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Chapter_90
The entire room was charged with a palpable sense of anticipation. Yvette’s decision to play the same piece as Ruby caught everyone off guard. She hadn’t even attempted to make her performance unique—she was going head-to-head with Ruby in a piece that the audience had just heard moments ago. The audacity was breathtaking.
Ruby stood frozen, her heart racing in disbelief. She couldn’t understand why Yvette had chosen Dream by Bryan Brooks—the very piece she had just played so brilliantly. Was she trying to humiliate herself? Did she think she could outdo her with the same composition? For a brief moment, Ruby’s confidence faltered as she stared at Yvette on the stage, the spotlight casting an ethereal glow on her, the soft hum of the piano reverberating in the room.
Yvette, however, seemed completely unfazed. She didn’t even glance at Ruby as she sat poised at the piano, her demeanor calm and collected. She had an air of nonchalance that made Ruby’s arrogance feel misplaced.
The host, still flustered by Yvette’s unconventional entrance and choice of piece, cleared her throat again. “Alright, then. Ms. Zeller, please proceed.”
Yvette nodded slightly, her fingers hovering over the keys as the audience waited with bated breath. Every eye in the room was fixed on her, wondering how she would approach the piece that had just been so thoroughly dissected by Ruby. But there was no hint of uncertainty in Yvette’s posture. In fact, it was almost as if she were playing a different game entirely—one that was much larger than the mere competition before her.
She took a deep breath and pressed her fingers into the keys.
The sound that filled the room was nothing short of magical. It wasn’t merely the technical proficiency that Zion had so often praised in his critiques. It was the emotion, the depth of feeling that radiated from every note. Where Ruby had imbued Dream with a sense of determination, Yvette’s performance was softer—introspective, almost wistful—but equally captivating. The lightness of her touch and the rich, layered harmonies were a stark contrast to the forcefulness of Ruby’s interpretation.
Yvette’s expression remained tranquil, her eyes closed as if she were lost in the music, her body swaying ever so slightly with the rhythm. It was a complete contrast to Ruby’s earlier intensity, and yet, it seemed to draw the audience in even more deeply. The notes carried a quiet power, making the air in the auditorium almost seem to thicken with emotion.
Zion’s eyes never left Yvette, his usual composure replaced by an almost imperceptible shift in his expression. The brilliance of her playing was undeniable. It was as though she had poured every ounce of her being into the music, transforming the familiar piece into something entirely her own.
As the final chords resonated through the room, there was a brief moment of stunned silence before the audience erupted into applause. The applause wasn’t as boisterous as Ruby’s, but it was genuine—full of admiration and surprise. Yvette’s performance had been a masterclass in subtlety and nuance.
Ruby, still standing at the edge of the stage, was visibly rattled. Her earlier confidence had been shaken, and she couldn’t help but feel the sting of being outshone by someone she had written off as an underdog.
Zion slowly stood from his seat, his gaze still on Yvette. He walked to the edge of the stage, his eyes filled with respect, and spoke in his usual measured tone, though this time, there was a hint of something more—something deeper.
“Ms. Zeller,” he began, his voice steady, “you’ve taken this piece and made it your own. Your interpretation was unique and heartfelt. I can see now that you didn’t need to choose a different piece to stand out. You’ve proven that you don’t need to play to the expectations of others to create something extraordinary.”
The room fell silent again, and for a moment, all eyes were on Yvette. She didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she simply nodded, acknowledging Zion’s praise, though she remained as composed and distant as she had been throughout the competition.
The tension in the room was palpable as Zion raised his scorecard.
“Ten,” he said simply.
The room went quiet again. The score was unprecedented, and it hung in the air like a challenge to everyone present. Yvette had not only matched Ruby’s performance but surpassed it in a way that no one had anticipated.
Ruby’s face went pale, and the tension in her jaw was visible. She had expected to win—no, she had expected to dominate—and yet, here was Yvette, playing Dream with such ease and grace that she had left her rival in the dust.
As the applause started up again, Yvette stood up, her expression still unreadable. She gave a small bow to the audience, but there was no sign of triumph or arrogance in her demeanor—only quiet confidence.
Andrew, who had been watching the entire scene unfold, felt a strange sense of pride for her. He had known she was talented, but this—this was something else. Yvette had just turned the entire competition on its head.
The host, still processing what had just transpired, quickly moved to close the event. “Thank you to all our participants, and congratulations to Yvette Zeller for her remarkable performance. The results will be announced shortly.”
As the crowd dispersed, whispers and murmurs filled the air, and Yvette walked off the stage with her usual calm demeanor, ignoring the chaos she had left in her wake. She hadn’t just played the piano—she had captivated an entire room, and maybe, just maybe, she had set a new standard for what it meant to truly master a piece.
