Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 215: "Even Brielle said her first line was amazing! Rosanna's got this locked down!"

"As long as Maia keeps quiet, Rosanna's moving on for sure!"

However, just as the atmosphere began to brighten, Brielle paused - and then continued speaking.

"However," Brielle began, her voice calm but firm, "it's a pity your performance came off too rigid, laced with unnecessary vibrato and missing the emotional core. Your grasp of the song and its arrangement was, frankly, off the mark. Rosanna, do you see what I'm getting at?" She paused briefly, letting her words sink in before continuing, "At the heart of this song lies the sorrow of parting, the ache of promises left unfulfilled, and the tender hope for a shared future. Yet you… you were merely 'singing.' No heartstrings were pulled, no emotions stirred."

As Brielle's critique landed, the judges around her, save for Maia, nodded in agreement like trees swaying in the breeze.

"I do agree with Ms. Hinks' comments. This observation is dead-on. Only the original singer can truly draw out the spirit of this piece."

"Exactly. 'One More Day' is a bittersweet farewell to the present and the past, wrapped in a fragile hope for tomorrow. There's a delicate emotional transition embedded in it, and Rosanna's chorus didn't even come close."

"An overuse of vibrato, notes stretched too tight, and forced high pitches strangled the emotion right out of it. She knows the techniques, no doubt, but she wielded them like a novice."

Meanwhile, the host stood by, nodding earnestly.

At the center of the stage, Rosanna stood frozen, her face drained of color, her expression stiff as stone.

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In an instant, the internet lit up like wildfire with voices echoing Brielle's sentiment.

"The Queen of Pop proves her worth. Brielle's critique cuts right to the bone!"

"No wonder something felt off! A lyrical ballad stripped of feeling - it's like a river without water!"

"Singing 'One More Day' before its original singer? That's like showing a lantern to the sun! I'm starting to doubt if those masked singer videos weren't just polished magic tricks. If she were truly that good, even Brielle would've risen to her feet in applause!"

"But if Rosanna isn't the masked singer… then who is?"

Back on stage, the host turned to Rosanna, inviting her response to Brielle's razor-sharp critique.

Rosanna's fingers dug so tightly into her palms that it was a wonder no blood was drawn.

She had poured her heart into it. It had sounded so good - how could it have lacked emotion?

"Thank you, Ms. Hinks, for your insights," she said stiffly. "But… there are still parts I don't quite understand."

Just then, the host's earpiece crackled to life. She listened intently, nodded several times, then turned back to Brielle with a bright smile. "Ms. Hinks, the director just informed us that both the audience here and those watching at home are eager for you to show how it's truly done. Would you be willing to sing 'One More Day' for us?" The mere suggestion sent the online world into a frenzy.

However, Brielle merely smiled warmly and turned to the host. "With such a heartfelt invitation, how could I possibly decline? I can sing," she said, pausing deliberately, "but tonight, I'm not the one best suited for it."

She gazed straight into the camera, her meaning clear as daylight. "Everyone knows 'One More Day' was composed and written by K. And the only person who can truly breathe its full soul into life… is K." The hint could not have been heavier if it had been spelled out in neon lights. With Maia present, Brielle would not steal the master's thunder. "If there's to be a demonstration," Brielle added lightly, "it should be K."

As her words echoed through the hall, the audience stirred like leaves in a sudden gust. The once-boisterous hall fell into a stunned silence. Every pair of eyes turned, almost magnetically, toward Maia.

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