Chapter 82
The stage lights danced in perfect harmony with Serena's ethereal voice, transforming her mermaid-like silhouette into a mesmerizing aquatic dreamscape that enveloped the entire audience.
Meanwhile,fury coursed through Vivian's veins like molten lava.
She contemplated reaching out to Oakley, convinced that sabotaging the audio quality would serve as her most effective weapon. Her knowledge of Serena whispered warnings that even greater spectacles awaited the audience.
Yet Oakley remained frustratingly unreachable, either deliberately ignoring her desperate attempts or drowning in his own web of complications.
Exhaling a defeated breath, Vivian pivoted her strategy and decided to contact Johnny instead,her fingers moving with urgent precision.
The live broadcast continued its relentless march forward, igniting passionate debates that spread like wildfire across the digital landscape.
Without warning, a provocative question surfaced from the chaos. "Have mysterious puppet masters orchestrated the dramatic transformation in Serena's video quality?"
This accusation unleashed a devastatingstorm of suspicion, since the stark improvement had blazed obviously to every watching eye.
"She stumbled through those first two broadcasts like an amateur, but now she's suddenly transformed into this polished performer. Something reeks of deception here."
"Did anyone else catch this pattern? Serena consistently dominates the live audience votes while her online ratings plummet into obscurity. The Internet crowd sees through facades, but those present fall for every trick."
"What if they secretly boosted Serena's technical production values for this particular performance?"
"If that revelation proves accurate, it's absolutely revolting. A manipulated talent competition becomes nothing more than an elaborate farce!"
These critical voices gained tremendous momentum, drowning out any opposing viewpoints beneath their overwhelming chorus of condemnation.
Across the digital battlefield, Seville and Alexia recognized their golden moment had finally arrived.
"The time has come," Seville declared, his fingers flying across the keyboard with practiced precision."Prepare yourself; we're unleashing our devastating counteroffensive immediately!"
They had spent hours lurking in the shadows, carefully hoarding their ammunition for this decisive final assault.
Millie had previously shared her tactical wisdom with them, dissecting every move Vivian's PR team might attempt while presenting multiple strategic pathways. This particular approach had emerged as their chosen weapon, supported by carefully crafted contingency plans.
Just as the accusations against Serena reached their peak intensity, a video exploded across social media bearing the tantalizing title "Exclusive Phone Recording of Serena's 'Yesterday' Live Performance."
The footage immediately triggered an online earthquake.
"Sweet heaven, my friends who witnessed the live show kept raving about Serena's brilliance, but l never imagined she could be this absolutely breathtaking! The visual feast is spectacular, and that violin solo sent electric shivers cascading down my spine!"
"Remember,someone captured this using basic phone equipment, not sophisticated professional gear.Can you imagine how transcendent the actual audio experience must have been?!"
"For everyone who missed the live event, I stood in that audience, and I can guarantee with absolute certainty that Serena earned every single vote she received!"
"I witnessed it firsthand too, though I kept silent before now. This recording reveals Serena's true audio and video brilliance. I'm convinced someone deliberately sabotaged her earlier performances."
The arguments erupted with renewed fury.
Then another explosive video materialized from the depths of cyberspace, titled "Exclusive Phone Recording of Serena's 'Us' Live Performance."
This second release struck even deeper emotional chords. While "Yesterday" had mesmerized viewers with its theatrical spectacle and haunting violin magic,"∪S"pierced straight through to the heart.
The light rock melody, masterfully woven with threads of melancholy, painted a story so vivid it seemed to breathe with life.
Every viewer sat paralyzed in wonder.
Both revelations had launched within thirty seconds of each other-a coordinated strike designed for maximum impact.
Back at the Heavenly Melody live venue, Vivian witnessed her carefully constructed plans crumbling into dust, her entire body trembling with uncontrollable fury.
On stage, Serena glided gracefully into the climactic final verses of her mesmerizing performance.
The melody began its breathtaking ascent, carrying her voice from whispered intimacy to celestial magnificence, spiraling upward like an ancient prayer ascending to the heavens.
Her vocal cords stretched beyond mortal limitations without fracturing, leaving behind only an overwhelming sensation of otherworldly purity.
The song approached its finale as the melody struck a stunning G6, sweeping the audience forward like an unstoppable ocean wave, painting the vision of their mermaid finally claiming her throne as sovereign of the depths.
Profound silence descended upon the venue like a sacred shroud.
Every soul present remained frozen in reverent wonder.
Nearly thirty seconds passed before thunderous applause crashed through the stillness.
Millie surveyed the sea of enraptured faces before her, and then bent forward in a graceful bow that acknowledged their collective appreciation.
This masterpiece had consumed weeks of meticulous preparation, crafted specifically for this pivotal moment.
The instant Alexia had successfully obtained Tia's phone, Millie recognized that destiny had finally arrived.
The time had come to flip the script entirely, and this composition possessed all the necessary elements to accomplish that monumental task.
Her mind raced with strategic calculations about reaching the online audience with maximum impact.
High notes-those spine-tingling vocal peaks that defied human limitation-represented the most powerful method to demonstrate the dramatic difference.
This composition masterfully blended emotional storytelling with technical virtuosity, shattering through the deliberate suppression that had plagued her previous two performances.
Even if Charles encountered unexpected technical disasters, her undeniable skill would shine through regardless, piercing even the most degraded broadcast quality.
She had constructed every element to be absolutely bulletproof.
Millie rose from her bow with regal dignity, and became acutely aware of an intense scrutiny burning into her consciousness.
Her eyes swept the crowd until they locked onto Brandon's familiar silhouette, seated among the mesmerized spectators.
Those brief, transformative minutes had somehow shaken Brandon to his very core.
Watching the enigmatic masked performer on stage, his vision kept superimposing Millie's face over the mysterious figure.
The haunting melody and embedded story triggered cascading memories of Millie's expressions,their shared precious moments, and that recent painful encounter when she had firmly rejected his advances.
Something fundamental had shifted within Millie's essence, though he remained frustratingly unable to identify the exact nature of that transformation.
The performance reached its conclusion as applause erupted around him, and he found himself joining the ovation despite his confusion.
Though he understood rationally that the masked woman represented Charles' romantic partner rather than Millie, he couldn't suppress his admiration for her extraordinary skill and raw talent.
Close beside him, Jayceon erupted into wild celebration, his enthusiasm infectious and unbridled."Myron, did your ears capture that absolute magic? Sweet mercy, this performance transcended phenomenal! Thank the stars we decided to attend this particular show. Live audio delivers such richness that no recording could ever capture. Every second proved absolutely worthwhile!"
Next to him, Myron-who had endured Jayceon's excited shaking throughout the entire performance-applauded enthusiastically while nodding his complete agreement.
By the time the final notes faded into memory, every person in attendance, with the notable exception of seething Vivian, found themselves overwhelmed with nothing but pure, unadulterated admiration.
Millie allowed her gaze to linger briefly on Brandon before deliberately looking away, catching sight of Barbara positioned at the stage's periphery, who was nodding and clapping with unmistakable enthusiasm-a clear signal of Charles' triumphant success.
Every intricate piece of their elaborate strategy had fallen perfectly into place, creating a symphony of coordination.
The performance concluded with flawless precision as Millie gracefully retreated from the spotlight.
Charles rushed toward her with obvious excitement radiating from every step.
"How did everything unfold on your end?" Millie inquired, her smile radiating quiet satisfaction.
"Beyond magnificent!" Charles erupted with joyful laughter, still riding the high from his earlier confrontation with Oakley that had left him feeling gloriously vindicated. He carefully steadied Millie's elaborate dress while supporting her arm. "Every aspect remains completely under our control."
Charles glowed with immense pride, knowing he and Millie had orchestrated this stunning victory as true partners.
"From this point forward, success depends entirely on our company's marketing specialists, working in perfect coordination with Seville and Alexia's efforts," Millie explained with quiet confidence.
They shared a meaningful smile that spoke volumes, their understanding transcending the need for additional words.
Meanwhile, Brandon observed them from his distant vantage point, experiencing an unexpected surge of jealousy that caught him completely off guard.