As evening fell, the public relations department at Harper Entertainment had already closed for the day. By the time hashtags like "Raymond vs. Hector: Who Would You Bet On?" and "Raymond Holding Hector Back" started trending, along with a shift in public opinion online, it was too late for their PR team to respond effectively.The PR manager quickly called Oliver. "Oliver, hard evidence of Raymond undermining Hector has just surfaced online. We don’t know who’s behind this sudden attack, but it caught us off guard."Oliver immediately understood the implications. The perpetrators had prepared thoroughly and struck suddenly, leaving no time for damage control. Any subsequent PR efforts would likely have limited impact.Unconcerned, Oliver replied, "Then don't bother managing it. These are all facts anyway. Just do your best to help clean up his image later."He didn't need to investigate to know that Lindsay's studio was undoubtedly behind this. Though he disliked Albert, Oliver ackno
Hector and Raymond had been rivals for a long time. Hector could guess Raymond’s thoughts by just looking at his expression He found it amusing - someone truly passionate about music wouldn't have such petty concerns about winning.Hector spoke up, "Mr. Lowe, why don't you choose? If you want to go first, I'll follow. If you prefer to go second, I'll start."He didn't voice Raymond's inner thoughts or suggest he go first. Instead, he wanted Raymond to make the choice himself. This way, if Raymond lost, he couldn't use the order as an excuse.Hector had learned quite a few counterstrategies during his time with Lindsay. By addressing Raymond formally and letting him choose, he made it impossible for Raymond's fans to criticize him.Raymond had been expecting Hector to offer him the first spot. Caught off guard by being given the choice, he didn't bother with false modesty.With a smirk, he said, "Well, since you put it that way and speak respectfully to me, why don't I go first and
After all, memorizing and rearranging a completely unfamiliar song in just half an hour sounded almost unbelievable.Once the host finished speaking, Hector picked up the guitar he had played earlier and took a seat in the center of the stage. As soon as he started strumming, his entire demeanor seemed to transform. Then, he began to sing.Lindsay noticed that Hector was quite clever—playing the guitar himself highlighted his pure vocal ability and his captivating voice. Sure enough, the moment he began, his voice had an ethereal quality, almost like a sound from heaven. He remembered most of the lyrics, and whenever he forgot a line, he simply glanced at the big screen. He immersed himself in the song, pouring his own interpretation and emotions into it. While the overall melody remained unchanged, he made several key adjustments that enhanced the song. These changes better suited his voice and style, making the performance more emotional and vibrant. It gave the entire song a
Hector noticed Lindsay approaching the stage and had a good idea of what she was planning. When she reached the stage, she exchanged a few words with the host, who nodded with a smile, her eyes filled with anticipation as if she was eager to watch the drama unfold. She gestured for Lindsay to proceed, and Lindsay thanked her with a smile.Lindsay then turned to Hector and said, "Mr. Lowe doesn’t believe that your performance was spontaneous.""Since you’re an artist I’m managing, I don’t want any accusations of cheating tarnishing your win," she continued. "So, I have a suggestion."She looked at Raymond with a smile and added, "But I wonder if Mr. Lowe is brave enough to take up the challenge."Raymond was visibly displeased when he saw Lindsay stepping in to defend Hector. He asked, "How do you plan to prove he didn’t hear or rearrange the song beforehand?" His demeanor suggested he wasn't intimidated. "What do you have in mind?"Lindsay replied, "The song you just sang hasn’t been
After discussing it further, the host arranged for someone to retrieve the security footage and make a copy so Hector could learn the song. She also announced this additional challenge to everyone in the bar.The bar patrons were all for it, cheering and encouraging the idea. Even those watching the live stream couldn’t help but join in the excitement."Lindsay's smile matches El's perfectly—Mr. Lowe is definitely walking into a trap!""That was a brilliant move by Lindsay.""If Hector pulls this off, Lindsay and Elric will completely shatter Raymond’s ego.""Is Raymond being a bit foolish here?""Is this a trait of the Harper brothers? One gets trapped by Elric, and the other by Lindsay.""The double trouble duo—they’ll take you down without a second thought!""Can’t wait to watch this play out!""Lindsay's so fierce: 'My people, I protect them!'""I’m so touched seeing Lindsay stand up for Hector—I almost cried.""Thank you, Lindsay, for believing in Hector and standing by him. Love
Raymond sat down, and Elric immediately turned to Alex and Olivia. "Time for you two to drink your penalty shots."Alex sighed, feeling frustrated that this jerk was still keeping an eye on them. He took a deep breath and said, "A bet’s a bet—we’ll drink."Three shots weren’t a big deal for him, so he reached for one of the small glasses on the table to pour his drink. But to his surprise, Elric had the waiter bring over six cocktails. Not only were the glasses much larger, but the drinks also had a strange color.Alex protested, "That’s unnecessary. We can just drink what we ordered."Elric grinned. "But these were specially made for you by the bartender. It’d be a shame to waste them. If you don’t drink these, you’ll have to pay for them yourself."Alex could tell this jerk had been waiting for this moment. "How much per glass?"Elric held up two fingers. "This much.""Twenty dollars? We can cover a hundred," Alex replied.But Elric shook his head. "Think bigger—two hundred dollar
Though Raymond had indeed lost, the cocktail, while unpleasant, wasn't particularly strong, so three glasses wouldn't be enough to get him drunk. It also didn’t seem likely to upset his stomach. So, he gritted his teeth and downed the other two glasses.After finishing all three drinks, Alex lifted one of the empty glasses and turned it upside down to show Elric. "I’m done."Elric applauded him. "Well done, Alex. You’re as tough as ever."Alex, clearly annoyed, shot back, "Shut up." He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a hidden meaning behind Elric's words.Elric shifted his attention from Alex to Olivia. "Your turn, angel."Normally, if Elric called her "angel," Olivia would be delighted. But now, she couldn’t help but feel there was a hint of mockery in his tone. She glanced at the three strangely colored cocktails in front of her, feeling a strong sense of reluctance.Raymond was puzzled. "Why is Via the one drinking?" he asked, turning to Justin. "Shouldn't it be you t
Alex's sudden involvement left Raymond completely flustered. “Are you really on my side?” he wondered, sensing that even his fifth brother seemed to have ulterior motives."Is this really necessary?" Raymond tried to argue, "I am still the senior here, and I can handle this with some grace."“None of these three are up to any good,” he thought. The more they pushed him to bet, the more determined he was not to go along with it.But before he could say more, Lindsay spoke up. "It’s admirable that you’re showing grace, Mr. Lowe, but we can’t just let this slide. If Hector did cheat, I won’t cover for him. He’ll owe the penalty drinks as an apology. But if my artist is the one being unfairly accused, those who slandered him should also be held accountable."She gave Raymond a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "What do you think, Mr. Lowe? Or are you afraid to bet?"Alex, eager to stir the pot, chimed in, "Come on, Ray, what are you scared of? Take the bet."A moment ago, his third
In the vibrant district of the historic town, the streets were lined with vintage boutiques and various artisan stalls. Lindsay's group visited the town’s administration office and rented a temporary booth.Alex and Justin eagerly borrowed a table and chairs, setting up the booth. Following Lindsay's instructions, they also bought a piece of white fabric and worked together to create a simple sign. The production team provided markers and other supplies.Lindsay glanced over at Benedict and said, "Benedict, I’ll let you handle writing the banner."She was eager to observe his writing and the energy he gave off while doing it.Benedict sighed inwardly—this girl was constantly trying to test him. After a moment’s thought, he nodded. "Alright, I’ll write it."He grabbed a marker, uncapped it, and wrote in bold letters across the white fabric: “Fortune Telling, Divination, and Tarot Readings.”Lindsay watched him closely, noticing the fluidity of his movements as he wrote, his posture exud
Justin added, "My mom’s been trying to get me to help Olivia and distance myself from Lindsay. She’s also said plenty of nasty things about Lindsay. This time, not only did I ignore her, but I even pushed back. It probably pissed her off, and now she’s taking it out on Lindsay."Alex, clearly upset, said, "You should talk to her and tell her to stop fixating on Lindsay. Lindsay hasn’t done anything to provoke her. It’s ridiculous."He was frustrated that Justin’s mom had been stirring up trouble, making Grace even more difficult to deal with.Justin nodded. "Alright, after the show is over, I’ll have a talk with her."He also felt his mom was acting out of line. Back when he liked Lindsay, her disapproval at least made sense. But now that Lindsay had kicked him to the curb, his mom’s continued obsession was baffling.Although they were speaking softly, Lindsay and Benedict, walking ahead, heard every word.Lindsay found the situation with Abby baffling as well. A woman who fawned over
After Lindsay left, the other guests quickly followed, leaving only Alex standing there awkwardly. He spoke briefly to the production staff, and they soon shifted the cameras away from that area. Alex then walked over to Grace, saying, "Mom, since Lindsay won’t lend it, let’s just drop it."Grace shot him a cold glare, her expression dark. "How can you be so heartless? The one lying in bed is your fourth brother. Are you hanging around Lindsay all the time just to learn how to be cold and ruthless?"Unable to contain her frustration toward Lindsay, Grace directed it at Alex instead.Alex sighed in exasperation. "Even if we need help, it has to be something she’s willing to do! We’ve wronged Lindsay enough as it is, so why do you keep trying to guilt-trip her? Brandon’s situation isn’t Lindsay’s fault. Why don’t you go find Olivia? She’s the one who caused all this, maybe she can fix it. After all, whoever’s behind her is no easy target."Right now, all Alex felt toward Lindsay was gui
Grace held back her anger and said, "It'll only take a few minutes. I have something important to discuss with you."Lindsay sat back down in her seat. "Fine, go ahead."The livestream was on, and Lindsay was fully aware of it—she was doing this on purpose.Grace was about to speak when her assistant whispered something in her ear. Her expression changed, and she subtly shifted her body to turn away from the camera.Then she looked at Lindsay. "Can we talk outside?"In her rush to find Lindsay, she had almost forgotten that this was a live-streamed variety show. She didn’t want to be on camera, much less discuss such personal matters in front of an audience.Lindsay, however, refused. "If it's important, say it here. If not, then don’t say anything."Grace’s expression darkened. "It’s because it’s important that we need to talk privately."She emphasized, "It’s not appropriate in front of the camera."Lindsay just smiled. "Unless it's something shady, what’s wrong with saying it on cam
Lindsay thought about it for a while and figured that if Grace was coming to find her, it was probably for Brandon. The only thing she could want would be the artifact in her possession.Alex saw her reply and couldn’t help but smile wryly. His sister was indeed sharp and saw right through it.He sent a voice message, repeating what the head of the Divination Association had told them. "Mom just wants to borrow the artifact from you to suppress Brandon’s condition."Lindsay replied, "Tell her not to waste her energy."Seeing that message, Alex knew right away that she wouldn’t lend it out. It didn’t surprise him—his sister could be ruthless when she wanted to be."We can’t convince her otherwise, not even Dad can stop her... sigh," Alex added. When their mom’s temper flared, she wouldn’t listen to anyone.Lindsay didn’t seem to care. "Then let her come. I’m not going to do her any favors."Alex recalled the conversation between their parents at the hospital and decided to warn her, "M
Recently, Grace had been spending more time with Abby, often meeting up for outings. Over time, Richard noticed that Grace's anger towards their biological daughter had deepened. Abby had always disliked Lindsay and showed more favoritism towards Olivia. She must have been stirring up trouble and egging Grace on whenever they met. With time, Grace was bound to be influenced.Grace, clearly annoyed, said, "You even want to control who I make friends with? Aren't you going too far? What's wrong with me getting along with Mrs. Ford and spending more time with her?"Richard felt cornered. "I just think there's something off about her. Her intentions in getting close to you don't seem good. That's why I'm trying to give you a heads-up."Grace didn't believe him at all. "I think you're overthinking it. We’ve always had a decent relationship. We’re just closer now, that’s all.""What do you men know about women’s matters? Don't interfere." She now had plenty to talk about with Abby. Jenny wa
Richard glanced at Grace with clear disapproval. “This whole mess was caused by Olivia and Brandon. What does any of it have to do with Lindsay?”He could tell that recent events, and the embarrassment caused by their sons, had left his wife feeling bitter. It seemed she had begun to project that frustration onto Lindsay, despite the situation having little to do with her.Grace crossed her arms defensively. “If it wasn’t for her ongoing fight with Olivia, Brandon wouldn’t have gotten involved. He’s her brother. Doesn’t she owe him some consideration now that he’s in this condition?”Richard frowned. “What exactly are you trying to say?”Valarie, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, her displeasure clear. “I see it differently. It’s Olivia and your son who started the trouble, and all Lindsay did was defend herself. Are you really looking to embarrass yourselves even more?”Grace shifted uncomfortably, feeling the sting of her mother-in-law’s words. “I’m just thinking abou
Given the Harper family's persistence, there was no way the Divination Association could avoid a thorough investigation. Seeing that Randolph wouldn’t back down, the official left, courteously escorted out by Randolph, who, for the moment, had ceased his protests.Valarie carefully placed the multicolored stone inside a small protective pouch before securing it around Brandon's neck. Though he felt a slight relief after putting it on, the bad luck continued. As the official had warned, his misfortune was too severe for one artifact to fully contain.Randolph tried every connection he had, attempting to borrow a second artifact, but came up empty-handed. Time slipped by, and evening approached before they could find any further solutions.By the time Richard and Grace arrived at the hospital, they were met with the weary faces of their parents. Feeling guilty for everything his father had gone through, Richard bowed his head. "Dad, Mom, I'm so sorry you had to go through this today."
Hearing their words, the hope that had briefly flickered in Brandon’s eyes quickly faded, leaving him more devastated than before. "Grandfather, I know I was wrong," he muttered, finally realizing the truth. His foster sister had been nothing but trouble—far from trustworthy, she had been a constant source of harm. Meanwhile, his real sister, though harsh and distant, had proven to be far more reliable. Regret gnawed at him deeply.Randolph sighed, his voice heavy with disappointment. “Knowing you’re wrong doesn’t change anything. It’s too late now.”Turning back to the two mystics, Randolph asked, “If you can’t break the curse directly, could you at least help suppress his misfortune? Maybe with a protective charm or some kind of mystical object?”Despite his frustration with his grandson’s foolishness, he couldn’t just leave him to suffer.Both mystics exchanged uneasy glances. “We don’t have the ability to suppress his bad luck with charms.”“For something like that, you’d need t