Chapter 357 Confrontation
Maggie’s vote count had been climbing steadily, albeit slower than her competitors.
Some potential voters were still on the fence, troubled by the similarity between her song and Sierra’s earlier piece. They craved clarification.
Meanwhile, in the dressing room, Sierra’s face darkened as she scrutinized the live stream on her phone.
“That b*tch! How dare she! I played that piece first! She should’ve picked another one if she knows what’s best for her! How dare she!”
Sierra’s once-assured demeanor now crumbled under a sense of helplessness.
In the dressing room, her companions cast sidelong glances her way, their expressions laden with concern. Despite this, no one dared to broach the subject.
Meanwhile, online chatter buzzed with talk about Maggie’s necklace, adding fuel to the already heated discussion.
Online, a post with the title “Did Maggie’s necklace fall off?” shot up to Twitter’s top trending search.
People scrutinized the replay with precision, some even capturing the necklace’s pivotal moment in GIF form.
“The necklace fell off? Who did she buy it from? The quality’s awful.”
“Maybe she fastened it wrong. No fault of the seller.”
“It’s Luster Corporation’s stuff! Can’t believe they’d sell something so… lacklustre. Pardon the pun. And it fell off. In a live show. This is interesting.”
“But Maggie’s cool. She grabbed the necklace with her body, and it didn’t get in the way of her performance. The piece is still perfect. That’s godlike skills.”
“Touché. Her foundation’s solid, and her mind’s strong.”
“Remember someone saying she didn’t fasten it well? Look closer. It didn’t break at the clasp; the necklace snapped on the side. Here’s a screencap.”
“Luster Corporation’s jewelry is trash. Maggie’s too good for them. Still, why’d she play Sierra’s piece? Did they collab on it? Are there any rulings about this?”
As the online chatter buzzed with activity, Maggie rose from the piano and took center stage once more, this time with a microphone in hand.
Initially intended for the judges’ feedback and campaign promotions, the segment took an unexpected turn as the host addressed the elephant in the room: “It appears that the composition you performed mirrors Sierra’s piece. Can you shed some light on this?”
After a brief pause, Maggie responded with a soft tone, “Honestly, I’m not sure how my composition ended…”
Maggie’s casual remark sent ripples through the crowd.
“Did Maggie just suggest Sierra copied her?”
“It sounds like it. She seems pretty confident to call it out like that.”
“If it’s true, Sierra’s got some nerve!”
“Wait, isn’t Maggie the Camerons’ adopted daughter? Calling out Sierra like that might backfire on her. Sierra’s known to be a bit of a drama queen backstage, according to a friend who helped out there earlier!”
“You’re right, we definitely need proof for accusations like this. But I have to admit, Maggie’s performance was really moving. I even teared up a bit while she was playing.”
The murmurs of the audience remained distant, yet the host’s astonishment was palpable.
“So, are you confirming that this piece is your own creation, Maggie?” the host inquired.
“Yes, it is,” Maggie affirmed with a nod.
The host appeared ready to interject, but a voice from the judging panel grabbed the microphone, addressing Maggie, “Maggie, without evidence, your claim lacks credibility. If you’re certain, you’ll need to substantiate it.”
With a confident smile, Maggie posed a question. “Why am I the only one required to provide evidence? Shouldn’t Sierra be held to the same standard?”
The judge, surprised by Maggie’s inquiry, proposed, “In that case, let’s invite Sierra on stage too. You two can address this matter directly.”
With no precedent to follow, the host decided to call Sierra to the stage as well.
In the audience, Master Pierce’s brow furrowed in response to the unexpected turn of events. As an esteemed guest invited to witness the competition, Master Pierce had initially been confident in his granddaughter’s performance. However, as the situation unfolded, a sense of unease began to creep over him.
So, the music wasn’t composed by the person he’d asked to help Sierra, and he’d heard she wanted to change it a week before the competition.
Back then, his friends had lauded him, insisting that Sierra’s skills were so top-notch, she didn’t even need their help, and winning was practically a sure thing.
But now…
In a matter of minutes, Sierra stepped onto the stage, her complexion pale, her eyes burning with resentment as she locked gazes with Maggie.
“Sierra, did you compose or have any part in composing the piece you just played?” the judge asked, his voice resonating with gravity, awaiting Sierra’s reply.
Maggie caught onto his intentions, shooting him a glance, but Sierra, ever resolute, naturally denied it.
“I composed it myself. I don’t get why Maggie played the same piece. She hasn’t had formal piano training in ages, let alone composing.”
Sierra tried to deflect the moment she opened her mouth, but her excuse fell flat.
Maggie stayed cool, just smiled, and queried. “How can you be so sure I can’t compose?”
Sierra was at a loss for words, prompting a judge on stage to step in. “If you two can’t settle this, how about starting with the original intention behind the composition?”
Sierra collected herself and started, “I didn’t dwell on it too much. I just feel that youth should embody a fighting spirit. The piano is my passion, my dream. I wish everyone could find their own dream, be brave, conquer obstacles, chase their dreams, and reach their goals.”
Maggie felt a flicker of truth in Sierra’s perspective. Maybe this was Sierra’s unique take on the piece, explaining their distinct performances.
“What say you, Maggie?”
Maggie’s voice was gentle as she replied, “My composition is born from pondering life’s intricacies – its fleeting moments, the shadow of mortality, and the depths of human emotions. Having faced near-death and the sting of betrayal, I dwell on life’s transience and the capriciousness of destiny.”
“But you know, every trial we face is just another chance to grow. We push through the hurdles, find our way through the fog, and eventually, we’ll find ourselves in the sunshine. It’s all about pushing forward. Opportunities to shine are always out there.”
The judges nodded their heads. One of them asked, “Do you have any specific timeline for your composition of the piece? Any evidence to back up your claims?”