Chapter39 Π Instantly,thecrowdwasdiscussingeachother.Itoldyoumyshipisreal.NicolasandEmmaliearedefinitelytogether. LookatNicolasprotectingEmmalie.Imliterallydyingfromthefeels Theyredefinitelyinvolved.Nicolasneverlikesattendingeventslikethis,sowhyelsewouldhecome?ItstotallytohearEmmalieplaythepiano Nicolasraised ahandtostopthegossipandsaidseriously,Yes,itstrue,Idohaveafiancée Themomentthewordslefthismouth,Emmaliesface flushedbrightred.Shewastooembarrassedtoevenglanceinhis direction Thehost caughtonquicklyandtriedtomanagethe situation,suggestingthattheyperformtogether.ButthedeeperNicolasfrowngrew,theworsehise xpressionbecame Darwin,standingnearby,finallyintervenedwithahelplesssmile.WhatMr.Hendrixmeansis,hesengaged.Andjusttoclarify.EmmalieisnotMr.Hendrixsfiancée.Letsnotgetthingsconfused. ThoughDarwinstonewascasual, hiswordsfeltlikeaharshslapacrossEmmaliesface.Shestoodfrozen,momentarilyforgettingtocontrolherexpression wasntabouttoletheroffthateasily.Hiseyesswepttowardher,coolandbusinesslike.Ms.Rowland,itsbestnottoadunfoundedrumorslikethis.Itcould harmyourreputation. Nicolastonewaspurelyprofessional,withoutahintofblame,butEmmaliewasalreadytearingupfromthehumiliation.Shedug hernailsintoherpalms, tryingtosuppressthestormofemotionsbrewinginside. Forcingherselftoregaincomposure,Emmalieapologized,makingsuretokeepupappearances.Andthenshe saidcalmly, MeHendrix,aslongasthemisunderstandingisclearedup,thatsallthatmatters. ThiswassomethingTheatoldmeinprivate.Sheprobablywasntawareofthewholesituation.Shesjustexcitedforme,thatsall.Andshesharesitwithmein ahurry. Piesedontholdheraccountable.Itwouldmeanalottome. Thestandingnearby,feltutterlybewildered.Sometimes,evenshehadtoadmitEmmaliesshamelessnesswasimpressive.Shecouldliesosmoothly,withoutevenbatting an eye. NicolaslookedtowardThea,hisexpressionhardtoread.Ihavenointentionofholdingher responsibleforthis,hesaidcalmly. Hearingthat.Emunalevisibly relaxed,whilewhispersbegantocirculatethroughthecrowd . Iknewsomethingwasoff.Emmaliesalwaysbeensograceful .Nowaywouldshespreadrumorslikethat.ShewasprobablymaledbyTheaagain? Emalieissuchasweetheart.Howcan sheescapehertoxicsister?Itssodisgusting!Whatkindofsiblingkeeps scheming herownfamily? Attheonlyone whostillthinksNicolasandEmmaliecouldenduptogether?Havingafianceedoesntmeanhesmarriedyes? BoopitEmaliewouldneverinterferewithsomeonesrelationshipButhonestly,Iagree with you.Nicolasmighthavefeelingsfor her,buttheengagementisholdinghimback Hearingthe murm urs,Imunalestrugglestokeepherlipsfromcurvingnoasmile. 月 11:40Fri,Oct257. Chapter39 Alright,enough.Theastoodupsuddenly.Nowthatmysisterhasfinishedperforming,itsmyturn. Theaswordsweremetwith mockinglaughterfromthecrowd.AndEmmalieletoutasmall ,helplesslaughtoo.Thea,stopthis.IfIvedoneanythingwrong.Illapologize whenwegethome.Continuinglikethisisonlygoingtomakethingsworse .shesaid softly. Theadidntmove,hergazewascondescendingasshestaredatEmmalie.Thenshereplied,Imnotmakingascene.Imjusttellingthetruth.After all,Iwassupposedtobetheonelearningpiano. Ifyouhadntcriedandbeggedtotaketheopportunity.Idbetheonestandinginyourplacerightnow. Alright.Emmaliestonewasfilledwithpatience.Illagreetoanythingyousayifyoulljuststepdown. Meanwhile,thehostrusheduptothestagequickly,readytousherTheaoff. ButThearemainedwhereshe was,offeringacalmsmile.Emmalie,doyourememberyour master?Theoneyoutook fromme,sheasked. Emmaliesbrowfurrowed.Thea,thatsgoingtoo far.Celestepickedmeherselftobeherstudent.Eventhoughshesabroadnow,thatdoesntgiveyoutherighttospreadrumorsabouther Someoneinthecrowdcouldnthelpbutpipeup,LookslikeTheaslosthermindtoday Ithinksotoo.Shescompletelyoffherrocker. IseriouslyfeelbadforourEmmalie,dealingwiththis. Theasgazeshified,landingonaparticularfigureintheaudience.Agenuinesmilespreadacross herface.Celeste,I seeyoumadeit ThatonesentencedrainedallthecolorfromEmmaliesface. Anelderlywoman,hairstreakedwithgraybutstillcarryingherselfwithgrace,washelpedontothestage. Thenthecrowderuptedintowhispers.Manyoftheyoungeraudiencemembershadnoideawhoshewas,butanyonewithabitofknowledgeaboutclassical musicrecognizedherimmediately. ThatsCelesteArden,theworldrenownedpianist!someoneexclaimed. Shesoneofthegreatestpianistsalive.Whyisshecominghereanotheroneadded. Isntitobvious?Sheshereforherstarstudent,Emmalie.Everyoneknowsshesonlyevertakenonestudentunderher wing.andshetreatsherlikeherowndaughter,thethirdonereplied. PeoplestaredatTheaas ifwaitingfortheinevitable show.WithCelestestandingupforherbelovedstudent,whatcouldTheapossiblysay ? Celesteapproachedthestage,hergazesofteningasitlandedonThea.AndTheaofferedherthefirsttrulysinceresmileoftheday , steppingforwardtohelpherup. Celestedidntpullaway,thoughshesighedheavily.Youmadethatchoiceyourselfallthoseyears ago.Areyouregrettingitnow?sheasked. Theastayedsilent,buttheflickerofemotioninhereyes wastheanswerenough . Watchingtheirinteraction,theaudiencesuddenlyrealizedthat thesetwokneweachother Emmalieshot upfromherseatandhurriedtothestage,linkingarms withCelesteinadisplayofaffection.Withasweetsmile,shesaidinaplayfultone,Celeste,whydontyou tellme yourecoming? 2/3 11:40Fri,Oct25T. Chapter39 68% Iwouldvepreparedsomethingspecialforyou.Itssuchanhonortohave youhere,anditsthehighlightofmyday. Theasnortedatherperformance,remindingher.Emmalie,youshouldknowthat.Celestedoesntcomehereforyou. Emmaliebitherlip,caughtbetweenfrustrationandconfusion.Thenshesaid,Thea,itstruethatCelesteinitiallyagreedtotakeyouasastudentbecauseofthefamily.Butitwasyourchoicetoquit.Donttrytoblamemeforthatnow Theasmiledbutsaidnothing,hergazedriftingbacktoCeleste, Withoutanyoutwardshowofemotion,CelesteremovedherarmfromEmmaliesgraspgently.Sheasked,hertoneicy.Emmalic.haveyouforgottenwhatItoldyou? AnylasthopeEmmaliehadclungtovanishedinaninstant.Herfingersdugintoherpalmspainfully,bloodwellingupunderhernails. Emmalieforcedasmile,replying,Celeste,whateverit is,wecantalklater.Theremustbeamisunderstanding.Dontletanyoutsiderscauseariftbetweenus. Theaclearlyheardthepassiveaggressioninherwords.Sheblinked,givingEmmalieasoftsmile.Areyoutalking aboutme?Youkeepcallingmeyoursisterandsaywerefamily.Sohowcould Ipossiblybeconsideredanoutsider? BB