Anyone who could pull off "The Gaze? on stage was already in a league far above Rachel.


    He''d honestly believed he''d lost out on a rare, gifted talent.


    Clearly, he''d been overthinking it.


    Down in the audience, those who knew the scene shook their heads in regret.


    "Her performance was wless right up until that slip. For a moment, I thought we were witnessing a miracle—maybe Ste could actually go toe-to-toe with Harry..."


    "I felt the same way. It''s such a shame, though, that it had to fall apart here."


    "Still, Ste has nothing to be ashamed of. She may have lost, but she lost with honor."


    "It''s just such a pity that this is her swan song. I''ll remember her, though."


    Despite Ste''s mistake, the show had to go on.


    Everyone in the hall assumed the rest would be a disaster-surely she''d fall apart after that error.


    But to everyone''s astonishment, Ste didn''t stumble. Instead, picking up right where she''d left off, she continued to y-except now, every note soared higher, the entire melody lifted up by a key.


    There were no discordant notes. No faltering rhythm.


    She''d shifted the entire piece up a key-and kept going.


    Eyes widened all around the auditorium.


    "Oh my god, what is Ste doing? She can''t possibly be nning to finish the piece like this, can she?"


    "No way! No one could y the whole thing a key higher-not even Harry, and he''s a legend!"


    "If she actually pulls this off, doesn''t that mean she''s even better than Harry? If that''s true, she''ll be a legend herself!"


    "Don''t get ahead of yourselves. Maybe she just messed up and can''t go back now —she has no choice but to keep pushing through. Just wait till the final climax. It''s going to be a disaster."


    It wasn''t just the audience who thought so. Even Walden and Harry looked


    perfectly rxed, certain Ste would crash before the finish.


    Mr. Walden was chatting with a few of his students, critiquing Ste''s performance with a casual air.


    "She won''t be able to finish the piece, but I have to say, her handling of this section is quite impressive."


    Rena and the othersughed.


    "Honestly, Ste really does have et


    talent. Shame she''s about to be outshined again by our star pupil. Another prodigy lost."


    They kept up their conversation, half-listening as Ste yed on.


    Then came the moment everyone expected her to break down-to reach her limit, stumble, and fall apart.


    But Ste''s performance remained effortless, smooth as silk. Not a hint of struggle in her movements.


    The room fell utterly silent.


    Every set of eyes was fixed on Ste. The only sound was her violin, the tempo quickening, echoing through the hall.


    The music had reached its peak-fierce, stormy, electrifying.


    It crashed over the audience in waves, relentless and overwhelming.


    People''s emotions surged in sync with the music; even their breathing and pounding hearts seemed to fall storm of sound.


    into rhythm with the


    No one could look away. They were transfixed.


    She''d done it. Against all odds, Ste had yed "The Gaze? perfectly-up a key, no less.


    Even after the final note faded, the silence lingered.


    For a heartbeat, time seemed to stop. The air itself felt frozen.


    Everyone stared up at the stage, awestruck, as if they were worshipping a living legend.


    At that moment, Haynes O''Brien


    arrived at the back of the


    auditorium. He stopped, roote


    the spot, caught off guard by the


    sight before him.


    He gazed at the slender figure on stage, and for a moment, the distance between


    them felt insurmountable-a chasm he could never cross.