Chapter 224

“Today is the biggest day of Olivia’s life. I don’t care how you managed to get in here, but you’d better not cause any trouble,” Olivia said, her tone sharp and
unyielding.
Steven immediately tensed up, his eyes narrowing at Charlotte. “If you mess things up for Olivia’s performance, I’ll never let you off the hook.”
Elizabeth jumped in too, her words laced with fake concern. “That’s right, Charlotte. Laura doesn’t just pick anyone. You should probably just
“Spare yourself the embarrassment,” Olivia added, laughing behind her hand, her smile anything but kind. “Everyone competing today is one of the best in the field. Not just anyone gets to be a part of this.”
She shot Charlotte a look, her voice quiet but cutting. “You should know your limits. Otherwise, you’ll just end up embarrassing our family.”
Laura, standing nearby with her assistant, raised an eyebrow at the exchange. “Who is she?” she asked quietly.
The assistant glanced at the list and replied in a low voice, “That’s Olivia. She’s the favorite to win today, and she even brought an original piece for the competition.”
Olivia. Laura frowned slightly. She’d heard Olivia was talented, but right now, all she could see was arrogance and pettiness. There was nothing about her that felt like a true pianist.
“Win?” Charlotte finally looked up, her eyes cool and steady. She spoke slowly, her lips curling ever so slightly. “Alright. Good luck, then.”
Olivia met Charlotte’s gaze, her confidence wavering for a split second. She squeezed her hands into fists and forced a smirk. “Just wait. I’m going to win for sure.”
She could already picture it. Her name everywhere. Her family proud. Charlotte left in the dust, green with jealousy.
Charlotte just looked away, ready to leave. But suddenly, a panicked voice burst out from another room.
“My piano… Why isn’t it making any sound?!”
People poked their heads out, curious. The girl standing by the piano looked like she was about to cry, her eyes red and anxious. “I can’t believe I did this. Why did I have to mess with it right before going on stage?”
“Is there a piano technician here? Can someone help me find one?” she pleaded.
“There’s no one like that on site,” another contestant said quietly. “Even if there was, there’s no time. The competition’s about to start.”
“So what am I supposed to do?” The girl’s legs shook as she tried to steady herself. “I’ve prepared for so long… and now this happens?”
Before anyone could answer, Charlotte stepped forward, her figure calm and collected. She walked up to the piano and simply said, “Move over.”
The girl blinked at her, startled. “What?”
“I know a little about pianos.” Charlotte leaned over the instrument, her voice calm
and flat. “If you want it fixed, you need to let me see.”
People whispered behind her. Most pianists couldn’t actually fix their own instruments, but anyone who could was usually something special.
The girl hesitated only a second before stepping aside, her face filled with nervous hope.
Steven didn’t hide his doubt. “You’ve barely played piano for two years What do you know about repairs That piano costs a fortune. If you break it, you’ll never be able to pay for it.”
Charlotte didn’t even acknowledge him. She sat down, lifted the piano’s panel, and peered inside. Without hesitation, she spotted the problem. The action was off, the angle between the check and the jack was wrong.
She reached in and, with practiced movements, fixed the alignment.
A clear, chiming note sounded. The piano was working again, but the tuning was still
a little off.
The girl’s hope faded, and she hesitated. “If it’s not working, maybe I should—”
Before she could finish, Charlotte’s hands swept across the keys, filling the room with a stunning cascade of music. The piece was difficult, the technique flawless, every note ringing out with perfect clarity. It was almost unbelievable.
Everyone stopped and stared at Charlotte, their faces frozen in shock.
Olivia and her family looked like they’d just seen a ghost. Charlotte had only played piano for a few months as a child. How could she possibly play like this?
Even Laura, who had been quietly watching from afar, couldn’t hide her surprise. Her expression softened into genuine admiration. “She’s got real talent. She’s definitely a pianist.”
A smile spread across Laura’s face, her mind made up. “With that kind of natural ability, she’d make an amazing student. With the right training, she could be extraordinary.”