Rising From Betrayal Reborn As The Family Outcast novel Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Chapter 65

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As soon as the voting period ended, the host brought all the guest mentors and trainees back to the stage.

He glanced at the mentors from each team with a teasing smile. “So, which team do you think put on the best show tonight?”

It was no secret that the producers loved stirring up a little drama.

Maxwell was the first to answer. “Honestly, I was convinced our team had it in the bag until I saw Team 4’s performance. They really brought something special.”

Nicolas nodded in agreement. “Team 4 definitely stood out. Their arrangement was fresh. The choreography was sharp, and the whole stage just exploded with energy.”

Then, with a direct glance toward Alicia, he added, “And Alicia, you absolutely blew me away up there.”

Watching Alicia’s performance from the audience seats had genuinely taken his breath away.

He’d always known she was skilled in both singing and dancing, but he never anticipated she would be this exceptional.

Once she stepped onto the stage, she simply glowed, utterly captivating, impossible to look away from.

Maxwell quickly added his own praise, “No argument there. Alicia’s performance was next-level, especially that flamenco sequence.

“I knew she was talented across the board, but I never expected her flamenco to be that flawless.”

That segment had left the deepest impression on him.

[And you know it again.]

[How would you know about all her talents?]

[Here we go again, the endless praise parade.]

[Honestly, if they ever stopped fawning over her, that would be the real surprise.]

[As a Nicolas fan, I’ve just accepted reality at this point.]

[Maxwell’s supporters have given up, too.]

[Did you catch Nicole’s expression just now? She couldn’t keep it together. She looked seriously annoyed for a second before schooling her features. Good thing I screenshotted fast.]

[Nicole: I thought you were all supposed to be doting on me. Why is everyone praising Alicia now?]

[Let’s be real. After watching the show all week, I haven’t seen Nicolas or Maxwell treating Nicole like some cherished princess.]

[You didn’t know? Nicole has always been a pro at hype and persona-building. Besides the heiress image, the universally adored thing is totally manufactured too.)

[Wait, so the “everyone loves her” narrative was just PR?

[Alicia’s fans need to get a grip and stop coming for Nicole)

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[Come on, Nicole is the beloved rich heiress. Why would she need to fake that?]

[Someone just turns bitter when her own publicity stunts fall flat.]

[Since when was I an Alicia fan? Nicole’s fans are truly delusional.]

[Mention Nicole and they instantly assume you’re Alicia’s fan. Just how much do Nicole’s fans resent Alicia?]

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[I’ve noticed it too. Nicole and her fans seem weirdly fixated on Alicia, even though they’ve hardly interacted before.]

[Back when Alicia was falsely accused of clout-chasing, Nicole’s fans were the loudest in trashing her.]

[So why the targeted dislike? Did Alicia take something from Nicole?]

[Feels like there’s some behind-the-scenes tea here.]

This subtle shift in discussion was no accident. It was a carefully orchestrated move by Lucent Media’s PR team.

By strategically directing attention toward the contrasting identities and underlying tension between Alicia and Nicole, they skillfully amplified public curiosity and set the stage for the unfolding rivalry.

On stage, Simon and Hannah added their voices to the praise. “We have to agree, Team 4 really stole the show tonight.”

Truth be told, they had never seriously considered their own team taking first place.

From their vantage point in the audience, Team 4’s performance was technically flawless, bursting with raw energy that electrified the entire venue, so their assessment felt only natural.

The focus then shifted to Nicole and Felicity.

Both could recognize the sheer impact of Team 4’s stage, yet neither was willing to openly acknowledge Alicia’s superior skill.

Nicole felt a surge of irritation toward the production group. This line of questioning was transparently designed to create drama.

But with the cameras rolling live and not only a massive audience but also their fellow guests watching, she had no choice but to maintain her carefully curated persona.

“Team 4 was quite strong,” she offered evenly.

Beneath the calm exterior, however, frustration simmered.

At least the voting had concluded. Any earlier endorsement might have unfairly swayed the results.

Her discontent also extended toward Nicolas and Maxwell.

Couldn’t they consider how this constant praise of Alicia makes me feel?’ she thought, resentment tightening in her chest.

Felicity, equally reluctant to concede Alicia’s talent, opted for a vague compliment. “The overall skill level of Team 4’s trainees was very impressive,” she remarked.

[So they just refuse to admit Alicia outperformed them I

[Outperformed? Their own performances were excellent. Must Alicia’s fans always put others down?]

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[Nicole’s supporters need to step back. Anyone with eyes and ears can see Alicia was clearly stronger.]

[I’m not even an Alicia fan, but I’m on her side here.]

[As a neutral viewer, Alicia was noticeably better, and not by a small margin.]

Once again, the comment section descended into a heated debate.

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Simultaneously, another hashtag surged onto the trending list: [Nicole’s dual-stage spectacle dominates live show. A well- Deserved victory awaits.]

To viewers who had just watched the broadcast, the tag felt shamelessly orchestrated.

“Is Nicole permanently glued to the trending list? She’s everywhere lately. It’s exhausting,” some commented wearily.

Yet the trending topic succeeded in pulling fresh viewers into the program’s live stream.

Finally, the host turned to Alicia and Darren.

Darren responded tactfully, “I believe our team performed well, though every team brought something special tonight.”

Alicia smiled, her tone gracious and genuine. “I’m truly satisfied with what our team accomplished today.

“Team 2 also delivered a standout performance, particularly in their song arrangement…

“And Team 3 brought incredible energy to their stage…”

After praising the most compelling aspects of the second and third teams’ performances, Alicia fell silent.

Felicity couldn’t help but turn to her and ask, “Why did you skip our team? Don’t you think we did well?”

It was exactly what Nicole had been thinking.

Alicia met Felicity’s gaze with undisguised disdain. “Are you really not aware of how disjointed your stage looked?

“This was supposed to be the trainees’ showcase, yet the two of you dominated the center the entire time, reducing them to background dancers.

“And because you couldn’t agree on a creative direction, you forced two completely different styles into one performance.

‘Did you ever stop and think about how that would make the trainees or their fans feel? Or were you both too focused on showing off?

“Not to mention, each of your individual performances had clear flaws.”

She proceeded to pinpoint specific moments. Nicole’s breathing control wavered midway, leaving her voice unsupported, and she cracked on a high note later on.

Felicity, meanwhile, sang off-key during a key transition and rushed a dance sequence, falling visibly out of sync with the

trainees.

Alicia did, however, highlight several trainees from the team who had managed to shine despite the chaotic staging.

Finally, she arched a brow at the two mentors. “Did it ever cross your mind that your ‘star moment’ might come at the expense of these trainees’ rankings or even their chance to advance? I’m guessing not.”

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Since Felicity had invited the critique, Alicia hadn’t held back.

If Nicole wanted a comparison, she’d just been handed a brutally clear one.

[Wow, Alicia really went there.]

[Never change, Alicia.]

[Once again, saying what we’re all thinking.]

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Alicia’s remarks visibly stripped the composure from Felicity and Nicole, their practiced smiles stiffening into something strained and unconvincing.

Each secretly wished they could silence her then and there. The exposure was not only blunt but deeply humiliating.

They had no doubt the criticism was deliberate.

Among the trainees of Nicole’s team, however, subtle nods and relieved glances were exchanged.

Having seen the other teams’ cohesive performances, they already knew their own stage had suffered.

Quiet resentment toward Nicole and Felicity had been simmering.

After all, the two guests’ insistence on spotlighting themselves had likely compromised the trainees’ rankings and chances to advance. It felt unjust, and until now, unspoken.

Hearing Alicia articulate it so plainly was not only vindicating. It was strategically timely.

Voting for the trainees remained open, and her words had just directed the audience’s attention exactly where it needed to

Felicity, her face pale with anger, glared coldly at Alicia. “You’re going too far.”

This time, even Nicole couldn’t hold back. “Wouldn’t you say your critiques are a little one-sided?”

While Alicia had praised the other teams generously, she had targeted theirs with nothing but criticism, even specifying the exact moments they had faltered, as if conducting a public dissection of their performance.

Alicia simply shrugged, her tone light but edged. “You asked for my opinion.

‘If honesty upsets you, then perhaps you shouldn’t have pressed for it.”

She paused, then added pointedly, “Besides, how well you actually did will be clear once the votes are revealed.

‘I have faith in the audience’s ability to judge fairly.”

Nicole and Felicity were left speechless, caught between resentment and embarrassment.

Inwardly, Nicole seethed at Felicity’s impulsiveness. ‘Why did she have to provoke Alicia? Everyone knows how blunt she

can be

Now they were both stuck in this painfully awkward moment, exposed in front of millions.

Sensing the rising tension on stage, the host smoothly intervened with a practiced smile. “The voting results are now in. Shall we take a look together?”

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Rather than announcing the results team by team, the production group displayed a dynamic visualization on the large screen: four luminous pillars, each representing a team, grew in real time as animated votes streamed in from all directions.

As the columns rose, Nicole and Felicity’s expressions grew increasingly strained.

When the animation finally settled, the fourth pillar stood tallest by a significant margin.

The first pillar, theirs, was not only the shortest, but barely reached one-tenth the height of the fourth.

Even compared to the other two teams, the difference was stark. It stood at only half the height of the second pillar, and roughly one-sixth the height of the third.

True to the show’s reputation for stirring drama, the visual contrast was both dramatic and deliberately pointed, leaving the lowest-ranking team exposed in their defeat.

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