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Home / Rebirth Maikling Kwento / Masked Gala Revenge: I Play Games, Not Piano / Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

Lahat ng Kabanata ng Masked Gala Revenge: I Play Games, Not Piano: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

9 Kabanata

Chapter 1

The moment I stepped into the lounge, a resounding slap landed hard across my face, knocking my head to the side. My disheveled hair veiled the cold glint in my eyes. The person who had struck me was none other than my mother, Kendra Dunbar.Right now, she was jabbing a finger at my nose, her well-maintained face twisted with rage."Nadine Burch, you shameless wretch! How dare you steal the score Evelyn worked so hard to create just to curry favor! We're on the prestigious Fletcher family's turf! How could you stoop to such underhanded methods?"The lounge was packed with people. There were socialites drawn by the spectacle and reporters secretly filming everything on their phones.Standing to the side, wearing an expression of utter heartbreak, was Evelyn Burch."Mom, please stop hitting Nadine. If someone notices the slap mark on her face later, they'll get the wrong idea about you. "This is on me. I knew how terrified she was of being poor again after those years in the co

Chapter 2

This music gala wasn't open to the public.Each young woman wore a mask and entered the inner hall in order, according to the list, to perform and showcase their talents in hopes of gaining Emery's favor.I was number 24 on the list, right behind Evelyn.After noticing I had been inside for nearly 20 minutes, Evelyn began to panic.After all, she had been ushered out by Emery's assistant, Kevin Keenan, less than five minutes after her performance ended.Meanwhile, I—the sickly weakling despised by the entire family—had managed to stay inside that long.How could she not be jealous?Thus, she colluded with her long-time music instructor, Louisa Coleman, and accused me of plagiarizing her work.Mom, who always took Evelyn's side, didn't hesitate for a second before condemning me as guilty."Mom, you say I plagiarized Evelyn's work. But where's the evidence?" I looked at her calmly, my tone devoid of any discernible emotion.Mom froze for a moment, apparently surprised that I—wh

Chapter 3

At Evelyn's words, Dad's expression darkened.Professor Coleman just had to step closer and continue fanning the flames."Mr. Burch, Evelyn is absolutely right! Not only did Nadine steal the sheet music, but she also stayed inside for 20 minutes. Who knows what despicable methods she used to seduce Emery in there!"In the music world, the standard punishment for plagiarism is to cripple her hands. That'll put an end to her parading around."Hearing this, Dad turned around and raised his hand to slap me once more.But I didn't let him succeed this time. I sidestepped to dodge and grabbed hold of his wrist."Dad, before you start swinging, you'd better figure out what's really going on."Dad looked at me in disbelief, seemingly shocked by my defiance."Unbelievable! This is outright rebellion, you ungrateful brat! As if plagiarizing and disgracing yourself weren't enough, now you dare to raise a hand against your father?"Figure out what's going on? The situation is that you sha

Chapter 4

"You think you can just waltz in and demand to see the Fletcher family's surveillance footage?" Dad roared. "Have you not embarrassed yourself enough already?"As long as you admit your wrongdoing and crawl back to the countryside, I can bury this matter. But if you dare kick up a fuss, I'll make sure you can't survive in Baymouth!"It was this act again—they'd threaten and bribe in turns, all so Evelyn could keep her precious image intact.Unfortunately, I was no longer someone they could push around."Sorry, but I've already started a live stream." I waved my phone, the screen displaying a live stream interface. "Dear viewers, do you see this? This is the prestigious Burch family of Baymouth."The eldest daughter is falsely accused of plagiarism, and not only do the parents want to break her hands without bothering to find out the truth, but they don't even have the guts to check the surveillance footage. Grab your cups, this tea is fresh."The viewer count in the live stream r

Chapter 5

A deathly silence fell over the entire room.Five full seconds passed before an eruption of incredulous exclamations burst from the crowd."Holy crap! What's going on? Nadine was playing mobile games on stage?""Weren't we told this was a music gala to showcase talent? Her performance was a pentakill in the game?""So, Mr. and Mrs. Burch and Professor Coleman were just spewing nonsense when they were so adamantly accusing Nadine of plagiarizing Evelyn just now?""Unbelievable! She didn't even touch the piano. Was this telepathic plagiarism or seducing someone through sheer intention?"At these comments, Mom, Dad, and Professor Coleman all turned beet red.Evelyn, in particular, was murmuring in disbelief, "Impossible! How could you not have played the piano?"I smirked and looked at her mockingly."Evelyn, I don't know any Chopin or Liszt. If I didn't get on stage and play a game, was I supposed to give you a live demonstration of sleeping on the spot? You kept accusing me of

Chapter 6

While the commenters were having the time of their lives, I couldn't help but feel a little down.The identity I'd kept under wraps for so long was exposed in the end.But I didn't have time to dwell on it long, because Evelyn spoke up."Nadine, you play games? How come I've never heard you mention it?"Would I have dared? Ever since I was brought back home, Evelyn had used Mom and Dad's favoritism to boss me around in private.Whenever I performed slightly better than her, she'd find all sorts of ways to torment me—soaking my bedding, stuffing my food with stray hairs collected from who knows where.The worst time was when she stole the rabbit plushie Grandma had sewn for me before she passed. I begged her over and over to give it back, but the plushie was still reduced to a pile of shredded fabric.Not only did Mom and Dad refuse to scold her, but they instead blamed me for not keeping my own belongings safe.I knew that Evelyn only dared to treat me like this because of Mom

Chapter 7

On the screen, it was raining, and Evelyn could be seen skulking outside the piano room window, phone raised as she greedily captured every moment of a young woman performing on the piano within.With a piercing gaze and a voice of iron, I spoke with unshakeable conviction."Evelyn, to maintain your flawless 'genius' image, you secretly recorded an impoverished music student's original composition and then claimed it as your own. You told everyone it was the result of three grueling months of your own blood, sweat, and tears!"What a shame, though—you only managed to copy the notes, and not the soul behind them. That day, she'd practiced so excessively that her fingers cramped up, leading to a single measure with a wrong note and a pause."You even copied that mistake caused by her injury note-for-note, and you still dare to claim this as your original work?"The moment my words landed, an uproar swept through the hall.Everyone turned in shock to stare at Evelyn, the genius comp

Chapter 8

"How is this possible? You're clearly just a countryside brat with a heart condition," Mom said, her eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets."Surprised?" My gaze was razor-sharp. "You despised me for being born with a heart condition, treated me like damaged goods, and dumped me in the countryside, all while pouring your love into the supposedly healthy Evelyn."But what you didn't know is that I'd recovered from my heart condition long ago. If anything, it's your hearts that are rotten to the core. All these years, you've neglected me, tossing me a bit of living expenses only when you happened to remember."To survive, I'd long since built a life and purpose of my own through game boosting and strategy coaching gigs. When I needed you most, you abandoned me. So, now, you're no longer worthy of being my parents."Every word I spoke landed with weight and finality, and for the first time, a flicker of belated remorse crossed my parents' faces.What a pity that I no longer needed

Chapter 9

After I left that day, the fate of the Burch family turned out to be even more miserable than I'd imagined.Emery was true to his word.Within a week, Burch Group ran out of cash and went out of business. Those rivals whom Mr. Burch had offended in the past all seized the chance to kick him while he was down.To escape their debts, Mr. and Mrs. Burch moved into a basement in the slums, where they lived out their days in sunless misery.Meanwhile, Professor Coleman was hauled off by the police on charges of commercial fraud and perjury. She could kiss her music career goodbye forever.As for Evelyn, the "perfect genius" image she had painstakingly maintained crumbled completely, and she became a public disgrace who was reviled across the internet.Not only was she blacklisted, but she also became a punching bag for the parents who once doted on her. Day in and day out, she was either hit or screamed at.Just as I was ready to put the past behind me and embrace a new life, Mr. and

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