Chapter 490:

After announcing the addition of another round, Karl Jimenez, Freda's father, faced the restless crowd. "Since everyone is dissatisfied with the results," he proposed, "we'll add another round."

The crowd quieted, buzzing with whispers. Media photographers snapped photos, energized by the new development.

Seeing her father give Elyse another chance, Freda stamped her foot in anger. "Dad, why are you favoring an outsider?"

"Shut up! Since when have you been so unreasonable?" Karl scolded, glaring at her. "This competition is serious. Keep your tricks out of it."

Freda's voice cracked, her frustration bringing her to tears. She'd hoped Elyse would lose, hoping to win Theo back.

Tears brimming, she accused, "Dad! Don't you care about me? You never consider my feelings!"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Karl responded, hand on his chest, his frustration evident.

"I hate you!" Freda yelled, running off and leaving chaos in her wake.

Karl pressed his chest, composing himself before turning apologetically to Gavin. "I'm sorry. My daughter is spoiled and willful. She's made a mess of this competition."

Gavin chuckled, watching Freda go. Smiling, he reassured, "It doesn't matter. She's young and thoughtless. I won't hold it against her."

Karl breathed a sigh of relief. Gavin, Cody's most accomplished apprentice and a rising star in the music industry, was someone he greatly admired and didn't want to offend.

Taking Freda's seat at the judging table, he addressed the contestants. "For the extra round, let's perform the 'Devil's Trill Sonata'."

The suggestion stunned the ten contestants. Mastering the "Devil's Trill Sonata" would showcase their talent, impressing the audience and media. However, a poor performance would reveal a lack of preparation.

Vicky, who'd placed second, was determined to win. She knew the piece perfectly.

"Seems destiny wants me to win," she said confidently, glancing at Elyse. "Even God is on my side." She had been preparing to compete internationally.

Elyse returned her gaze impassively. "You will still be second. First place is mine."

The extra round stirred mixed emotions. Some, disappointed with their initial rankings, saw a chance to improve. Others, satisfied with their places, feared losing ground.

Fiona felt differently. She saw it as the end of her aspirations. Not making the top eight, she was relieved she and Elyse were unranked, believing Elyse's violin skills were as lacking as her own. However, she hadn't anticipated Elyse's low score was due to unfair judging. If Elyse won, where would that leave her? Could she accept a top-ten finish?

Clutching her violin, her fingers whitened with tension. She couldn't look at Gavin, fearing disappointment. In her heart, she lamented that perhaps Elyse was the true prodigy.

Meanwhile, Karl conferred with the other judges and proposed restarting the competition with Elyse as the first contestant.

Elyse stood on stage, eyes alight with determination. She was ready to prove herself.

Below, Darren watched, arms crossed, concern etched on his face.

The "Devil's Trill Sonata" was notoriously challenging. Expressing its deep emotional range solo was a formidable task; it demanded exceptional skill to capture the struggle between good and evil. Few young violinists, including Vicky, could master it.

Noticing Darren's concern, Vicky approached with a smirk. "Worried about Elyse? Afraid she'll mess up?" she asked provocatively.

...