Chapter 9
As soon as the thought crossed his mind. Hayden brushed it aside. No, back then, Yvonne was still in the country. The one who stayed by my side should have been Joanna
“But Yvonne’s performance is really shocking. She seems to have transformed completely, no longer the woman I remember–always in tears, using our parents‘ authority to threaten me.
me point, the entire venue fell silent. Everyone held their breath, soaking in the lively music. It wasn’t grand or sweeping but it had a unique warmth that captivated everyone. Even when the piece ended, the crowd still stayed lost in thought,
1 rose slowly, and suddenly, applause pierced the silence from the audience. I instinctively searched for its source. In the dim light, Marion was facing my way–could he be the one clapping!
Right then, as if led by Markin, the crowd caught on and joined in. In a heartbeat, the venue burst into cheers and applause.
“Absolutely incredible! 1 didn’t expect Mrs. Parker to be so talented.
“Never knew she had this in her.”
“Truly, appearances can be deceiving. Mr. Parker is really lucky!”
I caught snippets of those comments and couldn’t help but think these folks were just opportunistic. Just a moment a me embarrass myself; now they were calling me Mrs. Parker with respect?
ago, they seemed eager to see
Lucy was the first to rush over and grab my arm, her smile as bright as ever, “Yvonne, that was a stunning performance. You were absolutely radiant up there, and you had everyone completely captivated!
“Let’s go,” I said, and we made our way offstage together. Right away, I noticed Nevin, looking a bit pale.
“Someone’s about to lose his head. Well, didn’t you just say you’d show her some respect? Lucy said, not missing Nevin’s pale face. Decapitating him might be a bit drastic, but a litle respect was definitely disable.
Nevin trembled, shooting me a reluctant glance. “You’re lying Why did you claim you couldn’t play before?”
“I never said I couldn’t.” I met his gaze colilly.
“You! Nevin, realizing he had messed up, didn’t want to lose face in from of everysine. He quickly turned to Hayden for support. “Look at Yvonne. She’s just stirring up trouble.”
Hayden, who usually had Nevin’s back, shot him a glare and snapped, “Enough! Isn’t this humiliating enough for you?”
Nevin clammed up right away.
I was a bit surprised, but I didn’t dwell on it. Knowing Nevin would definitely bite his words, I turned to Hayden and asked, “I played the song, and everyone witnessed it. So, the piano’s mine, right?”
Earlier, Hayden had mentioned giving that plans to Joanna. If he decided to bid against me, my chances of winning would be pretty much gone Hayden frowned and glanced at Joanna, who was standing behind him.
“Since Yvonne likes it, why don’t we” Joanna started, feigning understanding.
But Yasir cut in, “To be fair, how about Ms. Charlotte plays a piece tool Whoever does can keep it. What do you guys think?” He was genuinely curious to see which of the two ladies with Hayden would win
Instantly, Joanna’s smile froze, and all eyes in the room turned to her, including Hayden’s.
‘If Hayden found out I was faking it, I would be done for, she thought, her face draining of color as she scrambled for an excuse. “My hand’s been bothering me, so I think I’ll pass on playing”
“What’s wrong?” Hayden asked, his eyes narrowing with a hint of concern.
“It’s nothing serious. Just a small burn from making your soup this morning,” Joanna replied, attempting to hide her hand behind her back.
I listened to their conversation, my stomach twisting into knots.
Lucy rolled her eyes dramatically, “Oh, come on, they’re so mushy. It’s getting on my nerves.”
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Dreame-Read Romanes CL-
2:20 PM
Chapter 9
Just then, the auction manager sauntered over, and Lucy and I followed him out.
“Mrs. Parker, our boss said the piano’s not up for auction anymore, and it’s a gift for you,” the manager said with a smile.
“A gift for me?” I was surprised Who could be so gerterous!
Lucy’s eyes widened. “Who’s your boss?“
The manager gestured over our shoulders “Mrs. Parker, he is waiting for you right over there.”
I frowned, my curiosity piqued, but all I could see was a tall figure. I couldn’t make out who it was.
“Go check it out. I’ll wait here for you.” Lucy noticed too and smiled mischievously as she nudged me. She was never a fan of me chasing after Hayden, and whenever another guy was around me, she got really excited.
“Don’t go too far,” I reminded her before making my way over. As the distance closed, I recognized him instantly. “Mr. Warner? I exclaimed, surprised–this piano belonged to Marlon?
Marlon seemed to have been waiting for me for a while. When he saw me approaching, a faint smile appeared in his deep eyes. That piece carlier was truly captivating. This piano deserves the right owner.
“You’re too kind. I can’t accept a piano worth over 8 million without a reason, 1 replied, shaking my head. I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch, and Marlon wasn’t the kind of guy to make deals at a loss
He seemed to sense my hesitation and offered a reassuring smile. Tve heard your family is strong in the electronics industry, backed by a solid research team. If you’re willing to share some of those resources with me, then this piano isn’t just a freebie.”
“So you’re looking to collaborate?” I arched an eyebrow, genuinely taken aback. Yes, with my new job at Parker Group starting tomorrow, things were getting complicated.
“What do you think? Is this big gesture enough for you?” Marion asked, still smiling.
That hit home for me. If I was serious about divorcing Hayden and breaking clean from the Jacksons, I needed to carve out my own identity in this town. I hadn’t quite figured out my path yet, but Marlon’s proposal offered a fresh chance.
After pondering for a moment, I gave a nod, “With an offer like that, how could I say not
“Then it’s settled. Marlon said, looking pleased with my answer.
We’d had a quick chat earlier, but I hadn’t really taken him in. Now, standing closer, I realized Marlon seemed familiar, though I couldn’t pinpoint
where I’d seen him.
“Mr. Warner, do we know each other from somewhere?” I inquired, trying to sound casual.
Marlon’s handsome face froze a bit, disappointment flickered in his eyes before he quickly masked it. “If you can’t place it, then we haven’t met. No need to dwell on it.”
His response was a bit strange, and I was tempted to press for more. But just then, I caught sight of Hayden striding towards us, his face clouded with a stormy look.
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SEND GIFT
Dreams Dest
