“There’s no way I could ever buy tickets to Harry’s concerts, no matter how much I tried. To actually see him perform here tonight—it’s like something out of a dream!”
“No matter what happens, just seeing Harry perform makes this whole trip worth it!”
“Harry’s a legend. There’s no way Stella can win tonight.”
“Honestly, even losing to Harry would be something to brag about.”
The audience buzzed with excitement and chatter.
Even the judges wore expressions of admiration and awe, awarding Harry a perfect score—one hundred out of one hundred.
Backstage, Antoney watched Harry and Rachel’s performance, his face clouded with concern.
“If we lose this bet, Star, I’ll take the fall for you,” he said quietly.
Harry and Rachel had performed before them and scored a perfect ten, which only ramped up the pressure.
Antoney knew, deep down, that his overall skills didn’t measure up to Stella’s.
He certainly couldn’t compete with Harry.
Worry gnawed at him—he dreaded holding Stella back.
Stella, meanwhile, was watching Harry and Rachel with an unreadable calm. She showed no hint of panic or unease, as if their flawless performance was nothing out of the ordinary.
When Antoney spoke, Stella finally looked over at him.
“Who says we’re going to lose?” she asked, her voice steady.
Antoney hesitated. “But I’m just not as good as Harry.”
“If it was all about individual skill,” Stella replied, “why would there be a team competition at all?”
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