Suddenly, a ray of sunlight burst through the theater doors, catching everyone’s eye. They all turned to see who it was, and a stunning figure emerged in the light.
The crowd was stunned. Sophia had arrived.
Bianca breathed a sigh of relief and eased her grip.
Zoey was surprised, biting her lip as she watched Sophia enter.
But as Sophia stepped closer to the stage and the audience got a good look at her, their expressions turned to disdain.
Sophia stood there, covered in dust, her clothes torn and frayed at the edges of her skirt, her hair a mess, and a dark bruise on her forehead. She looked quite messy.
Natalie couldn’t help but tease. “Sophia, how did you end up like that? People might think you were auditioning as a homeless person.”
Sophia ignored Natalie’s laughter, bowed respectfully to the judges, and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m Sophia Johnson. I had a bit of trouble on my way here. I apologize for the delay.”
Louis remained serious, keeping a stern expression. Robert, the seasoned actor, maintained a friendly smile.
Brian, from Edenfield Film Academy, kept a neutral expression. “Enough with the excuses.”
Elsa, the top stage performer, clasped her hands together. “Regardless of the reason, you’re late. Now that you’re here let’s begin. No more delays.”
Larry, the well-known director, wasted no time in marking a cross next to Sophia’s name. “Let’s move. The audience is getting impatient. You know how crucial this audition is.”
Bianca rushed to Sophia’s side, holding the script with concern in her eyes. “Sophia, are you okay? Should we take you to the hospital?”
Sophia took the script with a reassuring smile and shook her head. “I’m fine. It’s my time to shine.”
After a quick look at the script, Sophia prepared to head to the stage. Bianca patted her back supportively. “You’ve got this, Sophia. Go show them what you’ve got.”
With a grateful nod, Sophia turned and walked onto the stage, the spotlight illuminating her as she stepped forward.
The livestream chat was filled with ridicule and skepticism.
“Why bother showing up? Just give up already!”
“What’s with her outfit? Is she trying a new makeup trend to stand out?”
“She should step down and spare herself the embarrassment!”
Sophia stood at the center of the stage, absorbed in her performance, unaffected by the criticism swirling around her.
The stage lights dimmed, and she effortlessly became her character.
Her portrayal stirred up a mix of emotions, blending hatred and love, reminiscent of someone dear to her – Michael.
These conflicting feelings, complex and painful, kept her from shedding tears.
Sophia’s eyes, filled with despair, sadness, and turmoil, turned red as she held back tears.
Sophia’s torn clothes highlighted the vulnerability she conveyed.
The flood of online comments slowly quieted down, seemingly moved by the strength of her acting.
It was only during her character’s “death” scene that the anguish in Sophia’s eyes turned into a calm peace. With closed eyes, a smile of relief appeared on her lips, and a tear gently rolled down her cheek.
As the spotlight on her dimmed, the entire stage suddenly brightened.
The audience, still captivated by the solemn atmosphere, took a moment to gather their thoughts. Then, applause erupted from the judges’ panel.
Louis stood up and clapped for Sophia.
Seeing this, others who were hesitant also began applauding.
Applause filled the theater, creating a moment of appreciation and admiration.
Natalie felt disappointed. She had watched Louis closely, expecting a strong reaction like the one Sophia received. Instead, his applause for Sophia was warm, unlike his reaction to Natalie’s performance.
She thought her performance was just as good as Sophia’s. Why did Louis react this way?
Natalie was furious, squeezing her fists so hard that her nails dug into her skin. Zoey looked equally displeased.
Sophia hadn’t acted in five years and didn’t have a good mentor to guide her. Despite this, her performance surpassed even Natalie’s own abilities from five years ago, leaving Zoey baffled.
Zoey couldn’t understand how Sophia managed to escape unscratched after the accident.
Zoey was angry, her face contorting with displeasure. Sophia’s impressive performance felt like a direct insult to Zoey.
After the first round of performances, while Sophia’s talent was recognized, the audience voting was marred by accusations. Many criticized Sophia for being late and accused her of dancing in the park yesterday to gain popularity. Gossip spreaders worsened the situation, deliberately swaying public opinion and causing Sophia to receive fewer votes than Natalie.
Now, it was time for the judges to vote.
Louis quietly gave his vote to Sophia, saying, “I find Sophia’s performance quite commendable.”
Robert respected Sophia’s acting skills but was disappointed by her lateness, which had upset the public. As a subtle punishment, Robert voted for Natalie instead of Sophia.
The other three judges also had concerns about Sophia’s lateness and her unconventional publicity stunt in the park. In the end, all three voted for Natalie.
After the first round, Natalie gathered a significant lead in votes. Vincent declared Natalie the winner of the initial round.
With most of the audience and judges supporting her, Natalie felt relieved. She sat with her legs crossed, but Louis not choosing her left her a bit unsettled.
Even though Louis wasn’t convinced by her performance, Natalie had won over everyone else’s hearts. She was determined to impress Louis in the upcoming scenes and earn his applause.
Seeing Natalie’s clear victory, Zoey couldn’t hide her satisfaction and almost laughed. She approached Bianca with pretended kindness, saying, “Bianca, this is just the beginning. I’m sure Natalie will keep shining. Since we work together, take my advice: Consider leaving gracefully. If Sophia loses all three rounds, both you and Sophia will have a damaged reputation, making it hard to stay in the industry.”
Bianca smiled back at Zoey and replied, “Miss Carter, as you said, it’s just the beginning. Let’s see how it goes. Oh, and do you remember our bet? If Miss King loses in the end, you should step down as director and let someone more capable takeover.”
Zoey smirked. “I haven’t forgotten. And if you lose, remember to resign from Phoenix Entertainment.”
With determination blazing in her eyes, Zoey turned and walked away. She was determined not only to force Bianca out of Phoenix Entertainment but also to damage Bianca’s reputation in the industry.
Zoey was confident that Bianca couldn’t compete with her.
After saying goodbye to Sophia at the theater, Michael stayed outside, troubled by the strange car accident earlier that day. Feeling uneasy, he took out his phone and dialed a specific number.
Meanwhile, in his office, Dave watched the live audition broadcast attentively. Bianca appeared on screen occasionally, and he didn’t want to miss a moment.