d the Dolby Theatre i

ed like strobe lights

he second tier. The lights in

gown. Her dark hair was swept to the left

d down at

a glittering, custom-made dress. Preston had his arm wrapped pro

The television ratings

ed up to the microph

d for Best Actress

ting on her knees. The blue light i

the en

amlessly hijacked the control room's mainfr

sive LED screen split into fo

's turn, the screen

of static ripped through

ed. People shifte

s were screaming, slamming their

had frozen the

nt black for a fr

rity footage from Preston's of

the screen. Naked. Tangled t

io was

scarred, ugly bitch play

ugh the Dolby Theatre's sta

ilent. Two thousand people stoppe

e room e

and shouts tore

lai's face. She looked like a corpse. She threw her ha

urple with rage. He pointed at the stage,

away from the stage. The red recording

ed against her leg. Tw

She watched the absolute

te of champagne from the si

ndlessly. PR executives,

the phone to

late. The paparazzi had already swarmed the front row,

ulled the connector cable out an

p. She didn

the VIP box and walked dow

k alley of the theater. The

nt. Instead, a hollow, gaping

ike of pain shot thr

scar screamed. It was a b

and over her face, leaning her we

y. She needed to numb thi

ead and looked a

Hotel loomed aga

around her shoulders and wal