Bound Hearts: My Vows to My Disabled Spouse

Chapter 197 Vicky's Machinations

On the following morning, Elyse woke up feeling stiff and sore all over.

Descending the stairs, she noticed Jayden was nowhere to be seen and inquired, "Is Jayden in the study?"

Driscoll shook his head and offered her a glass of water. "He left early this morning. Do you need him for

something important?"

Pausing her hand from massaging her waist, Elyse gave an awkward smile and replied, "No, it was just a casual

question."

She drank the water quickly and then moved to the dining room for breakfast. After eating, she grabbed her

violin case and headed off to the rehearsal room.

Upon arriving, Elyse immediately felt a shift in the atmosphere. The other members seemed to regard her with

unusual expressions, which left her puzzled.

As she was tuning her violin, an object dropped from the stand beside her. She picked it up,

handing it back to its owner, who snatched it quickly and retreated from her.

This strange behavior only deepened Elyse's confusion. Why were they acting so distant and wary around her?

When Freddy walked in, he immediately noticed the tension

surrounding Elyse. With a serious demeanor, he approached her and said, "Cout for a

moment. | have something to tell you."

Elyse stood and followed him out of the room.

Once outside, Freddy shared his concerns. "You've been targeted by Vicky. She sent a message

in the group chat of our orchestra last night, urging everyone to isolate you. Vicky is quite

influential here, and nobody wants to cross her." Freddy's face was etched with worry. Elyse was at a loss for

words, and for a moment, they just looked at < each other in silence.

Darren approached them, breaking the quiet with a hint of encouragement. "This just shows that Vicky is scared

she might not measure up to you."

Elyse responded with a mixture of resignation and indifference. "I don't mind, as long as it doesn't interfere with

my life."

Darren's expression turned scornful. "I used to have respect for Vicky. She's talented, albeit a bit distant, and |

thought she wasn't a bad person. It seems | was mistaken."

"Let it go. Let's get back to practice. The tour is what really matters." Elyse quickly cto terms with the

situation. She didn't dwell on Vicky's machinations.

What truly mattered to Elyse was her performance and winning the future competitions. In Abram's office.

Vicky paced restlessly, her phone pressed against her ear. "Even after everyone has isolated

Elyse, she seems to be practicing on her own as if nothing is unusual," someone said on the other end of the

line.

In response to the report, a flicker of frustration crossed Vicky's face. "And what about her friends? Are they

distancing themselves from her?" she asked sharply, her tone tinged with impatience. "And what about her

friends? Are they distancing themselves from her?" she asked sharply, her tone tinged with impatience.

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"The opposite, actually," the informant replied, voice tinged with hesitation. "They haven't heeded

your call at all. They're interacting with her just as they always have."

With a curt goodbye, Vicky snapped the phone shut and began to chew on her fingernail, her mind racing as she

paced back and forth.

The previous evening's request to Abram for the competition video replayed in her mind, a move driven by a

sudden, nagging doubt about her own superiority.

It was the first tshe had scrutinized her rival's performance post- competition, and the realization that

dawned was chilling: had Elyse not faltered, the first-place trophy might have been Elyse's.

This single thought muddled Vicky's confidence, casting long shadows over her celebrated prowess.

Vicky, the violin virtuoso who had never known defeat, felt a crack in her armor. The specter of Elyse, an enigma

wrapped in modesty- loomed large, unsettling her.

That night, as shadows crept across her walls, Vicky wrestled with a gnawing unease that clung tighter than a

second skin.

Why wasn't Elyse anxious or afraid? Did Elyse not see her as a worthy opponent?

The thought rankled Vicky, fueling her determination to undermine Elyse's

composure.

After all, she refused to feel the pressure alone.

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just a click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading! But despite Vicky's efforts to isolate her, Elyse

remained unperturbed, much to Vicky's frustration.

It seemed that no matter what Vicky did, Elyse remained steadfast in her resolve.

Just then, the door to the office swung open, and Darren strode in.

Vicky turned to face him, her expression tight with annoyance. "Mr. Ellsworth isn't here. You can cback

later," she said curtly.

"Actually, I'm here for you," Darren replied, his tone tinged with disdain. "But seriously, are you a child? What's

with this petty gof isolating Elyse? | don't get it. You've never been this vindictive before, have you?"

Vicky's sneer was sharp as she eyed Darren. "Did Elyse send you? You seem quite concerned about her. Though,

I've heard she's married. You might be wasting your time."

Darren's face flushed with anger at the insinuation. "I'm just here to talk to you. You didn't even lose the

competition, so why this hostility?"

"How could a loser like you understand what drives me?" Vicky shot back, her voice rising. Darren inhaled

deeply, trying to maintain his composure. "We've known each other for years, Vicky. I'm advising you not to push

this too far. We're all part of the sorchestra. If you keep this up, you'll lose the respect of our peers."

"I'm the protégé of Mr. Ellsworth. No one will dare disrespectunless they don't care about their position!"

Vicky retorted with disdain, dismissing Darren's concerns.

Darren was left momentarily speechless by her arrogance. Shaking his head, he finally said, "I've said all | can.

The rest is up to you."