Chapter 184
Sharon didn’t so much as flinch under Nate’s glare.
“So, Nate,” she said calmly, “have you made up your mind?”
In the crowd, quite a few people had business ties with Nate’s family-and just as many came from rival families.
Nate had never been known for watching his mouth. He’d offended more people than he could remember. If he backed out of his bet now, the whole thing would get blown out of proportion. It could even damage his family’s company.
Still, resentment simmered beneath his skin. He turned toward Carter, silently begging for backup. If anyone could stop Sharon, it was him. She always listened to Carter.
But Carter didn’t look his way. His expression was unreadable, his eyes locked on Sharon.
Nate’s jaw twitched, humiliation tightening every muscle in his body. Then, under the weight of silence and watching eyes, he dropped to his knees.
“Woof… woof, woof!”
The crowd broke into laughter. They couldn’t help themselves.
Nate burned with shame. No one had slapped him, yet his face throbbed like it had been struck. He didn’t have to look up to feel all the smug, mocking stares pointed at him.
Wendy, ever prepared, recorded the entire thing.
Let him try bullying Sharon again after this.
Kelly turned away in disgust. The whole thing was humiliating.
Carter remained expressionless, as if none of it concerned him. But Madeline wasn’t nearly as restrained. She scoffed, her voice laced with disdain.
“So pathetic,” she muttered. “One lucky win and she’s suddenly so arrogant. She didn’t even finish high school. Barely made it past middle school. So what if she can play the violin? All real musicians graduate from proper universities. A middle schooler- honestly. She probably can’t even speak another language right.”
Despite Sharon’s win, not a single member of the Biggs family was smiling. They looked more like they were attending a funeral.
And for all her harshness, Madeline wasn’t entirely wrong. No matter how talented Sharon was, her lack of formal education would always be a stain. If she ever made it big, that flaw would be dragged back out and used against her again and again.
But Sharon didn’t waver. She turned to Madeline and said, “Whatever my education may be, winning is still winning. If you have that much time to put others down, Madeline, maybe spend it teaching your son how to lead by example.”
Her gaze shifted slightly and landed on Theo, who was lingering nearby, visibly uncomfortable.
“If your idea of parenting is raising someone who can’t handle other people’s success and reacts with jealousy… then all I can say is, the Biggs family might not have much of a future.”
She’d accomplished what she came here to do. There was no reason to stay. 1
Turning to Wendy, Sharon said, “We’re done here. Let’s go.”
But just as she turned to leave, Lucy-one of the judges from earlier who had asked Kelly for an autograph-hurried over to her, quickly introducing herself.
1/2
“Sharon, my name is Lucy Cornwell, I-”
Sharon smiled and gently cut her off. “I know who you are.”
Lucy figured she must’ve been spotted earlier when she was fangirling over Kelly. But if she felt embarrassed, it didn’t show. In fact, her expression now was more enthusiastic than ever, eyes shining with admiration, her tone practically reverent.
“Sharon,” she said eagerly, “would you consider joining the Amstern Music Association?”
Then, as if remembering something, Lucy quickly added, “And don’t worry about your education. With your talent, getting a diploma’s just a formality. A high-level certificate? That’s easy.”
