Nathan’s face stayed blank as he looked down, hiding whatever he was thinking.
Just as Louie was getting fed up and ready to bail, Nathan spoke again.
“Amelia told me you’re friends.” Nathan kept his voice low so only they could hear.
Zero emotion in his tone.
“And?” Louie gave him a look.
“Take good care of her.” Nathan met his eyes. “As her friend.”
Before Louie could say anything, Nathan added: “Please.”
His voice turned genuine: “If you need anything, just ask.”
That threw Louie completely off balance.
He’d been ready to tell Nathan to go fuck himself.
After a beat of stunned silence, Louie said: “I don’t need you telling me how to be a friend!”
He stormed off.
Louie grumbled as he headed backstage, trying to figure out Nathan’s angle.
Playing happy family with Vivian while still obsessing over Amelia?
Planning to win Amelia back after Vivian croaks?
The thought made Louie’s skin crawl. It was totally possible.
He pretended to gag.
Absolutely disgusting.
Nathan just watched him leave without saying another word.
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The fourth Voice of Heaven live show was insane.
Semifinals now.
Everyone knew the Wessex family had jumped in as sponsors.
Harrison Corp might be the biggest of the three major powers, but Nathan was obviously here for Vivian. The Wessex family was different!
They owned most of the luxury industry!
Getting on their radar could mean incredible fashion and high–end brand deals later!
And the timing was perfect!
The Wessex family joining right now meant they were checking out these six contestants.
Well, probably the top three had the best shot.
So everyone was going absolutely balls–to–the–wall.
Every trick in the book.
Campaigning like their lives depended on it.
Adding extra drama to their performances–even if they didn’t crack the top three, at least the Wessex family would see their talents and marketing potential.
The crowd was losing their minds.
Amelia was up fourth, randomly selected order.
While the third contestant was doing their pitch, Amelia got another message Vivian had sent to Elena’s
number.
Elena, I gave you your shot.
Amelia looked toward the judges‘ table where Vivian was staring right back.
That smug–ass smile on her face.
Game time.
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Just as the previous contestant finished and they cut to commercial
Sunny came sprinting over, looking panicked.
“Whoa, slow down before you eat shit,” Amelia said, reading Sunny’s worried expression. “What’s going
on?”
Sunny wasn’t sure if she should spill.
But fuck it–this was semifinals, and unlike previous shows, there was a campaign segment after each performance.
If she didn’t tell Elena now, there’d be no chance to set the record straight during her pitch.
So Sunny shoved her tablet at Amelia immediately.
Latest trending topics blazing across the screen-
#BOMBSHELL! Contestant Elena & CEO Louie Cavendish Rigging Votes# #Voice of Heaven Corruption#
#Princess Elena Gets Special Treatment
Amelia speed–read the content.
The general vibe was captured in this comment-
“Elena’s signed to Cavendish Entertainment. Obviously they’d rig this golden opportunity for their own talent. Hearing they’re manipulating votes isn’t shocking at all, but this was supposed to be fair competition. Making it this corrupt is revolting, and what about the other contestants getting screwed over for ‘Princess Elena‘? Absolutely disgusting!”
Sunny jumped in: “You gotta clear this up during your campaign segment.”
Amelia nodded.
The crew was already waving her toward the stage.
Amelia looked at Sunny: “Tell Louie that real talent doesn’t get knocked down by bullshit rumors. Everything else waits till I’m back.”
“On it.” Sunny said immediately.
Amelia turned and headed for the stage.
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In the audience, Lester was already showing his siblings the online drama.
“This is such crap. Someone’s trying to destroy her. With Elena’s skills, why would she need vote rigging?” Lester was pissed.
The other two were scrolling through the mess.
Nathan, catching wind of this, frowned slightly.
He looked strangely at the masked woman on stage.
The stage was pitch black right now while cameras focused on the host and commercials.
Amelia stood steady on stage, looking toward the judges‘ panel.
Vivian’s face was all fucking smiles.
Catching her stare, Vivian mouthed something.
Amelia read her lips-“Beg me.”
Amelia smiled coldly to herself.
Vivian had no idea that in the face of absolute talent, any obstacle would be crushed to pieces.
So what if there were rigging rumors?
Only the unworthy got their faces slapped. She had no need to worry.
“Now let’s welcome contestant Elena performing ‘Journey“!”
As the host announced, the stage slowly lit up, revealing a masked woman in romantic French clothing with a matching mask, holding a clarinet.
As the lights came up, she raised the clarinet and started playing this classic French instrument softly.
As the music built, she opened her mouth and sang gently in French.
Telling the story of traveling through France, swept up in romance, carefree and blissful, singing and dancing.
Everyone got lost in the romance–swirling stage clouds her flowing movements transported the audience.
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Peaceful, content.
But on a competition stage, especially semifinals where everyone was bringing their A–game, this obviously wasn’t cutting it.
So the internet exploded.
“Typical princess treatment. The song’s okay but where’s the technical skill? Everyone was hyping how incredible she was, but this is pretty weak.”
“Totally agree. The other contestants are killing it, what is this? This is supposed to be competition–level, so disappointing.”
:
Coordinated attacks flooding in, steering the narrative.
Vivian watched Elena’s performance with pure arrogance.
“Elena, you’re done,” Vivian mouthed silently.
But was that really it?
Hell no, this was just the opening act. As the masked woman wandered gracefully, she slowly
disappeared behind a tree prop.
Stage lights dimmed, then Byzantine mosaics filled the screens.
Lights blazed back up.
A woman in stunning Byzantine robes wearing an angelic mask appeared before the crowd.
She cradled a pandura.
As she gently plucked the strings, the entire stage vibe shifted instantly,
Unlike the gradual buildup before.
After some soft notes came several explosive strikes, like sudden thunder breaking the calm.
Lightning from a clear sky, absolutely electrifying.
The masked woman on stage matched that energy, using incredible vocals to tell the story of a traveler
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dreaming of ancient Byzantium.
As the song and pandura intensified, the masked woman spun around, then-
“Holy shit, she’s playing it backward!” the audience screamed.
As the intense music continued, the masked woman’s reverse pandura technique created mind–blowing visual impact.
Everyone was absolutely stunned.
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