Accidentally Slept With The Ruthless Billionaire

Chapter 627: She’ll Be Fine

The room went silent. No one had expected this, but it was the most reasonable outcome. Brenda held the final authority, after all.

“I agree,” Dave said, turning to Blake with a smirk. “Mr. Lawson, should we hand the stage back to the contestants? Or… are you thinking of a career change? Maybe stepping into acting yourself?”

The jab hit Blake hard, his jaw clenching as anger rushed through him. He turned sharply and stormed off the stage without saying a word.

Bianca glanced at Reese and Sophia, offering them a reassuring nod. Both women stared at her, and they returned the gesture with strong confidence before Bianca followed Dave.

Sophia’s eyes stared at Michael for only a moment before she quickly looked away.

Michael didn’t seem to mind. He gave a small shrug, then turned his focus to Bianca, who was already watching him with a calm, unreadable expression.

“I know I said I wouldn’t come, but I couldn’t stay away. And technically, this isn’t before the competition anymore.”

“I know,” Bianca sighed. “I’m not blaming you for being here, Michael.” Her eyes shifted back to Sophia, noticing the subtle change in her attitude.

Bianca’s hand tightened at her side. “Your presence is already affecting her. I hope you two settle things once this is over.”

Dave watched the exchange with a faint, knowing smile. Personal matters like these were safer in Bianca’s hands as she had the skill to manage them. He had other priorities.

Leaning toward a hidden bodyguard, Dave gave a secret order. “Lock down the venue. Secure every exit. No one leaves.”

The bodyguard nodded once before melting back into the crowd.

This wasn’t finished. Phoenix’s stock wouldn’t completely crash from this incident alone, but the damage was already heavy.

Dave’s eyes hardened as they fell on Blake. His father clearly never taught him when to stop digging his own grave. Blake had tried to destroy him, but in the end, Blake would be the one buried.

His eyes shifted to Bianca. For a moment, he considered telling her the truth. The fake Brenda was tied to Ashley, just as Bianca had suspected. The twist was that she wasn’t just connected to Ashley, she was Ashley.

As the competition continued, the online rumors gradually faded.

Blake had paid people to spread lies about Dave and accuse Phoenix Alliance Group of cheating, but it no longer caused much damage.

Now, all the contestants stood on equal ground. There were no more excuses left; only skill mattered.

From the crowd, Blake shot Dave a hateful glare. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He had crafted his plan carefully, thought it was perfect, yet here it was, falling apart before his eyes.

“Ashley, you’re just as useless as Rupert,” he muttered as his anger simmered.

But Blake still held on to a thin thread of hope. As long as Reese and Sophia didn’t take the top spot, Phoenix Alliance Group would have to pay heavy compensation. That thought alone gave him some comfort. He prayed silently that luck would finally be on his side.

His phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. Messages poured in. The companies that had followed him in shorting Phoenix Alliance Group’s stock were losing patience. Many had even signed deals with Emerald Artists Agency and Phoenix Entertainment, relying on penalty fees to secure their gains.

Blake’s expression turned cold. Fools. Impatient, shortsighted fools.

Just then, Brenda walked forward to reveal the performance theme. Her words echoed across the venue, leaving the crowd stunned. The contestants had to perform as someone with dissociative identity disorder.

The online audience immediately exploded with chatter. It was a rare theme, especially for a live stage.

For veteran actors in film and television, the theme wasn’t unusual, but it was demanding. Even Ruby, a respected heavyweight in the industry, stiffened at the announcement. She had trained Sophia and Reese in this exact style, but this would be their first time showing it before a live audience.

Mylo was the first to take the stage. His performance was bold and dramatic, but something didn’t feel right. The shifts between his personalities were stiff and abrupt. He paid close attention to detail, yet it was obvious he was forcing it.

His fans rushed online to defend him, their comments filled more with comfort than admiration. “It’s okay, you did your best!”

Even so, Brenda gave him a score of eight. It was higher than many expected, proof that his raw talent was recognized. Winning or not, he had proven his potential enough to secure a promising future in the industry.

Next was Rayan. His performance came across as smooth and controlled, a clear contrast to Mylo’s fiery approach. The way he shifted between personalities felt natural, and his delivery was seamless. Still, something was missing. His caution held him back, leaving the performance too safe and too polished.

"You were too nervous." Brenda’s tone was sharp but fair. Still, she gave him a seven, a decent score under the circumstances.

Rayan let out a long breath, relieved. "Not bad," he whispered to himself.

From the sidelines, Blake’s expression hardened. His face stayed blank, but frustration burned beneath the surface.

"Losers," he muttered, his voice low and bitter. "I poured so much into them, and this is what I get? Nervous wrecks who fall apart under pressure?" To him, both Mylo and Rayan had failed.

Sophia was next. Bianca sat stiffly as her palms were damp with sweat. She glanced at Dave and uttered in a nervous tone. "Brenda doesn’t hold back with her critiques. She’s strict with her scoring. I’m worried.”

Dave remained composed. "That’s what makes it a real test of skill."

He glanced at Blake, a faint smirk on his lips. "Besides, I think Blake is more nervous than you."

Bianca followed his eyes, and a heavy sadness filled her chest.

How had Blake turned into this? The boy she once knew, so full of energy and hope, was gone. In his place stood a man eaten up by ambition and bitterness.

Dave noticed the change in her expression and gently took her hand. His touch was comforting. "Don’t worry. Sophia will be fine. She’s already won awards."

Bianca hesitated. "But… Michael was just on stage earlier. What if she…" She couldn’t bring herself to finish.

Dave gave her hands a gentle squeeze. "She’ll be fine. It’s time they face their own struggles."