Chapter 88: This Rebellious Child Is Quite Defiant

The driver felt the car tremble slightly, momentarily worrying about a potential safety issue. The onlookers, meanwhile, stifled laughter with such intensity it bordered on madness.

He assumed everyone shared his infatuation, even believing his marriage proposal a favor Danielle had long dreamt of. No wonder he was so distraught by her rejection. The Quirk family thought, Goodness me, contain yourselves! This child is incredibly defiant!

She’d stopped responding, yet he remained oblivious. He believed her love was too humble, too invested in his career, that she lacked the courage to accept his life-altering proposal. The Quirk family chuckled, Too humble? Ha!

Even more amusing was his genuine desire to marry. He felt he should stop letting Mirabelle control him and instead pursue Danielle, whose love he perceived as unconditional. He blurted, "Does Danielle know she's been dragged into my peculiar games?"

The Quirk family thought, Enough! You'll make us laugh ourselves to death!

Unable to contain their laughter, they quickly intervened, questioning the relationship. Rosalie worried, "But what if Danielle believes him… could she be deceived? It's a heartfelt confession from someone she's known for years."

Evian said, "She's so professional, she'll likely just ignore it."

I'm not sure; I can only blame Danielle for lacking foresight. Otherwise, she would have slapped the lunatic long ago. Maverick's ruthless betrayal, abandonment, suffering, repeated revenge, and five years of hateful silence—a man immune to love wouldn't expect him to be a masochist.

Her feelings for Maverick were profound, making her question his confession's sincerity. Everyone immediately worried for Danielle. What if this clever girl, in a moment of weakness, was deceived?

Honestly, she didn't care about the truth. She just wanted Maverick to work diligently and avoid trouble. If he liked her, she considered herself lucky—manageable, far better than lingering feelings for Mirabelle, which would only cause problems and jeopardize his future. She wouldn't have to manage the fallout.

This was a critical time. She wished she could metaphorically crack a whip, urging him to focus on their performance. Love, marriage—everything needed to be put on hold. They could sort it out later. Upon hearing this, Alexander said, "Danielle is highly professional and ambitious; she wouldn't concern herself with romance. This period is crucial."

"Because of the transition?" Christopher asked.

Alexander sighed, glancing at Christopher. "Don't you follow industry news? Danielle's in a high-stakes gamble, with Maverick by her side, trying to establish her own agency. She can't afford setbacks."

Everyone understood why Danielle hadn't directly addressed Maverick's proposal. She didn't want to distract him; it was a delaying tactic, fearing disruption.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, yet found the situation inexplicably amusing. Maverick was clearly aware of Danielle's actions, but he was consumed by love and romance.

Isabella blurted, "Danielle's great, but her focus is… off."

Christopher said, "Professionally, Maverick is promising; Danielle can rely on him. But…"

Everyone thought, But who knew he was such a hopeless romantic? It's better to rely on oneself; a hopeless romantic won't survive in this harsh world.

Isabella, as the next competitor, needed to understand the situation—not because she wanted to see someone make a fool of themselves.

In the following days, Maverick asked Danielle on a date; she took him to her performing arts teacher's place. Seeing Hendrick and Mirabelle together, Maverick spent the night at Danielle's, where they discussed script issues over coffee.

Surprisingly, Maverick thought Danielle lacked self-confidence, fearing his feelings weren't genuine. His actions, however, tainted their relationship, leading to a meeting with Danielle. It seemed her urge to discipline the child had reached its peak.

She held it in. Danielle was composed. They breezily reached rehearsal day.

Before live broadcasts, the production team provided a venue and coaches, discussing stage effects and filming rehearsal footage for broadcast transitions. Everyone was notified beforehand to present themselves purposefully. Diligent rehearsals, conflict resolution, harmonious collaborations—everything was designed to attract fans.

Under Hayden’s pressure, Isabella rehearsed diligently, unable to gossip. Rosalie, an assistant, excitedly announced, "There's a commotion next door!"

Isabella, immediately energized, said, "Hayden, I need a break."

Hayden, about to object, saw Isabella and Christopher nonchalantly following. He rubbed his forehead; he was dealing with rebels! He went to investigate.

A high window offered a perfect view of the rehearsal room. Maverick and Mirabelle stood aside; Maverick looked gloomy, Mirabelle confused and distraught. Danielle's face was ashen with anger, Hendrick beside her, his expression unseen. They had likely arrived late and witnessed something.

Isabella gasped. Maverick and Mirabelle were rehearsing and suddenly started making out, caught by Danielle and Hendrick. Shocking! Christopher and Rosalie gasped. Hayden, unable to read minds, watched the three trembling beside him, feeling ostracized and bewildered.