Chapter 1

The song I wrote has landed me on a murder suspect's wanted list.

Meanwhile, the lead singer of the girl group who stole my voice was basking in glory, winning annual awards with my song. The entire internet was tearing me apart, labeling me as the killer.

Then, an eerie voice whispered, "Are you willing to sacrifice your voice to expose her lies once and for all?"

*****

I pulled my hat down low and wedged myself among the screaming fans. My gaze fixed on the figure up on stage. I had to go up there right now. I had to let everyone know she was lying.

Up on stage, Viviana Lewis, the girl group's leader, was clutching both the Best Singer and Best Song trophies, awards she won using my voice and my song. Her tears fell perfectly on cue. "This song, Shimmer & Fade, is for everyone who loves me."

She was speaking with the same voice filter, her breathing so steady it almost sounded fake.

I remembered being nineteen and signing that Nova Lux contract, thinking it was my big break. Turned out, it was legally sanctioned double exploitation.

After three years of being benched, I became the industry's running joke, all thanks to envy and spite.

Yesterday, the hastag: [Winnie Brown Killed An Assistant] shot straight to the top of the trending list. They pinned it on me, and now I'm the prime suspect.

Before she died, Yareli Hayes, Viviana's assistant, came to me, her voice shaking. "Yareli, I-I don't know who else I can talk to."

Her eyes were puffy and red. "You're the only one in the girl group who dares to sing live and actually speak the truth."

I froze.

She dropped her voice, every word trembling. "Viviana's been laundering money through those inflated copyright deals. I found it when I checked the original receipts. There's a gap of over 1 million, all funneled into some shell company overseas."

She barely finished before she spotted someone approaching, then quickly ducked her head and slipped away.

The two fans beside me waved their LED signs, shouting, "That's incredible. Viviana's voice is so recognizable."

I snapped back to reality.

I gritted my teeth, ready to charge ahead,

"Make way. Up front, make way." A few security guards forced their way through the crowd, heading straight for me. The lead guard gave me a quick glance and said something quietly into his earpiece. They recognized me.

Then, my phone buzzed. Kevin Miller sent the message: [Don't go on stage. They're looking for you. Take the west freight elevator. Now.]

Kevin? My ex-boyfriend, who's now Viviana's stylist. Why did he help me?

Suddenly, someone grabbed my shoulder. "Ms. Brown."

I turned to see Nova Lux's security chief, dressed in a black suit, his face expressionless. "Mr. Taylor wants to talk to you."

"About what?" I asked.

"About Yareli," he said, his grip tightening. "We need your cooperation on a few things."

Two more guards had already blocked my way out. I was done for.

"Yareli's death has nothing to do with me," I said, locking eyes with him. "The surveillance footage is fake."

"Tell that to Mr. Taylor."

They were practically shoving me out, and as I moved, my eyes flicked to the stage. Viviana was bowing, looking every bit the angel under those lights.

"She is a thief," I cursed inwardly, stopping dead in my tracks. "Let go of me."

The security chief frowned, "Ms. Brown, don't make this difficult for us."

Just then, a voice suddenly popped up in my head. "Do you want to tell the truth?"

I froze.

"I'm the System. If you speak the truth, I'll make sure the lies are exposed right here and now. But your voice will be the price. Are you willing to trade?" the System said.

I stared at Viviana up there, shining like a star, and at her fans screaming their heads off. Then I closed my eyes.

"Deal," I said, my throat felt tight.

"Good. Now, speak the truth."

I took a deep breath, my voice clear but not loud. "That wasn't me in the surveillance. Before she died, Yareli Hayes told me the company was laundering money through copyright deals. She found the evidence."

As soon as the words left my mouth, a loud electrical crackle blasted from the stage.

Viviana's mic suddenly cut out, and she stared, mouth agape.

Then, a recording started playing, crackling with static, but every word was crystal clear.

A woman said, "Mr. Taylor, where did that 1 million gaps really go?"

A man replied, "You're getting too nosy. Stick to your job as an assistant and don't ask questions you shouldn't."

The whole place froze for a second, then the crowd erupted.

"Wait, was that Viviana's assistant talking to Mr. Taylor?"

"A million missing? Is this about money laundering?"

Viviana stood on stage, her face drained of all color. Anthony Taylor's expression twisted instantly, and he snapped into his radio, "Cut it. Now."

Just then, the big screen behind Viviana glitched for a moment. It lasted barely a second, but the front-row fans started shouting, "Wait, that's the security footage from the building where the assistant fell."