Chapter 62

On stage, Millie pressed her palm against the piano's polished surface, drawing in a steadying breath that calmed the flutter in her chest.

After allowing herself this moment of quiet preparation,she glided toward center stage,where the band members Alex had carefully selected moved into position beside her, and together they offered a graceful bow to the sea of expectant faces below.

She drank in the sight of the audience, witnessing eyes that sparkled with raw emotion and unspoken anticipation.

Her lips curved into the softest of smiles.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice carrying neither triumph nor melancholy-just the pure essence of genuine gratitude wrapped in simplicity.

The applause erupted like astorm, rolling through every corner of the vast auditorium in waves of appreciation.

Millie pulled her attention away from the crowd,pivoted with elegant slowness, and made her exit alongside the musicians who had shared this moment with her.

Throughout her entire performance, she sensed Brandon's intense stare burning into her back,yet she steeled herself against the urge to meet his eyes.

They had once shared something beautiful and real.But that precious connection had withered and died,leaving only memories in its wake.

She had never questioned the authenticity of his deep emotions, though she understood with painful clarity how swiftly they could transform into something entirely unrecognizable.

He occupied that seat tonight solely because another woman had captured his heart.

The second live broadcast of Heavenly Melody rolled forward with relentless momentum.

Millie had claimed the fifth performance slot,while several other vocalists remained poised to take their turns.

The production quality soared to exceptional heights,transforming the voting rounds into a fierce battlefield of supremacy.

Millie's live audience votes climbed to impressive heights, but puzzlingly, her online support lingered stubbornly in mediocre territory.

She wasn't drowning in last place, but a noticeable chasm stretched between her in-person admirers and her digital backing.

Consequently,when the crew calculated the weighted scores, her overall ranking settled into respectable territory above average, though it fell short of the coveted top tier.

When Charles pushed through the dressing room door,defeat shadowed his weathered features as he shook his head in disappointment.

He had exhausted every strategy and pulled every string within his reach, yet success continued to slip through his fingers.

Meanwhile, Oakley continued weaving his web of sabotage from the shadows,determined to undermine Millie's chances.

Millie dismissed Charles' worried expression with a gentle wave, communicating that she could weather this storm. She harbored unwavering faith that once he managed to wrestle control of the situation,justice would finally prevail.

For this moment, survival was her only goal-avoiding elimination-and she sensed that victory wouldn't demand much more patience.

In the audience, Alexia practically vibrated with excitement and joy.

Experiencing the performance live surpassed every expectation Alexia had formed from watching grainy phone streams or those frustratingly low-quality clips that circulated online.

She had always harbored unwavering faith in Millie's extraordinary abilities and knew this moment would vindicate her belief.

During the commercial intermission, she found herself bubbling with enthusiasm, engaging anyone within earshot in animated discussions about the breathtaking performance they had just witnessed.

Suddenly, her attention snagged on something peculiar happening in her peripheral vision. Someone was conducting clandestine recording activities nearby.

Without creating any disturbance or drawing unwanted scrutiny, she maneuvered herself closer to investigate the mysterious person's electronic equipment.

The gadget was unmistakably a recording instrument,despite its compact and discreet design. Her eyes blazed with newfound curiosity and intrigue.

As Alexia deliberated her next course of action, she overheard the person grumbling with bitter frustration,"I hemorrhaged money for these overpriced resale tickets from Taylor, but at least this time I managed to capture my own pristine recording. Let's see what those venomous haters have to say now! Serena truly embodies perfection and transforms every stage she graces into pure magic! Whatever happens, I'm evolving into a devoted, hardcore Serena enthusiast.They forced me into this corner, so the blame doesn't rest on my shoulders. I'm embracing my rebellious nature!"

Upon hearing this passionate declaration, Alexia's excitement soared to new heights.

They were clearly fighting on the same battlefield,united in their cause.

The devoted fan-who operated under the online pseudonym Seville-basked in his sense of accomplishment until he detected subtle movement stirring behind him. When he swiveled around, he nearly launched himself from his seat in startled panic.

Someone was staring directly at his forbidden recording device with penetrating intensity.

Electronic equipment faced strict prohibition within these hallowed walls, and now he had been discovered in flagrant violation of the rules.

"Stay calm, my friend! I'm an ally!" Alexia interjected with urgent reassurance. "Honestly, I share your conviction that those streaming clips fail to capture Serena's true brilliance and do her incredible talent a grave disservice."

Seville's tense muscles began to uncoil slightly,though suspicion still clouded hisjudgment and kept him on edge.

Alexia refused to allow this golden opportunity to slip through her fingers like sand. She surveyed their surroundings with calculated precision and whispered conspiratorially, "Now isn't the appropriate moment for detailed discussion. After the show concludes, let's arrange a private meeting. Trust me-you won't experience a single moment of regret."

Meanwhile, the persistent fan who had attempted to gain entry to inquire about the demo remained trapped outside the venue, his anger reaching a boiling point of frustration.

"I possess a legitimate ticket! How dare you deny me entry? Attempting to bribe me with your pathetic money? Absolutely not-I reject your pathetic payoff,I demand admission! Are you among Vivian's vindictive haters? So what if I admire her talent? Hands off! Let me go this instant!"

This fanatically devoted Vivian supporter found himself once again being firmly escorted away by the vigilant security team.

Across the digital landscape, the second broadcast of Heavenly Melody was dominating social medias with unprecedented momentum.

When the three formidable Crobert business titans made their surprise appearance, it triggered an immediate explosion of online chatter and speculation.

Leaked footage capturing Vivian's moments of laughter and intimate conversation with the Elliott siblings sent the entire Internet spiraling into another frenzy of discussion and debate.

As each talented performer claimed their moment in the spotlight, their exceptional and standout performances ignited countless passionate conversations among viewers.

But what truly claimed the crown of trending supremacy were the hashtags #VivianCrying, #VivianTheGracious, and #VivianTheSaint.

Those viral hashtags chronicled Vivian's emotional breakdown following Serena'sbreathtaking performance and her subsequent gracious compliments about Serena's vocal abilities.

"Wasn't Serena the one who ruthlessly drove up the bidding price for that exquisite tanzanite piece Vivian desperately wanted at the charity gala? Vivian demonstrates such remarkable grace and class. Not only has she never uttered a single disparaging word about Serena in the aftermath, butnow she's publicly celebrating her stunning performance with genuine admiration."

"She truly embodies kindness in its purest form. I could never summon that level of magnanimity within myself."

"I remain completely baffled by Serena's behavior patterns. She consistently projects this icy demeanor toward Vivian-whether during team selection processes or at the glamorous gala, she radiates this aloof indifference, yet honestly her stage presence lacks that special spark."

"Absolutely correct.I cannot comprehend why the live audience votes soar so dramatically high in her favor.Certainly, she possesses talent, but she hardly reaches the pinnacle of excellence everyone claims."

"Perhaps she's simply leveraging powerful connections behind the scenes?"

"Who can say for certain? Isn't Serena currently under contract with the prestigious Evans Entertainment agency?"

As the spirited chatter continued building momentum,everyone's collective attention pivoted once again toward a new spectacle.

"Wait, is that the identical 6-carat ruby pendant adorning Vivian's neck-the same magnificent piece Brandon purchased for an astronomical $28 million at the charity gala?"

"It absolutely is! And Brandon has made another unexpected appearance at the show, despite his well -known aversion to attending events of this nature.He keeps making these remarkable exceptions exclusively for Vivian!"

"He lavishes her with such devoted attention. What an absolutely enchanting love story unfolding before our eyes!"

Once again, #VivianRubyPendant rocketed to the summit of trending topics across all social media platforms.

Time seemed to dissolve into moments, and soon the intensive recording session reached its natural conclusion.

Millie and Charles began making their way toward the waiting sedan, their footsteps echoing against the pavement.

They had barely crossed the threshold into the cool evening air when someone's voice rang out clearly."Serena!"

Millie pivoted gracefully to discover the three Elliott siblings approaching with warm smiles illuminating their faces.

Jayceon, the most spirited and vivacious of the trio,bounded over with infectious enthusiasm radiating from his every step. "You delivered an absolutely phenomenal performance!"

Adriana followed closely behind and offered an appreciative nod of approval. "I witnessed your presence at the charity gala, but I harbored no conception that your live performance would reach these incredible heights of artistry."

Millie possessed comprehensive knowledge of the Elliott family's reputation and had always held deep admiration for their strong family values and principles.

Following the charity gala's conclusion, she hadn't requested that Jayceon keep the fact that Millie was the original owner of that tanzanite a secret since she attended the event as Serena-someone who wasn't even supposed to know Millie, yet he had chosen to honor that discretion anyway. He might occasionally present himself as somewhat of a chatterbox, but his loyalty proved absolutely unshakeable.

Millie allowed a genuine smile to bloom across her features and nodded graciously. "Thank you both for extending such generous kindness toward me."

"Would you honor me with your autograph?" Jayceon beamed with boyish excitement. "And might we capture a photograph together-all three of us?Would that arrangement be acceptable to you?"

Millie smiled warmly and positioned herself gracefully for a photo with them, while Myron, maintaining his characteristically quiet demeanor, stood observantly off to the side.

Just before the camera captured their moment,Millie experienced an inexplicable premonition and shifted her gaze toward the side entrance.

At that precise instant, Brandon, who had emerged from the venue accompanied by Vivian, directed his attention toward their gathering as well.