Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle' novel Chapter 126

Chapter 126: A Vast Difference in Strength

Boom!

Bella’s mind felt like it had been struck by lightning—an explosion roared inside her head.

Logan’s single sentence snapped everyone out of their daze.

That’s right!

Selina’s piano skills were clearly superior to Bella’s. And now, with the revelation that she was Gavin’s sister, how could she have lost?

How could she have ended up carrying the disgraceful accusation of seducing a judge?

Selina’s gaze carried an air of amusement. "Hmm... something seems off. My performance was obviously better than Miss Hayes’, yet somehow, she was crowned champion. Did Miss Hayes regress too much in the past four years? Or... was there something else going on behind the scenes? Mr. Taylor, what do you think?"

Bella’s body swayed, cold sweat dripping down her back.

Brody’s throat tightened. "T-The competition was fair! Bella’s victory was a collective decision made by the judges. Piano competitions have a certain level of subjectivity..."

"M-Maybe... maybe the judges just preferred Bella’s playing back then..."

"Oh? Is that so?" Gavin cut in coldly. "Brody, you’re still trying to lie when you’re already backed into a corner?"

"When two pianists are at a similar level, it’s understandable for judges to have personal preferences. But when the difference in skill is this massive—when Selina was eliminated and Bella was crowned—you expect me to believe it was fair? You think I’m a fool who can be brushed off with a few flimsy excuses?"

Brody’s entire body went cold. His lips trembled violently.

He couldn’t admit to taking bribes—he just couldn’t!

"F-Four years ago, Miss Clark wasn’t as skilled as she is now! Back then, she and Bella were evenly matched, so the judges naturally—"

Smack!

A letter was thrown onto the table right in front of Brody, cutting him off mid-sentence.

Gavin’s face was ice-cold. "Take a good look at this letter."

His voice was razor-sharp.

"You claim Selina’s piano skills weren’t outstanding four years ago? Then I suppose you don’t know—four years ago, the founder of the piano competition, Mr. Averill, personally invited Selina to be the head judge of that very competition."

The words landed like a bomb in the silent hall.

Selina’s head snapped up, her pupils constricting.

What?

What was Gavin saying? _{ƒreewebɳovel.com}

She had never heard of this before!

Four years ago, she had still been in Country B. She had never even heard of that piano competition!

Logan’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, his gaze fixed on her.

Meanwhile, the crowd was utterly stunned.

The letter was indeed written by Averill himself—an official, sincere invitation for Miss Selina to serve as a judge.

If Averill had invited her to be a judge, that meant Selina’s skill level was not only above Bella’s—but above Brody’s as well!

Yet she had been eliminated?

The truth was obvious now—Bella’s championship was not legitimate.

"I see it now," someone whispered. "Selina was too outstanding. Bella must’ve been afraid she’d lose, so she framed Selina for seducing a judge—taking her out of the competition completely."

"Bella worked so hard to steal a championship title, while Selina was talented enough to be a judge from the start. The difference between them is crystal clear."

"Brody must’ve taken a lot of money. Otherwise, how could he have done something this shameless?"

Selina’s eyes gleamed as she curved her lips into a slow smile.

Gavin cast a sidelong glance at Brody, his expression filled with disdain.

"You accepted the Hayes Family’s bribe for personal gain, rigged the competition to protect Bella, and deliberately eliminated other competitors. Someone like you has no place in the piano world."

He turned to Bella, his voice sharp.

"As for you, Miss Hayes—tomorrow, the competition committee will send representatives to retrieve your championship trophy. Consider your actions carefully."

Brody’s legs gave out beneath him.

This time... he was finished.

Bella felt as if she had been slapped across the face, the sting burning deep into her skin.

No. No. No.

She was the champion.

She had flaunted that title for years.

How could they just take it away?!

Selina. It was all because of Selina!

She would never forget this humiliation. One day, she would make Selina pay a hundred—no, a thousand times over!

...

After Brody was thrown out, the Hayes Family had no choice but to leave as well.

Bella claimed she wasn’t feeling well and requested to leave early.

But everyone knew the real reason for her departure.

Grandma Perry’s tone was indifferent as she remarked, "If you knew you were sick, you shouldn’t have stepped out in the first place. Today is my special occasion—I won’t have it tainted by bad luck."