Chapter 186
“I’ve got tons of friends in the industry blowing up my phone,” the violin master said. “Everyone wants to know who this gorgeous violinist is… I’ve been getting calls nonstop the past few days. Kelly, do you have any inside info? Anything, you can share with me?”
More incredible than her?
Kelly’s eyelids twitched. For some reason, Sharon’s face flashed through her mind.
After all, within the entire music scene in Zachemaine, the number of people more skilled than her were far and few between.
Without thinking, she asked, “What’s her name?”
“No idea. That’s why I’m asking you, Kelly.”
Kelly went quiet for a few seconds before replying, “Send me the video. I’ll take a look.”
Moments later, a new message arrived on her phone.
She opened the video.
Sure enough, it was Sharon. It was a footage from the talent showcase, of Sharon playing the violin.
The scene of her own defeat had been looping in her mind for days now, clinging to her like static.
And the way Carter had looked at Sharon’s back-that strange, focused gaze.
A sense of unease crept up inside her. A kind of threat she’d never felt before.
Sharon, whom she had always dismissed as useless was not only talented, but possibly… more talented than her.
That level of skill, even in Bell University, would make her one of the top students.
But Kelly was sure-she had never seen Sharon at Bell University.
As for the Hall of Fame….
Kelly remained convinced: no matter how capable Sharon was, there was no way she could’ve made it into that circle.
To her, the Bell University Hall of Fame was an untouchable pedestal-something to be looked up to, never reached. She had never once connected Sharon with those hall of famers.
Besides, there were only so many people listed there. She’d never once heard Sharon’s name.
What she had forgotten was that everyone in Bell University went by their stage names-including herself. So how could she have recognized Sharon, even if she had heard of her?
Suddenly, something clicked in her memory.
Nate. That plan he’d mentioned about livestreaming Sharon’s humiliation.
Her expression stiffened. She picked up her phone and dialed him right away.
When Nate heard the news, he rushed to check the trending topics.
One glance-and he nearly exploded.
“What the hell! I only streamed for like five or six minutes! I shut the livestream down as soon as the praises came pouring in. How is she still trending?!”
1/2
Sharon’s rise was almost terrifying in speed.
Back when they were promoting Kelly, even with all the resources he and Carter had poured in, it had taken time before she broke the million-follower mark.
But Sharon? She was blowing up in just a few days.
Nate, who couldn’t stand seeing Sharon gain even an inch, was on the verge of losing it.
“I’ll take care of it. I’ll erase every keyword related to her,” he said quickly. “Don’t worry-as long as I’m around, I’ll make sure
she never outshines you.”
Kelly frowned. “But didn’t she make headlines not long ago? I’m worried…”
Nate tried to reassure her. “The internet has no memory. Everything about her from back then was already wiped clean. Carter and I made sure of it. There’s not a trace left. Once this wave of popularity dies down, people won’t even remember her. And if anyone does recognize her, we’ll just say she’s not the same person. Just someone who looks alike. There are over a billion people in this country. Isn’t it normal for some to look similar?” 1
Nate’s family held half the entertainment industry in its grip.
Back when Kelly and Carter were rising, a good chunk of their headlines had been orchestrated by Nate himself-crafted and polished to make their relationship look like a fairytale, deliberately leading the public on.
As for the smear campaigns against Sharon? Those were his doing, too.
Until Sharon-somehow-slipped through Nate’s family’s media net and released that video of Kelly intentionally hitting her
in a “car accident”.
That one, he never saw coming.
2/2
