Chapter 8 Narissa's silence was a total misread . The crowd figured she'd never even heard of the great " Melissa ." And man , did that set them off . " Narissa , you're totally clueless about ' Melissa ,' the world - famous masked pianist , aren't you ? That blank stare says it all . Let me break it down ! " one guy blurted , practically buzzing . " Melissa's a total mystery . No one knows her deal . Always wears a veil , and her improv ? Pure magic , " another chimed in , smirking . " She stole the show at the Krisa Party . Piano pros call her the Rolls - Royce of the music world . Yo , you're shook , right ? " Narissa didn't say a word . She couldn't believe it . One little tune to slip through a mission , and now she was some mythic icon . Narissa rubbed her temple . " It's just a song , guys , " she said , voice cool as ice . The crowd wasn't having it . Especially Cressida . Cressida stood there , arms crossed , smirking like she was waiting for Narissa to swoon over her idol . Then she'd throw some shade and put this nobody in her place . To her , a gold - digger like Narissa didn't belong in the Everton family's league . But Narissa's chill " just a song " line ? Oh , that was a match to dynamite . Cressida's fists clenched , knuckles white . " Just a song ? " Cressida snapped . " You're so out of your league ! Talking big like you get it - you don't know jack ! Fine , hotshot , play something ! " ' Total bluff . Cressida was seething , ready to watch Narissa flop . She expected Narissa to back down , embarrassed . But Narissa's next words hit like a gut punch . " Alright . Let's do this , " Narissa said , flashing a cocky , eat - your - heart - out grin . She strutted toward the piano room . Her steps were smooth , almost feral , like a fox stalking through fire . The way Narissa carried herself - chin up , radiating swagger - had everyone staring . For one crazy second , Cressida swore she saw the Krisa Party footage : a veiled woman , dress flowing , owning the stage with that same untouchable aura . ' No way : Cressida shook her head . ' Am I nuts ? Linking Narissa to Melissa ? That is wild . Meanwhile , Narissa stopped at the piano , cool as ever , with every eye in the room on her . " Pfft ! " someone scoffed . " Let's see her crash and burn . " 1/3 Aug D X 1 +15 Chapter 8 " What , she gonna play ' Twinkle Twinkle ' with one finger ? TikTok's got tutorials for that ," another mocked . " Hah ! " The crowd was buzzing , dead certain Narissa was about to bomb . Narissa plopped onto the piano bench , one foot resting easy on the pedal , her body leaning slightly with a cool , effortless vibe . Before long , the crowd's teasing chatter and playful jabs filled the air . nning Then , Narissa's fingers hit the keys , spinning out a melody - smoother , more enchanting than Cressida's earlier piece . The notes flowed soft and light , hushing the room in a heartbeat . Snickers ? Gone . Suddenly , boom . That dreamy tune flipped . Narissa's hands flew across three octaves in a bold , electric leap . The music turned fierce - intense , pulsing , alive . It slammed into everyone like a tidal wave , raw emotion crashing straight into their hearts . Faces froze . Eyes popped . The sound roared like a waterfall , charged like a stampeding herd , soared like climbing a sacred. peak , and hit like a king seizing the crown . When the last note - a gentle , trickling whisper - faded , Narissa eased her hands off the keys with quiet confidence . The crowd stood stunned , too dazed to blink . That piece was that the legendary banger by the masked pianist " Melissa " . Narissa had just slayed it . And not just slayed - she owned it . Every high , every low , every shift was pure fire , bursting with soul . Cressida's earlier try paled next to Narissa's vibe , which felt as good as - no , better than - Melissa's own . " It's … it's better than Melissa's improv , " a piano - savvy girl in the crowd gasped . " Like Melissa herself showed up and perfected it ! " Jaws dropped . Cressida , Melissa's biggest fangirl , knew those melodies cold . But this shook her . The way Narissa's pinky tilted on those soft notes ? Straight - up identical to Melissa's style at the Krisa Party . Coincidence ? As