Chapter 2

2

Logan’s guitar was broken, meaning standard protocol required him to swap instruments backstage.

Yet he stood there with his head down, lost in thought.

Seeing this, I handed him my own backup guitar.

Once everything was set, we began our performance.

At first, our synergy seemed flawless.

He delivered the main melody while I covered the harmony and backing instruments.

The celebrity judges nodded in approval, clearly impressed.

Doubts quickly began surfacing in the live stream chat.

“Wait, is Chloe making this up? They sound incredible together.”

“Right? That harmony is pure magic!”

Just as the song reached its climax, Logan hit several jarring wrong notes in a row, and his vocals drifted hopelessly off-key.

I tried desperately to guide him back into rhythm with my backing vocals, but it was like trying to steer a train off the rails.

The performance dissolved into an absolute trainwreck.

By the time the final chord faded, Logan was drenched in cold sweat, his face pale with panic.

I pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his brow and reassure him that it was okay.

He violently slapped my hand away.

He shoved me backward with real venom in his eyes. “Get the hell away from me! You’re definitely cursing me!”

Chloe rushed up with tissues to dab his forehead, and he leaned into her touch without hesitation.

Chloe turned toward the main camera with theatrical distress.

“See? Everything I said is happening right before your eyes!”

She looked at Logan with deep concern. “Logan, please don’t be foolish. Disband your group with her immediately and stay as far away as possible!”

“Her dark hex is ruthless. If you stay with her, your creative well will dry up completely!”

Her dramatic warning sent shivers down the spines of the other contestants, who instinctively took several steps back from me.

Logan looked between us, acting hesitant. “Is that really true?”

Chloe nodded vigorously.

“I swear on my life! The spiritual expert told me the exact same thing!”

Logan went silent for a moment before turning a cold, disgusted glare on me.

“In that case, Hazel, our band is finished. I’m teaming up with Chloe from now on.”

Pitying looks washed over the crowd, everyone assuming I was devastated after being dumped on national television.

Instead, the corners of my lips curled into a calm, mocking smile.

“You snipped your own guitar string before walking on stage, so of course it snapped.”

“I have to admit, you and Chloe wrote a fantastic little script together.”

Chloe’s eyes went wide with shock, clearly not expecting me to see right through their cheap trick.

She ducked behind Logan, her eyes welling with fake tears.

“Hazel, why are you attacking me? I was only trying to protect everyone by telling the truth!”

Logan fell for her damsel-in-distress routine instantly, shielding her behind his broad frame while scowling at me.

“Haven’t you caused enough trouble, Hazel? Chloe did this for the greater good, so why are you targeting her?”

“If you’re doing this out of jealousy, save your breath. I’ve told you a hundred times, she’s just like a little sister to me!”

What a classic piece of toxic garbage dialogue. To hell with his so-called sister!

I rolled my eyes dramatically.

“Hate to break it to you, but the songs I wrote have already topped billboard charts nationwide.”

“Besides, I’m already legally married to a real man. Keep your cheating hands to yourself.”