Chapter 96

The numbers on the giant screen suddenly froze. Isabella Langley's pupils constricted sharply.

Her fingers dug into her palms unconsciously.

The vote curve took an eerie turn at the last second. Dylan Orlando's name leapt back to the top.

"System malfunction?" She heard the tremor in her own voice.

Alexander Roland's brows knitted together, his gaze sweeping across the venue like a hawk.

The audience erupted into louder chaos.

"Foul play! This has to be foul play!"

"He was just overtaken a moment ago!"

"The organizers need to explain!"

Camera flashes lit up the room, exposing Isabella's ghostly pale face.

She whipped her head toward the judges' panel.

Sebastian Valdemar was typing on his keyboard, the cold glare of his glasses obscuring his eyes.

"Brother..." She clutched Alexander's sleeve.

A soft chuckle came from the corner.

Evelyn Roland closed her laptop, her red lips curling in mockery.

The numbers on the screen began flickering wildly.

Dylan's votes skyrocketed like a rocket launch.

"This can't be!" Isabella shrieked.

She had already—

Sebastian suddenly looked up, his sharp gaze piercing through the crowd.

Evelyn quickly pulled her hat lower.

But it was too late.

A familiar IP address flashed on the screen for three seconds.

Sebastian's pupils dilated.

By the time he pushed his chair back, the figure in the corner had vanished.

"Check the surveillance," he ordered coldly into his earpiece.

The screen went black.

The crowd gasped.

Isabella's legs gave out, nearly sending her crashing to the floor.

Her carefully laid trap had been dismantled effortlessly.

And worse—

That person had returned.