Chapter 165
Though Kelly was a bit curious, she nodded.
It wasn’t long before Lucy came back, holding a clipboard.
“Kelly, would you mind giving me your autograph?”
“Of course.” Kelly took the pen and signed her name with practiced ease.
Lucy beamed as she accepted the clipboard, then asked, “Are you here today as one of the guest judges?”
“No,” Kelly replied with a smile, gently pulling Theo closer. “I’m just here to support Theo for the showcase.”
Lucy looked down at Theo, and her eyes lit up with admiration.
“No wonder he’s your son. He’s extraordinary-you can see it right away. I wouldn’t be surprised if you two end up taking home the champion title today.”
Coming from a judge, that kind of statement was already stepping over a line.
Another judge, clearly unimpressed by Lucy’s behavior, raised his voice with a sharp edge.
“Lucy, who is this woman? A friend of yours?”
Lucy understood the implication but answered without hesitation.
“No, not a friend. This is Kelly Walt, a violinist I deeply admire. She’s a graduate of Bell University.”
At those words, the other judge’s expression immediately changed. The earlier arrogance vanished, replaced by a touch of
respect.
“She graduated from Bell University?” His eyes sharpened as he looked at Kelly. “In the past five years, we haven’t had a single musician from our country graduate from there.”
Effort counted, of course-but the ones who left their mark on music history were the truly gifted.
People like them, though successful within the industry, were ultimately just part of the crowd. Give it enough time, and no one’
would remember their names.
But someone from Bell University? That was different.
Now that they knew Kelly had studied there, the entire judging panel regarded her with a newfound reverence.
Kelly noticed Lucy had misunderstood her relationship with Theo. Almost instinctively, her eyes flicked toward Carter.
His expression darkened slightly, and he looked like he was about to speak. But Madeline placed a hand on his arm and quietly said, “Carter, what’s the point of explaining now? All it’ll do is humiliate Theo. If the judges find out his mother has such a disgraceful reputation, how do you expect Theo to face anyone? And what do you think people in our circle will say about our family?” (2
Her eyes flicked coldly toward Sharon. “I’m doing this for her sake, too. These judges aren’t nobodies. They’re respected experts, and their opinions carry weight. Strangers might forget-but once they find out she’s part of the Biggs family, they’ll bring it up every chance they get.”
As she spoke, the teacher in charge of maintaining order had already led the judging panel away.
Wendy, watching from the sidelines, was fuming. She stepped forward, about to speak.
“This is ridiculous! They’re just letting the judges believe she’s Theo’s mom-letting them run with it!”
1/2
Sharon held her back. “Let it go. Carter and I are getting divorced. Soon, I’ll have nothing to do with the Biggs family. Cutting ties like this… honestly, it saves me a lot of trouble.”
Wendy let out a cold snort. “Madeline used to look down on Kelly. But now that she realizes Kelly actually has value, look at them. —all fawning over her like lapdogs. Pathetic. They’re going to regret this.”
Clearly enjoying the praise, Kelly turned and met Sharon’s gaze-calm on the surface, but cool and edged with irony. She smiled, poised and polished, but there was a sharp glint of contempt and challenge in her eyes.
“Sharon, as long as you’re willing to back down, I’m happy to pretend you were just joking earlier.”
2/2
