?<strong>Chapter 587:</strong>


    No sooner had Fiona finished speaking than she noticed several bottles of new nail polish resting unopened on the table.


    It seemed that Gavin had spotted them too, the moment he walked in.


    Fiona could feel the intensity in Gavin’s gaze, which made her turn her face away in difort, unable to meet his eyes.


    Gavin fixed his stare on Fiona, tapped on the table, and said with a harsh tone, “Come over here and sit down. We need to talk.”


    Fiona was hesitant. She suspected that nothing positive woulde from this conversation, and thest thing she wanted was another lecture.


    Despite her reluctance, she couldn’t simply dismiss Gavin.


    With a sigh, she dragged a chair over and sat down across from him, arms crossed, deliberately avoiding his gaze.


    Gavin, clearly annoyed, looked at her and demanded, “What’s been going on with youtely? You seem distracted. You’ve even been neglecting your violin practice.”


    Fiona responded dismissively, “I really don’t know what you mean. My passion for the violin hasn’t changed, and I’m not distracted.”


    Pointing towards the items on the table, Gavin retorted, “Really? Your passion is the same? Then exin the nail polish, nail art rhinestones? Decorations? How do you expect to y the violin with all that on your fingers?”


    Fiona frowned and reasoned, “I just bought them to take a look. I won’t actually use them. I understand that doing my nails could interfere with ying the violin, but you never said I couldn’t just buy them to look, right?”


    Gavin retorted, “And that manicure kit scattered all over the table? Just for looking too?”


    “I got a set. It was a better deal,” Fiona responded, her voice faltering with the weak defense.


    Frustrated by her justifications, Gavin raised his voice. “Do you not grasp the gravity of this? Your focus on music is slipping. Why the sudden interest in nail art if you’remitted to the violin?”


    Gavin’s words stung, and Fiona’s embarrassment morphed into defiance. “I ammitted! I practice, don’t I? Is it wrong to nce at something else during my break?”


    In that moment, Gavin realized Fiona was far from acknowledging her missteps, repeatedly justifying her actions instead.


    He spoke more gravely. “I’ve avoided serious talks before because I didn’t want to discourage you. But honestly, your performance in the previouspetition was subpar. You seemed less like the dedicated professional you are and more like a hobbyist.”


    Fiona nched, her lips tight, as she absorbed his words.


    With a stern look, Gavin continued, “If you were merely a hobbyist, I’d leave you be. But you’re not. You’re a professional, and Cody Tucker’s apprentice at that. You represent his teaching. Do you think your recent performances reflect that?”


    After a tense pause, Fiona replied sharply, “I’ll do better next time. Why can’t you let the past be the past? Or are you just trying to hurt me by bringing it up because you simply look down on me?”


    Gavin scowled. “Why would you think that? I’m discussing this for your benefit.”


    “For my benefit? Really? You only look out for Elyse. She’s everyone’s favorite, and I’m just another face in the crowd. She might win first ce, but I’m struggling to even make eighth. You clearly don’t like me. You’re trying to push me out,” Fiona shot back, her voiceced with anger.


    She unleashed a torrent of pent-up frustration, reflecting her resentment that had built over time.


    Breathing heavily, her cheeks flushed with emotion, Fiona challenged, “You don’t honestly believe you and Irving treat everyone fairly, do you? It’s always Elyse this, Elyse that. I’m just a spare to you. Neither of you truly care about my progress.”


    Gavin felt a sting of usation.


    How had Fiona harbored such misconceptions? She seemed to believe they favored Elyse unfairly, which was not the case.


    Locking eyes with an irate Fiona, Gavin probed, “So, you think we favor Elyse? You resent her, and that’s why you didn’t help her when she was in trouble?”


    Suddenly calmer, Fiona retorted, “What are you implying? That I left her in danger?”


    Gavin, noticing her avoidant gaze, pressed on coldly, “Aren’t you going to confess? Weren’t you iming you weren’t at the hospital the day Elyse had a miscarriage?”


    With icy defiance, Fiona responded, “You use me of not helping Elyse. Shouldn’t you be presenting some proof instead of just taking her word for it?”


    “Then exin what really happened that day,” Gavin insisted.


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