Chapter 109:

The girl felt regret over her earlier praise of Theo to Elyse. Elyse, however, having just finished tuning her violin, smiled and said, "Don't worry about it. It's in the past, and I'm doing much better now."

But the girl suspected Elyse was merely putting on a brave face. She quickly changed tack, insulting Theo. "That Theo Ward is a good-for-nothing player! You can tell at a glance. You dodged a bullet breaking up with him. Just look at him and Kaelyn." She leaned closer, whispering, "People might think they're an item."

Elyse's mouth twitched—the girl had hit the nail on the head.

The musicians proceeded to the stage and played their piece. From the audience, Theo's eyes immediately found Elyse. He was struck by her serene grace and realized he'd never actually seen her perform before. Something always prevented him from attending her previous performances. This would be his first time experiencing her music firsthand, and her passion was undeniable; she stood out even from a distance.

Kaelyn noticed Theo's gaze, fixed on Elyse with deep longing and affection. Anger flooded her; her worst fear had been realized.

After the performance, the television crew applauded. Amidst the post-concert buzz, Theo saw Elyse heading backstage and followed her.

Elyse, wary of the media due to the Barnes issue, sought refuge in the dressing room. She discovered Theo had followed her. Remembering the previous day's events, she was immediately defensive. "Why are you bothering me? We're over. Move on."

He stared at her. Then, surprisingly, he said, "In three years, I never saw you play."

Elyse's face hardened. "So? You never took me seriously, never came to my performances. Is that why you left me?"

She frowned. Regardless of his words, they would feel hollow.

Theo continued, "If I'd prioritized you, would you have waited instead of marrying someone else?"

Elyse smiled disdainfully. "Why would I wait for you?"

"Because you loved me," Theo replied flatly. "You loved me very much. You sacrificed a lot for me."

She nodded. "I did love you. I wanted to marry you. But you failed me."

Theo grimaced at the memory of their botched wedding. "That day was an accident. If you'd waited, I would have married you after I resolved things."

Elyse laughed. "How dare you expect me to wait after everything? Did you think repentance would make me forget how you wronged me?" Her voice softened. "You're still the same. You only care about yourself. You only see me as an accessory."

Theo was stunned by her indifference. She'd always pandered to him before. He reached for her, catching her blouse; her collar slipped, revealing hickeys on her collarbone.

His mind blanked. His eyes flashed, temples throbbing. "Who the hell touched you?"

Elyse shoved him away. "My husband, Jayden. That crippled bastard," Theo gritted, his eyes wild. He didn't know why he was so furious, only that he hated those hickeys.

Kaelyn arrived, trying to calm him. "Come on, she's married. She doesn't have feelings for you, and probably never did." . . .