Chapter 392:
Elyse was speechless, her lips parting slightly in shock. Fiona, with a playful wink, nudged her arm. “I need to use the restroom. Come with me.” Elyse nodded, linking arms with Fiona as they headed toward the restroom.
Inside, Elyse paused to examine her reflection instead of using the toilet. Sensing a presence, she turned to find Vicky approaching; her eyes were assessing, and her high heels clicked sharply on the floor. Elyse found Vicky's stare unsettling. Vicky rarely met anyone's gaze directly, preferring a dismissive look.
With a cold expression, Elyse confronted her. “What do you want?” Vicky crossed her arms and said arrogantly, “Out with it. Which music group or association have you joined?”
“Why do you need to know?” Elyse asked icily.
Vicky laughed lightly, tapped Elyse’s forehead, and said, “Simple. I plan to sabotage your future. Do you think you can rise to concertmaster after leaving the Celestial Sounds Symphony?” She shrugged nonchalantly. “You won’t succeed. I’ll see to that. You’ll never surpass me.”
Understanding Vicky’s intentions, Elyse smiled wryly. “So, your strategy is to use your influence to ensure no one dares to hire me. You want to isolate me from the industry.” Vicky’s gaze darkened. “You deserve nothing less.”
Elyse shot back, unflinching. “It seems my talent intimidates you. That’s why you’re afraid.” Vicky nodded firmly. “Yes, I am afraid. But I’ll always be a step ahead, and you’ll never catch up.”
As Elyse processed the encounter, she reflected on Vicky's recent changes. Lately, Vicky seemed out of touch with the orchestra’s dynamics and the pressures faced by her former colleagues. Elyse considered the possibility that internal conflicts among the orchestra’s senior leaders were influencing Vicky. For a moment, she saw in Vicky the same pettiness and malice that plagued Abram.
Fiona emerged from a stall, her demeanor colder and her tone sharper than before. Wrapping an arm around Elyse’s shoulder, she faced Vicky confidently. “Elyse’s talent and character are beyond your reach. She’ll always be out of your league.”
Elyse, unaccustomed to such praise, blushed and looked down. Vicky, however, didn't recognize Fiona. Although Fiona, like Gavin and Irving, was an apprentice under Cody, she had yet to make her mark among the many skilled violinists.
Vicky rolled her eyes, uninterested in engaging with Fiona. She realized she didn't need to know which organization Elyse had joined; she could simply manipulate Elyse’s grades to disqualify her. This pleased Vicky, as it would enhance her own chances in the upcoming Champions Cup.
“Who are you to say that? Do you think you can just bully your way through?” Fiona’s words were biting, and her frustration was evident. Elyse sighed. “Vicky has always been intense, but she’s becoming unbearable.”
Fiona glanced at her watch. “The results of the first round will be out soon. We should head back.” “Okay,” Elyse agreed, and they returned.
Half an hour later, the rankings for the five groups were announced. Leaning over to look at Elyse’s phone, Irving commented, “Elyse, you’re first in Group A. That’s quite a surprise.” Elyse, equally astonished, replied, “I was hoping to make the top three, not lead the group.”
... ... ...
The revised passage improves grammar, punctuation, and flow. The unnecessary website address has been removed. Sentence structure is more concise and clearer. Word choices have been refined for better impact.