Chapter: 44

Joshua, preoccupied, responded absentmindedly. “Who's Iris?"

“The artist who wrote my song last year," Lilliana snapped, quickly lowering her voice as she glanced around to ensure no one was listening. "You know, the ghostwriter. Find her for me. I need another song."

Joshua barely looked up from his task. "You're working with Caden now," he replied flatly. “Don't cheat; you'll just get caught.”

“But I'm in the middle of a competition!" Lilliana's eyes gleamed with fierce determination. “I'm competing against Alicia. I have to outshine her completely!"

Beneath her boastful tone, however, lingered a trace of unease.

Her recent rise to fame had been swift, but her new songs? They lacked the spark that propelled her to stardom in the first place.

She needed to crush Alicia, but writing her own music was out of the question.

Joshua hesitated, Alicia's name causing him to falter, and he finally tore his focus away from his work.

“What do you mean she's competing with you?" he asked slowly, his voice strained with curiosity. "Why would she do that?"

"Why else?" Lilliana scoffed in disdain. "She's jealous of me— overestimating herself, as usual.”

Joshua stared into space in a daze.

Was Alicia going after Lilliana because of him?

“Okay, I'll find Iris for you," Joshua said in a cheery tone, snapping out of his trance. “But no more ‘ghost-singing', understood? If you get caught, Caden will destroy you."

“Whatever". Lilliana rolled her eyes, dismissing the warning.

Joshua pulled out his phone, quickly tracking down Iris’ contact information, He offered the same fee as last time, certain she'd accept.

But Iris' response was swift and blunt. "It's been a while. My rates have changed."

"Then name your price."

"Five million."

Joshua's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Last year, you only charged three hundred thousand!"

"Do you want my services or not?"

His jaw clenched. Spending that much on Lilliana's behalf wasn't part of the plan. Irritated, he called up Lilliana, his tone edged with impatience. “You'll have to write the song yourself."

"I haven't written in ages," she stammered, nervously tugging at her sleeve. "I'm out of practice, and my voice. it's not what it used to be. Five million is fine, but she has to sing it for me. Just Like last year."

Joshua's lips curled into a mocking smile. “Lilliana, why are you so afraid of Alicia?"

Lilliana felt Joshua's words hit her deeply, but she forced herself to stay composed. "I'm not afraid of her. I just don't feel like writing the song myself."

Joshua told her, "Just throw something together and get it over with. Alicia's been married for two years, stuck in the house cooking and taking care of things. She's forgotten everything. She's nothing special. Why even worry about her?"

Lilliana pouted, clearly not satisfied.

“Are you really not willing to spend the money on me? Fine, I'll handle it myself."

In a firm tone, Joshua replied, “Lilliana, you know I'd spend anything on you. It's not that I don't want to, but it's not worth it in this case. Stop acting like this."

Lilliana bit her lip in frustration.

She knew how much Joshua had spoiled her over the past two years.