Chapter 239
He’d never been lucky enough to watch Echo play live, but he had studied every video she posted online at least a hundred times. That one-of-a-kind technique, so flawless and distinctive, was simply impossible to copy. There was no doubt in his mind. This had to be the real Echo.
Charlotte took a nearly ten-minute piano piece and finished it in just five. When the last note faded, everyone in the room just stared, mouths open in disbelief.
“That sound… it’s exactly like Echo! I swear!”
“Can I just say it? I think she really is Echo. That was unreal!”
“Right? After hearing her, Olivia’s version honestly sounds awful.”
Before all this, Olivia thought Charlotte was just pretending to claim her mother’s piece, probably to ruin her. But now, her mind was spinning with just one question. How does Charlotte even know how to play piano? And why is she so good? Is she really Echo?
Charlotte finished playing and stood up, looking over at the staff not far away. “Can I have the original sheet music, please?”
The organizer met her sharp gaze and rushed to hand it over with both hands.
Watching Charlotte carefully study the manuscript, Olivia felt like she’d been dumped in a freezing cave, her whole body turning to ice.
“I already showed you all the mistakes in this score while I was playing just now,” Charlotte said calmly. “Now I’m going to prove it’s mine.”
She flashed a cool, confident smile. “Let’s do a handwriting test.”
Handwriting test? With both of them claiming the music was theirs, that was
probably the quickest and clearest way to figure out the truth.
Right after she spoke, the doors to the hall swung open, and three men in crisp suits walked in, carrying machines Someone in the crowe pointed them out. They were from the Cabinda Forensic Institute. Clearly, Echo had come ready for a showdown.
Guided by one of the staff, Charlotte sat down and neatly copied a passage onto a blank sheet of paper. A few seconds later, her. handwriting and the writing on the original score popped up
side-by-side on the big screen. Even people who knew nothing about handwriting could see it. The two matched. Easily over ninety percent.
Another staff member handed a pen to Olivia.
“Olivia, please copy the same passage onto this paper. We’ve got the equipment right here, and you’ll have the results in five minutes.”
Handwriting analysis. Equipment set up. Results in five minutes. It felt like she was being asked to let Charlotte slap her in the face, right in front of everyone.
No way. She couldn’t do it. If the results came out, her whole piano career would be over.
Olivia just stood there, frozen. Her face had gone white, and her hands shook so hard she couldn’t hide it.
The expert noticed her hesitation and spoke up. “This whole process is being recorded to make sure it’s fair. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
Someone in the audience called
out,
“Olivia, didn’t you just keep saying ‘Light’ was your own original work? Here’s your chance to prove it Why are you just standing there
A few others chimed in, “We’re all watching. No funny business is happening today.”