Chapter 191:

A heavy silence fell over the room, broken only by the sound of labored breathing. No one dared to breathe deeply. Vicky's actions—the slap she delivered to Elyse, and Elyse's unexpected retaliation—left everyone bewildered.

Vicky rubbed her reddened, swollen cheek. Her singular focus on Elyse was a mystery to the others; they didn't realize she saw Elyse as her greatest threat.

Earlier that afternoon, Vicky had been discussing her future career plans and upcoming international competitions with Abram in the office. Abram abruptly shifted the conversation to Elyse.

“In fact, during the concertmaster selection, I had a feeling Cody was considering Elyse as his apprentice,” he said. “He watched her play the violin very intently. Fortunately, he didn't choose anyone. I'm relieved he didn't choose you or Elyse. So you didn't lose.”

Vicky's internal reaction to Abram's words remained her secret. She harbored an inexplicable resentment she couldn't shake. "Do you think Elyse is better than me, Mr. Ellsworth?" she asked directly, desperate for reassurance.

Abram looked at her with a complex expression, hinting at thoughts she couldn't decipher. "No one is perfect," he said. "She possesses some talents you don't have. You must heed Cody's advice, or Elyse might surpass you."

This conversation ignited a sense of urgency in Vicky, fueling her fear and disdain for a potential rival. She worried Elyse might usurp her leading position. Therefore, when Rebekah suggested Elyse was scheming against her, Vicky's immediate response was anger, quickly followed by fear. She worried Elyse might not only surpass her but also rally others to sabotage her career.

Regardless of the day's events, Vicky was determined to strike first, hoping to deter Elyse. However, Elyse retaliated with two slaps.

"Do you know what you're doing?" Vicky asked, staring intently at Elyse.

Elyse responded emotionlessly, "You dared to strike. Why shouldn't I? You came here to slap me, to knock me down permanently, to instill fear, didn't you?" Her voice grew colder. "Do you think I can't see through your intentions? It's quite clear, Vicky. You're scared I might threaten your position. You lost your composure and attacked me."

After a brief pause, she offered a challenging smile. "I once thought you were beyond reach. Now I see you're just another person. You've been unopposed for so long; your arrogance grew unchecked. But now, you see a rival in me."

Vicky's humiliation and the pain of the slaps laid bare her vulnerability.

Touching her throbbing cheek, Elyse's resolve hardened, her determined gaze unsettling Vicky further. Vicky fought to maintain an indifferent facade, desperate to hide her fear. Revealing her vulnerability felt like a fate worse than death.

"Do you want to fight this out to the bitter end?" she hissed, a malicious smile playing on her lips. "Let's see who wins."

With that, she stormed out, ignoring the others. Rebekah, left behind, still wore a smirk, though it quickly faded under the others' scrutiny. Grace snorted disdainfully. "Vicky's left. Aren't you going with her?"

Rebekah, stung by rejection, subconsciously glanced at Freddy, only to meet his cold gaze. Hurt, she exited with her head bowed.

After their departure, the others gathered around Elyse to examine her face. Bart, noticing the mark from the slap, frowned. "Was Vicky out of her mind today? How dare she slap you?"

Darren's expression darkened. "It's the first time I've seen her lose her composure like that. She's never acted this way before."

Elyse, covering her face with her hand, responded coldly, "The gauntlet has been thrown. It's her and me now, to the bitter end."

The group fell silent, aware of the fierce competition within the music world. Freddy sighed, feeling responsible. "This is all my fault. I turned Rebekah away earlier, and she must have stirred Vicky up and led her here."

Elyse looked at him and replied, "It's not your fault. This is between me and Vicky."

. .noveldrama .