Chapter 1015:
Fiona scanned the crowd, but Elyse was still absent. She suspected Darren hadn’t noticed Elyse’s absence, but chose not to mention it. “That’s great to hear!” she said. “I’ll be cheering for all of you. Just give it your best during the performance.”
Quinn trailed behind Darren and Edward as they headed to the dressing room. Fiona, accustomed to the concert hall's layout from rehearsals, moved through its corridors unnoticed.
She wandered aimlessly, occasionally checking her watch, wondering when the orchestra would realize Elyse was missing.
Passing a dressing room, she glimpsed someone’s back—Elyse’s unmistakable silhouette. Startled, she whipped around, but the door had already closed.
“Am I seeing things? Kaelyn said Elyse was confined. There’s no way she could be here,” Fiona whispered, clutching her clothes, desperately trying to believe her own words.
Trying to calm her rising panic, she decided not to investigate further. After lingering backstage, she finally joined the audience, slipping into an empty seat.
Twenty minutes later, the concert began with Quinn, who’d tied for third place, taking the stage. Fiona watched Quinn, but her interest quickly faded.
She stifled a yawn, already bored.
Darren, Geraldine, and Edward followed, each performing flawlessly. Then came the moment Fiona had awaited: Elyse’s final performance. Fiona knew Elyse wouldn’t appear; she waited for the host to announce the cancellation.
But reality hit hard. To her horror, her sworn enemy, Elyse, walked onstage, draped in a breathtaking gown. The audience erupted in cheers as Elyse began to play.
Fiona shot from her seat, her pulse racing. Without thinking, she bolted backstage. Quinn, waiting for the ensemble performance, saw her rushing past. “What are you doing back here? Aren’t you watching the performance?”
Fiona stormed past Quinn, eyes fixed on the stage wings, desperate to confirm it was Elyse. Anger and confusion churned within her. Quinn, sensing something was wrong, followed. “Fiona, what’s going on?” . . .