Chapter 677:
The following morning, Rylie left the estate, dressed and ready for Zander’s performance.
At the same time, Ainsley showed up at Evergreen Media Works looking a mess, her swollen eyes hidden behind dark glasses, exhaustion etched into her features after a sleepless night.
She hurried into the lobby, only to run into Beal, a guitar slung across his back. He offered an easy smile. “Hey, Ainsley.”
She froze, annoyance flashing in her gaze as she looked him over, a vague memory of this forgotten figure rising in her mind.
They had crossed paths in the practice rooms long before either of them broke into the industry. Back then, he had been withdrawn, almost invisible.
“Beal?” Her voice dripped with impatience. “Why are you here—did they start hiring music instructors now?
Beal seemed blind to the sting in Ainsley’s words. He slipped off his sunglasses, revealing sharp, polished features. His voice was calm, though edged with meaning. “Mrs. Crawford asked me to audition for the lead singer spot in NovaRush.”
Ainsley gave him a slow once-over. He had clearly put in years of effort, his figure well-maintained. Under Elaine’s training, his style and expressions carried hints of Zander, enough to make him look like a celebrity at first glance. The clumsy trainee he once was had vanished without a trace.
Realization lit her eyes, and a mocking smile curved her lips. “No wonder Zander hasn’t been active under Vincent’s name and had to stoop to doing a magazine shoot with me. So Mrs. Crawford really plans to toss him aside and push you, the ‘understudy,’ into the light?”
Beal chuckled softly, though his eyes stayed cold. “It’s true Zander’s voice isn’t healing, and NovaRush can’t leave the lead position empty forever. I’m just here to take my chance.”
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Ainsley scoffed. “Take your chance? It’s more than that. You’ve been molded into Zander’s mirror image. Well, it makes sense—how else could you pass for a lead?”
His eyes darkened, fingers twitching slightly, but his modest front never slipped.
He moved aside with a faint smile. “That’s amusing. Mind if I walk with you, Ainsley?”
“Fine. I need to see Mrs. Crawford anyway.” She strode forward in her heels, muttering, “Have you seen the mess online? The same woman who cost Zander his voice is now Deandre’s darling. Bold, isn’t she? Zander even has to tolerate her. Yesterday during my shoot, she used Deandre’s pull to track us down, and Zander was forced to be polite. Tsk.”
Beal slowed. “Really? They’re that close?”
Noticing his gaze, Ainsley followed it. Zander was tilting his head as he listened to Rylie. They walked side by side—not intimate, yet wrapped in a quiet closeness that no one could intrude upon.
Her face hardened at once. Zander usually kept his distance, barely glancing at her. But with this woman, he was relaxed, almost warm?
“What else could it be?” Her voice turned cold, tinged with jealousy and resentment. “It’s all because of Deandre’s influence! Zander has no choice but to play along with his sponsor’s favorite. Who would’ve thought she’d be this sly—juggling two men openly and…”
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