"This time, Celeste created an entirely new arrangement, perfectly blending Oliver's distinctive style and technical prowess into a revolutionary interpretation."

"From today onward, 'Luna Serenade' can be performed as a duet." Sebastian's voice cut through the darkness of the audience section, his gravelly tone carrying unexpected warmth. "Now I finally understand what you meant."

The shadows concealed Sebastian's expression, but his words shimmered with newfound respect. "She's truly... extraordinary."

Samantha's gaze flickered toward the Blackwood family seats. "They claimed our Celeste was copying Victoria... Let them witness what real 'Luna Serenade' sounds like!"

On the opposite side, Margaret and Charlotte sat frozen in shock. When Amy's performance began, they'd exchanged smirks, ready to mock her amateur attempts. But somewhere between the first and second movement, their derisive whispers had died mid-breath.

Charlotte's jaw hung slack. "Mother, wasn't Amy supposed to be talentless? How is she playing like that?" This wasn't mere competence - it was virtuoso-level mastery.

Margaret's fingers dug into her armrests. To untrained ears, Amy's music flowed like crystal-clear mountain streams. But connoisseurs recognized the staggering technique beneath the apparent effortlessness.

Hadn't they been promised a tone-deaf simpleton? Where was the cringe-worthy scraping they'd anticipated? This revelation shattered all their expectations.

Victoria stood rigid as marble, her teeth sinking into her lower lip until she tasted copper. Her entire body trembled with denial. "Impossible..." she whispered to the empty air.

Violin had always been Victoria's unshakable fortress. Not world-class perhaps, but certainly among Solmaris Conservatory's elite. Her admission to the prestigious institution stood as irrefutable proof.

She'd accepted being outshone in looks. But in music? This was her sacred domain, the one arena where she'd planned to humiliate Amy utterly.

Somewhere in her heart, Victoria had always dismissed Amy as a vapid ornament - beautiful but hollow, unworthy of Alexander's devotion. If not for Margaret's interference, she would be Mrs. Blackwood now.

Tonight should have been her triumphant moment. Instead, even in her strongest suit, she'd been eclipsed. The realization cracked Victoria's pride like thin ice. She refused - couldn't - accept this.

...

As the judges' scores flashed across the screens, Amy and Oliver bowed gracefully and exited stage left.

Waiting in the wings stood a familiar silhouette.

Alexander.

The imposing CEO stood motionless in the shadows, his piercing gaze locked onto Amy. Moonlight from a high window caught the midnight depths of his eyes, igniting flecks of silver she'd never noticed before.

The intensity of his focus sent an unexpected shiver down her spine.