Chapter 17
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“Mr. Brooke! We found her! We saw her name on the contestant list for a music competition. We’ve confirmed it multiple times–she’s in Veloria!”
The moment the news came through, Theodore was overjoyed. He immediately arranged a private jet to
Veloria.
The day he landed happened to be the very day Clarisse was taking part in the competition.
He could not help but think back to the beginning. How he had fallen for her at first sight, watching her shine beneath the stage lights as she played the piano.
And now, as if fate had looped back on itself, there he was again, as though God had decided to give him.
another chance to start over.
He swore to himself. This time, he would not let Clarisse suffer, not even the slightest bit!
Theodore changed into the same white suit he had worn back then, arms full of a bouquet of fresh, vibrant roses. Just like before, he was ready to confess to her again, right after her performance.
He wanted to remind her of what he once was with this suit and bouquet–how he had given up everything just to have her.
He believed that once she saw him like this again, she would be moved. She would remember what they
had and come back to him. After all, Clarisse loved him ever so deeply.
Full of confidence, he entered the concert hall and took the best seat in the audience. His heart was
pounding wildly as he waited for Clarisse to appear.
The lights dimmed, and the hall fell silent. A single spotlight landed on the grand piano and the center of
the stage.
Then, Clarisse walked out. She wore a simple white satin gown. Under the glow of the spotlights, her features looked calm and serene, yet her gaze was filled with confidence and strength.
Theodore’s eyes never left her, not for a second. It carried love, longing, and the sheer joy of seeing her again after thinking he had lost her forever.
His mind raced back to the first time he had seen her, but no, the Clarisse standing there now was even
more dazzling than before–so much so that he could hardly look away.
Applause rippled through the audience, but to Theodore, all sound disappeared except for the wild thumping of his own heartbeat. His eyes drank in the sight of her glowing under the spotlight, and all he wanted was to rush up and hold her in his arms.
He tightened his grip on the bouquet, imagining how they would reunite after the competition.
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However, on the stage, Clarisse did not sit down at the piano right away. Instead, she turned slightly, glancing toward backstage. A soft, familiar smile curled at the corners of her lips–relaxed and full of trust.
Then, Zachary walked out.
He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black tailcoat, his figure tall and poised and his presence warm yet commanding. He walked straight to Clarisse’s side. They exchanged a look and a smile–no words, just mutual understanding.
The two of them sat together at the piano.
The moment four hands touched the black–and–white keys, melody flowed like a waterfall. The audience sat in silence, swept up in the sheer beauty of the performance.
Only Theodore remained frozen in his seat. His blood turned to ice. The world around him seemed to go mute. All he could see were Clarisse and Zachary’s seamless movements and their chemistry together.
They were sitting so close that their arms and shoulders brushed. The way their fingers moved in sync on the keys and the way they exchanged glances and smiles were unbearably intimate.
Jealousy and dread exploded inside him, burning through every nerve in his body. He stared at the stage, at Clarisse’s joy and the way she seemed completely focused beside Zachary.
They looked perfect together.
The scene hit him like a blade straight through his chest.
His white suit, his carefully prepared rose–what were they worth compared to this? How laughable they seemed in front of her and Zachary.
Panic swept over him like a tidal wave. What did he have to offer? How could he possibly compare with
Zachary?
He did not understand music. He had once spent months learning just enough to play a clumsy version of “Für Elise” for Clarisse. Back then, what had moved her was his passion and his persistent love.
But now? He had broken promises, again and again. He had hurt her, again and again, for the sake of a
child that was not even his.
How much space could possibly be left for him in her heart? What could he possibly offer to make her
come back?
Theodore’s mind spun out of control. All the confidence he had carried with him was gone. All that
remained was cold, bottomless fear.
Finally, the piece ended. Thunderous applause filled the hall.
Clarisse and Zachary stood and bowed together, side by side, amid the roar of cheers and whistles.
As she rose, Zachary naturally reached out to steady her by the arm. His actions were gracious and
Chapter 17
intimate. Clarisse smiled in return, and together, they stepped off the stage.
Theodore could no longer sit still.
3/3
That rising fear and the unbearable feeling that he might truly, permanently lose her sent him surging to his feet. Ignoring the looks around him, he clutched the roses and pushed his way backstage in a stumble.
Frantic, he scanned the crowd until finally, in a quiet corner, he spotted Clarisse.
She was facing slightly away from him, looking up at Zachary and speaking to him softly. Her eyes sparkled with ease and warm joy.
And Zachary leaned in slightly as he listened intently. His gaze was gentle, and the corners of his lips
curled in a faint smile.
They stood close. The connection between them felt so natural. It was as though the rest of the world
had been sealed off entirely.
The tenderness of that moment pierced Theodore’s eyes like a blade.
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Chapter 18
