Chapter 164:
“I respect how determined you are—when you set your sights on something, you go after it. The way you get there doesn’t matter, only that you succeed.”
V asked, “What about today? Did you manage to mess up her audio and video?”
Blade Joker reassured her, “Relax. Everything’s under control.”
Vivian read the messages and finally allowed herself to breathe easier. Her gaze drifted to the camera gear nearby, a wave of emotion rushing over her. Dealing with Serena had become a constant irritation for her—she nearly lost sight of her original plan.
She still had evidence about Serena’s miscarriage, and with the added scandal about the fake donation, it would be easy to bring Serena down. With that in mind, Vivian stepped out of the hallway and slipped back into the backstage lounge. She settled onto the sofa, gently dabbing at her eyes while glancing over at the cameras.
The host noticed her and hurried over, trying to offer some comfort. Vivian shook her head, putting on a brave face. “I’m just really moved by this performance. It brought back so many memories. Serena is truly amazing.”
Alex, who sat a little distance away, looked at her in shock. Was Vivian really praising Serena?
The host wanted to ask more, but Vivian simply fell silent, watching the show through her tears. Behind the scenes, she was plotting to knock Serena down while using her as fuel for more drama.
No matter how impressive Serena seemed, Vivian would always treat her as a stepping stone. The higher Serena rose, the safer Vivian felt about her own position. She only had to wait for the right moment to reveal the evidence and ruin Serena’s reputation.
Wiping her tears once more, she put on that familiar mix of gentle sadness and fierce ambition. As Serena ended her song, still hidden behind her mask, Vivian was the very first to start applauding.
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. Together, they offered a graceful bow to the sea of expectant faces below.
She took in the sight of the audience, their eyes sparkling 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 a storm, 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.
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