Chapter 187
Liana was standing below the stage, watching as Sylvia toyed with Joanna and made her flush crimson with embarrassment. A pang of sympathy shot through Liana’s heart.
She was just about to speak up for Joanna when Sylvia called her out publicly.
“Ms. Blair, don’t you think I’m right? If you’re going to resent anyone, it should be Joanna–she’s the one trying to steal your daughter Angel’s spotlight!*
Liana felt choked up, as if someone had grabbed her by the throat. In the end, she could only shoot Sylvia a glare and hiss through clenched teeth, “What a sharp tongue!”
Joanna instantly became public enemy number one. Reporters swarmed around her like vultures sensing a juicy scandal, bombarding her with aggressive questions.
“Miss Moore, you didn’t write or compose Angel’s song–so why are you claiming it as your own?”
“Yeah, Miss Moore, aren’t you ashamed of yourself? With such low standards, who in the industry would ever dare to hire you again?”
Joanna stood on the stage, helplessly scanning the hostile crowd around her.
She turned to Angel and pleaded softly, “Angel, please help me. We used to be so close.”
Angel gritted her teeth, her voice icy, “You just tried to pin that hit–and–run on me. Do you really think you deserve to be my friend?”
This made Joanna’s face burn with shame. Then she turned to Sylvia, whispering, “Sylvia…”
Sylvia scoffed, “Face it–no one’s coming to your rescue now. Your career in showbiz is practically finished. Who would ever risk hiring a pathological liar like you?”
Desperate, Joanna clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white as she cast a glance toward the audience below for Byron and Liana.
If only Byron and Liana would just speak up for her, maybe these reporters wouldn’t dare speak so ill of her.
But Byron walked over to Liana and said, “Mother, let me take you home first. I still have a business meeting at the company.”
He didn’t bother with Joanna and helped Liana by the shoulder out of the hotel.
Liana couldn’t bear to leave Joanna behind and kept looking back, but at this moment, she was truly powerless to help.
In just over an hour, Joanna was trending–buried under a storm of online abuse.
Vicious insults like “scheming bitch,” “fake innocent,” and others flooded toward her like a tidal wave.
She had never seen such a torrent of vile insults hurled at her before.
She wanted to leave the hotel, but there was no way out–reporters had her completely surrounded, blocking every exit.
A reporter demanded, “Miss Moore, are you lying to the public?”
Another reporter questioned, “Do you really think someone like you even deserves to be in showbiz?”
Another reporter sneered, “How can you be so shameless!”
Meanwhile, Angel and Sylvia had already been escorted out by security, marking the end of the album showcase.
“Angel, go get some rest first. Come to the company tonight for a meeting about your new album and music video plans”
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09:57 Sun, 6 Jul GM
Chapter 187
After giving Angel a few last–minute instructions, Sylvia hurried out and drove straight to the Blair Group.
She still needed to continue discussing the collaboration with Byron.
When Sylvia reappeared in Byron’s conference room, she had carefully reapplied her signature vibrant makeup–she couldn’t risk Byron discovering Shadow, the renowned Al guru, was actually her.
Byron was thoroughly impressed by the Al developed by Sylvia, especially its ability to predict future events and situations.
If the Al hadn’t predicted what was about to happen to Angel in advance and Byron hadn’t intervened early, Angel might not only have been framed by Joanna for a hit–and–run, but might even have fallen into depression and taken her own life.
Byron studied the woman in the conference room with vibrant makeup. After a moment’s consideration, he made his decision.
“Ms. Shadow, I’ve decided to accept your suggestion.”
Sylvia had previously made it clear to him that each Al service provided to his company would require a substantial fee.
Other companies would have undoubtedly refused, but Byron, having witnessed the Al’s remarkable capabilities firsthand, readily agreed to the terms.
Sylvia nodded. “In that case, I’ll have my colleagues reach out to you to work out the details of our collaboration.”
Reaching a cooperation agreement takes time, but after this round of negotiations, both parties were quite satisfied with the progress so far.
As Sylvia was leaving the Blair Group, she handed Byron a basketball–sized TeddyBot and explained,
“Mr. Blair, consider this a welcome gift. While it may look similar to other Al companion robots on the market, the chip inside features our company’s state–of–the–art artificial intelligence, making it far more versatile.”
Byron looked down at the TeddyBot in his hands. Its design was undeniably cute–almost too adorable for an adult. He couldn’t help but think it was perfect for a kid.
A few days ago, Zack had a falling–out with his grandmother and moved out of the family home. Byron decided to use this little robot to coax Zack back
home.
So after work that evening, Byron drove straight to Zack’s school.
Zack was indeed tempted by the robot. After a moment’s hesitation, he followed Byron back home.
The TeddyBot can not only move slowly but also engage in smart conversations, among other functions, Zack was utterly enchanted by it, gleefully leading the TeddyBot on a wild chase around the living room.
In Cerulean Entertainment, though it was already evening, the entire executive team remained gathered. As the company’s owner, Sylvia was presiding over a crucial meeting to deliberate on Angel’s upcoming album.
“Regarding the new album shoot, I’ll follow all the company’s arrangements.”
Angel sat at the conference table, stating her stance/Mid–sentence, her phone rang–she barely glanced at the screen before swiping the call away.
But her phone kept ringing relentlessly, one call after another.
Sylvia, sitting beside Angel, hesitated and asked, “What’s going on?”
“My mom wants me to come home–she says Joanna’s at our place and wants me to have a proper talk with her.”
Angel’s face twisted with irritation. She didn’t need to guess–her mother obviously wanted her to make up with Joanna.
ניור.
09:57 Sun, 6 Jul GM
Chapter 187
Sylvia asked, “What do you think? Are you going back?”
Angel paused and snapped, “There’s no way I’m going back!
“Joanna’s such a pain. She’ll definitely keep coming up with excuses to send my mom after me again.”
Sylvia pondered for a moment, then stood up and patted Angel’s shoulder. “You stay here and finish the meeting. I’ll head over to your place and see what’s going on.”
“Okay!”
Angel’s eyes lit up as she quickly agreed, then winked at Sylvia. “Sylvia, you’ve got to get back at her for me. Don’t let Joanna off the hook so easily!”
Sylvia gave a wry smile. “I’m going there to help you fix this, not to fight your battles.”
Angel chuckled, “Same thing. Just make sure Joanna stops constantly manipulating my mom.”
So Sylvia left the company and drove straight to the Blair residence.
The Blair family was enjoying a peaceful evening. Zack was happily playing with his TeddyBot and had fitted both his grandmother and father with Bluetooth earpieces, which allowed them to communicate with the little robot together.
Joanna’s arrival shattered the peaceful atmosphere. From the moment she stepped into the living room, she kept putting on a tearful act, whining about her grievances and begging to patch things up and be friends again with Angel.
The Blairs heard the TeddyBot’s grumpy complaining in their earpieces, “So noisy! Joanna is so annoying—she keeps crying, but it’s all fake tears! Make her shut up!”
Byron was taken aback and instinctively glanced at Joanna’s eyes before his brows furrowed.
He noted there was not a tear in sight.
AD
