Amy's fingers curled into tight fists, her knuckles turning white from the pressure. Every muscle in her body tensed, fighting the overwhelming urge to slap that smug expression off Victoria's face. But the murmurs of the crowd held her back—dignity was her last remaining shield.

She inhaled deeply, drawing on years of navigating high society's treacherous waters. One wrong move today, and her reputation would be shattered beyond repair. All because of Victoria Langley, the woman who thrived on chaos.

"Victoria," Amy began, her voice laced with venom, "Liam has poured his heart into this competition. Even if you weren't chosen to accompany him, did you really have to sabotage him like this? Let's be honest—you have no prestigious lineage, no elite education. Did you really think you belonged on that stage with him?"

Her words were deliberate, designed to expose Victoria's lack of pedigree and status. In their world, bloodlines and brilliance dictated worth. Without either? You were nothing.

The elite society operated on a rigid hierarchy of disdain. The wealthy sneered at those beneath them. The pedigreed scoffed at self-made intellectuals. And those like Victoria—with neither wealth nor distinction—were easy prey for ridicule.

The crowd's gazes turned icy, their whispers sharpening with judgment. Was Amy truly just a gold-digger who'd trapped Alexander Blackwood with a pregnancy? Had she schemed her way into the Blackwood name?

Yet, Amy remained composed. "Victoria, you're mistaken. You were the one who ruined my dress with coffee, not the other way around. And if you're so concerned about fairness, why should Liam's competition matter more than mine? If you can't perform in a stained dress, why should I?"

Margaret Blackwood, Alexander's mother, sputtered, her face flushing with rage. "How dare you speak to me like that?"

Nathan Prescott, ever loyal to Victoria, chimed in with a sneer. "Let's be real—you wouldn't have placed well anyway. Going onstage would’ve just embarrassed you and Alexander."

Amy's lips curved into a cold smile. "Funny how you assume failure on my behalf. But then again, Nathan, you've always been quick to underestimate people."

The tension crackled in the air, the crowd holding their breath.

Then—Victoria stepped forward, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "If you're so confident, Amy, why don't you prove it? Play for us now. Show everyone what you're really capable of."

A challenge.

One Amy had no intention of refusing.