Chapter 209 Chapter 209: The performances had already begun. Lilian opened the round with a flawed routine, which dropped her score significantly. Paola followed next, delivering a clean performance that pleased the judges and placed her in the lead. Then came Novalee’s turn. From her seat among the contestants, Paola
Chapter 208 Chapter 208: As the crowd dispersed, Novalee cradled her hand, tears spilling down her cheeks. “What do I do? What do I do?” she sobbed. “My hand… It’s hurt so badly I can’t move it freely. I can’t compete anymore. I’ve let X. Aria down.” She cried harder,
Chapter 207 Chapter 207: Later, Paola cornered Novalee at the venue, pulling her aside. “Alright, I’ve changed my mind. I won’t fire your parents anymore. Just tell me how much you want.” Novalee pressed her lips together. “What do you mean?” Paola scoffed. “Don’t play dumb. You need money, right?
Chapter 206 Chapter 206: “Hey, I’m pretty sure I just saw Rylie. She went backstage,” said Isabella, alerting Paola. Paola stiffened. “She went backstage? Why would she be there?” “It looks like she’s heading to the judges’ area,” Isabella replied. Paola shook her head. “Rylie didn’t even join this piano
Chapter 205 Chapter 205: The cold hum of the line left Laurel’s face set in stone. Paola clutched the hem of her clothes, her heart pounding as the judge’s words echoed in her ears. A wave of panic swept over her. She turned to her mother, her voice trembling. “Mom,
Chapter 204 Chapter 204: Felix stepped between them. “Come on, I’ll take you out.” Rylie followed her grandfather to the glasshouse behind the villa. A fresh batch of roses bloomed under the soft glow of moonlight. “Is there something on your mind, Grandpa?” Kendrick thought for a moment before asking,
Chapter 203 Chapter 203: Tears welled up in Paola’s eyes, but she held them back and looked pitiful. “Percy, stop.” She tugged gently at his arm, her voice shaking. “This is all my fault. I wasn’t strong enough… And you got hurt because of me.” Laurel’s eyes reddened. “It’s my
Chapter 201 Chapter 201: No one had seen it coming. Flat feet? Not even Percy had expected that. Later that night, Terrance arrived home unexpectedly. He had spent most of the day working at the company. The family gathered in Kendrick’s study to talk about what had happened. Terrance looked
Chapter 202 Chapter 202: Deandre’s eyes narrowed. He wished he could slip between them and ruin whatever closeness Brad was trying to build. Percy was still frozen, then finally stammered, “Brad, are you…” That wasn’t the Brad he knew. He wasn’t the type to bow his head for anyone. Paola’s
Chapter 200 Chapter 200: “What?” Vivian screamed. “You had her! You were winning p> “She… she led me there from move one,” Brenda admitted, looking at Aurora with terror. “Every mistake… was a lure p> Brenda looked at Aurora. “Who are you? Only a Grandmaster plays that line. That’s the
Chapter 199 Chapter 199: Matriarch Kensington looked disappointed. She had wanted Aurora to be special. She slumped in her chair. Harper looked away, unable to watch the slaughter. Brenda reached for her pawn to deliver the final mate. Her hand was shaking with adrenaline. She lifted the piece. And then
Chapter 198 Chapter 198: Elias, standing behind her, listened to the tapping. He knew Morse code. He had learned it as a boy, a secret language with his brother. He decoded the pattern: Y-A-W-N. Elias suppressed a laugh. He coughed into his hand to cover it. She was mocking a
Chapter 197 Chapter 197: Aurora sat down opposite Brenda. She smoothed her blue velvet dress. Brenda laughed, sitting down. She spun the board so the white pieces were facing her. “I’ll give you white. You need the advantage. First move is yours p> Aurora reached out. She spun the board
Chapter 196 Chapter 196: A servant, pre-instructed, brought out a beautiful antique chess board and placed it on a center table. “We have with us tonight Brenda Jones, the three-time national champion!” Vivian announced. Applause rippled through the room. Brenda stepped forward, bowing theatrically. “I need a volunteer,” Brenda said,
Chapter 195 Chapter 195: They loaded the boy onto the stretcher and ran. Monica chased after them, sobbing. Before she left, Monica turned. She pointed a shaking finger at Aurora. “You!” she screamed. “You made a scene! You delayed them! Stay away from my family p> Vivian stepped up beside
Chapter 194 Chapter 194: She positioned her hands for compressions, but before she could start, a hand clamped down on her shoulder. It was Vivian. “Stop right there,” Vivian said, her voice loud enough for the crowd to hear, but laced with a dangerous calm. She didn’t physically block the
Chapter 193 Chapter 193: Elias’s hand tightened around his glass. The crystal groaned under the pressure. A hairline fracture appeared in the glass. “Excuse me,” Elias said to the investors. His voice was devoid of all warmth. He signaled to Graves, who was standing by the wall like a statue.
Chapter 192 Chapter 192: “Divorced?” Sebastian repeated, the word tasting like ash. “At her age p> “And there were rumors,” Vivian whispered, her eyes wide with fake horror. “Of a pregnancy. A miscarriage. Or… an abortion. No one knows for sure. But the lifestyle… it was filthy, Sebastian p> Sebastian’s
Chapter 191 Chapter 191: Harper linked her arm through Aurora’s. “Come on. The bar is this way. I need a drink, and you look like you need to punch someone p> “I was considering it,” Aurora admitted, letting Harper drag her away from the center of the room. “I heard
Chapter 190 Chapter 190: Suddenly, the main ballroom doors swung open with a heavy, resonant thud. The Herald announced, “Mr. and Mrs. Yates. And Miss Harper Yates p> Heads turned. The Yates family was political royalty. Old money. Power. They rarely attended these functions. Harper Yates strode into the room.