?<strong>Chapter 404:</strong>


    Joelle’s patience had been wearing thin all night, and M’stest jab was the final straw. If it weren’t for being a guest, Joelle would’ve dly hurled her drink at M’s smug face.


    “I heard you took up piano after you couldn’t beat me at the violin. Right? Trying to win in another field now?” M asked, her tone dripping with bitterness. Despite all her aplishments, M had never been able to shake the sting of losing to Joelle—the one blot on her otherwise perfect record.


    “Yes, I shifted to piano in my teens,” Joelle replied calmly. “And guess what? I still made a name for myself, won international awards, fame, fortune—the whole package! But you… How’s your violin going these days? Your wrist must be a bit shaky now, isn’t it?”


    M’s eyes gleamed as she caught sight of the wrist brace on Joelle’s right hand, a subtle but unmistakable sign of her physical decline.


    Joelle paused, her eyes drifting upward to meet M’s. “You have so much raw talent, M, so why do you always feel the need topete with me? For me, thesepetitions are just stepping stones for a resume. Is winning the only way you feel fulfilled in music?”


    “What did you say?” M’s voice rose in anger.


    Her outburst caused heads to turn. All eyes at the table seemed to gravitate toward her, drawn to the heated exchange.


    Dunn shot M a warning nce from across the room, his look enough to cool the embers in her chest. Mposed herself, her posture stiffening as she remained seated, though her pride remained as rigid as a porcin doll.


    Adrian, seemingly oblivious to the tension, ced some food on Joelle’s te.


    Joelleined with a smile, “If I eat another bite, I’ll gain weight.”


    “You won’t,” Adrian replied, his voice light and reassuring.


    Joelle had always been cautious about her figure, though Adrian constantly insisted that she was far too thin. He had a way of slipping her favorite dishes onto her te.


    “If I eat this, you’d better not sneak me any more,” Joelle warned.


    Adrian sighed, a yful smile on his lips. “You haven’t even eaten as much as Aurora.”


    Joelle rolled her eyes. “Adrian, stop nagging.”


    “Alright, alright,” he replied, still amused.


    M swirled the wine in her ss, her lips curving into a smirk as she watched the two of them flirt.


    Just then, chaos erupted from the backyard. Though the guests were still mingling, the sudden uproar felt like a storm cloud looming over a sunny day. Stephen, whose birthday festivities had been in full swing, instantly furrowed his brow, the merriment draining from his face.


    “What in heaven’s name is going on?” he muttered.


    The butler rushed in, his face pale with rm. “Sir, there’s a fire in the backyard. It’s spreading fast!”


    “What?” Stephen stood up sharply, his voice tinged with panic.


    Gracie and Fred jumped to their feet, panic shing in their eyes as they suddenly remembered that the yroom Dunn frequented was at the back of the property.


    “Dunn! Where’s Dunn?” Gracie cried out, her voice cracking with worry.


    Tension gripped the table like a vice, leaving everyone frozen with a sense of foreboding. Joelle and Adrian exchanged uneasy nces before following Gracie and Fred as they dashed towards the backyard.


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