The Reclusive Top Star Has A Crush On Me

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.