Chapter 365
Chapter 365:
“Serena, I never thought you’d actually show your face here again,” Daphne sneered. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ͟.net
Wearing just a simple mask, Millie shot Daphne a quick glance.
“And why wouldn’t I?” she answered.
Daphne let out a loud, mocking laugh. “Have you missed what’s happening online? Have you not seen all the things they’re saying about you?”
“What are people saying?” Millie asked, genuinely interested in Daphne’s motives.
After several rounds of calm live broadcasts, it seemed Daphne had been waiting for the finals to stir up trouble.
Instead of answering, Daphne simply handed Millie her tablet, the screen open to a page full of trending posts. One glance told Millie everything—negative hashtags were everywhere: #SerenaOutOfTheMusicScene, #SerenaOutOfTheCompetition, #BoycottSerena, and #SerenaOrHeavenlyMelody.
She barely glanced at the posts before turning back to her equipment.
“Did you see all that?” Daphne asked, wearing a sly smile.
“I saw,” Millie replied, her tone even and steady.
“If I were you, I’d quit the competition,” Daphne sneered. “So you wouldn’t drag the rest of the team down with you.”
Millie’s hands stilled as she studied Daphne’s expression.
“So you’re saying you’re only warning me for the sake of the production team?” Millie asked, arching a brow.
“That’s right,” Daphne replied, her confidence unwavering.
A quiet laugh escaped Millie.
“What a noble excuse!” she said, easily seeing through the act.
Everyone competing had an agency backing them. News that the show wouldn’t be cut off had reached every agency, and Daphne knew it as well as anyone. That made her claim almost laughable. Daphne had come in second during the last round. If Serena bowed out, with the small gap in votes, Daphne had the best chance of winning.
The semifinals had already chosen the top three. Even though the finals brought back former contestants for performances, the spotlight stayed fixed on the final trio. Taking Serena out left just a fifty-fifty shot between the other two.
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“We’re all in the same business—let’s just be honest here,” Millie said plainly.
Daphne fell silent, glancing automatically at the seats up front. Millie followed her gaze and spotted Myron, coordinating with the staff from his place in the audience.
The Elliott Group came on board as a sponsor before the fourth live show, and Millie remembered Charles mentioning their plans to get involved with the champion’s future development as well. For that reason, it made perfect sense for them to be present, overseeing advertisements and other business matters.
Even so, Millie’s thoughts kept drifting back to her conversation with Myron earlier that morning.
She glanced over her shoulder at Daphne, who had already turned away.
“Is this because of the Elliott Group?” Millie asked.
A flash of annoyance crossed Daphne’s face when she realized Millie had figured it out, but she didn’t bother hiding the truth.
“Can you really say you’re not interested in working with the Elliott Group?” Daphne asked. “They run the jewelry and luxury business, which is great for our image. Usually, someone else from their team comes out, but this time Mr. Elliott himself showed up. That means they’re taking this seriously!”
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