Chapter 300: Stay With Me

"Oh, snap!"

Maggie's chest surged with fury. "You're destroying all trust! You're exploiting me and playing innocent. Just watch—I swear I won't let you lay a hand on me again!"

This man had no shame! That despicable person!

Nathael laughed and leaned over to kiss her forehead gently. "Alright, I may have led you astray and charmed you into my bed."

Maggie scoffed, turning her head away, a flush spreading from her ear to her neck.

Nathael enveloped her delicate hand in his large palm, gently intertwining their fingers. "I've always desired you, always."

With each word, Maggie's unease grew; she felt constantly outmaneuvered.

She clamped her hands over her ears, shooting daggers at Nathael. "I refuse to hear this! I don't want to hear this!"

Nathael raised an eyebrow, lowering her hand and speaking seriously, "Stay still; you might bleed if you move."

Maggie sighed deeply, torn between fury and the medicine's influence. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead and nose.

"Are you in pain?" Nathael whispered, his expression full of concern.

"What?" Maggie was caught off guard. Her reaction was delayed.

"Need help with the medicine?" Nathael offered gently.

"What medicine?" Maggie's realization hit, and she swiftly launched a pillow at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"Nathael!"

Nathael chuckled, a satisfied grin on his face.

Overtired from sleeping at home, Maggie found it hard to doze off. After Nathael coaxed her with porridge, she tried to tire herself out by scrolling through her phone. Fresh off the college joint competition's second round, the buzz hadn't died down. Various apps buzzed with the latest updates.

Maggie scrolled through Twitter, noting Sierra's enduring, albeit mostly ridiculed, popularity. The so-called "piano prodigy's" subpar performance of a renowned piece stirred a storm of criticism. Neuzens wouldn't have done this if she hadn't rested on her past laurels for so long. But since she had, she had to weather the storm.

Maggie kept tabs on the Cameron Group's activities. While Ronald still shone, Sierra's performance had clearly left him seething with frustration. While browsing the news, Maggie stumbled upon a post-competition video interview with Sierra, prompting an immediate click.

Sierra still wore a mask—originally meant to conceal an injury, now serving as her shield.

The interviewer asked: "Ms. Cameron, are you happy with today's performance? Why did you decide to wear a mask while performing? What's your strategy for addressing the skepticism surrounding your reputation as a piano prodigy? Did your past international piano rankings truly reflect your skill, or were the Camerons pulling strings? Do you believe your level is up to the qualifying standard? Many competitors have expressed dissatisfaction and skepticism about your successful advancement. How do you intend to respond? Are you the protagonist of the recently viral piano videos online? Why the reluctance to show your face? Can you explain the vast difference in your performance between real life and online?"

As Sierra emerged from the concert hall, a swarm of reporters and media immediately surrounded her. Microphones were pushed aggressively toward her, resembling weapons of war, nearly striking her face.

"Pardon us, make a way. We'll schedule a press conference for interviews later. Just keep things orderly now," Danielle and the school teachers escorted her, their expressions tense. With her head slightly bowed, Sierra's visible half hinted at her troubled state, despite her attempts to conceal it.

Despite her high profile, her reputation was in tatters. The media wouldn't let go of such a hot topic. Blocking the road, each step was time-consuming.

After being bombarded with questions, Sierra's patience wore thin. The embarrassment, coupled with her anger and resentment, was almost overwhelming.

Halting her steps, she controlled her anger and put on a show of remorse, saying, "Sorry, everyone. I let you down and broke your trust. Just before going onstage today, I accidentally hurt my hand, which messed with my mindset and prevented me from performing at my best. I'm really sorry."

Sierra gave a deep bow.

At this moment, a camera zoomed in on Sierra's hand, revealing a long scar on the outer side of her hand, near her pinky finger, extending toward the palm, like it had been scratched by something like a piece of wire.

Maggie's eyes gleamed with suspicion. Smart move.

Sierra's injury seemed recent, making it hard to tell if it happened before or after the competition. But with Sierra strategically hiding her hand, it was easy to see how viewers might miss the detail, providing a convenient excuse for her lackluster performance. Maggie suspected this was orchestrated by Sierra's teacher, who seemed untrustworthy. He was known for sharing both triumphs and setbacks with his students, likely trying to protect Sierra's reputation.

Sure enough, as soon as Sierra finished speaking, the media frenzy subsided. But soon, a series of questions resurfaced.

Tears filling her eyes, Sierra looked directly into the camera and stated, "My fans' steadfast support has been instrumental in my journey. I find myself here today thanks to the encouragement you've given me. I commit to working hard for the upcoming competition and aim to meet your expectations without fail."

Hearing Sierra's statement, Maggie laughed out loud. Sierra showed a hint of cleverness. Her demeanor, while failing to mask her decline, could still rally support and garner sympathy.

"I'm the person you see in the viral video. I didn't expect it to become so popular. I've been avoiding showing my face because of a recent injury, and I didn't really think about it beforehand."

Maggie tightened her lips, frostiness in her gaze. Just as she anticipated, Sierra had admitted to her actions. What a relief! Things couldn't have gone smoother.

However, there were three rounds in the university's joint competition. Sierra made a fool of herself in two consecutive rounds. Ronald wouldn't be happy.

Putting her phone down, Maggie pondered her next move. Although the Camerons had seen a decline, their wealth still stood. Taking them on alone wouldn't be easy. But tackling Sierra? That's a different story. The plan is to stir her up, trap her, and avoid any mess down the road.

"Go to sleep," Nathael adjusted the bed for her, speaking gently.

Maggie blinked open her eyes, noticing he remained absorbed in his work. A wave of compassion swept through her. She softly intertwined her pinky finger with his and whispered, "Stay with me."

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