Chapter 1101:

Upon hearing this, Elyse hesitated. “Such an exquisite violin… I’m not sure if it’s meant for me to buy. Considering it’s crafted by your father, are you sure you can part with it?”

Hearing Elyse’s hesitation, Anthony spoke with a hint of resignation. “After this year, my dad will hang up his tools and leave the craft of violin making behind.” He paused, then added, “He has waited endlessly for that old friend to come and pick up the violin. Frankly, that person might have passed away. My dad is just too stubborn, holding onto the violin, convinced his friend will return.”

Elyse sighed. “His long wait shows how much he values that person.”

Anthony recalled a memory. “I encountered his friend when I was a teenager. He was a strange and indecisive man. Given his nature, I never made him feel welcome during his visits.”

Elyse mused thoughtfully, “From what you describe, he hardly seems reliable enough to fulfill a promise.”

With a nonchalant shrug, Anthony remarked, “Who can say? My dad still clings to the hope of seeing him again before he retires, but I’m skeptical it’ll happen this year.”

Elyse glanced at Jayden, at a loss for words.

Changing the subject, Anthony suggested, “You’re a professional violinist, right? It seems only right that my dad’s craftsmanship doesn’t go unnoticed. Perhaps it’s better for someone like you to bring the violin back to life on stage.”

Elyse hesitated, feeling conflicted. The violin was a cherished piece of his dad’s. How could she consider buying it? Encouragingly, Anthony said, “Let me fetch the violin for you. I’m sure it will impress you.”

He then made his way to the storage room to retrieve the instrument.

With Anthony gone, Jayden voiced his skepticism. “That violin’s been idle for nearly three decades. Is it still playable?”

Elyse pondered briefly. “It’s his dad’s magnum opus; surely it’s been well-preserved. Imagine if that long-lost friend returned only to find it in disrepair. That would be heartbreaking.”

Jayden considered her words and found himself agreeing with her. However, he wasn’t familiar with violins, nor the immense dedication involved in crafting one for someone and maintaining a promise for thirty years. To Jayden, it appeared a fruitless effort that expended energy with no visible gain.

A few minutes later, Anthony stepped out from the storage room, a wooden case in his grasp. Although the case was clean, Anthony chose to dust it off with a dry cloth.