Chapter 79 Now Who’s Laughing?
Nolan left those words behind and turned to leave the classroom.
Evelyn was left alone, raging inside the room.
Eliza had already gone upstairs.
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The music classroom was empty; Naomi, too ashamed after the day’s events, had left early and skipped her piano practice.
Eliza sat at the piano and played the concerto with practiced ease. In this life, I will defy fate. I will take back everything that should have been mine. And I will take everything Naomi holds dear.
Soon enough, New Year’s Eve arrived.
Naomi’s mother had been sentenced to fifteen days in detention.
Everyone at school was gossiping about it.
That evening, even as Naomi was getting ready, she seemed distracted.
“Naomi, is it true your mom is in jail? It can’t be, right?”
“Isn’t Zayden your fiance? Didn’t his family help you?”
“Yeah, the Holt family is so powerful; surely they could have paid to get her out, right?”
Several girls chattered around Naomi.
None of them had really liked hanging out with her; especially after the cheating incident with Eliza, they all thought Naomi had been faking it.
If it had not been for Naomi’s engagement to Zayden, they would have distanced themselves from her long
ago.
Naomi heard the mockery in their voices; she forced herself to sound defiant. “My mom knows she was wrong, so she chose to accept her punishment. You all should stop talking nonsense!”
With that, Naomi turned and left the classroom.
gripped her sheet music tightly. So what if my mother is in jail? It is only fifteen days in detention. As long as I shine tonight at the New Year’s Eve gala and catch the attention of the right people, I can still rise to the top; I can still enter high society.
Meanwhile, night had fallen.
The New Year’s Eve gala had begun on the school field.
Eliza was scheduled to perform after Naomi. While she was preparing in a first–floor classroom, Nolan suddenly opened the door and walked in.
Seeing him, Eliza was slightly surprised.
At the moment, they were alone in the room.
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Chapter 79 Now Who’s Laughing?
Eliza asked, puzzled, “Why are you here?”
“I brought you a dress.”
“A dress?”
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Nolan placed the garment bag on the desk. “Wear this on stage; do not let yourself get overshadowed.”
Without another word, Nolan left the classroom.
Eliza walked over to the desk and opened the bag..
Inside was a black dress covered in delicate, sparkling sequins. It was exquisitely made and eye–catching.
There was also a beautiful crown.
Meanwhile, Naomi was about to go on stage.
She had carefully chosen a long white gown for the night. With her naturally sweet and innocent looks, her dark, glossy hair draped over her shoulders, she looked pure as an angel.
“Wow!”
The boys in the crowd stared, wide–eyed.
Naomi was the school beauty; even without makeup, she was stunning. Now, fully styled, she was even more dazzling.
Naomi took her seat at the piano and skillfully began playing “Whispers of the Moment“.
Her pure appearance instantly sent the audience into a frenzy.
The applause was thunderous.
Among the distinguished guests in the crowd, several looked pleased.
“Mr. Tyson, isn’t she quite impressive?”
The principal gushed, “She is one of our most talented students.”
“Ves, not bad,” the man addressed as Mr. Tyson replied with a faint smile.
But he said no more.
Her entrance had been impressive; her performance was flawless.
It was clear she had undergone years of training.
For someone her age, that was indeed rare.
When the piece ended.
Naomi gave a polite bow and exited the stage.
She had personally designed all the lighting for her performance.
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Chapter 79 Now Who’s Laughing?
She had wanted everything to be perfect.
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Then the student host walked onto the stage. “Naomi’s beautiful piano performance has left us wanting more. Next, we welcome Eliza, who will also perform a piano piece…“.
At this, the host paused.
The script originally said “Whispers Beneath the Keys“, but it had been changed to “Crimson Rhapsody, Movement Ill.”
“Next… we will hear the Crimson Rhapsody, Movement III,” the host announced.
The crowd fell silent.
“Crimson Rhapsody? Wasn’t Eliza supposed to play Whispers Beneath the Keys?“.
“Ha! Who pulled this prank? How is Eliza going to face the crowd now?”
“Who cares how she manages; we are here for the show!”
Everyone waited eagerly to see Eliza make a fool of herself.
After all, a student who had only recently started learning piano, attempting “Crimson Rhapsody“-even just one movement–was sure to struggle.
Nolan, seated in the audience, watched as Eliza took her place at the piano. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
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