The anxious teenager standing by the window caught Ariana’s attention, but she deliberately tumed a blind eye to him.

Her thoughts were clouded by the injustice that Betty had suffered at the hands of his family, who had abandoned seeking justice for the sake of money. Ariana was unhappy with this.

After the brief performances, Ariana sized up each trainee and wanted to know more about them. She opened the name list and said, "The one called by me, step forward in order. Chiquita Morrison."

A girl with delicate features and bangs approached the stage, resembling a porcelain doll.

However, Ariana noticed her timid demeanor and lack of confidence, which were major red flags in the entertainment industry where artists were expected to be outgoing and comfortable in front of cameras.

Seated on her chair, Ariana closely scrutinized the girl's figure and demeanor while posing a series of thought-provoking questions. Upon finishing the brief interrogation, she offered a cordial smile and spoke in a respectful tone.

"Your looks are promising, but confidence is key. I have a good idea of where you stand. You can go back to the others now.”

The crestfallen trainee trudged back to the group, knowing full well that she was eliminated.

The routine continued in this manner for the rest of the group of trainees.

Ariana's eagle eyes were trained on the trainees expressions and body language, as she placed utmost importance on her initial impressions.

Yet, none of the aspiring artists caught her attention, leaving her feeling disappointed.

She twirled her pen in frustration, gazed upon the bottom of the list, and finally muttered the last name.

"Cole Dixon.”

Impatience was getting the best of Cole as he waited for nearly an hour to be noticed by Ariana. He idly toyed with his chain decoration and strutted toward her.

Even though he tried to conceal it, a hint of arrogance still lingered on his face.

“Are you done yet?” he asked bluntly, unable to mask his impatience any longer.

Ariana didn't look at him but kept writing something on the paper. As Cole stood there, he was certain that Ariana would choose him. He was confident in his abilities, despite his lack of experience. Besides, he was the best among these trainees. However, Ariana wasted so much time on the process, pretending to be professional. No wonder his aunt didn't like this woman.

Finally, Ariana put down her pen and looked up at Cole. He was strikingly handsome and had the poise of a seasoned performer, even before his debut.

As she had done before, Ariana nodded and smiled.

Cole sneered disdainfully. He already knew he was the best.