Marrying His Nemesis: Kicking My Scumbag Fiancé Away!-Chapter 87: Just Want to Make Up for That Regret from Years Ago

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Just Want to Make Up for That Regret from Years Ago

"What kind of thing is that to say, are you gloating over our misfortune?"

Claire Clayton stepped forward, about to argue with Julia Chamberlain.

"Claire!"

Seraphina Thorne hurried to hold her back, glancing towards the entrance, but still saw no sign of the pianist.

Looking at Julia Chamberlain standing at the backstage entrance, Seraphina already guessed the reason.

"It was you, wasn’t it? You stopped my pianist, didn’t you?"

"Seraphina!" Julia Chamberlain folded her arms, "Don’t go around making baseless accusations. I don’t even know who your pianist is. How could I have stopped him?"

"It has to be you!" Claire Clayton rushed over, "You’re despicable!"

Hearing the argument, the other contestants nearby all gathered around.

"Everyone, be the judge!" Julia Chamberlain raised her voice, "Seraphina’s own pianist ditched her, and now she’s blaming me? If we’re going to talk, let’s talk with evidence. I’ve been standing here waiting for my turn and haven’t even made a call. Don’t slander people!"

"Exactly, I can prove that!" Julia Chamberlain’s pianist chimed in as well, "Julia has been here the whole time, how could she have stopped your pianist?"

"If not her, then who? She can’t take losing, so she’s deliberately causing trouble for Seraphina!" Claire Clayton accused angrily.

"Let’s congratulate contestant No.3! And now, please welcome contestant No.2, Julia Chamberlain, onto the stage!"

The host’s voice sounded from the speakers.

"Can’t even get your own act together and still want to blame others, really... unbelievable." Julia Chamberlain pouted, waved to her pianist, "Ignore them. Come on, let’s go in!"

Claire Clayton wanted to say more, but Seraphina quickly pulled her back.

At this point, it didn’t matter who was responsible anymore.

The most important thing right now was—she needed a pianist.

Dragging Claire Clayton to the side, Seraphina took a deep breath to calm herself down.

"Can you call your pianist? See if he can come help me out?"

"Oh... why didn’t I think of that!" Claire Clayton smacked her forehead, "I’ll call right now, Seraphina, don’t worry! I’ll get him to come back. He’s a piano teacher—he can play most pieces."

She grabbed her phone and quickly dialed her pianist’s number.

"Hello, Vance, where are you? My friend Seraphina Thorne can’t reach her accompanist. Can you come back right away and accompany her for the competition?"

"But... I’m on the subway right now. Even if I turn back immediately, it’ll take at least twenty minutes. Will that be enough?"

"Uh..." Claire turned to Seraphina, helpless, "He... he’d need twenty minutes to get back."

Julia Chamberlain’s piece would be finished in five minutes at most.

Twenty minutes—no way, it was impossible to make it.

Seraphina bit her lip, "Forget it then. I’ll withdraw."

"Why?" Claire Clayton looked around, unwilling to give up, "Excuse me, is anyone here a pianist?"

Everyone looked at one another and just shook their heads.

Most contestants had hired pianists, who had already left once their part was done.

"I am! I am!" A male student came out of the restroom and walked over, "What’s going on?"

"That’s great! Can you do us a favor?" Claire Clayton rushed over and grabbed his arm, "Can you accompany Seraphina on piano?"

"Sure, but... what piece is she playing?" the pianist asked.

"’Seagull’." Seraphina answered.

"Um..." The pianist looked troubled, "Sorry, I... I don’t know that one."

"Thank you, anyway!"

Seraphina dropped her head in despair.

Pieces for the competition were all submitted to the committee in advance, and changing them at the last minute wasn’t allowed at all.

Several violinists nearby looked at her sympathetically, their brows furrowed with concern.

With Seraphina’s skill, as long as she played normally, even if she didn’t win the championship, she’d be guaranteed a spot in the top three at least.

With such high scores, to withdraw because her pianist wasn’t there was simply too regretful.

"How about..." Claire Clayton comfortingly held her arm, "You go talk to the committee judges?"

"No way," said another violinist, reminding her, "I checked the rules. Changing your piece on stage means you’re disqualified."

Whoosh—

Thunderous applause erupted in the venue—Julia Chamberlain’s performance had begun.

Then the female host’s voice followed.

"Let’s congratulate contestant No.2, Miss Julia Chamberlain, who scores a 97! Julia, please rest backstage for now. And now... may I present our final contestant: Seraphina Thorne, No.1!"

The applause rose again; both judges and audience were eagerly awaiting Seraphina’s next performance, and their cheers were especially enthusiastic.

"Seraphina..."

Claire Clayton stood by her side, opened her mouth, but didn’t know what to say.

"It’s okay." Seraphina gave her a grateful smile. "I’m fine."

She turned, took a deep breath, and walked to the backstage entrance.

In the first round, Seraphina had already made a deep impression on everyone.

As soon as she appeared, there was yet another round of applause from the audience below.

Ivy Langley sat in the crowd, applauding for her with all her might.

It wasn’t until Seraphina walked to center stage that the applause gradually faded.

The judges were originally smiling at her, but when they saw only Seraphina coming on stage alone, exchanged puzzled glances.

The host had also noticed something was off, and came up to remind her in person.

"Miss Thorne, did you forget to bring your pianist onstage?"

"I’m sorry..." Seraphina bit her lip, "Due to special circumstances, my pianist hasn’t arrived yet."

There was a ripple of discussion in the audience.

Ivy Langley stood up from her seat, worried, and gazed nervously at Seraphina on stage.

"Well...," the host, too, was encountering this situation for the first time, "Miss Thorne, you know the rules—round two must be a violin and piano duet. If your pianist can’t make it on stage in time, you won’t be able to continue."

"I’m very sorry." Seraphina bowed again to the audience and judges, "Because of my personal mistake, I’ve affected the normal flow of the competition, I..."

Her fingers, holding the violin, slowly clenched.

The words "I quit" were on her lips, but Seraphina just couldn’t say them.

She knew full well she had no other choice left.

But...

It was such a shame.

At first, she’d decided to enter the competition simply because of the prize money.

But as she truly began preparing for it, she’d poured her entire heart and soul into it.

Beyond wanting the money, she had always hoped to make up for that regret from years ago.

Seraphina struggled to keep her emotions in check. "I... withdraw..."

In the audience, Mrs. Chamberlain, and Julia Chamberlain at the entrance, both smiled at the same time.

Julia Chamberlain’s score was now the highest.

As long as Seraphina withdrew, today’s championship would be Julia Chamberlain’s.

The panel of judges all wore disappointed expressions as well.

Everyone had such high hopes for Seraphina; no one expected it to end like this.

"I’m sorry!"

Seraphina bowed deeply to everyone, then turned to leave the stage.

A figure rushed quickly to the side of the stage.

"Wait!"