From Deadbeat To Doting; Something Is Wrong With My Husband!-Chapter 28: Granny

"Oh." Brianna narrowed her eyes. This wasn’t the dinner invitation she expected, but it was work. "Sure. I’ll do it."

"Yes, but there is one tiny condition," Matthew added, his expression turning slightly strained.

"You have to do it with Mr. Blackwood’s niece."

A visceral groan escaped Brianna before she could catch it. "Ugh. Why Siren?"

Siren wasn’t really her name; the nickname was an open secret. Everyone knew her as Siren because you heard her screams or her weeping long before you saw her face. She was either having a mental breakdown or having a breakup.

She was the production team’s worst nightmare, kept on the payroll only by the grace of her uncle’s heavy-handed connections.

Matthew cleared his throat awkwardly. "Dr. Colburn, her name is Melody."

Brianna rolled her eyes. Melody. And yet all she does is make noise.

"Melody seemed very eager to finally meet you," Matthew said, giving the lingering crowd a sharp look that sent them scattering in a hurry.

He turned back to Brianna with a pleading tone. "Please... just try to treat her well. Like a senior to a junior."

Brianna nodded before walking out of the elevator with Matthew. Though he continued ahead, Brianna stopped near Rochelle, who was standing by the side.

"I can’t believe I have to pretend for an ad with Siren."

Rochelle let out a soft laugh. "If you can survive President Lucian, you can survive Siren."

"I hope so." Brianna murmured just as they reached her office.

Dropping her bag onto the leather sofa, Rochelle scrolled on her iPad. "I’ll go confirm with the makeup artist and lighting crew. Be back in a minute."

Once the door clicked shut, Brianna sank into her chair, the silence of the room finally settling over her. Her gaze drifted to the floor, where a bouquet of expensive, rare roses sat in a crystal vase.

Again?

She picked them up, looking for an intention, and she found a card inside.

[Hope you’re doing well, dear.]

Senior Mrs. Colburn.

Brianna scoffed irritably, but she didn’t head for the trash can this time. "If she wants to play ’Happy Family’ so badly, she can have her flowers back," she muttered, deciding to have them couriered back to the mansion later.

"Okay, everything is set. The studio is ready. Let’s go get you ready for the ad."

...

Upon arriving at the designated room, Matthew Koch waved Brianna over. He was standing with Melody. The moment Siren, I mean, Melody saw Brianna, her face lit up with an overexcited joyous smile.

Brianna felt a pang of guilt because she couldn’t bring herself to reciprocate the warmth, settling for a polite but professional nod.

Matthew looked between them. "Dr. Colburn, Melody. This ad is for Better Health. It’s their new ’Bloom-Ease’ soft gel—and it’s a supplement for bloating and digestive health."

Brianna’s brows arched slightly. Better Health was offering her a brand deal?

Lucian didn’t look like he was going to use her for his company’s ad this morning when she saw him.

Matthew skimmed briefly through the script. "It’s a simple script. One of you describes the discomfort, the other introduces the solution."

Dropping the script, he looked at Brianna. "Melody seemed very eager to finally work with the goddess herself. Treat her well."

Brianna gave a quick glance at Melody who was vibrating with excitement. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Well, then. I’ll leave you two to prep."

The second the door closed behind Matthew, Brianna almost flinched at the sight of Melody. The joyous, sparkling smile on Melody’s face vanished, replaced by a hateful, bitter glare.

Brianna was taken aback. Wasn’t this the vibrant angel who was eager to work with her?

"Listen up, ’Granny’," Melody hissed. "While we’re doing this together, you better stay out of my way. This gig is mine. Don’t think for a second that your ’Goddess’ title means anything to me."

She glared hatefully. Brianna had always taken the big brand deals, leaving the other host with little. Her uncle had personally chatted with the CEO of Better Health to use her instead, but the CEO insisted on wanting Brianna. But was okay with the idea of using her as a backup.

If this woman didn’t exist, all of this would be hers!

Melody’s glare deepened at the thought. "Isn’t it time to retire and let the younger generations host a relatable show?"

Brianna on the other hand, raised her brows as she looked the girl up and down. So the Siren finally shows her teeth.

This girl was calling her "Granny," even though Brianna was only twenty-four. Brianna knew she possessed a mind and an aura that felt five decades older because of her accomplishments, but physically, they were almost the same age.

When Brianna didn’t reply to her, she felt utterly stupid, so she decided to resolve into something low. Grabbing her script from the table, Melody scoffed.

"The Marriage Goddess my foot. When your marriage is clearly failing."

Brianna’s expression remained unchanged, but her eyes cooled. "How do you know my marriage is failing?"

Melody finally smirked, facing Brianna now. "I have my sources. How does it feel to know that while you’re giving advice to the nation, your husband is probably counting the minutes until he can divorce you?"

Brianna looked at the girl in front of her, wondering if Melody was the one who started the rumor.

"Your sources forgot to mention one thing, Siren."

Melody scoffed inaudibly, "S-siren—?"

Brianna didn’t give her the chance to finish, waving her hand dismissively through the air. "In this industry, a pretty face lasts five years. A loud mouth lasts five minutes. But a brain? That’s what keeps you in the lead. Try to find yours before the cameras start rolling."

With that, Brianna brushed past her, her shoulder barely grazing Melody’s as she walked toward Rochelle with an intimidating grace. But before she could reach her assistant, a loud, dramatic thud sounded through the room

The sudden gasps from the crew made Brianna freeze. She turned, her brow arched in confusion.