Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 43

At dinner, she heard Mara say to Lacey Quinn Mercer in a whiny, singsong voice, “Why isn’t Damon back yet? I’m so worried I won’t pass.”

Lacey stroked her hair. “Honey, relax. Just perform like you normally do. Damon said that at your current level, you’ll have no problem with the auditions.”

She always had endless patience for Mara. Mira had to admit, Mara had a real talent for winning people over.

“But I’m still scared.”

Lacey thought for a moment. “Mira, your piano skills are so good. Why don’t you take the talent portion of the audition for your sister?”

Mira and Mara were twins and practically spitting images of each other. Strangers usually couldn't tell them apart unless they were standing side-by-side.

Mira shot them a look. “I'm not interested in cheating.”

“Is that any way to talk to your mother, young lady?” Adrian Mercer snapped.

Mira ignored them, lowered her head to eat, and went to her room to rest afterward.

These past few days, she had been completely focused on the auditions. At home, when Mara provoked Lacey into starting trouble, Mira couldn't be bothered to engage as long as it was nothing serious.

***

The next day, Mira and her friends went to the audition venue as scheduled.

The second round would cut the one hundred contestants down to fifty.

Mira won her spot with a classical dance and a song.

Mira and Celine passed, but Liora didn’t.

It wasn't a big deal. For a beginner, Liora had done well just to get through the first round.

She was a good sport, having come mostly to watch and cheer on her friends anyway.

The third round would select the top twenty. This time, the competition was much tougher, and Mira had to take it seriously.

Each round had a different set of judges, and the judges for the third round were of a much higher professional caliber than the previous two.

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