Chapter 97

In the waiting area, only two groups remained—Evelyn Sinclair and Julian Blackwood among them. The atmosphere was thick with boredom as everyone's eyes remained glued to the massive screen before them.

The trio’s performance wasn’t terrible, but the storyline was painfully predictable. Even without watching, one could guess the next twist.

Sebastian Hart, playing the celestial lord, fell in love with a mortal woman, Seraphina Delacroix, after enduring countless trials. Seraphina, in turn, rescued the injured demon lord, Adrian Cross.

The three of them enacted a series of melodramatic scenes in the mortal realm. Only at the climax did the celestial lord’s true identity come to light, forcing him to return to his divine duties.

The live audience was unimpressed, and the online viewership steadily dwindled.

The barrage of comments, once explosive, had dulled to a trickle. Only when the play first began had the chat erupted with excitement.

Fans of Adrian and Sebastian were civil, but an undercurrent of rivalry persisted.

Sebastian excelled in medieval fantasy, while Adrian dominated teen dramas. Since they were collaborating, neither could overshadow the other.

Sebastian had joined the show to reinvent his image. With such a prestigious platform and professional backing, his fans expected something groundbreaking—a chance to showcase his versatility.

Yet here he was, stuck in yet another medieval fantasy.

Adrian’s fans weren’t having it.

One typed: So our idol is just a side character now?

The tension escalated as they turned on Sebastian’s supporters.

Sebastian’s fans were equally frustrated. His roles had become repetitive—always the same archetype. They craved something fresh, something that would reveal new depths to his talent.

A netizen chimed in: This is just the first round. Maybe they’re testing the waters before revealing their real dynamic.

Another added: At least your idol isn’t being dragged down by scandal.

A third snapped: Sebastian’s never done medieval fantasy before. This is his chance to shine. Stop complaining when you’re already winning.

The chat devolved into petty squabbles, with barely any discussion about the actual plot.

Even Preston Whitmore and Donovan Sharpe exchanged disappointed glances. "I don’t get why they picked this script," Preston muttered. "It’s painfully dull. This round’s a lost cause."

Just then, a collective gasp erupted from the audience.

The waiting guests stiffened, eyes widening.

The chat exploded.

On screen, the celestial lord confronted his love before his departure. But the mortal woman, believing herself unworthy, pretended to choose the demon lord.

Seraphina melted into Adrian’s embrace. Then—right in front of Sebastian—Adrian kissed her, a bold claim of possession.

Sebastian didn’t back down. He yanked Seraphina away, pulling her into a fierce, passionate kiss of his own.

The angle left no room for doubt—this wasn’t staged.

They actually kissed.

Even for a performance, this was scandalous.

Sebastian had just kissed Seraphina—in front of her boyfriend.

The audience was more riveted by the off-screen drama than the play itself.

Gossip was irresistible, after all.

The other actors in the waiting area smirked, assuming this was a desperate ploy for attention.

But for stars of their caliber, such tactics were risky—fans could easily turn on them.

I thought they’d scrapped this plotline, Evelyn mused. But the second they had the chance, they brought it back.

Julian suspected this was a calculated move—preparing fans for an upcoming relationship shake-up.

Evelyn studied the trio’s expressions. Only Adrian seemed close to breaking character.

One viewer typed: Why can’t the mortal woman be with the celestial lord if she’s already with the demon lord?

Another speculated: Maybe the demon lord forced her.

A third lamented: All this drama for nothing…

A fourth pointed out: Did anyone notice how shady that fairy was? She clearly wanted the celestial lord for herself.

Evelyn’s lips thinned. Disgusting. Sebastian had pretended to rely on Isabelle Laurent, but this entire performance was a setup.

On the surface, it was just a cliché plot—but beneath, they were subtly framing Isabelle as the villainous second lead.

Julian smirked inwardly. They know how netizens think. Once this blows up, people will connect the dots—and Isabelle will take the fall.

Backstage, Isabelle stared at the screen, face darkening. Realization dawned, chilling her to the core.

Genevieve, Marcus Donovan, and Lillian Graves exchanged hushed words before Marcus approached Isabelle.

He handed her a business card—one Julian had custom-made under his agency’s name.

Isabelle blinked. "What’s this?"

Marcus smiled. "Given your connections, you’ve probably heard we’re expanding overseas. We need a skilled agent."

Isabelle hesitated. She hadn’t even considered her next move—yet here was an offer.

Marcus chuckled. "No pressure. Just putting it out there. We’ll talk later."

With that, he turned back to the screen, leaving Isabelle to process the whirlwind of betrayal—and opportunity.