Instead, the screen bore news of Katie.

That morning, Katie “inadvertently” shared more than she intended with a screen capture meant to display a new piece of jewelry. Her chat logs with her friend revealed her own presence at the hotel and her doubt on whether it was Lilah whom she had seen with a man.

Katie's friend responded without reserve, "Absolutely. Remember the hug scandal that trended with Lilah? This woman's reputation is questionable."

The online community was abuzz with the revelation.

After scrolling through the comments, Katie realized the error with the chat logs. In a panic, she deleted the tweet and urged her followers not to overthink it.

But Katie's attempt at damage control only fueled the public's curiosity.

The rumors about Lilah's supposed affair intensified, with online criticism mounting against her.

In her office, Katie couldn't help but feel smug as she observed the online backlash against Lilah. Sipping her coffee, the sting of the previous night's financial loss began to fade.

She sent a message to Andrew.

"This is your moment. If you want to take it, I'm here to help.

Imagine if it came out that you were the man with Lilah. Gerard would never stand by her after such a betrayal. Once they're through, Lilah could be yours," Katie schemed.

She continued to goad Andrew, certain of his eventual capitulation.

Katie reasoned that Andrew's interest in Lilah stemmed from his inability to have her, and that he would inevitably act on his desire.

Of course, she wouldn't allow Lilah and Andrew to be together, and she was convinced that Gerard would not forgive an infidelity.

Andrew didn't reply.

Katie waited patiently, confident in Andrew's eventual surrender.

During her lunch break, Katie checked her social media account, messages from her followers overflowing. Selecting one at random, she encountered vitriol directed at herself.

Could Lilah be orchestrating this backlash?

Feeling her mood sour, Katie was about to retaliate with a post mocking Lilah when she found herself the subject of a trending scandal.

"Katie Implicated in Bribery for the Golden Excellence Design Award?"

Katie's disbelief anchored her to the spot, her mind grappling with the notion that it might be a mere illusion.

The Golden Excellence Design Award was a coveted prize within the design community, and Katie, vying for the honor, had been locked in a fierce rivalry with another contender. Driven to secure the award, Katie had even engaged with one of the organizers...

Yet years had elapsed, and her clandestine actions had remained concealed. How had they surfaced now?

With trembling hands, Katie navigated to the trending topic. The video revealed there, a stark contrast to the vague rumors she spread against Lilah, hit her like a sledgehammer. Despite the grainy footage, her recognizable visage was undeniable.