Chapter 102

Brandon's face remained unreadable,his gaze lowered,making it impossible to decipher what he was thinking

Just as Charles was about to lose his patience and walk off, Brandon spoke quietly, his voice barely loud enough for only them to hear. "Millie said the two of you were just friends."

Charles gave him a sideways glance. "And?"

Brandon looked up. "Take care of her. As a friend."

Before Charles could respond with his usual sarcasm,Brandon added, "Please. If you need anything...let me know."

Charles blinked, momentarily caught off guard. His reply, brimming with irritation, died on his lips.

After a short silence, he huffed, "I don't need you to tell me that," and stormed off, muttering under his breath.

As he disappeared backstage, Charles couldn't help but frown. What the hell was Brandon playing at?

Was he trying to balance Vivian and Millie? Waiting for Vivian to die before crawling back to Millie?

The thought made him recoil. He gagged dramatically,shaking his head in disgust.

Brandon stood silently, his eyes trailing after Charles,his expression unchanged

The fourth live broadcast of Heavenly Melody was electric with anticipation.

It was the semifinals, after all.

The crowd buzzed not just because of the stakes but also because Elliott Group had entered the scene.

Everyone already knew Brandon was backing Vivian,but Elliott Group? That was a whole different league.

Their grip on the luxury and fashion markets was massive. If one of the contestants caught their eye tonight, the doors to the upper echelon of fame would fly open.

And that opportunity was right here, right now.

The six semifinalists knew it.

They pulled out every trick they had and pushed their talents to the edge, determined to land in the top three-or at the very least, leave an impression on the Elliott family.

The crowd erupted in cheers after each amazing performance.

Millie had drawn the fourth slot.

As the third contestant wrapped up their performance,her phone buzzed. It was a message sent to Serena From Vivian. "Serena, I gave you a chance."

Millie's eyes flicked toward the judges' table. Vivian sat there, smiling. A smile that said checkmate.

So this was it. Vivian was finally making her move.

As the commercial break began and the stage cleared,Barbara came rushing over, nearly stumbling in her heels.

"Easy," Millie said, steadying her. "What's going on?"

Barbara hesitated,glancing around nervously.

There wasn't much time. The voting segment followed directly after the performance.

Barbara felt like this was Serena's last chance to clear her name.

Wordlessly, she handed over her tablet.

A headline blared across the screen.

"SCANDAL: Serena Ellsworth and Evans Entertainment CEO Charles Evans Accused of Vote-Rigging!"

#HeavenlyMelodyScandal

#SerenaRiggedVotes

Millie scanned the article. "Serena Ellsworth is a signed artist under Evans Entertainment," it began. "So of course they'd stack the odds in her favor. Rigging votes in the show? It was only a matter of time. But this show was supposed to be about fairness and raw talent. If Serena wins unfairly, it'll be a slap in the face to every other contestant."

Barbara leaned in. "You have to address this during the voting segment."

Millie nodded sharply. "Tell Charles... that talent speaks louder than rumors. The rest can wait."

"Got it." Barbara dashed off.

A stagehand called her name. It was time. Millie took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Meanwhile, in the audience, Jayceon had his phone out,showing his siblings the article.

"This is sabotage. Serena doesn't need to cheat. She's got talent," he growled.

His siblings nodded in agreement, scowling as they scrolled through the smear campaign.

Elsewhere, Brandon frowned as he caught wind of the rumors. His eyes drifted to the stage.

Lights dimmed. Commercials rolled.

Millie took her place center stage, staring out into the judging panel. Vivian was smiling smugly.

When their eyes met, Vivian mouthed two words-"Beg me."

Millie let out a soft, humorless laugh.

Vivian still didn't get it. In the face of real talent, all the manipulation in the world wouldn't matter.

Let the rumors swirl.

The truth would sing louder.

"Now, please welcome Serena Ellsworth performing 'Journey'!" the host announced when the commercial break ended.

The lights slowly lifted. Serena stood beneath them,dressed in a flowy dress-elegant, romantic,her mask delicate and shimmering. In her hand was a gleaming clarinet.

She brought the instrument to her lips and began to play.

A gentle melody unfolded, rich with emotion. Then came the vocals, soft and lyrical, telling the story of a traveler swept up in a dream of romance, joy, and freedom.

The stage transformed with her song: swirling mist,golden leaves, and delicate lighting created a dreamscape.

The audience leaned in, smiling.

But this was a fiercely competitive stage. This alone wasn't enough to dim the rest of the competition.

Discussions were raging online.

"This is it? Pretty song, sure,but where's the technique?It's the semifinals!"

"I knew it. Overhyped. Everyone else brought their A -game, and she's giving us a lullaby."

A wave of people guided the discussion.

Vivian watched Serena's gentle performance, her grin growing smug.

"You're done," she mouthed.

But then the lights dimmed again. Soon, a new scene bloomed.

Ancient scroll-like projections unfurled across the stage. The music shifted. The lights warmed.

Serena reappeared in ornate historical garb, her mask more intricate, and this time, she held a lyre.

She began with a few soft notes, the lights following her lead.

Then-

She struck the strings hard.

The sound cracked through the room like lightning.The tempo soared.

Her masterful voice followed. It was powerful-captivating.

The performance shifted from whimsical to legendary.

Gasps filled the auditorium. "What a beautiful performance!"

Her performance continued as the crowd held their breath.Each stroke,each vocal, invoked a feeling from the audience.