Chapter 332: Schemes

Maggie paused and said calmly, "Fine. It doesn't matter if I practice. You won't surpass me anyway."

Sierra's anger flared again. "Who do you think you are? Are you so sure you'll win? Maggie, don't get too cocky. We still don't know who the ultimate winner will be!" she said fiercely, her face flushed. Maggie glanced at her and chuckled. "Well, let's just wait and see."

With that, Maggie grabbed her manuscript and returned to her bedroom.

Sierra stood there, fuming, her fists clenched. "One day, I'll kick that bitch, Maggie, out of the Camerons!" she muttered. "And Nathael I'll definitely win him over!"

After a moment, Sierra calmed herself and returned to her room. She noticed a manuscript on the floor near the piano stool. After hesitating briefly, she picked it up.

It was sheet music, heavily revised—clearly one of Maggie's compositions.

Sierra frowned and glanced toward Maggie's room. Without further examination, she quickly hid the manuscript and returned to her bedroom.

There, she unfolded the manuscript. She tapped her fingers on the desk, trying to play the tune mentally. She didn't dare use the piano, afraid of being overheard.

After reviewing it twice, Sierra's expression soured. Is this really Maggie's composition? Does she truly have this level of skill? She felt a tightness in her chest.

After a moment of contemplation, Sierra copied the final draft onto a piece of paper and sent it to her piano teacher, Ivan Reed, via WhatsApp, along with a voice message: "Mr. Reed, what do you think of this piece?"

Twenty minutes later, Ivan called. "Sierra, who composed this?" he asked directly.

"The music is exceptionally well-written, captivating, and offers profound insights into life. It showcases resilience in the face of adversity and death, and the courage to overcome challenges," Ivan said enthusiastically. Despite his opportunistic nature, he possessed genuine talent and a passion for piano. A remarkable piece inevitably excited him. Having studied with him for many years, Sierra recognized his admiration in his tone. She asked, "So, how does this compare to the previous piece I submitted?"

Ivan knew she referred to her own composition for the third round of the competition. After revisions by experts, that piece was impressive; strictly speaking, the transitions were even smoother than this one. But, for some reason, he preferred this piece.

"I feel this one is superior. The previous lacked momentum and felt heavy-handed. This piece flows with naturalness and intensity, and resonates more," Ivan replied slowly. Sierra's heart sank.

Could Maggie's composition be superior to the one revised by several masters? Did she receive guidance from a skilled individual? How could she compose such a piece so quickly?

"Sierra, how did you obtain this piece?" Ivan asked.

Sierra admitted reluctantly, "I stumbled upon it."

"Stumbled upon it?" Ivan was surprised.

A strange impulse compelled Sierra to confide, though she knew she shouldn't. Fearful and needing support, she gritted her teeth and said, "It's Maggie's work."

Ivan was speechless. So it was Maggie. It wasn't surprising; Maggie had shown remarkable talent since childhood. Ivan, wanting to avoid trouble and maintain good relations with the Camerons and Pierces, had, at Sierra and Olivia's urging, 'persuaded' Maggie to return home. Even so, Maggie remained highly skilled.

"If Maggie chooses this piece, your chances of winning are slim," Ivan said calmly. He hoped Sierra would win, and he certainly didn't want Maggie to win—or even appear on stage. He had once claimed Maggie lacked talent; it would be embarrassing if she won while his student didn't.

Sierra murmured, "What if I perform her composition?"

Ivan was startled. "Perform her composition?" He understood her scheme. With Master Pierce's help, they could place Sierra ahead of Maggie. If Sierra played the piece first, nobody could dispute her claim to authorship. There was time to fabricate manuscripts and videos to support her claim.

"You could try, but it's uncertain if Maggie has proof she wrote it," Ivan replied cautiously.

Sierra considered the piece Maggie had practiced, heavily revised, and seemingly identical to the one she now possessed. "There shouldn't be any evidence. Even if there is, it's recent, insufficient proof," she insisted.

"What about your original composition?" Ivan asked.

"It's a backup. If necessary, I'll play that," Sierra said.

With Ivan's support, Sierra made up her mind. She called Master Pierce and requested to perform before Maggie. Master Pierce was delighted at the news of her superior composition.

"Sierra, you're remarkable. Don't worry, we'll surpass Maggie this time. I'm disappointed in your father; he can't seem to prioritize!" Master Pierce said, frowning. He couldn't bear to see his grandchildren mistreated, but Sierra's humiliation and Joseph's beating were beyond anything he'd imagined.

"Grandpa, I understand your favoritism, but Maggie is too cunning. Joseph and I are no match for her. I'm afraid she'll ruin our family," Sierra said.

After hanging up, Master Pierce felt distressed. He phoned Ivan. "Ivan, find a way to make Maggie more sensible. Tell her to stop bullying Sierra and Joseph, or I won't let her off lightly."