974 Chapter 974

Eric noticed Han Ai's uneasy expression as she stood next to him and Francesca.

He had heard rumors that she was just a pretty face that was willing to do anything and everything to become popular, but he didn't dare assume. At least until Ram encouraged his and Francesca's plan.

"Don't worry, Miss Han Ai." Eric said without looking at the woman directly as he kept the mic as far away from him as possible. "We wouldn't ask you to sing live all of a sudden."

Eric lifted his head and gave Han Ai a sweet smile, making her trust him.

"Miss Han Ai, any songs you want to sing?" Francesca looked at Han Ai as her eyes sparkled under the spotlight.

Everyone could see her excitement in sharing the stage with Han Ai, but they believed the excitement was for a reason very far from the truth.

Han Ai smiled back and named a very popular duet that had become a top song internationally in the past year.

"Perfect! I actually memorized that song, my fiance keeps playing it on repeat!" Eric exclaimed as he looked towards Katerina and winked at her direction.

He could see her holding back a glare as people turned to look at her.

To the public it was a sweet and touching moment between the couple, but to those that knew them, they were aware that Katerina was not amused.

"Your relationship with your fiance is so good, Mr. Eric!" Han Ai praised as she looked at Eric.

"I've loved her all my life." Eric quickly responded, thawing even the coldest hearts in the room.

Han Ai was about to answer when the music started to play.

Eric knew this copy of the song, some smaller artists used it when they performed with him and Francesca for public engagements. Only the part of the smaller performers had someone singing while his and Francesca's had no recording and they would actually have to sing live.

He assumed that this version had been quickly edited by Ram's team in order to catch Han Ai off guard.

"Miss Han Ai, we will point to you when it's your turn to sing." He overheard Francesca explain. "Eric and I have done this performance multiple times with other celebrities, don't worry." Han Ai nodded as Eric heard his cue to start.

As always, Eric's melodic voice had the female guests swooning by the time he was done with his part. He then nodded to signal Han Ai to lip sync her part, and to her credit she did it so well that even Eric could have been fooled.

He noticed Francesca put a hand on Han Ai's shoulder to signal her to stop, it was Francesca's part coming up.

It seemed that Han Ai's trust in them grew as the song went on. She noticed that the pair were giving her subtle hints as when to sing and when to stop. She became bolder in her actions and Eric could actually hear her singing, lucky for her the mic had been switched off.

When the second chorus came on and Eric sang his part, he turned to Han Ai expecting that the music and lyrics would continue to play as it had for most of the song.

To everyone's surprise, instead of the melodious voice they had thought to be Han Ai, her actual singing voice carried through the microphone, throughout the hall. Much to her embarrassment.

Francesca faked a gasp as the music continued to play in the background and Han Ai turned pale as soon as she realized what had happened.

Realizing that someone must have set a trap for Han Ai, Wu Jun stood from his table, only to be pulled back down by Ian who had somehow appeared next to him.

"I wouldn't get involved." Ian told Wu Jun as he slipped the man a document and left.

Wu Jun stared at the document Ian had left him, he then glanced up to see Han Ai being harassed by a wave of camera flashes. This was enough to make the front page of almost all news outlets across the world.

All three on the stage were internationally renowned talents, and Han Ai had just been caught being a fake next to Eric and Francesca.

As if gaining a conscience, Eric quickly had Francesca escort Han Ai to the backstage before bowing to the audience and apologizing.

"Miss Rocci and I had no idea, we apologize if you think we have fooled you." He was only apologizing on behalf of him and Francesca. He made no mention of Han Ai and what people would come to call her treachery towards the entertainment industry.

The members of the media did their best as they tried to press Eric for answers, but he refused to comment further as he followed Francesca and Han Ai to the back stage.

The hosts quickly tried to calm the crowd as they followed the original program.

Luckily for them, the more rowdy members of the press moved on and tried to see if Han Ai would exit through the backstage entrance.

They were unfortunately greeted by the Abad and Chan family security teams that were stationed to protect those in the backstage.

Still in his seat, a bodyguard came up to Wu Jun.

"Mr. Lim said you may leave, Miss Han Ai will meet you at the lobby." Wu Just turned pale at the man's words but said nothing.

This was all clearly part of Ian's plan to embarrass him and Han Ai.

Unfortunately, Wu Jun had no other choice. He knew that he had only one chance to leave and this was it, he quickly got up and found Han Ai sobbing in the lobby, alone.

She quickly walked up to him and slapped him across the cheek.

"How dare you let that happen to me? How dare you keep it a secret that they were all friends and family to Guan Ming and the stupid Camilla!" She screamed.

"Let's go, the longer we stay here the worse it will get." Wu Jun said as he dragged a kicking and screaming Han Ai out of the lobby and back onto the red carpet.

As he expected, reporters were waiting for them outside, and with no security to protect them they were trapped.