"Hearts at War"

Chapter 4

The makeup artists approached me and started retouching my look. A few minutes later, I saw the human anaconda—Avery Montclair—entering the dressing room. She seemed surprised when she saw me. I flashed her a sarcastic smile. Well, hello there, snake. It's so nice to see you again.

Avery shot me a death glare before sitting down on the stool, her face contorted with irritation. Her presence was like a storm in the room, and I couldn’t help but feel a smirk tugging at my lips, knowing how much she hated being in the same space as me.

She’s the one who’s late, and yet, she looks like she’s ready to explode? Where’s the justice in that?

"b***h," I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes at her as she settled into her seat. The audacity. It was almost as if she thought she had every right to be angry at the world, when in reality, she was the one who kept everyone waiting.

Certainly! Here's the expanded version with the requested changes:

---

Silence enveloped the dressing room, broken only by the hum of hairdryers and the occasional rustle of makeup brushes. The tension in the air was palpable, everyone fully aware of the bitter rivalry between me and Avery Montclair.

Ugh, every time I think back to the day Victor Alverez broke up with me, it feels like a knife in my chest. And the worst part? Avery was the one behind it all. She was the reason for our breakup, and the way she acted as if she hadn’t done anything wrong still grates on my nerves. The audacity, the sheer nerve she had to stand there, pretending to be innocent. Fvck her! The nerve of that woman! It’s like she thinks she’s untouchable, as if no one could ever see through her games.

What made it worse was the fact that she never took responsibility for her actions. She simply waltzed around, acting like a victim, when in reality, she was the cause of everything falling apart. It made me sick to my stomach. I just wanted to lash out, to make her feel what I was feeling, but no matter how much I wanted to, I had to keep my composure. At least for now. But deep down, I couldn’t wait for the day when I could finally have the upper hand.

Patience, Olivia, patience. She will taste the dose of her own medicine soon enough.

By the way, I’m Olivia Romano, the country’s award-winning box office movie queen and the top ‘It Girl’. As of now, I’m single. Single because, up until now, I can’t seem to get over the madness my ex, Victor Alverez, put me through when he broke up with me and traded me for that two-faced woman who was just a few steps away from me the whole time!

I could still feel the sting of betrayal deep in my chest. I had trusted Victor, believed in our relationship, and yet he chose her. Avery Montclair, that conniving woman, who had no qualms about stealing from me. She wasn’t even subtle about it. The worst part? It wasn’t just the betrayal of love—it was the way she rubbed it in my face. I had been blindsided, and the feeling of being discarded like trash still burned inside me.

But I wasn’t going to let her win. I would rise above this and show her that I’m stronger than she ever thought. She had no idea what she was up against.

I hope karma gets you, you anaconda!

I absolutely hate the fact that we are working together. If I had known she would be the one I'd have to work with, I would’ve turned this down from the very beginning. This is all my manager’s fault. He knew about this project, yet he never bothered to mention that I’d be paired with a snake like her. I can't help but feel betrayed by him for that. How could he keep something so important from me? I thought we were a team, but now all I feel is frustration and anger, especially when it comes to the idea of working with Avery Montclair. She’s the last person I want to be in the same room with, let alone share a project with.

The more I think about it, the more my dislike for her grows. She’s a snake in the grass, pretending to be all sweet and innocent, but I know her true colors. She’s everything I can't stand—deceptive, manipulative, and totally fake. Why is it that every time I’m near her, I feel like I’m being suffocated by her presence?

A few minutes later, the makeup was finally done. Everything was set—cameras ready, photographers scattered around, and the air seemed thick with tension.

Everyone appeared so serious, while some of the staff looked uneasy, glancing back and forth between Avery and me. Maybe they were scared of what would happen during the photoshoot. Well, too bad for them, because I’m not the type to create drama. I don’t want to be in the headlines again. The last thing I need is for the media to twist everything and make me the villain once more. It’s always the same—somehow, I always end up being the bad guy in their eyes.

The photographer, Marco Delacruz, approached us to give instructions. He stood confidently, his eyes scanning both of us before speaking.

"Alright, ladies," he began, his tone firm yet calm. "I just want you two to listen and follow my lead. Set aside whatever issues you have for now, and let's get this photoshoot done properly. Can we do that?"

"Sure, Marco," I heard Avery's response.

Marco flashed a smile and walked away from in front of us.

"Alright, people, let's begin the photoshoot!" he called out to the crew.

The atmosphere in the room shifted as everyone readied their equipment, adjusting lights and setting up the cameras. Avery and I stood there, both slightly tense but doing our best to maintain our composure. It was clear that this photoshoot was more than just a job—there was a silent battle beneath the surface, and it was hard to ignore the weight of it.

Avery

Somehow, the photoshoot earlier went smoothly, but of course, it wasn’t without its issues.

I knew that Olivia was intentionally provoking me—she would deliberately bump into me or step on my foot. It got under my skin, and I couldn’t hold back my frustration. I snapped, and if the staff hadn’t intervened quickly, I’m sure we would’ve ended up in another full-blown argument.

The tension between us was palpable, and though we both tried to maintain professionalism, there was no denying the animosity brewing beneath the surface. I couldn’t stand how she kept testing my patience, but I also knew I had to stay composed. This wasn’t the time or place for another public scandal, especially after everything that’s already happened between us.

I was currently at my boyfriend’s townhouse. He picked me up right after our photoshoot, and we spent some time together having dinner. It’s been a while since we last saw each other because we’ve both been so busy with work.

"Babe," I froze for a moment when I heard Liam's voice. His strong, veiny arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me close as he hugged me from behind. The warmth of his embrace made me feel safe and cherished, a stark contrast to the tension I had been carrying from the photoshoot earlier.

"Hello," I smiled sweetly at him.

"What are you thinking?" he asked, his voice low and warm as he began showering my nape with tiny, gentle kisses. The soft tickling sensation made me giggle uncontrollably, and I couldn't help but lean into his touch, feeling the warmth of his affection surround me.