He Could Return The Favor


    Knowing that Cody wanted to recruit an apprentice, Bart immediately stood up and dered, "I''m going to turn down the director!"


    Who wouldn''t want to be Cody''s apprentice? After all, he was a renowned music genius!


    It was a rare opportunity to learn from him.


    Bart asked, "Why did you share such crucial information with me? You could have just kept quiet.


    That way, there would be fewer rivals in thest round ofpetition."


    Elyse remained motionless. She wasn''t interested in such underhanded schemes.


    "The more rivals I face, the more deserving my victory will be."


    She wasn''t bothered by the number ofpetitors. In fact, the more the merrier. She thrived on the challenge ofpeting against many.


    With his arms crossed, Bart looked at her thoughtfully. He was a few years her senior.


    Competitions never eased his mind; instead, they weighed heavily on his heart.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    He always felt thatpeting with people he knew would just end up hurting everyone involved.


    As time passed, he found himself without friends in the orchestra, preferring his ownpany.


    However, he didn''t feel that burden when he was with Elyse. For the first time,peting for first


    ce didn''t seem so bad.


    "Do you really think you can take first ce and get Cody''s attention?" he asked. "Absolutely. My friend told me I''m talented and a sure pick," Elyse replied with confidence.


    Listening to her, Bart shook his head. "That''s just your friend being supportive. Everyone''s friends would say that. But who knows? Maybe they''re not so nice when you''re not around."


    "if they talk like that behind my back, then they aren''t true friends. A real friend supports you no matter what," Elyse countered.


    Bart paused, struck by her words. He knew the people he hung out with weren''t really his friends, which was why he kept his distance. But Elyse''s blunt honesty caught him off guard.


    After their conversation, Elyse said she was going to talk to Grace.


    She bid Bart farewell and walked up to the second-floor balcony. spotting Grace and Darren right away.


    Grace turned around and saw Elyse, out of breath, and asked with a puzzled look, "Did youe


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    here for me too?"


    Elyse nced at Darren and nodded. "I just wanted to make sure you wouldn''t agree to the director''s request."


    "I didn''t." Pointing at Darren, Grace reassured her, "He''s already filled me in. I won''t agree either. Don''t worry about it."


    Looking at Darren, Elyse asked, "Did you really tell her everything?"


    Darren responded, "I might not be perfect, but I have my skills. No one should have to step aside for me. Even if I end up winning, it wouldn''t feel right."


    Grace chuckled. "Gary already agreed to it, and they''ve announced it. What''s your n?" Darren frowned, at a loss for words.


    Elyse let out a sigh of relief. "Even though I couldn''t stop him, I''m relieved you and Bart haven''t quit."


    Grace pushed her sses up the bridge of her nose. "I appreciate you telling me the truth, but we''re stillpetitors. I need to go practice. Excuse me."


    After Grace left, Darren nced at Elyse and walked away without a word.


    In the evening, Elyse and Jayden returned home to find Tess sitting on the sofa with Bryce.


    Jayden gave them azy look and asked, "Why are you here?"


    "Why didn''t you back your brother at the office today? He was humiliated by one of the


    department managers. Didn''t you care?" Tess pressed.


    Elyse was caught off guard. Had Jayden been at the office today?


    Jayden epted a cup of tea from Driscoll, took a sip, and replied slowly, "I don''t have any


    influence there. How could I have supported him? Brook''s running thepany now. My opinions don''t carry weight anymore."


    Upon hearing this, Tess appeared visibly upset. Prior to the ident, Jayden held significant sway within the Owen Group and was regarded as the most probable sessor.


    The ident had changed everything for him.


    "Don''t you have anyone there you trust who could assist Bryce? If he bes CEO, he could


    return the favor," Tess said, clearly angry.