Farewell to Love: The CEO's Desperate Chase novel Chapter 60

Vivienne smiled coolly at the woman known as the Masked Woman, her eyes full of steely determination. She was confident she'd already won, and for good reason—before coming over, she'd sent her a message.

[Serena, even if you hadn't reached out to me, I was going to tell you this anyway: A year ago, Emilia signed with Donovan Entertainment. She's been closely involved with Christian ever since.]

[You lost your baby for Christian, and he still won't even acknowledge you publicly. That must sting. Join my team, and your secret is safe with me. With our combined popularity, I'll make sure he sees how brilliant you are—and together, we'll expose Emilia for what she really is: someone with no real talent, whose only skill is latching onto powerful men.]

[This isn't a threat, Serena. It's an offer. Take it as a sign of good faith.]

Carrot and stick. Vivienne refused to believe Serena could resist an offer like that.

Across the stage, Emilia regarded Vivienne with a steady gaze. She saw right through the threats and temptations—Vivienne was a master at this game.

Microphone in hand, Emilia bowed to the audience before turning to face the three judges seated at the front.

There was Isaac, 32, a pop singer known for his uniquely heartfelt love songs that topped the charts.

Henry, 28, a fresh-faced rock musician who led his own band and brought a cool, indie vibe.

And Vivienne, 25, a social media floral artist whose ethereal beauty and marketing savvy had made her a star on Voice of the Divine.

All three had invited Emilia to join their teams.

She spoke clearly, her voice ringing out, "Thank you all for your kind invitations."

She paused, glancing at each of them in turn. "After considering my own style, and the direction I want to explore on this stage, my choice is…"

The judges sat in a semicircle, Vivienne in the center, the others on either side.

Emilia stepped forward, heading straight for the middle. Vivienne's face lit up—she rose to her feet, already savoring her victory.

But at the last moment, Emilia veered to her right, stopping in front of Henry.

Emilia ignored her completely.

The filming dragged on for hours, with commercial breaks scattered throughout for the artists to catch their breath.

During one of those breaks, Emilia headed for the restroom. She had just reached the corridor when Vivienne intercepted her, blocking her path.

"You didn't see my message?" Vivienne demanded, pulling Emilia aside without preamble.

Emilia gave her a cool glance. "I saw it."

Vivienne's expression darkened. She grabbed Emilia's collar, voice low and tense. "Then what's your problem? Are you trying to humiliate me?"

Emilia snorted, brushing Vivienne's hand off her shirt. "I just made the choice that made the most sense. When it comes to style and professionalism, Henry is a better fit. He'll help me go further in this competition."

Vivienne let out a laugh, shaking her head. "I thought you were smarter than this. Clearly, you have no idea what's really going on."