My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 198

“Just watch—no way it’s Emily Blair. If it is, I’ll—”

Someone nearby leaned in, eager. “You’ll what?”

“I’ve already made it to the semifinals. If Emily Blair gets through, I’ll drop out right then and there.”

“No way. You’re that sure?”

“Absolutely.”

Emily Blair glanced at the speaker, her eyes cool and unreadable, her face betraying nothing.

Up at the front, Arianna George lifted her chin, her sharp, no-nonsense gaze sweeping across the audience. Her voice rang out, firm and commanding. “What’s all this commotion? Quiet down, please.”

She set down the list in her hand and took the microphone from its stand.

“I’ve said this many times: the Starlight Piano Competition stands for absolute fairness. The results of this preliminary round are based on that same principle—there will be no changes.

And let me be clear: we don’t care where you come from, who your parents are, or what connections you might have. None of that matters here. There are no back doors at the Starlight Piano Competition.

But, if you have any doubts about the results, you’re welcome to file a complaint with the committee. The organizers and judges will provide a thorough explanation.”

Emily Blair knew exactly why the Starlight Piano Competition was so respected: the organizers and judges had never once been accused of taking bribes or showing favoritism. They truly embodied fairness and transparency.

Arianna George’s words carried a calm confidence, and Emily felt a quiet certainty settle in her chest.

The sixty-fourth name still hadn’t been announced. The tension in the audience was palpable; people held their breath, every eye locked on Arianna George.

Arianna looked up, her gaze landing on the very last row.

Maybe it was just a coincidence, or maybe it was the silent isolation from the others, but Emily sat alone in that back row, with empty seats on either side.

She recognized the look—mostly from those who hadn’t made it through. In other words, those whose scores had fallen below hers.

A few seconds later, one man stood abruptly, shouting in frustration, “There’s got to be something fishy going on!”

He half-turned, glaring daggers at Emily, arm raised and finger pointed at her, voice trembling with anger but clear as a bell. “How the hell did Emily Blair make it to the semifinals? With her skills, there’s just no way. I’m better than her—so why did she get through and not me? There’s definitely something going on behind the scenes!”

“I refuse to accept this result.”

The man jabbed a finger toward the judges’ table, toward Arianna George, his jaw set. “Someone here must know Emily Blair. I’m taking this to the committee!”

He wasn’t alone—nearly all the eliminated contestants stood up as well, bristling with indignation, their voices ringing with certainty, as if Emily’s so-called ‘backdoor’ was an established fact.

A few onlookers glanced back at Emily, waiting for her to crumble, to see some flicker of anxiety or panic.

But she didn’t so much as flinch. Calm and poised, she sat in her seat, her expression as tranquil as a still lake. She looked at the accusers as if they were nothing but children throwing a tantrum—completely unmoved by the storm around her.