Brightest Ties, Darkest Shadows

I’m on a family reality show with my pop-star brother, and the producers want us to “open our hearts” and resolve our deepest issues on camera.
Suddenly, my brother, who’s usually a literal ray of sunshine, buries his face in his hands and starts sobbing, accusing me of being cold and distant our entire childhood.
As the cameras zoom in and I can feel the tidal wave of online hate about to crash over me, I try to explain, my face a mask of pure exasperation. “You spent your days setting off firecrackers in cow pies with Jay-Jay from next door, then came home wanting to cuddle. How exactly was I supposed to get close to you?!”
My brother blinks, stunned for a second. “But you gave away Snowflake, my favorite dog…”
That leaves me even more speechless. “You used to French-kiss that dog! You insisted she was a girl and that you were going to marry her. What, does every female on the planet have to marry you?”
Leo: “…”
The A-list star beside me is doubled over with laughter.
I shoot him a glare. “Don’t act like you weren’t part of it, Jay-Jay.”

1
I was in the middle of signing a multi-million dollar contract when my brother’s frantic call came through.
“Vivian!”
“What is it?” A nerve in my temple twitched. Anytime Leo actually called me by my name instead of some ridiculous nickname, it meant trouble.
His voice turned syrupy sweet. “So, next week I’m supposed to be on this reality show about family bonds, but Mom and Dad are off on their European tour, so I was hoping my favorite big sister could fill in…”
After Leo started college, he was scouted by an agency and became a pop star. I never expected the little brat who used to drive me insane would actually carve out a niche for himself in the entertainment industry with some serious talent.
I gestured for my assistant to close the office door and shut him down flat. “No. I’m busy.”
“Wait, wait, wait! Viv, you remember Everett, right? Everett Song?”
“Everett?”
“Yeah. He’s the main investor behind the show, and he’s also a special guest. They only asked me to join last minute because another guest dropped out. Come on, Viv, can’t you just spare a few days? For old times’ sake? He’s helped me out a few times in the industry, you know.”
Everett Song was our neighbor when we were kids. We lost touch after he moved abroad for school, only keeping up with the occasional text. All I knew was that he was now an A-list star.
Listening to Leo’s relentless pleading, I realized I wasn’t getting out of this. My eyes drifted to the file on my desk.
I raised an eyebrow. “Fine, I’ll do it. On one condition. You get me Everett Song for my company’s new product launch.”
“What? You want Everett to be the face of a new lipstick line?”
A small smile played on my lips. “We’re not exactly close anymore. If I ask him, he could say no. So, I’m leaving it to you.”
Leo went quiet for a moment before muttering under his breath, “He’d probably be more likely to say yes if you asked him…”
“What was that?”
“I said, ‘Consider it done!’” His voice was dripping with fake enthusiasm. “See you at the show, Viv!”
After he hung up, I tapped my fingers on the tabletop. A few days on a reality show in exchange for an endorsement from an A-list star? That was a hell of a deal.

2
When the day came, I cleared my schedule and headed straight for the studio.
The show was a live broadcast featuring three pairs of family members, plus Everett as a special guest. The premise was simple: play some games, do some activities, and strengthen their bonds. With an A-lister like Everett on board, the online hype was through the roof.
[OMG, Everett’s first solo project as a producer! I’m so here for it!]
[I heard Leo Wen is bringing his sister. Is this the one he said used to beat him up all the time? LOL.]
[Evan Chen, the award-winning actor, is bringing his daughter on a show for the first time! I can’t wait!]
The studio was massive, and I couldn’t find Leo anywhere.
“Ms. Wen?” a sugary voice called out.
I turned. Oh, Meagen Kane. Another one of the guests.
Her eyes curved into a crescent shape. “I can’t believe I’m running into you here. What a coincidence.”
“Hmm,” I said, sliding off my sunglasses. “My name is Vivian. And yes, quite the coincidence.”
“I heard Vivida Cosmetics is looking for a new face for your latest campaign,” she said, her smile never wavering as she pulled a delicate-looking boy to her side. “This is my brother, Caleb. He’s a rising pop star too. If you have an opportunity, you should really keep us in mind.”
I looked Meagen up and down, tucking my sunglasses into the collar of my blouse. The irony was almost suffocating.
Three years ago, I had just spun off from my family’s corporation to launch Vivida Cosmetics. The face I wanted for my brand, more than anyone, was the up-and-coming starlet Meagen Kane. She had an innocent look, a sweet-girl-next-door vibe. Her fame wasn’t at its peak, but I believed the brand and the ambassador could grow together.
To show how serious I was, I went to meet her myself, armed with a detailed brand proposal and a full set of samples.
She’d taken one look at them and tossed the samples on the floor, her face twisted in a sneer. “Are you kidding me? Every no-name brand thinks they can get an endorsement now? Who knows if this junk will make my face break out. Get lost. Don’t waste my time.”
Three years later, Vivida went from an unknown startup to a household name in cosmetics. Meagen Kane? Still a B-list starlet, treading water.
But I had to give her credit for her nerve.
A small laugh escaped me. “A no-name brand like ours couldn’t possibly afford stars of your caliber.”
Meagen’s smile froze. Before I could turn to leave, she grabbed my arm, her eyes welling up. “You might have misunderstood me back then. I never meant to—”
“Vivian.” A cool, magnetic voice cut her off.
Everett Song was standing there in a loose white button-down, his broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist. His handsome, almost aloof features were softened by a hint of a smile.
“There you are.”
For a second, my mind went blank. He was so much more striking in person than on screen.
I found my voice. “I just got here. I was looking for—”
“Mr. Song,” Meagen interrupted, a single tear clinging to her lashes. “I’m so happy to be a part of your show. Thank you so much for this opportunity.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
Everett glanced at her and gave a curt nod. “The dressing rooms are over there. The AC is on if you need to cool down.”
“Oh?”
He ignored her, his eyes finding mine again, a genuine warmth in them. “Long time no see.”

3
Everett led me to where Leo was waiting, and after a few brief pleasantries, the show began.
The lineup was set: Leo and me, Meagen and Caleb Kane, and the veteran actor Evan Chen with his four-year-old daughter, Lily. And, of course, our special guest, Everett.
The host kicked things off with a beaming smile. “Welcome to our first segment—‘The Unspoken Word’! This is a chance for our families to open their hearts and share things they’ve never been able to say.”
“First up, let’s welcome Meagen and Caleb Kane!”
It was a classic, tear-jerking setup. Meagen and Caleb held hands, gazing at each other with tear-filled eyes as they recounted their journey from a difficult childhood to their careers. One moment, the brother was talking about his sister’s sacrifices; the next, the sister was weeping over the hardships he’d endured. The sentimental background music swelled, and they broke into full-blown sobs.
I propped my chin on my hand, stifling a yawn.
Leo, munching on a bag of sunflower seeds beside me, whispered, “So fake.”
I nodded in agreement. “They’re really laying it on thick. I bet she beat the crap out of him when they were kids.”
Leo choked on a seed.
The live comments, however, were a waterfall of emotion.
[I’m crying. Seriously, their bond is so touching. They’ve had it so tough in this industry, always supporting each other…]
[Did you see the camera pan to Vivian and Leo? Their expressions are priceless, lol.]
[Forget them, has anyone noticed Everett? Why does he keep looking to his right? Who’s sitting there?]
A poke on my left arm. I turned to meet Everett’s clear, light-brown eyes.
“What?”
A corner of his mouth lifted. He leaned in, his voice a low murmur. “I heard you want me to be the face of your new product line.”
On stage, Meagen was still in the middle of a dramatic, tear-stained monologue. I blinked, caught off guard by the question.
Recovering quickly, I leaned closer too. “That’s right. It’s a new lipstick collection called ‘First Love.’ I think you’d be perfect for it.”
“And why is that?”
He was so close I could see the natural curve of his eyelashes.
“You’ve got the star power, and your public image is basically America’s sweetheart,” I said, all business. “But most importantly, you’re incredibly handsome. You’re the perfect fit.” And your fans have incredible purchasing power.

Download the MotoNovel app, Search 【 239726 】reads the whole book.