Chapter 486:
Elyse took a graceful bow, her movements like flowing water, before disappearing backstage.
“Such a flawless performance,” someone whispered. “No wonder she’s in the top spot. I can’t possibly surpass her.”
“She’s incredible. I hope I can snag a spot in the international competition.”
“Does Elyse even have any weaknesses? She seems to have it all—no chinks in her armor.”
Tucked away in a corner, Fiona overheard the hushed whispers of the other three contestants. A bitter pang of envy twisted her gut. Her gaze drifted upward, landing on Elyse, bathed in the warm glow of the spotlight. Violin tucked under one arm, her other hand gracefully holding the cascading folds of her dress, Elyse radiated confidence.
Fiona’s dejection solidified into a heavy, suffocating weight, crushing her spirit. Elyse was undeniably brilliant. Even with the subtle curve of her pregnant belly, she commanded attention effortlessly.
Despite sharing the same instructor, Fiona couldn’t capture the same magnetism. Her fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms. Raw jealousy simmered within her.
Suddenly, a cheerful voice broke the tension. “Fiona! I was a nervous wreck, but I made it!” Elyse beamed, approaching Fiona with open arms. Grabbing Fiona’s arm, she said, her voice tinged with playful whine, “Now that the pressure’s off, I’m starving! Fancy hitting the lounge for some food? I can get you something, too.”
Fiona felt a prickle of irritation under Elyse’s touch. She averted her gaze. “I’m not hungry. You go ahead, though. You need the extra fuel.”
With a quick pat on Darren’s shoulder and a few encouraging words, Elyse darted toward the lounge.
Darren took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and strode onto the stage, ready to face his musical challenge.
Backstage, Elyse dug into the lunchbox Tracy had thoughtfully prepared. Unburdened by performance anxiety, her appetite roared. Hunger gnawed at her; she couldn’t order takeout. Forced to quell her grumbling stomach, she started back.
Passing the restrooms, a sudden outburst from Vicky snagged her attention. Elyse stopped, her brow furrowed in confusion. The unmistakable tirade of curses spilling from the restroom stall piqued her curiosity.
Pushing open the restroom door, Elyse found Vicky in a surprising state. Gone was her usual arrogant facade. Fists clenched against her forehead, Vicky muttered what seemed to be a prayer that quickly devolved into a string of curses. Her entire demeanor was fragile, a stark contrast to her usual bravado.
“What’s going on? Shouldn’t you be prepping for your performance? Darren’s on stage, and you’re up next,” Elyse said, blinking in bewilderment.
Vicky whirled around, startled by Elyse’s sudden appearance. She quickly recovered, saying curtly, “You’re just trying to sabotage me, right? Competing against you is a competition. Why the sudden concern? Trying to throw me off my game?”
“Why would caring be sabotage?” Elyse countered, genuinely confused. “If I wanted to make things difficult for you, I wouldn’t be here reminding you to get ready.”
Vicky’s suspicious glare softened slightly under Elyse’s simple words. She turned away, refusing to meet Elyse’s gaze.
Noticing Vicky’s trembling hands, Elyse asked, “Are you nervous?”
Vicky curtly dismissed her. “None of your business. Leave me alone.”
Elyse frowned. “Vicky, you’ve always been so confident. Why are you so on edge today?”
Vicky snapped, her voice tight with barely concealed emotion. “Can’t you just leave me alone? I treated you horribly, and here you are fussing over me. Are you crazy?”
Elyse blinked, surprised. “Of course, I know you weren’t exactly kind. But hey, I got you back for it, didn’t I? We’re even.”
Vicky was speechless. After a long moment, she muttered, “You must be out of your mind.”
Elyse studied Vicky intently. There had been a shift in her behavior recently, but today, it was a complete transformation.
“Please go. Leave me alone,” Vicky said, her tone lacking its usual confidence. Elyse noticed Vicky looked even more vulnerable.
“Look,” Elyse said firmly, “you’re coming back with me. We’ve made it to the final. You have to be there, nerves or not.” . . .