Chapter 531

The first light of dawn had barely touched the sky when Evelyn Carter rose from bed, her prized cello case already in hand.

She'd received a text from Alexander last night - he promised to visit the orchestra hall today to hear her play.

The practice room stood empty when she arrived, its silence welcoming. Evelyn settled onto the chair and began tuning her instrument, but the first note had scarcely sounded when the door swung open.

Cassandra Brown stood framed in the doorway, her lips curling in disdain. "You again? Still clinging to the orchestra like some desperate groupie?"

Cassandra's sharp eyes immediately zeroed in on the exquisite cello resting against Evelyn's knees.

"That instrument..." Her voice dripped with barely concealed envy. "How did trash like you get your hands on something so valuable?"

The cello had been Alexander's gift - purchased at auction from a legendary musician who happened to be Cassandra's personal idol.

Evelyn remained silent, her fingers gently caressing the strings.

Cassandra's face twisted at being ignored. "Save your breath. Everyone knows Maestro Herty doesn't take just anyone as a student, no matter how expensive their toys are!"

Other musicians began trickling into the room, including Cassandra's usual sycophants - Miranda and Eleanor.

Hearing cello music from the hallway, Miranda called out without looking, "Cassandra, that phrasing is exquisite! Far superior to yesterday's rehearsal."

Their footsteps faltered when they saw Evelyn holding the bow instead. An awkward silence descended.

Cassandra shot them a venomous glare.

Eleanor quickly recovered, sneering, "Our principal cellist graduated from Juilliard. Some amateur with a fancy instrument could never compare."

Evelyn continued playing yesterday's practice piece from memory, though several notes went slightly off-key.

Miranda smirked. "See? She can't even read sheet music properly. An embarrassment to the section."

Cassandra preened, covering her laugh with a delicate hand. "And she actually thinks Maestro Herty would consider teaching her."

"Delusional!" Miranda scoffed. "Even someone of Cassandra's caliber only managed a single masterclass with him."

Ethan Miller entered mid-conversation, shaking his head at their petty behavior.

In hushed tones, Miranda added, "I saw her last night, wrapped around some wealthy-looking man in a luxury car outside the hall."

Eleanor's eyes gleamed with malice. "Do you think she's... you know... sleeping her way in here? Was that her sugar daddy?"

Cassandra's smile turned predatory. "Explains the expensive instrument. Just another rich man's plaything pretending to be serious about music."

Evelyn carefully set down her bow and rose to her full height.

Turning to Cassandra, she said coolly, "Did you gargle with sewage this morning? Because your words reek of it."

Cassandra's face blanched. "How dare you speak to me like that?"

Evelyn arched one perfect eyebrow. "The loudest stench always comes from the foulest mouth. Should I draw you a diagram?"

"You—" Cassandra sputtered. Thanks to her father's position as associate conductor, no one in the orchestra had ever challenged her before.

"You'll regret this! My father will have you thrown out before lunch!"