Novel 543
Chapter 360
Lets Star All Over Again, Shall We?
Chapter 360 Not Walk Away Empty–Handed
Maggie has been under my tutelage since the age of nine, consistently honing her piano skills over the years. If anyone questions her proficiency, she’s ready to undergo any assessment at any moment!” Kevin’s voice boomed, directed at a particular audience member, though it was no secret who he meant.
Sierra’s face was a canvas of emotions, more vivid than a painting. Kevin, Maggie’s instructor, was an unexpected revelation to her!
Maggie actually secretly learned from him for so many years. Sierra even thought Maggie had not touched the piano at all during these years and could not perform on stage!
However, why had she been chosen?
Both the live audience and online viewers were equally taken aback, with a flurry of exclamations flooding the screens.
Wow, I had no idea Maggie received direct mentorship from Kevin. This explains her incredible talent!‘
It’s puzzling why the Camerons didn’t hire Kevin to teach Sierra. It just doesn’t add up.‘
Either Kevin failed to recognize Sierra’s potential, or Maggie’s talent stands out on its own. Sierra doesn’t seem to realize this, judging by her reaction.
The judges have really pushed the boundaries by involving Kevin!‘
The audience was taken by surprise by the sudden twist of events.
“Ralph Johnson, Huey Goodman, Sydney Lerman, and Monica Washington! All four of you were taking bribes, tampering with scores, and betraying the spirit of art. How disgraceful. Do you have anything to say?” Kevin’s tone was severe.
The accused individuals were visibly startled, not anticipating being implicated along with Ralph. Kevin’s demeanor suggested that the evidence against them was solid.
“Ralph, your open harassment of my students is unacceptable. If you have a valid explanation, let’s hear it. But your behavior is clearly aggressive. Can you honestly justify it to yourself?”
Kevin’s voice was laced with fury. He had observed all three matches and had endured the first two until Nathael provided evidence of bribery and corruption by these individuals the previous day.
Kevin was seething. He could not stand this anymore, and his anger finally reached its peak after Sierra’s series of manipulative actions.
Nearby, Maggie watched with tears in her eyes, caught off guard by Kevin’s defense.
She did not expect Kevin to step forward to defend her. By doing so, he not only offended these judges but also the intricate forces behind them, as well as the sponsors and the review department of the competition.
He had always been in semi–retirement, and now appearing in front of everyone in this way would undoubtedly invite criticism.
Yet even so, he stood up without hesitation.
Chapter 360 Not Walk Away Empty–Handed
Maggie’s attention turned to Kevin while Sabastian’s gaze lingered on her.
He had not anticipated that the girl who used to practice piano with them would rise to such prominence. consistently earning praise from her father whenever he mentioned her.
She stood there, radiant, capturing attention as if she were at the heart of the world.
Kevin’s words reignited passionate conversations.
The live broadcast attempted to interfere, but Nathael had foreseen this. The screen briefly went dark before coming back online, preventing the audience from expressing their frustrations.
“Sir…” Ralph started to say.
Kevin interjected, “You’re not under my tutelage! Skill and talent are products of hard work, but your conduct reflects a deficiency in character. You’re not worthy of playing the piano!”
Ralph was left speechless, his face turning red with embarrassment.
He had never fathomed that Maggie was Kevin’s direct protégé.
Years ago, amidst financial hardship, he had the honor of receiving mentorship from Kevin. Though brief, those sessions had garnered the old man’s respect.
Kevin had consistently encouraged Ralph, assuring him that his poverty would not affect his piano skills. At one point, Kevin even suggested that if Ralph could not afford a piano or a place to practice, he could borrow the keys to the school’s piano room where Kevin worked.
Kevin had praised his talent and offered generous guidance, emphasizing that with diligent practice, success would inevitably follow.
Those days had been the most inspiring and joyful for Ralph.
He was aware that Kevin had mentored numerous students over the years, never delving into their backgrounds but instead focusing solely on their talent and dedication.
If a student possessed talent but lacked dedication, Kevin would gently remind and encourage them to value it.
Conversely, if a student was diligent but lacked talent, Kevin would patiently teach and explain that hard work could compensate for skill deficiency, offering reassurance.
Later, he received assistance from Master Pierce, who also extended a job opportunity. However, at the time, Master Pierce had inquired about what he could offer in return for his assistance.
On the other hand, the aid from the Pierces was always contingent, unlike Kevin, whose kindness and support were unconditional.
Ralph’s heart sank with bitterness, causing him to lower his head and fall into silence, shedding his previously aggressive demeanor.
Maggie, witnessing this, suddenly recognized why Ralph seemed familiar to her–she had seen a younger version of him in the photographs adorning the walls of Kevin’s house.
Kevin valued each of his students dearly. Despite hi dvanced age and potential difficulty recalling all
Chapter 360 Not Walk Away Empty Handed
their names, he proudly displayed group photos of them on the wall by the stairs.
Now that Kevin was aware of Ralph’s actions, Maggie dreaded the potential disappointment it would bring
Kevin.
to
“Mr. Dunphy you’re falsely accusing us. We’re…” Someone began to defend themselves, realizing that verifying such accusations could damage their reputation.
However, Kevin intervened with a sneer, stating, “I have already submitted all evidence of you accepting bribes to the relevant review committee, and it will be revealed soon.”
Kevin’s esteemed reputation could ensure that his report and the evidence he presented would capture widespread attention.
The group’s expressions fluctuated several times, yet they found themselves unable to dispute the evidence before them.
Thus, except for Ralph, the others continued to try to justify themselves, seeking to absolve their involvement.
Growing impatient, Kevin spoke with cold directness, “Must I be clearer? You and Sierra’s grandfather are colluding. You accepted his money, consistently awarded high scores to Sierra, and disregarded the truth. Do I need to elaborate further?”
The sudden mention of Master Pierce’s name left him visibly shaken. He had never anticipated being implicated so directly.
To avoid direct confrontation, Kevin did not mention Master Pierce by name. However, internet users
their findings in various comment sections.
quickly deduced his identity within five minutes, sharin
The organizers of the competition wore expressions of concern and exchanged murmurs among themselves.
“What’s our next move? Can we continue as scheduled? The leaked insider information will undoubtedly raise questions about the competition’s fairness.”
Nathael, as the sponsor, listened to the discussions behind him and then spoke in a commanding tone, “Let’s scrap the judging mechanism for the third round. Instead, to determine the final standings, let’s rank the contestants based on the total number of votes from both on–site and off–site voting.” Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.
He was resolute in his determination to ensure she did not walk away work.
empty–handed after all her hard
Send Gifts