Right next to her, Ethan leaned forward and practically grabbed the mic stand from the small table in front of him. "I think we all know who’s winning tonight," he said with a grin so big that people around them let out surprised laughs.
The host chuckled. "Mr. Carter! Do you have a favourite?"
Ethan didn’t even hesitate. "Of course. But I won’t say it out loud. You’ll all find out soon enough!"
A few reporters typed even faster. A few caras zood in on the easy way he said it, the teasing curve of his lips, the way he kept glancing at Lilith.
Lilith didn’t look at him, she just flicked her eyes to the side, her expression so calm it was almost unreadable. But deep down, her heart thumped once against her ribs.
anwhile, the host’s voice filled the air again. "Alright, everyone — let’s see who takes ho the award tonight. Any final guesses?"
And the audience leaned forward as the music swelled.
The next mont could change everything.
The host flashed a bright, teasing smile as the golden envelope was brought onto the stage on a red velvet tray. She held her mic with both hands, looking out at the audience.
"And to present the award for Best Newcor Actress tonight..." she said, dragging out her words playfully, "we have a very special guest!"
A wave of curious whispers spread across the whole hall.
The host’s smile widened as she gestured toward the side of the stage. "Please give a warm welco to... Mr. Sebastian Carter!"
It was as if the entire room gasped at once. The audience froze for a heartbeat, then people erupted into excited murmurs.
Sebastian Carter. The na itself was enough to hush the loudest gossip — the mysterious, never-seen CEO of the massive Carter Empire. The man who never, ever appeared at entertainnt industry events, let alone on a stage like this.
But there he was.
He stepped into the spotlight wearing a perfectly tailored black suit that hugged his broad shoulders and lean fra. His dark hair was neatly styled, not a single strand out of place, yet sohow still looked effortlessly perfect. And those eyes are sharp, dark, so deep they made so of the won in the front row catch their breath.
He walked calmly, every step full of power and elegance, like he owned not just the stage, but the entire venue. Even the caras seed to pause for a heartbeat, stunned by how striking he looked under the golden lights.
A group of young won in the audience couldn’t hide their excitent.
"Oh my god... he’s so handso!" one girl squealed, slapping her friend’s arm.
"Is this really Sebastian Carter? The CEO of Carter Enterprise?" another whispered, eyes wide as she tried to get a better look.
Behind Lilith, a few reporters were already frantically typing up headlines — "Mysterious CEO makes shocking appearance at awards night!"
Lilith, sitting there in her stunning red dress, felt her breath catch for just a mont. The corners of her lips curved up in the tiniest, hidden smile.
anwhile, Sebastian stepped up beside the host, taking the golden envelope from her hands with calm confidence.
And the hall waited, all eyes glued to the man who never showed himself to the world, now standing here to call out one na.
Alexander held the golden envelope easily in one hand, his sharp eyes glancing down at the na written inside.
For a split second, the corner of his lips lifted just slightly into that rare, dangerous smile that always made people hold their breath.
He leaned a little closer to the mic, and his deep voice rolled through the silent hall, so calm yet so commanding that every whisper died at once.
"Best Newcor Actress Award..." he began, letting the words hang in the air as if he enjoyed dragging it out, letting the suspense crawl up everyone’s spine.
A hush fell over the audience, you could almost hear the heartbeat of every actress sitting in that row. Even Ethan, seated beside Lilith, straightened up, eyes wide with anticipation.
Alexander’s eyes flicked up, locking for a split second with Lilith’s that slow, confident smile still playing at the corner of his lips.
Then he looked back at the card and said, his voice smooth and so dangerously deep it almost felt like a caress,
"...goes to Lilith Parker."
A beat of stunned silence and then the whole auditorium erupted. Applause, cheers, caras flashing wildly but for Lilith, it was as if the noise faded for a second.
All she could see was him, standing there under the golden lights, that little smile still curving his perfect lips, looking right at her like she was the only person in the room.
When Lilith stepped onto the stage, her red dress glittering under the spotlights, the audience held their breath. Alexander stood there waiting, still holding that golden envelope in one hand as if it was nothing compared to the way he looked at her.
She walked up gracefully, and when she was close enough, he reached out, took her delicate hand, and bent forward.. pressing a soft, gentlemanly kiss to the back of it.
"Congratulations, Miss Lilith," he said, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine. His eyes were so close, so dark and steady, it almost made her forget where she was.
Lilith’s lips curled into that sharp, beautiful smile of hers. "Thank you, Mr. Carter," she replied smoothly, her tone polite yet playful.
The audience swooned at the sight — the mysterious, powerful CEO congratulating a rising star like that? The cara flashes went wild, and the applause nearly doubled in volu.
But before Lilith could step back, the host always ready to stir things up bounced forward, eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Ah, Miss Lilith, Mr. Carter!" she said, grinning from ear to ear. "Since you’re both here tonight, why don’t you play a little ga we’ve prepared?"
A ripple of laughter and excited whispers spread through the hall.
Lilith raised an eyebrow, lips parted in a soft, amused scoff. "Ask Mr. Carter if he wants to play. It’s his ti you’re stealing, not mine."
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