Finding True Love After…
Chapter 624 Finding the Culprit
Christine was certain that the force she applied would make that string snap before long, yet she couldn’t understand why, after the piece ended, the string remained intact.
As the last note faded into silence, the audience erupted into thunderous applause.
This piece was simply breathtaking!
Everyone found themselves on their feet, clapping for Meryl.
Even after she left the stage, cradling her cello, the crowd remained entranced, still lost in the moment.
Rachel instinctively glanced at Christine, her expression dripping with disdain, as if to say, “You’re useless.”
Christine was completely taken aback.
She was sure she had tampered with Meryl’s cello, so why hadn’t the string broken?
The piece had received unanimous praise, with even the judges applauding from the audience.
The cello’s mournful notes were already rich with storytelling and paired with such an emotional composition; it moved everyone to their core.
Chapter 624 Finding the Culprit
Meryl’s piece seemed to narrate a love that had weathered the years.
Golden sunlight bathed an elderly couple, their white hair glowing as they sat on a bench beneath the setting sun, leaning into each other and gazing into the horizon.
The music Meryl produced was a heartfelt tale of love, infused with a serene sense of time standing still.
It was simply beautiful.
The performance had far surpassed the thirty-second preview, and the cello was the perfect instrument for this poignant story.
After a long moment, Casey finally snapped back to reality.
He turned to Harvey beside him and said, “Now I see why you took her on as your student. She’s incredible.”
Meryl had only been composing for a few days, but her talent was undeniable–she was truly gifted.
The combination of the stage lighting and the set design melded perfectly with her performance, drawing everyone into her world of music.
Harvey puffed out his chest with pride. “Of course! I don’t just take anyone under my wing!”
The judges had a say in the scoring, but at this stage, the audience’s votes carried more weight.
Chapter 624 Finding the Culprit
The applause continued to resonate throughout the venue, and at that moment, millions tuned in to the live stream.
[Wow, I think I might just believe in love again after hearing that!]
[This is hands down the best piece I’ve heard in years.]
[Stop commenting! Everyone, vote now! This masterpiece deserves first place!]
[Wait a minute, didn’t I hear this person is Casey’s junior fellow apprentice?]
[No way! Is this the same person accused of plagiarism on Twitter?]
[Hiding like a coward, dodging the plagiarism accusations online, and now sneaking back into a composition contest? I bet this new piece is just another rip-off.]
Comments quickly polarized, with netizens debating the plagiarism allegations.
Meryl was blissfully unaware of the online chaos.
Terms like “beautiful,” “plagiarism,” and “Casey’s junior fellow apprentice” dominated the hot topics list.
Due to the overwhelming buzz, Meryl was thrust into the spotlight.
Chapter 624 Finding the Culprit
Casual viewers, oblivious to the drama, clicked on the trending topic, listened to her piece, and voted for her without hesitation.
Her popularity surged, skyrocketing past her competitors by a wide margin.
Meanwhile, Lydia, glued to her phone as she watched the livestream, was seething with jealousy.
She never expected Meryl to study under Harvey, let alone compete in such a prestigious composition contest!
Given the current trajectory, it was clear Meryl was on her way to winning.
After her first miscarriage, Lydia was determined to take it easy during her pregnancy, and Charlotte insisted she stay indoors.
Other than necessary check-ups, Lydia had been cooped up at the Aniston Villa, while Meryl, despite being pregnant, was shining bright and making waves.
The envy was eating Lydia alive!
She thought to herself, “Why is it that Meryl can do whatever she wants after marrying into the Aniston family, while I’m stuck feeling so restricted?”
Chapter 624 Finding the Culprit
Meanwhile, Dalton was watching the live stream, his eyes red and fists clenched tightly.
He had only recently endured punishment from his family, and his wounds were still healing.
But now, hearing Meryl play the cello again? It was unbearable.
Each time she performed, she had this magnetic charm that made his heart race uncontrollably. Dalton almost wished he could reach through the screen and wrap his arms around her.
Meryl was born to play the cello, and her skills had only improved. But she would never play for him again, not like she did years ago.
The thought made Dalton restless, and he tossed his phone aside, feeling a heavy ache in his chest.
Meanwhile, the composition contest was still underway.
Meryl returned backstage, her cello in hand, just as the voting window closed and the system began tallying the scores.
She set her instrument down and prepared to wait for her turn to perform again.
Christine and Rachel were also backstage, touching up their makeup.
Chapter 624 Finding the Culprit
Rachel, consumed by jealousy, forced a smile and said, “The piece was really good.”
“Thanks,” Meryl replied, her tone calm.
Christine couldn’t hide her inner turmoil; her eyes kept darting to Meryl’s cello.
She mused, “It should have broken, so why didn’t it?”
It was as if Meryl could read Christine’s thoughts. “I changed the strings,” she explained.
Meryl had borrowed a spare set from Casey. It was common for musicians to keep spare strings in their instrument cases.
Initially, she had considered borrowing Casey’s cello, but it felt inappropriate.
After all, Casey was a well-known performer, and many fans recognized his instrument. If she took the stage with it, people would surely talk, especially since he was also one of the judges.
Christine’s disappointment was palpable at Meryl’s revelation. “So you managed to dodge a bullet!”
Meryl’s gaze suddenly turned icy. “So it was you.”
With that, she turned to the stage supervisor hidden behind the curtain. “I’ve found the culprit.”
Just moments ago, Meryl had been pondering who would do something so underhanded.
Chapter 624 Finding the Culprit
She had been torn between suspecting Christine and Rachel, but now Christine had inadvertently confessed.
The competition had hired a dedicated supervisor to ensure fairness during the event, and Meryl wasted no time reporting the tampering.
The supervisor looked shocked and vowed to identify the instigator.
Christine was left speechless, not expecting to be caught off guard by Meryl.
“No, no, it wasn’t me!” she quickly protested.
The supervisor said, his expression stern as he stood in his uniform, “Contestant number 49, I just heard you admit it. According to the rules, you’ll be disqualified.”
“What?” Christine’s eyes widened in disbelief. This competition was her chance to turn her life around–she couldn’t be disqualified! “No, I was just joking!”
Rachel, now panicking, interjected, “She’s my partner! If she gets disqualified, what happens to me? I wrote the entire piece! She didn’t contribute anything—she was just there to play with me!”
The supervisor glanced at Rachel. “If she didn’t participate in the composition, even if she’s disqualified, you’ll still be eligible to compete.”
Chapter 624 Finding the Culprit
Hearing this, Rachel breathed a sigh of relief, but Christine’s face fell.
She couldn’t believe Rachel would publicly throw her under the bus like that, denying her any credit.