Mira despised people like this, people who took their frustrations out on others. If Owen didn't like you, what did that have to do with her?
Without waiting for a response, Mira kept walking.
"Mira Mercer, is it? Just you wait."
Vivienne Voss gritted her teeth.
"You're living in a fantasy world. Completely delusional."
Vivienne seethed, muttering curses under her breath.
Mira didn't look back. It was almost time for her and Gavin Hale to take the stage, and crushing the performance was vastly more important.
It wasn't just about her personal reputation; it affected the entire group's prestige and market value.
Gavin lowered his voice. "Do you have history with her?"
"No. She's just one of Owen's unhinged admirers."
"Oh, makes sense. She's just jealous."
"Who are you calling unhinged? Who's jealous?"
Unexpectedly, Vanessa Voss was standing right behind them, as her performance was scheduled immediately after theirs.
"You are."
Gavin retorted bluntly.
"Don't provoke her. She's the vindictive type, she'll try to make things difficult for you later," Mira warned. She wasn't afraid of these people, but she didn't want Gavin getting dragged into a mess.
"It's fine, Boss. I'm not that easy to bully."
Just then, the director signaled them to take the stage.
This year, Mira didn't perform a comedy sketch. The host had already highlighted Solflare Entertainment's achievements and the philanthropic success of the Solflare Foundation. Because time was tight, Mira and Gavin performed a duet instead.
Though brief, Mira chose a breathtakingly beautiful song that perfectly achieved their promotional goals.
After all, this song had once won Best Original Soundtrack at the Global Music Awards and was crowned a Top Ten Hit at the Entertainment Gala.
By the time Mira returned home that night, Grandma Eleanor was still wiping away tears. Before Mira even changed her clothes, she wrapped the older woman in a long, tight embrace.
Rachel chimed in, "Mira, your singing made your grandmother cry her eyes out."
She was wiping away her own tears as she spoke.
Master Ellis had also hurried back just in time for the holidays. Seeing Mira, he praised, "Good girl. At least you know how to appreciate your master. You're far better than Owen."
Because Mira had mentioned her master right before singing, Jordan Ellis was immensely pleased.
Meanwhile, sitting in front of another television, Lacey Quinn Mercer and the Mercer brothers had been watching the exact same broadcast.
How had they failed to cherish such a brilliant daughter and sister? Why had they acted like they were possessed, blindly protecting a malicious, illegitimate sister instead?
Ethan Mercer vaguely remembered a time when, every time he came home from work, Mara Mercer would be sitting on the sofa, sobbing. His father would be ruthlessly screaming at Mira, while his mother comforted Mara and fueled the fire.
Seeing that scene play out day after day had slowly convinced him that Mira had turned completely toxic, and that their newly acknowledged sister, Mara, was the tragic victim constantly sporting fresh bruises.

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