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Audrey’s face turned crimson as she heard the comments piling up, and she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. She had always been sensitive to criticism, especially when it was so public. But as Kate’s words rang in her ears, Audrey couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. She had been late, and now it seemed like her minor mistake was becoming a big deal.
Catherine, however, remained unfazed. She stood next to Audrey, her posture calm and composed, as if the negative comments didn’t even touch her. She didn’t acknowledge Kate’s words, nor did she show any sign of discomfort. Her focus was on the task ahead, not on petty drama.
Audrey glanced at her sister and felt a wave of gratitude for the quiet strength Catherine exuded. How does she do it? Audrey thought. How does she stay so calm when everyone else is trying to tear us down?
Kate’s fans, on the other hand, continued to flood the comment section.
[“Kate’s right, they’re so unprofessional. How dare they make us wait?!”]
[“So rude! They should know better than to keep us waiting!”]
But amidst all the hate, there were a few voices who came to Audrey and Catherine’s defense.
[“Guys, maybe they just had a rough start. Give them a break.”]
[“Kate shouldn’t be so harsh. Everyone has their own pace, and they’ll get there.”]
Audrey felt a little comforted by the positive comments, but she knew the damage was done. Kate had already made her point clear. As they walked into the filming space, Audrey couldn’t help but feel the weight of the judgment in the air. She glanced at Catherine once again, her mind trying to form the right words.
“I—I’m really sorry about being late, Kathy. I didn’t mean for this to cause so much trouble,” Audrey said, her voice low.
Catherine simply nodded, her expression still indifferent. “It’s not your fault,” she replied, her tone as cool as ever. “We’ll just deal with it.”
Audrey nodded, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of being under a microscope. As they entered the filming area, Audrey noticed Kate’s disapproving look. It made her uneasy, but she tried not to let it show. She knew that if she let herself get overwhelmed by the criticism, it would only make things worse.
When the show finally started filming, the tension between the groups was palpable. Kate, still visibly upset about the late arrival, kept glancing over at Audrey and Catherine, making no effort to hide her disdain. Meanwhile, the other contestants were already chatting and getting ready, with some offering subtle looks of pity toward Audrey.
But Catherine? She didn’t seem to care about any of it. She simply focused on what was at hand, her quiet confidence making everyone else’s fuss seem insignificant.
As the day went on, Audrey tried to shake off the discomfort. She focused on participating in the activities, doing her best to keep a positive attitude. She might not have the experience of some of the other contestants, but she had one thing they didn’t—Catherine by her side. And that, in itself, made her feel like maybe, just maybe, she could handle the pressure.
The cameras rolled, and the competition continued, but deep down, Audrey knew that as long as she had her sister, nothing else really mattered.
Audrey could feel the tension in the air as she and Catherine entered the set, late and under the scrutinizing eyes of the other teams. The comments flooding the live stream only made it worse.
Kate’s snide remark didn’t help, and Audrey felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. She had no intention of being late, but everything had gone wrong today. Between the rice fiasco, her cooking blunders, and now the accusation of laziness, it was all piling up.
Catherine, on the other hand, remained unfazed. She gave Kate a quick glance but didn’t respond to her comment. Instead, she continued walking with her usual calm demeanor, not giving the drama the time of day.
Audrey, on the other hand, was fuming inside. She had a strong urge to defend herself, but she didn’t want to escalate things further. She took a deep breath and tried to hold it together, remembering the kind words Catherine had said earlier about not needing to impress her.
As they walked toward the others, the comment section was still buzzing with criticism.
[“Kate has every right to be upset. Audrey’s team is clearly unprepared.”]
[“They’re a mess, and now they’re making everyone wait. Ridiculous!”]
[“Catherine’s so composed though. How does she stay so chill?”]
Audrey could feel her anxiety spiking, but she kept her head high, trying not to let the negativity get to her. Catherine’s presence was almost like a shield, and Audrey subconsciously leaned into her sister’s unshakable confidence.
When they finally reached the group, Kate gave Audrey another sharp look but turned to Catherine with a more neutral expression. “I hope your nap was worth it,” she said sweetly, masking her criticism with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Audrey’s stomach churned at the tone, but before she could say anything, Catherine spoke up, her voice as cool and steady as ever. “We were ready on time, but we had a few things to sort out. No harm done.”
The way she spoke left no room for argument, and Kate’s forced smile faltered for a moment. Audrey couldn’t help but feel a small sense of victory in Catherine’s words. It was clear that Catherine wasn’t going to let anyone push her around, no matter how famous or influential they were.
The moment of tension passed, but the atmosphere was still heavy with judgment. Audrey, feeling a bit small under the gazes of the others, tried to focus on the task at hand. It wasn’t the first time she’d faced criticism, but today, it felt more personal.
Still, Catherine’s calm demeanor gave Audrey a sense of security. If Catherine could brush it off, then maybe she could, too.
“Let’s just get through this,” Audrey murmured to herself, her gaze moving over to the production team, hoping the rest of the day would go more smoothly.