"Why did Uncle have to say it was Ste?"


    Sherman opened his mouth, ready to protest, but one icy look from Sellers silenced him.


    His expression flickered—anger, confusion, resignation—before he finally swallowed his words.


    Karl, lost in his own storm, didn''t notice any of it. His eyes were bloodshot, burning with hatred. He clenched his fists so tight his knuckles whitened, jaw set in a grim line.


    “Ste, I swear—I''d rather die than let you win!"


    Sellers'' voice was calm, detached. “Karl, you need to rest. Tomorrow, I''ll have someone send you away for a little vacation."


    But Karl didn''t seem to hear him. He just kept staring into space, consumed by a bitterness that chilled the room.


    Sellers turned and strode out. Sherman hurried after him.


    “Uncle,” he said urgently, "this wasn''t Ste''s doing at all. Why—"


    Sellers cut him off coldly. "The head of the Gardner family? Untouchable. Even if we could take revenge, what would the Burtons gain? Nothing."


    "Karl needs someone to me. Ste is the perfect scapegoat."


    Sherman struggled to ept it. “But—”


    Sellers gave him a sharp look. "Do you know why you''ll never be promoted to upper management, Sherman? Why you''ll never be Karl''s equal? It''s because you''re too sentimental. You still cling to these foolish notions of mercy. Remember this—show mercy to your enemy, and you''re being cruel to yourself.”


    He paused, eyes narrowing. "Or do you think there''s still a chance for peace between you and Ste?"


    Sherman couldn''t answer. He, Karl, and Sellers had already burned every bridge with Ste. There was no going back.


    But even if reconciliation was


    impossible, did they really have to et


    frame her for something she never did? This wasn''t petty rivalry this was a grudge that would never die.


    And Karl was family. Using their own to destroy Ste—how could that be right?


    Sellers spoke again, his tone even. "Besides, Aurora Williams can''t stand Ste: Let them tear each other apart. If Ste''s busy fighting Karl, she won''t have time to go after Aurora. Two birds, one stone. Isn''t that ideal?"


    At the mention of Aurora, Sherman''s determination faltered. He let out a quiet sigh.


    "I understand."


    After Karl''s fever broke, the scandal around the violinpetition was back in the headlines.


    Posts about corruption and favoritism were everywhere. The show''s producers had changed the rules for Ste, and the entiremunity was in an uproar.


    One post, titled "Does Talent Mean You Can Ignore the Rules?” went viral overnight.


    Ste became the target of a public witch hunt.


    Contestants who had already received their scores once content to watch from the sidelines were suddenly incensed. This was about their own futures now.


    So-called “insiders” began spilling secrets online.


    "That Ste? She''s got serious connections. I knew they''d never let her be disqualified, not a chance. As for her abilities... Please. She''s just another pretty face hyped up by social media. No one in the industry had even heard of her until she just popped up out of nowhere. If she really was that good, how could she go unnoticed for so long?"


    “You want to know why she looks so talented? With Al these days, you can swap faces, fake voices— anything. Haven''t you heard of audio editing? Don''t be so na?ve."


    Others chimed in: “Ste? I hear she even organized a smear campaign against her rival, Rachel. With character like that, how good could she really be?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!