Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism
Chapter 640 Xena Shepherd

Violeta decided to help Ophelia track down the person behind the scheme.

As expected, the situation once again pointed to Zelena.

"Aster, check the hotel to see if that waiter is still employed there. If not, try to replace out more details, like his name and ID. The hotel should have his information from when he was hired." Aster nodded. "Got it."

Public opinion was intense.

Many netizens posted photos, supposedly Al-generated, of Ophelia on her Facebook. The first post received tens of thousands of comments.

Those scandalous photos were a severe blow to Ophelia's career.

After remaining silent for a day, Ophelia's team released a statement denying any connection to the photos and announced they were pursuing legal action against several misleading accounts. While it did calm some of the criticism, many online comments came from anonymous sources, with numerous people using the scandal to spread the harshest remarks.

Some people did express sympathy for Ophelia's plight. However, there were plenty who mocked her in private.

Among the critics was Lydia, Ophelia's old rival.

After she fainted at an event, embarrassing photos of her spread widely on Facebook, ruining her previously pristine image and forcing her out of the limelight.

Once Lydia's career faded, Ophelia seized many of her opportunities.

Naturally, Lydia hoped to see Ophelia's downfall as well.

Lydia even hinted on Facebook that Ophelia was a debauchery woman.

In the entertainment industry, no one defended Ophelia. Only one person spoke up for her.

That person was Xena Shepherd, a former acclaimed actress in the domestic entertainment industry.

Xena, who graduated from the same school as Ophelia, was the youngest actress ever to win the Best Supporting Actress Award three times. She was recognized early on for her exceptional talent.

She met her benefactor during her freshman year and won her first Best Supporting Actress Award for her debut film Three Inch Shoes.

Xena went on to achieve great success, almost earning an Oscar years ago, and became a significant figure in the industry's history.

She was low-key and got married early in her career peak.

Although she married early and has been out of the spotlight for years, her international achievements remain unmatched, showcasing her enduring value. Xena was likely the person Hattie admired the most.

Balancing career and personal life, Xena reached her peak when she won her third Best Supporting. Actress Award. Shortly after, a wealthy man from Verdancia fell in love with her. en Narugi

They married the following year, marking that she perfectly achieved a class leap.

Even the great Xena was shocked by Ophelia's situation.

She shared Ophelia's statement on Facebook with the caption, "Don't spread rumors. Support rights protection."

The discussions online were in an uproar, amplifying the debate.

Following Xena's intervention, more female voices began to speak out.

"Posting Al-generated photos without knowing the facts and attributing them to a public figure is this modern society or a return to the dark ages?" Violeta also liked Xena's post.

She hadn't expected this senior to step up.

It seemed that Ophelia had maintained a good relationship with Xena over the years.

Ophelia had been ambitious and

hoped to break into the international director circle with Xena's support.

But with this scandal, her chances of achieving that goal seemed even

slimmer.

Whether motivated by friendship or a sense of justice, Xena's public defense of Ophelia significantly shifted the narrative. Only someone as influential as Xena, who had retired from the industry, could have steered the conversation this way.

If anyone else had tried, they would likely have faced backlash.

Violeta also considered supporting

Ophelia by sharing the post but

wasn't willing to risk her car and

reputation. So, she watched from the sidelines.

Having admired Xena's work, Violeta now had even greater respect for her.

Things had diverged significantly from what Violeta had seen in her previous life. Ophelia hadn't faced such trouble before, and Xena hadn't stepped in. Everything was changing. In this dramatic turn of events, the key variables were Violeta and Zelena.