CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 61: HOLD ME, WILL YOU?

Special audience seats.

Julian Lawson looked at the woman on stage, but his mind was filled with scenes from many years ago.

The Lawson Corporation’s transformation was not easy.

Especially transforming from a traditional industry to a high-tech industry.

On the night years ago when he made up his mind, he knew he would have many difficult years ahead.

Luckily, Serena Sterling was beside him at that time.

Three hundred sixty-five days a year, they traveled to various cities and even countries.

He still remembers the winter they went to Zetania for negotiations, only to find it was a trap.

Luckily, they managed to escape in time, but they could only flee by boat.

He remembered that winter being very cold, the sea waves were huge and turbulent during their escape.

Because they were escaping, the conditions on the boat were not good.

There was no signal on the sea, and the future was uncertain.

During the 12-hour ferry ride, the only person they could completely trust was each other.

The sea was very cold.

They huddled together in the cabin, trembling despite being wrapped in all their clothes and blankets.

Looking at her slightly purple lips from the cold, he knew he was not any better off.

At that time, he had only hatred, hating himself for stepping into the trap, hating not being strong enough and having to make her suffer with him.

She seemed to notice his troubled emotions, so she held his hand.

"Julian, I’m so cold." She spoke, interrupting his thoughts and forcing him to think. She asked, "Are you cold?"

He looked at her and nodded.

She understood him, knowing that comfort wouldn’t help, so she opted to distract him.

He actually knew, that after 12 hours, if they could successfully reach shore, everything would get better.

But if they couldn’t, they would end up buried underwater.

The wait, suspicion, worry, and anxiety in between was unbearable.

Yet at that moment, she smiled and leaned closer to him, "Hug me, would you?"

She said, "Maybe if we stayed close together, we wouldn’t be cold."

Without hesitation, he hugged her.

Outside the cabin, the sea started to snow, seagulls flew by in the winter, their cooing echoing.

Outside the small porthole, the world was a cold gray-blue.

Together, they huddled in the blankets, in the rocking cabin, only having each other.

He remembered her scent, her hair fragrance filling his nose.

She curled up in his arms, small but able to make him feel at peace.

Their hearts beat in unison, together.

For a moment, he felt unexpectedly warm.

He kissed her forehead and told her, "Everything will be alright."

She murmured an "Mm" in his arms.

Making his heart feel exceptionally stable.

...

On-site.

June Hawthorne’s eyes were red, and June Two was already whimpering like a puppy, wiping tears.

June Hawthorne couldn’t help but give her brother a light smack.

"Can you stop crying?" June Hawthorne grumbled.

"But it’s really tear-jerking." June Two turned to face his sister, his eyes full of tears, "Sis, don’t hit me, boohoo."

June Hawthorne rolled her eyes, "I only tapped your shoulder."

"Oh oh... I automatically assumed you hit me," June Two said with teary eyes, "I heard that those performing tonight were singing their own original songs, although there are special guest judges, primarily the contestants themselves compose."

"What must she have gone through to write this song, boohoo..." June Two whispered from behind, but Julian Lawson had already heard him.

Julian Lawson looked at the woman performing on stage.

Recalling the first live broadcast of "Heavenly Sound," her stage presence was stunning.

And her various performances at the charity gala...

Indeed.

What kind of storms must a woman go through to achieve this level?

She sat there, looking independent and strong, seemingly not needing anyone’s help, able to handle anything well.

Yet inexplicably, she invoked a sense of pity.

The addition of light rock mildly diluted the sadness in the song, much like her, recalling her past after experiencing so much, now indifferent.

Without raising her voice, she managed to make listeners toss and turn at night.

Julian Lawson couldn’t help but glance at Jasper Ford standing nearby below the stage.

Was it Jasper Ford who led Irene here?

As the lights remained dim and the crowd immersed, Vera Hansen bypassed the camera lenses to reach the aisle, continuously sending voice messages.

Hw: Didn’t you say before that Irene couldn’t handle the old man? How is she showing up here now?

Tutao Music: Who knows what she said to the old man in the villa’s tearoom that day. Later when we returned to the old house, although he didn’t specifically point at me, he did issue a statement saying he won’t interfere in matters concerning the three brothers from now on.

Hw: So how do we suppress her now? I can’t swallow the indignation from being outbid at the charity auction gala!

Tutao Music: Currently, Jasper still hasn’t completely shaken me off. I’ll think of a way, and see if I can pull the eldest into the mix.

Hw: He might not help you.

Tutao Music: I’ll try, although the eldest has the upper hand among us three brothers, always watching my and the third brother’s tussle, but if situations change, he’s not a fool either.

Tutao Music: Rest assured, I’m on your side, I appreciate your relentless nature in achieving your goals, you should get what you want, as long as the methods are effective, who cares about anything else.

Hw: How’s this event going? Has her picture and sound quality been lowered?

Tutao Music: Rest assured.

Reading the messages on her phone, Vera Hansen finally breathed a bit easier.

She raised her eyes to look at the filming equipment not far away, feeling a spark in her heart.

Recently, she’s been so infuriated by Irene that she almost forgot her initial strategy against her.

She still held the leverage of her miscarriage, and now with the added deception of donation, destroying Irene would be easy!

With this thought, Vera Hansen walked from the aisle corner into the backstage lobby.

Sitting on the sofa, she looked at the camera on the side, wiping away tears.

The host beside her saw her like this and immediately comforted her.

Vera Hansen shook her head, resiliently saying, "Listening to this story really moved me, reminding me of many past events, Irene is truly wonderful!"

Miles Levin felt the sun rising from the west, shocked Vera Hansen could actually praise Irene?

The host asked again, but Vera Hansen didn’t speak further, just watched the live stream tearfully.

She aimed to suppress Irene while simultaneously exploiting her for publicity.

No matter how good Irene is, she would forever be Vera Hansen’s stepping stone!

The higher Irene stands, the more firmly Vera Hansen is supported!

Once the time is right, she would use the leverage she held over her to press her into the mud.

Thinking of this, Vera Hansen wiped her tears again.

Displaying that classic beautiful, strong, tragic expression.

And leading applause as the masked woman’s song ended on stage.