Chapter 1306:
The intricate preparations for even a brief live segment were more involved than Elyse had anticipated. As she sat in the lounge, poring over the dayโs schedule, her attention was suddenly caught by a woman acting oddly nearby. Elyseโs brow furrowed in confusion as she queried, โExcuse me, who are you? Do you work here?โ
Without turning, the woman answered smoothly, โIโm a temp, just here to clean.โ Her tone was too calm, almost rehearsed, sparking a flicker of suspicion in Elyse. Elyse pressed on, her voice laced with skepticism, โAre you sure youโre just cleaning?โ
โA temp? Does the station usually employ temporary staff?โ
The woman, maintaining her composure, simply replied, โIโm just a cleaner, not like the full-time staff here.โ She quickly grabbed a trash bag and made a swift exit from the lounge.
Elyse watched the womanโs retreating figure, a sense of dรฉjร vu washing over her. There was something unmistakably familiar about her, as if their paths had crossed in another life. Even her voice seemed to echo a distant memory. Yet, try as she might, Elyse could not place where she might have encountered her before.
As the curtain rose, Elyse took her cues from the staff and gracefully made her way to the recording studio. The interview began on a high note, with Elyse captivating the audience with whimsical tales from her adventures in international competitions. Yet, as the audience Q&A unfolded, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.
A woman, dressed in a cleaning uniform, suddenly collapsed in front of Elyse. A look of stark terror swept over Elyseโs face as she stared in utter disbelief at the scene before her. The room fell silent for a moment, just long enough for the woman to gather her breath and wail, โElyse, I implore you, set me free!โ
The live audience sat frozen, while viewers at home watched in confusion and disbelief. Swiftly regaining his composure, the host intervened, his voice stern. โThis is not part of our show. Verify this immediately.โ At his command, two assistants rushed to the womanโs side, attempting to escort her offstage. However, the woman anticipated their approach, clutching desperately at Elyseโs feet and pleading, โElyse, have mercy! Release me from this torment. Youโre crushing my spirit. Canโt you spare just a fragment of your compassion?โ
The studio descended into chaos, sparking a wave of fervent discussion among the online audience. Chloe, who had been backstage, noticed the commotion but arrived just moments too late to catch the critical exchange. โIdentify yourself. What ties do you have to Elyse?โ the host demanded.
Elyse faced the distraught woman, her eyes wide with confusion. โI donโt know you. Iโve never caused you harm. Why are you targeting me with these accusations?โ . . .