Chapter 187

“Wow, that was incredible! I never expected Ms. Pearce to be such a virtuoso on the violin!”

“Her skills on that violin are way beyond the teacher we hired for my kid!”

“I have a friend who’s a top-notch violinist in the industry, but Ms. Pearce’s talent surpasses even half of what she can do.”

“No wonder Haynes treasures her so much. Whenever he’s tired or in a bad mood, listening to her play is simply refreshing.”

The judges were unanimous, awarding her a stellar score of 99.9%. Why not a perfect hundred? Well, there’s still Keen to consider. Rachel’s performance deserved full marks, but next to Rachel, Keen’s performance seemed a bit overshadowed. Since it was a duet, deducting 0.1 was still a nod to Keen’s contribution.

Rachel and Keen rocketed to the top of the leaderboard. Rachel was pleased with her performance. Holding Keen’s hand, they took a bow, a confident smile playing on her lips as they stepped off the stage and rejoined the audience.

Jasper gave Rachel a thumbs up. “Brilliant! Everyone’s enchanted by your playing. When Stella takes the stage, no one will pay attention to her.”

Suddenly, he remembered something and whipped out his phone to start a live stream.

“Stella, you think you’re all that? Just wait till the whole world sees you flop!”

Sure enough, just as Jasper predicted, even as the stage lights dimmed, the chatter amongst the audience didn’t die down. Even when the lights came back on and Stella and Marvin appeared on stage, everyone’s attention was still on Rachel.

Abby looked around at the murmuring crowd, completely ignoring Stella, her face dark with frustration. Even the judges seemed lost in recollection and awe. Her hands clenched. Of course. Rachel had chosen to go first. To burn so bright that Stella’s turn would feel like an afterthought. “Calculating bitch,” Abby hissed under her breath.

Neville, however, remained calm, his gaze steady on the stage. As the first notes of the violin began to play, the audience’s focus still hadn’t shifted to the stage. Yet, as the performance continued, the murmurs gradually faded until they were no more. Everyone was transfixed by the stage. They’d seen Stella before, after all.

The dramatic fallout between Stella and Rachel had drawn quite a crowd. People had mocked Stella for her lack of connections, education, and apparent talent. In their minds, this woman was nothing special beyond a pretty face. In high society, family name, status, and accomplishments are what truly matter. Looks are just a bonus. Perhaps it was this preconceived notion that painted Stella as pretty, yet dull and unremarkable.

But now, the woman on stage seemed transformed. Her entire demeanor had shifted, her eyes focused with a dedication as if the world began and ended with her violin. The elegant music flowed from her nimble fingers like the passage of time. The notes danced like a gentle stream, light and airy. The stage lights bathed her in a golden glow, accentuating her fair, serene face. The exquisite music flowed from her delicate hands, a symphony of beauty that captivated all.

In that moment, the world fell silent.