Chapter 112

Every few minutes, Brenda would ask if I was thirsty or if I wanted to eat something, but Sharon politely turned down each offer on my behalf. Since my performance was scheduled last, it wasn't until around 9:00 pm that someone finally came to let me know it was time to get ready. By then, I was already feeling a bit sleepy—between being used to going to bed early and not sleeping well over the past couple of days, I was struggling to stay alert. Right before I left, I thought I caught a glimpse of Leah again, slipping into the dressing room. Strange. I didn't think much of it. Taking a deep breath, I made my way onto the stage. The moment the audience saw me, a buzz of conversation filled the room. "Oh wow, it's Evelyn Wiley. Does she even know how to play the piano? And she's the grand finale?" "She's so pretty, like one of those rich girls from a wealthy family." "Yeah, but just because she looks the part doesn't mean she can play. I bet she's not that good." The chatter an