Chapter 265:

Elyse was stunned by Corrie's gift: a revealing, lacy lingerie set. Inside the box was a card reading, "Ms. Lloyd, Jayden prefers a naughty kitten in bed." Elyse, expressionless, tore the card in half and threw it back into the box with the lingerie. She then took the box downstairs, handing it to Driscoll with the words, "I've inspected the gift. Could you handle this for me?"

Perplexed, Driscoll wondered how she'd finished so quickly. Still in the living room, Jayden curiously asked, "What did Corrie send you?" Elyse replied with a cold sneer, "Your favorite naughty kitten."

Jayden frowned. "Who said I liked kittens? Rabbits were more my thing." Elyse snorted dismissively and swiftly returned upstairs. Jayden, impassive, signaled to Driscoll, "Give me the box." Driscoll obeyed.

The moment Jayden opened the box, his expression darkened. Driscoll closed his eyes, feigning ignorance. Jayden pieced together the torn card and recognized the handwriting. A cruel grin spread across his lips. Driscoll sighed, remarking, "Miss Bates is too reckless. Her family has had it too easy lately. They need a little struggle."

Jayden slammed the box shut, his aura chillingly cold. Driscoll knew Corrie had seriously overstepped. As Jayden's ex-girlfriend, she should have remained silent. Instead, she'd tried to create trouble with Elyse. Elyse was already upset with Jayden, and this gift would only exacerbate the situation. Driscoll sensed a difficult time ahead for Jayden. Elyse went to bed early that night.

Jayden silently approached the bed but didn't dare touch her, fearing she'd ask if he really liked "naughty kittens." Darren—it was Darren, not Jayden—wasn't into kittens, but he did have a soft spot for rabbits. Elyse was as adorable as a rabbit. Elyse, however, simply rolled over, seemingly oblivious to his presence.

The next morning, as Elyse entered the rehearsal room, she was immediately stopped. Darren, leading the orchestra members, held a bouquet of flowers as they surrounded her. Smiling, Darren announced, "Congratulations! You won the first leg of the tour—a fantastic start!"

Elyse was momentarily stunned but joyfully accepted the bouquet. "We couldn't have done it without everyone's effort," she said. After chatting, Elyse realized their last performance's success. Tickets for upcoming dates were sold out, and her popularity was soaring.

Darren then pulled her aside. "You've really turned things around," he said.

"What do you mean?" Elyse asked, confused.

With a wider smile, Darren explained, "Your rising popularity means lots of people will buy tickets just to see you. You've been selected as one of the dual concertmasters."

He patted her shoulder. "You're right up there with Vicky now. She didn't leave you in the dust. You've caught up."

Elyse was incredulous. It felt like a dream. "The announcement about the dual concertmasters will be made at noon," Darren winked. "I'm the director's apprentice, remember? So, I gave you a heads-up."

Elyse stared, speechless.

"Are you speechless with excitement?" he teased.

Elyse finally managed, "Does Vicky know about the dual concertmasters?"

Darren shrugged. "She found out yesterday, but I have no idea how she reacted. If you're worried she might cause trouble, just be prepared."

Elyse looked worried, and Darren reassured her. "I understand your concern about Vicky, but competition is brutal. She was overconfident before the tour and didn't take care of herself in the cold rehearsal room—hardly wearing anything. She blew her own chance."

He paused. "But you seized this opportunity, didn't you? That's fate. Her arrogance cost her."

Elyse considered this and nodded. "You're right. I would have seized the opportunity too, given a second chance."

This version corrects grammatical errors, improves sentence structure, and enhances clarity and flow. The inconsistent use of "Jayden" and "Darren" has also been addressed.