Rise of the Zillionaire Star

Chapter 28: Therapy Takedown (Part 2 – Collapse)

The studio was air heavy, charged with the kind of tension that made even the camera crew hold their breath.

Dr. Carver’s face was pale. His hands twitched as the silence following Jaylen’s question seemed to stretch into eternity. Millions of viewers across the country were glued to their screens, waiting to hear his answer to the tactical question. 

“Doctor, how much did Roman Vale pay you?”

The audience murmured amongst themselves taking into consideration the facial expression of Dr Carva. 

Dr. Carver opened his mouth, then shut it at once. He didn't know how to answer that tough question. A bead of sweat ran down his face. He glanced toward the side of the stage where his PR handler stood frozen with their phone halfway raised as if calling for divine intervention.

“Uh… th-that’s ridiculous,” Carver stammered. His voice broke in a way that betrayed every ounce of his authority.

Jaylen didn’t blink. He stood centered under the stage lights with the microphone steady in his hand and his posture was radiating an unshakable calm that contrasted sharply with Carver’s unraveling composure. The System interface hovered in his peripheral vision,

“Live Sentiment Analysis: Audience Trust in Opponent – 14% and dropping.”

Carver fumbled for his water glass but knocked it over instead. It sent thin water running across the polished desk.

“Security,” the producer’s voice cracked through an earpiece to the backstage crew. “Eyes on him. This is going nuclear.”

The host is a veteran media titan. Gabrielle Cortez, leaned forward with a smirk that only came out when she smelled blood in the water. “Doctor, the question was simple. Did Roman Vale pay you to fabricate those notes?” She raised her eyebrows, completely interested in the outplay. 

“I….no…I…” Carver’s eyes darted around like a trapped animal, looking for an escape route.

Jaylen took one deliberate step toward him. “I have the receipts. Literally.”

The System flashed a confirmation prompt, and with a single mental command, Jaylen triggered the playback on the giant studio screen.

The audio was crystal clear with Carver’s Voice: “If you want me to adjust the records, it’ll cost you. These notes will bury him.”

Roman Vale: “Consider it done. I’ll have my assistant wire fifty grand by noon.”

The audience gasped. They raised their phone into the air as people recorded every second of what was happening. T*****r hashtags were already forming as people started hoping for their views of what's happening.

Carver’s jaw trembled. “This is taken out of context.”

Jaylen cut him off, his voice measured but sharp enough to slice Carver's efforts. “The context is that you sold your integrity to the highest bidder. And in doing so, you tried to destroy a man who came to you for help.”

The system buzzed, “System Notification: Public Sympathy +28%, Fame Gain in Progress.”

Carver stood abruptly, knocking his chair back. “I’m done here!” He said fiercely.

The security moved instantly. Two guards flanked him as Gabrielle held up a hand. “Sit down, Doctor. You’re not walking out of my studio until you answer for this.” Her face doubled down in fierce anger. 

The crowd erupted in cheers for Gabrielle’s sharp action. Jaylen stayed silent, letting the spectacle feed itself. He didn’t need to shout. Carver’s collapse was speaking louder than any diss track or speech could.

“Get these cameras off me!” Carver barked, panic flaring in his eyes. “You are all part of his…his…”

“Part of what?” Gabrielle pressed, her tone dripping with faux innocence. “The truth?”

The audience roared. Carver’s shoulders sagged.

Then Jaylen did the one thing no one expected. He suddenly stepped forward, extended his hand to Carver, and spoke softly into the mic.

“I forgive you.”

The room went silent again for a moment. Not even the hum of the lights seemed to dare interrupt that moment.

Carver blinked, thrown off balance. “What?” He echoed. 

“I forgive you,” Jaylen repeated. His voice carried the weight of sincerity. “Not for what you did to me, but for what you’ve clearly done to yourself. You let greed hollow you out. That’s punishment enough.”

The audience exploded into applause, the kind that wasn’t just noise, it was belief. People were moved.

“Quest Complete: +4 Fame, +3 Talent. Passive Skill Unlocked “Control the Mic”: All live speaking engagements have +20% Persuasion Effect.”

Carver’s lips trembled. He didn’t take Jaylen’s hand. He didn’t speak. He simply slumped back into his chair. His eyes was vacant as if the fight had drained out of him completely.

Security stayed close, but now it was less about preventing an escape and more about preventing a collapse.

Gabrielle, ever the shark, turned to Jaylen with a bright smile that could cut diamonds. “Well, Jaylen, I think you just gave this show one of its most talked-about episodes in years. America loves a redemption arc and they love a man who stands tall under the fire. Well done.” She expressed warmly. 

Jaylen gave a humble shrug. “I’m just telling my truth.”

The System chimed again, “Fame Multiplier Active – 2.3x for the next 48 hours.”

Backstage, the noise was deafening. Journalists started yelling questions, camera flashes were unending and assistants running around with phones glued to their ears.

Jaylen didn’t rush. He moved through the chaos with pride as he signed autographs for staff and shook hands with the stage crew. Every of his interaction was intentional and every smile was part of the brand.

When he reached the VIP exit, Gabrielle was waiting.

“You’ve got a gift, Jaylen,” she said. “Its not just the music and not just the fire. You have got command. And I want you back here. Co-host next week’s episode with me. Are you in?”

It was the kind of offer most people would trip over themselves to accept. But Jaylen didn’t answer right away.

The System flickered a warning in his vision, “Incoming Opportunity: High Visibility.

Risk Level: Moderate. Possible PR Ambush Detected.”

Jaylen smirked. “You know what, Gabrielle? Let’s make it happen. But I will pick the topics to be discussed.”

Her eyes lit up. “Deal.” Her voice shot out sharply. 

The paparazzi were already waiting outside. As soon as the door opened, they pounced.

“Jaylen! Was this all a setup?”

“Did you plan to ambush Dr. Carver?”

“Are you and Gabrielle into something romantic?”

Jaylen stopped on the steps. He raised his hands for silence, and let the street crowd settle. He glanced directly into the nearest camera lens. The System fed him with thr real-time engagement stats of the moment. 

“I’m not here to destroy people,” he said. His voice carried over the noise. “I am here to defend the truth. If you are afraid of that, maybe you’ve got something to hide.”

The crowd cheered his words. 

The system chimed, “Fame Gain +12, Public Trust Boost +5%.”

He stepped into the waiting black SUV as flashes of camera lit up the night. Jaylen closed the door, muting the chaos outside, but Jaylen’s pulse still thrummed with adrenaline.

From the dark of the back seat, Zee leaned forward. “One enemy is down. But Vale’s still out there.”

Jaylen’s eyes hardened. “Then we go hunting him down.”

The SUV pulled away, and the System quietly updated his active quests.

“New Side Quest Available: “Expose the Hand That Paid.”

Somewhere in the city, Roman Vale was watching the same broadcast. His glass of whiskey trembled in his grip. He had just seen his hired weapon crumble on national television and the man responsible wasn’t afraid of him anymore.

Jaylen glanced at the city skyline through the tinted glass. A slow grin spread across his face.

 The phone in Jaylen’s pocket suddenly buzzed. As soon as he checked, it was an unknown number with a message, “Next time, you won’t get to forgive.”