Chapter 560: The Gala Begins

"You..." Melody Monroe looked at him, her heart pounding with nervousness.

"Miss Monroe, how are you planning to seduce me?"

"We’re not at home. Let me go." Melody Monroe reached out to push him away, but the moment her hand touched his chest, he grabbed it tightly.

"Weren’t you just looking for me?"

"I came to talk to you about something important."

"And aren’t we discussing serious business right now?"

Melody Monroe: ...

"Then change your position. Is this how you conduct serious business?"

"Then you tell me, what is the proper posture for conducting serious business?" Evan Fairchild retorted with a smile.

’This is getting way off track,’ Melody Monroe thought. She just wanted to ask a simple question.

"You know about what’s happening online, don’t you?"

"Mm," Evan Fairchild nodded.

"Did you tell Keith Coleman to do something?" Melody Monroe quickly asked.

"No. He works for you now. He listens to you."

Hearing this, Melody Monroe breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "I was so worried you were going to do something."

"Afraid I’d announce our relationship? On that matter... I’m waiting for you. Waiting for you to be the one to make us official."

"You’ll be waiting a while, then."

Evan Fairchild knew this would be her answer. She wasn’t going to make their relationship public right now, so he hadn’t held out any hope.

"Alright, my serious business is concluded. I’m heading out first. Don’t appear with me, otherwise who knows what kind of nasty rumors will start spreading. It’s one thing for me, but don’t you care about your reputation?"

"I don’t care."

"Well, I do."

Evan Fairchild was momentarily speechless. He suddenly leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.

Melody Monroe jumped, startled. Before she could even react, he had already pulled away.

"You go first. I’ll be right behind you."

"Okay." Melody Monroe nodded and walked out.

...

In the short time she had been gone, the news had already spread online.

The headline read: "Actress with Surname M Seen Leaving Golden Orchid Award Gala with Bigshot, Missing for an Hour!"

When Melody Monroe saw the news online, she sighed helplessly.

’She’d only been with Evan Fairchild for a little over ten minutes. Even now, it hadn’t been an hour. How did that turn into a one-hour secret rendezvous?’

No matter what she said or did, there would always be people determined to drag her name through the mud.

’She was starting to understand why the original owner of this body had been so unpopular in the novel. With a face like this, how could her relationships with others ever be good?’

Lois Hughes was the one who had spread the news about Melody Monroe leaving with Evan Fairchild.

Those few words Melody Monroe had said to her earlier were like thorns stabbing into her heart.

’Is Melody Monroe getting scared?’

’Did she decide her old man wasn’t reliable anymore, so she rushed to seduce Evan Fairchild?’

’It just goes to show, men really are powerless against a pretty face, right? Even Evan Fairchild is no exception.’

’To Evan Fairchild, a woman like Melody Monroe is just a novelty. Something to play with for a while.’

’Melody Monroe seems to be riding high now, but her day of reckoning will come!’

Finally, the voting entered its final countdown.

"Ten, nine, eight... three, two, one! The voting portal is now closed!"

"After such a long voting period, I’m sure everyone is incredibly excited for tonight’s award announcements! This year’s nominations, selections, and awards are a performance review for our stars. They are also a reward for everyone’s tireless efforts. Who will take home the coveted awards tonight? Let’s wait and see!" the host’s impassioned voice rang out.

As soon as he finished speaking, a troupe of singers and dancers rushed onto the stage.

And with a burst of energetic singing and dancing, the Golden Orchid Award gala officially began!