Ste abruptly cut him off. "You can keep your apologies, Mr. Wilkinson. Even if you said sorry, I wouldn''t ept it.


    What you''ve done can''t be erased with a simple apology."


    Jasper smirked, feigning indifference. "You said it yourself. Don''t go back on your word."


    "I won''t," Ste replied with a calm smile. "But it''s a shame, really."


    Jasper''s brows drew together. "A shame? What are you talking about?"


    She looked him square in the eye. "If you''d confessed earlier, maybe things could have gone easier on you. But now... that ship has sailed. You''ve lost your chance."


    Jasper scoffed, about to taunt her for her theatrics-when he noticed Ste''s eyes shift toward the entrance.


    A group of uniformed officers strode into the room and stopped right in front of Jasper.


    "Mr. Wilkinson, we''ve received a report. You''re under suspicion for breaking and entering, and willful property damage. Pleasee with us to cooperate with our investigation."


    Jasper instinctively protested, "I didn''t do anything—there must be some mistake


    But when he hesitated, the officers moved in to form a tight circle around him. "Mr. Wilkinson," one of them said, "we need your cooperation."


    Realizing resistance would only make things worse-and he might end up being dragged out in handcuffs-Jasper fell silent. His pride wouldn''t survive such a


    scene.


    He didn''t need to ask who had reported him.


    He shot Ste a venomous re. "Enjoy your moment, Ste. You''ll pay for this. The higher you climb, the harder you''ll fall."


    As Jasper was led away, a ripple of surprise passed through the crowd. But since he was an outsider, the event quickly resumed its normal flow.


    Rachel, visibly anxious, turned to Haynes. "Haynie, the police just took Jasper! Shouldn''t we try to help him?"


    Haynes barely spared a nce in Jasper''s direction before looking away, his voice icy and detached. "He brought it on himself."


    "But-"


    He cut her off, his gaze unreadable as it settled on her face. "Jasper''s gotten far too arrogant. It''s about time someone taught him a lesson."


    Rachel''s breath caught; she couldn''t find words.


    Smashing up Ste''s


    studio-Haynes could have overlooked that, maybe even considered it payback on her behalf. But Jasper''s earlier words had clearly crossed a line.


    No matter what, Ste was still Haynes''s ex-wife. To humiliate her so publicly was


    to humiliate Haynes himself.


    Rachel silently cursed Jasper''s stupidity.


    Ste, meanwhile, paid them no mind. Her attention had shifted to Mr. Walden.


    "Mr. Walden, I''m so sorry for the trouble," she began, but the older man raised a hand to stop her.


    "I know who you are."


    Ste paused, slightly surprised.


    Mr. Walden continued, "I saw your performance video before I even arrived at Neo-Vespera. You''re talented-tremendous potential. Out of all my students, only a handful could match you."


    It was high praise, and Ste''s eyes shone with a glimmer of excitement.


    But then Mr. Walden''s tone turned, and his hawk-like gaze suddenly sharpened with a hint of disappointment.


    "You''re Nora''s daughter, all right—remarkable talent. But you''re nothing like your mother. She truly loved music. You, on the other hand..."


    He looked her up and down, his disappointment palpable. "You don''t really love music. You''re willing to give it up for your family without a second thought. No matter how gifted you are, that''s not what I''m looking for. Who''s to say you won''t walk away from music again for something else in the future?"