In the cozy living room, Neville and his son were huddled around Ste, with Abby passionately voicing her indignation.


    Abby frowned at the coffee stain marring Ste''s dress and huffed, "Bitch! She''s so petty, just because Ste looks better, she had to throw coffee on her. Can''tpete on talent, so she resorts to dirty tricks. She''s so afraid of being outshone by Ste-"


    Before Abby could finish, Jasper''s sarcastic tone sliced through the air from behind them.


    "Oh please, outshone by a stay-at-home mom? That''s hrious! Rachel graduated from Neo-Vespera University, you know, the top music and arts school. How can you say shecks talent?"


    Abby had heard Jasper brag about this more times than she''d care to count.


    With a dismissive snort, she said, "And so what if she graduated from Neo- Vespera University? I did too!"


    Neo-Vespera University was the crown jewel of Solmaris, renowned for its Royal Academy of Music. It was consistently ranked among the top five arts institutions worldwide. Despite being a music school, it didn''t offer performance courses, as it wasn''t in the business of creating pop stars but nurturing bona fide artists and musicians.


    Abby had always had a passion for music, with a decent ear for it. But whenpared to the prodigious talents of Ste and Antoney, she was merely an also- ran. Yet, she was a whiz at academics and had wed her way into Neo-Vespera University through sheer hard work, though she majored in the rather niche field of management rather than music.


    Neo-Vespera University was a paradise for aspiring music and arts students. Many who got epted realized that their once-prized talents were but average in a ce teeming with global prodigies.


    When Abby first set foot in Neo-Vespera, she couldn''t help but marvel at the realization that there were always bigger fish in the sea.


    If the students of Neo-Vespera were geniuses, then Ste was in a league of her own. While others saw only her quiet brilliance, Abby-who had known her since their academy days-understood the fire that forged it.


    Had Ste stayed in Solmaris, she would have achieved the same greatness as her mother by now. Even the now-famous Antoney couldn''t hold a candle to Ste''s innate gift.


    They say sess requires ny-nine percent perspiration and one percent inspiration. For Ste, it was the other way around. Her talent was almost maxed out; a mere one percent effort from her was enough to reach heights others could only dream of.


    The world wasn''t fair, and talent didn''t always corrte with effort. The most formidable individuals were those who were both gifted and diligent. Ste was precisely that kind of person. By her first semester, she''d already made it into Neo-Vespera''s Hall of Fame.


    Jasper''s mockingughter broke Abby''s train of thought.


    "Oh, you''re a Neo-Vespera alum too? Next, you''ll be telling me you''re a genius from their Hall of Fame. Hahaha, anyone can talk big."


    Abby''s face hardened. "What''s wrong with you? Who''s talking big here?"


    Jasper turned to Rachel. "Rachel, have you ever seen this Abby at Neo- Vespera?"


    Rachel shook her head, replying, "Nope."


    Jasper smirked, as if he''d just confirmed his suspicions. "Well, Ms. Smarty Pants, stop pretending. Rachel says she''s never seen you at Neo-Vespera."


    Abby rolled her eyes. "Oh,e on, Professor Kiss-Ass, your brain''s really something else. So what if Rachel hasn''t seen me? Does that make me less of a Neo-Vespera alum?"


    "Besides, you don''t even know if we were in the same year. Quit making a fool of yourself and just leave!"


    Rachel timidly added, "Ms. Murphy, I''m only a year younger than Ms. Cameron... and I''ve never heard of either of you at school."


    The implication was clear; even if they weren''t in the same year, they were still her seniors, and being from the same city, it was possible they might have crossed paths.