Reborn, She's Back for Revenge novel Chapter 158

Chapter 158

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Karen’s words caused an uproar in the concert hall. Apart from the judges and contestants, most of the audience were the contestants‘ families and friends.

Parents whose children had achieved high rankings were overjoyed, but even more were disappointed that their children had not placed. If the first–place winner didn’t deserve it, everyone else’s ranking could rise by one, and if possible, the finals might be held again.

Everyone present had their own thoughts. The host smiled stiffly and said, “If you have any complaints, you can give feedback to the organizers backstage. Please follow me this way.”

Karen sneered and thought, ‘If I go backstage, they’ll sweep this under the rug!’

Then she continued, “This so–called champion may have started piano lessons as a child, but she didn’t earn her Level 3 certificate until she was twelve and then went six years without touching a piano.

“With skills that shaky, she took first place in the National Piano Competition? Is this some kind of insult to all the other contestants, or are the judges clueless?”

“She might play well, but with so many outstanding students here, why is she the first–place winner? I have every reason to prove that she got in through connections, because she has close dealings with Marcus of the Larson Group.”

Karen pointed to Marcus, who was sitting there quietly, when Karen publicly pointed at him. If it weren’t for Edith being present, the first thing he would do now would be to order someone to break the finger that was pointing at him.

“The National Piano Competition is funded by the Larson Group. I’m not mistaken about that, am I?” Karen announced.

Karen stood in the center of the audience, each word hitting like a hammer. The parents present almost wanted to applaud. What they hated most were people who got ahead through connections.

June sat among the crowd, her eyes lowered. She was a professional and could tell that Edith could win first place. But if Karen managed to ruin it, she would be pleased to see it happen.

After all, Edith winning first place wouldn’t benefit her, and it might even make her a subject of ridicule. She was happy to watch that unfold.

“So the first–place contestant is connected to the Larson Group.”

“She’s so beautiful. Could she have gotten ahead using her looks or her body?”

“The National Piano Competition has shady dealings? That’s unfair.”

Whispers swirled together and grew into bold speculation.

Marcus stood up coldly. His eyes swept over Karen first, making her heart skip a beat.

He swept the room with an icy gaze and said. “I’ve noted everyone who publicly spreads rumors about the

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Chapter 158

Larson Group.

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“The Larson Group will be sending lawyer letters one by one. You’d better not rush to leave. How about staying in Bonrea to fight a lawsuit first?”

The parents shrank back in fear and immediately fell silent.

“Looks like someone’s questioning my judgment,” Joselyn said, rising to her feet with an icy smile. “I’ve been in the piano world for over fifty years, and no one has ever questioned my scoring. This is a first. I must say, it feels rather unusual.”

Joselyn fixed Karen with a sharp stare. Karen forced out a breath and said, “Ms. Cornell, I’m not questioning your judgment. I just think that those who create art often find it hard to compete with capital.”

“In that case, let us listen to Edith’s piece again,” Joselyn said, settling into her seat. “Play the live recording again.”

The host quickly instructed the staff to play the recording. Immediately, Edith appeared on the big screen, performing a segment of Réminiscences de Norma.

As Edith played, Joselyn explained, “Everyone here should know that this is one of the most difficult piano pieces in the world. It is technically demanding, and playing it all the way through is no easy feat, let alone infusing it with personal emotion.

“But Edith did it. She not only conveyed the emotions of the original piece but added her own interpretation. In this section, she made a small modification. I don’t care whether she arranged this herself. She expressed the different emotions brought out by the change.”

With Joselyn’s explanation, some laypeople finally grasped the rich emotions embedded in the piece. Listening again, they were still deeply moved.

“After hearing this piece, do you still have any objections?” Joselyn sneered. “Do you still think Edith could only get first place through connections?”

The hall went dead quiet. All the contestants were convinced. They had lost, and they accepted it wholeheartedly.

“Next, let’s listen to the piece by the daughter of the lady who made the accusations,” Joselyn said with a smile. “I remember, your daughter is Hallie. Play contestant Hallie’s piece again.”

A bad premonition suddenly rose in Karen’s mind. Sure enough, as Hallie’s piano piece began, the surrounding contestants started murmuring among themselves.

“She obviously forgot how to play at the start. As a professional performer, how could she make such a

mistake?”

“This piece has almost no emotion. I don’t even know what she’s playing. Showing off her skills doesn’t work either. She made mistakes in several places.

“How did she still get 9.4 points and take third place? She’s not even as good as I am.”

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Chapter 158

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“Wait a second. Maybe she’s the one who pulled some strings?”

These remarks also reached Harvey’s ears, and he suddenly felt embarrassed.

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Earlier, he hadn’t thought much of it, but now, with everyone in the hall scrutinizing Hallie’s piece, and him having given 9.8 points, it seemed likely that everyone would suspect he had given Hallie an unfair advantage.

When the piece ended, the expressions of the people in the concert hall varied. Hallie felt so embarrassed that she wished she could sink through the floor.

Joselyn continued, “The technique in this piece is not very proficient, and the emotional expression is nonexistent. I previously gave 9.2 points, and I apologize for giving it a high score. Now I feel it should only receive 8 points.”

Harvey quickly stood and said, “I like this piece, and I incorporated my own emotions when scoring, so I gave 9.8 points. Listening carefully now, I realize this piece should only receive 8.5 points. My apologies.”

Several of the other judges immediately adjusted their scores. The host recalculated and said, “Contestant No. 12, Hallie, has a reassessed score of 8.7. According to this, Hallie is no longer sixth. The contestant who was previously seventh will now move up a place.”

“Wonderful!” A girl jumped up and shouted, her face full of excitement. “Oh, my! I’m going to get an award. Thank you so much, the organizers, the judges, and the host.”

She was ecstatic beyond measure. Hallie, on the other hand, looked as if she had been struck by lightning, her face pale and swaying.

“Hallie!” Karen called out, rushing forward to catch Hallie before she could fall.

‘If I hadn’t reported Edith, Hallie would still be sixth and wouldn’t have been humiliated like this in public. It was all my fault,‘ Karen thought, and couldn’t help but cry.

June stood in the shadows, unwilling to come forward. Everything she had planned had been completely ruined.