"You don't know me? Well, I don’t know you either," Samantha scoffed, shooting Victoria a dismissive glance. "Do you honestly think Celeste is just some average girl? She skipped grades! While you were still struggling through basic theory, she was already composing symphonies."

Nathan doubled over with laughter, clutching his sides. "Oh, please! If we're making up stories, I might as well claim I was royalty in another life. Would you believe that?"

Samantha opened her mouth to retort, but Amy gently squeezed her arm. "Liam’s performance is what’s important right now," she murmured, her voice steady.

Samantha exhaled sharply, forcing herself to calm down. "Fine. I don’t have time for this nonsense. Whether she graduated from Solmaris Conservatory or not doesn’t change the fact that she ruined Celeste’s dress. We’ve already arranged for Isabella to swap outfits with her—"

Nathan cut her off, his eyes widening dramatically. "Oh, I see your game now! This is all a setup, isn’t it? You’re trying to sabotage Isabella’s chances!"

He whirled on Amy, his expression venomous. "How low can you sink? Just because you’re threatened by Isabella’s talent, you’d resort to cheating? You think you can just force her out of the competition?" He barked out a mocking laugh. "Not happening."

At that moment, Margaret, who had just entered with Liam, overheard Nathan’s accusations. Her face twisted with fury.

"Amy, you vile little witch! Betraying your own son for some outsider? If you dare ruin Liam’s performance, you’ll answer to me!"

Liam’s eyes welled with hurt as he whispered, "Mom… why would you do this?"

Nathan smirked. "Isn’t it obvious? She’s scared of losing, so she’s playing dirty."

Amy blinked, tilting her head as if she hadn’t heard right.

"Who let the rabid dogs out today?"

Before Nathan could snap back, Margaret’s face turned scarlet with rage.

"How dare you speak to me like that, you insolent brat! Did you just call me a dog? Alexander, if you don’t put her in her place, you’re no son of mine!"

Amy feigned shock. "Margaret, did someone call you a dog? Why are you so quick to assume it was about you?" She turned to Samantha with a serene smile. "Samantha, start recording. We’ll need evidence if Alexander decides to get violent."

Samantha snapped to attention, pulling out her phone and hitting record. She made sure to capture every angle.

"Gather around, everyone!" she announced loudly. "Don’t miss tonight’s main event—family drama at its finest! Featuring betrayal, scheming, and a mother-in-law meltdown! No scripts, all real!"

Her declaration drew a crowd of curious parents, their whispers filling the room.

"Is that Alexander Blackwood?"

"And Margaret? She’s here too?"

"Margaret? The poised, elegant socialite? She looks like she’s about to explode."

"Guess the mask finally slipped. All that refinement was just for show."

The murmurs grew louder, judgmental eyes boring into Margaret.

Her entire body trembled, her face cycling through shades of red and white.