Chapter 801:

Sitting alone in the concert hall's lounge, she stared at her phone, her mind swirling with questions about Jayden. As she pondered, she suddenly realized she was wasting energy on someone who no longer mattered. With a firm resolution, she told herself, "No more wasting time on him. I need to focus on what's important." Rejuvenated, Elyse set her phone aside, picked up her violin, and strode toward the backstage area.

Arriving backstage, she was greeted by familiar faces—Vicky, Darren, Edward, Geraldine, and other competitors. Edward, ever the enthusiast, beckoned her over. "Hey, Elyse! What are you doing over there? Join us!"

"Sure!" Elyse responded, smiling, and moved to join the group. Then she heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw Fiona entering. As Fiona walked in, the vibrant atmosphere dampened, and a hush fell over the group.

Fiona, noticing the sudden shift, glanced around with a bemused smile. "What's with all the stares? I'm not a stranger, am I?"

Elyse was taken aback by the reaction but remembered Fiona was the last-minute substitute for a contestant who had been in a serious accident. The circumstances stirred an uneasy feeling within her.

Spurred by the shared discomfort, another contestant voiced the suspicion in the air. "That accident… it wasn't caused by you, was it? How could you replace someone so suddenly?"

Fiona looked shocked and quickly defended herself. "Are you suggesting I had something to do with that? How could I possibly orchestrate such a thing? I'm just like any of you here."

Her words did not alleviate the others' suspicions; in fact, their distrust deepened. Standing beside Edward, Elyse asked curiously, "Why is everyone so hostile towards Fiona?"

Edward's lips twisted into a knowing smile. "She is quite suspicious, isn't she? She came in second in the Comeback Competition, which didn't qualify her for the final. However, she replaced a contestant who had to withdraw. Understandably, that stirred some resentment."

Elyse nodded thoughtfully. "When someone's position doesn't seem to reflect their skills, it does tend to cause unrest."

Edward shook his head and sighed. "We should focus more on ourselves. I've heard that only five contestants will advance from this round. It's uncertain if we'll be among them."

Surprised, Elyse looked at Edward. "Do you doubt your abilities?"

Edward responded playfully, "No, I'm concerned for you. I'm confident I'll secure the top spot, but your chances are less certain."