Chapter 31 She Played with Isabella
Isabella smiled as she looked at Lika standing before her.
Her eyes showed determination to win.
Because before coming here, she had sent Lika a message.
【Lika, even if you don't come to me, I'll tell you - a year ago, Amelia has been signed under the Adams Group. Amelia and Jeffrey have been in close contact all along.】
【You had a miscarriage for Jeffrey but got nothing in return. You must feel bitter about it, right? Join my team. I won't reveal your miscarriage secret. With our current popularity, I can definitely make Jeffrey see how brilliant you are, and expose Amelia's true colors - that she's fickle and incompetent, only able to survive by clinging to men.】
【The secret I just mentioned isn't a threat, Lika. This is my sincerity.】
Isabella didn't believe Lika could resist this!
Amelia looked at Isabella standing before her.
Threats and temptations.
She used this combination quite skillfully.
Amelia held the microphone. She first bowed to everyone.
Then she looked at the three people sitting at the judges' table.
Tony Gibson, 32, pop male singer, known for his distinctive love songs with high popularity.
Cecil Marshall, 28, cutting-edge male singer, light rock style, has his own band.
Isabella, 25, florist, marketing ace of "Voice of Heaven."
All three people present had extended team invitations to her.
Amelia said seriously, "Thank you to all three judges for your appreciation."
"And then," she paused slightly, "based on my own style and the style I want to try on this stage, I choose..."
The three judges' seats formed a semicircle, with Isabella in the middle and the other two on either side.
Amelia walked straight forward.
Isabella's face showed complete satisfaction. She stood up, seemingly already confident of victory.
But Amelia's steps turned, walking toward Cecil beside her.
"Mr. Marshall, may I join your team?" Amelia asked politely, extending her right hand.
Cecil glanced at Isabella, whose expression had slightly changed. His face showed an amused smile, then he stood up.
"Of course." He reached out and shook Amelia's hand.
In the live stream, this handshake was given a close-up, and in the background behind it, Isabella's stiff expression was also captured.
William watched this scene, his brow furrowing slightly.
Lika had played Isabella.
According to her path, her target should have been Isabella, but at the last moment she turned and walked toward Cecil.
Why?
......
At the "Voice of Heaven" venue, the selection process was full of excitement. The live audience either cheered, sighed, or made noises of watching the drama unfold.
After Amelia was paired with Cecil's team, she sat in the contestant seats behind his chair.
Not far away, Isabella's peripheral vision kept scanning up and down over her.
Amelia ignored Isabella.
The program recording lasted a long time.
There were commercial breaks in between, which were also rest times for the artists.
During one commercial break, Amelia went to the restroom.
Just as she reached the corridor, Isabella blocked her path.
"Didn't you see the text I sent?" Isabella pulled Amelia to a corner and asked directly.
Amelia glanced at Isabella. "I saw it."
Isabella frowned and grabbed Amelia's collar. "Then what do you mean? Humiliating me?"
Amelia sneered and pulled away Isabella's hand from her collar.
"I was just making a normal selection," she said. "Whether it's musical style or professionalism, I believe Cecil is more suitable and can help me go further in this program."
Isabella laughed.
"I thought it was something else. Turns out you don't understand at all."
"Do you know why you'll lose to Amelia?" Isabella mocked. "You can never grasp the key point."
"In this era, it's all about marketing."
"You came to participate in this program - is it really just to compete in singing and songwriting?"
"The Adams Group invested in you because they want returns - commercial value, monetization. Understand?"
Isabella's voice was low, filled with anger, and when speaking quickly, it was like a snake hissing.
"Style? Professionalism?" Isabella laughed. "Lika, don't you think you're being too high and mighty?"
Amelia looked at Isabella calmly.
"What about you then?" she said. "I don't understand. You only have six months left to live. Why are you still obsessed with these external things? Wouldn't it be better to relax and enjoy your last days?"
Isabella's eyes flickered.
Of course she couldn't tell her about the secret of faking her illness.
So Isabella changed the subject. "You can still change your choice now, switch to my team, or we can reach some other cooperation."
Isabella took a step forward.
The two were extremely close.
Isabella said, "I'll give you time to think about it, because we're on the same side - we have a common enemy."
After saying this, Isabella left, leaving Amelia standing alone.
She quietly watched Isabella leave.
So why?
Isabella wanted William, and now he was by her side.
Why was Isabella still making all this fuss?
To attack her?
But what was the point?
......
Time flew by quickly. The program was recorded from morning until evening.
The live broadcast of "Voice of Heaven" finally ended.
Whether artists, staff, or live audience members, everyone was exhausted.
It was already getting dark.
Amelia was being helped toward the car.
Her steps were unsteady, barely able to stand.
Jeffrey beside her supported her, sighing deeply.
Amelia knew what Jeffrey meant.
But she insisted on participating.
Her heart was anxious, eager to become stronger, wanting to regain control of everything.
But when they reached a corner, she suddenly noticed someone standing by the car.
It was William.
Amelia glanced at Jeffrey. Jeffrey shook his head, indicating he didn't know.
"Can we talk?" William's voice came.
Jeffrey wanted to say something, but Amelia pressed his hand, then stood up straight herself and gestured for William to go to the nearby grove.
"What does Mr. Brown want to talk to me about?" Amelia spoke.
As soon as the woman spoke, William felt the voice was somewhat familiar.
William looked down at the woman before him.
She wore a long trench coat over her performance outfit, but even so, one could still tell she was very thin.
Among the women he knew, none had a figure that matched hers.
At least none this thin.
Looking at the questioning look in the woman's eyes visible behind her mask, William said, "During today's live selection, why did you play Isabella?"
Amelia laughed.
"I played her?" Amelia said. "No, I didn't."
William frowned slightly. "No need to talk like that. Your body language can't fool me."
Amelia's lips pressed together slightly as she turned her face away.
Still the same.
Just like many years ago.
When she was beaten by her stepfather again, when he asked her what happened and she lied saying nothing was wrong, he had said something similar—
"Amelia, do you see yourself right now? Stop being stubborn. You can't fool me."
Only now, compared to back then, his position had shifted from being by her side to being on the opposite side.