Chapter 13: Fractures Beneath the Fame

Ethan arrived at the office of Horizon Studios the next day, a place that once symbolized unattainable power in Hollywood. Now, with Leo Kensington secured, he felt like he finally had leverage. The gleaming halls and busy executives that rushed past him, talking on their phones and trading deals, no longer intimidated him. He was on their level now—or so he thought.

He was here to meet Lydia Harrington, the head of Horizon Studios, to discuss financing for the sequel. She was a ruthless dealmaker, known for turning small projects into billion-dollar franchises—but also for crushing anyone who couldn't deliver.

Lydia's office was minimalist and cold, her desk a sleek, unblemished surface of glass. She leaned back in her chair, eyeing Ethan with a mixture of interest and calculation.

"So, you've secured Leo," she said, tapping her perfectly manicured nails on the desk. "Impressive. But star power isn't enough. We need to talk about your numbers. Sequels cost money, and you're still a newcomer, Ethan. Why should Horizon Studios put our money into *your* hands?"

Ethan swallowed, sensing the weight of her scrutiny. "Because *Moonlight Serenade* has proven itself. The buzz is real, and the potential is there. The sequel can be bigger, better, and with Leo onboard—"

She cut him off with a sharp wave of her hand. "Potential doesn't pay the bills, Ethan. I need guarantees."

The System's hum echoed in the back of Ethan's mind, offering him options. He could manipulate Lydia's emotions, nudge her into agreeing with him—but the System had warned him about overuse. Lydia was too smart for that, and if she caught even a whiff of being manipulated, everything would collapse.

Before he could respond, Lydia's assistant entered the room, handing her a file. She glanced at it, her brow furrowing slightly before she tossed it onto the desk in front of Ethan.

"What's this?" he asked, his voice shaky.

Lydia leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "That, Ethan, is a report on some…interesting rumors floating around about how *Moonlight Serenade* got its buzz. Articles appearing out of nowhere, strategically placed leaks, unusually synchronized social media reactions. It's almost like someone's been *orchestrating* it."

Ethan's blood ran cold. Lydia was onto him. The System's media manipulation had worked too well, and now the rumors were catching up to him.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, his voice steadier than he felt.

Lydia smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "You can play innocent if you want, but Hollywood's a small town. People talk, and when things start looking too good to be true, people start digging. And right now, you're looking a little too perfect."

Ethan felt his pulse quicken. The System was a secret he couldn't afford to let anyone discover, especially not someone as powerful as Lydia.

She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "I'll make this simple, Ethan. I don't care how you're doing it. What I care about is whether or not you can deliver. You've got Leo—that's a start. But you need more. Secure the financing, get the sequel off the ground, and make sure it doesn't blow up in your face. If you can do that, we'll talk."

Her eyes locked onto his. "But if anything goes wrong, even the smallest thing, you're finished. I'll make sure of it."

Ethan nodded, the tension in the room thick. Lydia was giving him a chance, but the warning was clear—one misstep, and she'd bury him.

---

Later that evening, Ethan sat in his apartment, staring at the System's interface. The task to secure financing loomed large on the screen, but now it felt more urgent than ever. Lydia's thinly veiled threat weighed heavily on him.

He had thought the System was his secret weapon, but now it felt like a ticking time bomb. The more he used it, the more people noticed. He was playing a dangerous game, and every move was scrutinized by those waiting for him to fail.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Ava, his friend and former co-star from before his rise to fame.

*We need to talk. Meet me at Café Noir. Now.*

Ethan's heart sank. He hadn't spoken to Ava in weeks, ever since he had been consumed by his meteoric rise. She had always been there for him when he was a nobody, but now, their relationship had become strained. He could feel her slipping away, and the guilt gnawed at him.

---

Café Noir was dimly lit and quiet when Ethan arrived. Ava sat in the corner, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. As soon as he sat down, she got straight to the point.

"What's going on with you, Ethan?"

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You've changed," she said, her voice low but steady. "You used to be… I don't know, real. But now, it's like you're playing a part all the time. Everyone's talking about how you've come out of nowhere, how *Moonlight Serenade* is getting all this attention, and it doesn't add up. I know you better than anyone, Ethan. Something's off."

Ethan's stomach churned. Ava had always been perceptive, and now, she was dangerously close to the truth.

"I've just been working hard, Ava," he said, forcing a smile. "You know how this industry is. You either make it or you don't."

She shook her head, not buying it. "It's more than that. I'm your friend, Ethan, but I feel like I don't know you anymore. And I'm not the only one who's noticed."

Ethan's heart pounded. The walls were closing in. First Lydia, now Ava—people were starting to piece things together, and the truth was getting harder to hide.

"I haven't changed, Ava," he insisted, though even he didn't believe it. "I'm just…focused."

"Focused on what?" she pressed. "On success? On fame? Because whatever this is, it's not healthy."

Ethan clenched his fists under the table, the weight of everything crushing him. The System had given him everything he wanted, but at what cost? His friendships, his reputation, his sanity—it all felt like it was slipping through his fingers.

Ava leaned forward, her eyes searching his. "You don't have to do this alone, Ethan. Whatever it is you're caught up in, I can help. Just talk to me."

He wanted to tell her. He wanted to unload the burden of the System, the tasks, the constant pressure. But he couldn't. It was too dangerous, and once Ava knew, there'd be no going back.

"I'm fine, Ava," he said softly. "I've got everything under control."

She stared at him for a long moment, her expression a mix of frustration and sadness. Then she stood, grabbing her coat.

"Just don't lose yourself in all of this, Ethan. I don't want to watch you fall apart."

As she walked out of the café, leaving him alone with his thoughts, Ethan realized something chilling.

He was already falling apart.