Betrayed Spotlight
Chapter 52: Very flavorful

Chapter 52: Very flavorful

At exactly midnight, Sarah’s single "New Beginnings" went live on all major streaming platforms. She and Silas had stayed at the recording studio to watch the release happen in real time, both of them staring at their phones and laptops as the song became available around the world.

"It’s live," Zachary announced from his laptop, his voice filled with excitement. "Your single is officially out there."

Sarah felt her heart racing as she refreshed her phone screen. There it was - her new song, available for everyone to hear. The cover art looked professional and beautiful, showing a silhouette of her against a sunrise.

"I can’t believe it’s actually happening," Sarah whispered, her eyes filling with tears of joy.

The second song, their collaboration, "Finding Home," was also released at the same time. It was a beautiful duet about friendship and finding your way back to the people who matter most.

"Now we wait," Silas said, though he was just as excited as Sarah. "Let’s see what people think."

They didn’t have to wait long. Within the first hour, comments and streams started pouring in. Sarah’s phone buzzed constantly with notifications from social media platforms as people discovered her new music.

By morning, both songs were making waves online. Sarah’s single was trending on multiple platforms, and the collaboration with Silas was being praised by music critics and fans alike.

Sarah woke up early, unable to sleep because of her excitement. She immediately grabbed her phone and started reading through the comments on her music.

"This is exactly what I needed to hear today. Thank you, Sarah."

"Her voice is like honey. I’ve missed her so much."

"The collaboration with Silas is pure magic. They sound amazing together."

"I’ve been playing ’New Beginnings’ on repeat all night. It’s perfect."

Sarah felt tears of happiness streaming down her face as she read comment after comment from people who loved her music. She had forgotten how good it felt to connect with people through her songs.

Still in her pajamas, Sarah decided to surprise Mason by making breakfast. She had been feeling guilty about how distant they had been lately, and she wanted to do something nice for him.

She went downstairs to the kitchen and started pulling ingredients out of the refrigerator. Eggs, bacon, bread, milk - everything she needed for a proper breakfast. How hard could it be?

Mason came downstairs twenty minutes later, already dressed in his suit and ready for work. He stopped in surprise when he saw Sarah in the kitchen, wearing an apron and humming happily as she cooked.

The maids stood by and watched with smiles.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice curious.

"Making breakfast for you," Sarah said with a bright smile. "I wanted to celebrate my song release, and I thought it would be nice to cook for you."

Mason looked at the pan on the stove and noticed that the eggs were slightly burnt around the edges, and the bacon was a bit too crispy. But seeing Sarah’s happy face, he didn’t have the heart to say anything.

"That’s very thoughtful of you," he said gently.

Just then, Derek walked towards the dining and branched into the kitchen, looking tired. He had worked late the night before and had slept in one of the guest rooms at the mansion.

"Good morning, boss," Derek said to Mason, then noticed Sarah at the stove. "Oh, Mrs. Liu, good morning. Something smells... interesting."

"I’m making breakfast for everyone," Sarah said cheerfully. "I hope you’re hungry, Derek. There’s plenty for all of us."

Derek looked at the food on the stove and then at Mason with a slightly worried expression. The eggs were definitely overcooked, the bacon was burnt, and the toast was blackened around the edges.

"That’s very kind of you," Derek said politely.

A few minutes later, they all sat down at the dining table. Sarah had plated the food with pride, completely unaware that it looked less than appetizing. She watched eagerly as Mason and Derek took their first bites.

Mason forced himself to chew the burnt bacon without changing his expression. It was tough and bitter, but he swallowed it down with a straight face.

Derek, on the other hand, couldn’t hide his reaction. His face scrunched up involuntarily as he tasted the overcooked eggs.

Mason immediately shot Derek a sharp glare that clearly said: "If you make my wife feel bad about her cooking, you’ll be fired on the spot."

Derek got the message loud and clear. He quickly composed his expression and managed to swallow the food.

"This is... very flavorful," Derek said, forcing a smile.

"Really?" Sarah asked, beaming with happiness. "I’m so glad you like it. I was worried I might have overcooked some things."

"No, it’s perfect," Mason said, taking another bite of the burnt toast. "Thank you for cooking for us."

Sarah watched them eat with pure joy on her face. She was so happy that they seemed to enjoy her cooking, completely oblivious to the fact that both men were struggling to get through the meal.

"I should make breakfast for you every morning from now on," Sarah said excitedly. "I could wake up early and have it ready before you leave for work."

Mason nearly choked on his coffee. The thought of eating Sarah’s cooking every morning made him panic internally, but he couldn’t bear to crush her enthusiasm.

"That’s very sweet of you," Mason said carefully, "but maybe you should focus on your music instead. Your career is taking off, and you’ll need all your energy for that."

Sarah’s face fell slightly. "But I want to take care of you too. I want to be a good wife."

Mason felt his heart soften at her words. "You are a good wife. But your talent is too important to waste time in the kitchen. Let the household staff handle the cooking so you can focus on what you do best."

Sarah pouted for a moment, clearly disappointed. "I suppose you’re right. My music is important."

"Exactly," Mason said with relief. "Your fans need your music, not your cooking."

Derek nodded enthusiastically.

After breakfast, Sarah got dressed differently, tank top and baggy jeans. She filled the holes on her ear with earrings and headed to the record company office.

When she arrived at Zachary’s office, she found him and Silas both grinning from ear to ear as they read through online comments about her music.

"Sarah!" Zachary called out when he saw her. "Congratulations! Your single is number one on three different streaming platforms."

"Number one?" Sarah gasped, her eyes widening with disbelief.

"Number one," Silas confirmed with a huge smile. "And our collaboration is in the top five. We’re trending everywhere."

Sarah felt like she might faint from happiness. She had dreamed of this moment for so long, and now it was actually happening.

"I can’t believe it," she whispered, tears of joy streaming down her face.

"Believe it," Zachary said, standing up to shake her hand. "You’re officially back, and you’re bigger than ever."

They spent the next hour reading through comments and reviews from music critics. Every single one was positive, praising Sarah’s voice and the emotional depth of her songs.

"I think we need to capitalize on this momentum," Zachary said, pulling out his calendar. "I want to arrange a concert for you. Something intimate but special. What do you think about next week?"

"Next week?" Sarah asked, feeling nervous and excited at the same time.

"You’re ready for it," Silas encouraged her. "Your fans are dying to see you perform live."

"Also," Zachary added, "we should set up a live stream for your fans. Let them ask you questions and hear you talk about your music. It’s a great way to connect with them directly."

Sarah nodded eagerly. "I’d love to do that. When were you thinking?"

"How about in two days? That gives us time to set everything up properly."

"Perfect," Sarah agreed. "I’ll do it."

As they continued planning her upcoming events, Sarah felt overwhelmed with gratitude. Just a few weeks ago, she had been struggling to figure out what to do with her life after everything. Now, she was back in the music industry and more successful than she had ever been.

Later that evening, Silas suggested they celebrate with dinner.

"I know a great local restaurant," he said. "Nothing fancy, just good food and a relaxed atmosphere. What do you think?"

Sarah was thrilled. "I’d love that. It’s been such an amazing day, and I want to celebrate with you."

The restaurant Silas chose was small and cozy, with warm lighting and the smell of delicious food filling the air. They were seated at a corner table where they could talk privately.

"I still can’t believe how well everything went," Sarah said, looking at the menu. "I was so nervous about releasing new music."

"You had nothing to worry about," Silas said. "Your voice is incredible, and your songs are beautiful. People were always going to love them."

Sarah felt bold and excited from the success of her music release. When the waiter came to take their order, she surprised both herself and Silas by ordering a beer.

"I’ll have a beer," Sarah said confidently. "I want to celebrate properly."

Silas laughed, delighted by her spontaneous decision. "That’s the spirit. I’ll have one too."

They clinked their beer bottles together and took sips of the cold, refreshing drink. Sarah made a face at the bitter taste but laughed and took another sip.

"This is nice," she said, looking around the restaurant. "I feel like myself again for the first time in years."

"I’m glad," Silas said sincerely. "You deserve to be happy. You deserve all the success that’s coming your way."

They spent the next two hours talking, laughing, and enjoying their dinner.

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Meanwhile, across the city, Mason was in his office finishing up some late paperwork when his phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and saw a familiar name: Elliot Chen.

Mason hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Hello, Elliot," Mason said, his voice neutral.

"Mr. Liu," Elliot’s voice was warm and friendly. "I hope I’m not calling too late. I wanted to talk to you about the investment we discussed."

Mason’s jaw tightened.

"What about it?" Mason asked.

"Well, I’ve been waiting for the funds to come through," Elliot said, his voice still cheerful. "My company is in a bit of trouble, and I really need that investment to keep things afloat."

Mason was quiet for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "I’m afraid I can’t keep that promise anymore, Elliot."

There was silence on the other end of the phone. When Elliot spoke again, his voice was shocked and confused.

"What do you mean you can’t keep the promise? We had an agreement."

"Circumstances have changed," Mason said calmly. "I’m no longer able to make that investment."

"But... but why?" Elliot’s voice was getting desperate. "You promised me, Mason. I was counting on that money."

Mason thought about Sarah and how much she had grown to mean to him.

"Because my wife doesn’t want me to," Mason said simply.

"Sarah doesn’t want you to?" Elliot repeated, his voice rising. "What does she have to do with business decisions?"

"She has everything to do with it," Mason said firmly. "She’s my wife, and her wishes matter to me."

"But Mason, you don’t understand—"

"I understand perfectly," Mason interrupted. "The answer is no, Elliot. I won’t be investing in your company."

Before Elliot could respond, Mason ended the call.

His phone buzzed with a text message from Derek: "Mrs. Liu is trending on social media. Her music is everywhere."

Mason opened a new social media account and saw that Derek was right. Sarah’s name was trending, and people were sharing her music and talking about her comeback.

He felt proud of her in a way that surprised him. She had worked so hard to get back into music, and now she was getting the recognition she deserved.