Farewell to Love: The CEO's Desperate Chase novel Chapter 283

After she left the stage, the host returned, this time with the panel of judges in tow.

“Judges, please make your way up in an orderly fashion,” one of the staff prompted.

Vivienne and the other three regular judges ascended first, taking their places for the final round’s closing remarks.

Meanwhile, Emilia and the other contestants waited backstage for their turn to perform.

“It’s gone by so quickly—today’s the grand finale already,” Vivienne said when it was her turn to speak. She smiled, though her eyes glistened with the threat of tears. “It’s hard to say goodbye.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“My life’s journey is nearly at its end, but I know that when my day finally comes, just thinking back on these moments with you all will bring tears to my eyes again.”

Vivienne managed a brave smile. “During the commercial break, I’ll be giving away fifty invitations on my social media page.”

She paused, her voice trembling just a little. “If anyone is willing, please bring that invitation and join my funeral a few months from now.”

As she finished, Vivienne bowed deeply, her eyes rimmed red.

“I hope everyone who comes will dress to the nines, because I want each of you to keep living well—strong and radiant.”

She glanced up, offering a bittersweet smile. “And I hope you won’t think it’s too morbid.”

The audience was in tears. Some even called out, voices breaking—“Never! We’d never think that, Vivienne—oh, Vivienne, you’re so brave!”

Online, the conversation was just as heated.

Fans flooded the web with sympathy, scrambling to figure out how to snag one of the invitations.

“Only fifty? I hope I can get one…”

“Guys, Vivienne doesn’t want to make a huge deal of it, and she’s worried we’ll feel uncomfortable about funerals, so she only invited fifty.”

“She’s really too kind, honestly.”

“Emilia, take notes! Look at how Vivienne handles herself. Do you even have the nerve to keep showing your face?”

She had to admit, Vivienne’s PR team was savvy. Every few days, they seemed to come up with some new, headline-grabbing stunt.

But…

Emilia just smiled, unbothered. Vivienne’s plan was doomed to fail.

She had no intention of appearing in the audience.

She’d be stepping onto the stage as a contestant.

Emilia glanced at Tyler. He was staring at the vacant seat beside him, brow furrowed, lost in thought.

Not far from Tyler, George and Ella were whispering conspiratorially, heads ducked together, while Theodore Glenn sat alone in the shadows, his face unreadable.

“And now, let’s welcome our first contestant of the evening—Beatty, please take the stage and sing!”

With the host’s cue, the competition was finally underway.