Chapter 87

A hesitant grin flickered across Vivian's face as she looked up.

"I just had to do it, Brandon," she admitted.

Without a word, Brandon regarded her, lines of concern deepening across his forehead.

Vivian explained, "The public already links 'Glimmer of Love' to me.If I don't claim the demo as mine, it puts everything at risk."

He gave no reply, his expression showing only skepticism.

Trying again, she added, "That fan has been showing up for every live broadcast. Go ahead and check if you don't believe me, Brandon. Even if I shut him out again this round, he's not going to give up-he'll get in one way or another. Remember, we bought that song from Eva for a staggering sum. Usually,even a top composer gets only one million, but you handed her ten, Brandon. That covered everything."

Though she poured out her reasoning, Brandon kept his gaze locked on her, unmoved.

An uneasy silence settled in the car.

Neither looked away.

At last, Vivian exhaled, her shoulders drooping. "Some choices just have to be made, Brandon."

Barely above a whisper, she added, "I don't have much time left. If I want to achieve anything, this is the only way. Shouldn't the end justify the means, if what I'm doing is for the greater good?"

A moment's hesitation lingered before Vivian lifted her head, forcing a smile."Isn't that Millie's approach too?"

Brandon said nothing, lips pressed into a thin line as he regarded Vivian, noticing the redness building in her eyes.

Tears welled up as Vivian whispered, "So Millie gets away with it, but I'm not allowed to? Is that what this is, Brandon-do you just favor her?"

Instead of answering, Brandon shifted his focus to the window, turning away from her completely.

Night had already fallen, and the world outside blurred by, bathed in the weak glow of passing streetlights.

All the while, Brandon's mind argued that Millie was different.

Compassion shaped her actions toward others. When Millie was unyielding, it was only with herself.

A sudden tension gripped his temples, and Brandon realized a headache was brewing.

Still, with only half a year left for Vivian, he could hardly bring himself to judge her choices too harshly.

Vivian's gaze stayed fixed on his profile, her mind working behind searching eyes.

She needed to come out on top right from the start; it was the only way to show that, even as a newcomer, she could leave the professionals in her shadow.

Winning wasn't just about the trophy for Vivian; her real aim was to outshine Millie completely.

Letting Serena take center stage would rob her of any chance to prove herself.

Victory in that opening round became nonnegotiable-Vivian simply had to come out on top.

Meanwhile, the Bentley cut through traffic while MMillie had already scooped up Ari.

The elaborate mermaid makeup had vanished. Now Millie strolled through an aisle of art supplies, Ari's small hand clasped in hers.

Ari's passion for drawing had been the spark-Millie purchased one of her paintings, and a deep connection blossomed from there.

"Miss Bennett, do you think I could have these?" asked Ari, pointing shyly to a bundle of new paintbrushes.

Millie crouched down to meet her gaze, brushing a stray strand from Ari's forehead."Ari,you never need to be shy with me. Whatever your heart wants, I'll make sure you have it."

Ari's eyes sparkled with happiness, savoring the reassurance.

Even so, she stayed mindful, selecting only the art tools she truly needed, not wanting to be wasteful.

Observing this gentle restraint, Millie felt her fondness for Ari grow even deeper.

Behind Ari's cheerful exterior, there was a challenge-she had VSD, a congenital heart defect.

Seeking answers, Millie had taken Ari to visit Alexia, where she learned that it wasn't fatal, and with surgery and diligent care, Ari could live a healthy life.

Despite this, Ari's parents had given up on her, leaving scars of insecurity and a fear of being unwanted.

No matter what happened, Millie would treat Ari as though she were her own daughter, determined to help her rise above any obstacle.

With the bill settled, Millie kept a gentle grip on Ari's hand as they stepped into the night.

A leisurely walk followed, Ari bursting into laughter as she recounted amusing tales from her days at kindergarten, their sharedjoy echoing down the block.

Just then, a Bentley sped past them, its polished body glinting under the city lights.

Hidden behind the tinted glass, Brandon couldn't help but notice the easy happiness on Milie's and Ari's faces, an unexpected warmth stirring inside him.

...

Not long after, Millie found herself at the entrance of the private room Charles had booked for their gathering.

Inside, Seville,Alexia, and Sheridan had already arrived, waiting while Charles was still on the way.

The door opened and Millie entered with Ari nestled in her arms, promnpting Alexia to cross the room with a bright smnile.

"Look who it is-Ari!" Alexia beamed, presenting a gift. "You remember me, don't you?"

With a sweet voice, Ari replied, "Alexia," though she hesitated before accepting the present, her eyes flicking to Millie for approval.

Millie gave a reassuring nod, and Ari's face lit up as she hugged the big-eared dog plushie close."Thank you, Alexia," she said,joy sparkling in her eyes.

Unable to resist, Alexia reached out and gently pinched Ari's cheek, adoration plain on her face.

A soft, affectionate smile brightened Millie's face as well.

Chairs slid back and everyone found their places around the table.

While they waited for Charles to arrive, Alexia leaned in and said, "I've already spoken with a few doctors. The sooner we start Ari'stests, the better. Once everything's filed, we'll be ready to schedule her surgery."

Because Ari's adoption procedures weren't yet done completely, Millie had to wait until she could sign Ari's surgery consent form as a legal guardian. Still, they could start getting ready for that day.

Millie acknowledged the update, her voice sincere. "Thank you, Alexia."

Waving it off, Alexia replied with an easy grin,"Don't mention it. I'll make sure Giffard takes the lead on the surgery. His skills are second to none."

Turning to Ari, she added a gentle reassurance. "There's nothing to worry about, sweetheart. Once this is over, you'll be running and playing like every other kid."

Although the thought of surgery made Ari a little uneasy, she gave a brave nod, resolve shining in her eyes.

No matter how dauntig it seemed, she would face whatever pain came her way-she wanted nothing more than to belong.

Unable to resist, Millie wrapped Ari in another hug, her own heart swelling with emotion.

Just then, Charles breezed in with a cheerful, "I'm here!" and gave a nod to the wait staff to start serving.

He hadn't come empty-handed either; another thoughtful gift found its way to Ari's side. The little girl had truly won everyone over.

Joy and warmth filled the room, turning their gathering into something truly special.

While they enjoyed their dinner, every corner of the Internet seemed alive with conversation about Serena.

From her chart-topping tracks to every stage she graced, she remained the center of everyone's fascination.

Social media feeds overflowed with videos-countless vloggers chose her music as the soundtrack for their content.

Attempts to cover her songs popped up everywhere; a handful nailed the melodies and earned applause, while others stumbled but found only encouragement, since everyone was there for the fun.

Curiosity only grew as fans speculated about who Serena really was.

"That mask is hiding something. Maybe she's actually a celebrity in disguise?"

"How long before she finally reveals her face? I need to know!"

"I'm dying of suspense, too!"

While talk of Serena dominated the online world, breaking news suddenly took over the trending feed-a headline blared: "Scandal Alert! Millie and Charles Caught Together Repeatedly, Sparks Fly Between the Two."