around in chat, continuing to vent.
Even with the lights off, a faint glow leaked in from the gaps in the curtains.
That’s when someone in the stream noticed a shadow move across the room.
“Wait… is it just me or did someone enter Isabelle’s room?”
“Oh my god, I looked up while eating and saw a shadow!”
“That’s terrifying. It’s moving… is it heading toward her bed?”
“Wake up, Isabelle! That’s a man, right? What’s he trying to do?!”
The handful of viewers left were sweating bullets.
Sure, they’d been hating on Isabelle, but who wouldn’t panic in a situation like this?
Besides, some of them were still fans of her face, at least.
“Where the hell is the crew?! Call Isabelle, now!”
“Is no one else in the house aware someone just went into her room?!”
“Could it be Tiana’s little brother? She said the Fryes had a son.”
“So what if it’s her brother? That doesn’t give him the right to sneak into her room at night!”
