Chapter4
The room fell silent.
Under the protection of the man in the burgundy suit, I successfully finished the piano piece.
Thunderous applause erupted.
Everyone ignored Feryal’s dark expression and rushed over to praise me.
“Ms. Reid, you’re amazing! Why didn’t you show off your piano skills at your anniversary celebration two years ago?”
“The second half was brilliant–I swear I saw afterimages of your fingers!”
I rose gracefully, smiling as I addressed the
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5 Points
guests.
“The Holmes Family has a rule. Women who marry into the family must devote themselves entirely to their husbands, giving up any personal career…”
I paused, turning my gaze to Shayden’s ashen face, feeling a wave of satisfaction.
“But the most important reason is that my husband doesn’t like me playing the piano. He says it’s too noisy.”
In the first year of our marriage, I had found an old, abandoned piano in the storage room at home. Unable to resist, I played a cheerful tune.
Shayden exploded with anger, yelling that my music
was noisy and jarring, and that it
could never compare to Feryal’s.
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I was deeply hurt. After that day, I never returned to that storage room.
A hand rested on my shoulder. Kenton Feron raised an eyebrow at me, his casual, playful demeanor on full display.
His large hand enveloped mine, pressing it lightly against the keys to play a single note.
“Sis–in–law, your teaching is impeccable- even a tone–deaf guy like me feels inspired to learn the piano now.”
My ears burned slightly. I didn’t dare look up at him.
“Be serious.”
In all my time with Shayden, he had never complimented me.
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Kenton’s casual praise left me unprepared, unsure of how to respond.
He and Shayden were half–brothers, sharing the same father but different mothers. Kenton carried his mother’s surname.
Before I married Shayden, Kenton often followed me around, striking up conversations.
Sometimes he complimented my hairstyle, other times my clothes, or my piano skills.
I had always found him too smooth–talking, like a frivolous playboy, and kept my distance.
After my wedding, he disappeared.
The night before he left, he whispered
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something in my ear. “Whenever you need me, I’ll come to you immediately.”
I never thought those words would still hold true now.
“I don’t care what anyone else thinks. To me, your music is top–notch!”
“Sis–in–law, you’re incredible~ If it weren’t for that scumbag ruining your career, you’d already be a world–class pianist!”
Sensing my unease, Kenton wrapped his arms around me, gently patting my back as if to lend me strength.
“Hold your head up. Be confident. If you don’t believe in yourself, at least believe in my judgment, won’t you?”
“Sis–in–law, you’ve been my muse for years.”
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A sudden gasp came from the crowd.
“I just realized who he is–Nightfall! He’s Nightfall!”
“Her red dress is actually a Nightfall design…”
“I told you the black diamonds on her dress looked familiar, just like Nightfall’s signature elements, but you didn’t believe me.”
“But how did these two end up together?”
I turned to Kenton in surprise.
“Didn’t you say you were Nightfall’s fri
That morning, when he handed me the gown, those were his exact words.
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Kenton gave me a helpless look and tapped me lightly on the forehead.
“If I’d told you the truth, you would’ve run off faster than a rabbit.”
Looking at his playful, nonchalant expression, I wasn’t entirely convinced.
Could he have lied about this just to back me up?
He was the illegitimate son of the Holmes Family, long ostracized by them.
If he truly were Nightfall, how could he have restrained himself all these years without taking revenge on the family?
I opened my mouth to say more, but Kenton straightened my shoulders, cutting me off.
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“Alright, my dear muse, we have more pressing matters to attend to.”
“There’s still a scumbag and a snake that need dealing with.”
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