Reborn, She's Back for Revenge novel Chapter 154

Chapter 154

Marcus’s expression was icy. He asked impatiently, “Who are you?”

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Phoebe’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Marcus, how can you be so cruel? You’re pretending you don’t know me now?”

Marcus genuinely did not recognize her. Her face held no place in his memory. He pulled the car door open and slid back into the driver’s seat.

“Hey, Marcus!” Phoebe was furious. She slammed her hand against the car window, stomping her foot in frustration. “So you have a girlfriend now and just forgot about your childhood friend?

“Is she forbidding you from talking to other girls? How controlling can she be?! Marcus, someone like you shouldn’t be involved with some country bumpkin! You-”

The car window suddenly rolled down. Marcus’s face was a mask of disgust. “Shut up. Get lost.”

There was no way Phoebe would just leave. She’d waited for four hours. She thought, ‘If I leave now, who knows when I’ll see him again?‘ “Marcus, I ran a background check on her. She-”

Marcus’s gaze sharpened to a razor’s edge. “Feel free to keep digging,” he said softly. “But I can’t promise the Brodrick Group will still be standing when you’re done.” Without another word, he slammed his foot on the accelerator.

Phoebe’s hand was still on the window. The sudden lurch of the car sent her stumbling, and she fell hard onto the pavement, tumoring down the steps leading to the hotel entrance.

As the cherished daughter of the Brodrick family, she had never been subjected to such humiliation. She burst into tears right there on the ground.

Marcus drove straight to the Nexus Group headquarters. He went upstairs, entered his office, and summoned Kane immediately. His voice was cold as he issued the order. “Lock down every scrap of Edith Lovett’s personal information. Top- tier encryption. No clearance for anyone.”

Kane bowed his head in acknowledgment. He thought, ‘Encrypting the data is, of course, to protect Ms. Edith Lovett. He turned to carry out the task but was stopped by Marcus. “Sir?”

Marcus didn’t speak immediately. His fingers tapped lightly on the desk. He remained silent for a full five minutes before finally asking, “If a girl suddenly pulls away from you, what does it mean?”

Kane’s brain short–circuited. He thought, ‘Is that… a relationship question? From Marcus Larson, the human glacier?‘

Then the lightbulb flashed. He thought, ‘Ms. Lovett must have hit the brakes. They had a fight, and she’s giving him the cold shoulder.‘

Kane’s inner gossip radar pinged like a submarine. He cleared his throat. “That’s kind of abstract, boss. Could you give me a little more context?”

“We were shopping. Out of nowhere, she said she had to go home-” Marcus caught the way Kane leaned in, eyes sparkling with curiosity, and cut himself off. His tone iced over. “How many times have you been in love?”

Kane shook his head. His previous life in the military meant he hardly ever saw a female. He thought, ‘After I started working for Mr. Larson, I am constantly dealing with one crisis after another. There hasn’t exactly been downtime for dating.

Marcus waved his hand dismissively. “Then get out.”

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11:14 am

PPPD

Chapter 154

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Kane retreated, confusion written across his face. One minute, he was summoned for advice. Next, he was kicked out for not having a dating history. Being single wasn’t a crime last he checked.

But knowing his place, Kane swallowed any retort and quietly exited the CEO’s office.

Marcus turned the question over and over in his mind, but couldn’t find an answer. He rested his head in his hands. The National Piano Competition finals were tomorrow. He’d figure it out then.

The weather was beautiful the next day. Edith woke up early, and Kerrie took her to the competition venue.

During the preliminary rounds the day before, it had been crowded and a bit chaotic, but now it had been redecorated, appearing upscale and full of sophistication.

As soon as they entered, an attendant guided them to the VIP dressing room. The two stylists from before were already there, their faces beaming with smiles.

The moment they saw Edith’s face, the most perfect look for her already formed in their minds. “Ms. Lovett, please, have a seat. Today, we’ve designed a slightly vintage style for you, which better suits the piece you’ve selected…”

**

In the dressing room next door, Hallie sat in front of a mirror while two stylists worked on her look.

Karen and June were seated on a sofa across from Harvey, a judge for this competition. Harvey handed them a few sheets of paper. “This is the list of finalists and their performance pieces.”

Karen took the list. First, she checked if anyone else was performing the same piece as Hallie. Relieved to see that Hallie was the only one playing Feux Follets, she then looked to see what Edith had chosen.

It was listed as Réminiscences de Norma. Not well–versed in piano music, Karen glanced at June for insight.

June laughed. “Both Réminiscences de Norma and Feux Follets are among the top ten most difficult piano pieces in the world. Hallie’s technique is masterful; performing ‘Feux Follets‘ won’t be a problem for her.

“But Edith, with her limited skill, actually dares to challenge such a demanding piece? It seems she’s just asking to be humiliated.”

Harvey’s expression turned serious. “That contestant was quite impressive in the preliminaries. Many judges are looking forward to her performance in the finals. You shouldn’t underestimate her.

“Also, take note of this contestant named Sandy Nash. Her piano skills are exceptional; she’s a popular favorite to win the championship this year.”

Hallie’s eyes fell on Sandy’s name. Seeing that she was also performing one of the top ten most difficult pieces, Hallie thought, “This is the caliber of opponent I should be facing, not that wretched Edith.

“Thank you, Mr. Raine,” Hallie said sweetly and politely. “I’ll give it everything. I won’t let you down.”

Harvey stood up. “This is all I can do for you. I wish you the best of luck.”

He left the dressing room and stepped outside, where his assistant hurried up to him. “Mr. Raine, Ms. Cornell has arrived.”

Harvey quickly strode forward to greet her. Joselyn was already surrounded by a crowd of people. They were eager, offering endless compliments, but Joselyn maintained a detached expression.

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11:14 am P PPD

Chapter 154

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She hadn’t attended an event like this in many years. If it weren’t for returning to the country to visit an ailing relative, she likely wouldn’t have seen such a bustling scene again in her lifetime.

She used to crave this energy when alone, but now it exhausted her. Crowds were fun until they weren’t.

“Ms. Cornell, right this way,” Harvey said, carving a path through the admirers. A few hangers–on tried to follow, persistently trying to curry favor.

As they walked down the hallway, a figure appeared ahead of them. It was Edith. After finishing with makeup, she had intended to change into her gown. But the dress was so intricate that using the restroom afterward would be very inconvenient.

So, she decided to use the bathroom first before returning to put on the gown. Just as she reached a corner, she saw Joselyn approaching, surrounded by her entourage like the moon amongst stars.

Edith realized she was blocking the procession. She started to flatten herself against the wall, but for half a second her eyes locked with Joselyn’s.

The older woman’s gaze was cool, appraising. Edith offered a small, respectful smile and dipped her head, then slipped down a side corridor, leaving the red–carpet parade to flow past unhindered.

Joselyn’s eyes narrowed. Edith was backstage, already in stage makeup. That meant she would be playing today. Anyone who made it to the finals had to be more than competent, so there was no way she didn’t recognize Joselyn Cornell.

Right now, six or seven judges trailed behind Joselyn. If Edith had simply stepped forward, greeted her, exchanged a few polite words, those judges would almost certainly tack on an extra tenth of a point, maybe more.

In a competition like this, even a fraction of a point could vault a contestant several places up the final roster.

‘Is the girl genuinely naive, never taught to work the room? Or was Stella right after all, that Edith Lovett was treating the National Piano Competition like a weekend hobby?‘ she mused.

Joselyn was still weighing the possibilities when Hallie and June appeared at the far end of the corridor.

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