Rachel realized she was clenching her fists so hard that her nails were biting into her palms, but she didn''t feel any pain.


    The better you are at something, the easier you can see when someone''s better than you. She knew, even if they faced off a thousand times, she''d never beat Ste.


    Rachel''s teeth were grinding in frustration, her gaze toward Ste filled with unmasked resentment and unwillingness. How could she lose to Ste of all people?!


    Why?!


    "Rachel." Haynes''s clear and pleasant voice suddenly broke through the tension. "A bet''s a bet."


    No one had expected Ste to really win against Rachel. Not even him.


    Even though he didn''t understand music much and favored Rachel, he couldn''t deny that Ste''s performance was more enchanting to any normal ear.


    Rachel trembled with indignation. Since returning from abroad, she had always kept Ste under her thumb. Though she had faced some embarrassment recently, Haynes had always been there to clean up the mess. But today, even Haynes wasn''t on her side!


    Seeing Rachel stand frozen, Ste said calmly, "Ms. Pearce, need a hand with that ne, or can you manage on your own?"


    Rachel''s eyes were red with humiliation as she begrudgingly removed the ne.


    "This time... Ms. Cameron, you really came out on top."


    With everyone watching, backing down now would make her lose both her dignity and reputation.


    Rachel took a deep breath, trying to pull herself together. "Ms. Cameron, here you are."


    She didn''t want to part with the ne and had unted it daily just to spite Ste. Giving it away wasn''t much of a loss.


    But that Nocturne Ste...


    A glint of malice flickered in Rachel''s eyes. She was determined to have it!


    As Ste held the familiar ne in her palm, a thin sheen of tears threatened to spill over.


    Haynes, watching Ste, felt his gaze narrow slightly. Was this ne really so important to her?


    He opened his mouth to speak, but Abby''s suggestive voice cut in first.


    "Looks like relying on yourself is the only way to go... It''s a good thing Star proved herself, or else her things might''ve been given away like gifts to others."


    Ste steadied her emotions and tucked the ne away securely, turning to face Jasper.


    "So, Mr. Wilkinson, what about you?"


    Jasper''s face turned ashen, as if he''d swallowed something sour.


    "Ste, I... I was just joking! You don''t really expect me to get down on all fours and bark like a dog, do you?"


    Ste looked at Jasper, this time with a calm,posed demeanor.


    Jasper had been nothing but a thorn in her side, and she''d been biting her tongue for too long. Now, with this bet, he''d practically served up the chance on a silver tter.


    Ste''s lips curved into a deceptively gentle smile. "Mr. Wilkinson, a man''s word is his bond. If Ms. Pearce, a woman, can honor hermitment, surely you wouldn''t want to fall shortpared to her?"


    Using Rachel as leverage, Ste left Jasper speechless.


    She nced around at the gathering crowd, raising her voice slightly.


    "Jasper, many here have business dealings with The Wilkinson Group. You


    wouldn''t want to embarrass your family andpany, would you?"


    Jasper''s eyes shed with anger, his teeth gritted.


    "Ste, are you threatening me?!"