chapter490

She's Melody Mastro, so she's probably got enough grace and confidence to let the formalities slide, right?

Grace jumped in right away. "Exactly, Mr. and Mrs. Norwood. Lucinda could just bow to her Grandmaster, that should be good enough, don't you think?"

Kylie and Cameron exchanged a look, both frowning. Grace was talking way too much. It wasn't that they didn't want to help Lucinda. It was just that, right now, they honestly couldn't.

Blake glanced at Grace, his eyes dark and annoyed.

Lydia lifted an eyebrow. "She said herself that if I played better, she'd kneel, serve me tea, and call me Grandmaster. Everyone here heard it. If she wants to go back on her word, that's her problem. If she doesn't serve me tea, I honestly don't care.

A ripple of whispers ran through the crowd.

"She made the bet and lost. Now she won't go through with it? Sounds like she can't handle losing."

"And Melody Mastro really is her Grandmaster. Serving tea and bowing isn't too much to ask."

"I'd do a lot more if I had a Grandmaster like that. I'd crawl if I had to."

"I thought she was an incredible pianist and gorgeous too, but I guess she's not as genuine as I thought."

"Yeah, she's all looks and no substance."

"Right. That piece she played, now that I think about it, was all style and no depth. Melody Mastro's playing is on another level."

The voices were low, but Lucinda still heard every word. Caspian did too, and his frown deepened.

"Melody Mastro is already a legend

in the piano world. It's not just

Lucinda. Even Maestro Richie couldn't beat her," Caspian said, tone heavy. He was hinting Lydia had set Lucinda up,

challenging her when she knew she Couldn't lose. Wasn't that kind of beneath her?

Connor gave a cold laugh. Maestro Richie would never do something like this. He wouldn't make a bet he couldn't keep, then refuse to follow through just because he lost."

Richie watched Lucinda,

disappointment clear on his face. She'd lost the bet and now she was refusing to kneel and serve tea. H was honestly let down Other peoples might not know, but Lucinda herself had to remember that the piece that made her a champion was edited by Melody Mastro. Now, she wouldn't even give her Grandmaster a cup of tea.

Lucinda, your Grandmaster is waiting, he reminded her, his voice firm.

Lucinda could tell her mentor was unhappy. She knew she was letting him down, but

she just couldn't bring herself to kneel in front of Lydia.

"Melody Mastro, you must have your reasons for being as successful as you are, but..." Caspian started again.

Lydia cut him off, her face going cold. "Who do you think you are to talk to me like that?"

She didn't have the patience for this back and forth. She turned right to Lucinda, her tone blunt. If you're not going to honor the bet, just say so. What's the point of standing around?"

Lucinda stared back at her, eyes red and watery, looking as if she was the one who'd been wronged. But she was the one who made the bet in the first place. Now that she'd lost, who was she putting on this act for?

Caspian's heart twisted at the sight of her like this.

"Melody Mastro, do you really have to push her so hard?" he asked, his voice pleading.

Chris couldn't take it anymore.

"You're from the Hansen family,

aren't you? Are you stupid or just not

listening? She made the bet herself.

Now she's lost and has to follow

through. No one i's pushing her?"

He was furious. Just a little while ago, he'd actually thought Lucinda played pretty

well. Now, he wanted to take it all back.