Mr. CEO's Substitute Bride-Chapter 1092 - 1088: Lara, Did You Hear That?

"Hannah, take care on the road when you drive back, stay safe," Beatrice, matching her sister in presentation, curved her lips into a smile as she spoke.

"Mm, sure," Hannah replied with a smile, their sisterly affection was enviable. Just as she was about to leave, Beatrice suddenly retracted her smile, leaned closer, and whispered, "So you don’t accidentally drive into a ditch and die!"

After she finished speaking, Beatrice distanced herself again, her lips once more curved into an innocent smile as she waved at Hannah, "I’m off to rehearsal," and then turned towards the stage, leaving Hannah seething with anger as she watched her sister’s retreating figure.

The concert took place in Banyan City as scheduled. With Nicholas Croft’s support, numerous famous stars were invited to attend. Although Beatrice was a newcomer, the concert venue was nearly full. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Of course, a few of his brothers were present too.

Intending to bring Titus Zane and Nathan Moore closer together, Nicholas Croft had arranged for their seats to be side by side.

Beside them were Felix Shaw and Mia Foster, with the perennial bachelor Evander Lancaster seated behind the four of them.

Nicholas Croft had his motives for this arrangement; Evander, who was already thirty but still resisting dating, would hopefully be spurred into action by the loving couple in front of him.

Felix Shaw and Mia Foster, having recently reconciled, now appeared inseparable like Siamese twins, glued together wherever they went.

When the lights dimmed and soothing music began, a spotlight focused on the center stage, where a swing adorned with petals slowly descended from above.

Beatrice sat upon it, dressed in a snow-white princess gown, her long hair flowing across her shoulders, crowned with a tiara-like headband inlaid with diamonds that sparkled faintly.

Unlike other singers’ concerts with heavy, eccentric makeup, Beatrice wore just a touch, letting her natural innocence shine under the lights.

"Beatrice, Beatrice, Beatrice..." The audience roared as she descended, fans waving light boards and cheering enthusiastically. When Beatrice began to sing, the cheers subsided, and some fans sang along with her.

Nicholas Croft stood offstage in the shadows, watching his girl sing with a gentle curve to his lips.

His eyes grew dazed, and his thoughts drifted away...

Uncle Nicholas, do you think if I hold a concert one day, it would be as packed as King Zhou’s, with fans waving light boards and chanting my name...

Certainly, it was Beatrice on the stage, yet in Nicholas Croft’s eyes, it was Sophie Foster — clad in leather pants and jacket studded with metal, sporting a head full of dreadlocks, with heavy, exaggerated makeup and bright red lips, exuberant and free-spirited, standing at the mike pouring her heart into rock music...

Listening to the fervent shouts for Beatrice from the audience, Nicholas Croft murmured with a smile, "Lara, did you hear that, the enthusiasm of your fans..."

Nicholas Croft took out his phone and dialed the old number belonging to Sophie Foster. Though it’s been three years, the name still lingered in his contacts, never deleted though it never connected since Sophie vanished.

Yet, he dialed it again, as if by doing this, the girl on the other end could hear the enthusiastic cries of the fans...

The concert was a significant success, featuring several megastar singers as guest performers. The duet between Beatrice and Alexander Zimmerman, with his flowing long hair and white stage outfit, enthralled the fans. Tall, slim, and appearing like a young lord straight from a comic, unruly yet dashing, he held Beatrice’s hand and sang a touching love song while they gazed into each other’s eyes.

By then, Nicholas Croft had pocketed his phone, one hand crossed over his chest, the other stroking his chin, his eyes narrowed as he focused intently on the duet.

Whether due to their immersion or mere acting, the harmony and matching stage outfits made them look perfectly in sync.

Beatrice, in a white gown paired with heels, stood just a few centimeters shorter than Alexander Zimmerman, both dressed in white, holding hands and looking like a couple, their eyes seemingly holding only each other at that moment...

As the love song concluded, someone in the audience shouted, "Get together!"

Soon, chants erupted continuously, with fans raising boards bearing Beatrice’s name, chanting, "Get together, get together..."

"Oh, is that a scene our big brother added on purpose? Could this be the concert’s climax?" Evander joked with a smile, listening to the fans’ passionate shouts. Unfortunately, both couples in front were huddled together, ignoring him.

Evander glanced at the people ahead, hesitated but didn’t bother Nathan. Knowing his brother was in a vulnerable period, he figured the couple deserved some space.

So, nudging Felix Shaw’s arm, he asked, "Third brother, did our big brother set this up deliberately, or does Alexander actually fancy Little Beatrice?"

Felix Shaw, enjoying a sweet moment with his returned love Mia Foster, was not pleased with the interruption and responded irritably, "Go ask big brother yourself, how would I know!"

With that, he turned back to plant a kiss on Mia Foster’s cheek.

Onstage, as the music subsided, Alexander Zimmerman still held Beatrice’s hand, waiting for the cheers to die down before picking up the microphone again.

"Thank you all for your compliments on me and Beatrice, but what I’m about to say might disappoint you!" he began, lifting the hand that held Beatrice’s. Nicholas Croft stroked his chin, his gaze growing meaningful at Alexander’s words.

"Beatrice and I share a mentor-student relationship; she is the most talented and promising girl I’ve ever worked with, and I’ve decided to take her as my student, sharing with her all my musical insights and expertise!"

"Holy crap! Isn’t this melodramatic!" Just as Alexander finished, Evander chimed in, following up immediately. With rumors swirling about them just days before, now claiming a mentor-student dynamic, it seemed everything was for show, pure strategy.

He wondered initially how big brother, a man with such a strong possessiveness, could be at ease with someone eyeing his woman staying around as producer. Turns out it was all for publicity and attention-grabbing.

How dull!

At the stage’s edge, Nicholas Croft raised an eyebrow at Alexander’s explanation. He had planned to bench him, but since he showed such tact, he decided to let it slide for now.