Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
Mirabella felt the look was passable. “Got any hair ties?”
“Sure, just give me a sec. I’ll call the stylist and the makeup artist over.”
“No need.” Mirabella quickly swept her hair up into an elegant bun, her beauty even more radiant.Jossie couldn’t resist taking out her phone to capture Mirabella’s dazzling presence, thinking of keeping it as a memento for David.
“How about a mask?” As Mirabella turned, the fleeting look on her face was breathtakingly mesmerizing.
Jossie mentally exclaimed ‘gorgeous’ a thousand times over before presenting a box. “They’re all in here.”
Mirabella chose a lovely blue mask that transformed her into a princess from the depths of the ocean, poised and charming.
“You look absolutely beautiful.” Jossie complimented from the heart.
Even with just her clear eyes showing through the mask, Mirabella’s beauty was still captivating.
Her allure was natural, shining from within. It was hard to believe someone could look so stunning without any makeup.
“We’re set.” Mirabella checked the time; she was ready to make her entrance.
“I forgot to get you shoes. What size do you wear? Heels or flats?” Jossie was eager to fetch the perfect pair.
“No need.” Mirabella had no intention of changing her footwear. She was tall enough already, and with the gown’s length grazing the floor, it neatly concealed her canvas sneakers.
“Then come with me. You’re going to be on a lift that will gently lower you to the stage from above.”
Jossie began, but then she stopped and asked, “Are you afraid of heights? If you are, we can just lift you up from below the stage.”
“I’m fine.””Great, I’ll take you up.” Jossie carefully held up Mirabella’s gown and guided her to the lift that would take her to the stage’s heights, helping her onto the platform. “I’ll change the giant screen to an ocean scene. From the audience’s perspective, you’ll look like a mermaid surfacing from the depths. Maybe add a few gestures for effect.”
As Jossie finished her instructions, she realized her advice might be superfluous. After all, she was assisting Summer, the icon who knew all about captivating an audience.
“Here’s David’s favorite in-ear monitor, you can use it for now,” Jossie said as she helped her put it on.
“And the mic, I’ve hidden the wire in your dress, okay? It’s clipped tight, shouldn’t fall.”
“It’s fine.”
“Alright, then go get ’em, tiger! Don’t be nervous, you’ve got one minute. Brush up on the lyrics while I give the crew some last-minute instructions.”
Jossie relayed some information about the ocean-themed backdrop to the crew and reminded them to give Summer plenty of screen time, capturing her profile from a distance to avoid a close-up of her features.
Mirabella stood atop the lift, unfazed, as if she were a seasoned singer merely going through the motions.
Having given her instructions, Jossie turned back to Mirabella, “Got the lyrics down?”
“I do.”
“All of them?” Jossie was surprised. Just a moment ago Mirabella was in the audience, and here she was, ready to sing a song David had penned for his sister, filled with unique lines that Mirabella had to nail halfway through.
Then, Jossie heard the cue through her earpiece, “Bella, about 10 seconds to go. You’ve got this!”
“Don’t be nervous,” Mirabella reassured her in return.
“How did you know I was nervous?”As the lift began its descent, Jossie’s heart raced. She still hadn’t fully processed the revelation that Mirabella was Summer.
No wonder Mirabella had brushed off the idea of a music career; she was already a bigger star than David.
Jossie had even offered to help Mirabella if she decided to enter the industry, not realizing she was speaking to a legend.
Only Ms. Kiki was worthy of that role.
The music started.
It was the intro to David’s final song, “Angel.”
David glanced over to the front row, looking for his sister. She wasn’t there. His eyes then darted to Romeo as if to ask, “Where’s my sister?”
Romeo tapped his phone, signaling, [I’ve texted her. She should be here any minute.]
David had to start singing, “I remember the first time I saw you, with your bright eyes, and your laugh so pure and clean. The thought of you being my sister warmed my heart.”
Just then, the backdrop shifted to an oceanic scene, and a delightful voice emerged from the depths, “David.”
The crowd erupted into screams!
The surprise guest had arrived!
It must be Merry!Rumors had been swirling that it was the pop diva herself, and this youthful voice seemed to confirm it – it had to be Merry!
Even David looked pleasantly shocked, for the voice was uncannily like Mirabella, his sister!
He never imagined that the way Summer called his name would hit him right in the feels. It was just too perfect.
“With such little age, comes such great courage, no storm too fierce for you to face.” David sang another line.
From the beautiful underwater scene came the voice again, “David.”
The fans screamed even louder. Now, even David’s expression was one of utmost surprise and eagerness to meet this Summer, who had flawlessly mimicked his sister’s voice not once, but twice.
It was unbelievably similar!
“I wanna buy you ice cream, cheer you on when you’re down, get you a closet full of dresses, play piano when I see you frown.” David continued to sing, his voice a smooth melody that filled the air. “I wanna be your shelter from the storm, earn some pocket change just for you, see your smile shine every single day.”
“Thanks, David,” Mirabella replied in her sweet voice, the words floating like a gentle whisper.
The fans in the audience were already at the brink of hysteria, their screams piercing the charged atmosphere!
Suddenly, a beautiful fishtail appeared above the sparkling ocean surface, and then, as if leaping from the water, a gorgeous mermaid emerged, providing a breathtaking visual feast for everyone gathered.
As the stunning mermaid began to sing, David’s face instantly lit up with surprise, his expression one of utter disbelief.
The crowd was stunned silent. That voice was?
The mermaid now made her way to the shore, her beautiful gown trailing behind her, her beauty eliciting continuous screams from the crowd.
“Summer! Summer! Summer!”
It was Summer!
The megastar Summer, whose fame eclipsed that of Merry by leagues!
David’s management had teased on social media that the grand finale guest would be a diva of David’s age, leading many to speculate it would be Merry. Merry had even posted a cryptic acknowledgment on Twitter. But no one expected the final act to be Summer, the enigmatic international sensation.It was David’s first global tour, and inviting such a high-profile guest to close the show was no small feat.
But the real shocker was Summer’s appearance!
Was there a secret friendship between them?
There must be, for Summer to agree.
Rumor had it Summer never collaborated with other singers. A certain popular male artist once offered her a whopping half a million dollars to sing a duet, and she’d declined.
Most artists wouldn’t dare to approach her for a duet, her voice so pure and powerful it would only highlight their own vocal flaws.
The crowd, never expecting the guest to be her, erupted in excitement, with Summer’s own fans screaming till they were hoarse, waving their glow sticks as if trying to catch her attention with their fervor.
As the female guest approached him, David turned and caught sight of those clear, clean eyes beneath the mask.
Wasn’t that his sister, Mirabella?
What was she doing on stage?
The crowd was chanting “Summer,” and it took David a moment to process before Jossie’s voice came through the earpiece.
“Your sister is Summer, keep your expression in check, it’s your turn to sing!”The girl before him was ethereal, a vision of elegance and tenderness. David, still reeling from the shock, had yet to snap back to reality.
He’d written this song for his sister, hoping to sing it with the mystery guest, to surprise Mirabella.
He never imagined his little sister was the grand finale act.
In a twist, it was his sister who had surprised him.
He’d even told her once, who wouldn’t love someone talented and with a beautiful voice? He hadn’t been shy about his admiration for Summer.
Sitting in the front row of the audience, Romeo couldn’t believe that the lady on stage was actually Summer, his gaze instantly softened.
No wonder she insisted he stay to record the performance. She wanted to capture the moment of sharing the stage with her brother.
He pulled out his smartphone, a smile playing on his lips, and hit the record button.
He had thought she knew someone like Ms. Kiki or Summer and had managed to convince them to be the closing guest on such short notice. But it turned out, she herself was Summer, the enigmatic persona that had everyone’s head spinning.
Meanwhile, Kenneth sat before his TV, a look of surprise crossing his face as he watched the big screen, “Honey, doesn’t the gaze of this closing act look familiar? Where have we seen those eyes before.”