Chapter 769

Chapter 769

"We weren't sure before, but now... they've shown their true colors,"

Sylvia sneered mercilessly. "Just because Brayden pushed Ashlyn a

little, they can't handle it? They're quick to jump on the bandwagon and

try to tarnish Cody's reputation. It's too simplistic of them."

"They're like dogs backed into a corner,” Franklin stood up from the

couch, his tall figure making the hospital room feel cramped.

"And we're the hunters who will take them down," Sylvia's eyes glinted

with determination as she rose to stand beside Franklin. She turned to

Cody and said, "Let's go back."

"Sylvia," Jenna called out to her. Sylvia replied, "What is it? Do you

need something?"

Jenna bit her lip and whispered softly, “I'm going abroad in a few days

for Graley Piano Competition. Can you come watch me perform?"

Sylvia heard those three words - Graley Piano Competition - and

immediately felt a headache coming on. "I almost forgot about that... I

have to go too."

"What's wrong?" Franklin looked at her curiously.

"My master messaged me on Facebook yesterday telling me I have to

participate in Graley Piano Competition as a guest performer. He even

said he'll prepare all my costumes for me." Sylvia let out a sigh of

frustration; Louis always had some kind of scheme up his sleeve.

She didn't have time for this nonsense.

But Louis was being sincere so she couldn't refuse him outright.

"So you'll be going too?" Jenna smiled shyly; relieved that Sylvia would

be there with her. "Being invited as a guest performer at an

international competition like Graley is quite an honor!"

Sylvia laughed lightly before asking Jenna, “Which category did you

enter? Is it piano performance?"

Jenna shook her head. "Mrs. Ritter decided to compete.”

Sylvia was taken aback; Jenna was incredibly skilled at playing the

piano so if she entered that category instead of composition she could

easily win first prize at Graley Piano Competition!

It was clear Mrs. Ritter had deliberately chosen composition for Jenna

instead of piano performance!

Composing is all about talent. If you have a strong creative ability, you

can give it a try, but in general... the winners of composition awards are

extremely talented musicians or masters who can stand out in

composition.

"Creating these things is difficult. If you have a piece of music, you can

directly submit it for evaluation. If not, you'll need to create something

on the spot.” Sylvia looked at Jenna and said, "If there's any difficulty,

let me know."

Jenna felt even more relieved after hearing Sylvia's words. That

inexplicable sense of security made her very satisfied. "Sylvia, thank

you."

After Sylvia and Franklin left, Brayden couldn't wait to ask her: "You

specialize in piano performance. Why did they sign you up for

composition? Composition is so difficult; are they bullying you?"

Jenna's expression was somewhat unnatural as she said, "No... mainly

because everyone else had signed up for other competition categories

and only one slot was left for composition..."

She didn't want to say that Mrs. Ritter forced her to do it; otherwise

Brayden would be furious again.

Because of her actions, Brayden had become trending news online; if

this affected Donovan's career prospects again after he just got out of

prison and started anew... then she would truly be guilty.

The sinner of the Wright family.

She suppressed all the discomfort deep down inside and maintained a

smile on her face as much as possible.

She could do this... She could compose something.

At the Ritter Villa, Ashlyn blew on her freshly painted nails and asked,

"Dad, Brayden posted a video of him hitting me online that went viral.

Did you help me get revenge?"

Donovan sat on the sofa in the living room looking at his phone with no

expression visible on his middle-aged face while taking a sip from his

glass placed on top of coffee table nearby Ashlyn's seat.

"How could I possibly do such boring things? Who knows which

passerby happened to record this scene - justice must prevail," he

replied calmly without any emotion showing through his voice tone.

"There aren't many good-hearted people in this world," Ashlyn pouted

before running over to Donovan like an adorable child grabbing onto his

arm and affectionately saying, "Dad, please give me some pocket

money! I'm going to participate in Graley Piano Competition next week!

I want that new high-end dress from Chanel House but it's so

expensive..."

She blinked her big eyes and said, "Dad, can you give me some

money? My mom is stingy and only likes to invest in herself at the

beauty salon. She doesn't want to give me any pocket money. I'm your

daughter! If someone beats me, it will be so embarrassing!"

"Dad, the Ritter Group makes so much profit every year. Do you want

your daughter to wear those outdated dresses that make us look poor?

People will laugh at us!"

“I'm going for the first prize. The whole world will be watching when I go

on stage to receive my award! Aren't you proud of your daughter?"

“I am your little cotton jacket!" Ashlyn kept whining.

Donovan couldn't help but pat her head and say, "You're already in your

twenties but still act like a child.”

"How am I acting like a child? I'm better than Katie; she's just a spoiled

brat trying to make it in showbiz but can't seem to get anywhere. But

look at me! I sing, dance and play piano perfectly. If I win first place in

the Graley Piano Competition again this time around, then I'll become

an internationally renowned pianist.” Ashlyn looked very proud of

herself.

Despite everything she was still his daughter whom he had pampered

since childhood.

In the end Donovan couldn't resist her anymore and said, Fine!

Whatever you say goes. Dad will buy two high-end designer dresses

for you - one for performing during competitions and another one for

receiving awards on stage."

Ashlyn kissed Donovan's face happily saying,"Thank you dad! You're

too good to me." Then she ran upstairs jumping with joy.

As soon as Ashlyn left, Mrs. Ritter came out of their bedroom, wearing

a face mask and saying, "You spoil her too much without principles.”

"She's our only daughter; what principles do we need?" Donovan

laughed,"l wonder how Cody is going to handle this tricky problem

today. Since he dared take my position away from me, he must deal

with my revenge properly."

"This is such a great opportunity given by the Wright family.” Mrs. Ritter

patted her face mask.

Mrs. Ritter took off her face mask, feeling extremely happy as she

opened up Twitter on her phone.

But then... her expression changed suddenly; almost dropping off that

facial sheet paper from shock. "Why is that trending topic gone?"

"How could this happen?" Donovan's face darkened as he leaned in. "It

was trending this afternoon and had stirred up a lot of discussion."

“It was definitely removed,” Mrs. Ritter sneered, "I didn't expect Cody to

end up in the hospital, but he sure acted fast."

"So what if it was removed? Almost everyone knows about it now. Let's

see how he handles it," Donovan's eyes were filled with anger. "A small

town official from Larro trying to get a piece of the pie in Urgford. He's

thinking too highly of himself."

After hanging up the phone, Donovan let out a long sigh as if releasing

his pent-up anger.

“I've spent so much money and effort on this, and then Cody comes out

of nowhere like Larro got that position. How can I not be angry?"

“You spent so much money when you were setting things up,” Mrs.

Ritter added.

"Now they are licking Cody's boots and even return the money back to

us."

The thought made him itch with hatred.

He had spent so much time and money only for Cody to take that

position away from him.

What did Cody have that made him better than anyone else? Did he

have the Ritter Group backing him financially? Did he have connections

all over Urgford? Was his influence greater than anyone else's in

Urgford?

Thinking about these things made Donovan snort coldly.

"Wasn't there a murder case at the plastic surgery hospital recently?"

He asked rhetorically, "Why isn't Secretary Cody handling that

properly?"

"You're right; we need to put some pressure on him as ordinary citizens

for that case to be solved faster,” Mrs. Ritter said while taking off her

face mask and throwing it into the trash bin.

In another room, Ashlyn was video chatting with Katie.

"Katie, I've been practicing piano non-stop for days! You know my mom

is president of the association; she keeps me under strict control all the

time which is why I couldn't attend your birthday party.”

“It's okay," Katie yawned," There were quite a few people there

anyway."

"Have you received my gift yet?" Ashlyn asked again," Next week I'm

going to participate in Graley Piano Competition; aren't you famous

now too? I heard many celebrities are invited as guest performers.

Have you received an invitation?"

Her face stiffened slightly as she suppressed her discomfort. “No, I just

debuted. How could I perform on an international stage?"

"Uncle Mcguire knows a lot of people. Let him help you find a way,

Katie. Listen to me, I mean no harm. Think about it - if you debut on the

international stage right after your debut at home, won't your status

skyrocket when you return home? Who wouldn't look up to you?"

Upon hearing Ashlyn’s concern for her, Katie immediately retracted her

previous thoughts that Ashlyn was superficial.

“You're right. I'll talk to my dad about this later."

With the Mcguire family's wealth and connections, can they not secure

a performance opportunity for her as a guest performer? When she

returns home later on, she can have her agent send out press

releases...

Katie felt almost giddy at the thought of it all.