Chapter 771
Sharon found Wendy’s guess far-fetched, yet she couldn’t think of a better explanation.
“By the way,” Wendy asked, “have you told Theo about this?”
Sharon shook her head. “No. I don’t plan to tell him for now. After all, this is a grudge between me and Carter-it’s not something a child should be burdened with. Besides, I don’t want to alert him prematurely. I’d rather wait and see what Carter’s true intentions are. At worst, I’ll just be more careful with anything Theo brings me in the future.”
Wendy admired Sharon’s composure. If it had been her, she could never have stayed so calm.
The day of the competition arrived quickly.
Thanks to negotiations with the organizers, all the contestants agreed to return. Their earlier withdrawals had never been about quitting entirely, but about leveraging the situation for higher rankings and more attention. If they truly withdrew, they would lose everything they were after. People with real backbone wouldn’t be scheming this way in the first place.
This was Sharon’s first public appearance since the scandal, and naturally, all eyes were on her.
The venue was packed to the brim.
In earlier rounds, tickets had never sold out; there had always been leftovers. Now, not only had they been snatched up instantly,
even scalpers were cashing in. The livestream hadn’t even started, yet nearly a million viewers were already waiting online.
Fabian looked at the sea of spectators, his expression complicated.
“No wonder so many directors chase after the benefits of traffic,” he sighed. “The returns really are hard to resist.”
The moment Sharon stepped into the venue, a frenzy of reporters swarmed around her.
Wendy quickly shielded her, while the bodyguards Xavier had hired forced back the crowd to keep her safe.
A barrage of sharp, aggressive questions came flying.
“Sharon, your partner, Abigail, was dragged down by you and penalized with a loss. You’ve never issued a public apology. Don’t
you think that’s arrogant?”
“Rumor has it you were in a car accident and even injured your hand. Can anyone really recover so quickly? Are you saying you’re fit to compete already?”
“We’ve heard your connections run deep. Otherwise, why would the production team bend the rules just for you?”
The questions cut like knives. It seemed the reporters wouldn’t rest until they provoked her into losing her composure, desperate to capture something explosive on camera.
1/2
Chapter 771
Yet Sharon remained calm and unshaken, her expression betraying not the slightest ripple.
Then, a discordant voice rang out above the others.
“Oh, please. You’re already boycotted by all the other contestants, and you still dare show up? Your shamelessness is truly
unmatched!”
Sharon turned toward the sound.
TIJ OUIVUS
A woman in her early twenties stood with a microphone, arrogance written all over her face. When Sharon’s gaze met hers, she
smirked with disdain and triumph.
“If you ask me, why bother with this competition at all? Everyone knows the champion’s already been decided.”
Wendy leaned close and whispered, “Sharon, don’t listen to her nonsense.”
“I know,” Sharon replied with a slight nod.
She didn’t spare the reporter another glance. With Wendy and the bodyguards escorting her, she entered the arena.
Thomas had come along as well.
Thanks to Uriah’s treatments, his recovery was remarkably swift. Though not fully healed, as long as he avoided fights or
strenuous activity, he could move about without issue.
2/2
Chapter 772
Knowing Sharon had a competition, Thomas insisted on attending no matter what. Neither Sharon nor Wendy could dissuade him, so they had no choice but to let him come along. Fortunately, Xavier had arranged for enough bodyguards; ensuring Thomas’s safety posed no problem at all.
The competition proceeded in an orderly fashion. The contestants performed steadily, all except Abigail, who faltered again and
again.
When it ended, Abigail stood before the host, tears brimming in her eyes.
“Sorry, I wasn’t in good form today, which led to so many mistakes…”
She didn’t play the victim, nor did she harp on the incident of being implicated by others. After all, repeat the same excuse too
often, and it only breeds resentment.
Instead, her restrained, half-withheld manner left room for speculation-had Sharon’s presence unsettled her mood?
Sharon, however, remained utterly unmoved.
When her turn came, the arena fell silent for several seconds. Then, a low hiss rose from somewhere in the crowd. One voice
turned to many, until the entire venue resounded with boos.
Suddenly someone shouted, “Get off the stage!” and the scene spiraled out of control.
Furious spectators pointed and jeered at Sharon.
“Leave! You’re not welcome here!”
“We won’t watch someone like you perform!”
“Program team, eliminate her! Force her to withdraw!”
The uproar grew so frenzied that Sharon couldn’t even begin her performance. Neither the host, the judges, nor the organizers
could calm the storm.
And all of it streamed live. Online viewership soared past ten million.
For a full ten minutes, the chaos raged on. One might have thought Sharon guilty of some heinous crime, given the outrage she
provoked.
The host, never having faced such a scene, wiped cold sweat from his brow again and again. He tried desperately to salvage the
atmosphere with careful words, but every attempt was drowned out by jeers. His efforts only made him look ridiculous, like a
clown on stage.
At that moment, Sharon glanced at the time and motioned for the host to hand her the microphone.
He hesitated, but eventually gave it to her.
1/2
Chapter 772
The audience grew even more agitated when she took it in hand.
Calmly, Sharon looked over the noisy crowd and spoke, her voice cool and steady.
“How many of you want me to get off the stage?”
The reply came in unison, loud and merciless. “All of us want you gone!”
Sharon didn’t flinch. Instead, she smiled.
“Alright. But before I leave, I’d like those who want me gone to come up here and explain why.”
The uproar froze, suspended in the air.
From below, Thomas watched her, a flicker of admiration flashing in his eyes. No wonder Kelly could never best Sharon.
It was as if her words had doused the crowd’s fury with a bucket of ice water. For the first time, silence spread across the arena.
“You may dislike me,” Sharon continued. “That I can understand. But I can’t live my life bowing to every demand, can I? If you want me gone, then give me a reason that makes sense.”
She swept her gaze across the audience. “Well? Who will be the first to step up?”
Silence. Not a single person dared to move.
Among the so-called “spectators” and reporters, many were paid agitators-hired to stir up the crowd. They were like rats in the dark, thriving in shadows but never daring to face the light.
Then, from somewhere in the crowd, a voice called out, “If we go up there and you remember our faces, what if you retaliate against us later? We’re just ordinary people. We don’t have your money, power, or connections.”
The words struck a chord. Immediately, voices rose in agreement, “Exactly! What if you take revenge on us?”
Yet the speaker stayed hidden, buried deep in the crowd, never daring to stand. Even the cameras couldn’t lock onto him, only panning vaguely toward the area where the voice had come from.
2/2
Chapter 773
Sharon remained composed.
“If I truly had money, power, and connections, you’d never even know the competition stopped because of me. All you’d hear is that the event ended abruptly due to some unforeseen accident. My name would never appear online, and no one would dare insult me so openly. As for retaliation…”
Her gaze swept across the audience.
“When you demanded that I withdraw, none of you seemed the least bit worried about me retaliating. So why are you suddenly so afraid now? Are you genuinely afraid, or do you just like picking the easiest target to crush?”
A faint smile touched her lips.
“You all know I am Amstern City’s Charity Ambassador, the public face of our city. I welcome any fair, well-founded criticism. But I will not tolerate slander or baseless rumors. The image of a charity ambassador is not something anyone is free to tarnish.
“Today, in front of the entire nation, I promise you this: I will never retaliate against anyone. Every word I say here, I am willing to
take full legal responsibility for.”
Her declaration sent a ripple of shock through the hall. Even the livestream chat froze for several seconds.
Fabian, overseeing the broadcast, couldn’t help muttering in admiration.
“Sharon is incredible. Every word sharp, every point irrefutable.”
When the audience online snapped back to their senses, the flood of insults noticeably diminished. In their place, skepticism
began to rise.
“She… actually makes sense. If her background was really that powerful, why let herself be insulted at all? Wouldn’t she just
silence everyone and bury the story?”
“Ha! You don’t get it. She’s just chasing clout. Negative fame is still fame-scandals keep her relevant.”
“Are you serious? Sharon needs a scandal to stay popular? She’s already one of the most well-known figures in Amstern City,
officially recognized as the Charity Ambassador. Look her up-do you even know how many fans she has across every platform?
She doesn’t need this nonsense!”
“You know nothing about her, yet you dare smear her? Who paid you trolls to come here?”
Sharon’s loyal fans had stayed quiet until now. From the start, they’d sensed something off about the one-sided flood of slander.
They’d been waiting for the right moment to strike back.
And Sharon had just handed them that moment herself.
They had never chosen the wrong person to follow.
1/2
Back at the venue, her words left the hall in silence. Not a single person dared step onto the stage to confront her. They could spread rumors from the shadows, spin lies without consequence-but deep down, they knew none of it had a shred of evidence.
The uproar collapsed into stillness.
By invoking her official title as Charity Ambassador, Sharon had drawn a line none of them dared cross. Anyone reckless enough to accuse her further risked being dragged into court.
She waited a moment longer. No one spoke.
“In that case,” she said evenly, “since no one has further objections, I’ll begin my performance.”
She turned to the host with a gentle smile.
“Once my performance starts, could you please ask the staff to keep an eye on the audience? If anyone raises doubts during the
competition, have them come up immediately. I’ll accept every criticism openly.”
The host nodded instinctively. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
In mere minutes, Sharon had seized complete control of the chaos.
Her performance went off flawlessly. No one dared interrupt.
When the scores came in, she once again ranked first without controversy.
Afterward, she didn’t linger. Gathering Wendy and Thomas, she left the venue directly.
But outside, hidden in the crowd, a young woman watched Sharon’s departure with eyes full of venom.
As Sharon stepped past, the woman’s hand shot up. A raw egg flew from her grasp, arcing toward Sharon’s face.
‘Charity Ambassador? An untouchable public image?’ the woman thought viciously. ‘Hah! I’ll make sure you become the
laughingstock of the entire nation.’
H
3
E
2/2
Chapter 774
Sharon sensed something hurtling toward her.
Her bodyguards had been busy holding back the surging crowd and never anticipated anyone would throw something her way. For
a moment, they failed to react.
Just as the egg was about to smash against Sharon’s face, a figure suddenly stepped in front of her.
The next second, Sharon saw several eggs in Thomas’s hand. 1
Before she could even process what had happened, Thomas flicked his wrist casually.
The egg traced a perfect arc through the air and splattered against the face of a young woman standing outside the crowd.
“Ah!” The woman let out a shrill scream, clutching her face.
The entire scene stunned the audience.
Sharon quickly pieced together what had happened-this woman had tried to hit her with an egg, only for Thomas to catch it and
toss it right back at her.
Now, the woman’s face was smeared with sticky yolk, bits of shell clinging to her hair and clothes. She looked utterly wretched.
Even the most professional reporters, confronted with such a ridiculous spectacle, couldn’t hold back their laughter. Many
couldn’t resist recording the scene. Cameras flashed.
The woman hastily wiped at the slimy mess on her face, her expression twisting with fury. She jabbed a finger at Sharon and
shouted, “Everyone, look! Sharon just hit me!”
Her name was Noelle Raley, Abigail’s close friend.
She had come here specifically to capture scandalous footage of Sharon, planning to spread it online and slander her. But Sharon
had handled everything flawlessly today, leaving no cracks to exploit.
Like Abigail, Noelle believed that if no scandal existed, one should be created. That was why she had thrown the eggs, intending to
capture Sharon’s humiliation and drag her down from her pedestal.
Instead, the plan had backfired spectacularly. Sharon remained untarnished, while Noelle made a fool of herself in front of
everyone.
The reporters exchanged knowing looks, some clicking their tongues.
One quipped, “Miss, Sharon didn’t hit you. If you’re trying to smear her, at least don’t insult our intelligence.”
“Exactly,” another added. “You were the one who threw the eggs. Her assistant just tossed them back. What, you think you’re
allowed to attack her but she’s not allowed to defend herself?”
1/2
Choyster 774
+15 BONUS
Someone else chimed in with a mocking tone, “Everyone here saw what happened. I’m sure plenty of people recorded it. Miss,
Sharon is Amstern City’s charity ambassador. If you try to slander her, you’ll have to answer for it legally.”
Panic flickered across Noelle’s face.
Sharon cast her a single, indifferent glance before saying coolly, “Let’s go.”
Wendy gave a disdainful snort and turned to leave.
Thomas, however, lingered a moment longer, flashing Noelle a light smile. “If you want revenge,” he said, “you’re welcome to
come find me anytime.”
That very evening, headlines erupted online, accusing Sharon of throwing eggs at the audience. But Wendy quickly traced the
incident back to its source: the culprit was none other than Abigail’s best friend.
Wendy turned to Sharon. “Sharon, should we wait until the competition ends before exposing Abigail’s scandals or release them
now?”
“Now,” Sharon replied coldly. “Someone like her doesn’t deserve to stay in this competition any longer.”
Until now, she had considered sparing the organizers some embarrassment. But Abigail had shown no restraint, even sending her
friend to hurl eggs at her.
Enough was enough. Sharon would no longer tolerate it.
Wendy’s lips curved in a satisfied smile. “Finally! I’ll make the arrangements immediately.”
That night, the video of Sharon’s car accident was released to the public.
Alongside it came another clip-one of Sharon gifting Abigail a violin.
2/2
Chapter 775
The footage of the car accident didn’t stir much reaction. After all, similar evidence had been released before.
But the video of Sharon guiding Abigail through her violin practice, along with the clip of her gifting Abigail a violin, instantly ignited a heated debate.
“My goodness! Didn’t Abigail claim that Sharon looked down on her violin skills, and that’s why Sharon deliberately went MIA for the ensemble performance round, refusing to partner with her? If their relationship was that bad, why would Sharon give her a
violin?”
“She said Sharon disdained her, but the video shows nothing of the sort. In fact, Sharon was gentle and patient.”
“Exactly! Abigail was saying all those defeatist things, yet Sharon never got angry. She even encouraged Abigail not to give up!”
“Abigail accused Sharon of arrogance and having a bad temper, but Sharon clearly showed nothing but kindness and patience!”
“Damn, so Abigail lied online just to mislead everyone?”
“What an ungrateful snake! Sharon treated her so well, yet she turned around and bit the hand that fed her. Shameless!”
“Give back the violin Sharon gave you!”
Still, a different voice rose from the crowd.
“But Sharon did drag Abigail down and forced her to lose that round by default. That’s a fact!”
Someone immediately countered, “Sure, blame Sharon for the accident if you want, but you can’t accuse her of being arrogant or
unwilling to work with her partner. That’s blatant slander.”
Panic gripped Abigail as she watched the video. She had never expected Sharon’s studio to have surveillance cameras.
During rehearsals, Sharon had specifically invited her to the studio. Abigail had inspected the place carefully, found no cameras,
and assumed she could twist the truth however she pleased. She hadn’t counted on Sharon striking back so quickly.
Now, the public realized they had been deceived. The same crowd that had once viciously cursed Sharon now turned their fury on
Abigail.
Within hours, Abigail faced an onslaught of online abuse unlike anything she had ever experienced.
Yet, self-righteous voices still accused Sharon of being “unkind” for releasing the footage during the competition, claiming she
had ruined Abigail’s chances.
At last, Sharon broke her silence.
She posted a single sentence online: [If others do not offend me, I will not offend them.]
She admitted responsibility for the car accident. She accepted that it had dragged Abigail down-whether it meant apologizing or
1/2
That one statement shifted the tide. Sharon gained a fresh wave of loyal fans, and her popularity soared higher than ever.
cu anu maligned.
The once-niche competition suddenly drew widespread attention. Some even signed up for violin classes out of admiration for her, eager to rediscover the instrument through Sharon’s influence.
Seizing the moment, Sharon promoted other instruments as well, encouraging young talents to pursue music and represent their country on the world stage.
Within weeks, more students enrolled in violin classes than in the past year combined.
Lucy Cornwell of the Amstern Music Association was moved nearly to tears. Zachemaine’s decline in musical talent wasn’t because its youth lacked ability; it was because the new generation no longer cared for music.
Why endure ten years of rigorous training to become a musician, when becoming a traffic-driven celebrity promised quick fame and fortune?
But now, led by John and other renowned violinists who openly voiced support for Sharon-joined by Ginny Blakely, Melanie Perkins, and Carol Fraser-the tide had turned.
Sharon’s reputation had undergone a complete reversal. And the tickets to her concert? They were now impossible to get.
2/2
Chapter 776
The smear campaign against Sharon refused to die down.
Skeptics raised questions online: [If Sharon is really that extraordinary, why didn’t Maestro Warner take her as a student? Why did he choose Kelly as his last student instead?]
Wendy snapped back without courtesy: [Because at Sharon’s level, she no longer needs to be anyone’s student.]
Meanwhile, Wendy collected every rumor-mongering post about Sharon and issued lawyer’s letters one after another. Those who
received them rushed to apologize publicly, admitting they were only paid to spread lies. Some even confessed outright that every
piece of “dirt” on Sharon was fabricated.
“I just couldn’t stand seeing her do well, so I slandered her online.”
The backlash reached its peak.
Unable to bear the weight of public fury, Abigail withdrew from the competition. Soon after, her close friend Noelle was also
exposed for orchestrating malicious rumors against Sharon and faced a lawsuit.
The so-called “insiders” who once flooded the forums vanished without a trace.
Watching Sharon turn the tables with such ease made Kelly grind her teeth until they nearly cracked.
“That useless Abigail! I handed her so much dirt on Sharon, and she still couldn’t bring her down. Not only did Sharon stay in the
competition unscathed, she even came out of it more admired than before! Now, even with my title as Warner’s last student, my
influence is no match for Sharon’s.”
At Maestro Warner’s residence, an old foreign woman-about his age and a longtime friend-visited him.
“Warner, we’ve been friends for years, so I won’t waste words. I came this time mainly to meet your last student. I heard she’s a
violin prodigy and tremendously gifted. You know the international music competition is coming up. I want to see if my own
disappointing students have any chance of beating her. If not, we won’t waste energy on the violin category; we’ll focus our efforts
on piano instead.”
Warner gave a faint smile. “No problem. I’ll call her over shortly.”
The woman quickly waved her hands. “No, no, that’s unnecessary. I can just go see her myself. Sharon must be swamped right
now-preparing for both her concert and the competition. Better not waste her time. By the way, could you get me a few tickets to her concert? My students camped online for days but couldn’t grab any. As her teacher, surely you can manage that, right?”
Warner’s smile froze. “Sharon?”
1/2
LAM
MOT TO
Chapter 778
15 BONUS
“Of course. Isn’t Sharon your student?” The woman studied his face, realization dawning. “Don’t tell me, Warner… your last
student isn’t Sharon?”
Warner pressed his lips together, saying nothing.
His silence said everything.
The woman’s expression turned incredulous. “You can’t be serious. If it’s not Sharon, then who is it?”
After a long pause, Warner finally answered, “Kelly.”
“Kelly…” The woman’s gaze shifted, her tone laced with disappointment. “I’ve seen her perform. My students may not be
outstanding, but defeating her wouldn’t be difficult.”
Warner remained silent.
The woman sighed, crestfallen. “So Sharon isn’t your student after all. Seems I came here for nothing. Fine, then… I’ll find
another way to meet her myself.”
Before leaving, she turned back and added with quiet reproach, “Warner, such a rare talent, and you didn’t take her under your
wing. Your judgment… isn’t as sharp as it once was. Perhaps it’s dulled with time.”
2/2
Chapter 777
For some reason, Maestro Warner’s face burned as though he had been slapped.
No sooner had the woman left than Niel arrived with troubling news.
“Teacher, the uproar surrounding Sharon has taken a new turn. Someone has dredged up the circumstances of Kelly’s
apprenticeship. Now, the internet is flooded with commentary claiming you were blind to true talent-that you cast aside a genius
only to take on a mediocre pupil in her place. They are mocking your judgment, saying your legacy will be ruined…”
As he spoke, Niel carefully studied Warner’s expression.
“Teacher, your reputation has taken a serious hit. Many are waiting to see you embarrassed-to watch Sharon crush your last
student. If Kelly doesn’t win first place in this competition, it could truly damage your standing in the music world.”
Warner’s brows knitted tightly.
It was true. Recently, musicians from both home and abroad had been visiting him. All of them had heard about the emergence of
a violin prodigy in Zachemaine. They assumed Sharon must be his final student, and came flocking to him-hoping for an
introduction, eager to collaborate, to invite her to lecture, or even to hold a concert.
For a time, Sharon’s name was on everyone’s lips.
But once Warner publicly clarified that she was not his student, their delight was palpable, as if they had won the lottery.
“Warner, since you’ve already chosen your final pupil, I assume you won’t be accepting Sharon? In that case, I certainly won’t
hold myself back.”
“Ah, Maestro Warner, you’ve done me a great favor! Thank goodness you didn’t take her in. Otherwise, how would the rest of us have had this opportunity?”
“What? Your student is Kelly? Warner, how could you possibly mistake common glass for a diamond?”
Even his longtime friend, who had come under the pretense of inquiring about his new protégé, turned out to be angling for Sharon all along-only to end the call by sneering at his poor judgment.
Such relentless insults were utterly intolerable to a man of Warner’s immense pride.
His expression darkened. “If Kelly wants to surpass Sharon, she must defeat her twice. In the individual round-robin, I can’t
intervene that will depend on her alone. But in the team competition…”
His voice trailed off as an idea struck him. He turned to Niel. “Call Harry. Tell him to come at once. For the team event, Sharon’s
only possible partner is John. We must ensure Kelly wins.”.
Niel’s eyes widened in shock.
Harry Wells existed in a category of his own. Though from the same generation as Shayla, he stood apart from all the others.
1/2
Chapter 777
+15 BONUS
Taken in by Warner at the mere age of five for his extraordinary, once-in-a-generation gift, he had never disappointed. Now, not yet thirty-five, he was a violinist whose fame rivaled Warner’s own.
But he was also the most arrogant of Warner’s students, a man who respected no one but his master.
If he were to be paired with Kelly, Sharon and John would stand no chance of victory. 15
Soon, the official day of the team competition arrived.
Sharon and John arrived early, settling in to review their scores one final time. Just as they were checking through the music sheets, a stir rippled through the entrance, drawing every eye in the hall.
2/2
Chapter 778
Kelly entered the hall with a foreign man at her side.
The moment they stepped in, the crowd swarmed around them.
“My goodness! Isn’t that Harry Wells? The one they call Maestro Warner’s rightful successor!”
“Harry Wells? You mean the child prodigy who stunned the world at five years old?”
“Ahhh! Harry Wells is my idol! He’s only thirty-five and already at the pinnacle of his career. By the time he reaches Maestro
Warner’s age, his status will be untouchable!”
“With Kelly partnering with him, how is anyone else supposed to compete? They’re playing in a completely different league.”
A voice dripping with schadenfreude sliced through the commotion.
“Well, well… looks like someone is about to be utterly humiliated.”
At that, every head swiveled toward Sharon, their eyes gleaming with vicious anticipation, as if awaiting the start of a public
execution.
From the start of the competition, Sharon had remained undefeated, securing the top score in every round. Not even Abigail’s
scandal had left a dent in her reputation-if anything, it boosted her popularity and prestige.
Sharon wasn’t just rewriting history with her performances; her commercial value was fast approaching that of a top-tier
celebrity.
For the other contestants, who usually struggled for recognition, envy burned deep. They longed to see her stumble, to watch her
brilliance shatter, to witness the downfall of a shooting star.
The man beside Kelly looked about thirty-five. His natural golden curls framed a tall, imposing figure. Arrogance radiated from
his brow, and his gaze carried an air of disdain, as though the world beneath him barely deserved notice.
Leaning closer, Kelly whispered, “Harry, that’s Sharon and John over there.”
Harry’s gaze flickered toward Sharon. Seeing a young, unfamiliar woman, he dismissed her almost instantly, his attention shifting to John instead.
At the sight of him, Harry let out a low, scornful snort. “So it’s you. My perennial defeated opponent.”
John’s fists clenched instinctively at his sides.
As fellow violinists, their paths had crossed many times in the crucible of international competition. And every single time, Harry
had crushed him without an ounce of mercy.
John could admit it-his skills were inferior. He was a violin genius, yes, but Harry existed in a different stratosphere; a genius
among geniuses. There is always a greater talent, a higher mountain to climb—that was the natural order.
1/2
What was unbearable, however, was Harry’s venomous arrogance, his utter contempt for anyone he deemed beneath him.
Every opponent who faced him was subjected to merciless, soul-crushing humiliation.
“With your pathetic skills, you shouldn’t even be allowed to touch a violin. You’re a disgrace to our art.
“So weak. Unbelievably weak. Twenty years of training, and this is all you have to show for it?
“Today, you have the misfortune of facing me. Do yourself a favor. Withdraw now and save yourself the public shame.
“Hard work? Don’t make me laugh. With your level of talent, a hundred years of practice wouldn’t give you even a tenth of my
ability.
“Quit. You’re simply not cut out for this.
“To have studied since childhood and still be this profoundly mediocre… if I were you, I would lack the face to even go on living.”
For artists already raw from the sting of defeat, his words were a poison. Many violinists never recovered from his ridicule, their
passion for the instrument extinguished forever. Some gave up music entirely.
A few… tragically, ended their lives.
John himself had once been crushed under the weight of Harry’s scorn, sinking into a deep and prolonged despair. It was only
through sheer force of will that he had finally clawed his way back to the light.
2/2
Chapter 779
DIMT RUN
Because of this, Harry’s reputation in the music world had always been sharply divided.
Many despised his arrogance and the way he looked down on everyone. Yet just as many argued that he had every right to be proud. After all, he was second only to Maestro Warner himself—a man with enough brilliance to justify his insolence.
Harry was the kind of person who infuriated people with his arrogance, made them bristle at his attitude, yet terrified them with the sheer weight of his talent.
Countless musicians he had mocked were waiting for the day he would be humiliated. But year after year, he remained
untouchable, unshaken on the summit. Eventually, people grew used to his conceit.
After all, what could they do? He had the strength to back it up.
Sharon noticed John’s darkened expression and asked softly, “John, what’s wrong?”
John’s gaze shifted to her, his expression grave. In a low voice, he said, “That man is Harry Wells, the most gifted of Maestro Warner’s students. Warner took him in when he was only five years old…”
He went on to explain everything he knew about Harry in careful detail.
“Sharon, you may not realize this, but Harry’s violin skills are terrifying. In all the years he’s competed, he has never lost a single
match.”
He looked at her with genuine concern.
“Sharon, he will use the cruelest words to shatter your confidence. He’ll make you question yourself, crush your spirit, and drive
you to give up this career altogether. Dozens of prodigies have abandoned the violin forever after being ridiculed by him. They call
him the Executioner of Geniuses.
“So even if we lose, you must never take Harry’s words to heart.”
John himself no longer cared about Harry’s insults, but he worried Sharon might suffer under them.
She listened quietly, her eyes thoughtful as they lingered on Harry.
“Why does he deliberately attack geniuses? Why be so vicious?”
John sighed. “No one knows for sure. There’s a rumor that early in his career, he once lost to someone. After that defeat, he was
never the same.” 1
Sharon chuckled lightly. “Don’t worry, John. I’ve endured online harassment before. His words won’t break me. And besides, I’m
still young. I can afford to lose.”
Since learning the violin, she hadn’t entered many competitions. But by coincidence, like Harry, she had never lost one.
Seeing the tension in John’s face, she smiled reassuringly.
1/2
Chapter 779
+15 BONUS
“This is a team event. What matters is our chemistry and cooperation, not just individual strength. We’ve studied the violin together since childhood. How could we possibly lose to them?”
Her words eased John’s expression. She was right-their years of shared practice had forged a flawless rapport. He had to trust her
and not let nerves consume him.
When the crowd around Harry finally dispersed, he cast a glance at Sharon from a distance.
“So she’s Sharon? Stronger than you, perhaps. But still far from being able to defeat me.”
Beside him, Kelly could hardly contain the rush of excitement and anticipation in her chest. Harry’s tongue was every prodigy’s nightmare. If Sharon lost, Harry would strip her of all worth with his scorn. Perhaps then, too humiliated to face the world, she
would vanish from the competition scene altogether. 1
The thought thrilled Kelly, and she hurried to flatter him.
“Harry, everyone knows you are the greatest after Maestro Warner. How could Sharon possibly defeat you? It’s just that…”
She paused deliberately, her voice trailing off, her expression full of calculated hesitation.
2/2
Chapter resu
Chapter 780
Harry cast her a glance. “If you’ve got something to say, say it. I don’t like people who beat around the bush.”
Kelly no longer dared to toy with suspense. She quickly said, “Sharon’s musical gift surpasses even her mother, Shayla McKinzie’s. She’s truly the better of the two. Compared to her, I’m not much help. I might even drag you down, Harry. It’s not impossible… they might actually beat us.”
Harry had never spared Kelly so much as a serious thought. If not for their teacher’s request, he wouldn’t have bothered with someone of her meager talent. To him, even mocking her would be a waste of breath.
He was a man who thrived on competition. Since coming of age, he had only lost once. From that defeat onward, he despised
anyone with greater talent than his own.
With arrogance sharp as a blade, Harry sneered. “Shayla bested me before I came of age. After that, she was never my equal. As for Sharon…” He gave a cold, contemptuous laugh. “Soon enough, I’ll show her what true despair feels like.”
From Maestro Warner, he had sensed clear disapproval toward Sharon. And Harry lived to crush prodigies. Naturally, he wouldn’t spare her. This time, before the eyes of the world, he would dismantle Sharon completely-leave her with no defense, no hope of
recovery.
The competition began swiftly. Contestants took the stage in order of their current scores, lowest to highest. With Abigail’s
withdrawal, only nine remained.
The later one performed, the more time they had to adjust their state of mind. The final slot was the most advantageous of all.
Before the match, many contestants sought Harry out for autographs and photos. For all his arrogance, he wasn’t utterly without
tact. Toward ordinary musicians of mediocre skill, he saw no reason to crush them; they weren’t worth the effort. Because of this,
quite a few believed Harry wasn’t nearly as insufferable as rumor painted him.
Even several judges hurried over, eager to ingratiate themselves now that they’d heard Harry was here.
The cameras, too, lavished attention on Harry and Kelly’s pairing. Their corner bustled with admirers, laughter, and flashing lights. By contrast, Sharon’s group sat in stark quietude, unnoticed and ignored.
Theirs was the only team that hadn’t flocked to Harry for an autograph or selfie. Instead, they focused wholly on preparing for the
competition.
Only when the contestants returned to ready themselves and the judges dispersed did the backstage area finally grow calm again.
At that moment, Harry strode up to John.
9
“I’m surprised you haven’t given up the violin,” he said, his smile dripping with derision.
John’s face stayed impassive; he treated Harry as if he were nothing but air.
Harry’s eyes glinted. A low chuckle slipped from his throat. “John, do you remember our little wager? The loser had to kneel and
1/2
Chapter 780
+15 BONUS
bark like a dog. You lost miserably, didn’t you? I still have the video on my phone-your fine impression of a mutt. Shall I play it
for Sharon?”
Color drained from John’s face. His pupils contracted sharply. “Shut up,” he ground out between clenched teeth.
Harry’s grin widened. “Want me to shut up? Beg me.”
Sharon had assumed Harry was simply talking nonsense. But the look on John’s face told another story. Her chest tightened. When
had this happened? Why had she never known?
Harry turned his gaze on her at last.
“So you’re Shayla’s daughter, Sharon. John is a loser. He couldn’t even defend his teacher’s honor. I wonder if you will prove just
as pathetic as John.”
Sharon’s expression grew steadily colder.
Chapter 781
“Harry, you keep throwing the word ‘loser’ around. Could it be you’ve spent so much time being one that you felt the need to come here today and share your expertise?”
She had never cared much for insults aimed at herself. But anyone who dared to target the people beside her-that was a line she
would never tolerate being crossed.
At her words, the room fell into a stunned silence. All eyes swiveled toward Sharon as if she had lost her mind. How dare she speak
to Harry like that? He was Warner’s prized student, a man of immense stature and influence in the music world!
Harry’s expression darkened instantly, though a twisted, condescending smile soon tugged at his lips.
“Sharon, don’t you want to know why John once made that bet with me? It was because-”
“Enough!” John cut him off sharply.
Harry sneered. “I told you before: if you want me to shut up, then kneel and beg. If you can’t do that, then keep quiet. The fact that
I crushed you so easily only proves Shayla was a failure.”
John’s fists clenched tight, his eyes bloodshot. Rage surged, and he finally rose to his feet.
“Harry, you-
But Sharon, sensing what he might do, pressed a hand on his arm to stop him. Her gaze turned glacial as she fixed it on Harry.
“You dared insult my mother, didn’t you?”
Harry gave a careless shrug. “Insult? I call it truth. She couldn’t even match me at ten years old, yet your country worshipped her
like a legend. That only proves how pathetic your violinists really are.
Shayla was always a failure-an absolute loser. Lucky for her, she had the decency to die early. Otherwise, her very existence
would’ve been nothing but a waste of air…”
Before he could finish, a cup of soda splashed hard across his face. His words cut off mid-sentence.
Sharon’s eyes burned cold. “Apologize. Now. To my mother, and to John.”
“Harry, are you all right?” Kelly rushed to hand him a handkerchief.
Harry wiped the sticky drink from his cheek and let out a chilling laugh.
“Apologize? You don’t deserve it.”
John’s face was a mask of hardened fury.
“You ungrateful bastard! Shayla treated you like her own, and you repaid her with betrayal. And even now, after she’s gone, you still dare to slander her? The truth is, as long as Shayla was alive, you were doomed to eternal second place. You call her a failure? You’re the real failure-through and through!”
1/2
But Harry didn’t flare up. Instead, he looked positively delighted, feeding off their anger.
“So what? In the end, she still died of illness, didn’t she? And I’m still here.”
John’s whole body shook, his eyes blood-red. If not for Sharon’s competition, he would have launched himself at Harry already.
Harry leaned back with a mocking smile. “I love this look on you-seething, powerless fury. It suits you.”
Then his gaze slid deliberately toward Sharon, whose face was as cold as stone.
“Well? Do you want to avenge your mother and John?”
Sharon understood immediately. That was his goal all along-provoking her into a wager.
Her voice came out like frost. “Say it. What’s the bet?”
For a moment Harry blinked in surprise, then laughed with satisfaction.
“Talking to clever people really is easier.”
He fixed his eyes on her. “When we win the upcoming competition, you’ll quit this industry. Forever. You’ll never touch a violin
again.”
Kelly’s heart leapt in joy at the thought.
But Sharon’s lips curved into a cold smile. “And if we win? You’ll kneel on the ground and apologize publicly to my mother and
John. The way you once forced John to bark like a dog-you’ll do exactly the same.”
Harry burst out laughing. “Deal!”
2/2
Chapter 782
The earlier performances ended quickly. Most contestants played within their usual level, with no major mistakes.
Surprisingly, Harry didn’t offer the same mocking commentary he had hurled at John and Sharon. After all, he had to leave a shred of hope for the ordinary players, didn’t he?
Before long, it was Harry and Kelly’s turn to take the stage.
Prior to the competition, Harry had sworn to Maestro Warner that he would crush Sharon without question. Warner, along with Reina and several others, had come in person to watch.
As the pair appeared, the audience instantly stirred. Phones lifted, shutters clicked.
“I heard Kelly’s partner today is none other than Harry Wells, Maestro Warner’s top student.”
“Isn’t that unfair? He’s practically at mentor level. Why would someone like him compete in a contest like this?”
“They say Harry came specifically to support Kelly, Warner’s cherished student. Don’t be fooled by the title-Kelly may be Warner’s student, but Sharon has been crushing her relentlessly without giving her a chance to fight back.”
“Wait, I thought they said Kelly was terminally ill? Isn’t that why she hasn’t been performing at her full strength?”
“If she’s truly that sick, then perhaps she shouldn’t be competing at all. But if she chooses to compete, she can’t use her illness as
a perpetual excuse.’
“Don’t you see? It’s the perfect strategy. If Kelly isn’t at her best and loses to Sharon, they can always claim the gap between them isn’t that large. Otherwise, with someone of Harry’s caliber backing her, shouldn’t they be able to crush Sharon outright?”
“Let’s be honest, even if Kelly were in peak condition, I seriously doubt she could surpass Sharon. I’ve read analyses from professional violinists online-some are even saying John might not be her equal.”
“This time, Maestro Warner has truly pulled out all the stops just to ensure his student can defeat Sharon. To bring in Harry
himself… it feels desperate.”
“Even if they win, what kind of victory is that? It’s hollow.”
“Exactly. I really don’t understand what Warner is thinking. To be frank, this whole spectacle feels beneath a maestro of his
stature.” 1
# 1
The whispers spread through the hall like wildfire, thick with doubt and disapproval. Some audience members even went so far as to gesture openly toward Warner’s section.
But with Harry anchoring the performance, even if Sharon lost, it wouldn’t be shameful.
Warner sat in stoic silence, utterly unmoved by the judgmental stares boring into him. In the ruthless world of competition, only results mattered. History was written by the victors. As long as Kelly’s team emerged triumphant, these petty whispers would
1/3
vanish into nothingness.
The stage lights flared to life, signaling the start of Harry and Kelly’s performance.
Individually, both were formidable violinists. Harry, for all his arrogance, was a consummate professional when it came to ensemble work. He truly lived up to his reputation as Warner’s most accomplished pupil-his technique was immaculate, every
note precise and crystalline.
Their selection was a world-renowned piece of extraordinary difficulty, one far beyond Kelly’s capabilities alone. But with Harry leading the way, she was elevated, transformed.
Together, they delivered a breathtaking performance, their synchronization so seamless it felt preternatural. It was more than music; it was a spectacular display of technical mastery-an overwhelming, virtuosic feast for the senses.
When the final note faded, a profound silence held the hall captive, the audience still ensnared in the brilliance they had just
witnessed.
Then, as if breaking a collective spell, someone began to clap. The gesture ignited the room. Thunderous, deafening applause erupted, shaking the very foundations of the concert hall.
“My God, Harry is truly… Harry. To watch him perform is to witness perfection.”
“That piece is among the top ten most difficult violin works in the world-one that only a handful of musicians on the planet can
interpret with such flawless command. Harry is indisputably one of them.”
2/3
Chapter 783
“Tickets to Harry’s concerts are priceless. To see him perform here today-it’s something I never dared to dream of!”
“No matter the outcome, just witnessing Harry’s performance makes the entire trip worthwhile!”
“With Harry’s level of skill, Sharon doesn’t stand a chance today.”
“Even losing to him would be an honor.”
The audience buzzed with exhilaration, voices overlapping in a wave of admiration.
Even the judges wore expressions of awe, awarding Harry and Kelly the highest possible score: a perfect one hundred.
Backstage, John’s face was grim as he watched their performance.
“Sharon,” he murmured, “if we lose, I will take your place and fulfill the wager.”
Harry and Kelly had performed just before them and received a perfect score. That alone was enough to create immense pressure.
John knew his overall ability couldn’t match Sharon’s, and against Harry, he fell even shorter. A gnawing fear crept in-that he
might become her burden.
Sharon, however, remained perfectly calm, her gaze fixed on the stage. Not a trace of panic or unease showed on her face. To her,
Harry and Kelly’s flawless performance seemed almost routine, certainly not an insurmountable obstacle.
Hearing John’s words, she finally turned to him.
“Who said we’re going to lose?”
He blinked, momentarily stunned. “But… my skills are no match for Harry’s.”
Sharon’s voice was steady, almost dismissive. “If individual strength alone decided the outcome, what would be the purpose of a
team competition?”
Her words struck him deeply. He drew a long breath. “I understand, Sharon. Don’t worry. I won’t hold you back.”
Still, a shadow lingered in his heart. He had faced Harry in competitions before, and each time, Harry had crushed him
effortlessly.
Even among prodigies, there are chasms that cannot be crossed.
On stage, the host’s interview with Harry and Kelly stretched longer than with any other contestants. Both the judges and the
audience were reluctant to let them leave.
It was no surprise-a violinist of Harry’s stature was a rare sight. In recent years, aside from the late Shayla, no one in all of
Zachemaine had been able to stand on his level.
When Sharon and John finally stepped onto the stage, the crowd was still buzzing from Harry’s appearance. The lights dimmed,
1/3
yet restless chatter persisted.
Sitting beside Wendy, Thomas glanced at the animated crowd and asked, “Everyone’s focus is still on Harry. Will Sharon really be all right?”
Wendy gave a cold snort. “Just watch. Sharon will silence them all.”
The words had barely left her lips when a clear, resonant violin note cut sharply through the noise.
Wendy fell silent, her attention snapping to the stage.
The piece Sharon and John had chosen was equally formidable in difficulty. Yet for two musicians of their caliber, it flowed as
naturally as breathing.
More importantly, they had grown up learning side by side, forging a tacit understanding that no temporary partnership could
ever replicate.
Their violins sang like twin streams-one from the north, one from the south-each distinct in tone and direction, yet destined to
converge into a single, powerful river.
Every violinist possesses a unique style. John’s raw talent might not have equaled Sharon’s, but his musical voice was striking and unmistakable, etched into every phrase. It was a rare individuality that not even prodigies like Harry or Sharon fully possessed.
Chapter 784
The duet between Sharon and John revealed a perfectly matched strength. Unlike Harry’s performance, which elevated the entire act through sheer personal brilliance, theirs relied on harmony rather than domination.
They didn’t even need to exchange glances. Their understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses was so instinctive that coordination came naturally. What they created was not forced cooperation, but the effortless flow of two musicians who knew
one another to the core.
A duet carries a different weight than a solo. It balances, conceals flaws, amplifies beauty, and transforms music into something smoother, richer, and more captivating.
At first, the audience was still buzzing about Harry. But as the music swelled, conversations fell away one by one, until every gaze
shifted to the stage.
It was impossible not to be drawn in. Together, John and Sharon looked like a scene from a painting-handsome man, radiant woman-so harmonious that their very presence felt like art. Their performance was seamless, so perfectly interwoven that it compelled listeners to close their eyes and sink into the sound.
There was no flamboyant showmanship, no deliberate display of technique. Yet that simplicity carried a power words could hardly capture. The old saying proved true: the less you notice the technique, the greater the mastery behind it.
Even the judges, who had been swept away earlier, straightened in their seats. Their expressions grew solemn as they focused
fully on the performance.
When the final note faded, they found themselves applauding instinctively.
One judge sighed with genuine admiration. “It’s been years since I’ve heard a performance with such flawless coordination!”
Another judge leaned forward, curious. “The rearrangement in the duet section was extraordinary. Tell me, who designed that?”
John answered without hesitation. “It was Sharon.”
The third judge shook his head in awe. “Remarkable. Absolutely remarkable.”
The fourth judge added, his voice filled with conviction, “This! This is what a true team competition should be!”
His words made the other judges falter for a moment. He was right. This was a team event. Why had they let themselves become so mesmerized by Harry’s individual brilliance?
Harry’s technique was dazzling, his execution flawless-but this wasn’t a solo contest. It was meant to test harmony and collaboration. Which meant the real subject of evaluation should have been Kelly.
And yet… what had Kelly contributed? The judges exchanged uneasy glances. They couldn’t even recall her part clearly.
A flush of shame rose within them. This was a competition, not a concert. How could they have let their personal awe for Harry blind them to fairness? To give his group a perfect score while overlooking Kelly’s lack of presence-it was bias, plain and simple.
1/3
Chapter 784
+15 BONUS
In truth, the completion, the artistry, the balance-the perfection-belonged to Sharon’s team’s performance. Kelly’s near-
invisible role had nothing to do with a flawless score.
The judges, now fully aware, exchanged a silent look of understanding. In unspoken agreement, they too awarded Sharon’s group a perfect score of one hundred.
This was a live broadcast. Their decision was being scrutinized by a global audience, and there was nothing in the rules that
explicitly forbade a tied score.
The moment Sharon’s results were announced, the hall erupted in a wave of astonished chatter.
2/3
Chapter 785
It wasn’t that Sharon’s group had performed poorly-quite the opposite.
“Sharon is incredible! To think her skill is on par with a virtuoso like Harry!”
“Maestro Warner brought in Harry specifically to lend prestige to Kelly, even if it meant lowering his own standing. And yet, despite both teams receiving perfect scores, Kelly still couldn’t ultimately surpass Sharon.”
“I truly don’t understand what Maestro Warner was thinking. Given the choice between Kelly and Sharon, how could he possibly have chosen Kelly as his student?”
“Exactly. In terms of raw talent, stage presence, composure, and sheer ability-how does Kelly even begin to compare to Sharon?”
One of the judges spoke up.
“Our scoring is guided by fairness and impartiality. This is a team competition, and Sharon and John’s duet demonstrated flawless synergy. Every passage was handled with perfection. If anyone questions our judgment, the performance video can be submitted to the world’s most authoritative adjudication panel.”
Maestro Warner and his students looked grim. As top-tier musicians, they knew the judges were right-there had been no
favoritism. Sharon’s team had indeed earned a perfect score.
The host then invited the earlier competitors back on stage and began announcing the scores and totals.
Harry’s expression was icy. A tie was not the result he had envisioned.
Gripping the microphone, the host proclaimed with booming enthusiasm, “In second place for now-Miss Kelly! And finally, the reigning champion who remains undefeated is-”
“Wait.”
A sharp voice cut him off mid-sentence.
The host froze, turning toward Harry. “Harry, do you have something to add?”
Harry stepped forward and declared loudly, “Backstage, Sharon and I made a wager on the outcome of this match. Therefore, this competition cannot end in a tie. A winner must be chosen. I formally request the judges to declare one.”
John’s face darkened. “Despicable!”
By announcing their private wager publicly, Harry had severed all of Sharon’s escape routes, leaving her no chance to refuse. He wanted the entire world to know-if Sharon lost, she would have to leave the music world forever, forbidden from ever touching
the violin again. 1
The host, stunned, stammered, “A wager? What wager?”
Harry lifted his chin. “If I lost, I promised to apologize to Sharon’s late mother and John, then bark like a dog.”
1/3
The host pressed, “And if Sharon loses?”
chaish?
A sinister smile spread across Harry’s face. “If Sharon loses, she will never play the violin again… for the rest of her life.”
The declaration detonated across the hall like a bomb.
The judges on stage were the first to react.
“Harry,” one of them said sharply, “this is a competition, not a gambling den. Whatever wagers you make in private are your business, but we will not allow this stage to become your betting table.”
Harry cast him a cold glance. “What’s the matter? Afraid Sharon will lose, and your country will be left without a representative for future competitions?”
The judge faltered, his expression stiffening. Because yes-he had been thinking that. Their country had finally produced such a rare violin genius. They could not allow Harry to destroy her so recklessly.
Harry pressed on. “A bet is a bet, and Sharon agreed to it herself. Do you need me to play the video of our conversation in front of everyone, right here and now?” 1
Chapter 786
Without waiting for the judges to respond, Harry went ahead and played the video on his own.
Whether it was the online audience or the people seated in the hall, everyone was instantly hooked-gossip outside the competition always drew more attention than the competition itself. The cameras obligingly zoomed in, giving a close-up of
Harry’s phone.
The recording began with Sharon’s voice. “Say it. What’s the bet?”
John let out a cold laugh. “I really thought Harry was shameless enough to expose his ugly side in public. Turns out, he’s not much
after all.”
Harry had carefully cut the video. The part where he insulted John and Sharon’s mother was gone-only the wager remained.
The stakes were ruthless on both sides. Sharon’s demand carried an edge of humiliation, while Harry’s condition was even
harsher: that she never touch a violin again.
On the surface, Sharon seemed to have gotten the worse end of the deal, but for many, dignity weighed heavier than life itself. In
truth, their terms weren’t all that different.
Now, with Harry broadcasting the clip before the live audience and streaming it to countless viewers online, the judges had no way to sidestep the issue. A clear decision had to be made.
But Sharon was still a newcomer. Harry, on the other hand, was a world-renowned master. Crossing him was anything but wise.
One of the more diplomatic judges finally spoke. “Harry, your skill is beyond question. The piece you played just now was indeed flawless. However, this is a team competition, not an individual showcase. Sharon and John’s performance was seamless, their coordination impeccable. If you feel we judged unfairly, you are welcome to point out the mistakes, and we will reconsider.”
The judge deftly pushed the problem back onto Harry.
Harry’s face darkened. He had nothing to say. As a professional, he could find no flaws in Sharon and John’s collaboration. Much as he loathed admitting it, their teamwork had been perfect. Attacking their individual skill would make him look petty and
baseless.
Still, Harry couldn’t bring himself to let it go so lightly. He opened his mouth again, unwilling to concede.
“Since there was a wager,” he said, voice cutting through the restless air, “there must be a winner and a loser. Sharon, do you dare
face me in one more match?”
The hall erupted into chaos.
A master of his standing, challenging a newcomer? It was humiliating. And the terms were vicious-if Sharon lost, she would be
banned from playing the violin forever. This was clearly a targeted strike.
Whispers spread rapidly through the audience.
1/
“I’ve heard Harry is notorious for tormenting prodigies. He mocks them, crushes them, until they break under the pressure. Some quit the industry, some spiral into depression, some… even end their lives. Less than twenty percent ever survive it.”
“No wonder Warner’s protégés are always at the top. The moment a true genius appears, they strangle them in the cradle. Looks
bad on Warner, don’t you think?”
“Harry only bullies those without backing. Would he dare pull this on Victoria Kalen, or Ginny Blakely? They’d have him erased
before sunrise.”
“So what if Sharon refuses? He’s a master, she’s just a rookie. Who would risk their entire future on such a gamble?”
“Poor Sharon. She’s been pushed right into the fire. If she refuses, the tabloids will tear her apart and paint her as a coward.”1
2/3
Chapter 787
“Call Harry arrogant all you want, but he has the skill to back it up. If you’re capable, defeat him. If you’re not, then know your place. A little arrogance is the privilege of genius, isn’t
it?”
“Exactly! If I had his talent, I’d be arrogant too!”
Around them, opinions on Harry split sharply. Some praised him, others criticized him, but
no one questioned his ability. Nor did anyone believe Sharon stood a chance against him
alone.
Standing by her side, John whispered urgently, “Sharon, don’t agree to this. You’ve already fulfilled your part of the wager. You haven’t broken the deal.”
Harry sneered at once. “Sharon, weren’t you the one who swore to avenge your mother and John? What’s this now-losing your nerve? You’re nothing like your mother. She had
courage. You… you’re still just a novice.”
John’s eyes turned to ice. “You’re from the same generation as my teacher, yet you stoop so low as to challenge a junior. Have you no shame?”
Harry drawled mockingly, “John, you’re mistaken. Music knows no borders, no age. Plenty of veterans in this circle have challenged me, and I never refused them simply because they
were older.”
He paused deliberately, then added, “It’s only those lacking in skill who hide behind
excuses like that.”
John was about to retort when Sharon tugged his sleeve, stopping him. She turned her gaze fully on Harry. “Since this wager is between you and me, there’s no need to drag anyone else into it, is there?”
Harry froze for a second, then caught her meaning. “You want to face me one-on-one?” He almost laughed in disbelief. “With John at your side, you might have stood a chance. After all, I have… limitations holding me back. But you-alone-think you can beat me?”
1/3
Chapter 787
+15 BONUS
Kelly’s face stiffened. In front of everyone, Harry had flat-out declared her dead weight. Didn’t that mean he had just told the entire audience she was the weakest link?
Sharon’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Or would you rather I didn’t even play at all-that I just walk away from the stage forever?”
If those so-called geniuses had quit after being defeated and crushed by his insults, that was one thing. But forcing someone to bow out without even competing? That was sheer bullying.
No matter how skilled, no matter how arrogant-such behavior was indefensible.
Harry knew it too. His expression darkened, and he let out a cold laugh. “Since you’re so eager to lose, don’t blame anyone else for the outcome.”
He turned to the host. “The official rounds are finished. Let’s add one more match. Those
who want to stay can stay. Those who don’t can leave. No one’s time will be wasted.”
Who would walk away now? One ticket, two stellar performances-no one was going to miss this spectacle.
The audience, far from leaving, erupted into enthusiastic applause, eager for the drama to
unfold.
A few judges tried to intervene, but Harry shot them down every time.
“Sharon herself agreed. What are you trying to stop? Do you have so little faith in your own
contestant?”
The judges exchanged frustrated looks, their eyes on Sharon filled with concern and disappointment.
“Sharon, you shouldn’t have accepted. He’s baiting you.”
“If you lose, what then? You’re our brightest hope this year-the one who might truly shine on the international stage.”
2/3
Down in the audience, Thomas watched the scene unfold. He turned to Wendy and asked,
“Shall we make our move now?”
Chapter 788
Wendy stared at him in confusion. “Make our move? What do you mean by that?”
Thomas answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Of course, cripple Harry’s hand so he can’t compete.”
Wendy repeated blankly, “Cripple Harry’s hand… so he can’t compete?”
Thomas raised an eyebrow. “Are we supposed to just stand by and let Sharon renounce the violin forever?”
Wendy frowned. “If Sharon dared to accept his challenge, it means she’s absolutely certain
she can win. But you…”
She gave him a strange look, as though trying to see into his mind.
“How could you even think of crippling Harry’s hand?”
Thomas’s voice was calm, his logic cold. “Harry set up this bet to destroy Sharon’s career. That’s no different from crippling her hand. If he can do it to her, why can’t we do it to
him?”
To her surprise, Wendy found his words disturbingly reasonable. She glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then whispered, “Harry is a public figure. If his hand were injured before the match, suspicion would fall on us first. Sharon has an upcoming concert
-better not invite a storm of scandal. Besides…”
Her gaze drifted to the stage where Sharon stood poised. “Sharon’s skill is already nearing its peak. She may not lose to Harry at all.”
Thanks to Uriah’s careful treatment, Sharon’s hand had fully recovered before the
competition, leaving no lingering damage. It proved just how vital it was to know an
extraordinary doctor.
Wendy’s eyes flicked toward Thomas. He had also been sharp-eyed enough to notice the
1/4
danger early on. Without him, Sharon’s arm might truly have been scarred for life.
Thomas listened, then his expression shifted as if something had clicked.
“I understand.”
If they couldn’t touch Harry before the match… then nothing stopped them afterward.
While the two whispered, Harry and Sharon had already taken their places.
ID BONUS
To make the outcome indisputable, they would perform the same piece. The selection was left to chance: both had submitted two pieces, and the host would draw one at random.
Harry’s choices were two of the most technically punishing works in the entire violin repertoire.
Sharon, by contrast, had selected two of her mother Shayla’s signature pieces-formidable in their own right, but not on the same monstrous, legendary level of difficulty as Harry’s selections.
When the titles were revealed, the live stream chat nearly froze under the avalanche of
comments.
[“Echoes of the Wind” and “Gaze”? My god, is Harry trying to end her career?]
[Wait, what’s the big deal? I’m not a violinist. Someone explain!]
[“Echoes of the Wind” and “Gaze” are two of the hardest violin pieces ever composed. To put it simply, since their debut, you can count on one hand the number of violinists worldwide who have performed them flawlessly. They’re so notorious they’re grouped with
“Void” as the ‘Devil’s Trilogy’ -the ultimate nightmare for any violinist.]
[Are they really that hard? Hasn’t anyone ever mastered them?]
[A few legends have-Maestro Warner, Shayla, and yes, Harry himself. Their ability to conquer all three pieces is precisely what cemented their legendary status. There might be unknown geniuses out there, but if they exist, they’ve never stepped into the light.]
2/4
[No matter how talented Sharon is, she can’t compare to a seasoned master like Harry. If
the draw lands on one of his choices, she’s finished.]
Chapter 789
[No! Sharon is not only beautiful but full of grace. If she can never play the violin again, what a tragedy that would be!]
[Heaven and earth, please, don’t let it be one of Harry’s two choices.]
As the live chat erupted with fervent speculation, the host reached into the box and drew a slip of paper.
He unfolded it, glanced down, and his face went pale.
Gaze.
It wasn’t just difficult-it was harder than Echoes of the Wind. Among the “Devil’s
Trilogy,” Gaze was the most brutal of all.
If the host hadn’t drawn one of Sharon’s submissions, so be it. But of all possibilities, why
did it have to be this one?
This time, Sharon was in real danger.
The host nearly tore the paper in half to draw again, but under so many watchful eyes, he
had no choice but to announce it, his voice heavy with dread.
“The piece to be performed by Sharon and Harry… is Gaze.”
The once-quiet hall exploded into noise, like a marketplace in full uproar.
Some cursed Harry outright. Others shouted encouragement for Sharon. But most voices
carried the same tone-pity for the gifted young woman, strikingly beautiful and immensely talented, now staring down impossible odds.
“Sigh, Harry really is a destroyer of prodigies. Another rising star is about to fall.”
Harry glanced at the host’s slip, then turned toward Sharon with a smile.
1/4
“What a shame, Sharon. None of your choices were chosen. I wonder… have you ever even practiced Gaze before?
“For fairness’ sake, I’ll perform first. That way, you can study the score a little before your turn. Of course…”
He paused, his smile deepening with mockery. “If you’d rather not humiliate yourself twice, you’re free to surrender now. Losing to me isn’t shameful. No one would laugh at you for that. Don’t worry, I won’t make you kneel and bark like a dog. You’ll just need to honor the terms of our wager.”
Sharon shot him a single glance, then ignored him completely. Instead, she addressed the host.
“Since Harry wishes to play first, let him. I’ll step backstage to prepare.”
Back in the greenroom, she unlocked her storage case and drew out Shaluna.
Every competition, she brought two violins with her. Yet she almost always relied on her own “Nameless,” rarely touching this heirloom.
Her fingers brushed across its strings, coaxing out a note so pure it shimmered through the room like liquid light.
A gentle knock came at the door. John stepped inside.
When he saw the instrument in her hands, he froze. His lips parted as if to speak, but in the end, he said nothing.
Because he understood-Harry had crossed a line.
Sharon was furious.
And when she was furious, she was terrifying.
At her peak, she could perform at one hundred percent of her ability. But in anger, she had once shown him two hundred percent. In all their years together, he had seen her like this
2/4
only once before. 1
Yes-Harry hadn’t just insulted him. He had insulted her mother, Shayla.
And Harry was precisely the kind of man Sharon despised most: one who shattered the dreams of countless prodigious violinists.
John approached her. “For this performance… do you mean to use Shaluna?”
Sharon nodded. “Mhm. I want to defeat Harry with it. For you-and for my mother-that
will carry deeper meaning.”
Her voice was soft, her tone calm, as if she were merely commenting on the weather.
3/4
Chapter 790
Harry’s performance began swiftly.
As one of the top violin masters in the circle, people could question his character, but never his skill. He was among the rare few capable of playing Gaze.
Harry held concerts only once every three years, yet tickets sold out instantly-money alone wasn’t enough to buy one. Only those with the right connections could secure a seat. His audiences were always the wealthy and the powerful.
It was no wonder he carried himself with such arrogance. Backed by his extraordinary network of elites, he cared little for what others thought.
Now, with a simple competition ticket, the audience could witness Harry performing live. Excitement surged through the hall, nearly boiling over. Many raised their phones to record the moment, eager to brag about it later.
And this wasn’t just any piece he was performing-it was Gaze!
To deliver Gaze flawlessly demanded more energy and focus than ten ordinary pieces combined. Even at his own concerts, Harry dared to play only one high-difficulty piece per
show. Any more, and his concentration would falter, leaving room for error.
To this day, videos of Harry’s renditions of such demanding works were still studied as
instructional material by advanced violinists. His mastery was unquestionable.
When the final note fell, the hall was hushed, the audience trapped in the lingering spell of his artistry. For a long moment, they couldn’t return to themselves.
Even the judges-who had been secretly hoping Harry might slip-were left in despair.
He was simply too good.
Sharon might be forced out of the music world for real.
Only when the host stepped onto the stage did thunderous applause erupt.
1/4
Chapter 700
“He’s unbelievable! How can Harry be this good? At this level, he could rival Maestro
Warner himself!”
“A student surpassing his master-Maestro Warner truly has an eye for talent, to have taken Harry under his wing.”
“Perhaps Kelly shows a similar kind of potential, which is why Warner chose her as well?”
“I may dislike him, but I can’t deny his strength. It’s absolute.”
“This is the end for Sharon. She’ll fall here, at Harry’s hands.”
Bathed in astonishment and praise, Harry stepped down with a satisfied smile. He was
pleased with his performance.
There were days when his state slipped, when even he stumbled. After all, this was Gaze—a piece that demanded superhuman concentration and skill. But today, his condition was sharper than ever, even beyond his usual best.
There was no way Sharon could defeat him.
Lately, Warner had faced waves of criticism, his long-established reputation shaken by
none other than Sharon. He had even hoped Kelly might defeat her and restore his name.
But Kelly’s ability, no matter how hard she trained, would never be enough to surpass Sharon. Not in a hundred years.
Better, then, to finish this once and for all—to erase Sharon from the stage and silence her brilliance before it could grow dangerous.
Given time, her talent might even eclipse his own.
Harry would strangle that possibility in the cradle.
With that thought, he returned backstage. He no longer bothered to taunt her. There was no
need-her defeat was certain.
But as they brushed past one another, Harry’s gaze fell on the violin in her hand.
2/4
Something about it struck him as familiar.
His steps faltered. He whipped around to look again, eyes narrowing in shock.
Shaluna!
It was Shayla’s legendary violin-Shaluna.
And for Harry, it was a nightmare.
He could never forget: whenever the sound of Shaluna filled the air, he had no choice but to
bow beneath its brilliance, powerless and defeated.
.
Chapter 791
Harry knew that as long as Shayla was alive, her place in the world would always stand above his.
In this lifetime, he would never measure up to her. Her brilliance would eclipse him entirely.
Fortunately for him, Shayla had died young.
The day he learned of her death, Harry threw back his head and laughed. He felt as if the heavens themselves had chosen to side with him. Never again would anyone overshadow him. 1
After Shayla’s passing, his career soared. Apart from Maestro Warner, Harry reigned unchallenged in the violin world—no rival could surpass him.
He relished the freedom, the exhilaration. Sometimes, he even wished Shayla could see how high he had climbed, to a height she could never hope to reach.
For years, Harry had looked down on everyone, untouched by failure. He had almost forgotten what defeat felt like.
But now, as his gaze fell upon that violin, an old, suffocating pressure stirred within him.
Watching Sharon’s retreating figure, a cold glint flickered in his eyes.
Perhaps it was only an illusion.
Sharon was younger than Shayla had been back then. How could she possibly stand against him? Yet her talent was greater even than John’s. That made her dangerous. He could not
afford to give her the slightest chance.
As long as he lived, neither Shayla nor her daughter Sharon would ever rise. 1
The stage lights flared. Sharon stepped into the glow, her figure slowly emerging from the
1/4
shadows.
The beam fell across her shoulders, illuminating the violin in her hands-its body shimmered with an ethereal luster.
The judges seated nearest to the stage instantly recognized it. They straightened in their chairs, eyes widening.
“Heavens! That’s Shaluna!”
“It’s Madam Shayla’s violin, the one she left behind!”
“Shaluna… and Sharon? What is their connection?”
“There were rumors online… claiming Sharon is Shayla’s daughter…”
“No wonder she’s this talented! She really is Shayla’s daughter?!”
Shaluna was legendary. With it, Shayla had defeated countless formidable opponents in her
time.
After her death, collectors had offered eight-figure sums to buy it, yet no one succeeded. Eventually, the instrument vanished from public sight, surfacing only in the occasional
whisper or rumor.
Five years ago, even those rumors fell silent.
Now, as Shaluna gleamed once more beneath the lights, the audience erupted in fevered
excitement.
“Not only do we get to enjoy Harry’s performance tonight, but we also get to witness
Shaluna!”
4
“This isn’t a competition. It’s a world-class concert!”
Then the first notes of the violin drifted through the hall, delicate and luminous. Gradually,
the crowd fell into reverent silence.
2/4
Chapter 791
+15 BONUS
Shaluna’s fame was not built on Shayla’s triumphs alone. The instrument’s voice was unlike any other, its timbre carrying a haunting distinctiveness that defied imitation.
To an untrained ear, all violins might sound the same. But to a musician, the difference was
unmistakable-Shaluna
Shaluna sang with a voice entirely its own.
On stage, Sharon played, and Thomas’s gaze wavered. For reasons he couldn’t explain, the music struck him with a strange, intimate familiarity, as though whispering to some hidden part of him.
The judges, however, still wore traces of unease. After all, Gaze was no ordinary piece-it was notoriously treacherous. Not one of them had ever managed to play it in full.
Sharon’s talent was undeniable, but she was still a newcomer. The chance she could Gaze through to the end… was less than one in ten.
carry
3/4
Chapter 792
Chapter 792
“Gaze” was hailed as the most difficult piece in the Devil’s Trilogy, infamous for its opening passage alone. Unlike ordinary compositions that progress step by step, gradually
increasing in difficulty, Gaze began at the peak-immediately plunging the performer into its infernal challenge.
For most violinists, even the very first notes were impossible, let alone the entire piece.
The judges had already braced themselves for Sharon’s failure right at the start.
Yet, to their astonishment, she played those impossibly complex notes with ease. So effortlessly, in fact, that it felt as though Gaze were nothing more than a simple,
unremarkable tune.
Her movements showed no sign of strain; each gesture flowed naturally, as fluid and seamless as running water.
From the audience, Maestro Warner and his students stared in disbelief.
Some compositions could be adapted across different instruments, and although Reina and the others specialized in instruments other than the violin, they had all struggled with
Gaze. Even if they managed to survive the brutal opening, the later passages were nearly
insurmountable.
So how was Sharon playing it so effortlessly?
Was she acting?
Or… was the violin-Shaluna-simply that remarkable?
Backstage, Harry too was momentarily stunned as he watched Sharon’s performance on the
monitor.
But he quickly reassured himself, his initial surprise hardening back into arrogance.
Yes, the opening was difficult, but not impossible. Plenty of competent violinists could
1/4
manage it.
The true test lay in the middle and final sections, where the climax and conclusion demanded not only flawless technique but a profound, almost philosophical, mastery of the
instrument.
The fingering and pressure had to be executed with merciless precision. Too relaxed, and
the piece would collapse; too tense, and the sound would fracture. A fraction too much or
too little-either way, perfection would be lost.
And yet, Sharon struck every note with unerring precision. Not a single mistake. Her execution was not even inferior to Harry’s own.
This woman… she truly possessed formidable skill!
As the performance continued, Harry’s expression darkened. Try as he might, he could not identify a single flaw. If she maintained this level of perfection until the end, the contest
would result in a draw.
And a draw against a virtual novice was, for a master of his stature, no different than a
defeat.
To be forced into parity with an unknown newcomer was utterly unthinkable.
Then, suddenly, in the midst of a passage, Sharon shifted a key higher.
Harry’s heart leapt.
That was a mistake! Lowering the key could ease the difficulty. Raising it, however, increased the challenge exponentially, rendering the measures that followed nearly
impossible to execute cleanly.
Sharon had faltered. He was going to win!
Relief crashed through him, so potent he exhaled a sharp breath without realizing. Only then did Harry notice the cold sweat soaking through the back of his shirt, his nerves stretched tighter than they had ever been.
2/4
8:53 AM que to Sep
Chapter 782
Never before had he been pushed to such a precipice-and by a nameless, untested newcomer, no less.
Truly, anyone bearing the surname McKinzie was fated to be his nemesis.
At the judges’ table, brows furrowed in unison.
+15 BONUS
Sharon had raised the pitch. On such a mercilessly difficult piece, it was a potentially fatal
misstep.
It was over. She would lose.
Maestro Warner and the others, who had been watching in grave silence, finally allowed
their tension to ease.
Warner spoke, his voice calm and almost cold, “It seems… this is her limit after all.”
The sheer, dazzling brilliance Sharon had displayed moments before had even made him doubt his own judgment-wondering if his eyes had grown old, if he had chosen the wrong
student after all.
3/4
Chapter 793
Anyone capable of performing Gaze could easily outshine Kelly a hundredfold.
For a moment, Warner truly believed he had missed out on a rare prodigy. But clearly, he had thought too much.
Among the audience, those with a trained ear sighed with regret.
“Not a single flaw in the beginning. For a moment, I thought I was witnessing a miracle- that Sharon might actually hold her own against Harry…”
“Same here. I was fooled into believing it too. But with this misstep, what a pity.”
“Ah… even in defeat, Sharon can stand tall. Shame it will be the last performance of her career. Still, I’ll remember her.”
Though she had taken a wrong step, the piece wasn’t over. The show had to go on.
Everyone assumed the rest would collapse into chaos. But to their astonishment, Sharon pressed forward-not by correcting the mistake, but by following the elevated pitch she had just chosen.
And miraculously, the music remained harmonious.
Every note that followed was also raised by a key.
Gasps rippled through the hall.
“My goodness, what is she doing? Don’t tell me she’s going to finish the entire piece like this?”
“It’s impossible! No one could play it transposed up a key. Even Harry wouldn’t dare attempt it!”
“If she actually pulls this off, it means she’s surpassed Harry! She’d become an instant legend!”
1/3
Chapter 793
+15 BONUS
“Don’t get ahead of yourselves. Most likely she made a mistake, couldn’t correct it, and now has no choice but to bluff her way through. Just wait-when the climax hits, it’s going to be a complete disaster.”
That sentiment wasn’t confined to the audience. Even Warner and Harry were convinced of
the same.
Both looked on with relaxed, almost smug expressions, utterly certain that Sharon was moments away from a spectacular failure.
Warner even felt comfortable enough to laugh and joke with his students, critiquing her performance mid-concert.
“She won’t last to the end, but I have to admit, her handling of this particular section isn’t
bad at all.’
Reina and the others chuckled in agreement.
“True enough. The girl does have some talent. What a pity-yet another genius about to be crushed by Harry.”
They laughed, they chatted, they listened with condescending ease.
But then the moment arrived-the precise, technically monstrous passage where Sharon should have faltered, where her bow should have screeched and her performance should have collapsed into humiliating silence.
And yet… she glided through it effortlessly, her expression one of intense focus but without the faintest sign of strain.
The hall fell into a dead freeze.
Every pair of eyes fixed on her in stunned silence. The entire venue was so still that the only sound was the violin, rising faster and fiercer, filling every corner of the concert hall.
The piece had reached its climax-the most breathtaking, tempestuous part. The music surged like a storm, like crashing waves against an unyielding shore. Layer upon layer,
2/3
never-ending, overwhelming.
The audience’s very breath and heartbeat fell into rhythm with the music. They were swept away, helpless before the tide of sound.
She had done it. She had truly done it.
Against all odds, with the piece transposed up a key, Sharon had played Gaze flawlessly to
the end.
The final note faded into silence. And still, the hall remained hushed.
In that suspended moment, time itself seemed to halt; even the air grew heavy and still.
Every soul present gazed at the lone figure on stage, wide-eyed, as though in reverent worship of a living myth.
Just then, Carter entered the hall. He stopped dead in his tracks at the sight before him. His eyes locked on the slender figure bathed in the stage lights, and for an instant, he felt disoriented.
Though she stood only a short distance away, it felt as though a vast chasm now stretched
between them-an uncrossable gulf. 1
Chapter 794
“Sharon! Sharon! Sharon!”
No one knew when it began, but a tidal wave of cheers suddenly erupted, shaking the entire
hall.
Every single person was on their feet, unable to restrain their excitement as they roared her
name.
Today, they had witnessed a miracle.
Wendy, swept up by the feverish atmosphere, rose with the crowd. She gazed at Sharon on stage, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
This-this is the brilliance Sharon was always meant to have.
In the audience, Maestro Warner collapsed into his seat as though his strength had been
drained, his expression one of utter shock. He muttered to himself, voice trembling, “This…
this is impossible…”
Even Reina and the others, usually so smug, could not hide their astonishment.
“How can this be? She’s actually better than Harry?!”
Backstage, Harry shook his head again and again. The easy smile he had worn earlier had long since vanished, replaced by a sickly pallor and disbelief. That familiar terror surged through him, gripping every inch of his body.
“No! Impossible! There’s no way she could play Gaze while raising the entire piece by a key!
I don’t believe it!”
Yet no matter how much he resisted, the truth was undeniable: Sharon had done it. She had
performed it flawlessly.
It took the host and judges a long time to steady themselves.
1/4
100101 51ent, is own hands were still trembling from
excitement. His voice quivered as he spoke, “Sharon’s performance was… extraordinary. I’m every bit as moved as the rest of you. But we must conclude today’s competition. Now, let us invite Harry back on stage.”
Only then did the crowd remember-the contest between Sharon and Harry had begun as a
wager.
Harry mounted the stage, his face ashen. The look he cast at Sharon brimmed with venomous hatred, enough to chill the blood.
But as a professional, he knew the truth better than anyone: he had lost.
Sharon had raised the difficulty and still performed Gaze without flaw. There was no need for a panel of experts to weigh in. Anyone with even the slightest understanding of music could see that the victory was hers, without dispute.
The judges’ gazes shifted. They no longer looked at her as a novice competitor, but with the reverence reserved for a true master.
One of them announced solemnly, “After deliberation, the winner of this match-Sharon!”
Thunderous applause and deafening cheers erupted once again.
In that moment, Sharon became a symbol of national pride.
“My goodness! Sharon actually defeated a violin master like Harry! She’s put Zachemaine on the global map!”
“Serves Harry right for always mocking and belittling other violinists. Now look at him, utterly humiliated!”
“I’ve never liked Harry’s arrogance. He hides his own insecurities behind so-called ‘high standards,’ terrified of being surpassed.”
“Ha! Harry, beaten by a newcomer-by his own rules, he should quit the industry!”
2/4
+15 BONUS
“Come on, what’s one win for Sharon worth? She’ll never match Harry’s established rank or global reputation.”
“Harry’s arrogant, sure, but Sharon’s no saint. Forcing someone to kneel and bark like a dog? That’s just as cruel. Pot, meet kettle.”
“A wager is a wager. Harry proposed the terms himself. If he hadn’t been so boastful in public, no one would be holding him to it now.”
“Exactly. Their official duel had already ended in a draw. Harry was the one who demanded this final, unnecessary showdown, all to soothe his wounded ego.”
“To force a newcomer out of the industry, he was willing to throw away every last shred of his dignity.”
“Personally, I don’t believe Sharon will actually make him kneel and bark. No matter what, Harry is a veteran of the craft. She can’t possibly drive him to complete ruin.”
Chapter 795
Since Sharon was their homegrown talent, most people supported her.
Of course, Harry had his own loyal admirers, and they voiced their dissent.
“If she really makes him do it, that would be going too far.”
The host’s voice rose again.
“Now, let’s invite our winner, Sharon McKinzie, to share a few words with us.”
Sharon accepted the microphone with a gentle smile.
“Thank you to everyone who has stood by me. As for my wager with Harry, I believe
everyone here already knows the terms. If I had lost, I would have left this circle forever,
never to touch a violin again. If Harry lost, he was to apologize to my mother, Shayla, and to my mom’s student, John—and kneel to bark like a dog.”
Her words dropped like a thunderclap, the weight of them rippling across the hall.
Earlier, everyone had been so caught up in the thrill of the duel that they hadn’t fully considered the wager’s implications. But now-
“Wait, Sharon wants Harry to apologize to her mother and John? Does that mean Harry actually insulted her mother?”
“Given his temperament, that’s highly likely.”
“Wasn’t Sharon’s mother, Shayla, already deceased? To ridicule the dead-how despicable can a person be?”
“Make him apologize! Make him get on his knees and bark like a dog!”
“Yes, make him bark!”
The crowd, now fully invested in the spectacle, shouted themselves hoarse.
1/4
Chapter 795
Sharon shifted her gaze, meeting Harry’s venomous stare.
+15 BONUS
“However, Harry is Maestro Warner’s student and a recognized maestro in his own right. A gentleman can be slain, but not humiliated. To force Harry into such a spectacle… would indeed be excessively harsh.”
Harry’s face eased, a flicker of his old arrogance returning. He knew it. Sharon wouldn’t dare push him that far. Even in victory, she wouldn’t force him to honor such a degrading
wager.
But then Sharon’s tone shifted abruptly.
“So, I’ve decided to offer Harry an alternative.”
Her smile was radiant as she looked directly at him.
“Didn’t Harry want me to leave the stage forever? Very well. If Harry is willing to retire
–
himself to never again touch the violin-then I will forgo the apology and the… dog- barking.” 1
Harry’s smirk froze on his lips.
Retire? Impossible!
All his painstaking achievements, everything he had clawed his way toward-he hadn’t endured it all just to quit!
Sharon swept her gaze across the audience.
“What do you all think of this proposal?”
The hall erupted instantly.
“Forget it, let him apologize and bark like a dog!”
“A parasite like him only stifles true talent. Retire! Retire! Retire!”
“Let him choose for himself-what matters more, his career or his pride?”
2/4
Chapter 1
+15 BONUS
Harry’s facial muscles twitched uncontrollably. For the first time, he felt the full, crushing weight of the phrase: hoist with his own petard.
He had announced the wager to trap Sharon, to leave her no path of retreat. But in the end, it was he who stood cornered with no escape.
Instinctively, he turned a pleading look toward the panel of judges. Yet every one of them averted their eyes, none willing to intercede.
A joke, surely. Earlier, when they’d tried to smooth things over, Harry had sneered at them, mocking their country’s competitors as weak.
And now, after he had publicly challenged a newcomer and lost spectacularly, who among them would defend him?
On the contrary, they were all rather curious to see just how a man like Harry would manage to bark.
3/4
Chapter 796
The live-stream chat was in a frenzy, comments flooding the screen.
[Bark like a dog! Bark! Bark! Bark! I want to see him bark!]
[Let’s all bark together. Woof, woof, woof!]
Seizing the moment, Fabian opened a live voting channel. Viewers could cast their votes: should Harry bark like a dog, or should he quit the industry altogether?
A third option? There was none. After all, Harry hadn’t offered Sharon a third choice. Fabian wasn’t about to play saint and let a foreigner trample on their country’s contestant.
When the host received word of the voting channel from the director, he thought to himself, ‘Fabian’s a genius! What a clever move, turning this into a public vote.’
Controversy was the golden key to traffic. The more explosive, the more attention it drew.
Addressing the audience, the host announced, “The online voting channel is now open. You can all participate and cast your vote-consider it giving Harry a little advice.”
From top to bottom, the organizers, including the host himself, had no intention of bailing Harry out. Instead, they turned him into a spectacle, milking the drama for every ounce of traffic.
The rift between Harry and Sharon was beyond repair. Without hesitation, they sided with Sharon. Why support a foreigner when their own country had just recognized a prodigy?
They weren’t as foolish as Maestro Warner, who had passed over a true genius in favor of Kelly, a choice still baffling to this day.
All across the venue, people pulled out their phones and eagerly joined the vote.
Some even commented while voting.
[This competition is way too exciting. I have to come watch the next one in person. Better
1/4
Chapter 796
book tickets online now-if I wait, they’ll be gone.]
+15 BONUS
[You’re only thinking of that now? Tickets sold out five minutes ago! I didn’t even get one.]
Harry almost fainted from rage when he heard this. Instinctively, his gaze darted toward where Maestro Warner sat, silently pleading for his teacher to step in and save him.
Warner opened his mouth several times, the words catching in his throat before he could speak. Harry had already lost. Any intervention now would only compound the disgrace- sacrificing not just the match, but his own dignity as well.
So Warner hardened his heart and turned his face away.
The host, catching Harry’s desperate, pleading glance, felt nothing but contempt. ‘He’s always the one demanding others quit or bark like dogs. But when the tables are turned, suddenly the wager is too much to honor?’
The host didn’t bother exposing him outright. Instead, following the director’s cue from his earpiece, he announced to the hall, “The results are in. Eighty percent of the audience prefers that Harry bark like a dog rather than retire from the industry.”
The reasoning was simple: they wanted the spectacle. They wanted to see the humbler.
Sharon turned her calm, unwavering smile on him. “Harry, the audience has spoken. The choice is now yours to make.”
Harry longed to deny everything, to clutch his chest and feign a fainting spell. But under the relentless gaze of the crowd and the unblinking eyes of the cameras, every cheap trick would be exposed. If he tried to escape now, he would lose not just face, but every last shred of his credibility.
And all those violinists he had once humiliated with his reckless wagers? They would seize this moment to rise up and denounce him for being a hypocrite who couldn’t honor his own
word.
Harry drew in a long, shuddering breath that seemed to scrape the bottom of his soul, then dropped heavily to his knees.
2/4
Chapter 796
“Sharon,” he said, the words gritted out between clenched teeth, “I apologize to your mother, Madam Shayla, and to John. I should never have insulted them.”
090
+15 BONUS
Though kneeling and apologizing was deeply humiliating, it was still a path of lesser shame. It honored the technicality of the bet. Later, he could spin this, painting himself as the wronged party and Sharon as vindictive and cruel.
Sharon’s expression remained perfectly poised, a polite smile curving her lips. She didn’t reply, only watched him in expectant silence.
Harry squeezed his eyes shut and drew several heavy breaths.
3/4
Chapter 797
Moments later, Harry opened his eyes again.
“Woof! Woof, woof!”
The entire hall erupted in laughter.
Even those who had tried to remain neutral, who moments ago thought Sharon had gone too far, couldn’t help laughing out loud.
There was no helping it-this was simply too funny.
The hall shook with laughter, as if they weren’t at a violin competition but at a comedy performance.
Everyone was thoroughly entertained.
Everyone, that is, except for Maestro Warner and his students. Their expressions were as dark as if they were attending a funeral, desperate to crawl into a hole and disappear. If leaving now weren’t so conspicuous, they wouldn’t have lasted another minute.
The audience’s strange, mocking glances turned toward Warner, sharp as needles pricking his skin, leaving him restless and ill at ease. Those contemptuous stares, as if looking at a fool, struck him like one slap after another across the face.
He couldn’t even tell whether he was more furious or regretful. But the truth was undeniable—if even Harry had lost to Sharon, there was nothing more to argue.
When the farce finally ended, the audience reluctantly dispersed, buzzing with excitement as they relived every detail of what had happened. Gossip and spectacle-both were instinctive human pleasures.
Within hours, Harry’s barking had gone viral, not just dominating domestic trending lists but spreading abroad as well.
1/4
Violinists who had once quit the stage after suffering Harry’s insults now felt vindicated, their long-suppressed anger released at last.
In just a few hours, Harry’s photos and videos had been mercilessly parodied. Some particularly creative netizens Photoshopped his face onto a dog’s body and set it to ridiculous background music, leaving people laughing until their sides hurt.
Eventually, Harry’s meme-worthy images became a staple reaction pack online. But that, of course, came later.
After the competition, Sharon slung her violin over her shoulder and headed out to find Wendy and the others.
Just as she stepped through the doorway, a tall, lean figure appeared before her.
Carter’s refined features seemed softened by an unexpected trace of warmth. He held out a single red rose to her. “A brilliant performance.”
Sharon glanced at the flower but didn’t take it. Her tone was cool. “Do you need something?”
Carter wasn’t offended by her indifference.
“Theo knew you had a performance today,” he explained. “He took special leave to come
and watch. He’s waiting for you outside now.’
Theo had watched her entire performance from start to finish.
Carter, delayed by work, had only arrived in time to catch the ending.
Yet even those final moments left him deeply shaken.
It was as though someone had plucked at the strings of his heart with a gentle hand. The feeling was unfamiliar—something not even Kelly had ever stirred in him. It felt strange, but dangerously addictive. 1
2/4
Chapter 797
+15 BONUS
“I’ll go to Theo shortly,” Sharon replied. “Thanks for bringing him here. If you’ve no other business, you may go. I’ll look after him.”
With that, she walked toward the exit.
Still holding the rose, Carter followed at her side.
Just then, Kelly’s excited voice rang out, “Carter, you came to see me?!”
Kelly’s eyes lit up when she spotted the rose in his hand. Smiling brightly, she took it from
him.
“Thank you for the rose. I love it.”
Sharon cast her a fleeting glance, then walked away without a word.
Watching her retreat, Carter quickly told Kelly, “The rose isn’t for you,” and hurried after
Sharon.
As Sharon stepped out the door, Thomas appeared, moving toward her with measured grace, holding a bouquet of baby’s breath.
Chapter 798
Thomas extended the bouquet of baby’s breath toward Sharon.
“Sharon, congratulations on your victory.”
Sharon’s gaze fell on the flowers.
Baby’s breath-her favorite.
It must have been Wendy who told him to prepare them.
She accepted the bouquet with a smile. “Thank you.”
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed. When Carter emerged, his eyes immediately caught the scene: Sharon smiling brightly as she accepted Thomas’s flowers. The radiance on her face
was worlds apart from the indifference she always showed him. ↑
Sensing something, Thomas turned his head and met Carter’s gaze. His eyes flicked to the roses in Carter’s hand. He arched a brow. “Hello, Carter, are you here to give Sharon flowers as well?”
Carter’s handsome features darkened with chill. “None of your concern.
Thomas gave a mild laugh. “Just a reminder, Carter, you should give her the flowers she actually likes. Not every woman favors roses. Sharon’s favorite is baby’s breath.”
Carter’s eyes shifted to Sharon. She was lowering her head, gently adjusting the flowers in her hands. The delight shining in her eyes was unmistakably genuine.
His expression grew heavy, his voice roughened without warning. “Sharon, I—”
Sharon didn’t spare him a glance. She lifted her gaze to Thomas instead. “It’s getting late. Shall we go?”
Thomas took her violin from her hands. “Of course. Wendy has already booked a restaurant. Let’s head over.”
1/4
Sharon nodded and started forward.
Carter moved to follow, but Thomas stepped neatly into his path.
“Today is a day of celebration for Sharon. I’d advise you not to go along and spoil the mood.”
A glacial light flickered in Carter’s eyes. “So if I follow, I’m ruining the mood. But if you follow, it’s a welcome addition?”
Thomas sighed as though helpless. “Carter, you were married to her for five years, and you didn’t even know her favorite flower. Even if you’re her ex-husband now, the memory of being so overlooked is hardly pleasant. 1
“If you insist on tagging along and once again do something she dislikes…” His gaze met Carter’s dark, turbulent eyes. “…what else would that be, if not adding insult to injury?”
Carter’s steps froze.
Thomas said no more. He turned and walked away with Sharon.
Carter remained rooted to the spot, staring at her retreating figure, the weight in his chest almost suffocating.
“Carter.” Kelly came to his side. “Sharon is already gone. Let’s go back too.”
Carter’s expression was cold. “You go back on your own.” 1
A flash of disbelief crossed Kelly’s eyes.
He refused to take her home?
Before she could protest, another set of footsteps approached.
Maestro Warner and several of his students emerged, half-supporting a disheveled Harry.
Today, Harry had been humiliated spectacularly.
Though he was Warner’s student and a violin prodigy in his own right, his disagreeable
2/4
+15 BONUS
personality and ruthless way of doing things had earned him many enemies. Now, he was reaping what he had sown, to the delight of countless onlookers who would gladly grind him into the dirt.
Some wasted no time. They posted the video of Harry barking like a dog on their social media accounts, tagging him directly with just one line: [Time to retire.]
Others, musicians who had long resented him yet could do nothing before, now delighted in tormenting him further. They called and messaged him, feigning ignorance while oozing schadenfreude, offering hollow condolences with words sharpened like salt against an open
wound.
3/4
Chapter 799
For the first time in his life, Harry tasted the bitterness of such a humiliating defeat. The blow struck deep, leaving him dazed and hollow.
Maestro Warner, accompanied by Reina and the others, escorted him back. Watching Harry’s current state, Warner could only sigh inwardly. To lose against an unexpected dark horse like Sharon-this was a hurdle Harry might never overcome.
As they made their way out, Warner spotted Carter standing with a rose in his hand, Kelly by his side.
“Teacher,” Kelly greeted softly when she saw him.
Warner’s expression remained cold. He didn’t so much as glance at her, making no effort to reply.
Kelly froze for a beat. Then realization dawned: Warner must have pinned the blame for Harry’s reckless wager with Sharon on her. But what did that have to do with her?
Harry had been invited by Warner himself. It was Harry who had initiated the bet of his own accord.
Frustration burned in her chest, but she dared not show it. Instead, she forced herself into a pitiful, aggrieved look. “Is Harry all right?”
Niel answered curtly, “It’s nothing serious. He just needs some rest.”
Carter, too, couldn’t simply ignore Warner. He greeted, “Maestro Warner.”
At last, Warner turned. His murky yet seasoned eyes gleamed with a hawk’s sharpness as he fixed them on
Carter.
“Carter,” he said, his voice biting, “you and I have no enmity. Why, then, would you go out of your way to cause harm to me?”
Carter frowned, caught off guard. “Harm you?”
Warner let out a cold, humorless laugh. “Back then, I sought Sharon. Yet you told me she was nothing but a useless housewife, and instead, you urged me to take Kelly as my student. Tell me, can a woman who knows nothing’ play Gaze and defeat Harry? 1
“You belittled her as worthless while persuading me to accept Kelly. And what was the result?”
His icy gaze fell upon Kelly.
“From the moment I took Kelly as my student, I have known nothing but endless trouble and strife. And now, even Harry has been dragged down because of Kelly. This is all your doing.”
Sharon had rocketed to fame by defeating Harry. Harry’s disgrace was Warner’s disgrace. His decades of meticulously built reputation had been shattered in an instant by a single performance.
Carter recalled the wave of admiration and thunderous cheers that had surrounded Sharon earlier. Only now did he truly realize how dazzling, how inherently brilliant, his ex-wife had been all along. Five years of marriage, and he had never once truly seen her. O
1/2
He fell into a heavy silence, a profound guilt pressing down on him. It was true-he had repeatedly robbed Sharon of opportunities that were rightfully hers, only to hand them to Kelly on a silver platter. C
Warner, having said his piece, dismissed them both with a contemptuous turn and strode away.
Once inside the car, Reina could no longer contain her fury.
“Teacher, had you not been misled by Carter, none of this humiliation would have happened today. Harry wouldn’t be in this pitiful state either. It’s clear Carter harbors nothing but ill intent!”
Johnny added, “Didn’t you once ask Carter to help you find ‘Star’? He told you he couldn’t. But I wonder now -did he ever even try? What if he already found Star and simply chose not to tell you?”
David sneered, “Tch! Carter is rotten to the core. And Kelly-being so close to him-she can’t be any better. Teacher, why not expel her? In the end, every bit of misfortune we’ve suffered traces back to her.”
2/2
Chapter 800
Maestro Warner let out a heavy sigh, and for a fleeting moment, he seemed ten years older.
“So many eyes are watching me now. If I expel Kelly at a time like this, who knows how they’ll twist it… This matter needs careful, long-term consideration.”
No one spoke further.
Sharon’s flawless performance of the high-difficulty piece Gaze blew everyone away. It was clear that her championship win was all but guaranteed.
The video of Sharon defeating Harry went viral online. Invitations to music exchanges and festivals arrived like falling snow, so many that Wendy’s hands grew sore from handling them.
Tickets for Sharon’s concerts, as well as the competition itself, sold out instantly. Wendy, electrified with excitement, worked late into the night without fatigue, as if powered by pure adrenaline.
“Sharon, now we’re truly famous! Even if Kelly had Carter helping her and Warner paving the way, what good would it have done? No one mentions her anymore. When they do, it’s only to mock Warner’s poor judgment.”
Wendy could sense that Sharon had reached the peak of her career.
But with Sharon preparing for her concert, Wendy pushed away all unnecessary commercial performances, letting her focus entirely on rehearsal.
Scrolling through the news, Wendy said, “The consensus online is that the international championship is practically yours for the taking. Once you performed Gaze at that level, no one else stands a chance.”
For a so-called “newcomer,” Sharon’s skill had already surpassed Harry’s, capturing the attention of the global music community. It was nothing short of extraordinary.
Sharon smiled modestly. “I have to admit, I performed exceptionally well this time. Reaching that state is rare-it’s not something I can summon for every performance. I might not be able to top that the next time
around.”
Wendy waved a hand dismissively. “Even if your form fluctuates, as long as you don’t try to transpose Gaze up a key again, you’ll still perform it flawlessly. Sharon, don’t be so hard on yourself-you’re already incredible.”
Sharon smiled as she changed the water in the vase on the table.
Wendy glanced at the bouquet of baby’s breath in her hands. “This is so pretty. Thomas really put thought into it.”
She sighed. “You were married to Carter for five years, and he never knew you liked baby’s breath. Thomas has only been around a short time, and he already knows your preferences.”
Sharon paused mid-motion, filling the vase. “You didn’t tell Thomas to get these for me?”
1/3
“No,” Wendy shook her head. “I did want to arrange flowers for you, but right before you defeated Harry, my phone was blowing up. I had no time to make arrangements. And I never told him that you liked baby’s breath.”
Sharon lowered her gaze to the delicate blooms. Their faint, sweet scent lingered at her nose, refreshing and soothing.
She looked around. “Where’s Thomas?”
Wendy explained, “Lately, he’s been taking a lot of time off, and he’s been very secretive about it. No one knows what he’s up to-whether he’s working on recovering his memories, or maybe he has a girlfriend
. now.”
Sharon considered this for a moment. “Increase his salary starting tomorrow. If he does have a girlfriend now, his expenses will be higher than usual. Let’s give him a little extra so she won’t think he’s being stingy.
Wendy gave an “OK” gesture. “Consider it done.”
Thomas was exceptionally considerate and capable. He could even handle the occasional task of
reprimanding a troublesome ex-husband while assisting her seamlessly. She certainly didn’t see raising his salary as any kind of loss.
www
One splash of water was enough to wake Harry up.
2/3
