Chapter 163

Elyse quickly fell asleep after returning to her room. Waking to find Jayden peacefully sleeping beside her, she felt cheerful. However, curiosity prompted her to wonder what time he’d returned to bed the previous night. After a brief internal debate, she decided against waking him.

After changing clothes, she left the room and found Driscoll preparing breakfast downstairs. "Good morning," Driscoll greeted her warmly.

"Good morning," Elyse replied, yawning behind her hand. "Are Jayden's friends, like Peyton, expected around midnight?"

"Indeed," Driscoll confirmed. "His companions keep late hours. They usually arrive around midnight, gaining entry through security."

It seemed more than coincidence; they clearly enjoyed nocturnal gatherings. Rubbing her temples, Elyse commented, "I saw them drinking in the basement yesterday. You didn't mention this before."

Driscoll smiled. "Because they rarely visit. When they do, the household staff is usually asleep. I've never encountered them late at night before."

Elyse smiled back and began her breakfast.

Later, after dinner, she went to the studio. Just as she picked up her violin, Wanda summoned her to the office. Seated at her desk, Wanda looked at Elyse with pride.

"Elyse," Wanda said, "you've exceeded my expectations. You've won first place in the second-round selection."

Elyse felt a surge of satisfaction. Earning Wanda's approval was her greatest desire, and she had achieved it.

"I've been practicing diligently," Elyse said happily.

Wanda nodded, reflecting. "I believed you could have won first place last year, but you withdrew from the selection. I was very disappointed."

A shy smile touched Elyse's lips as she thought about her regretful decision to forgo the competition the previous year. Fortunately, she had persevered this time, pursuing her dream.

"Last year, no participant stood out. If you had participated, victory would have been yours. But this year is different. The competition is fierce, especially Vicky Aston, who tied with you for first place. Her skill is undeniable."

Wanda's expression grew serious. "Were it not for you, she would have become the orchestra's youngest concertmaster this year."

A somber silence followed. Elyse recalled Vicky's exceptional violin skills. Previously, her focus had been solely on Theo, leading to a limited awareness of Vicky. Now, that had changed.

"Vicky surpasses you in technical skill," Wanda stated earnestly. "While your music effectively conveys emotion, your technique remains a weakness. With only two days until the concertmaster selection, you must practice rigorously to close that gap."

Feeling the pressure, Elyse nodded resolutely. "I will."

"Although you both achieved top rank, the other three players are also very talented, tutored by esteemed members of our team. Therefore, your competition extends beyond Vicky."

After saying goodbye to Wanda, Elyse left the office, eager to return to practice. To her surprise, she found Vicky waiting by the practice room entrance.

Violin case in hand, Vicky said playfully, "You've already won. Why the long face? Sharing first place with me is quite lucky, isn't it? Shouldn't you be smiling?"

Maintaining a serious expression, Elyse met Vicky's gaze. "No, I'm not pleased. It means I haven't performed well enough; otherwise, I wouldn't be sharing first place with…"

Vicky sneered. "I admire your confidence, but don't let it blind you. High expectations often lead to great falls. I wouldn't want to see you lose too embarrassingly to me."

"I appreciate your confidence as well," Elyse replied.

Vicky nervously bit her lip, experiencing the unfamiliar feeling of sharing first place. In the past, she had not only won but also significantly outperformed her closest competitor. Now, with Elyse, a non-noble, beside her, Vicky felt a pang of shame.

"Do you really believe you're superior?" Vicky asked tensely. "In my opinion, your position is pure luck. You'll never match my skill."

"This time, you'll stumble," Elyse retorted disdainfully. "It's about time you experienced failure." … … …