Later, Zoey messaged the leader of the paid voters, “Why couldn’t your team surpass Sophia’s votes? You let Sophia have another chance!”
The leader replied, “You only gave us a five-minute warning. We did our best. But I’ve already planned for the next round. We won’t lose in the final vote!”
Zoey pressed on, “Boost the numbers, spare no cost. We must close that gap in the next round!”
She was confident that Sophia wouldn’t stand a chance!
Zoey looked at Bianca, feeling increasingly annoyed despite her certainty of winning. While Zoey was restless, like a fish out of water, Bianca remained calm and collected.
Zoey’s irritation grew stronger, and part of her wanted to expose Bianca’s calm exterior.
But she kept her anger in check. As someone who had risen to become the director of the agent department, Zoey wasn’t one to lose control. She had her own strategies, her toughness, and her determined ways.
With years of experience in the tough industry, Zoey couldn’t let a newcomer outshine her.
This thought strengthened her determination. Bianca was in for a big defeat.
As the third round of auditions approached, excitement filled the air. Nicolas would act alongside the two women in the final act, keeping the live audience on the edge of their seats.
Meanwhile, Sophia frowned as she read through the script.
Noticing Sophia’s expression, Bianca approached with concern. “Sophia, are you okay? You look worried.”
Sophia sighed and set the script aside. “I’m fine. It’s just… this role. I have to play a mother who has lost her child. Deceived by her husband, she believes her lover is responsible and kills him, only to later find out he was actually her child’s father. It’s all a cruel scheme by her husband, his twisted revenge. The character spirals into madness.”
“Yeah, that sounds really intense,” Bianca remarked. She could see why the final scene would be challenging.
“Every role demands a certain depth of life experience. If I were in her shoes, madness wouldn’t be my fate. I’d calmly seek revenge for my child and then accept whatever came next,” Sophia explained.
Bianca, intrigued, asked, “Why do you say that?”
“You’re not a mother, Bianca. You wouldn’t understand,” Sophia replied, her attention turning to Natalie as she prepared to begin her performance. She wondered how Natalie would interpret the character.
On stage, Natalie excelled in the lead role, with Nicolas portraying her on-screen husband.
Their exceptional acting captivated the audience, clearly earning Nicolas the title of Best Actor. Acting alongside him, Natalie’s talent seemed to effortlessly blossom.
She had practiced this scene alone countless times, and her performance showed a level of talent and dedication that surpassed her previous acts. After her performance, everyone, except the stoic Louis, praised her loudly.
Most online users couldn’t stop praising Natalie’s flawless performance.
Below the stage, Zoey glowed with pride, certain of Natalie’s victory, thanks to Camille’s careful coaching.
Zoey, confident in her imminent win, felt her confidence shaken when Sophia took the stage.
Louis and Robert were eager to see Sophia’s performance, while the other three judges showed skepticism, leaning back in their chairs, already prepared to vote for Natalie as soon as Sophia finished her act.
Then Nicolas entered the scene.
He couldn’t help but notice how Sophia had matured, her allure deepened with age. Her aura was now serene, like calm waters-less vibrant than before but exuding a quiet grace.
In his early career, Nicolas had admired Sophia’s dedication to her art and had always hoped to collaborate with her. Her sudden exit from the entertainment industry had taken him by surprise.
Now, the idea of acting alongside Sophia filled Nicolas with a blend of nostalgia and excitement, even though it was just an audition.
Sophia’s skill was undeniable, yet as Nicolas compared her current performance to five years ago, he felt like something was absent.
Under the spotlight, their scene began to unfold.
Sophia started her performance by following the script diligently.
Nicolas, too, felt an unusual surge of emotions. His longing for Sophia seemed to drive him to embody his character more deeply than ever before.
At first, Sophia’s acting rivaled Natalie’s impressive performance. However, as the scene progressed and the heroine discovered the truth, descending into madness, Sophia unexpectedly diverged from the script.
The heroine, now aware of the truth, calmly carried out her revenge on her husband, tears streaming down her face. She wanted to cry but managed only a faint, bitter smile in the end.
Unnoticed, the knife slipped from her hand, leaving her looking like a puppet. After seeking her vengeance, she mechanically walked towards the police station.
When the curtain fell, even Nicolas found himself somewhat surprised. The play, intended to stick to the script, had unwittingly followed Sophia’s lead, yet he had stayed perfectly in character throughout.
Sophia’s spontaneous performance deeply moved him.
She truly embodied the role of a mother overwhelmed by love for her child, driven to madness by hatred.
What had been lacking in Sophia’s earlier scenes suddenly struck him: her natural talent.
But in this latest scene, her innate acting ability shone brilliantly. After five years of refining her skills, Sophia’s talent was as radiant as ever.
After a moment of silence, Louis stood up from the judge’s table. A smile appeared on his previously stern and impassive face.
He praised, “I’ve always believed that truly great actors immerse themselves in their characters. Understanding the inner workings and motivations allows them to naturally embody the role rather than rigidly sticking to the script. Sophia’s performance perfectly illustrates my belief. In her portrayal, I felt the profound strength of a mother, the madness of a criminal, and the desperation of a wife. It deeply moved me.”
Louis’s evaluation visibly unsettled both Zoey and Natalie.
They hadn’t anticipated that Sophia’s spontaneous adaptation could surpass Natalie’s meticulously rehearsed performance!
Louis’s praise was followed by Robert’s commendation. Despite the other three judges’ tendency to criticize Sophia for veering off the script, Louis’s admiration left them speechless.
After the show, the comments in the livestream became even more notable.
“Who else could impress Louis like that!”
“Sophia is clearly meant to be the best actress!”
“There’s no competition; she stands alone!”
“While Natalie did well, her performance felt forced and artificial next to Sophia’s effortless grace.”
“Anyone who doubted Sophia’s acting abilities was clearly wrong!”
“Sophia, the undisputed queen of acting, sweeps all the awards this year. Meanwhile, Natalie only managed to secure a few roles in Vincent’s films. Can she even compete with Sophia?”
“Does everyone online have short memories? Remember Natalie’s disastrous performance in that romantic drama?”
“Let’s not be too hard on her. Natalie’s talents just don’t measure up to what Sophia effortlessly achieves, haha!”