“Wow, this is delicious!”

“Who knew shrimp could be this tender and flavorful?”

“Oh my God, is that calamari? It’s so tender!”

Ivory Murphy was totally absorbed in her meal, savoring every bite like it was the best thing she’d ever tasted. To anyone watching, she looked like she was eating a five-star chef’s tasting menu—not Keith Morris’s home cooking. Keith didn’t exactly have a soft spot for Ivory, but hearing her rave about his food still puffed him up a little.

He glanced her way, a flicker of warmth softening his eyes.

[How does she make it look that good? Seriously unfair.]

[Watching her eat makes me want shrimp linguine, and I didn’t even think it looked that special before.]

[These almonds in my hand suddenly taste like cardboard. I want shrimp linguine too.]

[I almost ordered the same thing while watching the livestream—forgot this wasn’t a mukbang.]

[LOL, Ivory should just switch to mukbang hosting. I’m starving just watching her.]

Ellis Murphy, sitting closest to Ivory, had a front-row seat to her food euphoria. If he’d seen those comments, he would’ve agreed with every single one.

A few years back, when his career was just taking off, Ellis had been forced onto a strict diet for a role. It wrecked his stomach. Even after he recovered, his appetite stayed finicky, and he turned into a ridiculously picky eater.

Normally, whenever Keith or anyone else cooked, Ellis would take a polite bite or two—mostly because he knew his manager or assistant had already lined up food from his personal chef. But today hit different.

The food was as bland and ordinary as ever. But watching Ivory enjoy it made Ellis think it tasted better than it had any right to.

He only realized it when he looked down and saw he’d cleared half his plate—nearly double what he normally ate.

Ellis raised a brow and huffed a quiet laugh at himself.

[!!! Ellis ate more than half his plate today?]

[Yay! Ellis actually ate. Maybe he’ll finally put on some weight.]

[Is today’s food really that good? First Ivory, now Ellis... I’m drooling over here.]

[But the other guests are reacting like normal. So the food probably didn’t change. The only difference is...]

[Don’t tell me Ellis is eating more just because Ivory’s sitting across from him?]

[Okay, hesitant hand raise—I’m not Ivory’s biggest fan, but watching her eat definitely makes me hungry.]

[Same. I usually have zero appetite, but watching Ivory actually helped. My mom thought she was a mukbang host and started praising her—it was hilarious.]

Meanwhile, the chat was mostly lighthearted and friendly. Upstairs, though, Jaylani Cunningham was wide awake and green with envy.

The unfamiliar jacket draped across her bed caught her eye. She snapped, snatched it up, and threw it to the floor with a scream.

“Damn you, Ivory!” she spat. She couldn’t believe how sneaky Ivory had been—using a stupid jacket to humiliate her. The memory of fainting in front of everyone, with thousands of viewers watching, twisted her face with rage.

She’d spent days carefully crafting her image, building up her ‘academic influencer’ persona online since her rebirth, only to become a punchline.

Ivory. It was always Ivory.

Jaylani’s eyes burned with fury.

Then her phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID and smiled coldly—but when she answered, her voice dripped honey.

“Hello, Professor Stern? Did you reach out to Mr. Murphy about the project? Great! I’ll add him on WhatsApp right now!”

After hanging up, Jaylani’s hands trembled with excitement.

She opened the contact card her mentor had sent and quickly added ‘Huxley Murphy.’

Huxley Murphy was a top lawyer—brilliant, gorgeous, and followed by over ten million people online. His fans had dubbed him the internet’s ‘Dream Lawyer.’ Plenty of female celebrities had tried to ride his coattails, but Huxley always stayed cool and untouchable.

His social media almost never featured young women.

But soon, Jaylani’s name would have a place in his circle.

She didn’t even wait for Huxley to accept her friend request. She took a screenshot of his contact card and their empty WhatsApp chat, carefully blurred a few details, and posted it to Twitter.

Since her rebirth, Jaylani had been working her social media like a full-time job, prepping for the fame she knew would come after the dating show. It paid off. Between study-inspiration posts, motivational quotes, and her ‘academic achievements,’ she’d racked up nearly a million followers and a reputation as an academic influencer.

The second her post went live, the comments flooded in.

[OMG, y’all, I zoomed in and squinted—is that really my Dream Lawyer’s contact?]

[Aaaahhh, Huxley Murphy! There might be a million guys with that name, but this hot lawyer is the internet’s ultimate dream man!]

[Wait, Jaylani actually knows the superstar lawyer Huxley Murphy?]

[Wow. She’s connected to someone like Huxley? I’m floored.]

Everyone was so stunned by Jaylani’s reveal that no one brought up her fainting incident from earlier that day.

Reading the flood of admiration and envy, Jaylani let out a breath and felt a rush of triumphant pride.

This time, she would be the one soaking up the spotlight until the very end. Not even Ivory’s meddling could ruin that.

After lunch, the show rolled on schedule. No break—just tasks handed out to the participants.

Ivory rubbed her sleepy eyes.

“Ivory!” Mikaela Jackson’s voice snapped her out of it. Ivory’s eyes flew open.

She blinked around the room, looking like a drowsy kitten.

“What?”

She shot Mikaela an annoyed look.

Mikaela bristled at Ivory’s soft, innocent voice. To her, this girl’s act was even more annoying than her own. Surely the audience would drag Ivory in the comments, right?

The thought comforted her. Her tone softened.

“The director wants us out for our tasks. You looked like you were about to fall asleep, so I woke you,” she said with an innocent shrug.

Ivory looked out at the blazing sun. Her chest tightened.

They were really supposed to go out in this heat? For tasks?

Her silent protest went unheard. The director ruthlessly herded everyone outside.

Only once they were outside did Ivory finally glance at the task card.

The afternoon assignment was simple: each participant had to capture the island’s most beautiful scenery, then explain on camera why they found it so captivating—something that would reveal their personality and preferences.

Ivory Murphy couldn't help but laugh at the idea that anyone could truly understand her character just from how she tackled a task. The thought was almost comical.

Just as the group was about to head out the door, a soft voice drifted down from the top of the stairs.

“Hold on a second.”

It was Jaylani Cunningham. They turned and found her standing there—pale, delicate, yet managing a gentle smile, like a fragile but beautiful lily.

Braxton Reynolds couldn't help but rush upstairs to steady her, half-teasing, half-scolding. “I told you to take it easy. Why are you up?”

Jaylani smiled back. “I'm okay now. I can get back to it.”

To Braxton—and everyone watching the livestream—her determination made her the very picture of resilience. Plenty of viewers were moved.

“Wow, she's not just smart—she's got grit. Jaylani's really raising the bar for all of us,” one viewer commented.

“Jaylani seriously inspires me. Time to step up my game!”

“She's under the weather and still pushing through? What a trooper.”

“If she didn't go all in, how could she hang out with someone like Huxley Murphy? Real talent takes brains and hard work,” others added.

“Wait—are you saying Jaylani knows my Dream Lawyer?”

The news that Jaylani was connected to Huxley Murphy spread fast among viewers who hadn’t seen her latest Twitter update. A quick look at her social media shifted their perception of her all over again. If she ran with someone as brilliant and capable as Huxley Murphy, then her reputation as a gifted academic had to be real. Suddenly, her earlier fainting incident didn’t look like melodrama at all. Surely she’d fainted for some other reason, they concluded—and the show’s doctor must have misdiagnosed her.

The show’s doctor, had he heard them, might have objected.

“Are you sure you're all right?” Braxton pressed, still worried. “I could take care of this for you. Really. Just a quick video shoot.”

Jaylani shook her head resolutely. “I signed up for this show, so I should stick to the plan. Even if I'm not at 100%, I need to go on.”

Braxton said no more, his admiration deepening. He knew Jaylani embodied the kind of person he admired—gentle yet strong.

“All right, if you need anything, I'll be close by,” he assured her.

“Wow, Braxton's got game. He's good at this!” the livestream comments buzzed.

“Is it just me, or does it seem like Braxton is really falling for Jaylani? Oh no, please don't!”

“Agree! But remember, you're here to play a role, not to fall for real.”

The comments split into two camps: those praising the chemistry between Braxton and Jaylani, and Braxton's fans who weren't too pleased with his performance.

“What’s with some fans? Your favorite chose to be on this show. If he’s here, he needs to play his part. We’re here to watch some romance and enjoy the pairings. Don’t like it? Feel free to leave,” someone argued.

“Exactly. Don’t expect your favorite to stay single for you forever. If you think men are reliable, you’d believe pigs can fly.”

“Enough with the bitterness. Our Braxton keeps his promises. He said he'd stay single for us, and he will! No need for outsiders to worry,” another fan defended.

The comments turned into an all-out war, both sides slinging barbs. The director frowned and quickly cut the stream back to the doorway.

There, the group waited quietly for the upstairs drama to finish. Ivory leaned against the doorframe, eyes half-closed, staring into the distance, trying to ignore the cringe-worthy performance unfolding above.

Standing beside her was Ellis Murphy. The subtle woody scent he wore seemed to calm her restless afternoon mood. She couldn't help but take a deep breath, like a cat luxuriating in a sunbeam, inching closer to him.

Ellis glanced at her, puzzled.

His eyebrows knitted slightly. Was Ivory... sniffing him? Her face had the blissful look of a cat basking in sunlight, eyes narrowed and lips curved in satisfaction. For a moment, he wasn’t sure whether to laugh or step away. But her expression was so endearing that Ellis chose to stay put.

Fine. Let her. They were about to head out anyway.

Ivory thought she was being subtle as she edged closer, enjoying the calming scent. This was bliss. She decided she’d ask Ellis what cologne he used when she had the chance. She wanted to buy the same one.

In the livestream, a few keen-eyed viewers noticed Ivory's subtle actions and immediately reacted.

“What's Ivory doing? Having no luck with Braxton, now she's targeting Ellis?”

“If she makes a move on Ellis, I won't forgive her!”

“This woman flits from guy to guy. She needs to stay away from Ellis!”

Ellis's usually laid-back fans nearly lost their minds watching this. They weren't opposed to him dating, but not with someone like Ivory, whose reputation was less than stellar.

Amid the uproar, a shy voice popped up in the chat.

“Uh, not to stir the pot, but don’t they look good together? He’s tall and she’s petite, standing so close to him—it’s kind of sweet?”

“Are you an Ivory fan??”

“No, forget it, I didn't say anything.”

This user, “Will Die Without Ships,” quietly snapped a screenshot of the moment from the livestream, feeling a rush of excitement.

Driven by a bold impulse, they posted the clip to Twitter with the caption: “Just discovered a new ship: Ivellis!”

The name blended Ivory and Ellis, and somehow it fit the moment perfectly. Ellis, typically aloof and reserved, didn’t shy away from Ivory’s closeness—a rare display of warmth.

Even if it was an unexpected pairing, the Ivellis ship had made its debut. Eventually, Braxton and Jaylani came down the stairs, returning to the group.

Before the guests could head out, they had to wait while the crew finished setting up the outdoor filming gear. They gathered under the villa’s porch, squinting at the blazing sun, their enthusiasm wilting by the second.

The male guests seemed to take it a little better—none of them appeared particularly worried about tanning. The women, though, stared down the scorching sun like it was a personal enemy. Even Millie Reed felt a flicker of dread. She wasn’t the type to obsess over a ten-step skincare routine like some celebrity, but the idea of frying under that sun wasn’t exactly appealing. Luckily, she’d just reapplied sunscreen and prayed it would hold up.

A shadow fell over her. Millie froze. To her surprise, Ivory Murphy was standing right beside her, holding a pastel pink parasol.

Catching Millie’s stare, Ivory assumed she wanted in on the shade. “You didn’t bring an umbrella either? No worries—mine’s big enough for two.” She lifted the parasol, pulling Millie under its cover.

Ivory had only just remembered her parasol, abandoned earlier on the villa’s porch. Sunscreen or not, she didn’t trust it against sunlight this brutal, so she’d gone back for it.

Millie blinked up at the stretch of pink above her, caught off guard. She hadn’t expected Ivory to offer her shade—let alone hold the umbrella for her. Millie had been nursing a bit of a grudge against Ivory because of her ties to Braxton Reynolds; she’d assumed the girl would be a pain to deal with.

Now, though, she felt a sting of shame at how quick she’d been to judge. Smiling, she took the umbrella from Ivory. “Let me hold it. I’m taller.”

The second it left her mouth, she worried Ivory might take it as a dig at her height. But Ivory only nodded, totally unbothered.

“You’re really tall—I wish I were that tall. Then I could finally wear that Victorian-style gown I’ve been obsessed with!” Ivory sighed, remembering the dress she’d had to pass up because of her height. She puffed out her cheeks in playful frustration, looking like a pouting pufferfish.

Millie couldn’t help but laugh. Up close, Ivory was kind of adorable. She was just a blunt, honest girl—not the scheming villain the internet painted her as.

Nearby, Mikaela Jackson spotted Ivory under the parasol and couldn’t resist a jab. “Some people are so vain—like sunscreen’s gonna make her face any prettier.” She’d muttered it, but not quietly enough. A few heads turned. Mikaela slapped a hand over her mouth, nervously glancing at Jaylani Cunningham beside her.

Jaylani kept her usual serene smile, and Mikaela relaxed. Jaylani hadn’t missed the comment—she agreed with it, actually. But unlike Mikaela, she wasn’t dumb enough to say it loud enough for the wrong people to hear. That kind of slip had a way of biting you later.

Finally, the crew was ready, cameras and gear in tow. At the director’s cue, everyone set off. Each guest had their own idea of the island’s most beautiful spot, so they scattered down different paths.

Oscar Alvarez took off immediately, already knowing exactly where he wanted to film. Keith Morris headed the opposite way, just as purposeful. Ellis Murphy strolled off in another direction, the picture of laid-back ease—like he was filming a wellness-retreat ad.

The standout, though, was Braxton Reynolds, lagging conspicuously behind the female guests. He had a destination in mind, sure—but he was far more concerned with Jaylani. So he followed her, with “coincidence” ready as his excuse.

As it happened, Jaylani was headed the same way as Ivory. The thought of a pest like Braxton trailing after them made Ivory’s skin crawl.

Noticing Ivory’s furrowed brow, Millie asked, “Everything okay?”

Ivory scrunched her nose and dropped her voice. “I’ve got a tagalong. And he’s annoying as hell.”

Millie immediately guessed who the tagalong was, but Ivory’s bluntness caught her off guard.

“Didn’t you like Braxton—” Millie started, only to get a look from Ivory that screamed, Do you really think my taste is that bad?

Millie blinked, confused. But Ivory had no interest in explaining. She was still annoyed by the mess the original Ivory had left behind, but she knew the truth would come out eventually.

Hoping to shake Braxton, Ivory and Millie picked up the pace. They were headed in the same direction—Ivory to the rocky coast, Millie to the grove nearby—and both planned to be back within half an hour.

Once they split up, Ivory reached her destination: the spot where she’d found Ellis earlier that morning. It had stuck with her ever since the director announced the task.

She glanced at the spot where the fish had escaped, a twinge of disappointment prickling through her. Peering down from the rocks, she saw no sign of any fish. So much for her fish dinner.

And it wasn’t just the fish getting under her skin. Jaylani had trailed after her like a shadow.

“Ivory? What a coincidence—we picked the same spot.” Jaylani smiled.

Ivory rolled her eyes before turning to face her. This location wasn’t exactly convenient, and Ivory hadn’t planned on shooting anything elaborate, so her cameraman stayed back, filming her from a distance.

Jaylani, meanwhile, waved her cameraman off for the moment, saying she wanted to scout the location herself and would call him over once she decided it was good enough. The considerate act earned her another round of praise from her audience—always so thoughtful, so kind.

So Jaylani stood there alone, unaccompanied, perfectly maintaining her facade of sweet, generous grace.