Kiana Sterling read it over several times, just to be sure she wasn’t mistaken.
The message was indeed from Zion Shawcross.
It was rare for her to be so invested in something. She’d not only had Tate Lawson keep an eye on it but had also been pulling strings herself, both overtly and covertly. To think this Zion Shawcross would be so tactless.
’Didn’t they say there was supposed to be an audition?’
’And now it’s already been decided?’
’Is he just messing with me?’
Too many things had been going wrong lately. She truly never imagined that even a minor singer would dare to show her such blatant disrespect.
She sneered and sent a text back to the number Zion Shawcross had used: "Who is this?"
Her tone had lost its usual politeness and carried a hint of accusation.
But the message failed to send.
Zion Shawcross had blocked her number!
’Hahaha, just perfect!’
’Absolutely perfect!’
Kiana Sterling screamed in a frenzy in her art studio.
Her previously smooth hair was thrown into disarray, and she kicked over the standing easel and brush holder, sending them tumbling to the side.
She grabbed a pair of scissors and shredded every single one of her own paintings in the studio.
Only after she had vented her fury did she straighten her appearance in a shattered mirror, then grabbed her bag and left.
Tate Lawson came in afterward to clean up the mess.
Kiana Sterling throwing a tantrum was nothing new.
It was just that her relationship with Ethan Rhodes had been in its honeymoon phase this year, so she had been in a great mood. This was her first outburst of the year.
Tate Lawson worked quickly, tidying up the chaos on the floor. He saved the ruined paintings for last.
Some of the paintings, he had seen before.
Coming and going, he would occasionally see Kiana Sterling painting them.
There were others he hadn’t seen.
They had probably been rolled up and tossed in a corner all this time.
The one time they finally saw the light of day, they were shredded to pieces by their creator.
Tate Lawson was an art student himself, so he examined the pieces as he cleaned, hoping to learn something.
But the more he looked, the more puzzled he became.
’Were these painted by someone else?’
The style felt completely different from the paintings Kiana Sterling had sold at high-priced auctions.
At the very least, you couldn’t tell at a glance that they were from the same artist.
A moment later, he reasoned it out himself.
’Not every painting can be a masterpiece.’
’Who am I to dare question Kiana Sterling?’
To prevent Kiana Sterling from coming back to look for these paintings later, he didn’t dispose of them but put them away for the time being.
’Serving this young lady is like serving an emperor from ancient times.’
"Tell me about it," Zoe Yates said over the phone, consoling a furious Kiana Sterling. "That Zion Shawcross really doesn’t know what’s good for him. If you ask me, his life has been too easy, and he’s forgotten his place. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely have my dad teach him a proper lesson and get back at him for you."
The car drove toward the Sterling family’s estate as Kiana Sterling stared out the window with a cold expression.
"You’re the best to me. But will this be too much trouble for Mr. Yates?"
Zoe Yates was at a beauty salon getting a treatment. With a face mask on, she had to force her lips into a smile as she spoke, and her words came out as if through gritted teeth.
"Pfft, it’s nothing, just a word from him. Don’t be so polite with me. By the way, how is Chase’s... injury?"
Chase Sterling’s arm had been in a sling for over a month because he’d been forced to take a blow for Stella Sterling.
He had just gotten his cast off a few days ago, but he still wasn’t used to using his right hand.
Kiana Sterling had been too preoccupied with her own affairs to pay much attention, so she said casually, "It’s fine. Why don’t you come over and see for yourself someday?"
Hearing this, Zoe Yates broke into a wide grin. Only after smiling did she remember the mask on her face and quickly pulled her lips back down.
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Kiana Sterling hung up.
Morgan Yates was a shareholder in Vantage, so going through him was the most direct way to deal with Zion Shawcross.
Of course, she’d have to apply pressure from other angles too.
She was going to show Zion Shawcross exactly what would happen to him for pissing her off.
When the time came, he’d better not come crawling to her for mercy.
Kiana Sterling hadn’t driven today, so she hailed a high-end rideshare car from outside her studio to go home.
On the side of the road, a corner away from the Sterling family’s residential complex, Kiana Sterling saw a familiar-looking dark blue Audi.
"Slow down a little," she told the driver.
The chauffeur, wearing white gloves, heard her command and obediently reduced his speed.
The Audi’s windows were tinted, so she couldn’t see inside as they drove past.
After their car had passed it, Kiana Sterling looked back and saw, through the Audi’s front windshield, a man and a woman kissing in the front seats.
She turned back around, her expression blank.
When she got home, the housekeeper immediately came over to get her slippers and quickly put her high heels away in the shoe cabinet.
Kiana Sterling asked casually, as if she hadn’t given it much thought, "Where are my brother and my mom?"
"The Young Master went to the office this morning, and Madam left for the beauty salon this afternoon."
Kiana Sterling hummed in acknowledgment and went upstairs by herself.
The family gathered again at dinnertime.
Since Chase Sterling had been recovering from his injury, Madeline Jennings had the kitchen staff make him many nourishing meals.
He was already approaching thirty, and during this period, Chase had gained a noticeable amount of weight.
His face was a whole size bigger.
Kiana Sterling saw this and couldn’t help but say, "Brother, you need to start watching your figure."
Hearing this, Madeline Jennings glanced at her son. "What’s wrong with his figure? He looks just fine."
She then placed a piece of pork rib on her son’s plate, saying, "Don’t listen to your sister’s nonsense."
Kiana Sterling secretly shook her head at Chase Sterling, and in the end, he didn’t eat the pork rib in his bowl.
Halfway through dinner, Kiana Sterling asked, "Brother, do you know anyone in the entertainment industry?"
Chase Sterling was frowning, lost in thought, but he heard his sister’s question.
"I know a few people. What’s up? Oh, right, I heard from Zoe Yates that you wanted to be the female lead in some MV. Did you sort it out?"
Kiana Sterling put on a wronged expression. "I was just about to tell you about that. That minor singer is so disrespectful. I even had Mr. Yates put in a good word, but he was completely rude. Mr. Yates was annoyed with him too and said he was going to teach him a lesson."
Chase Sterling hadn’t been having much luck lately either and was eager for something to prove he still had influence.
He understood what Kiana Sterling meant and said directly, "I’ll make some calls."
This was the first time Madeline Jennings had heard about Kiana Sterling wanting to star in a music video.
Now that Kiana was bringing it up, she naturally asked her what was going on.
As Kiana Sterling was explaining, Gavin Sterling came home.
When he heard that Kiana had been slighted by a mere singer, he also said he would "make some calls," for the sake of the Sterling family’s reputation.
Kiana Sterling ate the rest of her dinner with immense satisfaction.
She was just waiting to see Zion Shawcross get what was coming to him.
And as Vantage Entertainment’s top star, any changes to Zion Shawcross’s resources always drew attention.
So, as soon as news of several resource changes came out, Henry Wright smelled something familiar in the air.
The last time he’d smelled this scent was over a month ago, back when it was Catherine Linden’s turn.
Henry Wright had been busy these past few days and was just about to ask Zion Shawcross what had happened after Kiana Sterling contacted him personally.
Now, it seemed there was no need to ask.
If the outcome had been good, he wouldn’t be facing this mess.
Henry Wright burst into Silas Jacobs’ office in a panic. "President Jacobs, what are we going to do? That kid Zion Shawcross is nothing but trouble!"
Silas Jacobs was scrolling through his phone, leaning back in his executive chair with his legs propped high on his desk, a picture of leisure.
"It’s a small matter. This is just a few small fries making a fuss. Relax, he won’t lose any major resources. As for the small ones, let them go."
"..."
’I’m the one freaking out, and he’s not even worried!’