Chapter 417:

“You ask me why? Because you used to be my loyal lackey, always ready to do my bidding!” Vicky raised her hand as if to slap Rebekah. Aware of the onlookers, however, she instead pressed the stiletto heel of her shoe onto Rebekah’s instep with brutal force.

“I’m sorry! It won’t happen again!” Rebekah cried out in pain.

Vicky savored Rebekah’s distress. With a casual lift of her foot, she removed it. Casting a venomous glance at Elyse, she walked confidently toward the stage.

All the contestants backstage witnessed the scene, their whispers adding to the already tense atmosphere.

Fiona tightened her grip on Elyse’s hand and asked, with thinly veiled anxiety, “Is that Vicky, your rival from the Celestial Sounds Symphony?”

Elyse nodded, her feelings in turmoil.

Fiona shook her head firmly. “Her personality is appalling. Such arrogance is repellent.”

Elyse sighed, choosing not to dwell on Vicky. Her mind drifted to Darren. Vicky had arrived, but Darren was noticeably absent.

Her gaze swept the room, searching for Darren, but he was nowhere to be found. Memories of his usual habits sparked worry.

“I need to find a friend,” Elyse said softly. “Will you be alright here by yourself?”

Fiona smiled. “What could go wrong?” she remarked dismissively. “Go find your friend. I’ll be on stage soon.”

Elyse nodded and left the backstage area. As she walked down the hallway, she saw Darren slumped near the restroom entrance.

He sat dejectedly against the wall, his violin lying beside him, mirroring his desolate state.

Elyse approached him. Seeing his downcast look, she gently touched his arm. With a note of frustration, she said, “Darren, you’re not thinking of backing out of the performance, are you?”

Darren pursed his lips and shrugged off her hand. “Just leave me be. This is who I am. I’m not changing.”

Elyse couldn’t bear the despair in his voice. “This is only the second round, Darren. Are you really ready to quit? Don’t you remember our vow? We promised to make it into the top ten together and then compete on the international stage.”

Darren sat quietly, his face buried in his hands. His voice was a faint murmur: “I can’t do it. When I get nervous, my hands start shaking uncontrollably.”

Elyse’s face fell as she searched for the right words. Then, she asked, “Are you sure it’s just your nervousness making your hands shake?”

Darren looked up, puzzled. “What else could it be?”

“It might not be just anxiety,” Elyse suggested, eyeing his hands. “Look, you’re nervous now, but your hands are steady, right?”

Darren gave a wry laugh. “That’s because I’m not on stage holding a violin.”

Elyse glanced at his violin case. “Why not take it out now and see what happens?”

Though skeptical, Darren took out his violin as Elyse watched closely. She observed him carefully and pointed out, “You’re nervous now, yet your hands are stable while you’re handling the violin.”

“That’s different,” Darren argued weakly. “I’m not on a stage.”

Caught off guard by his continued excuses, Elyse noticed a few staff members nearby. Seizing the moment, she quickly explained the situation and gestured for them to come closer. “Anywhere you have an audience can be a stage. Try it now!” she encouraged him.

After a brief pause, Darren reluctantly played his violin. To his surprise, his hands were steady.

Elyse beamed. “Look, no shaking. I knew it.”

Darren muttered, “It’s bizarre. Why do they start trembling the moment I step onto a real stage?”

Elyse considered this, then offered a thought. “Maybe it’s not anxiety. It could be the thrill of the moment.”