Lahat ng Kabanata ng Side Chick Era… Over: Kabanata 781 - Kabanata 790

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

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 ar

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 te

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 t

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