Chapter 1290:
“Ms. Griffin, it’s an honor to have you here. Thank you for coming. | hope you enjoy the evening.”
Celeste’s gaze swept over Elyse, appraising her from head to toe with unapologetic scrutiny. After a moment, her
lips curled into a faint smirk.
“Do you know who | am?” Her tone carried a cutting edge, her sharp eyes fixed on Elyse.
Elyse nodded politely, her tone calm and measured. “Yes, I've heard of you. You're from the esteemed Griffin
family and served as a mentor to both my teacher, Cody, and my father. It's an honor to meet someone of your
stature.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
“Mentor?” Celeste’s voice was tinged with skepticism, her smirk widening slightly. “I doubt either of them ever
treatedas such.”
Leaning more firmly on her cane, Celeste’s sharp gaze bore into Elyse. “So, | hear you've won the Swan Cup,”
she said, her voice carrying just enough skepticism to cut through the air. “A world-class accolade, no less. Tell
me—did you really earn it?”
The room seemed to hold its breath as a collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Guests exchanged murmurs,
their curiosity piqued by the confrontation unfolding before them.
Pearce leaned closer to Elyse, his voice low and quick. “Careful now. Celeste won the Swan Cup herself over forty
years ago. | can’t recall the exact year, but back in her prime, she was a violin prodigy—hailed as the best in the
country.”
Elyse felt a flicker of surprise upon discovering that Celeste, too, had once triumphed in the Swan Cup. She
quickly composed herself, keeping her expression neutral.
Celeste, noticing Elyse’s reaction, pressed on. “I'm familiar with Cody's level of skill. He barely scraped a win in
the Swan Cup himself. What caliber of students could he possibly produce? There might have been some...
underhanded tactics at play.”
As the words left Celeste’s lips, a ripple of whispers coursed through the crowd.
Sof the guests, well aware of the longstanding rivalry between Celeste and the Benson family, observed the
scene with a mix of amusement and disapproval. Their curiosity was piqued, tinged with the thrill of potential
scandal.
Unforgettable stories on gVInov[][]s.com
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
Those unfamiliar with the feud, however, now looked at Elyse with newfound skepticism. Doubts crept into their
minds, and their glances were laden with suspicion, questioning the legitimacy of Elyse’s accomplishment.
Elyse, though fully aware that Celeste’s barbs were aimed to demean her, was puzzled by the unnecessary
inclusion of her mentor, Cody. Steeling herself, she responded in a calm and steady voice, “It seems you're
underestimating me, which is your prerogative. But Mr. Tucker's reputation isn’t up for debate. The Swan Cup
was a battleground; each contestant was a formidable adversary, fully capable of claiming victory.”
Celeste’s lips curled into a scornful sneer. “Oh? So you're asserting that there was no foul play at all?”
Elyse met Celeste’s accusation with a resolute stare. “If you're suggesting | cheated, | implore you to present
sproof. Demonstrate how | erred in the competition instead of unjustly accusing me.”
“Pressuring an innocent person liketo admit to deeds | never committed is unjust,” Elyse said firmly.
Message from Noa: Happy Thursday, dear readers! | hope you all had a fantastic week so far. May your day be
filled with positivity and success. God bless you, and Noa wishes you all the best. (—__0)