?Chapter 444:


    The objection hovering on Kurt’s lips vanished. With Christina involved, he was suddenly interested. “Have you two discussed this?” he asked, concerned Lorraine hadn’t secured Christina’s agreement.


    Lorraine nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, we’ve agreed to y as a duo.”


    “Then go y a piece together,” Kurt said, shing a bright grin.


    Noticing his delighted expression, Lorraine mistakenly assumed her performance idea had brought him joy, unaware that his excitement stemmed from Christina’s participation, totally irrelevant to her.


    Lorraine turned around, smiling sweetly as she searched for Christina. Meanwhile, Celine felt relieved as Lorraine and Christina seemed to get along. If Lorraine could truly change her insufferable demeanor, it would be a good thing.


    Celine looked over at her spouse, and they shared a knowing smile, contentment written across their faces.


    “Miss Jones, Kurt would like us to y our piece now. Shall we?” Lorraine called out, her tone cheerful, though her eyes gleamed with calction.


    “Sure,” Christina answered calmly, walking with her to the piano.


    Two seats had already been arranged, and as they settled in, Lorraine leaned in slightly, shing a polished smile.


    “Miss Jones and my goddaughter Lorraine will now perform a duet in honor of Kurt’s birthday,” Celine dered to the crowd.


    Immediately, apuse erupted, with the guests pping enthusiastically.


    “Do you know who trained Lorraine in piano?” someone whispered.


    “No idea.”


    “It’s rumored she is one of the legendary pianist Tiana’s protégés—the most mysterious one, it seems.”


    Gasps spread through the hall as guests turned curious eyes toward Lorraine.


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    “Then Lorraine must be quite skilled at the piano.”


    “If her mentor is really one of Tiana’s protégés, she can’t be too far off.”


    “It seems we’re in for a treat today. Who would have thought attending Kurt’s birthday banquet would bring such a pleasant surprise?”


    Seated gracefully, Christina listened to the surrounding chatter with mild amusement. A subtle smirk yed on her lips, her gaze half-lidded and sharp with intrigue. Lorraine’s mentor was one of her protégés? Howe she didn’t know? She had only ever taken on three protégés in the musical field. Two had made public appearances, while the remaining one—an Eighshire royal—was carefully shielded from attention.


    The outside world only knew Tiana mentored three protégés, with two of them widely recognized as celebrated musicians. The identity of the remaining one was kept secret.


    Still, Christina knew none of her three protégés would mentor Lorraine. That meant only two exnations remained—either Lorraine fabricated the story and spread it on purpose, or someone was posing as one of her protégés.


    Christina’s gaze narrowed slightly, catching the light with a steely shimmer. Such audacity!


    “Miss Jones, I’ll start the tune, and you follow,” Lorraine said with a measured smile that masked her real intentions.


    “Okay,” Christina replied casually, utterly unfazed. As a world-renowned piano maestro, this minor challenge hardly shook her.


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