She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 159

Loyce planted her hands on the judges’ table, her metallic mask reflecting the cold light. “Explain? Fine.”

She pointed to the monitor screen. “Pull up the recordings of contestants thirty-three and thirty-four. We are going to re-evaluate them right now, side by side.”

The staff scrambled to comply. When the two performances played simultaneously, the difference was undeniable. Contestant thirty-three’s fingerwork was precise and her playing full of emotion. In contrast, Sybil’s performance was riddled with technical errors, her rhythm was often unsteady, and the technique she used for her ‘original’ piece was jarringly different from her first.

“Well…” The judges who had awarded high scores were ashen-faced.

“Anything else to say?” Loyce sneered.

The organizer wiped a fresh wave of cold sweat from his brow. “We will immediately re-score both contestants,” he stammered. “And I promise you, there will be absolutely no more interference for the remainder of the competition. We will ensure its fairness! Mr. X, I’m begging you, please don’t withdraw, and please don’t tell Ronan! The Steinway competition is a sacred event for every musician in Harmony. They can’t lose their chance to prove themselves because of our mistakes.”

Loyce was silent for a moment, her gaze sweeping over every person in the room. The judges bowed their heads, unable to meet her stare.

Finally, she relented. “The rules for the third and final round will be revised. I will have Ronan release the details before the event.”

After the competition concluded, Loyce went to the restroom to remove her mask and change out of her suit. As she walked toward the main entrance, she saw Sybil standing with her circle of friends, feigning humility. “I really don’t know how I did,” she was saying, “but I can say I’m very satisfied with my performance today.”

Yuna handed Sybil a bouquet of flowers. “Well, congratulations in advance!”

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