My Great Escape Led Me to You novel Chapter 255

Emily Blair’s piece was deceptively simple to learn, but to play it with real brilliance—to achieve perfection—was something else entirely. Few people could ever hope to reach that level.

Arianna George’s gaze shifted as she watched Emily at the piano. She could sense the transformation in Emily’s performance; the melody was familiar on the surface, but every nuance and subtlety in the music came alive under Emily’s touch, approaching something close to flawless.

It was like gazing at a calm, glassy sea, only to realize that beneath the surface, powerful tides were churning. The music’s beauty was overwhelming, almost excessive. Emily played too well, almost unfairly so.

Arianna wasn’t the only one who could feel this change. The other judges sensed it, too, as did the contestants in the audience who’d just moments earlier been waiting to watch Emily stumble.

Now, all eyes on Emily had changed, their expressions shifting with the music. She sat upright at the piano bench, translating every thought and feeling into movement, letting them flow through her fingertips and into the keys.

Originally, she’d planned to hold back, saving her true skill for the second half of her performance. But after the earlier disruption, she realized that sticking to her plan would almost certainly cost her a spot in the finals.

She had no choice but to improvise. Except for the portion she’d already played, she decided not to hide her abilities anymore. For the remaining four-fifths of the piece, she let her true talent shine.

Emily closed her eyes. She didn’t need to look at the keys; she could feel the balance of strength and speed in her fingers, guiding her to a nearly perfect rendition.

In the back row, Larry Mitchell—the source of the earlier disturbance—was escorted out by security.

Down in the audience, the contestants who’d been smirking at Emily’s misfortune were now frozen, their faces drained of arrogance, their superiority gone. Some even looked a little embarrassed.

They’d always prided themselves on their talent, convinced they were better than Emily Blair. But hearing her play like this felt like a sharp slap to the face.

They exchanged glances, seeing the same unease and shock reflected in each other’s eyes.

They all knew this piece. But to play it like Emily just had? That was beyond them.

Meanwhile, Isabella Austin still sat in her seat, a gentle smile curling at her lips. She listened to the murmurs and commotion in the hall, secretly amused.

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