Chapter 177

Because she remembered that this woman’s name wasn’t on the list for the second round, she was also eliminated.

Alaricka didn’t expect that she would stand up for her, and even get angrier than herself.

The man clenched his fists, looking like an angry beast, “Fine, fine, I get it. I’m not getting what I deserve today. You’re all teaming up to bully us.”

Alarieka’s voice was very soft: “If you’re not convinced, then I’ll just wait here for you to find some evidence to expose me. Even if you were this mad, you still didn’t have any proof that I pulled any strings after all.”

“I was definitely going to this semifinal.”

Although Alarieka worried that she didn’t make it to the semifinals because she purposely played the wrong notes, she was also pretty confident about the fact that she did make it to the semifinals. Not only for the preliminary round, she was also confident about the semi-final.

The man nodded. “Okay, okay, I’ll definitely come back for you. Definitely get justice for myself!”

Alarieka was calm: “Okay.”

The man left in a hurry, and even his back looked full of anger.

Chapter 177

After the man left, the competition area was quiet again.

Alarieka walked onto the stage and took the spot for the next round from Paloma.

Roschelle was the first to clap. “Alarieka, congratulations.”

Alarieka looked at her, her eyes very light.

Alarieka looked at Roschelle, then looked at the two men standing on either side of Roschelle like guardian angels.

The relationship between Kieran and Patrick had already been on the rocks because of Roschelle. Whenever they stood together, the tension between them was always obvious. But when the two stood next to Roschelle, the vibe actually got better. They just both stood next to Roschelle in a protective way, and the way they looked at her wasn’t exactly nice.

Kieran’s dark eyes were really light, so light you couldn’t tell what he was feeling.

Patrick was pretty straightforward. He looked at her with obvious dislike, and those fox-like eyes that were usually full of laughter didn’t have a trace of a smile now.

Alarieka couldn’t be bothered with them and looked away.

The preliminary round lasted almost six hours before it ended, and after one match, Alarieka was already starving, so hungry her stomach was growling and her chest was almost touching her back.

Luckily, the organizers arranged three meals a day for both the contestants and the judges, so Alarieka didn’t need to spend much time on it.

Chapter 177

The restaurant for the competition was set up in the hotel’s restaurant. Contestants just needed to take their entry pass to the counter, and they could get a meal that normally cost 999 dollars at the hotel for free.

When Ast walked into the restaurant, it was already packed. She took a look—most of them were Mcintosh Piano Competition contestants. The preliminary round started at 10 in the morning. Six hours had passed, so it was way past the usual lunchtime. That’s why there were hardly any other guests in the hotel.

Most of the players had already found their teammates and were eating together, but only Alarieka showed up alone, which was unusual, so quite a few people glanced at her.

Alarieka walked straight through the crowd without looking around.

The entrance to the restaurant was open, and the walls were made of clear glass. Alarieka didn’t notice the people coming in from outside at first, not until those three walked up to her.

Alarieka’s steps paused, and without any hesitation, she walked in another direction.

“Alarieka.”

Roschelle’s voice was soft and sweet: “Are you alone? Come join us."

Alarieka didn’t hesitate or stop: “No need.”

She didn’t look at the three of them, so of course she didn’t see Roschelle’s dimmed eyes and that look like she was just putting up with things.

The two men next to Roschelle both had a change in expression. One became reserved, his eyes turning dark, while the other visibly darkened his face and looked at Alaricka’s back with a hostile gaze.

Chapter 177

Patrick didn’t turn his head until he saw Alaricka sit down in the corner seat. Then he looked at Roschelle and said in a low voice, “Does she always give you that attitude?”

Roschelle lowered her eyelids and pressed her lips together, “I think she probably didn’t do it on purpose. There was a misunderstanding between me and her.”

There was a cold light in Patrick’s eyes: “What kind of misunderstanding made you treat me like this?”

Patrick grew up with Roschelle. He had heard people around him praise Roschelle for ten or twenty years. Everyone said Roschelle was kind, decent, generous, always thoughtful, and never made big mistakes in dealing with people.