She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 172

Loyce settled in at the piano and turned to Sybil. “If you truly composed that on the spot, it’s quite impressive. But I think there’s room for improvement.”

Her long, slender fingers danced across the keys, playing the exact same melody but with ten times the emotion and technical skill of Sybil's stiff performance. She wove in more ornate and complex variations, elevating the piece to an entirely new level. The difference was so stark that even those in the audience with an untrained ear could hear the chasm in their abilities.

Sybil, who had just begun to relax, now felt the true, terrifying depth of Loyce’s talent. Only she, her mother, and the original composer had ever seen that score. This was the first time it had been performed live. Yet, after hearing it just once, Loyce had not only replicated the five-minute piece perfectly but had also enhanced it with her own ideas.

When she finished, the hall erupted in thunderous applause. The judges on stage rose to their feet, clapping enthusiastically.

Loyce gave a modest nod to the audience and said calmly, “That was just my personal take on Contestant 34’s composition. Now, I’ll play an improvised piece of my own.”

As Loyce began to play, a black Bentley pulled up outside the venue. Robert hurried inside, clutching a USB drive, which he handed to the event organizer with a few serious words.

The organizer’s face paled. “I understand. As long as the bribery isn't exposed, I’ll do as you say.”

Robert nodded, satisfied. Before he left, he glanced at Loyce, who looked almost divine under the spotlight. “She,” he thought, “is the only one worthy of my Admiral.”

When Loyce’s piece concluded, she stood and gave an elegant bow.

The whispers in the audience grew louder.

“Plagiarism? This is the difference between an original and a clumsy imitation!”

“The skill gap between Sybil and Loyce is massive. She was completely outclassed. I think Sybil was lying…”

Just then, the director of the competition walked onto the stage, his expression grim, holding a USB drive. “We have just received a report and will be conducting an investigation into Contestant 34’s violation of competition rules. Based on the evidence we currently possess, we are immediately revoking her second-place prize.”

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