Chapter 56

Watching the figure on stage—exuding unparalleled elegance and a restrained aura of authority—the audience erupted in admiration. "Who is this celebrity guest?" someone asked. "He's so handsome! What incredible demeanor," another chimed in. If he'd appeared publicly before, they surely would have recognized him.

Only Selina and Lydia were shocked. "Isn't that Trevon?" Selina gasped. "Why is he here? Have you heard he's presenting an award?" Lydia asked.

"I haven't," Selina replied. "I messaged him about his performance, but he didn't respond. I assumed he was busy, but..." She trailed off, bewildered. Why would Trevon be here? Insight Group shouldn't have sponsored this outdoor music festival. Even if they had, Trevon's personal appearance would be extraordinary. He's Insight Group's guiding star, capable of deciding multi-billion-dollar deals with a single meeting. For an event like this, a headquarters representative would be considered an immense favor.

Countless questions flooded Selina's mind. Soon, Trevon announced the festival's most popular band: The Rose. "Inviting The Rose to the stage to receive their awards," he declared. There was little dissent; The Rose's number-one ranking was the day's biggest surprise for the audience, including Selina and Lydia.

Black Smoke's members, teeth gritted, seethed with frustration. Seeing a band they'd recently dismissed rise to the top—accepting awards before a massive crowd and officially surpassing them—felt like a profound insult.

As Selina and the others ascended the stage, Trevon personally accepted the medals from the attendant and bestowed them on The Rose's members. Reaching Selina last, she subtly questioned him with her eyes. He smiled, whispering as he pinned the medal on her, "If I didn't, how could I see my wife looking so elegant and heroic? You did a great job today. You deserve this, honey. I'm proud of you." His gaze, as he fastened the medal, was intensely focused, as if cradling a precious treasure. The feeling of being cherished warmed her immensely.

Thomas and Luke observed Trevon's unusually tender treatment of Selina. The earlier events seemed merely a prelude; his true goal was clearly Selina. Countless cameras captured the stunning scene: the handsome, noble Trevon, in a high-end black suit, bending to pin the medal on the breathtakingly beautiful Selina.

Chapter 57

Under the flickering stage lights, their profiles were exquisite, a perfect match. Their stunning appearance created an intoxicating atmosphere, sparking countless romantic imaginings. Then, Trevon personally presented the sole trophy to Selina. She lightly pressed her lips together, accepted the trophy, and nodded, "Thank you." The Rose members, laden with gifts, departed happily.

Lydia approached Selina quietly. "Selina, did Trevon appear because of you? We've never heard of a post-performance award ceremony at this festival. His presentation and gaze...I can't tell if he had ulterior motives."

Selina shrugged. "Who knows? But it indirectly promotes The Rose—a step toward our goals, right?" Reassured that Selina harbored no suspicions, Lydia relaxed.

"So! What do you think of this band? You'd be perfect as lead guitarist. Consider joining forces with me—let's conquer the world together!" Lydia exclaimed.

Selina hesitated. "I'm afraid too many invitations will leave me no time." Her contractual marriage to Trevon required her constant presence and dealings with his extended family. While conquering the world with Lydia would be thrilling, she'd promised Trevon and felt obligated to prioritize him, especially since he'd helped her escape the Harveys. He consistently responded to her needs during their contract.

"It's fine. Think of yourself as The Rose's secret weapon—a rare appearance. You can join whenever you want," Lydia replied. "Will that affect the band's operations?" Selina asked.

"Absolutely not. With some smart packaging, any performance with you will be in high demand. It's all about online marketing these days; we can boost anything. Once you agree, I'll handle everything," Lydia assured her.

Selina nodded. If time allowed, she'd eagerly pursue their shared dream. For now, she lacked a clear life goal.

"Lydia, Selina," Malcolm appeared unexpectedly, smiling warmly at them.

"Malcolm," Selina greeted.

"Malcolm, how was our performance? Awesome, right?" Lydia asked expectantly.

Malcolm complimented, "Of course! Selina, you were amazing!"

"Malcolm, what about me? You forgot me!" Lydia teased.

"Of course not! You were fantastic too. Both of you were brilliant. I'm thrilled to witness your collaboration and growth," Malcolm replied affectionately, patting their heads. "I wish Mentor could see this."

Lydia stuck out her tongue. "Haha. I don't even know where he is now. He should have called us."

"Well, as long as everyone's safe, we'll meet again someday," Malcolm said.

"Yeah, when I see Mentor, I'll tell him I joined forces with Selina," Lydia declared.

Chapter 58