Chapter 314:
After all, the timing of the Elliott sponsorship had made one thing clear—it wasn’t a deal Charles had arranged. There’d been no personal negotiation, so why would the Elliotts forsake their interests and side with Charles now?
Jayceon took a breath and began to speak.
Jayceon’s voice rang out, steady and clear. “We see nothing wrong with Serena. Our sponsorship remains, no matter what.”
A stunned hush swept through the meeting room.
Spectators who had been expecting Charles to squirm were left completely dumbfounded.
Charles’ two brothers cast uneasy glances in Jayceon’s direction, brows furrowed in surprise.
Oakley couldn’t hold back. “Are you sure about this, Jayceon? Did you even run it by Myron?”
That jolted Charles from his shock. He shot Oakley a warning glare. “Enough! He’s speaking. Keep quiet!”
Oakley bristled, his battered face tight with irritation, ready to fire back.
Jayceon cut the tension, already growing impatient. “Let’s not drag this out. I know exactly what I’m saying. The Elliott family stands behind Serena, so there’s no reason for her to drop out. And honestly, we put money behind this campaign exactly because we saw her potential. If she’s gone, what happens to our money?”
Across the table, Reuben Evans exchanged a look with his associate, who finally voiced what others were thinking. “You’re a huge Serena fan as far as we know, Mr. Elliott, but business isn’t about personal favorites. Don’t think you can steamroll your brother.”
Frustration boiled over. Jayceon’s hand smacked the table.
“Excuse me? You think I’m acting on my own, ignoring my brother’s opinion?” He rose, commanding the room’s attention. “Tell you what! All three of us discussed this. Our families are in agreement!”
His eyes scanned the assembly, defiant. “And yes, I admire Serena. I’ll say it straight—I stand by her, and so does the entire Elliott family. She stays in the competition, our partnership continues, and we’ll keep backing her growth. But if she leaves, we’re out, no matter how much hype Heavenly Melody gets!”
That left no room for doubt.
Despite Serena’s absence, Heavenly Melody was still trending, with plenty of commercial interest riding on the other contestants. Among the judges, Alex had quickly become a standout.
Charles found himself speechless but kept his thoughts to himself for now.
The room’s energy shifted again as the Watson Group representative rapped the table. “Mr. Watson sent me today. Our stance is clear—Serena isn’t leaving, and Watson Group fully supports her.”
That declaration sent a ripple through the crowd.
Suddenly, speculation replaced shock.
In Crobert, real power belonged to three giants: Watson Group, Evans Group, and Elliott Group. It was no secret that the Evans brothers were fighting each other, and while Charles stood with Serena, his brothers refused to align. Now, with the Elliott family publicly in Serena’s corner and Watson Group showing no opposition, the balance of power was shifting.
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