Chapter - 5945

After witnessing the negative discussions about her circulating online, Tawanna realized it was crucial to act quickly to rehabilitate her reputation and sever ties with that woman without delay.

That woman, if she fails, then she fails.

Tawanna couldn’t afford to be pulled into the mess created by her failure! She needed to find a way to redeem herself as soon as possible!

Therefore, she decided to use the party happening today to promote her unwavering support for the LGBT community. That woman had received her support before, during, and even after the elections, which had concluded in failure.

In doing so, she could send a powerful message to the public: her support for that woman was not based on aligning herself with her views, nor out of fear of exposure to any secrets, but out of a genuine passion for LGBT rights.

She understood that it was essential to capitalize on today’s event. First, she would gather materials to stabilize her situation, and after the concert begins in the evening, she would once more publicly affirm her support for LGBT rights in front of thousands of fans, striving to salvage her reputation.

At this moment, Mitsui Yoshitaka had accompanied Charlie and his group over to Tawanna.

His wife and daughter, along with Tawanna and her boyfriend, had already settled at the main table, with just two seats remaining. Given that he had invited four additional guests, Mitsui Yoshitaka approached the table and said to his daughter, Mitsui Shinmei: “Shinmei-chan, why don’t you and your mother take a seat at the next table first? I’ll join you both shortly.”

Mitsui Yoshitaka intended to welcome Charlie and the other four to the main table, allowing them to dine with Tawanna and her boyfriend. That way, when Michaela arrived, she would naturally gravitate to his table, making it convenient for him to discuss business with her.

As for Tawanna, he held no particular interest in her. His main concern was his daughter's happiness. With Tawanna's concert scheduled to last three consecutive days in Tokyo, both she and her boyfriend Trevor would be staying at the Mitsui family’s estate until the final performance. Thus, Mitsui Yoshitaka believed his daughter had ample opportunity to bond with Tawanna and develop their friendship, rendering this small gathering insignificant.

Understanding her father's intentions, Mitsui Shinmei, while a fan of celebrities, recognized the importance of her father’s business over frivolity, and so she stood up and addressed Tawanna and Trevor: “I apologize, but I'll be sitting at the next table for now. We have a celebration planned at home tonight, and we will catch up then.”

Tawanna was feeling out of sorts today and was in a foul mood after receiving distressing news. She had hoped that a phone call just prior would ease her feelings and reassure everyone, but to her dismay, those present had disregarded her words, deepening her discontent.

At that moment, she had no desire to be courteous or engage in conversation; however, she still felt obligated to respect Mitsui Shinmei. On one hand, the Mitsui family was a stakeholder in Universal Music, and on the other, Mitsui Shinmei had always treated her well.

Thus, she forced herself to wear her trademark smile and responded, “Shinmei, please hold on. I’ll join you as soon as I’m finished.”

Shinmei Mitsui nodded with a smile before standing with her mother to sit at the adjacent table.

Mitsui Yoshitaka then turned to Tawanna, saying, “Ms. Sweet, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Wade and Mrs. Wade, good friends of Ms. Joules, the chairman of the Joules Group. Ms. Joules will be arriving shortly.”

“Ms. Joules?” Tawanna felt displeased. She was aware of Michaela’s identity and background and knew her wealth significantly overshadowed her own.

However, as the centerpiece of today's event, she had just felt ignored. The fact that Mitsui Yoshitaka was visibly thrilled at the thought of Michaela’s arrival only added to her indignation.

Although she was compelled to show respect to Mitsui Yoshitaka, being one of her bosses—and a higher-up at that—she couldn’t understand why Michaela, who wasn’t her employer, a shareholder in Universal Music, or even part of the entertainment industry, should overshadow her moment.

Despite her irritation, Tawanna couldn’t afford to let it show. Since her boyfriend had started filming, it was crucial that her demeanor remained flawless.

Therefore, she smiled and reached out her hands to Charlie and Claire, offering a polite greeting: “Mr. Wade, Mrs. Wade, it’s a pleasure to meet you!”

Claire was taken aback by Tawanna's initiative to shake hands, momentarily stunned and forgetting to respond. Charlie stepped in, extending his hand to lightly shake hers before introducing his wife: “Miss Sweet, this is my wife, Claire.”

Once Charlie had introduced them, Claire regained her composure and quickly reached out to shake Tawanna’s hand, exclaiming excitedly: “Hello, Miss Sweet! I’m a huge fan!”

Remembering her friend Loreen nearby, she quickly added, “By the way, this is my good friend Loreen; she’s also a loyal fan of yours!”

Tawanna responded with a gracious smile, extending her hand toward Loreen: “Hello, Miss Loreen!”

Loreen felt flattered and quickly replied, “Miss Sweet, I’ve admired you for a long time!”

Tawanna beamed with satisfaction, saying, “Thank you so much for your support. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you and all my fans. I also hope you both will stand in support of LGBT rights and all sexual minorities. Over the past two years, I have consistently advocated for this cause. Ultimately, my wish is for everyone to recognize this community’s existence, respect their legal rights, and enhance their social welfare.”

Turning her attention back to Claire, she asked earnestly, “Mrs. Wade, are you willing to support LGBT like I do?”

“I…” Claire hesitated. She had never given much thought to LGBT issues overseas, and she wasn’t sure where she stood on the matter. Tawanna’s direct question caught her off guard, leaving her unsure how to respond.

If she claimed not to support it, that would clearly contradict Tawanna’s values. As the saying goes, one should avoid offending a smiling face. Given Tawanna's politeness, she felt it would be rude to completely reject her.

After a moment’s thought, she reluctantly replied, “I will do my best…”

Once she said that, Claire felt uneasy. Such insincere responses were common among many, but for her, it felt like a thorn in her throat, making her uncomfortable.

Tawanna felt pleased with Claire's response and quickly said, “On behalf of the millions of LGBT individuals across the globe, I thank you for your support!”

Then, she turned to Loreen, her eyes shining with anticipation: “Ms. Loreen, what about you?”

Loreen, with less burden than Claire, quickly replied: “Of course, let’s work together!”

Tawanna’s expression brightened as she exclaimed: “Fantastic! Miss Loreen is so resolute; are you a member of the LGBT community too?”

Loreen promptly waved her hands, exclaiming: “I am not; my sexual orientation is quite typical—I like men just like you!”

Tawanna was slightly taken aback but quickly glanced at her boyfriend Trevor, then back at Loreen, smiling as she said, “Ms. Loreen, I must clarify that all sexual orientations are normal. Every orientation is a part of human nature, and we must treat each one equally.”

“Yes, yes, that’s my point, but my wording was not very precise,” Loreen responded, internally thinking, “You are really skilled at picking apart others’ words. Thankfully, I am not in the United States; otherwise, who knows how many labels I’d be tagged with? I could end up being slandered without any chance of clearing my name.”

Tawanna felt satisfied with her performance, believing that her boyfriend's video would further showcase her heartfelt support for LGBT rights, proving that she held no selfish motives.

After successfully establishing rapport with two individuals, Tawanna decided to turn her focus back to Charlie.

Seizing what she felt was a prime opportunity, she inquired, “Mr. Wade, what is your stance on LGBT? Are you supportive or opposed?”

“Me?” Charlie couldn’t help but frown.

He sensed something was off about Tawanna. Typically, when friends introduce others, they don’t corner newcomers with pressing inquiries about their views on sensitive topics. Doing so seemed less than polite and lacked basic etiquette. With so many years in the entertainment industry under her belt, it was hard to believe that Tawanna wasn’t aware of such protocols. Her persistent questioning hinted at ulterior motives.

Charlie then caught sight of Tawanna's boyfriend, who appeared busy with his phone, yet the camera was always aimed at him and Tawanna. At that moment, Charlie began to grasp Tawanna’s intentions.

So he replied calmly, “LGBT issues are complex, much like immigration in the United States. It's not something that can simply be summarized as support or opposition.”

Realizing that Charlie wasn’t aligning with her message brought a smile to Tawanna’s face.

If she repeatedly stated her beliefs and the other party merely agreed, then the footage would lack any punch, failing to highlight her passion. She needed to engage someone challenging like Charlie. Overcoming such obstacles would effectively demonstrate her enthusiasm and capability.

Thus, Tawanna insisted, “Why can’t you express your viewpoint as support or opposition? Support is support, and opposition is opposition. Just share your true feelings; it should be straightforward.”

Charlie smiled back at her, responding casually: “Then let me ask you, regarding immigrants in America, not only do they come from various countries, but they also include both legal and illegal immigrants. Let’s set aside legal immigrants for now. Among illegal immigrants, some stay unlawfully while others enter the country illegally. Some contribute positively to society, while others commit heinous acts against Americans. There are even those who don’t work and rely solely on welfare. With millions of illegal immigrants, each with distinct backgrounds, how can such a multifaceted issue simply be boiled down to support or opposition? If you’re comfortable making broad statements, let me pose this question: do you support those illegal immigrants residing in the United States?”