Chapter 28:

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Joshua and Lilliana followed them out of the store.

He kept an eye on the taillights of Gerry's car as it faded into the distance.

Lilliana clung to her arm, grimacing angrily.

"Who would have thought that Alice could do something like that? She even managed to get close to Gerry."

Joshua looked away and replied, “Gerry isn’t interested in her that way.”

Lilliana immediately retorts, “But if she offers it to him, why would he refuse? There is no commitment, so there is nothing to lose. Maybe she is using that to get into the competition.”

Joshua felt a painful tightness in his chest.

I knew Alice wouldn't stop that low.

He knew she wouldn't do something like that, and hearing Lilliana make such comments disgust him even more.

"Let's go home," he said.

Lilliana wondered aloud, “Joshua, do you think Gerry’s sudden kindness to Alicia means he’s already chosen her?”

Joshua felt himself sinking inside.

He shook his head. “If Gerry had planned to choose her, there would be no need for this contest. “He would have already made up his mind.”

Lilliana's expression relaxed slightly.

“You're probably right.” She let out a sigh of relief. “Alice is just trying to stay in the picture by staying close to Gerry.”

Their worries didn't last long once Gerry made his announcement.

He revealed that the song contest would be an open selection process.

In addition, users could cast their votes online.

Hearing this, Lilliana had a wide smile on her face.

"I have a lot of fans. Even if only a fraction of them vote, Alicia doesn't stand a chance. What is Gerry thinking? Is he planning to fail?"

Joshua kept a serious look on his face as he spoke. “If this contest ends up being a live event, you'll have to sing the song yourself. Do you think you can do it?”

Lilliana dismissed her concern without hesitation. “I'll be fine. “I just need a few practice sessions.”

They had already received Iris's song, and its quality was impeccable in every way. Lilliana loved the piece. But despite that, Joshua couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Something didn't sit well with him, although he didn't know why. He had a nagging suspicion that not everything was as safe as it seemed.

What had seemed like a guaranteed victory in the competition suddenly seemed less certain. However, Lilliana had Caden's support, and he hadn't taken any action recently. So who else could be working against them? Joshua thought hard, but came up with no answer. Who had he missed?

The day of the competition arrived and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. In addition to the judges, the event attracted members of the Green and Yates families. Several high-profile figures were present, people who had been invited thanks to hefty payments from both families. Lilliana's team was also in full swing. Following her instructions, they flooded all social media with messages about the contest. They even set up a live stream to capture everything that was happening on the spot.

Gerry sat down in the main seats in the back and turned to Caden with a smile. “Die-hard Lilliana fans are in for a treat today.”

Caden casually opened a bottle of water and took a sip without a hint of emotion crossing his face. “Are you so sure Alicia is going to win?”

Gerry puffed out his chest, clearly proud. “Of course. But let me tell you something…”

He stopped just before revealing too much, quickly changing his tone. “Forget it. Alicia wouldn’t want me to spill the beans.”

A sinister smile tugged at the corners of Caden's lips. “Since when do you pay attention to what women say?”

Gerry leaned back. “It's a promise between Alicia and me. “I can’t break it.”

As the start of the competition approached, the lively chatter died down and the venue fell silent. The stage lights came on.

As the music began, Lilliana slowly emerged, dressed in an elaborate costume. She sang with all her might, completely satisfied with the song, putting extra effort into every note. She seemed determined to give it her all.

On the big screen above, the online voting was abuzz with activity. Enthusiastic users were casting their votes rapidly, and the numbers were increasing with each passing second.

Gerry shook his head and sighed. “The song is good, there's no doubt about that. But her voice lacks depth… it falls short.”

Caden stood impassively, staring at the stage. He wanted to see what Alicia's performance would be like, wondering if she would be as impressed as Gerry said she would be.

For two minutes, the stage lights were completely off. When they finally came back on, a single spotlight illuminated the stage, revealing a piano.

Alice stood in front of the piano, wearing a light blue dress. The soft light casts her profile in a dreamy glow.

The scene was overwhelming.

An eerie silence enveloped the room, the atmosphere was so quiet that you could have heard a pin drop.

Alicia slowly raised her hands, preparing for her performance.

As the first notes filled the air, he began to hum softly, his melody echoing throughout the room.

Her voice, striking and charming, captivated the entire audience. She had a hypnotic power that attracted everyone.

The audience shifted in their seats, clearly surprised.

“Wait, is that his voice…?” Someone whispered, before quickly falling silent.

Murmurs spread through the crowd. Those who had expected a mediocre performance were left stunned.

Lilliana, in particular, was overcome with disbelief.

Her face turned white as the reality of the moment hit her. It wasn't just the quality of Alicia's song, it was her voice. It sounded exactly like Iris's.

This performance even surpassed Iris's performance from last year.

What the hell was going on?

How could Alice have written such a song and sung in such a similar voice?

At that moment, Lilliana's agent rushed over, panic evident on her face. “Bad news, Lilliana! The livestream is flooded with worrying comments.”

Lilliana's fans were quick to notice that something was wrong. The chat erupted in comments, some questioning Lilliana's integrity, others praising Alicia.

Alicia's votes skyrocketed on the big screen, quickly surpassing Lilliana's score.

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