The Billionaire's Maid Bride novel Chapter 643

The set of "Fragments of Truth" was locked down tighter than Fort Knox. Realistic sets were constructed with curtains drawn all around, banning any form of photography to keep the paparazzi and any overzealous fans at bay. Despite a week of shooting under such secrecy, a couple of photos still managed to slip through the cracks.

Wade trusted his crew implicitly. They were veterans who had been with him through thick and thin, having worked on several movies together. The idea that any of them would sell behind-the-scenes shots was laughable. It had to be the handiwork of someone from another celebrity's entourage, someone with dirty hands.

After all, "Fragments of Truth" wasn't just any production; it was a blockbuster that fans had been eagerly anticipating for years. The novel it was based on was a top-tier franchise with legions of devoted readers. Now that the filming had commenced, the buzz was relentless, and naturally, everyone was itching for a sneak peek.

Despite the ironclad secrecy, high-resolution leaked images found their way online. One such photo featured the female protagonist with unnaturally sharpened features while the male lead stood next to the supporting actress in a crystal-clear, mismatched shot. It was as if the male lead was embracing the supporting actress, who leaned into his arms. Aaron was clad in a sharp police uniform, his tall figure striking. Next to him stood Valeria, dressed in a lake-blue dress, her hair caught in the wind, elegant and beautiful. She appeared to be nursing an injured arm, fleeing from villains, darting out of an alley with her hair in disarray and blood flowing down her arm as she collapsed into Aaron's embrace.

And there was Allison, standing about fifteen feet away, dressed in a crisp white shirt and black jeans, her gaze fixed on the alley, her expression serious with a slight furrow of her brows. But in the photo, her features were overexposed, as if they had been artificially sharpened.

This leaked photo was first posted on a forum, then quickly spread by influencers and bloggers across the internet. Given the popularity of "Fragments of Truth" and Aaron's national fame, the hashtag #TruthLeaks soared to the top of the trending charts.

"OMG, Aaron and Valeria's chemistry is off the charts!"

"They look so good together! The female lead seems like a third wheel."

"Valeria is stunning, a true thespian. You can see the acting prowess in just one photo – her expressions are incredible."

"I'm loving the battle-damaged makeup on Valeria. She looks amazing! Real actors stand out from those who buy their way into productions. What's with Allison's expression, though? It seems a bit... bitter."

"Aaron is so dashing! Check out his track record: top-notch ratings, top-notch acting, an award magnet. Our guy is shining on his own – no need for a shipped couple here."

But Allison's fans weren't having it.

"What's with the hate? Valeria's fans are shameless, judging acting skills from a doctored photo? And if Valeria's so great, why hasn't she won any awards? Six years in the industry and nothing to show for it. Being salty about not getting the lead role won't change anything, a side character is still a side character!"

"They're bashing the female lead's looks based on an over-sharpened photo? Please, Allison's beauty is legendary, her natural look is unbeatable. Our Allison is 7 years younger than Valeria, with skin as smooth as collagen and porcelain."

"How laughable. In the leaked photo, the male lead and supporting actress are crystal clear, but the lead actress is blurred."

"Isn't it obvious this is a paid promotion by Valeria's team?"

"Exactly! You can tell it's a smear campaign by Valeria's team, complete with paid fans pushing the side character as a romantic interest. If we're going to ship anyone, it should be the leads, not the supporting actress. Valeria's team has crossed the line."