Chapter 99
Elara walked inside the company auditorium with Antonio at her side. The moment she entered the hall, the first thing she noticed was the crew rushing around, Tasha vocalizing in the corner with her manager standing behind her, the staff adjusting the camera for the live broadcast, and the director barking orders to change the props.
Everything felt a bit different today. Maybe because this was the last stage and the drama would be over, or because this was their last chance to attract netizens to their drama, since any next step would be seen as overdoing it.
“You can sit in the audience. Noah and Nate will be here shortly.” Elara motioned to the man, and Antonio nodded.
“All the best, Miss Elara. I am confident you will win,” the bodyguard said before he left.
Elara exhaled sharply. This was it. The moment she had been waiting for and the reason she went through all those useless steps. This was the moment where she would prove she wasn’t just a pretty voice and face that Beatrice could sabotage with her tricks or Carla could outshine with her talentless self.
She was here to prove to everyone she was a storm, not to be reckoned with.
As Elara walked towards the backstage, she noticed a few staff members ushering some well-dressed figures to the front row.
Andrew’s family.
Of course, they would come. The apple of their eyes, the jewel of their home, was participating in the contest, Carla.
Her gaze flickered to the center of the backstage, where Beatrice stood behind Carla, wearing a smug expression as she fixed her hair with confidence, as if in their eyes she was already a winner, as if Carla was here to rewrite history.
The thought made Elara scoff inwardly, and it wasn’t long before her eyes met with Beatrice, whose smirk deepened.
“Oh, you are here. Just letting you know, Carla’s definitely going to win. I know the main judge well… too well.” Beatrice’s eyes glinted as she tried to hint to Elara what their next move was.
They didn’t bother hiding it this time.
“Obviously. Talent recognizes talent.” Carla snorted.
Elara looked at them blankly. Her heart didn’t even stir at their words. It didn’t need to. She wasn’t afraid of them. They had a habit of barking, something she couldn’t help.
Rather than wasting her time on them, she turned to the audience section, feeling a sudden pang in her heart when she saw packed rows of seats filled with family members of Tasha and Carla.
They both had someone cheering for them—a family member, a friend, someone who loved them enough to show up.
What would it have felt like if her family had shown up? If they stood behind her? If her mother cheered her like Sophia was cheering Carla, or if her father smiled proudly at her and told her she was already a winner in their eyes The thought brimmed her eyes with tears.
She closed her eyes for a second to dismiss the thoughts, pushing the loneliness she had been feeling for the last four years deep inside her heart.
She opened her eyes and was about to leave when her body froze for a brief second.
At the far end of the auditorium, almost hidden in the shadows, sat a man, quietly with shades covering his eyes, but even with them, she could make out and recognize his silhouette immediately.
Daniel.
He had come. To support her, to assure her all the promises he made weren’t just words, like a declaration that he would show up every time, everywhere she would need him, without any doubt.
He removed his shades briefly, just enough for their eyes to meet, enough to make her heart stop and then restart with the warmth that spread in her chest, making her tremble with the care he had for her.
Her lips lifted into a soft smile before she could realize.
He came.
Despite how busy his schedule was. Despite having no obligation to, and this being a small contest before all the important meetings he had, he came for her, and that meant everything to her.
Elara took a deep breath and nodded at herself. Now she wanted to win even more.
To keep things fair and prevent any favoritism by the judges, the final phase had one primary rule.
Every contestant would sing behind a veil.
There were only three of them, but they still thought it would make a difference, though everyone knew it was a sham.
“You are allowed to sing anything you want, no restrictions. Just show us who you truly are and how powerful your voice is,” Producer Li announced.
There were three contestants for the final phase. Carla, Tasha, and Elara.
Carla insisted on performing first because she wanted to set a standard for everyone. Everyone knew she wanted to do it to linger in the judge’s mind, but no one said a word. After all, she was the sister of their prime investor.
Beatrice nodded at Carla to indicate that she had done her work. She slipped the information to the subordinate judges about who they would be listening to.
Since the primary judge of the event was a senior in the music industry who was strict about principles, they didn’t dare try anything like that with her.
“She is here,” the assistant rushed to the director, who turned to the entrance where a lady dressed in an elegant sapphire dress, a scarf wrapped neatly around her neck, and blue shades on her eyes, walked inside the hall.
Her two assistants and three bodyguards walked behind her, her aura screaming of her importance and power. She wasn’t just a senior in the music industry. She was one of the top ten elite ladies in the nation.
“Ma’am, this way please. It’s an honor to have you here,” Producer Li said, his ears red from anxiousness and heat. He was a big fan of this lady, and though she had stopped producing music like before, her presence was unmatched.
There was one anonymous singer rumored to follow this senior’s path, but the singer disappeared as soon as it became known.
Some even said it was industry politics suppressing the voice that would’ve surpassed many. Some even called this woman related to the mafia, but without proof, it was just a rumor.
“It’s my pleasure to help in the selection of the cast of Fallen Star. We all know how big this drama will be,” The woman said.
“I have been your fan since your first song, Euphoria Love, Miss Ella,” Producer Li said.
The woman smiled and nodded before sitting in her seat.
As soon as she sat, her expression turned from approachable to grave. She nodded to the director to officially start the conception.
The host walked on the stage to address the live stream and everyone to start.
At the same time, Elara, who looked at the primary judge, froze in her place in utter shock.
Her eyes darkened immediately. She remembered the slap from five years ago, when this woman had given her a similar scene, her fists clenched by her side.
Doubt filled her heart, and she stumbled back, feeling distorted.
Sweat beads formed on her forehead. Was she really ready for the revelation of her identity like this?
No. Wait. Why was she worrying? She would sing behind a veil, right? She wouldn’t be able to recognize her. She wouldn’t.
Elara pacified herself, then took deep breaths to control her emotions.