Alessia didn't go back to the front stage but stayed backstage, watching.
The two little ones had participated in big shows abroad before, so now, when they stepped onto the stage and started strutting their model walks, they exuded a full presence.
Christian was lively and cute. Even when he reached the middle of the stage, he didn't forget to blow kisses and send out heart shapes, just as he said, captivating the audience below.
Eleanor, on the other hand, was relatively shy, but her unique sweet temperament and adorable appearance also won the hearts of many people.
"Wow!! Elle is so obedient and adorable! Truly my niece! Chris is not bad either, although a bit exaggerated, he's quite cute," Bianca, sitting in the audience, cheered as if it were New Year's.
For the first time, Dominic watched his son and daughter's performance, and his heart melted. The corners of his thin lips couldn't help but curve up into a smile.
However, where there's joy, there's also worry.
Sisca looked at Christian's smiling face on stage and thought she was seeing things. Didn't Christopher sit right next to Dominic? How did he end up on stage?
She blinked and then abruptly looked to her side, only to see Christopher quietly sitting there wearing a mask.
Coupled with Bianca's boastful words, it was hard for her not to think in that direction.
All those stories about Alessia remarrying and living alone with two children were probably false.
The truth was that both those children were Dominic's, and Alessia had triplets back then.
Was Heaven really favoring Alessia like this?
Was it really this unfair?
She refused to accept it, she didn't want to believe it.
From the moment Christian and Eleanor took the stage to the end of the children's show, Sisca sat in a daze.
It wasn't until the children's show ended, and the main show was nearing its end, that Dominic, Bianca, and Christopher left their seats, that she slowly stood up.
She walked slowly towards the backstage, wanting to see with her own eyes whether those two children were really Alessia's.
Sisca was a celebrity, so many people knew her, and she had no trouble entering the backstage area.
With Dominic and Alessia's striking combination, plus Christian and Eleanor, who had also performed brilliantly on the stage, they stood out, making it hard not to attract attention.
Sisca almost immediately spotted them as soon as she entered the backstage area.
She saw Dominic, who rarely smiled or showed affection, holding a little girl in his arms tenderly.
The more she looked at the little girl's face, the more she felt it resembled Alessia.
"Mommy," the little girl called out obediently, and Alessia opened her arms to receive the little girl, holding her in her embrace.
Dominic's gaze followed the little girl, landing on Alessia.
From a distance, they looked like a close-knit family of five.
She had dreamt of being Mrs. Carter for years, and now, in this moment, all those dreams shattered.
Suddenly, a phone ringing interrupted her thoughts.
Sisca quickly suppressed her resentful gaze, turned around, and briskly walked out of the backstage area to the corridor to answer the call.
As soon as she answered the phone, the anxious voice of her assistant came through. "Miss Sisca, where are you? Your fans are questioning Al at the show, and now it's trending online. Netizens are criticizing you. The company wants you to issue a statement immediately, publicly apologizing to Al on behalf of your fans!"
Sisca's grip on her phone tightened, her gaze fixed on the ground, her voice resentful.
"Why should I apologize when my fans are questioning Al? What does it have to do with me?"
The assistant said, "Netizens are saying that you instigated your fans to question Al. The company's point is that you can't afford to offend Al. If you offend Al, all your fashion resources will be gone, and you've had quite a bit of negative publicity recently. Right now, the priority is to eliminate the negative impact."
Sisca sneered, "If they really want to eliminate the negativity, shouldn't they delete the posts and hire some water army? Tell the company I won't apologize."
She wouldn't apologize. Why should she apologize?
She hadn't done anything wrong this time. Why should she be mocked just because Alessia was standing on the high platform, being adored by everyone?
She refused to accept it.
Sisca hung up the phone and then glanced back at the backstage area.
At that moment, Alessia and Dominic were walking towards the exit together, as if they were about to leave.
Sisca, upon seeing the situation, quickly turned around and headed upstairs, finally hiding at the corner of the staircase.
"Sis, I didn't expect your children to grow up so much. They are cute, beautiful, and handsome. Today's event was so successful, let's have a celebration banquet tonight." This was the voice of Dylan, who was following Alessia like a little follower.
"As a celebrity, aren't you busy, Dylan?" Bianca's displeased voice came.
"Of course, but I still have time to attend your celebration banquet." Dylan didn't care at all about Bianca's hostility.
"Alright, where do you want to hold the celebration banquet? You arrange the location." Alessia's cold voice rang out.
"Really? How about X Villa? It's in the city, with beautiful scenery, suitable for adults and children to play, and the night view is also stunning." Dylan excitedly suggested.
"Okay." Alessia agreed.
The sound of footsteps of a group of people descending the stairs echoed.
Sisca listened to the lively conversation fading away and turned around to go downstairs to follow, but just as she turned around, she saw that Alessia and Dominic hadn't left yet.
She saw Dominic pulling Alessia, who was about to go downstairs.
With one hand holding Alessia's arm and the other around her waist, Dominic asked in a low voice, "Alessia, have you forgotten what you promised? To keep your distance from Dylan?"
"What?" Alessia looked at Dominic with confusion.
"Model?!" A word squeezed out of Dominic's mouth, followed by, "Celebration banquet?!"
Alessia understood. She said, "Having Dylan as a model is because he is suitable for it. Promising to hold a celebration banquet is because he modeled for me, so I should thank him."
"So, in summary, you're right?" Dominic sneered coldly.
Alessia nodded slightly.
Before Dominic could say anything, the voice of the little boy downstairs interrupted. "Mommy, why haven't you and Daddy come down yet? Hurry up!"
The voice of a little boy downstairs urged.
Alessia glanced at Dominic's hand still holding her arm. "Mr. Carter, can you let go now?"
Reluctantly, Dominic let go, but he still warned, "Don't forget to keep your distance from Dylan."
"Yes, Mr. Carter," Alessia replied with a hint of impatience.
As the two left, Sisca finally emerged from the staircase.
What did she see?
She saw Dominic jealous of Dylan being close to Alessia!
Alessia appeased Dominic, and Dominic didn't ignore Alessia because of it. He still walked with her.
Sisca bit her lip until it almost bled, but she didn't feel the pain.
Another round of ringing sounded.
Sisca glanced at the number, rejected it, but soon it rang again.
In the end, Sisca answered it.
Before she could speak, the scolding voice on the other end started first. "What are you up to again? Why did you answer the phone so late? I asked you to transfer the money last time, why hasn't it come yet?"
"I'll send it later," Sisca said wearily.
"It can't be late. Your brother is in the hospital and needs money. Transfer a million over immediately," the voice on the other end was aggressive.
Sisca couldn't bear it and replied, "Mom, I'm not a bank. Where am I supposed to get so much money from?"
However, Sisca's voice was loud, but the voice on the other end was even louder.
"Sisca, you've grown some guts, dare to be rude to your mom. When you refused to get married and wanted to go to college, how did you agree? You said you'd take care of your brother and me and your dad for the rest of your life."
"If you don't have money, go ask Dominic. Didn't you say you'll be Mrs. Carter sooner or later? What? Now that Dominic doesn't want you, you're helpless? You only know how to rely on others, won't you fight for it? Anyway, if the money isn't in the account by next Monday, I'll contact the media and expose your secrets."
After finishing speaking, the other end hung up.
Sisca held onto her phone, feeling a suffocating sensation in her chest.
She was at a dead end. Everyone was forcing her because of Alessia.
If Alessia hadn't returned, she could still stay by Dominic's side. Bianca wouldn't change her attitude towards her. Before long, she could become Mrs. Carter! She wouldn't have negativity surrounding her, she wouldn't have to borrow money, she wouldn't be coerced by her mother.
Sisca wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes forcefully, her gaze gradually becoming frantic.
There was no mistake!
Mom was right!
If you want something, fight for it!
All of this was ruined by Alessia, then step by step she would ruin Alessia and return everything to the beginning.
She would go to the X Villa tonight!
***