Chapter 501: Won’t Let Her Off
Rachel and her parents stood at the door, carrying a fancy gift box. Rachel had been eager, but upon spotting me, her expression changed. After a long pause, she shot me a sharp glare, asking rudely, “Hayley, what are you doing here?”
Her hostility almost stirred my wolf, but I remained calm and responded curtly, “Who are you here to see?”
Rachel’s mother, an Omega, smiled politely and asked, “Is this Mr. Evans’ residence? We’re here to meet him.”
Hearing they were looking for my senior, I told them, “Wait a moment.”
Before I could inform Paul, he came downstairs holding a sealed envelope. Seeing someone approaching, he put away the document and walked over to me. As he approached, Rachel’s parents quickly realized he was a high-ranking werewolf and greeted him with great respect. “Nice to meet you. We’re Rachel Softson’s parents. We spoke on the phone earlier.”
Paul nodded, as if remembering, and invited them inside. “Come in.”
When they stepped in, Rachel glared at me and asked him straightforwardly, “Mr. Evans, are you thinking about accepting Hayley as your student?”
Paul glanced at me and asked, “Do you know her?”
I nodded, explaining, “We’re classmates.”
Paul seemed a bit surprised but then turned to Rachel. “She won’t be my student.”
I smiled, understanding his meaning. My piano skills far surpassed his, and I was also fluent in multiple languages—Spanish, French, Goavish, and Lovarin. I was, proudly speaking, the most talented genius he had ever encountered.
Rachel gave me a dismissive look, probably misinterpreting Paul’s words and thinking I wasn’t good enough to be his student.
“Then, Mr. Evans, can you make me your student instead?” Rachel quickly asked, her eyes full of hope.
Paul raised an eyebrow. “As I’ve told your parents before, it depends on your talent. If you’re gifted, I’m willing to teach you. But if not, then I’m sorry, it’s not going to happen.”
Rachel’s mother quickly chimed in, “Mr. Evans, my daughter has shown musical promise since she was young. Every piano teacher she’s had says she’s extraordinarily talented. Please take her under your wing.”
Their conversation wasn’t holding my interest, so I turned to Paul. “By the way, Paul, is the information I requested ready? Can you give it to me so I can head out?”
He grabbed the envelope from behind the TV and handed it to me. “Here you go.”
We exchanged glances before I took the document and said my goodbyes, “I’ll be going now.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Paul offered.
Together, we left the house, feeling the eyes of Rachel and her parents on us.
Rachel’s POV
Watching Hayley, that insufferable Omega, finally leave, I felt some of my tension melt away.
I couldn’t figure out how she even knew someone as prestigious as Paul. Maybe it was because she’d won the tennis championship and got to rub elbows with the rich and famous.
While I was lost in thought, my father interrupted, “How do you know your classmate? What’s her connection to Paul?”
I bit my lip tightly and shook my head. I didn’t know. I wanted to find out too. There didn’t seem to be anything close between them, but the way Paul had handed her that mysterious document made me curious. What could it be about?
Before I could think more, Paul returned and interrupted my thoughts. He looked straight at me and said, “I’m very selective about the talent of my students. Let’s do this—follow me to the piano room and play a section of Bach’s ‘Air on the G String.’ I want to see how skilled you are.”
I snapped to attention and followed him into the piano room, sitting at the Steinway piano and starting to play.
Paul was a famous pianist, and it was my big chance to prove myself. If I passed his test, I could become his student. Then, I would earn a stellar reputation at school and stand out—unlike Hayley, who, despite being plain and unremarkable as an Omega, was suddenly gaining popularity.
Soon, I finished the piece, and my heart raced as I awaited Paul’s evaluation.
“Your basic skills are solid, but you don’t have much natural talent.”
His words hit me like a bucket of cold water, chilling me.
“How can I meet your standards?” I pressed, determined not to give up.
He hesitated before replying. “Your classmate Hayley—you could ask her to play something for you. If your emotional expression in the music reaches even a fraction of hers, I may reconsider.”
Hayley? It was Hayley again! Did she say something bad about me to Paul? I might not be able to confront her openly, but I would find a way to make sure she paid for this.
Leaving Paul’s house, I could feel the disappointment in my parents’ eyes. My thoughts swirled around Hayley. Gritting my teeth, I came up with an idea.