Chapter 83 Identity Crisis
Sylvia was between laughter and exasperation–she had never been the center of such a public spectacle before. Her marriage to Cyril had hardly been in the limelight; being chased by the media was completely foreign to her. She didn’t see the need for any of this fuss.
“I called today just to let you know about this. And hey, you haven’t practiced in years, so warm up those vocal cords of yours. Don’t you dare embarrass me on the day of the concert. I won’t let you off easy if you do,” Bark warned.
He was a world–renowned superstar. If his sister, unpracticed, turned out to be dead weight, he wouldn’t mind, but it wouldn’t be fair to his fans. They were spending good money to see him perform, and Sylvia’s
unreliability wouldn’t sit well with anyone.
Feeling helplessly caught in the situation, Sylvia could only agree to her brother’s demands; there was nothing else she could do. Bark had already decided for her, so she’d have to comply.
For several days, curiosity about Sylvia’s identity surged online, and the digging into her background intensified. Some internet sleuths, despite not uncovering her full story, managed to find out where Sylvia
worked and her job title.
“The netizens are too much, aren’t they? You haven’t said a word, and they’ve already sniffed out your identity. Our company is going to be in the spotlight soon, and you might not be happy about that. You need to think about how to handle this situation,” Juliet put down her phone, eying Sylvia with sincerity. Dragging this issue out any longer could lead to further complications.
Sylvia was well aware of the murmurings within the company–many were dissatisfied with her since she hadn’t secured any significant projects. Without the ability to command respect with a notable achievement, she knew it was best to keep a low profile. However, Bark’s high–profile announcement had thrust her into the storm, causing her immense stress. Having such a brother was both a blessing and a
headache.
“I’ll talk to Bark about it later. If it’s really necessary, we might just have to reveal our relationship openly, rather than let it impact the company,” Sylvia contemplated.
“But think it through. If the relationship between you and Bark is disclosed, it will affect the company even more. You’ll be overrun with interview requests about you two, and they might even want to market you as a new entertainment sensation,” Juliet pointed out with greater clarity.
Sylvia felt cornered, as every option brought its own set of headaches. It was a difficult decision to make, but for now, she would just take it one step at a time. If there was a way to resolve the issue, she would find it; if not, it was Bark’s mess to clean up. After all, he was the one who stirred it up. If the situation escalated further, it could end up upsetting both Bruce and their father.
The next morning, Sylvia knew she was thinking too simple about how Bruce and dad will react–The cries that echoed from downstairs made her heart jump, and she bolted from the second floor to the scene below
There was her brother Bark, kneeling on the floor while their eldest brother, Bruce, lashed him with a whip.
Chapter 83 Identity Crisis
Despite Bark’s regular exercise as part of his singer lifestyle, mostly spent in recording studios, this physical punishment from Bruce was clearly too much for him.
“You damned fool, do you realize the trouble you’ve caused your sister with your antics?” their father, Stanford, said with a grimace that made it clear he was far from pleased.
That morning, Stanford had learned from his secretary that Sylvia was trending on social media. Curious masses were speculating about her cloaked identity, some even planning to visit the company to dig deeper. Worse still, there were derogatory rumors and so-called “evidence” making rounds online, questioning Sylvia’s integrity.
As a doting father, there was no way Stanford would swallow such slander. He dragged Bark out of bed early to teach him a lesson he wouldn’t soon forget.
“You can’t put all the blame on me! If only he had listened to me in the first place, I wouldn’t have had to take such measures. Besides, revealing our relationship will just clear things up, won’t it? It’s not that complicated,” Bark protested from the floor, his pride clashing with the reality of his recklessness.
Bruce’s face turned darker, his patience clearly worn thin. “Do you not understand that revealing Sylvia’s identity could significantly disrupt her life? Think of how many fans you have. Have you considered the consequences of your actions at all?”
Bark countered, looking at Bruce unwaveringly, “If we don’t make it public, who will protect Sylvia? Cyril did all those things, yet I didn’t see any of you taking action. You’ve always just wanted to keep her identity under wraps. I know you’re trying to protect her, but my identity is not out in the open either. What’s wrong with letting the world know she’s my sister? At least it’ll make anyone think twice before they try anything.”
Though Bark had Sylvia’s best interest at heart, his approach wasn’t sitting well with the other two men in
୯
the family. If they had wanted Sylvia’s identity exposed, they would have done so from her birth. Until
now, the world only knew the Ivans had a daughter, but her true remained a mystery.
dentit
“Stop it, Dad, Big Bro. Bark did this for me, and I knew about it. I agreed to it,” Sylvia interjected, descending the stairs to defend Bark.
At her words, the stern looks on Bruce’s and Stanford’s faces softened to warmth–a shift so swift it nearly gave Bark whiplash. They’d been so harsh on him, yet became gentle in a heartbeat when facing Sylvia. There was no doubt about it: the little sister sat at the top of the family’s food chain.
“Don’t make excuses for him. He did it on purpose,” Bruce insisted.
Sylvia countered, “It’s not like that. If not for the events three years ago, I would already be accompanying Bark at his concerts. The plans from three years ago just carried over to now. There’s no difference.”