Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism

Chapter 686 Red Carpet Drama

The red carpet at the Hundred Blossom Award was a dazzling display of flashing lights as bright as daylight. Every artist who walked it carried themselves with grace and poise.

As always, the cast of 'The Golden Ages' was the center of attention. The moment they appeared, they attracted every photographer's lens like magnets, with cameras all turning toward them.

They strolled down the red carpet, paused briefly at the signature board, posed for photos, and then made their way backstage.

Having already swept the Splendor Awards earlier, everyone was curious: could they repeat the magic tonight?

Backstage, Violeta and her team found their seats, though this time, they weren't together on a long sofa but in separate chairs, all in the same area.

Before long, someone who hadn't been seen in the public eye for quite some time, Evelina, also arrived backstage. After nearly half a year of being absent, her popularity had taken a serious hit. The cameras were brutally honest; many of them only gave her a quick, passing shot as she walked the red carpet.

Evelina didn't show any displeasure on her face. But inside, she surely must've felt something. She just wasn't showing it.

Since she and Violeta were from the same company, their seats weren't too far apart. However, because Evelina wasn't nominated for any films, her seat was in the back rows, with minimal exposure.

After carefully lifting her gown and settling into her seat, Evelina's gaze drifted over the heads in front of her and landed on Violeta. Violeta was chatting happily with Kaylee, her face glowing with success. Leaning back in her chair, Evelina silently observed them.

in the hall shifted, the room gradually fell quiet. The big screen lit up, and the orange stage lights glowed one by one as the

everyone! Welcome to this

Clap, clap, clap.

Applause filled the room.

year's Best Actor, Wallace Zielger, alongside a veteran actress known

beside the audience, her mind drifting. After the opening speech, a

Golden Ages cast, smiling as they invited them to wave to the audience.

the real

Awards were decided by over a hundred

figures from the film industry, and the voting proceeded swiftly and smoothly. One by one, the hosts announced the winners. The Golden Ages' had already swept the awards before, so it wasn't surprising when they started winning

to the stage to receive their awards, and it was her

Award goes to...

up to receive her award. Normally, the music and lights would sync up at this moment. That's how it had worked for all the previous winners. But to everyone's shock, as Violeta rose from her seat, the lights were on her,

as she walked toward the

his expression full of

connector had malfunctioned,