Everyone froze for a moment, then turned around to look.


    Jasper stood a short distance away, wearing a half-smirk that bordered on mockery.


    "So, someone with nothing but a middle school diploma, who''s spent five years as


    a housewife, can suddenly be hyped up as a genius violinist? Is that all it takes to


    be called a prodigy these days?


    Honestly, the power of the inte these days is unbelievable. Even total


    nobodies can be dressed up as goddesses.


    People online are so easy to fool, aren''t they?"


    His words sent a ripple through the crowd; curious, skeptical eyes turned to Ste.


    "Just a middle school education?"


    "Wasn''t she a housewife for five years?"


    "Seriously? I watched her performances online and she seemed genuinely talented..."


    Jasper caught the murmurings and lifted his chin with disdain.


    "Plenty of pop stars can autotune their live shows. A video performance-what does that really prove?"


    The crowd erupted at his insinuation.


    "So the videos were edited? That''s a problem. The contestants we invite are supposed topete against international musicians. The finals will be broadcast live. We can''t afford to be embarrassed on the world stage!"


    Antoney''s expression darkened at themotion.


    He fixed Jasper with a cold stare. "Mr. Wilkinson, is it really so gentlemanly to insult ady in front of everyone?


    Do you even know Star? Are you really so sure she only finished middle school?"


    He paused, sweeping his gaze over the audience, making sure everyone heard him clearly.


    "Let me officially introduce Miss Ste. She''s my junior from Neo-Vespera University-the same school I graduated from. Her mother, Ms. Nora, was my own mentor."


    The mention of Nora''s name changed everything. The crowd''s attitude toward Ste shifted instantly.


    "What? She''s Ms. Nora''s daughter?"


    "Ms. Nora is a legend in our music world! Of course her daughter wouldn''t be mediocre."


    "And a graduate of Neo-Vespera University, no less... Impressive."


    Antoney''s words quickly buried Jasper''s ims about Ste''s education and her years as a housewife.


    Jasper hadn''t expected that just mentioning Ste was Nora''s daughter would flip the crowd''s opinion so easily. His face twisted with frustration.


    "Everyone knows you''re close to


    Ste, Antoney. Of course you''d take her side! You say she went to Neo-Vespera University, but where''s the proof? Show us something real none of those photoshopped certificates. People aren''t that easily fooled!"


    Antoney was never one for verbal sparring, and Ste''s academic records were indeed a sensitive topic. The diploma was real, of. course and he could exin if he had to. But there were always people like Jasper, eager to nitpick and stir up trouble. A single rumor could easily find thousands willing to believe it, especially with how famous Ste had be. The higher she climbed, the harder she''d fall if things went wrong.


    This was one reason Ste had never mentioned that Nora was her mother.


    Ste''s cool,posed voice broke the tension.


    "Mr. Wilkinson, you''re neither a judge nor a jury. You have no right to demand proof from me. If you have so much time to shout usations, perhaps you should spend it turning yourself in. Maybe then, you''d get a lighter sentence."


    With that, she turned away, refusing to waste another moment on Jasper. Arguing with someone like him was pointless-nothing but a waste of time.


    Just then, Haynes stepped out and caught sight of Ste chatting andughing with the people around her. Her smile was serene and unhurried, her presence both graceful and confident.


    It was a side of her he''d never seen before.