Chapter 324

The viewers watching the live stream were sharp enough to catch the inconsistency and immediately erupted in outrage.

[Sophia's injury is clearly staged!] [First she limps on her right foot with Evelyn, then switches to the left with Julian, and back to the right with Adrian! Couldn't decide which leg to fake?] [Is Sophia auditioning for the role of tragic heroine? Such dramatic flair!] [This was supposed to be an adventure show, but Sophia just slowed everyone down. Now I understand why Evelyn wanted to switch partners after the first challenge!] [I take back everything I said about Evelyn being harsh - that fake deserves it!]

By the time the program wrapped up, night had fallen over Montecito.

Gabrielle and the chauffeur escorted Evelyn back to Sterling Manor. Exhausted from the day's events, Evelyn had fallen into a deep sleep during the car ride.

Lucas couldn't bring himself to wake his sleeping sister, so he carried her inside and had the maids prepare her for bed. For the following days, Evelyn remained at the manor, recovering from the physically demanding show.

Archibald spoiled her rotten with gourmet meals and every comfort imaginable. Evelyn reveled in being pampered, enjoying the luxurious lifestyle that came with being a Sterling heiress.

The moment the live broadcast ended, Sophia became the internet's favorite punching bag. Netizens even coined a cruel nickname for her: "Limpy Laurent."

The relentless mockery forced Sophia into hiding, too embarrassed to show her face in public.

When Adrian's adventure show finally aired online, the response was overwhelmingly positive.

To avoid controversy, the production team had carefully edited out any questionable content and deliberately avoided using Sophia's identity for publicity.

The polished twenty-minute highlight reel was packed with thrilling moments and genuine camaraderie. Even Sophia's fake injury was spun as an example of team unity. Watching the final cut, Evelyn felt the entire experience had been worthwhile.

The sanitized version bore little resemblance to the raw live footage. The editors truly worked miracles! During the closing interview, the host asked about the show's original inspiration.

Adrian paused thoughtfully, his striking eyes gleaming with passion. "For dreams and conviction," he declared. "Adventure isn't about courting danger or recklessness. It's about discovering life's miracles and finding strength in vulnerability."

Ethan Caldwell's answer was more personal: "To show my imaginary girlfriend how breathtaking the world can be."

After a beat of stunned silence, the studio erupted in thunderous applause.

Once the show aired, it dominated social media trends for days.

[To life and dreams! This show actually makes you believe in possibilities! And the casting is perfection!] [Evelyn looked absolutely adorable during the parasailing segment!] [Adrian and Ethan are total heartthrobs - they need to debut properly!] [Ethan and Evelyn have such natural chemistry! Did you see how she panicked when he dove into the ocean? So genuine!] [The editors were merciful with Limpy Laurent - they could've destroyed her!] [Ethan's backstory sounds fascinating. I need to know more!]

While all participants received attention, the focus remained firmly on Evelyn and Ethan's interactions. Their segments became the show's highlight, particularly the heart-stopping moment when Ethan disappeared underwater and Evelyn's frantic screams for help.

Her raw, unfiltered panic was clearly unrehearsed. Scanning through the comments, Evelyn hesitated before calling Adrian. "Everyone's obsessing over Ethan's imaginary girlfriend. Isn't that just twisting the knife?"