Chapter: 1188

Ever since his arrival in Bellfolk, numerous people and things had brought back memories of Norah.

The following day brought renewed enthusiasm for both Susanna and Joanna. They seemed to have revived their old zeal, working diligently towards a shared objective.

Standing at the entrance of the music hall, Joanna looked intently at Nora's poster on the door. Filled with resolve, she was determined to discover the true identity hidden behind the mask.

“Susanna, forget what Sean mentioned yesterday. Our primary goal is to see the face beneath Nora's mask," Joanna declared with determination.

Nora's scheduled public debut at the opening ceremony had stirred a profound desire among her fans to finally see her real face.

Last evening, Joanna had carefully analyzed a video of Nora, examining it frame by frame. The more she watched, the more convinced she became that the person in the video was indeed Norah.

She wondered why Norah had entered the competition under the guise of Nora Moon and why she hadn't reached out to them.

Upon reaching the auditorium, they found their seats.

The performance kicked off at two in the afternoon. Nancy was slated to play third, just after Nora.

Currently, the first contestant had taken the stage, each performer was allotted thirty-five to forty minutes to showcase their favored classical pieces.

Backstage at the competition.

Nancy was awash with nerves, but Kayla was there soothing her.

On the opposite sofa sat Nora. A woman with an authoritative demeanor was speaking to her, possibly her coach or her mother. Her voice was so subdued that it was impossible to discern the specifics of their conversation.

Kayla comforted Nancy by patting her shoulder. “Don't be nervous. You have what it takes to reach the final. I'm proud of you. Just play the way you normally do."

She glanced over at Nora, who was sitting in silence, before whispering to Nancy, “Just play your normal game and you'll certainly outshine someone who prefers theatrics. Just relax."

The woman on the opposite side caught the comment and responded with a sneer. "Madam, if your intention is to offer comfort, please do so without involving others. Why drag irrelevant individuals into this? Do you believe belittling me will elevate your daughter's position?"

Kayla's expression darkened. She hadn't anticipated that her quietly spoken words would carry to the very person she had mentioned.

Nancy looked up at Kayla, her voice gentle yet resolute.

“My mother is right. You've been hiding behind a mask. Isn't that a bit theatrical? My mom thinks I'm better than you. That's her love speaking. How does expressing that make you feel belittled?"

She tilted her head innocently. “You're not accustomed to such Loving remarks, so you interpret them as belittlement, right?"

The short-haired, middle-aged woman felt compelled to argue back. "Is it reasonable to disparage others? Whatever you say, it doesn't alter the fact that you spoke ill of her first."

The competition's schedule for the day included matches for three contestants each. The contestants who were set to perform at seven in the evening were also backstage, witnessing the altercation.

The gathered contestants, hailing from various countries, might not have understood the details of the argument, but the tension between the disputing parties was unmistakable.

Kayla's expression shifted subtly multiple times. Known for her intellectual poise and elegance, she always maintained her composure, steering clear of any disputes.