?<strong>Chapter 801:</strong>


    Sitting alone in the concert hall’s lounge, she stared at her phone, her mind swirling with questions about what Jayden could possibly be doing.


    As she pondered, she suddenly caught herself wasting energy on someone who no longer mattered.


    With a firm resolution, she told herself, “No more wasting time on him. I need to focus on what’s important.”


    Rejuvenated, Elyse set her phone aside, picked up her violin, and strode toward the backstage area with renewed focus.


    Arriving backstage, she was greeted by familiar faces—Vicky, Darren, Edward, Geraldine, and otherpetitors were all there.


    Edward, ever the enthusiast, beckoned her over. “Hey, Elyse! What are you doing over there? Join us!”


    “Sure!” Elyse responded with a smile and moved to join the group, but then she heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw Fiona entering.


    As Fiona walked in, the previously vibrant atmosphere dampened, and a hush fell over the group.


    Fiona, perceiving the sudden shift, nced around with a bemused smile. “What’s with all the stares? I’m not a stranger or anything, am I?”


    Elyse was also taken aback by the reaction but recalled Fiona was thest-minute substitute for a contestant who had been in a serious ident. The circumstances stirred an uneasy feeling within her.


    Spurred by the shared difort, another contestant voiced the suspicion in the air. “That ident… it wasn’t caused by you, was it? How could you rece someone so suddenly?”


    Fiona’s face registered shock, and she quickly defended herself. “Are you suggesting I had something to do with that? How could I possibly orchestrate such a thing? I’m just like any one of you here.”


    Fiona’s words did not alleviate the other contestants’ suspicions. In fact, their distrust of Fiona deepened.


    Standing beside Edward, Elyse asked curiously, “Why is everyone so hostile towards Fiona?”


    Edward’s lips twisted into a knowing smile. “She is quite suspicious, isn’t she? She came in second in the Comeback Competition, which didn’t actually qualify her for the final. However, she reced a contestant who had to withdraw. Understandably, that stirred some resentment among the others.”


    Elyse nodded thoughtfully. “When someone’s position doesn’t seem to reflect their skills, it does tend to cause unrest.”


    Edward shook his head and let out a sigh. “We should focus more on ourselves. I’ve heard that only five contestants will advance from this round. It’s uncertain if we’ll be among the chosen.”


    Surprised, Elyse looked at Edward. “Do you doubt your abilities too?”


    Edward responded with a yful tone, “No, I’m concerned for you. I’m confident I’ll secure the top spot, but your chances are less certain.”


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