Classic Novel
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Chapter 282 Abrupt Change
Olivia tried to lighten the mood, but she too had seen the scathing comments online; it was a complete.
disaster.
They had hoped Sierra’s performance would win over fans and spark interest in Luster Corporation and
the brand.
But the reality was far from ideal. Sierra’s performance had been met with ridicule, but it had also brought the company under scrutiny, with some even saying that the jewelry was just as mediocre as Sierra’s supposed piano prodigy status.
“You’ve witnessed Sierra’s dedication over the years. Surely, this recent setback must be due to illness,” Olivia lamented, disheartened by Sierra’s recent decline in performance.
Ronald let out a cold chuckle and rebuked, “Don’t think I’m unaware of your schemes! You stopped Maggie’s piano lessons because she showed talent. She’s my enemy’s daughter, so I turned a blind eye to her. Yet, look at the consequences of indulging Sierra all these years!
“If only I had realized earlier and focused on nurturing Maggie instead!”
Ronald’s tone was stern, and his disappointment in Sierra was evident.
Trying to divert the conversation, Olivia remarked, “Speaking of Maggie, she seems quite shrewd. Despite her teachers‘ claims of her lacking talent, her piano skills are exceptional. She’s quite cunning.
Ronald fell silent, weighed down by his thoughts.
“We’ve barely heard she mentioned it over the years. If it weren’t for her brief performance at the party, I would have believed she never touched the piano again. Remember, Maggie isn’t our child; we need to be cautious, Olivia cautioned.
Her words were slow and deliberate. She understood that Ronald’s outburst about Maggie being the daughter of his enemy was uncharacteristic.
For years, they had avoided mentioning Maggie’s lineage out of fear of raising suspicions.
Ronald’s loss of rationality was evident.
Olivia couldn’t help but sighed.
After all, Sierra was her daughter, and no matter how much Olivia tried to help, she couldn’t change the fact that Sierra wasn’t living up to expectations.
Ronald said sternly, I’m aware of this.”
I
Olivia nodded and advised, “I’m glad to hear this, I just feel that over the past two years, she has become increasingly uncontrollable. I worry about raising someone who turns on us.”
“Enough! Drop this. Get Sierra to come home immediately and explain herself! Does she even realize how much she has ruined my plan?”
Ronald was in a foul mood. If they couldn’t secure the financing and didn’t intend to give up on the company, his family would have to mortgage more assets.
He had heard of Nathael’s tactics. He had a connection with Maggie now, but his wife was right– Maggie was not to be trusted.
Besides, who could say for sure that Nathael wasn’t harboring the same intentions as them, planning to use Maggie to take over the Camerons?
No one would give up the benefits that’s already in their grasp.
Ronald wouldn’t be foolish enough to trust Nathael completely, but without the financing and with banks. willing to lend him money, he had no other choice. Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
On the other side, Maggie and Nathael had stayed behind to wait for Sierra’s competition results.
Surprisingly, Sierra scraped through to the next round. Despite numerous mistakes in her performance, the scores of the other contestants were also suppressed, with many flaws in their performances.
With the help of some bizarre scores from a few judges and an inexplicably large number of votes from the audience, Sierra barely advanced to the next stage.
Sierra breathed a sigh of relief. Maggie was rather indifferent to the result..
She wasn’t surprised, yet she was tinged with inevitable disappointment.
After all, Sierra’s advancement undoubtedly came at the expense of another who had worked hard.
“Are you upset?” Nathael asked in a soft voice.
Maggie replied, “It’s not exactly easy to accept the lack of fairness, but I realize that the world has never been entirely fair from the start.”
From the moment people are born, they’re not just divided by social class but also by wealth and status.
Some may amass fortunes with their looks alone, while others may toil endlessly and still fall short compared to those blessed with beauty.
In principle, she grasped the reasoning behind it all, but perhaps she was just an ordinary person who couldn’t completely let go of the notion.
Nathael intertwined his fingers with hers and spoke softly, “Cheating is just part of the game. Some will go to any lengths to win in the end.”
Maggie glanced at Sierra’s beaming face on stage before rising from her seat. She said, “I think I’ll go to the
restroom.”
Nathael stood up as well and offered, “I’ll accompany you. We can grab something to eat afterward.”
After considering it for a moment, Maggie agreed.
After all, there weren’t many performances left, and if they left together, they would likely attract attention from reporters and the media–she might not be particularly famous, but Nathael certainly was!
“Okay.”
Nathael protected Maggie as they exited the audience area. As they were walking down the corridor, Nathael held her hand and asked softly, “What would you like to eat? I’ll have Alex book a place.”
Maggie turned to him and asked with a smile, “What would you like?”
His birthday was the day after tomorrow. She planned to bake a cake the following day, then buy some of his favorite dishes for them to enjoy together. Maybe they’d go out for a walk after dinner and then go home to watch a movie.
These past few days, she had been carrying the brooch she had made for a long time in her bag to give him on time.
Nathael gazed into her eyes. He couldn’t resist the urge to kiss her forehead. He whispered, “It’s up to you.”
Maggie chuckled and said, “I’ll think about it.”
“Alright.”
Maggie went into the restroom, while Nathael waited outside.
Just thinking of Nathael’s upcoming birthday spontaneously lifted Maggie’s spirits. Perhaps it was the thought of making up for regrets from a past life that made her find satisfaction in the present.
Maggie had always hoped she could leave him with some beautiful memories to make him feel warmth. and happiness.
Emerging from the restroom and about to touch up her makeup, Maggie suddenly saw the reflection of a strange man in the mirror.
He was call with a somewhat mixed–race look and curly hair, and his deep features were not beautiful but held a chilling menace.
Startled, Maggie gasped, her heart racing, and she was about to scream.
That man was fast. He covered her mouth and nose with a chloroform–soaked cloth.
Maggie held her breath, struggling to make a noise.
Her eyes bloodshot as her fingers reached for a glass aromatherapy bottle on the vanity, all the while trying to call for help.
“Nat… hmm!”
Obviously, that man was skilled and much stronger than she was, which kept her subdued. Since that man stood behind her, Maggie had no chance to resist.
Unable to reach the aromatherapy bottle, she gave up and instead tried to grab the man’s hair, stomping down on his foot with her high heels.
He wore boots and was immune to her desperate attacks. Moreover, his height rendered her frantic strategies useless.
He knocked her out with a sharp blow to the back of her neck, reading her intent easily.
Before darkness claimed her and she completely lost her consciousness. Maggie tore off one of her
Chapter 282 Abrupt Change
earrings and flung it under the washbasin to leave behind a clue.
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