Chapter 1290:

“Ms. Griffin, it’s an honor to have you here. Thank you for coming. I hope you enjoy the evening.”

Celeste’s gaze swept over Elyse, appraising her from head to toe with unapologetic scrutiny. After a moment, her lips curled into a faint smirk.

“Do you know who I am?” Her tone was cutting, her sharp eyes fixed on Elyse.

Elyse nodded politely, her tone calm and measured. “Yes, I’ve heard of you. You’re from the esteemed Griffin family and served as a mentor to both my teacher, Cody, and my father. It’s an honor to meet someone of your stature.”

“Mentor?” Celeste’s voice was tinged with skepticism, her smirk widening slightly. “I doubt either of them ever treated me as such.”

Leaning more firmly on her cane, Celeste’s sharp gaze bore into Elyse. “So, I hear you’ve won the Swan Cup,” she said, her voice laced with skepticism. “A world-class accolade, no less. Tell me—did you really earn it?”

The room seemed to hold its breath as a collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Guests exchanged murmurs, their curiosity piqued by the unfolding confrontation.

Pearce leaned closer to Elyse, his voice low and quick. “Careful now. Celeste won the Swan Cup herself over forty years ago. I can’t recall the exact year, but back in her prime, she was a violin prodigy—hailed as the best in the country.”

Elyse felt a flicker of surprise upon discovering that Celeste, too, had once triumphed in the Swan Cup. She quickly composed herself, maintaining a neutral expression.

Celeste, noticing Elyse’s reaction, pressed on. “I’m familiar with Cody’s level of skill. He barely scraped a win in the Swan Cup himself. What caliber of students could he possibly produce? There might have been some… underhanded tactics at play.”

As the words left Celeste’s lips, a ripple of whispers coursed through the crowd.

Some guests, well aware of the longstanding rivalry between Celeste and the Benson family, observed with a mix of amusement and disapproval. Their curiosity was piqued, tinged with the thrill of potential scandal. Those unfamiliar with the feud, however, now looked at Elyse with newfound skepticism. Doubts crept into their minds, and their glances were laden with suspicion, questioning the legitimacy of Elyse’s accomplishment.

Elyse, though fully aware that Celeste’s barbs were aimed to demean her, was puzzled by the unnecessary inclusion of her mentor, Cody. Steeling herself, she responded in a calm and steady voice, “It seems you’re underestimating me, which is your prerogative. But Mr. Tucker’s reputation isn’t up for debate. The Swan Cup was a battleground; each contestant was a formidable adversary, fully capable of claiming victory.”

Celeste’s lips curled into a scornful sneer. “Oh? So you’re asserting that there was no foul play at all?”

Elyse met Celeste’s accusation with a resolute stare. “If you’re suggesting I cheated, I implore you to present some proof. Demonstrate how I erred in the competition instead of unjustly accusing me.”

“Pressuring an innocent person like me to admit to deeds I never committed is unjust,” Elyse said firmly.

. . . Message from Noa: Happy Thursday, dear readers! I hope you all had a fantastic week so far. May your day be filled with positivity and success. God bless you, and Noa wishes you all the best. (─‿‿O)