?Chapter 457:


    And now, remarkably, this captivating woman belonged with him. A smile transformed Nate’s features, enhancing his already striking appearance, as he savored the perfection of the moment.


    Until the final note faded into silence, the audience remained utterly still, breath held in rapt anticipation.


    Then, as if a spell had been broken, Corrine rose gracefully to her feet, a confident smile ying at her lips. Poised and self-assured, she swept her gaze across the room.


    “If there were any shorings, I apologize for your understanding.”


    Her voice, calm andposed, cut through the lingering hush. For a moment, the crowd remained stunned, processing what they had just witnessed.


    Then, scattered apuse rippled through the hall—tentative at first, but swelling into a thunderous ovation.


    Seated below the stage, Leah felt a sharp sting of humiliation. Her fingers clenched around the fabric of her dress as disbelief coiled inside her. Corrine could actually y the piano. And not just y—her performance had been masterful, the kind of skill that could not be honed overnight.


    “Miss Burgess, I wonder if my performance met your expectations?” Corrine inquired.


    Leah snapped out of her daze, forcing her lips into a tight, practiced smile.


    “Miss Hond, your talent is truly exceptional. I am not your equal.”


    The words came smoothly, but inside, she was seething. Every fiber of her being burned with the desire to w that smug expression right off Corrine’s face. This had been deliberate. A calcted move to humiliate her in front of everyone.


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    Corrine, ever perceptive, caught the flicker of jealousy and resentment in Leah’s eyes. Amusement danced in her gaze as she tilted her head.


    “Miss Burgess, you are too modest. I have not practiced in ages. How could Ipare to you and Miss Ashton? Both of you are esteemeddies, after all.”


    Though her tone remained gentle, the sharpness in her words did not go unnoticed.


    Leah’s smile wavered.


    Karina, who had been watching the exchange with interest, spoke up.


    “When ites to art, it is not about hard work, but talent.” Murmurs of agreement spread among the onlookers.


    “Talent always trumps effort.”


    “Miss Burgess has long been regarded as a talented woman, but perhaps that title should be reconsidered.”


    “Corrine may note from an influential family, but she is beautiful, intelligent, and capable. Why would Mr. Ashton choose Leah when Corrine is clearly the better choice?”


    “The Burgess family no longer holds the prestige it once did. And what exactly makes Leah ady of high standing? It is only due to business connections.”


    A scoff came from the side.


    “And to think, she had the audacity to seduce a man who already had a girlfriend.”


    “Like mother, like daughter. Do not forget how her mother climbed her way up.”


    In a matter of seconds, Leah had gone from the center of admiration to the subject of scorn.


    Beside her, Rita’s face burned with embarrassment. She shot Leah a re before turning sharply on her heel and walking away.


    Corrine watched the spectacle unfold, satisfaction glimmering in her eyes. Arching a delicate brow, she leaned in ever so slightly.


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