?<strong>Chapter 807:</strong>


    “Fifth, maybe. He’s too full of himself. It’d be good for him to lose for once, to humble him a bit,” Elyse mused aloud.


    Darren inquired again, “And what position do you hope I secure?”


    Elyse paused for a moment and then responded, “First ce. You could use a boost in confidence.”


    Darren’s heart pounded in his chest, his fists clenched tightly. Swallowing his emotions, he asked again, “If I take first ce, where will you rank?”


    Elyse tilted her head slightly. “Second ce, of course. I wouldn’t want to fall too far behind,” she responded with a faint smile.


    “You are better than me,” Darren admitted, trying to suppress the turmoil within.


    His heart fluttered once more, but he dismissed it quickly. There was no room for other thoughts.


    After several deep breaths, the storm inside him slowly subsided.


    Nine out of the ten contestants had already performed, leaving only Fiona to take the stage.


    This round was crucial in determining who would advance to the Grand Final, and the thought of returning to the waiting room was unbearable for any contestant.


    Among them, Elyse stood with her gaze fixed on Fiona, who exuded confidence with each step she took toward the stage. She couldn’t help but wonder about Fiona’s uing performance.


    However, Fiona’s performance soon took everyone by surprise.


    Moments after she began, she stumbled over a note, and the errors started to pile up, revealing gaps in both skill and preparation.


    “I might not take first, but I’m definitely noting inst,” a contestant muttered.


    “Compared to Fiona, I think I’m faring much better. Being ninth isn’t too shameful,” another remarked.


    “It’s surprising that she made it this far,” another contestant said. “There were many who got eliminated despite being more talented. I guess luck really is unpredictable.”


    As Elyse listened to the contestants’ chatter, her heart stirred. Fiona, once her equal, had fallen behind in their shared pursuit of mastery of the violin.


    Edward’s gaze fixed on Elyse as she stood lost in thought. Driven by curiosity, he leaned in and whispered, “Fiona is being criticized. Won’t you defend her?”


    Elyse nced at him, her expression puzzled. “Why should I?” she asked.


    Edward chuckled. “I thought you were her advocate,” he remarked.


    “She doesn’t need me to defend her.” Elyse shook her head dismissively.


    Realizing his approach was leading nowhere, Edward stroked his chin and shifted gears. “How about a date after thepetition?” he suggested.


    Elyse crossed her arms, eyeing him skeptically. “Are you alright? As if I’d go out with you,” she retorted.


    “Don’t dismiss me so quickly. I do have feelings, you know.” Edward covered his face, feigning distress.


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