Gretchen, adept at reading people, immediately sensed his bad mood. "Is it because of the 'Heart of the Ocean' necklace?" she asked. He mumbled, "I'm fine."

Martin himself couldn't pinpoint the source of his unease. A heavy feeling, like a blockage in his chest, intensified when he saw another man giving Gwenda a gift.

"Martin" Gretchen, rarely encountering such situations, reached for his arm. "I don't care about the necklace," she said soothingly. "You don't need to feel guilty. Besides, I'm happy my sister has it."

Martin hummed noncommittally. Looking up, he saw a handsome man exiting the hotel with a petite woman in his arms—Olivier and Gwenda. Martin's eyes narrowed at Gwenda's sweet smile. A sudden chill washed over him; his heart felt painfully constricted.

"Martin? Martin?" Gretchen called, but he didn't respond. Following his gaze, she saw Gwenda with the man and froze. Who was this man?

Frowning, Gretchen tried to get a closer look, but the distance prevented it. Dammit! she thought.

Gritting her teeth, she saw Martin still staring at Gwenda, her frown deepening. "Martin!"

Startled by her raised voice, he snapped back. "What's wrong?"

"Why are you staring at my sister?" She was jealous!

Realization flickered in Martin's eyes. He hugged Gretchen, subconsciously lying, "It's nothing. I was surprised to see that man."

"Is he the same man you met at Gwenda's apartment?"

"Yes," Martin nodded, his lips pursed, his expression tense and his eyes dark. "I suppose he's the man who gave her the 'Heart of the Ocean,' though I don't know his background." Even her father couldn't find anything on him. What a bloody headache!

Martin remained silent, frowning. The image of the man embracing Gwenda fueled his frustration; his grip on Gretchen tightened unconsciously. She cried out, "Martin, it hurts"

He released her. "Let's go home," he said, his expression frigid.

Stunned, Gretchen stumbled after him in her high heels. "Martin, wait for me"

Since Cecilia joined "The Best Singer," her fan base had exploded, significantly boosting her career. The final episode revealed she'd won second place, behind Reece Martin, a music industry veteran.

Gwenda threw a celebratory feast. "Although Cecilia only got second place, her performance was outstanding," she announced, raising her glass. "Her songs topped over a dozen charts! To Cecilia!"

The staff toasted her. "Congratulations, Cecilia!" Their glasses clinked.

Cecilia took a sip. "Thank you for your hard work and Miss Evans' support. Without you, I wouldn't be here. Let's continue to work hard together!"

Hattie winked. "Oh, come on, Cecilia, be practical!"

Cecilia pulled out her phone. "Venmo accounts ready!"

"Hell yeah! You're the best!" Everyone eagerly accessed their Venmo accounts.

Gwenda followed suit. "Keep up the good work! Year-end bonuses will be doubled when the studio expands!"

"Gwenda's awesome!" Overjoyed, Gwenda felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

The feast lasted two hours. Afterwards, Gwenda, while pleased with the studio's progress, wasn't fully satisfied. She had bigger goals; this was just the beginning. But before tackling her next task, she realized a critical lack of manpower: artists and managers. She needed to find a way to recruit more people.

She began planning recruitment strategies when a knock came on her door. Hattie entered. "Gwenda, someone's looking for you."