Chapter 782:

Before she could dwell on it further, she noticed something off about Gavin’s expression. “Gavin, are you okay? You look like you haven’t rested well.”

Gavin forced a smile, though it was clear he was exhausted. “I’m fine. I just spent a lot of time and effort helping with the investigation of that troublemaking contestant,” he replied, stifling a yawn.

Elyse’s surprise was evident. “Did the investigation yield any results?”

A shadow passed through Gavin’s eyes as he spoke. “I can’t reveal much yet. We have a rough idea of who the suspect is, but without concrete evidence, we’re keeping a close watch.”

Elyse understood. They were biding their time to catch the culprit in the act.

After a moment of thought, she asked, “There’s a Comeback Competition in three days. Can I go watch?”

Gavin nodded. “Of course, but I won’t be able to join you. I’ll be busy assisting with the investigation.” He suggested, “Why not invite your friends? You mentioned that Vicky and Darren are here, and Edward could join you too.”

Elyse considered this before replying, “I’ll think about it. The last time I asked Darren to practice with me, he declined, saying he avoids any distractions before the competition.”

Gavin agreed with a nod. “Alright, but on the day of the Comeback Competition, be cautious. I won’t be there to watch over you. You’ve made it to the final, and the real competition is about to start. Your opponents will be tough.”

Elyse’s expression grew serious. “I understand.”

Just as Gavin was about to leave, he paused and turned back to Elyse. “By the way, Mr. Tucker has been attending all your performances from the audience.”

Elyse was taken aback. “But wasn’t he with an old friend recently?”

“He came back a while ago,” Gavin said with a gentle smile. “He’s been closely following your progress, observing every bit of improvement and growth in your performances.”

He then patted Elyse’s head affectionately. “After each performance, he praised you in front of me, commenting on how much more composed and impressive you’ve become.”

Elyse’s eyes widened in disbelief, her hand flying to her mouth.

Gavin chuckled and lowered his voice. “This is just between us. He didn’t want me to tell you.”

Gavin blinked, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Don’t let it slip. He didn’t want to make you nervous. But honestly, I think you’ve conquered stage fright.”

Elyse, touched by his words, replied, “The stage is incredible. Standing there, playing the violin… it brings me true happiness.”

“Keep going,” Gavin encouraged before leaving. “Your journey with the violin has only just begun.”

As Elyse returned to her room, she was still on cloud nine. Lying on her bed, she replayed Gavin’s words in her mind, a deep sense of contentment washing over her. She savored the moment, drifting into a deep sleep, only waking when evening had settled in.

She sat up, walked to the window, and gazed out at the scenery below. The snow had stopped at some point, and the streetlights now bathed the scene in a warm, golden glow.

Grabbing her violin, Elyse left the hotel, intending to enjoy a meal before her practice session. To her surprise, she ran into Fiona at the restaurant.

Fiona was also there for a meal, and when she spotted Elyse, a flash of disdain flickered in her eyes.

Elyse wasn’t surprised. She knew Fiona didn’t like her, but the feeling was mutual.