Chapter 38 68 AsEmmaliewalkedout,someoneoutsidewasalreadyurginghertohurry.Shegrabbedthemusic sheetfromthetableandliftedherdressslightlyasshemadeher way.Passing byThea,shecouldnthelpbutshouldercheckherhard. Watchingherstormoff,Theasmiledfaintlybeforeheadingbacktothestage. However,thestaffdidntprepareaseatforher.Instead,withabitofimpatience,oneofthempointedtoachaironstage.saying ,Seethatseatontheleft?ThatsspeciallyreservedforyoubyMs. Shesaidyourestillhersister,andhavingyousitbesideherduringtheperformancemightletyoushareabitofthespotlight. Sharingthespotlightwasntreallytheissue.Emmaliehadalreadypreparedafloodofpressreleasesfromthepreviousday.twistingtheconfrontationbetweenherandTheaattheparty. Inthestories,Emmaliewasonceagainportrayedasthehelpless,beautiful,andgracefulpianomasterwhowasleftintears,andbulliedbyThea. Now,havingTheasitnexttoherduringtheperformanceessentiallyturnedEmmalieintothecontrasttheaudiencecould. focuson WhileEmmaliebaskedinthepraise ,Theawouldbetheonetoreceivetheridicule. Inthepast,TheawouldneverhavegonealongwithEmmaliesgames,buttoday,shewasoddlylookingforwardtoi Thanksforthegreatseat,Emmalie.Give meaperfectviewtowatchtheshow,shethought. Smilingatthestaff,Theasaid,Gotit.Thenshemadeherwayontothestageconfidently. Atthatmoment,Emmalie,alldressedtotheninesandradiant,steppedontothestageaswell.Thetwosistersappearingat sametimecausedastirinthecrowd. the Emmaliehadalookofsurpriseanddiscomfort,actingas ifshehadnoideaTheawouldbethere.ShekeptglancingatTheoutofthecornerofhereyeasifstrugglingtofindtherightwords. Theawasntinterestedinwatchingherlittleactandletoutasoftchuckle.Whatstheholdup,Emmalie?Hurryupandstartplaying,everyoneswaiting. ThisonlycementedTheasreputationasthevillain.Andeveryonestartedtoremark. WTF,whatsherproblem? Yeah,whyissheupthere?ThisissupposedtobeEmmaliesmoment. Shesjustjealousofhersistergettingthespotlight.Cantstandbeingupstaged. Iheardtheuniversitydidntevenwantherheretoday.Shemadeasceneattheentrance,andEmmálie,beingthekindsoul sheis,allowedherin. Shethinksbeingrudeiscool?Please,shesembarrassingherself Ignoringthesnideremarksfromthecrowd.ThealookedatEmmaliewitha mockingsmile.Whatswrong?Forgothowtoplay?Doyouneedmetogiveyouafewpointers? Emmaliebitherlip,tryingtoholdbackherfrustration,butintheend,shecould onlyletout alongsigh. Theas smilegrew.Howdelicateandinnocentyou look,Emmalie.Iwonderifyoullbeabletokeepthat composurelater! 1/3 40Fri,Oct25 Chapter38 Emmaliccomposedherselfandbeganplaying,herdelicatefingersdancingacrossthepianokeysgracefully.Themelodious.notes flowedthroughtheairasshesatperfectlypoised underthespotlight,seeminglyglowingfromheadtotoe. TheaudiencestaredatEmmalieinawe Meanwhile.Theasgazeremainedcold.Thiswassupposedtobemystage.WhydoesEmmaliegettosittheresocomfortably,soakinginallthepraiseshethought. Whenthepieceended,thehostquicklytookthestagetoengageEmmaliewithafewquestionsbeforeturningtoThea.Histonebecamesharpasheasked,Ms.Rowland,asEmmaliessisterwhatsyourreasonforcominguphere!Areyoutryingtogetmoreattentionforyourself? Assoonasthehostfinishedspeaking,muffledlaughterspreadthroughtheaudience.Peoplewatchedherwitheyesfullofdisdainracerforthedrama. BeforeTheacouldrespond.Emmalieinterjectedquickly.MysisterdidntmeantoShesjustworriedaboutme,thatsall.Andourfamilyunderstandsherbehavior,soplease,donttake ittoheart. TearswelledupinEmmalieseyesasifsheweretryinghard nottocry.Shelookedlikesomeonewhohadbeenwrongedbutwastookindtospeakup,andthecrowdsangerturnedtoragequickly. LookslikeThrasbeenbullyingEmmalieathomeforalongtime Rememberallthestuffshepulledbefore?Sonofabitch!Itsdisgusting! Couldshebekickedoutoftheuniversity?Look,Emmaliewashavingagreatday,andnowitsruinedbecauseofher. GetourGetout? EmmalieapproachedandtookTheashand gently,pretendingtobeconcerned.Thea,Ithinkeveryonesgettingalittleupset.Maybeyoushouldgo.Dontworry,Illexplaineverythingtothem EventhehostcouldnthelpbutjumpintodefendEmmalie.McRowland,thisisyourstage.Whyareyougoingoutofyourwaytoexplaintosomeoneelse?Youretookindforyourowngood.Itseasyforpeopletotakeadvantageofthat, Emmalieshookherheadrepeatedly.No,no,mysisterisntbullyingme.Shejusthasabitofatemper Thepulledherhandbackandletout a coldlaugh.Leave? Ivegot thickskin.Idontmindthenoise.Besides,wasntthisseatarrangedformebymydearlittlesister? Theacontinued,hervoicetakingonamockingedge.But thewayyouretalking,itsalmost likeIforcedyou tosetitup . Emalieseyeswidenedindisbelief.Why wouldyousaythat.Thea?WerentyoutheonewhoinsistedLarrangeitforyourIvebeendefendingyouinfrontofeveryone,andyourestillnotsatisfied!Doyoureallyneedtohumiliateme infront of them? Tes.Ido.Theaadmitted withasmirkcasuallyHowdyouknowthatsexactlywhatIwant?Goahead,cryformeitImakemefeelbetter Somoneinthecrowdcouldnttakeitanymoreandthrewsomethingatthestage .Thetensionintheroom escalated,withpeopleshenatingforThemtoleave EversinceEnumalehadreturnedtotheKowlandfamily.Theahadbe enlivinginaworldwhere noonebelievedherInthis ledworldwhoserplayedthevictuswasalwaysseenasthereinthenight ButpastthethecrudellBestsuddenlyGagsofsurpriserippledthroughthe audienceasNastaseineswithagroupwatingifinthetroutrowconfidently theassharpgatesweetastheratbefolgontheagewherehesawThestandingallaloneHisaps 2/8 11:40Fri,Oct25uu. Chapter38 「盘味零68% pressedintoathinline,andhisvoicewascold.Isthiswhatyoucallaperformance?Whatkindofchaosisthis? Nicolas!Emmalieseyeslitupasshesawhim,andsheseemedreadytoruntohisside,thoughsomethingheldherback.Theloveandlonginginhereyeswereunmistakableasshe lookedathim. ButNicolasdidntrespond.HisfocusremainedfixedonThea. Theahadfallensilentsince Nicolasarrived,avoidinghisgazeasacomplicatedemotionflickeredinhereyes.Whyishehere?ForEmmalie?shewondered. Thoughour relationshipisonlyonpaper ,werestillmarried.HowcouldhecomeheretosupportEmmaliewithoutconsideringhowfuriousitwouldmakeme?Theathought. ThemoreTheathoughtaboutit,themoreupsetshebecame.Withoutsparinghimasingleglance,shedecidedtoignoreNicolascompletely. Toeveryone,though,thisstrangeinteractionbetweenthethreeofthemseemedtosuggestsomethingentirely different.