"If she really did that, it''d be going too far."


    Because Ste waspeting on home turf, most of the crowd was firmly in her


    corner.


    Of course, Harry had his own group of admirers, and they weren''t shy about voicing their support for him.


    The host''s voice rang out again,manding everyone''s attention.


    "Now, let''s wee our winner, Miss Ste, to say a few words."


    Ste took the microphone, her smile calm and gracious. "Thank you to everyone who''s supported me. I''m sure you all know about the wager between Mr. Harry and myself. If I lost, I promised to retire from the stage-never to touch a violin again. If Mr. Harry lost, he agreed to apologize to my mother, Nora, and my mentor, Anthony—and get down on his knees and bark like a dog."


    Her words sent a ripple through the audience.


    Most people had been caught up in the drama of the wager, but now, as they took in the details, the implications became clear.


    "Wait-Ste''s making Harry apologize to her mother and mentor? Does that mean Harry insulted her mother?"


    "With his personality? Wouldn''t put it past him."


    "Wasn''t Ste''s mom, Nora, the one who passed away? That''s just reprehensible -insulting someone''ste mother!"


    "Make him apologize! Make him get down and bark!"


    "Yeah! Make him bark like a dog!"


    A group of onlookers, always hungry for drama, began shouting at the top of their lungs.


    Ste''s gaze shifted to Harry, who red at her with a dark, venomous stare.


    "But then again," she continued, "Harry is Mr. Walden''s protégé and a renowned figure in themunity. To strip him of his dignity like this-perhaps it''s asking too much, even for him."


    At her words, a flicker of relief passed over Harry''s face, and a trace of his usual arrogance crept back in.


    He''d known it-Ste wouldn''t dare cross him. Even if he lost, she wouldn''t force him to honor the bet.


    But then Ste''s tone shifted, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.


    bet


    "So I''ve decided to give Mr. Havel???


    another option."


    She smiled sweetly. "Mr. Harry wanted me to retire, didn''t he? If be''s willing to step back from the stage himself-never y the violin again-then the apology and barking can be waived."


    Harry didn''t even have time to smirk; his expression froze in disbelief.


    Quit? No way.


    He''d wed his way to the top-he hadn''te this far just to walk away now.


    Ste surveyed the crowd. "What do you all think of that idea?"


    The audience erupted, voices shing in a chaotic chorus.


    "Make him apologize and bark!"


    "This kind of person would only stifle young talent-let him quit! Quit! Quit!"


    "Let Harry choose—what''s more important, his career or his pride?"


    Harry''s face twitched as the reality sank in.


    Now he truly understood what it meant to be hoisted by his own petard.


    He''d announced the wager to leave Ste with no way out-never imagining he''d


    be the one with his back against the wall.


    He instinctively nced at the


    judges'' table, but none of the judges


    meet his eyes. No one


    was


    willing


    to speak up on his behalf.


    They''d tried to smooth things over earlier, but Harry had refused topromise—


    going so far as to insult the local contestants.


    A so-called master challenging a neer so publicly-if he had no shame, what could they do?


    Besides...they were just as curious to see if Harry would really get down and bark like a dog.