Grandma Hazel noticed the anxious look on Rosita's face and said gently, "Ms. Lockwood, if you're feeling unsure, how about we do a little sound check first?"

A sound check?

The thought alone made Rosita's heart race. There was no way she could agree to that!

Briony caught the flicker of panic in Rosita's eyes and nearly had to bite back a laugh.

After just three days of lessons, Gwendolyn White had discovered that Rosita's struggles weren't just about her poor attitude-she had a fatal flaw: she was completely tone-deaf.

Some people just want too much, Briony thought. Rosita was never content, always hungry for more. The higher she was lifted, the more she craved, until her ambition became both her greatest strength and her inevitable downfall.

Still, Briony wasn't planning to expose her today. Yesterday and today were just warm-ups. The real showdown would be on the day Ottilie took the crown.

"How about this," Briony turned to Grandma Hazel. "Ma'am, Ms. Lockwood seems a bit nervous. Why don't we all sing the piece together, as a group?"

Rosita shot Briony a wary glance.

Briony met her gaze with a faint, knowing smile. "Ms. Lockwood, what do you think?"

choice but to force a smile and reply, "I think Ms. Kensington has a good idea. I'm not the best singer, and if I perform solo, I'll probably hold everyone back. Singing together sounds

nodded. "Even for group singing, I'll need to hear each

professional-Rosita realized there was no way she could

could go first," she suggested quickly. "I'm a bit thirsty, I'll just grab some

enough to judge, assuming perhaps she was just shy or used to keeping a low

lost her voice right then, she would have. This slow, drawn-

long as she could. By the

her seat

looked to her.

Rosita nodded. "Alright."

struck a chord on the

water, Rosita had kept a close ear on everyone else's sound checks. She tried to recall what she'd heard and, stumbling over a

cracked on one note.

hand to her

a teacher as accomplished as you, Grandma Hazel. I'm afraid I didn't do

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