Return Of The Real Heiress: Secrets And Masks
My Billionaire Family 171

To be honest, Shirley's piano skills were commendable, and certainly noteworthy among today's contestants.

She sat in disbelief, seemingly surprised by her first-place achievement.

Jacob and Henry's group exchanged congratulations, faces alight with joy.

As Shirley walked up to the stage, the host spoke again, "Alright, standing here on stage are the winners of the first, second, and third prizes of this competition.

"Next, our three esteemed judges will each select the student they most wish to mentor. Liam, as the president, would you like to start?"

With that, the entire audience and the three award-winning contestants tensed up. This was one of the day's most crucial moments-the mentor match.

Some believed that working with Liam was ideal; taking in all his talents and connecting with elite social circles could open doors to becoming president of the Clusia Pianists' Association someday. There were even whispers about Liam being a single aristocrat-a potential personal advantage.

Some people think it's Tina from the Simpson family, one of the top families in Betrico. Connecting with the Simpson family offers a potential path into Artiverse Entertainment through Truman.

With the reputation of being mentored by the CEO's sister, it's a chance to make a powerful entrance into the entertainment world.

And some said it had to be Arlina-the maestro herself. One song could earn you heaps or she might equip you with all the piano skills needed to become a famous pianist in Clusia or even worldwide. Onstage, Madeline and Miles were visibly nervous but felt that being chosen by any of these judges was a stroke of luck-after all, they were all legendary figures.

However, Shirley stood out. She wanted Liam and only Liam. She had no interest in the other two judges, especially Cherise.

Liam glanced at the stage, then at Arlina and Tina beside him, and said, "In Clusia, we've traditionally followed the principle of 'ladies first,' so why don't we let our two female judges make their selections first?"

The two women didn't hesitate. Cherise spoke up right away, "I choose Madeline, thank you." Her words were brief but straight to the point.

Madeline was deeply touched, almost on the verge of tears. Cherise was the ideal mentor she had dreamed of. She wished she could rush off stage and give her a big hug.

Tina followed suit. "I'll take Miles. I really admire your piano technique and believe I can help you reach new heights in your career, thank you."

As a woman herself, Tina felt from her first glimpse of Shirley that she was someone with hidden agendas. Such a person would be uncomfortable to deal with, and she didn't want to risk being manipulated by her someday. Hearing this, Miles nodded politely towards Tina in gratitude.

Now, Shirley was the only one left on stage who hadn't been chosen by a judge. She seemed even more nervous than before, clenching her fists tighter.

Although she didn't want to be picked by Cherise or Tina, seeing neither choose her didn't bring her any joy. As the first-place contestant, Shirley felt she should have been the one everyone was vying for. Soon, she stood tall, eager to be chosen by Liam.

Liam stood up and took the microphone, looking out at the stage. "It's pretty clear now since there's only one contestant left. She's the one I want as my disciple. Congratulations, Shirley." With that, applause erupted throughout the venue.

Cherise glanced at Liam, slightly smiling, then looked at Shirley, sneering internally. 'Enjoy this brief moment in the limelight,' she thought.

The host announced the end of the competition. Cherise exchanged a few words with Madeline, bade farewell to Tina and the others, then left the concert hall.

Inside, everyone was congratulating the winners, especially Shirley, who was surrounded by a crowd. She appeared to be relishing her center-of-attention moment, full of arrogance and pride.