Chapter 1074:
“What is she even trying to do?” a few S-tier students whispered among themselves, visibly unsettled by her boldness.
“Has she lost her mind? That’s the judges’ area!” one of Connor’s followers exclaimed, his face full of disbelief. “Someone like her won’t get anywhere in music.”
Letty, trembling with anger, completely forgot her surroundings. She pointed straight at Rylie’s back and shouted at the nearby staff and the two security guards who had just arrived, “That’s her! She’s disrupting the evaluation and harassing the judges. Remove her immediately and escort her out.”
Connor quickly joined in, his voice rising. “Exactly! Get her out of here. She doesn’t even belong to this academy—she’s obviously here to cause trouble.”
Their loud accusations cut through the quiet hall, drawing the attention of everyone present—judges, faculty, and distinguished guests alike.
By then, Rylie had nearly reached the judges’ table.
“Stop right there! Get away from that platform!” Connor yelled, his temper snapping as he reached out to grab her arm. “Who do you think you are to deserve a place up there?”
𝘞𝘩𝘢t 𝖾v𝗲𝗿𝘺𝗼ո𝖾 𝗂𝘴 𝗿𝖾𝗮𝗱і𝘯𝗀 𝘰𝗻 𝘨𝗮l𝗇o𝗏𝘦𝘭𝗌.c𝗈𝘮
Just as his fingers were about to touch Rylie’s sleeve, a strong, commanding voice echoed from the judges’ table, freezing everyone in place.
“This is completely unacceptable.” It was Ferris, a highly respected name in the music world.
He rose abruptly from his seat, his face stern, sharp eyes glaring through thick glasses as he stared Connor down. “Who gave you permission to shout and lay hands on a judge during an evaluation? Have you forgotten what respect means?”
A judge?
Connor stiffened as if struck, his raised hand locking midair while disbelief flashed across his face.
“Hold on—a judge?” one of his followers muttered under his breath.
Around them, the S-tier students exchanged bewildered glances, clearly as lost as Connor was.
“That’s impossible!” Connor blurted out. “There has to be some mistake. You’re telling me she’s one of the judges?”
That plainly dressed girl who looked barely out of school—sitting in judgment over this evaluation?
Before Connor could collect himself, Melody’s voice rang cold and firm across the hall, laced with sharp disappointment. “Letty! Listen to yourself. Shouting, summoning security, disrupting an official evaluation—is this how a faculty member conducts herself? And Connor, was yesterday’s warning meaningless to you? Today you openly insult and nearly assault a guest judge at a formal event. Do you honestly believe your background excuses behavior this reckless and disrespectful?”
Connor’s face drained of color as he struggled to reply. “No, I only thought… she looks far too young.”
“Young?” Dennis finally cut in, his voice edged with restrained anger. “Since when does youth equal incompetence? Didn’t you receive an international award while still young yourself? Or are you now suggesting that achievement wasn’t earned fairly?”
Startled and defensive, Connor snapped, “Of course it was earned.”
Dennis let out a derisive breath. “So it’s acceptable when you succeed young, but unacceptable when someone else does? Do you really believe talent grants you the right to belittle others? Is this what you think your standing here was meant for?”
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