Cole cast an appraising glance at Tyler, who had already shifted to another seat, and chose not to follow. A sense of discontent brewed within him.

He had just returned from filming a travel show in Africa that day, rendering him oblivious to Ariana's return to Eleymond and her participation in a variety show.

On the production team's side, it was time for the live performance.

This time, Ariana's team had the good fortune of drawing the second- to-last performance slot. This allotted them ample time for preparation, fine-tuning, and the opportunity to gauge the judges' reactions.

Yet, Ariana still grappled with a trace of nervousness, unable to dispel the suspicion that Sadie wouldn't allow this chance to slip through her fingers so easily.

The first team swiftly completed their performance, garnering an overwhelmingly positive audience response.

Following this, it was the judges’ turn to provide their evaluations.

Among the four judges, two were newcomers compared to the previous episode. Soon, it was time for the last judge to unveil their identity.

ALL the six members in Ariana's team harbored a palpable nervousness, their minds still haunted by the prior incident involving Sadie.

As the camera swept across their anxious faces, tension hung thick in the air.

Then, a sudden camera cut surprised everyone: Sadie was conspicuously absent from the judges' panel.

Witnessing her absence, the six-member group collectively exhaled in relief, particularly the Chamberlain brothers, who visibly relaxed instantaneously.

Ariana, however, remained vigilant, refusing to lower her guard completely.

With the show's surging popularity, it seemed implausible that Sadie would easily overlook an opportunity that not only commanded public interest but also was squarely aimed at her.

Ariana didn't dwell on her thoughts. As long as Sadie remained absent, a sense of serenity enveloped her. For now, she patiently awaited her own group's turn in the spotlight.

The previous performance gracefully drew to a close, and it was soon Ariana's team's moment to shine.

Upon discovering that Sarah would make a guest appearance with Ariana's team, waves of excitement swept through the audience, one by one.

In that instant, both the live audience and online viewers united, chanting Sarah's name with unwavering enthusiasm.

But in the very next moment, an unwelcome presence emerged to taunt them.

"What's all the fuss about finding a diva? Even if Sarah has joined them, does it really matter?"