Bound Hearts: My Vows to My Disabled Spouse

Chapter 177 You Stand No Chance Against Me

After leaving Merlin's office, instead of heading straight back to the practice room, Elyse lingered in the corridor, waiting for Darren.

A few minutes later, Darren emerged, wearing a long face.

As soon as the office door closed behind him, Elyse hurried over, concern etched on her face.

"Are you okay?"

Darren shook his head, his expression somber. "I'm fine. But I've told the director, and he's not going to pull any strings for me anymore."

Elyse nodded understandingly. "Right now, only a handful of us know about this. If it gets out, everyone in the orchestra will be demanding answers from him."

Darren heaved a sigh of relief. "Yeah, I don't need my uncle risking his own neck for me."

"It's a shame, really. I had plans to play along. I was going to call him out in tomorrow's selection process for breaking the rules. But you've put a stop to that," Vicky said regretfully.

Hearing the sound, they turned to see Vicky leaning against the wall, arms crossed, a mischievous grin on her face.

Vicky had known Darren for ages, after all, her instructor was the assistant director.

She laughed at Darren without restraint. "Everyone thinks you're just average. If your uncle wasn't the big shot here, you wouldn't even be in the running against me."

Darren frowned. "So, you know everything?"

Vicky chuckled. "If you don't want me to know something, don't do it. There are no secrets as long as I'm around."

Elyse remained silent. She knew the director and the assistant director had been at odds for ages, and even their apprentices were in on the rivalry.

Vicky sauntered over to them, casting a disdainful glance at Darren before fixing her gaze on

Elyse.

She stood tall in high heels, looking down at Elyse with contempt. "And I didn't expect you to be so soft-hearted, letting your competitors off the hook like that. You're the most irritating person in this whole competition!"

Elyse sneered. "My actions ruined your plans and your instructor's chances of promotion, didn't they? As a matter of fact, you don't want fair competition; you just want to benefit from it."

"Fair competition? You think you can compete fairly with me? The rules only give you the illusion that you stand a chance against me!"

Vicky raised her chin defiantly. "Especially you. You think your little talent is enough to beat me?" Unhappy with Vicky's attitude, Darren decided to poke the bear. "Well,considering she's tied with you for first place, it seems you're not that much better than she is."

Vicky hated it when someone brought that up. She shot Darren a venomous look.

"Not convinced, are you? Just wait and see. I'll show you!" she spat before striding away in her high heels.

Watching Vicky's arrogant departure, Elyse felt a surge of irritation. So what if Vicky's instructor was the assistant director?

Glancing at Vicky's retreating figure, Darren shook his head. "Vicky's always been like this. Arrogant and full of herself. Even though she's mellowed out a bit, she's still the same old Vicky." Darren had first met Vicky at a party Merlin had dragged him to.

Since Merlin and the assistant director had always been at odds, Darren and Vicky had been set

up against each other in a clash over who would play the violin better.

After that party, Darren had gained another enemy: Vicky.

The two of them had been secretly battling it out for years.

While Vicky, who was usually so overconfident, never played below her abilities, Darren

occasionally did poorly.

Darren rubbed his temples, thinking about the past. "Even though Vicky's got a temper, she's talented. She might actually beat me tomorrow."

Elyse looked at him for a moment before speaking. "You're being too hard on yourself again. You need to have more faith in your abilities.

I know you're gifted."

Darren looked at her, thoughtful. "Do you really think 'm gifted?"

"Think about it. Even when you're not at your best, you're still in the top five," Elyse said. "If you can get over this self-doubt, you'll do better."

Darren nodded, deep in thought. "I've never looked at it that way."

Giving him an encouraging pat on the shoulder, Elyse smiled. "Beat Vicky tomorrow. Show her what you're made of!"