"Ste! Ste! Ste!"


    At some point, the crowd''s cheers swelled into a tidal wave, thundering through the entire concert hall.


    Everyone was on their feet, swept up in the moment, unable to hold back their apuse for Ste.


    Tonight, they''d witnessed a miracle.


    Even Abby Murphy found herself carried away by the electric atmosphere.


    Standing amid the sea of people, she gazed at Ste on stage, tears brimming in


    her eyes.


    This was the glory Ste had always deserved.


    Over in the audience, Mr. Walden had copsed back into his seat, looking utterly shell-shocked.


    He muttered under his breath, "How... how is this possible?"


    Rena and the others were equally stunned, their faces a picture of disbelief.


    "How can this be? She actually outyed Harry?"


    Backstage, Harry shook his head over and over. The easy smile he''d worn earlier had vanished, reced by a ghostly pallor and a look of utter disbelief.


    That familiar wave of dread crashed over him.


    "No! This can''t be! There''s no way she could y The Gaze in a higher key and still pull it off! I don''t believe it!"


    But no matter how much he refused to ept it, Ste had done just that-with absolute perfection.


    It took a long moment before the host and the panel of judges managed to collect themselves.


    The host gestured for quiet, though his own hand trembled with excitement, his voice quivering as he spoke.


    "Ms. Cameron''s performance was simply breathtaking. I''m every bit as moved as the rest of you! However, we do still have to finish today''spetition. Now, I''d like to invite Mr. Harry to the stage."


    Only then did everyone remember-the showdown between Ste and Harry had all started with a bet.


    Harry walked to the stage, looking utterly defeated.


    He shot Ste a look so venomous it sent chills down the spine.


    As a seasoned master, he knew all too well-he had lost.


    Not only had Ste raised the difficulty, she had delivered a wless rendition of The Gaze.


    There was no need for the judges'' expertise; even a casual music lover could see that Ste was the undisputed winner.


    Several judges'' gazes toward Ste had changed. No longer did they see her as just another neer ornt. They looked at her as an


    artist of stature, a true master.


    One of the judges stood and announced, "After discussion, the judges have decided the winner is Ste!"


    The apuse and cheers erupted again.


    In that moment, Ste was the pride of everyone in the hall.


    "Oh my God, Ste from our region actually beat the violin virtuoso Harry! I can''t believe it what a triumph!"


    "Serves Harry right. He''s always looking down on the other contestants. That''s karma for you!"


    "I never liked Harry''s attitude. Just because he''s talented, he thinks he can trample everyone else. Deep down, he''s just afraid of being surpassed."


    "I can''t stopughing-Harry, brought down by a neer! By his own


    standards, he ought to quit the scene altogether!"


    "What''s the point of Ste winning this one time? When ites to reputation and credentials, she''ll never match Harry!"


    "You say Harry''s arrogant, but Ste''s no better. Making someone get on their


    knees and bark like a dog? That''s just as bad. Pot, meet kettle."


    "He lost the bet fair and square. Harry was the one who made the challenge public-no one forced him."


    "Yeah, their contest was already a tie. Harry was the one who insisted on settling it, who pushed Ste into a rematch."


    "He was so desperate to force Ste out of the scene-he''d do anything, even


    this."


    "I just don''t believe Ste will really make Harry get down and bark like a dog. No matter what, Harry''s still her


    senior. She can''t possibly be that ruthless."