Chapter 285:

Rebekah blinked and asked, “Aren’t you relieved now that Elyse is almost gone? With her gone, you’ll have no rivals.”

Vicky chuckled, her gaze icy. “Elyse is just on temporary leave. She’ll be back once this blows over.”

Elyse was a musical prodigy, and there was no legitimate reason for the orchestra’s senior leaders to force her out. Vicky knew that if it were easy to remove Elyse, her instructor wouldn’t be so troubled.

Rebekah suddenly realized something. “So that’s what’s been bothering you. Don’t worry. Elyse won’t be making a comeback.”

“Why are you so sure she won’t return?” Vicky asked, puzzled.

Rebekah casually toyed with the expensive bracelet on her wrist—a cherished possession worth over a hundred thousand dollars. She said, “Because I have evidence that Mabel stole Elyse’s sheet music. Even if Elyse tries to defend herself, she can’t do so without evidence.”

Vicky’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“You actually have evidence!” Vicky exclaimed, shocked.

Seeing Vicky’s surprise, Rebekah smiled. “There’s no need to be so astonished. It’s really not a big deal.”

Vicky’s eyes betrayed a complex mix of emotions. Logically, she should have been pleased. If Elyse couldn’t prove her innocence, she would be ousted from the Celestial Sounds Symphony. With Elyse gone, no one could challenge Vicky’s position.

However, Rebekah’s words confirmed that Elyse was a genius. Those melodies were unmistakably Elyse’s. Vicky had previously doubted Elyse’s ability to compose them, suspecting someone else had written them.

As Vicky stood, a realization struck her. She asked Rebekah, “Do you despise Elyse?”

Rebekah replied immediately, “Yes. Don’t you?”

Vicky scoffed. “Why should I?”

Rebekah regarded Vicky with a pitying smile. “Because Elyse is more talented than you. If you don’t get rid of her, your status as the most gifted violinist will be threatened.”

Vicky glared at Rebekah, her face filled with rage. Rebekah laughed. “Why the anger? I’m helping you. Shouldn’t you be grateful?”

Uninterested in continuing the conversation, Vicky brushed past Rebekah and hurried away. Rebekah found Vicky’s reaction amusing. It seemed even a genius like Vicky could feel threatened by someone more talented. She admired her bracelet sparkling in the sunlight and murmured, “That troublesome woman will soon be gone. Just a little longer.”

Meanwhile, Freddy secretly watched Rebekah. Feeling melancholy, Elyse called her driver for a ride home. She sat by a flower bed and waited patiently.

A black car pulled up nearby. Two suspicious figures emerged, one carrying a camera. Elyse suspected they were paparazzi.

She quickly put on her mask and pretended to be engrossed in her phone, hoping to avoid them. The paparazzi couldn’t enter the orchestra building. Spotting Elyse with her violin case, they approached her.

They exchanged glances and asked, “Are you with the Celestial Sounds Symphony? Do you know Elyse Lloyd?”

Elyse kept her head down and touched her throat, indicating she couldn’t speak. Thinking she was unwell, the paparazzi left her alone and resumed their surveillance.

Relieved, Elyse exhaled. But her relief was short-lived. Another vehicle arrived, with two more paparazzi carrying cameras.

Soon, a dozen people had gathered at the building entrance. Were they all there for her?

Elyse checked Twitter and found an anonymous post alleging that Mabel’s sister was Jayden’s legal wife and the one who had called off his wedding to Theo Ward.

Realizing this, Elyse felt she was on the verge of a breakdown. It seemed the paparazzi were indeed after her.