Chapter 201: The Game of Power

Sierra seethed with rage at Maggie's sentence.

"What did you just say?" she demanded, glaring fiercely.

Maggie smirked. "I said you might be overestimating yourself. Winning a few awards by throwing money around and pulling strings doesn't make you the chosen one. Those awards are shallow. Check the forums; see what others are saying."

Sierra, shaking with anger, retorted, "You know nothing about music! Who do you think you are to judge me?"

Maggie raised an eyebrow. "And what if I do? What are you going to do about it?"

Sierra lunged forward to slap Maggie.

"Sierra!" Olivia's stern voice cut through the air. She quickly stepped forward, grabbed Sierra's hand, and said sharply, "What's going on? You just got back and you're already causing trouble?"

"Maggie, Sierra's been struggling," Olivia said, "Let's not argue."

Maggie chuckled softly. Why didn't I realize this in my past life? she thought. If Olivia treated me like her child, why did she always protect me and scold Sierra during our conflicts, without asking for reasons?

In this life, Maggie finally understood their dynamic: a charade devoid of genuine emotion.

"Mom, I won't bother with her," Maggie said, sighing. "I'm just worried she'll act the same way during the competition and mess up Dad's plans for Luster Corporation."

Olivia's face changed. The Camerons' top priority was reviving Luster Corporation; its failure would impact them all. "Don't worry, Maggie. I'll talk to her."

Maggie nodded, then cast a provocative, scornful glance at Sierra before walking past Olivia.

Sierra, tears welling up after Maggie left, cried out, "Mom! Why did you stop me? She's the reason I was kicked out! And now she dares challenge me!"

"She'll be overshadowed in the competition," Olivia said. "Your dad's boosting your profile. Don't cause trouble. Once Luster Corporation stabilizes, you can deal with her."

Olivia called Sierra back to her room for a long conversation.

Later, Maggie showered, then worked on a design proposal for Timothy's house on her computer—it wasn't convenient to talk freely at the Camerons'. She exchanged messages with Nathael.

After chatting with Nathael, Maggie leaned back, lost in thought about the upcoming University Piano Competition. She hadn't expected Ronald to focus on it, but it made sense: Sierra excelled at piano, and the Camerons had secured her a place in a top school. Their involvement was natural. Maggie closed her eyes, several names flashing through her mind: the Camerons, Sierra, the Pierces, and herself. She was involved, so she needed a careful plan. Sierra, ruthless but unintelligent, was the perfect pawn. How can I bring down the Camerons and Pierces together?

She pondered late into the night, developing a rough plan, then researched the piano competition online. The competition had gained significant attention, perhaps due to capital investment. There was even an official blog, and the promotion from sponsors and universities made it almost as big as popular talent shows.

Maggie scanned updates, finding a post by an influencer analyzing contestants and predicting the top ten. Sierra was predicted to place second.

Maggie memorized the contestants' details and messaged Leo, asking him to increase investment in the competition. If the Camerons wanted to play, they should go all out.

The next morning, Maggie left the Camerons' and called Nathael.

"Hey, can I borrow your piano?"

"What for?" Nathael asked warmly.

"I want to shoot a video to hype things up," Maggie explained cheerfully.

Nathael, glancing at the time, said seriously, "How about two this afternoon?"

Maggie hesitated, realizing his offer of help. "I can manage it myself. Just a casual recording."

"No problem. I'm free."

Maggie didn't insist. She went home, changed, and applied light makeup.

Arriving at Nathael's earlier than their appointment, she was directed to the second-floor piano room. She remembered his custom-made, top-tier piano (though the brand wasn't easily identifiable) and the stunning view from its floor-to-ceiling windows. Even though she had a piano at home, she chose his to avoid speculation about her identity. Few would recognize Nathael's piano, and even if they did, they wouldn't dare question him.

Seated at the piano, Maggie let melodies flow from her fingers. After familiarizing herself with the instrument, she closed her eyes, feeling a sense of déjà vu. In her past life, Nathael had discovered her love for piano; she'd wandered into his piano room and played. Now, rusty from years without practice, she felt restless. A figure approached, wrapping arms around her as they played together, helping her find her rhythm.

"Nathael, is this a custom-made Sam & Co?" she asked excitedly.