"Am I imagining things, or does Ste''s performance of ''Moonlight'' sound almost exactly like the originalposer''s?"


    "The originalposer? You mean that Raven Williams from Neo-Vespera University, right? I heard she''s in the University''s Hall of Fame-a total enigma. No one even knows what she looks like!"


    "Plenty of virtuosos have yed ''Moonlight,'' but none of them have ever captured that unique timbre theposer brought to it."


    "There''s no way Ste is Raven, is there? I''ve seen Ste perform ''Moonlight'' before, and it''s nothing like the original."


    "Yeah, butst time, Ste wasn''t ying on the Nocturne Ste. Wasn''t it some generic piano? I still have the video on my phone..."


    "Could Ste actually be Raven?"


    "This performance of ''Moonlight''... it''s uncanny, really."


    The astonished whispers rippled through the crowd. Even Simone, usually soposed, looked genuinely surprised.


    "Aurora, if I remember right, theposer of ''Moonlight'' was called Raven, wasn''t she? In the Williams family, isn''t that Ste''s name too? Could it really be her?"


    Aurora was caught off guard as well.


    She knew theposer, Raven, but always figured it was just a coincidental name.


    It had never crossed her mind that Ste could be the brilliant, legendary Raven enshrined in the Neo-Vespera University Hall of Fame.


    Catching Aurora''s fleeting expression, Simoneughed softly. "Aurora, your half- sister really is full of surprises."


    Simone knew Aurora had never thought much of Ste.


    To be fair, neither had she.


    No matter how generously Nora had raised Ste, she could never trulypare to young women born and bred with privilege and old money like them.


    Aurora quickly collected herself, masking her initial shock with a smile. "If Ste''s getting so much attention, that''s not necessarily a bad thing. When Father finally reveals her identity, at least the Williams family won''t be an embarrassment."


    Simone''s eyes widened. "Mr. Williams... is nning to go public with Ste''s identity?"


    Aurora nodded. "Ste holds a share of the original stock. If we don''t keep her satisfied, she might not be willing to hand it over. She''s the legitimate eldest daughter, yet announced to the world she was adopted. Do you think she''s truly content with that?"


    yet we


    Simone frowned. "But if thates out, the rumors could hurt you."


    Aurora''s smile was cool, almost indifferent. "When the timees, Father will let it be known that Ste wasjust the result of one of his


    youthful indiscretions."


    Understanding dawned on Simone.


    So Skyler nned to let everyone believe Ste was the illegitimate child.


    But in truth, that title belonged to Aurora.


    The Williams family was willing to go to any lengths to protect Aurora''s reputation.


    Simone found it par for the course. In these powerful families, feelings meant nothing-only value mattered.


    How could Ste—a divorced woman with a child, raised in the countryside-everpare to Aurora, the city''s leading socialite?


    If Simone had to choose, she''d pick Aurora every time.


    Her gaze drifted to the stage, to the woman shimmering under the lights.


    Suddenly, she recalled the way


    Joshua had offered Ste a drink et


    unscrewed the bottle cap for her, and even kneeled to help her put on her shoes.


    A cold glint shed in Simone''s eyes.


    Turning to Aurora, she murmured, "Aurora, if you want that original stock, there''s


    an easier way."


    Aurora looked at her, curious. "And what''s that?"


    Simone said quietly, "If Ste were dead, as her family, you and Mr. Williams would legally inherit everything."