Chapter 63:

"Thanks, Driscoll. I'm sure I'll nail the selection tomorrow. You all better be there for my debut!" Elyse beamed with pride.

Jayden folded his arms, surprised by her confidence. "You're really into playing the violin."

"Yeah, I love it. It's like a part of me. When I was a kid, my parents wanted me to play a different instrument, but I refused. They even tried starving me for two days, but I stood my ground."

"Seriously? They tried to starve you because you wanted to play the violin instead?" Jayden asked, incredulous.

Elyse nodded, feeling a bit uncomfortable recalling it. She suspected Lanny and Glenda were afraid of something from their past being triggered when she played. This seemed like the real reason for their opposition. She decided not to dwell on it; her conclusions felt too far-fetched.

After tuning her violin, Elyse stood, striking a professional pose. "Let the future concertmaster give you a taste of her skills."

Driscoll and the maids showered her with praise. Jayden, though not outwardly demonstrative, didn't interrupt. He'd never seen her perform, and despite knowing music was her passion, he was curious.

She played "He's a Pirate." The moment Elyse began, her aura shifted. The soft girl transformed into a fierce woman with steely eyes, exuding bravery and determination. It was captivating. Elyse looked and sounded like a true pirate, bravely navigating the waves toward Treasure Island.

Through the music, Jayden glimpsed countless facets of Elyse's personality. He found her incredibly captivating. As her performance ended, Elyse still wore that determined expression. Applause erupted. She glanced at Jayden and saw him clapping.

"Good performance," Jayden remarked.

Elyse blushed, unused to praise from him.

"You played amazingly well. We were all spellbound," Driscoll said.

"You're destined for greatness tomorrow. We all believe in you," a maid added.

Driscoll and the maids' praise boosted Elyse's confidence and ambition.

"I'm off to practice more in my room." Violin in hand, Elyse headed upstairs, her face still flushed.

Driscoll turned to Jayden. "She's got serious talent. It's like she was born for music."

"Yeah, her talent caught me off guard," Jayden mused. He thought that if Elyse's parents had supported her, she could have been famous by now, instead of struggling in a small orchestra.

Thinking of Elyse's performance, Jayden felt an inexplicable fondness for her. He reckoned having a wife who could play the violin wouldn't be so bad. At least he could enjoy her music when bored. He startled himself with the thought. He seemed to be increasingly drawn to Elyse.

In her room, Elyse practiced relentlessly; the melody for tomorrow's audition was already memorized. But she feared making a mistake at the crucial moment, so she practiced to strengthen her skills.

Just as she was immersed in her practice, her phone rang. Seeing it was Lanny, she realized she hadn't updated him. She answered, greeted by his rant. "Why haven't you updated me? Have you even visited Theo? Aren't you worried about Mabel?"

Elyse held the phone away from her ear during Lanny's tirade, then asked, "What happened with Mabel? I was only gone for an afternoon, not years."

"She tried to kill herself at home, claiming she'll marry no one but Theo. Did he agree?" Lanny was frantic, his tone revealing his favoritism towards Mabel. Elyse suspected that even if Theo had raped Mabel, Lanny would have sold her for a fortune. She couldn't comprehend her parents' favoritism.

"I asked him. He claims Mabel offered herself to him. If she wants marriage, she has to repay the money he lent her—about four and a half million." Money was all Lanny seemed to care about.

"Four and a half million? Is Theo blackmailing her? Are you sure?"

"Ask Mabel if you doubt it. She's not being straight with us. She's clearly hiding something."

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