Chapter 262 Intensify Further

Chapter 262 Intensify Further

At this moment, she was leaning back on the couch, tablet in hand, intently reviewing the North American division's quarterly financial reports.

Her breathing was steady, even the motion of swiping through pages exuding absolute rationality and restraint, as if the thirty thousand screaming fans outside and the hundreds of millions watching the global livestream simply didn't exist.

"Audrey." Vernon finally couldn't help but stop pacing and walk over to her, palms slick with cold sweat. "There are thirty thousand people out there, plus a global livestream. You're really not nervous at all? If you're feeling the pressure, it's not too late to take something to calm your nerves."

Audrey's slender fingers swiped across the screen to the next page. She didn't even look up.

"Thirty thousand people or thirty people—to me, it's just numbers stacking up." Her tone was flat, even carrying a hint of irritation at being interrupted. "Just worry about your own voice and don't drag me down."

Vernon was momentarily speechless. Watching his sister's psychological fortitude surpass even his own, he let out a helpless, bitter laugh.

Just then, the dressing room door was pushed open from outside.

Reid strode in wearing an impeccably tailored black haute couture suit, his long legs carrying him forward.

The powerful aura of someone long accustomed to authority radiated from him. He completely ignored everyone else in the room and walked straight toward Audrey.

In his hands, he carried a bouquet of extremely rare black Ecuadorian roses, their petals still glistening with fresh dew.

Behind Reid followed six members of a top Hollywood camera crew, hauling premium Steadicams and pushing professional audio equipment.

Vernon's brow furrowed. He immediately stepped forward to block the way. "Reid, what are you doing backstage? This is a work area."

Reid stopped, his gaze moving past Vernon to land on Audrey, his eyes instantly melting into indescribable tenderness.

"My fiancée's debut stage—of course I need to be here to document it personally." His tone made it sound like the most natural thing in the world. He extended the black roses toward Audrey, his voice low and warm. "You look beautiful today. Break a leg."

Audrey set down her tablet and accepted the flowers, a faint trace of warmth flickering through her cool eyes. "Thank you."

Reid gestured to the camera crew behind him, addressing Vernon. "I've reserved the VIP wraparound box directly facing the stage. This is Hollywood's most elite multi-camera recording team. They'll capture Audrey's entire performance from every angle. I'll keep it at home so I can watch it over and over."

Vernon observed this elaborate production and let out a cold snort, though deep down he acknowledged Reid's thoughtfulness.

He locked eyes with Reid, his tone deadly serious, carrying a brother's warning. "Reid, I'm going to say this once. You'd better treat Audrey right. If you ever let her suffer even the slightest grievance, I don't care what kind of international tycoon you are—I, Vernon, will not let you off."

Reid met Vernon's gaze without flinching.

He straightened, his voice low and solemn. "Her eldest brother already warned me. I've also sworn before God—if I ever betray Audrey in this lifetime, may Heaven strike me down and let me die a miserable death. You can rest assured."

Two equally formidable men completed a silent clash and exchange of promises in the charged air.

"Mr. Collins, Audrey." A stage manager pushed open the door, his expression tense. "Director's calling two-minute countdown. Please prepare to go on."

"Got it." Audrey set the black roses aside and stood. The black velvet gown shimmered with a cold luminescence under the lights.

Without another word, she turned and followed the stage manager toward the lift platform corridor.

Inside the Peacock Theater.

The previously deafening crowd of thirty thousand fell instantly silent as the house lights abruptly cut out.

In the darkness, countless green light sticks flickered.

The deep rumble of mechanical gears engaging echoed from beneath the stage.

The floor at center stage slowly split open on either side, and a massive Steinway grand piano rose on a lift platform into the air.

A beam of cold white spotlight, sharp as a sword, sliced through the darkness and landed precisely on the piano.

Audrey sat at the bench.

Black veil covering her face, posture straight, radiating an aura of cool power that made her impossible to look away from.

She lifted her hand slightly, slender fingers hovering above the black and white keys.

The next second, her fingertips descended.

The accompaniment began. The entire venue fell silent.

The exquisitely pure piano notes traveled through premium sound equipment to fill the space.

Vernon gripped his microphone, appearing on a lift platform at the opposite side of the stage.

His voice carried tremendous power, entering seamlessly with the piano melody without the slightest discord.

The siblings' coordination was flawless, cool precision and explosive energy weaving together perfectly on stage.

Thirty thousand fans became completely immersed in this audiovisual feast, forgetting even to scream.

Inside the vast Peacock Theater, only the music flowed, even breathing sounds pressed to their lowest.

In the VIP box directly facing the stage.

Reid stood before the floor-to-ceiling glass, his gaze never leaving Audrey for even a second.

His eyes were deep and focused, as if the entire world had narrowed to that single figure in black seated at the piano.

The song was approaching its final climax.

Suddenly, Reid's eyes narrowed slightly. His sharp perception caught something—the row of heavy decorative lights directly above Audrey was flickering unnaturally.

Not only that, but with the stage's deep bass vibrations, extremely fine metallic dust seemed to be falling from the truss edge.

Something was wrong.

"Go tell the stage crew to shut down the stage machinery." Reid issued the cold command to Aaron behind him, then without hesitation turned and bolted from the box.

He sprinted along the VIP corridor, burst directly into the backstage area, and reached the shadowed corner of the stage.

Reid stared fixedly at the massive lighting rig above Audrey's head. The truss's swaying amplitude was growing larger.

That definitely wasn't normal mechanical vibration—it was a sign that the load-bearing structure was about to fail.

On stage, Vernon hit the final high note.

Audrey's fingertips danced rapidly across the keys, preparing the ending.

In that instant.

"Crack—"

A tooth-grinding sound of metal fracturing was drowned out by the music.

Directly above Audrey's head, the decorative lighting rig weighing several hundred pounds tore completely free from its securing bolts and plummeted downward with a terrifying whistle.

Front-row audience members let out horrified screams.

Audrey looked up, pupils contracting sharply. The rig was falling too fast. Seated at the piano bench, she had no time to dodge.

In that split second, a dark figure shot out from the corner of the stage like a hunting panther.

"Audrey!"

Reid threw himself forward without regard for his own safety, using his tall, solid frame to shield Audrey completely beneath him.

"BANG!"

The deafening crash was earth-shattering.

The heavy metal truss slammed brutally into Reid's back and head. The Steinway piano was struck so hard its keys shattered, emitting a harsh cacophony.

The entire stage plunged into dead silence, then erupted in terrified screams.

The livestream signal was emergency-cut. The American Music Awards were forced to halt.

"Reid!"