Chapter 421: Why The Pretense?
Diana was so frustrated that she bit her lower lip, and her face turned red in anger.
Seeing Diana’s reaction, Bianca tried to calm her down. “Ignore that playboy. His first instinct when he sees a pretty woman is to flirt. Don’t let him get to you.”
Bianca believed Brandon was just looking for fun by messing with Diana. As Diana’s long-time friend, she knew her well. She promised herself she would never let her best friend get hurt.
“I won’t let myself fall for his tricks,” Diana said through gritted teeth.
“Anyway, when will Reese arrive?”
She looked at her watch.
“Hmm... She’ll probably be here in an hour.”
“Make sure nothing goes wrong. Remember, many people are watching us,” Diana said, shifting her focus to the day’s arrangements.
Bianca’s heart sank. She checked her phone for news about the obesity medication launched.
As expected, it was all over the internet. Reese’s attendance at the event had become a big topic, attracting a crowd of fans.
Bianca felt a mix of happiness for Reese’s success and concern for her.
However, this wasn’t the time to focus on those worries. She looked at Blake, who was getting his makeup done and forced herself to stay calm.
No matter what happened today, she had to make sure Blake and Reese successfully filmed the last episode.
Brandon returned to his VIP lounge and saw Dave sitting on the sofa, reading a magazine.
Dave didn’t look up when Brandon entered. “Why did it take so long?” he asked without interest.
“Guess who I saw just now!” Brandon couldn’t wait to share his encounter with Bianca.
Dave’s response was surprisingly calm. He simply asked, “You met Bianca?”
Brandon was caught off guard. He sat next to Dave, leaning back on the sofa. “How did you know that? Did you happen to meet her?”
“Uh-huh,” Dave replied calmly.
Brandon was surprised by Dave’s reaction.
“What’s going on? Are you pretending not to know each other? What kind of game are you playing? I don’t get it.”
Dave’s eyes darkened slightly. He kept reading the magazine and said, “I have nothing to do with her anymore.”
Brandon didn’t understand right away. When it finally sank in, he quickly sat up from the sofa.
“You dumped her?”
Dave frowned. He was the one who got dumped by Bianca, not the other way around.
“She’s engaged,” he said through gritted teeth, losing interest in the magazine he had been reading.
Brandon was stunned. “So, you broke up with her after finding out about her fiancé? Does that mean she cheated on you? Wow! She really is bold. No other woman would dare to cheat on you.”
Dave was annoyed by Brandon’s teasing. He closed the magazine, took a deep breath, and glared at him.
Brandon didn’t notice the glare. He found the situation interesting and kept going. “So, what did you do? You didn’t get back at her? That’s not like you. She should be taught a lesson. Do you know who her fiancé is? Have you found out?”
Brandon looked up at Dave and saw the anger in his eyes.
“You know him and have met him before,” Dave said, staring at Brandon.
“Me?” Brandon was confused. “Who is he and when did I meet him? I barely know Bianca.”
*It’s Blake Lawson.”
Brandon’s mind went blank when he heard Dave’s deep voice.
“Excuse me? Blake? Do you mean the male artist under her management? The one in this show?”
“That’s him,” Dave’s voice turned cold.
Brandon’s eyes nearly popped out in surprise as he kept sighing. “Bianca definitely knows how to play the game, letting him join her agency and even promoting him.”
Dave stayed silent, his expression cold.
“So, are you here to prove you’re the top dog? I bet they’ll be scared when they discover who you are. Then, Bianca will come running back to you, begging for your forgiveness. And you’ll refuse to accept her, making her regret everything.”
“Dave, that’s a great move!”
Dave stood with his hands in his pockets, looking down at Brandon on the sofa. “You’re thinking too much. I’m here for business, not because of Bianca.”
“Do you really have to handle this yourself?” Brandon asked. He saw Dave’s cold expression and quickly added, “Okay, I’m overthinking. You’re here for business. But do you really want to let it go? If you’re not up for it, I can take care of it for you.”
“Don’t worry, just focus on your role as a judge,” Dave said, glancing at his wristwatch. “It’s about time. I need to head to the shooting location.”
With that, he left.
Watching Dave leave, Brandon narrowed his eyes and muttered, “Why the pretense? You say you’re here for business, but that excuse is weak. Watch how I handle Bianca and Blake for daring to offend you.”
Soon, it was time for the official shoot of the show.
The guests and judges quietly took their seats.
Sophia, a permanent judge for the show, arrived early and greeted Bianca before sitting in the judges’ section.
The entrance of Nicolas ignites excitement. It was a rare chance for many to see him in person.
“Look, it’s Nicolas! He’s one of the judges!”
“Oh my God! I get to see my favorite TV couple in real life. I’m so excited!”
“He and Sophia are perfect together!”
Then, a jealous person asked out loud, “Nicolas wouldn’t want a divorcee, would he?”
Nicolas sat next to Sophia while they whispered.
“Hey, we meet again. It’s nice to see you,” he greeted Sophia with a friendly smile.
She smiled softly and asked politely, “How are you doing, Nicolas?”
Her beautiful smile made his heart race. He quickly looked down, trying to compose himself.
“The artists from your company performed really well in the previous episodes. I’m sure they’ll impress us again,” Nicolas said in a hushed voice.
Sophia replied gently, “Don’t worry, you won’t be disappointed. Reese is a talented actress. I hope you can guide her well today.”
Nicolas smiled and said, “With you here, I wouldn’t dare to show off.”
Suddenly, he turned to look into Sophia’s clear eyes and said, “I was more impressed with your performance in the film we worked on together. Your acting is top-notch. I should learn from you.”
Sophia felt flattered by his unexpected praise. He rarely complimented anyone, and they hadn’t spoken much during their collaboration on Vincent’s film.
“That’s too kind of you...” she began to reply.
Before she could finish, the door swung open, and a dazzling figure entered.
The audience couldn’t contain their excitement.