The performances began right after the host stepped aside.
First was Carla’s performance.
The girl stepped behind the veil and started singing.
Her vocals were strong, even worthy of a compliment, given she was someone who always rode on someone else’s coattails.
Everyone clapped in appreciation once her performance ended, and Beatrice smiled at Sophia and Andrew.
"She will win for sure," Beatrice said, hoping to receive some positive appreciation for her efforts, but to her surprise, Andrew just looked at her blankly before nodding emotionlessly.
Her smile faltered.
She didn’t know what it was, but these days she could feel Andrew was growing a bit colder to her, and the thought made her mad.
She forced a smile back as the cameras were repeatedly aimed at her, then looked at the stage.
The judges jotted down some points in their notebooks, which would help them decide.
"What a marvelous performance by our first contestant. Splendid, indeed. Now let’s call our second performer," the host announced, and Tasha walked behind the veil.
If Carla’s voice was strong and commanding, attracting the masses’ attention to herself, Tasha’s voice was soft and warm, capturing the hearts of the listeners. After all, she was someone who had trained in the very field for more than a decade.
The host clapped along with others as soon as her song ended.
The judges jotted some notes again.
Carla looked at the stage with a glint. She had been so busy worrying about Elara that she didn’t even remember she had other competition. Then again, with her connections, did she need to worry about anyone for real?
The next turn was Elara’s.
She walked to the stage with contained composure, then exhaled slowly.
She grabbed the mic and closed her eyes briefly.
Elara already knew what she was going to sing—the hardest song she had ever attempted. This wasn’t just a test for others but for herself. She wanted to see if she really had the ’it’ factor, and though this was a risky move, she was ready to do it.
This was a song sung by the singer known worldwide four years ago, the mysterious vocalist with the initials ET. A song that no one ever dared cover because it was almost impossible to do justice to it.
Elara opened her mouth and then sang...
The first note alone stunned the hall.
The primary judge, who was sitting casually, leaned forward in surprise, the pen falling from her grip, her heart skipping a beat when she heard the intensity of the first note. Goosebumps rose on her hands and the back of her neck, and for the first time, she quickly grabbed the list with the contestants’ names.
Elara tapped her foot on the ground, grabbed the mic in her hand, ready to set a new record for herself.
The vibrato curled through the air like velvet, enchanting everyone with its pure, crystalline symphony.
Though the veil hid her face, her strong presence couldn’t be suppressed. Every high note she pulled soared higher than the one before.
’Is this Elara?’ Andrew sat there in utter disbelief. Even Carla and Beatrice couldn’t move their gaze away from the veil on the stage.
Elara wasn’t just performing. She was singing like a woman bleeding truth through music.
The song ended too quickly for everyone. The hall stayed silent for several seconds. No one moved.
And then.... Thunderous applause, roaring cheers, and screams of disbelief.
Even Tasha clapped loudly from backstage.
Carla’s face drained while Beatrice froze. She had bribed the subordinate judges to decide in Carla’s favor, but with this kind of singing, anyone would know the results were rigged if Carla won.
Her fists clenched by her side, and she fitted her teeth.
The primary judge, Miss Ella, stood up. The director and the rest of the staff followed, unsure what had happened.
She didn’t speak for some time, just looked at the veil as if she could see right through it.
Something flickered in her eyes: awe, appreciation, and pure disbelief.
"I don’t need scores to decide. The last contestant wins," Miss Ella declared without even waiting for the subordinate judges to speak and present their view.
The director looked at the veil and was about to ask Elara to step forward when someone else did.
Carla walked forward in hurried steps.
"T-this is rigged. How can someone decide the results just like that? She didn’t even ask for others’ opinions. I am sure she has been bribed," Carla said without a care in the world.
The director widened his eyes. It was true that he respected and overlooked Carla’s mistakes many times because she was Andrew’s sister, but Miss Ella wasn’t just a senior judge. She was an elite lady who couldn’t be messed with.
"Contestant Carla!" The director raised his voice.
Miss Ella, however, raised her hand. "Quiet," she said with a calm smile.
Carla immediately stepped back when Andrew glared at her.
"Technique, control, emotion, and identity. She had everything much better than yours. The last contestant displayed a mastery I haven’t heard in years. If she isn’t selected, this whole process is useless," Miss Ella said before she smiled.
"Just because you bribed the subordinate judges, do you think someone can bribe me too?" She asked.
Collective gasps echoed through the forum, and people started commenting wildly about how Carla always gets her way with money and connections, and that she was just so-so.
Tasha accepted the results with grace and smiled at Elara, who returned to the backstage.
"I can’t believe you are someone who never took training," Tasha said with a genuine smile.
"I never said, I didn’t. People just assumed I am a rookie," Elara said.
She grabbed her bag and was about to leave the hall, not wanting to indulge in any more drama, when someone called her name.
"Elara!" Producer Li rushed to her side.
"Miss Ella wants to meet you," His tone was urgent, and Elara stiffened.
"What if I refuse?" Elara asked, hesitating even to meet Producer Li’s eyes.
"Why would you? It’s an awesome opportunity for you to increase your connections," He added.
"In that case, please give this opportunity to Tasha. She did well too," Elara said and turned to leave when she heard hurried footsteps behind her.
Someone grabbed her hand, and Elara froze in her place.
Elara turned around, ready to snap, but to say she was shocked would be an understatement.
The primary judge, who had followed the producer Li, widened her eyes, her lips parted as she looked at Elara.
"It was you indeed," Miss Ella said, shock and recognition clear on her face.