?<strong>Chapter 425:</strong>


    As the sun rose, Elyse awoke, feeling a weakness in her legs. She lingered in bed for a while longer but eventually got up with reluctance.


    She had risen an hour earlier than usual.


    Seeing her descend the stairs, Driscoll was taken aback and asked, “Mrs. Owen, are you heading to the studio? The cook hasn’t made breakfast yet.”


    Realizing her early start, Elyse shook her head and replied, “It’s okay. I’ll skip breakfast at home. Please have the driver take me to the studio.”


    Driscoll immediately went to prepare the car.


    Upon reaching the studio, Elyse promptly began practicing after finishing the sandwiches she had purchased on the way.


    When Fiona arrived on her usual schedule, she felt uneasy seeing Elyse so immersed in practice.


    Approaching Elyse, Fiona offered a wry smile. “I wasn’t anxious initially, but seeing your intensity sparked a crisis in me.”


    She then sighed, feeling overwhelmed. “You’re incrediblypetitive!”


    “Fiona, I’m not very skilled. If I were as skilled as you, I wouldn’t need to practice this much,” Elyse responded, managing a smile despite feeling inadequate.


    Fiona yfully poked Elyse’s waist and countered, “You’re not telling the truth. I think you’re the hardest-working violinist here.”


    After a brief exchange, Elyse lost herself in her practice again.


    Inspired by Elyse’s dedication, Fiona took her violin outside the studio and began to practice alone.


    Gavin and Irving arrivedter. They were surprised to find Fiona ying in the small garden and asked, “Did you start practicing this early?”


    Fiona sighed helplessly and exined, “Elyse was here before me.”


    Gavin and Irving exchanged puzzled looks and entered the building.


    Irving, with a frown, asked Elyse, “What time did you get here?”


    Pausing her practice, Elyse checked her watch and answered uncertainly, “Around half past six.”


    Shocked, Irving asked further, “Have you been practicing for hours?”


    Gavin, concerned, added, “Did you manage to eat breakfast? I know thepetition means a lot to you, but don’t overdo it.”


    Elyse reassured them with a blink and said, “I’m fine. I ate a hearty breakfast.”


    Due to exerting a lot of energy the previous night, she had eaten more than usual that morning.


    Understanding her resolve, Gavin turned to Irving and said, “You focus on teaching her the techniques. I’ll discuss the essential strategies with her this afternoon.”


    Irving crossed his arms, gave Elyse an evaluative look, and nodded in agreement. “Alright. I’ll take good care of teaching her.”


    Elyse looked puzzled and apprehensive at the thought of Irving being her temporary instructor.


    She feared that her morale would copse if Irving taught her.


    Noticing her distressed expression, Irving arched an eyebrow and asked, “What’s with that look? Don’t you want me to be your temporary instructor?”


    Elyse hesitated, nodding first, and then shook her head as she asked timidly, “Why isn’t Gavin guiding me?”


    While Gavin was strict, he was never overly harsh.


    Irving, on the other hand, was known for his biting critiques. Elyse doubted she could endure more than an hour of Irving’s sharpments!


    With a grin, Irving retorted, “Come on, don’t be dramatic. You should be thankful to have guidance from someone like me!”


    Elyse felt utterly hopeless.


    Inside the chaotic private room of a bar, Freday on the sofa clutching her stomach and sweating profusely.


    Flushed and reeking of alcohol, Alena was sprawled on a bar nket, snoring intermittently.


    Freda felt groggy from the alcohol and sleepy, but difort in her stomach kept her awake.


    Overwhelmed by sadness the day before, she had invited Alena to the bar for a distraction. They had invited several male escorts to join them, and she had drunk excessively.


    Freda turned to Alena for help, only to realize that Alena was too sound asleep to be roused.


    Left with no other option, Freda reluctantly called Theo.


    In her heart, she hoped desperately that Theo would answer ande to take her back to school from her miserable state.


    Though her face remained expressionless, a glimmer of hope flickered within her. Perhaps Theo would take pity on her?


    But as the phone continued to ring unanswered, that faint hope faded.


    Theo would not answer her.


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