Holden's face was an unreadable mask, but internally, a wave of distain and disgust surged.

Early the next morning, Ariana was already up, helping Melon gather his belongings and escorting him to his kindergarten.

The boy's excitement made the drop-off easier, and a weight lifted off Ariana's shoulders as she saw him go in happily.

With Melon settled, Ariana shifted her focus back to her career, especially the looming finale of her variety show.

The success of the show had surpassed everyone's expectations. The viewership skyrocketed, and the internet buzzed in anticipation for the live broadcast of the final episode. Every streaming platform seemed to be promoting it.

As the episode began, each performer, Ariana included, wrestled with their nerves.

The first segment involved a drawing to decide the order of performances. As Ariana took her turn to draw as her team's manager, she inhaled deeply, her exterior calm belying the storm of anxiety within.

Much to her relief, she pulled the coveted slot for the last one.

Her team's growing popularity meant the venue was awash with their fans. These supporters waved the team's signature blue light sticks, and each member had his or her own clusters of devotees.

As the final episode unfurled, the arena was packed beyond its usual capacity. From the viewpoint on stage, the crowd below, brandishing their light sticks, seemed like a vast, shimmering blue ocean.

In that defining competition, every member of the team gave it their all, dazzling the audience with their charisma and talent. Their determination bore fruit as they snagged the top spot.

The moment their names echoed through the arena, euphoria took over; cheers erupted from every corner.

From being the underdogs during auditions, they had evolved into the champions. The sheer magnitude of their achievement seemed almost surreal.

As they reveled in their moment of glory, some spotted Ariana cheering for them from the side. They didn't waste a moment, rushing over, encircling her, and hoisting her into the air in sheer jubilation.

On the virtual front, live chat rooms were abuzz with praise and astonishment. Comments poured in, ranging from “A win against all odds!" to “Every single one of them earned this."

However, amidst these accolades, a rogue comment snagged everyone's attention: "Heads up! Check the trending topics. Major news breaking!"

Sure enough, besides their championship trending, two more topics were making waves. One hinted at the tumultuous dynamics between the Edwards' sisters, and the other tantalizingly hinted at a juicy Love triangle involving a stunning agent.

Suddenly, events from five years ago resurfaced. Crafted with shrewd and venomous language, they painted a portrait of Ariana as a woman devoid of any morals or conscience, willing to do anything to get what she wanted.

The stories whispered of her entanglements with married men, suggesting that Ariana was not just involved but actively sought out these forbidden relationships.

Rumors swirled, accusing Ariana of being cold-hearted. They claimed that she had stolen her sister's boyfriend for herself and that she had intentionally sabotaged her sister's wedding, driving her sister to a deep pit of despair, which ultimately caused her suicide.