Everyone''s eyes were fixed on Ste.


    Ever since Ste had defeated Harry, her name had exploded across the globe.


    Rumor had it she was now set to represent the Novaris region in the uingpetition.


    She was already the hot favorite, the one everyone whispered about as the likely champion.


    So it was only natural that, when she walked into the arena, all the otherpetitors paid attention.


    But what wasn''t natural-what made Abby uneasy-was the way they stared.


    The looks weren''t just unfriendly; they brimmed with something else. Not jealousy, but a cold, dismissive contempt that was impossible to pin down.


    Abby leaned in and whispered, "Star, why is everyone looking at us like that? Did we do something to offend them?"


    Abby couldn''t recall a singlepetitor here who could pull off The Gaze-the kind of aura Ste carried. Even if they were jealous, that would''ve been easier to read than the strange hostility lurking in their eyes now.


    Ste''sshes fluttered, but her expression remained calm. She seemed to sense the tension in the air.


    "Don''t worry about it," she said quietly. "Let''s go check in first."


    Abby noticed that Ste wasn''t rattled, and her own nerves eased—at least a little. But the restlessness lingered, fed by the uncertainty of it all.


    Meanwhile, Foreman had just finished a phone call and entered the hall. He took in the scene and frowned. The atmosphere felt like a young deer wandering into a pack of wolves-one wrong move, and she''d be torn apart.


    Still, Ste''sposure was unshaken. She acted as if the stares bounced right off her.


    Staff from the local music association handled the registration. The woman at the desk shot Ste a look that wasplicated, as if she wanted to say something but thought better of it, with so many people watching.


    After finishing the check-in, Ste politely asked about thepetition venue, then set off with Abby to scout it out-better to be prepared than scramble around on the day of the event.


    Ste left the judgmental stares behind, her face serene, shutting out the negativity as if it couldn''t touch her at all.


    But as they made their way down the hallway, three young women suddenly blocked Ste''s path.


    Ste nced at them. All three were unmistakably of East Asian descent, and their bodynguage was openly hostile.


    "Can I help you?" Ste asked, her voice cool.


    A girl with bleached blonde hair sneered, "Well, if it isn''t the homewrecker''s daughter. You''ve got some nerve showing up topete-don''t you have any shame?"


    The next one, her hair dyed a deep wine red, scoffed, "You really think someone like you has the right topete against our goddess Aurora? Let me tell you, this year''s crown belongs to her. Don''t get your hopes up."


    The third, with jet-ck hair, spat, "Illegitimate spawn like you don''t belong here. Get lost."


    Abby''s eyes widened as the truth


    clicked. She marched forward, indignant, "Excuse me? You''re


    calling Star an illegitimate child


    You''ve got it backward! Your precious Aurora is the one who should be ashamed. She''s the real fake around here-how dare you talk like that?"


    These three girls were from prominent families, fangirls fiercely loyal to Aurora. They weren''t as well-connected as Simone, and their standing in their own families was


    marginal at best, but their adoration for Aurora was unmatched. The thought of her suffering the slightest slight was unbearable to them.


    Ever since Ste became famous, theparisons between her and Aurora had only intensified. Both were violinists, both beautiful-and, if anything, Ste''s looks were just as striking as Aurora''s, which only fueled the rivalry.


    But in their eyes, Aurora was untouchable-a dazzling beauty, unrivaled in and out of their social circles. How could someone like Ste—a divorced woman, already a mother-possibly bepared to Aurora? How could she even dare?