Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
“Take it easy. No pressure.”
As Sophie watched the sincere expressions on the faces of her younger siblings, she couldn’t help but chuckle, her anxiety melting away. “I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. I want to dedicate this performance to you.”
Soon, it would be Sophie’s time to shine on stage. She was anxiously going over her sheet music when suddenly, someone rushed up, shouting her name with enthusiasm, “Miss Nixon, it’s me!”
Sophie spun around, and her eyes lit up in recognition of the little girl she had come to the aid of previously.
On that very day, Leila had escorted the girl to reconnect with her original sponsor to revise certain agreements.
Things unfolded just as Leila had suspected. The girl’s sponsor firmly stated he could no longer provide assistance, and his hands were tied. Despite his considerable wealth, his family resided overseas, and he steered clear of the risk of messing with any gangs. Leila chose to step in as the new sponsor, which proved to be a wise move.
As they prepared to leave, the girl kneeled and paid deep respects to her previous sponsor. She harbored no resentment for their decision to cut ties midway. It was, after all, a choice anyone in their situation might have made.
Leila could see that the girl was grateful, and this only strengthened her resolve to support her.
The girl introduced herself as Elva Riley, a charming name. She explained that her previous name had been Allen, a distinctly masculine name chosen by her former sponsor.
Elva cherished her new name, dreaming of one day embodying the freedom of a crane, soaring high above the world.
Sophie struck up a conversation with Elva, radiating warmth like a nurturing big sister.
Elva looked up at Sophie with admiration. “Miss Nixon, you’re radiant today, and your piano skills are simply stunning. I’m sure you’re going to win first place.”
Sophie smiled gently. “You can just call me Sophie. And these are my siblings, Calvin and Elma. They’re about your age.”
Elva introduced herself to them, her previous shyness melting away as her confidence grew. Her cheeks dimpled as she smiled, adding to her youthful charm.
Leila smiled contentedly as the children played and laughed around her.
But the peaceful moment was shattered by the harsh words of an intruder. “They’re willing to sponsor you because they think it’s like taking in a stray. A little money, and they pat themselves on the back, calling themselves your heroes. They just did a small favor. I mean, I could offer you ten million right now if you slap Sophie and kneel before me.”
The air in the room froze as the laughter died down instantly.
The sight of an adult and child slowly approaching brought a cold silence to everyone’s face.
Rola was the one spouting the venomous words. Beside her stood Freya, a face Leila recognized. The two, standing side by side, unmistakably looked like sisters.
Elva’s cheeks flushed with anger at the cruel remarks. Her hands clenched into fists, but she held back any words of protest. It wasn’t out of fear; she simply couldn’t risk antagonizing such influential figures. Furthermore, she owed much to the kindness of the Sinclair family and couldn’t repay them with trouble.
“Why so quiet? You were all smiles talking with them a moment ago. Lost your voice now that I’m here? But of course, they’re your sponsors now. You have to keep them happy. Just a poor girl trying to fit in, aren’t you? I could never stoop to such groveling.” Rola’s laughter dripped with arrogance.
Freya stood silently beside her, showing no reaction.
It was hard to imagine someone so young as Rola saying such harsh words, leaving passersby in shock. Tears welled up in Elva’s eyes as she stammered, “Miss Hopkins, I’m sorry. Please, don’t drag others into this.”
Rola was the type who never knew when to stop pushing boundaries. Elva’s cautious nature had unexpectedly fed Rola’s arrogance.
“That’s your idea of an apology? Do it right. Kneel and bow to me!” Rola taunted with a sneer.
The backstage area was teeming with people: staff buzzing around, judges enjoying a brief respite, and a few reporters scouting for stories.
The notion of Elva kneeling before Rola was fraught with risk. Rumors would surely swirl, and Rola’s actions were clearly designed to publicly shame Elva.
Still smarting from her recent defeat in the contest against Sophie, Rola couldn’t do anything. After all, the Nixon family, the largest investor in the competition, was not to be crossed. Her simmering rage found an outlet in Elva.
Just as Elva was on the brink of submitting, her eyes brimming with tears, Sophie moved protectively in front of her. “Rola, you’re angry at me. Why drag others into this mess? Challenge me instead. Shall I offer the apology you’re after?”
Sophie’s tone was calm, but her eyes were ice-cold. Her powerful presence was undoubtedly a blend of her parents’ influence.
Rola, usually so arrogant, shifted uneasily under Sophie’s intense gaze. She clenched her teeth, struggling to maintain her composure. “Alright, then kneel and bow until I say it’s enough,” she commanded, masking her irritation.
“Alright.” Sophie agreed, her voice steady. There was a subtle change in her eyes as she adjusted her tone.
Sophie remarked, her tone dripping with sarcasm, “You want me to kneel? I doubt you’d even dare accept it. I still recall you shaking in your boots, begging my mother and me not to disqualify you from the competition. What, not scared now?”
Rola’s face paled as she recalled that incident, fear and anger crashing over her. Her small fists clenched tightly as she turned to Freya for help.
Freya, however, just stared at Leila with a dark, sinister look, offering no help.
Seeing no one on her side, Rola stomped her foot in frustration. “Sophie, just you wait!”
Sophie nodded. “Fine, I’ll wait.”
The host then announced that Rola was about to perform.
Rola quickly straightened her dress, lifting her chin like a proud swan. Just as she stepped onto the stage, she stopped abruptly, turned, and smiled at Sophie. Yet, her smile was strange, unsettling. Her voice dripped with malice as she clearly articulated each word. “You won’t beat me today. I can’t wait to see you cry.”
Sophie hummed in response, thinking Rola was bluffing and not taking her threat seriously.
But soon, the smile faded from Sophie’s face.
Rola took the stage, performing the formalities before settling at the piano.
As Rola began her performance, the familiar piano notes filled the air, and Leila’s and Sophie’s expressions shifted instantly.
The competition required an original composition. It was difficult, but everyone competing here was considered a prodigy.
As soon as Sophie knew this rule, she eagerly dove into preparation, aiming for a perfect performance. She had spent the last month painstakingly composing and refining her piece, getting feedback from renowned musicians, and practicing it at least twenty times.
This was the culmination of Sophie’s hard work. But now, that very piece was being replayed by Rola. Having heard the piece countless times, Leila recognized it instantly as Sophie’s original work.
Sophie, facing this kind of situation for the first time, turned to Leila with wide, anxious eyes, completely unsure of what to do.
Leila’s face darkened, and she gently patted Sophie’s shoulder to comfort her. “She clearly stole your composition.”
Before the competition, each contestant had to submit a backup copy of their sheet music. Somehow, Rola must have gotten her hands on Sophie’s.
“What do I do now? She stole my music. What am I supposed to play?” Sophie’s voice trembled, tears welling up in her eyes.
Leila squeezed her shoulder gently. “Stay calm, Sophie. Don’t be afraid.”
Sophie sniffled, fighting back her tears. “Mom, can I switch to a different piece? If not, I won’t play my original.”
Contestants had the option to use the music provided by the competition instead of their original compositions. However, doing so would significantly affect their results.
Leila shook her head, her expression firm. “No, you’re going to play your piece. This is your hard work. Why let someone else take it from you? They’re the ones in the wrong, not you.”
Determination slowly replaced the panic in Sophie’s eyes, though she hesitated. “But she already played it. Won’t it look like I copied her?”
Leila patted her head gently. “Don’t worry about that. Leave it to me.”
As Rola finished her performance, the applause thundered through the hall.
Although Sophie’s piece wasn’t as refined as works by established composers, for someone so young, the performance was impressive.
Oblivious to the truth, the audience showered Rola with praise, calling her a prodigy.
Rola basked in the limelight and held her head high, accepting the admiration as though the composition had been her own and not stolen.
As Rola stepped off the stage, she crossed paths with Sophie, who was preparing to go on.
With a smug grin, Rola taunted, “Did you like my performance? It’s a thousand times better than your trash, don’t you think?”
Sophie, unbothered, mimicked Rola’s tone. “You completely wasted the beauty of that piece with your performance. Do you even understand it? How could you ruin such a brilliant composition?”