Chapter 38

As Emmalie exited, someone outside urged her to hurry. She grabbed her music sheet from the table, lifting her dress slightly as she moved. Passing Thea, she deliberately shoulder-checked her. Thea watched her storm off, a faint smile playing on her lips before she returned to the stage.

However, the staff hadn't prepared a seat for her. Impatiently, one of them pointed to a chair onstage, saying, "See that seat on the left? That's specially reserved for you by Ms. Rowland. She said you're still her sister, and having you sit beside her during the performance might let you share some of the spotlight."

Sharing the spotlight wasn't the issue. Emmalie had already prepared a barrage of press releases, twisting the previous day's confrontation with Thea at the party. In these stories, Emmalie was again portrayed as the helpless, beautiful, and graceful piano master reduced to tears and bullied by Thea.

Having Thea sit beside her during the performance effectively turned Emmalie into a stark contrast for the audience. While Emmalie basked in the praise, Thea would be the target of ridicule.

In the past, Thea wouldn't have participated in Emmalie's games, but today, she oddly looked forward to it. "Thanks for the great seat, Emmalie. Gives me a perfect view of the show," she thought.

Smiling at the staff, Thea said, "Got it," then confidently walked onstage.

At that moment, Emmalie, dressed to the nines and radiant, also stepped onstage. The two sisters' simultaneous appearance caused a stir in the crowd.

Emmalie feigned surprise and discomfort, pretending to be unaware of Thea's presence. She kept glancing at Thea out of the corner of her eye, seemingly searching for the right words. Thea, uninterested in her performance, chuckled softly. "What's the hold-up, Emmalie? Hurry up and start playing; everyone's waiting."

This cemented Thea's reputation as the villain. Murmurs rippled through the audience:

"WTF, what's her problem?" "Yeah, why is she up there? This is supposed to be Emmalie's moment." "She's just jealous of her sister getting the spotlight. Can't stand being upstaged." "I heard the university didn't even want her here today. She made a scene at the entrance, and Emmalie, being the kind soul she is, allowed her in." "She thinks being rude is cool? Please, she's embarrassing herself."

Ignoring the audience's comments, Thea looked at Emmalie with a mocking smile. "What's wrong? Forgot how to play? Need a few pointers?"

Emmalie bit her lip, fighting back frustration, but finally sighed.

Thea's smile widened. "How delicate and innocent you look, Emmalie. I wonder if you'll maintain that composure later!"

Emmalie composed herself and began to play, her delicate fingers dancing gracefully across the keys. Melodious notes filled the air as she sat poised under the spotlight, seemingly glowing. The audience watched in awe.

Meanwhile, Thea's gaze remained cold. "This was supposed to be my stage. Why does Emmalie get to sit there so comfortably, soaking in all the praise?" she thought.

When the piece ended, the host quickly took the stage, engaging Emmalie with a few questions before turning to Thea. His tone sharpened as he asked, "Ms. Rowland, as Emmalie's sister, what's your reason for being here? Are you trying to steal the spotlight?"

As the host finished, muffled laughter spread through the audience. People watched Thea with disdain, eager for the drama.

Before Thea could respond, Emmalie quickly interjected. "My sister didn't mean to… She's just worried about me, that's all. And our family understands her behavior, so please, don't take it to heart."

Tears welled in Emmalie's eyes, and she looked like someone wronged but too kind to retaliate. The audience's anger intensified.

"Looks like Thea's been bullying Emmalie at home for a long time!" "Remember all the stuff she pulled before? Son of a bitch! It's disgusting!" "Could she be kicked out of the university? Look, Emmalie was having a great day, and now it's ruined because of her!" "Get her out! Get her out!"

Emmalie approached Thea, gently taking her hand, feigning concern. "Thea, I think everyone's getting a little upset. Maybe you should go. Don't worry, I'll explain everything to them."

Even the host defended Emmalie. "Ms. Rowland, this is your sister's stage. Why are you going out of your way to explain to someone else? You're too kind for your own good. It's easy for people to take advantage of that."

Emmalie shook her head. "No, no, my sister isn't bullying me. She just has a bit of a temper."

Thea pulled her hand away, letting out a cold laugh. "Leave? I've got thick skin. I don't mind the noise. Besides, wasn't this seat arranged for me by my dear little sister?"

Thea continued, her voice mocking. "But the way you're talking, it sounds like I forced you to arrange it."

Emmalie's eyes widened. "Why would you say that, Thea? Weren't you the one who insisted I arrange it for you? I've been defending you in front of everyone, and you're still not satisfied! Do you really need to humiliate me in front of them?"

"Yes, I do," Thea admitted with a smirk. "How'd you know that's exactly what I want? Go ahead, cry; it might make me feel better."

Someone threw something at the stage. Tension escalated, with people shouting for them to leave.

Ever since Emmalie returned to the Rowland family, Thea had lived in a world where no one believed her. In this skewed world, whoever played the victim was always seen as right.

But then, gasps of surprise rippled through the audience as Nicolas entered, confidently walking with a group towards the front row. His sharp gaze settled on the stage, where he saw Thea standing alone. His lips pressed into a thin line, and his voice was cold. "Is this what you call a performance? What kind of chaos is this?"

"Nicolas!" Emmalie's eyes lit up as she saw him; she seemed ready to run to him, yet something held her back. The love and longing in her eyes were unmistakable.

But Nicolas didn't respond; his focus remained on Thea.

Thea, silent since Nicolas' arrival, avoided his gaze, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes. "Why is he here? For Emmalie?" she wondered. "Though our relationship is only on paper, we're still married. How could he come here to support Emmalie without considering how furious it would make me?" The more she thought about it, the more upset she became. Ignoring Nicolas, she decided to remain silent.

To everyone else, however, this strange interaction suggested something entirely different.