Chapter_19
Chapter 19
“A nursery rhyme?!” The crowd erupted in laughter.
“Alana, you’re too kind,” Alondra remarked sarcastically. “I’m not sure if she could even manage a nursery rhyme…”
“Emmeline, ignore them!” Julianna called out, her voice ringing with a sense of superiority. “It’s no big deal if you can’t play the piano! After all, you gave me three grandchildren!”
Rosaline shot a venomous glare at Julianna, who had indirectly insulted Abel for not being able to have more children than Adrien.
“Hmm, let me give it a go, since it’s a party after all!” Emmeline said, trying to keep the situation light.
“Go on! You could try ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ or ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb,’” Alana goaded her cousin with a false sweetness.
Emmeline sighed inwardly but sat at the piano, pushing her long locks of hair away from her face. She placed her fingers on the keys, hesitating for a moment. The first few notes she played were indeed the familiar beginning of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” but they sounded awkward and out of rhythm.
Alana’s eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction, savoring the awkwardness as the crowd began to jeer. But just as Emmeline stumbled through the song, her fingers suddenly picked up speed, flowing into a smooth, tuneful melody. Without warning, she was playing “A Comme Amour,” a famous piece by Richard Clayderman. The melody started off soft and playful, but Emmeline’s touch deepened, the music building into a more melancholic climax, resonating with an emotional power that filled the room.
The crowd fell silent. Every person present was mesmerized, their eyes locked on Emmeline as her fingers danced across the piano keys, weaving the beautiful piece into the air. Abel Ryker, too, was completely entranced. He had seen world-class pianists perform, but none had ever made an impression like Emmeline. Her playing was effortless, as if the music flowed from her soul rather than just her fingers.
Abel was drawn to her, compelled to stand by her side. He walked over and stood close, his eyes fixed on Emmeline. She smiled up at him, her hands never missing a beat, still playing the piece flawlessly. Abel’s heart raced as he gazed at her from this angle—her doe-eyed gaze and long, fluttering lashes that haunted his thoughts at night.
Alana, on the other hand, was seething with frustration. This wasn’t how she had imagined the night going. She had thought she would humiliate Emmeline, but instead, her cousin had captivated the room with a performance far superior to anything Alana could dream of.
As the song reached its emotional peak, Abel hesitated for a moment, then gently placed his hand on the keyboard, silently asking Emmeline if he could join her. She gave him a subtle nod, and together, they played the final notes in perfect harmony.
The room erupted into applause, but Alana’s anger was palpable. Not only had Emmeline outshone her at the piano, but now she had also shared a moment of intimacy with Abel that left the crowd cheering for them both. The guests were raving, while Alana stood, her face flushed with humiliation.
“Emmeline!” Alana stormed toward her cousin, her voice thick with fury. “How dare you seduce my fiancé?!” She raised her hand, ready to slap Emmeline across the face, but before she could strike, Abel’s hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, stopping her mid-motion.
He pushed her away from Emmeline, his voice cold and commanding. “Watch your words. We were never engaged to begin with.”
“Abel…” Alana’s voice quivered, a mix of confusion and anger.
“Don’t speak to me so casually!” Abel snapped, his tone full of disdain.
“Mr… Mr. Ryker,” Alana stammered, holding back tears as the crowd watched her public humiliation unfold. She bit her lip in frustration but had one last card to play. With a fake smile, she covered her face with her hand and turned away, retreating to the back of the house.
Moments later, the chandelier lights dimmed, and a violinist began to play “Happy Birthday” as hundreds of candles flickered to life in the hall. The crowd clapped in excitement as a clown pushed a trolley with an extravagant four-tier birthday cake toward the center of the room.
“It’s time for the birthday girl, Ms. Alana Lane, to make a wish!” Alondra announced with exaggerated enthusiasm. “Then we’ll all get to enjoy some delicious cake afterward!”
Alana reappeared at the cake’s side, putting on her best smile. “Thank you all once again for coming tonight! The party will be livestreamed, so the entire Struyria can join my birthday celebration as well!” She beamed, and a camerawoman began filming.
The clown lit the candles on the cake and, with a dramatic gesture, invited Alana to blow them out. Emmeline’s gaze, however, was fixed on the clown. There was something vaguely familiar about him, but she couldn’t quite place it.
“Hmph, the candles are too high up,” Alana said in a voice laced with mock helplessness. “Why don’t you get down on the floor and let me climb on you so I can reach them?”
The clown hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with the request. But Alana wasn’t deterred. “Don’t you want to get paid tonight?” she chuckled. “I’m not paying you if you ruin this party’s mood!” she threatened, her smile venomous.
The clown, after a brief pause, finally kneeled down, assuming a crawling position. Alana, without a hint of shame, stepped on his back, using him as a prop to reach the candles.
“Roll the cameras!” Alana winked at the camerawoman, and the audience clapped, caught up in the absurdity of the scene.
As Alana made her wish and blew out the candles, Emmeline couldn’t tear her eyes away from the clown. Something in her gut twisted painfully. The clown’s movements seemed so familiar, and as he bent over, Emmeline’s heart shattered. Why did the clown remind her of…?
The answer lingered just out of reach, but it was enough to make her stomach turn. Something was terribly wrong.
